On The Same Page discussion

Always at the last minute.....
13/16
1.Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult 2/19 ****
2.Oil! by Upton Sinclair
3.Boy's Life by Robert McCammon7/11 ****
4.The Fifth Vial by Michael Palmer 2/26 ****
5.I Married a Communist by Philip Roth ***12/10
6.Beloved by Toni Morrison4/25****
7. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz 3/8 *****
8.Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann 5/25 ****
9.Slow Horses by Mick Herron8/15 ****
10.Winter of the World by Ken Follett substitute Fall of Giants 1st book in the series ****11/1
11.Angel of Repose by Wallace Stegner 1/16/24. ***
12.The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
+4
13.Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver
14.The Malta Exchange by Steve Berry 5/21 ****
15.The Escape by David Baldacci 4/15 ****
16.Still Life by Louise Penny01/20/24 ****

That's okay, Ann!

🤣🤣

Alondra wrote: "That's okay, Ann!

🤣🤣"
thanks Alondra--here is to a great 2024. Happy Reading !

My challenge list is posted with a day to spare! Hope everyone enjoys their books this year-- and all of your other activities too.

What an interesting collection of titles across so many genres! I love, love Slow Horses and enjoyed Magpie Murders and Still Life. Angle of Repose have been on my list for absolutely ages. Enjoy!

Great list, Ann, I love it. Boy's Life and Winter of the World are both very good, and I have a few others on my TBR. I'll watch for your reviews, I hope you love them all. Happy reading!

Magpie Murders was one of my favorite books. Good luck with your choices.

Boy's Life was an excellent story, loved it. I hope to get to Magpie Murders this year. Loved the mini series. I have to get back to Deaver too, I have a few of his books on my shelf. And Gamache is a wonderful police detective. Enjoy your selections. Happy New Year!

Oohhh, A Boy's Life!! 😩😭😭😭

This was just so well written. I really hope you love it as much as I did. I can't speak highly of it enough.

Good luck and happy reading! 📚📚

Carolien wrote: "What an interesting collection of titles across so many genres! I love, love Slow Horses and enjoyed Magpie Murders and Still Life. Angle of Repose have been on my list for absolutely ages. Enjoy!"

Thanks Carolien -- I have enjoyed watching Slow Horses TV series. Hope that does not ruin the books for me.... i usually like to read the book first. Magpie Murders and Angle of Repose were both recommendations from friends.

Ioana wrote: "Great list, Ann, I love it. Boy's Life and Winter of the World are both very good, and I have a few others on my TBR. I'll watch for your reviews, I hope you love them all. Happy reading!"
Thanks Ioana -- best wishes for happy reading to you !

Bill wrote: "Boy's Life was an excellent story, loved it. I hope to get to Magpie Murders this year. Loved the mini series. I have to get back to Deaver too, I have a few of his books on my shelf. And Gamache i..."
Thanks Bill.. I did not know there was a Magpie series -- I will look after I read the book.

I read Still Life a few months ago and enjoyed it. I have a few of your others on my TBR. Good luck with your challenge.

What a great list, Ann. I've read Beloved, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Winter of the World and appreciated all of them. I'm interested in reading so many of the other books on your list - I'll be eager to see your thoughts. Best wishes!

Alondra wrote: "Oohhh, A Boy's Life!! 😩😭😭😭

This was just so well written. I really hope you love it as much as I did. I can't speak highly of it enough.

Good luck and happy reading! 📚📚"
Thanks Alondra--looking forward toreading it -- it has been on my TBR for ages.

Lea wrote: "What a great list, Ann. I've read Beloved, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Winter of the World and appreciated all of them. I'm interested in reading so many of the other books on your list - I'll ..."

Thanks Lea. Hoping I get through all of them on the list.

Completed book #1 Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. I gave it 3 ***. It was beautifully written, great character development but I just didn't connect with it. The book was recommended by a friend who also recommended The Overstory which I thoroughly enjoyed and recommended to others.

On to Louise Penny.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Completed book #1 Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. I gave it 3 ***. It was beautifully written, great character development but I just didn't connect with it. The b..."

I felt similarly about Angle of Repose Ann. So well written but too many characters I didn't enjoy and let's face it it just dragged on a bit too long. No need to wallow in the misery.

Michelle wrote: "Ann at the Beach wrote: "Completed book #1 Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. I gave it 3 ***. It was beautifully written, great character development but I just didn..."

exactly!

Still Life by Louise Penny completed. ****
I am not real diligent about reading series books in order and I had already read one of the Gamache series. I enjoyed the book I read but I am glad that I read the first book in this series. I really enjoyed this one and it provided great background on all of the characters in Three Pines. I am sure I will enjoy many more books in the series.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Still Life by Louise Penny completed. ****
I am not real diligent about reading series books in order and I had already read one of the Gamache series. I enjoyed the b..."

There was one TV movie based on the book and it was quite enjoyable even if a British actor played Gamache. I think there was another series later on.. haven't seen that. I do need to get back to the books.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Still Life by Louise Penny completed. ****
I am not real diligent about reading series books in order and I had already read one of the Gamache series. I enjoyed the b..."

I love that series- I didn't read them all in order as I originally was getting them from library sales/used bookstore- but I did start with the first one. I'm glad I did because some of the later ones got darker than I prefer, but I was attached to the characters.

Conpleted Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. i enjoy books by Jodi Picoult and like that she addresses social issues of the day. The first time I read one of her books I really liked they way she told a story by speaking thru each of the main characters. Now I find that I leave a year or two between reading her books because they all use the same format and feel the same.
I did like this book -- gave it 4 *

Completed The Fifth Vial by Michael Palmer.
It was a decent medical thriller with some interesting twists. I gave it 4 ****. What happens to the blood sample when you go to the lab ???

