Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is the Folder and thread to tell us what your monthly reads for June 2024 were.

Please provide:
~ A GoodReads link
~ A few sentences telling us how you felt about the book.
~ How would you rate the book

Here are my July reads. I've been watching the Olympics so my reading has slowed down the last week.

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Format: eBook
Genre: Sports Fiction
Rate: 2/4 - Didn't meet expectations
Third-string NFL quarterback Rick Dockery blows a big lead in the Super Bowl and is cut from the team. Everyone is hating on him and no other team will hire him. So his agent gets him a job in Parma, Italy. He will be the quarterback for the Panthers. The Panthers are sort of a hapless football team. Most of the team isn't paid but play because they love the game. After a win they get "paid" in pizza and beer. Italy is not a football town. There are quite a lot of play by play descriptions of their games. So it would be best if the reader has some knowledge of the game. It's a pleasant read with few surprises. The story needed more action and tension. I expected more from Grisham.

Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson

Format: eBook
Genre: Thriller
Rate: 3/5 Good -Met my expectations
Michael Crichton passed away in 2008. His wife found an unfinished manuscript and asked James Patterson to finish it. I can see that a lot of research went into it. However, it probably was just a rough draft.
I don't want to give any spoilers as this is a thriller. I'll just say the novel is about more then a large volcanic explosion in Hawaii. The premise is all to real if you've read the non fiction book, The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus
I found the start a bit slow. However the middle really picked up. I thought the ending a bit rushed and abrupt. As with most fiction books I think it could have been trimmed by 50 pages. I think this is a good beach or airplane read. I would be shocked if plans for a movie aren't already in the works.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult Thriller
Format: eBook and Audio Book
Rate: 4/5 Exceeded my expectations
I listened to the audio, which was well done with 4 narrators as I followed along with the eBook.
The novel opens up like the movie, The Breakfast Club.

Bronwyn, the brain,
Addy, the beauty,
Nate, the criminal.
Cooper, the athlete
And Simon, the outcast. He is the creator of notorious gossip app. He knows what secrets they all are hiding.
One of them dies. So it's a who done it with some teen romance thrown in. I did enjoy it and thought it was good for a YA book.

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

Format: eBook
Genre: Cozy mystery, romance
Rate: 4/5
I finished reading this lighthearted, feel good novel. This is the third Pooley book I've read and I've enjoyed all three.
This is about a group of seniors who are anything but sad sacks watching the world go by. In books the author notes that she often sees older people portrayed as sad, lonely, hopeless technophobe, adrift in modern society, who are then saved by the kindness of a younger person. With this fun cast of characters she aims to set the record straight. The book is a fun, warm hearted romp. The situation is totally improbable, but the underlying message rings true.

Hello everyone! I read four books for the month of July.

First up was The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown. My review on it can be found here.

This is a sequel to The Wild Robot (which I also reviewed), but in short, while the first book centers on how Roz the Robot would survive on an island with no human inhabitants, The Wild Robot Escapes answer the question, "Will Roz be able to escape civilization and return to the island that she has come to view as a home?"

So to sum up my thoughts on the first entry, it was a book that really took the time to explore its simple yet creative premise in a way that I can best describe as "charming and heartwarming, but also not afraid to get heartbreaking and dark when it needs to."

My thoughts on The Wild Robot Escapes are pretty similar, though I would argue that this novel is a tad bit better, thanks in part to the worldbuilding being a bit more polished and fleshed out this time around.

Now there is a third entry in the Wild Robot series and I'm curious to see how good it actually is.

Rating: A

The second book I read was Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Full review here.

This is basically a heist set in a fantasy world.

Okay, don't let its simple premise fool you. While this book is not a masterpiece, it's still pretty damn solid. Like, for me, one of its greatest strengths is how it handles its characters. In some cases (like with Kaz and Wylan) it takes characters that could've easily become boring or annoying and turns them into wonderful characters that the reader can't help but root for and get invested in. I also found the romance between Kaz and Inej to be fun and nuanced and I think its helped in part to Kaz and Inej already being wonderful characters in their own right.

That being said, it does have its fair share of problems, ranging from minor inconsistencies to mind boggling plot conveniences that I'm genuinely shocked weren't corrected before the book saw the light of day.

