52 weeks, 52 books discussion

I am declaring this a wild card week. I've picked The Banks of Certain Riversby Jon Harrison.

You can purchase the book here: http://amzn.to/1orTaS8

Also, I think it will be interesting to see how you think this self-published book stacks up to the other books we've been reading. I've read it and I think it's great.

For those of you who don't have a kindle, you can download the app on your smartphone, iPad, tablet or desktop. Sorry that's only available in that format for now.

Has anyone read it? What do you think?

Awesome; it's great to see a good book for 99 cents. I've agreed with a lot of your comments and reviews in the past so I'm looking forward to this.

Awesome! I am really excited about this one, I'm already reading it and am reviewing it for my blog this month... it's incredibly human and layered and I've heard there's a great twist coming. I'm looking forward to finishing it this weekend. (I am so behind on reading!)

Also, I think it's very important to support indie authors, especially when the work is top-notch. Spread the word on Facebook and tell your friends!

Jan wrote: "Awesome; it's great to see a good book for 99 cents. I've agreed with a lot of your comments and reviews in the past so I'm looking forward to this."

Thanks, Jan. Glad I've been helpful :) Hope you enjoy this one. Looking forward to your thoughts.

Taughnee wrote: "Awesome! I am really excited about this one, I'm already reading it and am reviewing it for my blog this month... it's incredibly human and layered and I've heard there's a great twist coming. I'm ..."

I couldn't agree more Taughnee! Thanks so much.

I am very happy this is offered for 99 cents! I just bought it & will start it this weekend. I can follow along on this one, yeah!

Jacquelyn wrote: "I am very happy this is offered for 99 cents! I just bought it & will start it this weekend. I can follow along on this one, yeah!"

That's great, Jacquelyn! Why not invite some friends to join the group and read along?

Just bought it, sounds like a good book. Need to finish my current book first.

Shari wrote: "Just bought it, sounds like a good book. Need to finish my current book first."

Great, Shari! Hope you enjoy it.

I loved it! Thanks for the suggestion, Catherine! I am excited to see what Jon writes next.

Susan (The Book Bag) wrote: "I loved it! Thanks for the suggestion, Catherine! I am excited to see what Jon writes next."

That's great, Susan! Look forward to reading your review.

Susan (The Book Bag) wrote: "I loved it! Thanks for the suggestion, Catherine! I am excited to see what Jon writes next."

Susan, who was your favorite character?

I think it would have to be Alan, the grounded pilot neighbor. He was a good neighbor and a good friend, even if he was a little quirky. But then I tend to like the quirky ones. I would love to know someone like Alan.

Susan (The Book Bag) wrote: "I think it would have to be Alan, the grounded pilot neighbor. He was a good neighbor and a good friend, even if he was a little quirky. But then I tend to like the quirky ones. I would love to kno..."

I loved Alan, too! He was hilarious. And great comic relief. SPOILER ALERT - I did a spit take when I read the part about the min-golf course.

I really enjoyed this book - I'm so glad that Catherine recommended it to me ... and continues to push it onto peoples "must read lists". I think some of my favourite parts were the letters to Wendy. I could completely understand his need to just send off the emails ... and even though they would never get to her, they still got out there. Does that make sense? I didn't want this book to end.

Lynne wrote: "I really enjoyed this book - I'm so glad that Catherine recommended it to me ... and continues to push it onto peoples "must read lists". I think some of my favourite parts were the letters to Wend..."

I agree, Lynne. SPOILER ALERT - those emails at the end of the chapters always killed me. I'd almost forget one was coming and then I'd turn the page and WHAM.

Just finished this book & really truly enjoyed it. All the characters were great but I think Alan is my favorite too. Love the revenge putt putt! Once again, this is not a book I had heard of & probably would never have read if not for Catherine & this group. Kudos!

