You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

What are you reading right now? Is it for an activity here in YLTO? Is it for another reading activity or book group? Is it a "just because" read? What's it like?
So many questions, so let us know what you have in your hot little hands! (or ears but that's not as catchy).

We are not quite an hour into the New Year here in Georgia, USA and I have started reading Predator in the Keys as part of my New Year’s party read and one of my museum tour reads. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I am reading an old childhood favorite, Charlotte's Web for the New Year's party. It may also work for one of the museum tours but I haven't planned out each museum yet..... Scrap that, just falls short of the number of pages needed to count.

I completed my first listen of the year, The Half-Life of Marie Curie. I really enjoyed this one. Usually I wouldn't be a fan of audible dramas but this one wasn't as busy as some. I could have done without the wave sounds though - very loud!

I started The Evening and the Morning on xmas day. It was a fitting pressie to myself at the end of a horrible year. I enjoyed every word. A great prequel to Pillars.

Restarted 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World for the January challenge. Not loving it so far but only 14% in so it might pick up.

I started The Perks of Being a Wallflower for the museum challenge. I thought it would be nice to start with a short one.

I finished up 2020 with Lover Unleashed and Fortune Hunter. Both books were disappointing additions to their respective series. Bummer! I was hoping to end 2020 on a brighter note.

I will be starting 2021 with The Heiress of Linn Hagh and Down Among the Sticks and Bones. Both are on audiobook and both for the New Years Party.

On ebook, I will be starting Wolfking for the first monthly challenge of the year!

I'm starting the year with The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride for the Museum Challenge. Unlike many of my other books that I'm planning for the Challenge, this one is short.

I'm starting Come Tumbling Down for the New Year's party and yearly challenge.

I started on Normal People by Sally Rooney and I’ve already DNF’d it 😅

Farah wrote: "I started on Normal People by Sally Rooney and I’ve already DNF’d it 😅"

Oh, that's not a good way to start the new year! lol Hopefully your replacement book is amazing. :)

Farah wrote: "I started on Normal People by Sally Rooney and I’ve already DNF’d it 😅"

Welcome to the group, Farah!

Farah wrote: "I started on Normal People by Sally Rooney and I’ve already DNF’d it 😅"

Oh, I didn't like that one either!

Lol Farah! At least it can only get better now!

Farah wrote: "I started on Normal People by Sally Rooney and I’ve already DNF’d it 😅"

Lol

I'm still reading The Woman in Blue, #8 in the Ruth Galloway series, which I started last year.

Next in line is The Silent Patient, for the museum challenge.

I am finally finishing Long Bright River. I started the books then misplaced it. I had only 50 pages to finish it. It is excellent.

Renee wrote: "I am finally finishing Long Bright River. I started the books then misplaced it. I had only 50 pages to finish it. It is excellent."

That is on my list for this year.

I finished 2 books for the New Years Party today. I will start Loyalty in Death tomorrow for the Museum challenge.

I finished Come Tumbling Down.

Tomorrow I will start Prodigal Son and The Wife Upstairs.

I finished Charlotte's Web last night and started The Last Time I Saw You for the group's monthly challenge.

Finished The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3737544262

I'm about to start Blackberry & Wild Rose for the group read. I think it will fit my museum challenge too.

I am reading Heather Graham’s Heart of Evil in the Krewe Hunters Series. This is part of the Museum Challenge and I must say I am enjoying it!!

I put The Toymakers back on my to be read shelf without even starting it. I hit a book slump just before christmas. I've picked up Everything Here Is Beautiful for my museum spree.

I just finished The Knife of Never Letting Go with Dom. I was not as fond of the book as her. She’s planning on continuing with the series and I’m waving the white flag surrendering.

Jannene wrote: "I just finished The Knife of Never Letting Go with Dom. I was not as fond of the book as her. She’s planning on continuing with the series and I’m waving the white flag surrendering."

I didn't care for that one either. I never understood why so many people loved it. 🤷‍♀️

I enjoyed that series. I'm with Dom 😁

I started Murder of Crows today for the buddy read. I'm taking a rest from Girl, Woman, Other. It is almost a collection of short stories so I'll have no problem picking it up again.

Margo wrote: " I'm taking a rest from Girl, Woman, Other. It is almost a collection of sh..."

Ooo I'm interested in what you think of that one.

I am finishing State of Wonder which was supposed to be a quick one for my random around the world reading last year. It hasn't been quick due to "circumstances" and therefore doesn't count for the other challenge anymore.

But it is good, weirdly so. I nearly threw it in about 150 pages ago, but it's come good. And it's set in Brazil AND the Amazon for those of you looking for such things for the yearly challenge.

Getting ready to crack open A Beautiful Mess by Brenda Anderson as my book for the monthly challenge.

Kristie wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I just finished The Knife of Never Letting Go with Dom. I was not as fond of the book as her. She’s planning on continuing with the series and I’m waving the white f..."