Despite that though, I did enjoy Six of Crows well enough to want to check out the sequel, Crooked Kingdom.

Rating: B

Third was The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson. I wrote a very long, slightly unhinged review about it, which you can read here.

After being missing for sixteen years, Bel's mother Rachel returns. But what truly caused Rachel to be missing for all this time and is she telling the truth?

I'm gonna be honest. I genuinely didn't think I would end up disliking this book as much as I did. See, for the first half or so, I was legitimately invested. The book did a great job showing the impact the disappearance has had on Bel, actually kept me guessing as to what the actual truth behind Rachel's disappearance was (thanks in part because it provided convincing evidence to support both sides of the "Is Rachel lying?" aspect), and Ash was a pretty interesting character in and of himself.

However, what really ruined it for me was a series of aggravating choices. For one thing, there was supposed to be this "Enemies to Lovers" sort of romance between Ash and Bel I think, but it has so little set up and development, that I was not at all invested in it and constantly questioned why it was even there to begin with. Seriously, if you want people to care about a romance (including people like me who love a good romance), you need to actually take the time to... well... set it up and develop it. Also, for some reason, the third person past tense POV is trying so hard to imitate first person past tense and I genuinely don't understand why the book didn't just use first person past tense to begin with. It also makes the book have a "first draft" kind of feel. Admittedly this is a more minor one, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. But the biggest, most aggravating choice of all was the big reveal, the answer to the entire Rachel Price mystery, basically the epic conclusion to the entire book. I break it down extensively in my review (and I do mean, extensively), but to make a very, very long story short: It makes no fucking sense on any level. The more you think about it, the more nonsensical, the more infuriating, the more stupid it becomes. Then on top of that, there is even more stupidity stacked on top with the post reveal twists. Before you ask, no. I have no idea what the author was thinking. I seriously don't.

Rating: D-

The final book I read this month was The House in The Cerulean Sea by T.J Klune. If you'd like to know my full thoughts on it, you can go here.

This is a book about a caseworker named Linus who works for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth and gets tasked with investigating an island orphanage to make sure that everyone and everything is okay and stuff.

Boy am I kicking myself for not reading this sooner. I mean, talk about a delightful book. It's very clear to me that the author had a lot of passion for this story because it seeps through in practically every aspect. The concept is genuinely creative and really gets explored to its fullest extent. The characters are so charming, so distinct, so fleshed out. The humor really works. I was really surprised by how many times I actually laughed when this book wanted to be funny. Even the writing style itself was really getting into the story. Needless to say, this has become one of my personal favorites, though my only complaint is that, despite the creative nature of the premise, the writing at times can be rather cliche, which is did take me out of the experience for a bit.

Apparently there's a sequel coming out and if it's anything like this book, I'm there!

Rating: A

Overall, I would say that, for the most part, July was a pretty solid month for me.

Alias Reader wrote: "Here are my July reads. I've been watching the Olympics so my reading has slowed down the last week. ..."

The Grisham book seems a disappointment. His stories are usually very good.

Other than that book, you've read some fun books.

Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! I read four books for the month of July.
.......
Overall, I would say that, for the most part, July was a pretty solid month for me...."

I agree, Hailey, you've had a good month.

I find the premise of The House in the Cerulean Sea particularly interesting and will check my library for it. The ratings here on GR are very high.

I also read 4 books this month:

We (3-star) - this is the original storyline that was fleshed out and detailed in 1984. The society is very regemented, the people very controlled. When D-503 (no names; just numbers in this book), meets a woman he's drawn to, he finds himself in a new world and doesn't know how to manage. This story is well written.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Astra (4-star) - this poor child is brought up in a very unconventional way. This book follows her into her middle ages, through the eyes of people she meets and interacts with througout the years. We don't hear from Astra's point of view, so she remains an enigma.
My review; https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Birds (3-star) - told from the viewpoint of a developementally challenged man. He's faced with change in his life and tries to ponder out how to deal with it.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters (5-star) - I loved this book. It's well laid out, well written and well presented. There's a lot of information here but one doesn't get lost in it.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! I read four books for the month of July.