Jacquelyn wrote: "Just finished this book & really truly enjoyed it. All the characters were great but I think Alan is my favorite too. Love the revenge putt putt! Once again, this is not a book I had heard of & pro..."

So glad you liked it Jacquelyn! Curious: Do you normally write reviews of books you read on Goodreads (as opposed to just rating them)?

I really enjoyed this book

Shannon wrote: "I really enjoyed this book"

That's great, Shannon. What was your favourite part? And same question as to Jacquelyn -- do you write reviews of books Goodreads or just use the rating system?

I must admit, I do usually just use the rating system on here. If I particularly enjoyed a book, & feel others would be interested in my review, I will write one (planning to write one for this book this weekend!). I read a lot of popular authors' series-type books or classics that have been around forever & those have hundreds of reviews, therefore, I do not feel I will be able to add much of interest. Many of the book reviews I have read on this site written by readers tend to just rehash or summarize the plot &/or characters, giving away too much (IMHO), so I tend to not read them anymore. For book recommendations I rely on my friends, book clubs I belong to and my own libarary & book store browsing. Plus, I access this site at home from my iPad & typing on that thing is a challenge!

Jacquelyn wrote: "I must admit, I do usually just use the rating system on here. If I particularly enjoyed a book, & feel others would be interested in my review, I will write one (planning to write one for this boo..."

I hear you Jacquelyn. And I think you are right; when It's a book that thousands have read, might not be worth the effort to write a review. For books like this, though, by debut authors, I think it is important to write reviews and I do make the effort myself as I know (a) as an author, it is so nice to read reviews when people like the book and (b) they are helpful in getting authors to give a new author a chance.

Another way that you can use Goodreads in this positive fashion is to use the 'recommend it' feature -- you can recommend a book to friends and include a little note explaining why you are recommending it.

Anyway, look forward to reading your review!

I loved this book! The characters were richly developed, you could identify with each one. In the first couple chapters I was confused with emails, and the fight, but once it was further in, it all made sense and came today.
I loved the twist - did not see that coming and it made for good suspense in the story.
In the end all questions were answered and it wrapped up very nicely.
For a first time author, self-published book, I look forward to more from this author!

Chris wrote: "I loved this book! The characters were richly developed, you could identify with each one. In the first couple chapters I was confused with emails, and the fight, but once it was further in, it all..."

So glad you liked it, Chris. And great review, too. Who was your favorite character?

This was a great read and only the second I've read on a e-reader. I wonder if I would have liked it more as a print book? A high quality book no matter what. As a former teacher I thought the teaching aspect was very well developed and realistic. Lovely book on what it means to grieve, grow and move on. It demonstrates how unnecessary secrets only end up hurting. And it shows how technology can be manipulated to make things appear to happen that didn't. Well done

Rebecca wrote: "This was a great read and only the second I've read on a e-reader. I wonder if I would have liked it more as a print book? A high quality book no matter what. As a former teacher I thought the teac..."

Glad you enjoyed it, Rebecca. And yes, I thought the teacher aspect was well-done too. SPOILER ALERT - I particularly liked the exchange with the twins on the phone about the demonstration he wanted to do in class. And I found the school politics aspect of it interesting as well.

I was dubious about buying this book, but am so glad Catherine recommended it. I liked the teaching touches, but also the different relationships between the males in this book.

Donna Jo wrote: "I was dubious about buying this book, but am so glad Catherine recommended it. I liked the teaching touches, but also the different relationships between the males in this book."

Glad you ended up liking it Donna.

Here is group member Taughnee's great review of this book on her awesome website: http://launchthebook.com/indie-spotli...

Catherine wrote: "Here is group member Taughnee's great review of this book on her awesome website: http://launchthebook.com/indie-spotli..."

Thanks, Catherine! What a wonderful start for our review series. Thank you so much for introducing us to this great book. <3

Taughnee wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Here is group member Taughnee's great review of this book on her awesome website: http://launchthebook.com/indie-spotli......"