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Conpleted Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. i enjoy books by Jodi Picoult and like that she addresses social issues of the day. The first time I read one of her books I re..."

I feel the same. The topic is always relevant, but the formula is overused. Still, I try to read one of her books every year. I haven't read this one (yet)...glad you enjoyed it.

Just checking in, Ann. I haven't been on much, but wanted to see how the reading was going??

Alondra wrote: "Just checking in, Ann. I haven't been on much, but wanted to see how the reading was going??"

Hi Alondra -- reading is going great -- I just finished Project Hail Mary and I loved it. Thanks for checking in. Hope you are doing well also.

Completed Magpie Murders and I gave it 5*.
To everyone who said I would love it --I did. A great who did it within a great who did it.


Next up -- The Escape--I unwittingly added a new series to my list and as per my usual it is not the first in the series...oh well....

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Completed Magpie Murders and I gave it 5*.
To everyone who said I would love it --I did. A great who did it within a great who did it.

Rats! Another add to my "To Read" list.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Completed Magpie Murders and I gave it 5*.
To everyone who said I would love it --I did. A great who did it within a great who did it.


Next up -- The Escape--I un..."

I enjoyed the TV mini series very much. I'm looking forward to reading this.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Just checking in, Ann. I haven't been on much, but wanted to see how the reading was going??"

Hi Alondra -- reading is going great -- I just finished [book:Project Hail Mary|544934..."

ANNDDDD; you finished 2 more since I last checked in. LOL

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Completed Magpie Murders and I gave it 5*.
To everyone who said I would love it --I did. A great who did it within a great who did it.


Next up -- The Escape--I un..."

Magpie Murders was one of my favorite books!

finished The Escape. rated 4 stars -- lots of plot twists as expected--well executed. This was the 3rd book in a series but I have not read the earlier books so the character of John Puller was new to me.... although he did not feel new... maybe a little Reacher--a little Cotton Malone... you know -- the spy thriller guys.
A good read.

Switching genres -- next up Beloved. I can't believe I have not read this yet.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Switching genres -- next up Beloved. I can't believe I have not read this yet."

That's definitely a switch. I've never read.

Completed Beloved. Heartbreaking. gut wrenching. Man's inhumanity to man exposed.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Completed Beloved. Heartbreaking. gut wrenching. Man's inhumanity to man exposed."

I just couldn't read it. That one and Love. I love Morrison's writing and early works, but there's so much heartbreak and trauma I can take.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Alondra wrote: "Ann at the Beach wrote: "Completed Beloved. Heartbreaking. gut wrenching. Man's inhumanity to man exposed."

I just couldn't read it. That one and Love. I love Morrison's writing and ea..."

I get your feelings about the book. Not sure enjoyed is the right word. It was not an easy book to read but it helped me to understand the truth of our history

Ann at the Beach wrote: "I get your feelings about the book. Not sure enjoyed is the right word. It was not an easy book to read but it helped me to understand the truth of our history.."

I understand and I shouldn't say if someone enjoyed it, when its such a tough subject matter.

I may read it one day. Of course, I have all of her books. Even if I refuse to initially read it, I always think that I may read it one day. Alas.

Finished The Malta Exchange. It was a 4* read for me. I always enjoy Steve Berry books because his plots always involve alternative historys that seem that they might be true. In his notes at the end he identifies what is actually true and what he embellished for his novel. This one uses the creation of the Catholic Church in a story about electing a new pope.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Finished The Malta Exchange. It was a 4* read for me. I always enjoy Steve Berry books because his plots always involve alternative historys that seem that they might ..."

I may have to try another of his books. I didn't enjoy the first I tried.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Finished The Malta Exchange. It was a 4* read for me. I always enjoy Steve Berry books because his plots always involve alternative historys that seem that they might ..."

I think I've only read a book by him and I've enjoyed it. I need to read more, thanks for the reminder.

Completed Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. I had already seen the movie so I thought that I was prepared -- but reality is so much worse. After reading Beloved and this one within a month of each other my next read may be a little light hearted .

Completed Boy's Life. It's been on my TBR for awhile now and recommended by many of you. It was a great storyline and a very fun book to read..

I was able to check out Slow Horses from the library so it will be my next read. I have been watching the show on television and I thought it was great so I decided to check out the first book in the series. Lets see how it goes

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Completed Boy's Life. It's been on my TBR for awhile now and recommended by many of you. It was a great storyline and a very fun book to read.."

Yay! Glad you enjoyed it Ann! It kept getting pegged as horror, but it just felt like a great coming of age story.

Kudos on 10 done!

Finished Slow Horses. It was a 4* read for me. It is a British spy series with a sense of humor. The TV series follows the story line very closely. Gary Oldman really nailed the lead character.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Finished Slow Horses. It was a 4* read for me. It is a British spy series with a sense of humor. The TV series follows the story line very closely. Gary Oldman really nailed the lead..."

Sounds very interesting, Ann!

so.. I was all set to start another book on my challenge list,(Fall of Giants )when I realized that it was the 2nd book in Ken Follet's Century trilogy. So now I am reading the first book in the trilogyWinter of the World a mere 942 page detour. Hopefully I will get to Fall of Giants soon, Wish me luck

Ann at the Beach wrote: "so.. I was all set to start another book on my challenge list,(Fall of Giants )when I realized that it was the 2nd book in Ken Follet's Century trilogy. So now I am reading the first..."

Actually, Fall of Giants is the 1st in the series. Then #2 Winter of the World and #3 Edge of Eternity.
Big books, but good series. Enjoy!