Sacramento Public Library discussion

Start off the new year right--with books and conversations about books! Join in by sharing what you're reading & any reading resolutions.

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories for Alt Library book club and The Midnight Star for fun :)

I picked up The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead and have plans to get to it in the next two weeks.
Have heard wonderful things about it.

I just finished Dying for Christmas. It was pretty dark and twisty!! Now I've started Lock the Door about a baby with some type of immune disorder getting kidnapped but I haven't gotten that far in the story yet.

Susan wrote: "I just finished Dying for Christmas. It was pretty dark and twisty!! Now I've started Lock the Door about a baby with some type of immune disorder getting kidnapped but I haven't gotten that far in..."

Sounds so happy and cheerful. I more in the mood for light and fun right now.

I just finished the Island of Glass by Nora Roberts this weekend. It's the third book in the Guardians trilogy. Goddesses good and evil and heroes fighting to save the world.
I'm thinking of starting Vassa in the Night by Sara Porter. A modern retelling of a Russian folktale. Maybe Alien Nation by Gini Koch instead. I'll need something to do in the rain on Sunday since I'll be skipping laundry.

I'm just finishing Maybe a fox / Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee. It's a tween sort of book but the characters and their situations are breathtaking. Reads like a fable.

I'm kicking off the New Year and my 50-book challenge with Agincourt by Juliet Barker, to be followed by Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat.

Michael wrote: "I'm kicking off the New Year and my 50-book challenge with Agincourt by Juliet Barker, to be followed by Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat."
We did the boys in the boat for a book club and I loved it! The writers style grabs you from the start and the descriptions of the races are thrilling.

The Girls for a book club.

Dawn wrote: "The Girls for a book club."

I finished reading this last night. I think you will enjoy it! Well, assuming you are as oddly captivated by all the crazy stuff that went on around here in the late 60s - early 70s.

Susan wrote: "Dawn wrote: "The Girls for a book club."

I finished reading this last night. I think you will enjoy it! Well, assuming you are as oddly captivated by all the crazy stuff that went on around here i..."

Oh interesting, I will have to look that one up.
I am always fascinated to read books set in places I know.

Oh my! I did not realize that was set here. Cool, heard good things about that book.

Alison......it is mostly set in Petaluma and areas around there, but close enough!

Susan wrote: "Alison......it is mostly set in Petaluma and areas around there, but close enough!"

Ok, so sort of the Bay Area. Yes, close enough. But that would explain why I hadn't originally thought Sac.
:-)
Thanks

Sorry! I spent most of the weekends of my youth in the Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Bay Area and clump it all together.

Susan wrote: "Sorry! I spent most of the weekends of my youth in the Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Bay Area and clump it all together."

Totally, I lived in the East and South Bay in my 20's but have never lived up there.
Just visitied.
:-)

Wrapping up Seveneves, which feels like 600 pages of world building! Up next is The Alchemist.

I started the year with "The Nix." What a phenomenal book! I loved it.

Teresa wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'm kicking off the New Year and my 50-book challenge with Agincourt by Juliet Barker, to be followed by Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat."
We did the boys in the boat for ..."
So far, so great, Teresa! You were right about the race descriptions - very vivid and exciting.

I'm reading an Overdrive ebook.

I'm reading a library physical book

I'm listening to , an Overdrive audiobook.

Carolyn F. wrote: "I'm reading an Overdrive ebook.

I'm reading a library physical book..."

Love the October Daye series. Have you found all the novels or short stories she has on her web page?

No, does she have them there? I know Ilona Andrews does.

I'm cramming in all the books I can before the semester starts next week ^_^
Currently reading which I got from Netgalley and up next is !!! So, excited to start it :)

Carolyn F. wrote: "No, does she have them there? I know Ilona Andrews does."

Yes, she does, I think they are in a few different placed, but look under the series and for a sub-heading.
Sort of like Ilona Andrews has some and how Gordon does the Curran POV.
:-)

I will definitely check them out. Thanks Alison :)

Just finished The Animators. What a well written book! It is definitely going to stay with me for awhile.

Susan wrote: "Just finished The Animators. What a well written book! It is definitely going to stay with me for awhile."

Oh! That looks good.

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Oh! That looks good."

I was surprised by how good it was!

Susan wrote: "Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Oh! That looks good."

I was surprised by how good it was!"

Love finding new good books. I am now on the waitlist for it.
:-)

I've been exploring the world of graphic novels this month and have read three very different books in this format.

First up was Vietnamerica by GB Tran which was a memoir of his family & their life in both Vietnam & after they immigrated to America. It was a really interesting story, but I struggled with the format a little as an inexperienced graphic novel reader. It had multiple storylines & I didn't immediately pick up on the cues telling me which story was being told.

Next up was V for Vendetta by Alan Moore which was recommended to me as one of the best graphic novels out there. It was indeed very good, but also very dark and I didn't like the limited roles for women in the story. It was about a dystopia, though so I thought I would search out some female led comics.

That led me to the first volume of Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick which is feminist satire. It was very funny & inventive but still very dark.

Each of these books gave me a bit more understanding of the format and made me curious to read more. People have been handing me suggestions left and right so I have a lengthy list that should keep me busy for a while!

Brendle......now that you are well versed in graphic novels (did you read Fun Home by Alison Bechdel?), you should read The Animators. It is about 2 female cartoonists. Very touching book, read like a memoir, and has a lot of references to things you will understand now that you have read some graphic novels.

Susan wrote: "Brendle......now that you are well versed in graphic novels (did you read Fun Home by Alison Bechdel?), you should read The Animators. It is about 2 female cartoonists. Very touching book, read lik..."

Fun Home is on my list with other Bechdel books. I hadn't heard about The Animators though. Adding it now! Thanks!