So glad you liked it! Who was your favorite character in the book?

Catherine wrote: "Taughnee wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Here is group member Taughnee's great review of this book on her awesome website: http://launchthebook.com/indie-spotli......"

There were so many great supporting characters in this book, the neighbors were wild! LOL But I'd have to say Neil... I don't want to give away any spoilers, but when we get deeper into the story and his reflections to/about Wendy evolve, and when we realize how he is applying discipline to the way he moves forward with his life and why, and how he makes choices that maybe aren't always the best choices ***SPOILER*** like sheltering Christopher, etc. ... that's when I really started to love and relate to who he is as a person. And honestly, that's sort of why I read. :)

Taughnee wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Taughnee wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Here is group member Taughnee's great review of this book on her awesome website: http://launchthebook.com/indie-spotli......"

Love the neighbors. But yeah, Neil is obviously the center of the story, and a compelling center at that.

I loved this book. Not overly complicated, simple yet gripping. I liked that about it. It kept my attention and kept me curious.

Jennifer wrote: "I loved this book. Not overly complicated, simple yet gripping. I liked that about it. It kept my attention and kept me curious."

Glad you liked it, Jennifer. And a great description.

I loved this one! I posted my review. Very well written and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves. I am recommending it to everyone I know who reads.

Robyn wrote: "I loved this one! I posted my review. Very well written and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves. I am recommending it to everyone I know who reads."

So glad you liked it, Robyn. And great review: http://knitpurlknitpearl.blogspot.ca/...

Thank you Catherine!

I really liked this one. Lots of good characters, interesting plot.

Jean wrote: "I really liked this one. Lots of good characters, interesting plot."

So glad you liked it Jean. What was your favorite plot point? SPOILER ALERT: mine was the emails to Wendy. They kill me every time.

Loved this book!

Loved it! 5 stars! I thought this was so beautifully written and such a great story!

I wanted to like this book and I did start out enjoying it but then nothing happened for half of the book. I kept waiting to find out what the scandal would be and by the time the book got there, I was over everything. I really think this book could have benefitted from an editor.

Beth wrote: "Loved it! 5 stars! I thought this was so beautifully written and such a great story!"

I agree Beth, one of my favorites this year.

Amanda wrote: "I wanted to like this book and I did start out enjoying it but then nothing happened for half of the book. I kept waiting to find out what the scandal would be and by the time the book got there, I..."

Sorry you didn't enjoy it, Beth, but no book is for everyone, of course.

Catherine wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I wanted to like this book and I did start out enjoying it but then nothing happened for half of the book. I kept waiting to find out what the scandal would be and by the time the bo..."

Wrong person, I was the "lover" on this book! One of my favorites so far this year!

although I do agree with Amanda that the book would have benefitted from an editor. I found the typos a bit distracting but still gave the book a 5 star rating because I loved the story and because I thought it was fabulously well-written.

He really is an artist, in my opinion, the way he uses words - he just knows how to paint a beautiful picture with his writing.

I'm sorry you didn't like it Amanda!

Beth wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I wanted to like this book and I did start out enjoying it but then nothing happened for half of the book. I kept waiting to find out what the scandal would be and ..."

Oh, sorry!! You are right :)

Amanda wrote: "I wanted to like this book and I did start out enjoying it but then nothing happened for half of the book. I kept waiting to find out what the scandal would be and by the time the book got there, I..."

Sorry, Amanda, got your name wrong! Anyway, no worries about not liking the book.

Just finished this book and loved it! I don't think I would have read it if not for this group - I tend to be a bit of a cover snob (I know, I know...) and this 'cover' is not overly appealing. That being said I thought it was a great story - interesting characters and more 'real-life' than I have read lately. Definitely a better read than some of the 'hot titles' out on the shelves right now and I can picture this one in the theatres too.

I'm recommending it to my book club and anyone else out there who cares to listen!