(view spoiler)[I also didn't like how the author killed off so many characters even the dog! (hide spoiler)]

Jannene wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I just finished The Knife of Never Letting Go with Dom. I was not as fond of the book as her. She’s planning on continuing with the series and I’m wa..."

(view spoiler)[ I still have trauma from the murder of that dog. It was so sad and cruel. (hide spoiler)]

My first review for the year is for the worthy Pulitzer Prize winner Beloved by Toni Morrison. It's hard to understand the kind of treatment 'former' slaves still endured after the end of the Civil War.

Technically, it's an easy read; emotionally, it's a heartbreaker.
5★ Link to my review of Beloved

My first book of 2021 was more lighthearted. We know from the title to look forward to The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home, but it's an after dark innovation suggested by author Joanna Nell that interests me. I do love a good idea.
3.5★ rounded up Link to my Great Escape From Woodlands review

Rusalka wrote: "Margo wrote: " I'm taking a rest from Girl, Woman, Other. It is almost a collection of sh..."

Ooo I'm interested in what you think of that one."

So far it is very well written and carries important messages BUT I'm not sucked in. I like books that focus on characters and this jumps around all over the place. I'm only about 30% in so maybe I'll love it by the end :-/

Rusalka wrote: "I am finishing State of Wonder. But it is good, weirdly so. I nearly threw it in about 150 pages ago, but it's come good. And it's set in Brazil AND the Amazon for those of you looking for such things for the yearly challenge..."

Thanks, Rusalka, I needed a book for that task. ;o)

Sandra wrote: "Next in line is The Silent Patient, for the museum challenge."

I am interested in your thoughts when you finish. I have looked at the reviews, but I cannot quite bring myself to add it to my TBR list.

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "My first review for the year is for the worthy Pulitzer Prize winner Beloved by Toni Morrison. It's hard to understand the kind of treatment 'former' slaves still endured. Technically, it's an easy read; emotionally, it's a heartbreake..."

Agreed!

The first book of the year on my "Currently Reading" shelf is Caveat Emptor: The Secret Life of an American Art Forger. I am reading it for the New Beginnings monthly challenge. It is written by a guy who was an art forger. Pretty amazing, actually.

My second book, for the museum yearly challenge, is The Thin Man. I am listening to the audiobook. I love the author's characters. I remember the old black and white movie from 1934. Actually, I cannot believe how much Nick drinks and can still function!

Next up, I am going to read The House of Unexpected Sisters

I finished Loyalty in Death for my museum challenge. I have two more audiobooks in the series, and then I might call it done. I know I'm not going to make it through all 52 of them.

I will start Fire Touched for the museum challenge tomorrow.

I’m reading Storm Front by Jim Butcher for the Museum challenge. It’s a relatively new genre for me and I am enjoying it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I’m reading Faithful Place and Shadow Moon.

I just finished The Wife Upstairs. I thought it was really good. My Wife Upstairs review

I am continuing with Prodigal Son and starting If It Bleeds tomorrow.

Jannene wrote: "I’m reading Faithful Place and Shadow Moon."

Faithful place was my favourite of that series!

I finished The Silent Patient last night. I liked it and rated it 4 stars. I will stop by the buddy read thread and comment.
It is also my first book for the museum challenge, which reminds me I have to report it.

I will start today Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. First non fiction of 2021.

Sharon wrote: "I’m reading Storm Front by Jim Butcher for the Museum challenge. It’s a relatively new genre for me and I am enjoying it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4..."

I read it not too long ago, Sharon, and enjoyed it very much.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I have Fool Moon on my museum challenge.

Kristie wrote: "I just finished The Wife Upstairs. I thought it was really good. My Wife Upstairs review

I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed The Wife Upstairs. I’ve been stalking my library so I could get on the list to borrow it. I am number one in the que.

I had a lot of trouble getting started on reading this year. Tried some audiobooks and wasn’t grabbed. Read the first few chapters of all my Library books (I have 7 out at the moment), and even though I liked them, I couldn’t settle on any one of them. So I spent lots of time “researching” - scrolling through lists of books on Goodreads and various book blogs. Not reading books but reading about books. You, my reading friends, know how that goes. The consequence was that I doubled my TBR list. Of course. That led me looking at the books that have been on my TBR list the longest. It wasn’t easy to start, but I am now halfway through The Heart Tastes Bitter. I’m enjoying it enough to look at other books from this author, and putting them on my TBR list *wink*. The cycle continues. Happy reading in 2021 everyone.

I did a similar mistake, Shirley. I spent a long time researching my library's new adquisitions and titles coming soon and now I am in more waiting lists than I should be. *rolls eyes*

Shirley wrote: "I had a lot of trouble getting started on reading this year. Tried some audiobooks and wasn’t grabbed. Read the first few chapters of all my Library books (I have 7 out at the moment), and even tho..."

Sandra wrote: "I did a similar mistake, Shirley. I spent a long time researching my library's new adquisitions and titles coming soon and now I am in more waiting lists than I should be. *rolls eyes*"

ARGH! I agree! I keep seeing people's updates about their 2020 reading highlights and adding to my TBR mountain!