First up was The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown. My review on it can be found here.

This is a sequel to The Wild Robot (which I also re..."

A very nice month for you, Hailey. Only one clunker.

Petra wrote: "I also read 4 books this month:

We (3-star) - this is the original storyline that was fleshed out and detailed in 1984. The society is very regemented, the people very..."

You had a very nice month, Petra.

I own A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters so I am very happy to see that you gave it a top rating.

Alias Reader wrote: "Here are my July reads. I've been watching the Olympics so my reading has slowed down the last week.

Playing for Pizza by [author:John Grisham|..."

Great going!

Petra wrote: "I also read 4 books this month:

We (3-star) - this is the original storyline that was fleshed out and detailed in 1984. The society is very regemented, the people very..."

Interesting non-mainstream assortment! 'The Birds' sounds like a similar point-of-view approach to one I found interesting: Elizabeth Is Missing.

John wrote: "
Great going!..."


Thanks, John. Hopefully I can knock off a few more prompts this August.

Not too bad a month!


A Left-Handed Woman: Essays by Judith Thurman ⭐️⭐️⭐️


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...



The Germans and Europe: A Personal Frontline History by Peter Millar ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...



Around Africa on My Bicycle by Riaan Manser ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...



The Other Side of Mrs. Wood by Lucy Barker ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

John, thanks for the book title. I've put Elizabeth Is Missing on my TBR list.

You've had an interesting reading month. I particularly your thoughts on Around Africa and The Other Side. I'll look for these at the library.

John wrote: "Not too bad a month!
"

A very nice eclectic reading month, John.

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your reviews. I find them very helpful.

At least July was slightly better than June. LOL! I was hoping to read more on vacation, but my MIL kept me on the go.


Good as Dead by Susan Walter
3 Stars
I was expecting more of a shock value out of this one and it let me down.


Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
5 Stars
One of my favorites of this year. It was a hard read at time, knowing that things like this actually happened in history, but it was an amazingly moving story.

That looks like a very good reading month to me, Kim. I don't often rate a book 5 stars. So when someone does I do take notice.

Alias Reader wrote: "Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! I read four books for the month of July.

First up was The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown. My review on it can be found here.

This is a sequel to The Wild Robot (..."

It certainly was, Alias!

Alias Reader wrote: "Here are my July reads. I've been watching the Olympics so my reading has slowed down the last week. ..."

LOL--i hear you on that. This year i've watched more Olympics than ever, thanks to our 15-day Peacock subscription. It allows me to watch events i want, when i want. Hurrah!

ANYway, it looks as though you had a pretty decent reading month, despite the rough start. I hope once the Games are finished, you can resume steady reading, Alias.

Hailey wrote: "
Third was The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson. I wrote a very long, slightly unhinged review about it, which you can read here...."

I liked reading your reviews, Hailey, as much because you tell the story, as that you critique the writing and choices the author made. These combine to give me a good feel for the selections. My favorite was your "unhinged" effort, as it gave me several laughs.

I keep seeing positive comments about the Klune novels, that i am adding this one to my TBR.

Thank you for taking the time to write & share these reviews with us here.

Petra wrote: "I also read 4 books this month:

We (3-star) - this is the original storyline that was fleshed out and detailed in 1984. The society is very regemented, the people very..."

Petra, thanks for sharing your reviews and list with us. I look forward to reading the first, as i mentioned when you first informed us you read it.

Your comments on Brief History were terrific & short. How did you manage to do that?! I learned much from the book but my synopses were paragraphs long. lol, me? long-winded?

I appreciated your comments on Astra & how the story is told. Curious way to present a character, imo. Regardless, you made it sound appealing.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share here.

John wrote: "Not too bad a month! A Left-Handed Woman: Essays by Judith Thurman ⭐️⭐️⭐️
..."

Good mix of books for the month, John. I appreciate that you shared the positive & negative aspects of the selections. It sounds as though the bicycle book would take quite a bit of patience.

I didn't realize you liked paranormal books, so i enjoyed reading those comments best. Thanks for sharing about all the books. I hope your August reading rewards you even better.

~*Kim*~ wrote: "At least July was slightly better than June. LOL! I was hoping to read more on vacation, but my MIL kept me on the go. .."

