Book Nook Cafe discussion

Starting to compile my 2024 TBR... just a start for now:

Fiction -
✔️ 1. Sea of Tranquility
✔️ 2. The Memory Police
✔️ 3. Sparks Like Stars
✔️ 4. The Island of Missing Trees
5. Family Meal
6. In Memoriam


Non-Fiction -
✔️ 1. Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things
✔️ 2. The Soul of an Octopus
✔️ 3. A Living Remedy: A Memoir
✔️ 4. Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself
✔️ 5. We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America
✔️ 6. Scarcity Brain: Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough
✔️ 7. Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food
✔️ 8. Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York's Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist
9. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
10. Little and Often: A Memoir


Poetry -
If They Come for Us
Organs of Little Importance

It looks like you have some excellent reading in store for 2024, Lindsey. I look forward to your reviews.

I've read and enjoyed
Scarcity Brain 3/5 stars
Into Thin Air - I read this a long time ago. I believe I gave it 5 stars.

My favorite of Jon Krakauer books are
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent
Faith 5 star read
Into the Wild another top notch read. 4/5 rate

Alias Reader wrote: "It looks like you have some excellent reading in store for 2024, Lindsey. I look forward to your reviews.

I've read and enjoyed
Scarcity Brain 3/5 stars
Into Thin Air - I read this a long time a..."

Thank you! I've been sitting on a copy of Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster for a long time. I think I found it in a Little Free Library and didn't realize what I'd stumbled upon initially.

Lindsey wrote: "Starting to compile my 2024 TBR... just a start for now:

Fiction - ..."

You are way ahead of me, Lindsey. Interesting titles listed, so i'm looking forward to reading your comments on them over '24.

madrano wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Starting to compile my 2024 TBR... just a start for now:

Fiction - ..."

You are way ahead of me, Lindsey. Interesting titles listed, so i'm looking forward to reading your comment..."

I was fortunate to have a few calm days this past week, so I took full advantage :)

:-)

Such a diverse list! I too look forward to reading your reviews. Congratulations on taking the time to share your TBR on line!

Completed the first book from my list!
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi.
I'd already read another book by this author, so I had high hopes and was not disappointed. 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

This is a story of a young girl (8yo) whose entire family is murdered by an overthrow of government in Afghanistan in the 70s. It's mostly historically accurate, which I appreciate (despite it being a fictional story). It follows her life through her escape from Afghanistan, and her return in her 40s to a country that she doesn't recognize anymore.
The author does a fantastic job of telling the "truth" and allowing criticism of the governments (The US and Russia in particular) which led to Afghanistan's demise, as well as the rise of the Taliban as a result.
Aside from the story, her writing is just beautiful and I'll likely read anything Nadia Hashimi writes.

Well done on completing your first prompt and with a very interesting 5 star book !

Congratulations on completing your first prompt of the year, Lindsey. Your comments on the book are very good and informative. Thanks for sharing them here.

Thank you both!
I'm determined to do better with this year's list than I did with last year's :)

You go, m'friend!

3rd book complete: The Soul of an Octopus, 3 stars
I'll leave my thoughts in the book salon :)

You are moving right along with your reading, Lindsey. Well done!

Lindsey wrote: "3rd book complete: The Soul of an Octopus, 3 stars
I'll leave my thoughts in the book salon :)"

Well done, Lindsey !

Completed A Living Remedy: A Memoir by Nicole Chung, 5/5 stars


I love a good memoir, and this was no exception. I thought it was beautifully written, & the author was a wonderful storyteller.

I'm not quite done with this one (95% on audio - which I highly recommend by the way) - but I'm going to go ahead and lot it here!

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

I can already say this is 5/5 stars for me, regardless of the ending. I knew nothing of the civil war in Cyprus in the mid 70s and learned so much from this book (although fiction). A fig tree narrates every few chapters, and I found her so incredibly endearing. It was a wonderful way to add another element to the story.

Lindsey wrote: "Completed A Living Remedy: A Memoir by Nicole Chung, 5/5 stars


I love a good memoir, and this was no exception.

From synopsis
"A Living Remedy examines what it takes to reconcile the distance between one life, one home, and another – and sheds needed light on some of the most persistent and grievous inequalities in American society. ."

That sounds like a vey interesting memoir. Thanks for the title, Lindsey.

Good job on your Determination List !

Lindsey wrote: "I'm not quite done with this one (95% on audio - which I highly recommend by the way) - but I'm going to go ahead and lot it here!

[book:The Island ..."

You are sailing right along with your Determination list, Lindsey. Well done ! I'm glad you are having such a good reading month.

Lindsey wrote: "Completed A Living Remedy: A Memoir by Nicole Chung, 5/5 stars


I love a good memoir, and this was no exception. I t..."

Sounds good. Thanks for the title/author mention, Lindsey. I wasn't familiar with either.

Thanks Alias!
I've gotten lucky with some wonderful stories this month.

Lindsey wrote: "I'm not quite done with this one (95% on audio - which I highly recommend by the way) - but I'm going to go ahead and lot it here! ..."

This tells us much, Lindsey. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

madrano wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "I'm not quite done with this one (95% on audio - which I highly recommend by the way) - but I'm going to go ahead and lot it here! ..."

This tells us much, Lindsey. I'm glad you ar..."

Thank you!

Checked another off the list -
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa, translated from Japanese.

I gave this one 3/5 stars, although I did mostly enjoy it. I think I went into this one with a few expectations and ideas of what it was, so I was a little disappointed in the end.

Well done on your Fiction prompt, Lindsey.

Lindsey, you are moving right along in checking off titles for your challenge. Nice job!