Kim, i'm pleased you found two books to finish last month, as i remember June was a challenge. The fact one was a 5-star book is even sweeter!

Here's hoping August is even better, reading-wise.

Petra wrote: "Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! I read four books for the month of July.
.......
Overall, I would say that, for the most part, July was a pretty solid month for me...."

I agree, Hailey, you've had ..."

Yeah, I highly recommend The House in The Cerulean Sea, Petra.

Also, I read your reviews for your July reads and I had no idea 1984 had basically been inspired by We. Thank you for sharing.

The following are the books i completed last month. Most were read for our Challenge, so i am linking to the pages where i fully reported on the selections. The first batch was at this link-- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life--Twyla Tharp MSG #190.
This is more a books cheering those who want to live their lives fully, despite their old age. The examples she shared were good ones and the few exercises offered were helpful. Mostly, it's about preparing oneself a day by envisioning the act itself. For me, it's working well, i don't easily decide not to do something, as a result. This was one of my biggest issues prior to the book.

Why the Innocent Plead Guilty and the Guilty Go Free: And Other Paradoxes of Our Broken Legal System--Jed S. Rakoff. MSG#193. Judge Rakoff shares facts and his own opinions about the status of the courts, both Federal and states. He also explored evidence and why views on them continue to change.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation--Ottessa Moshfegh. MSG#193.
Curious book about a woman who has decided to sleep for one year, using all sorts of drugs, prescribed by a bizarre psychiatrist, unaware of the patient's intent. Unique idea and such a downer.

Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon--Melissa L. Sevigny MSG#199.
Informative NF about botany, rapids rafting, the early 20th century and two outstanding females who just wanted to find, sample & share about the plants along the Colorado, into the Grand Canyon. I liked the story & the writing.

Central Park West--James Comey. MSG#200.
Novel about the Federal courts and the lawyer who is prosecuting crimes. Her "team" includes an detective and an FBI agent. I feel Comey has a good grasp of storytelling, the law and the system. It kept me interested.

A Tiding of Magpies--Steve Burrows. Not a Challenge book, so no link.

This is the 5th in his "Birder Mystery" series, featuring a Canadian detective, now in England, who is an avid bird watcher. I've read the earlier books & like them each. The birding aspects are interesting and sometimes help him resolve a case or issue.

This time, however, the series failed me when a case long passed, which made the detective's reputation, comes up for a review. I was unclear on why the review, as well as what the point was. Even the birding this time was less interesting. I'm not sure i'll return to the series.

The Book of the Most Precious Substance--Sara Gran. MSG#206, at this link--https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I like the writing of Sara Gran. She introduces characters which appeal to me, despite their flaws. Part of this interest is in the way Gran presents them, i believe.

In this case, two booksellers try to find the title book, which is supposed to grant one's wish, after the subjects complete 5 steps, which include bodily substances. The review at the link explains further.

Awww ... I liked the Moshfegh book!

RE: My Year of Rest and Relaxation

Deb wrote: My Year of Rest and Relaxation--Ottessa Moshfegh. MSG#193.
Curious book about a woman who has decided to sleep for one year, using all sorts of drugs, prescribed by a bizarre psychiatrist, unaware of the patient's intent. Unique idea and such a downer.


John wrote: "Awww ... I liked the Moshfegh book!"

That really sounds like a bizzarro book.

The challenge certainly led you to a very eclectic mix of books, deb. I've enjoyed reading your thoughts on them as you complete the prompts.

John wrote: "Awww ... I liked the Moshfegh book!"

This is about Ottessa Moshfegh. I didn't mean to say i disliked it, only that it was odd and seemed more a downer than hopeful, as i'd thought it would be. Also, i kept waiting to learn why the "Year" seemed important to her & it took a bit too long to arrive. Not that she needed to inform readers immediately but, for me, it was too drawn out.

When my daughter visited last month, i mentioned i needed a book about the 7 Deadly & she immediately told me about this book, which she'd just read. Fortunately, i finished it while she was still here, so we talked about it. After that, i decided i want to read another of her novels. Have you read anything else by her, John?

Ultimately, i think the GoodReads blurb about another page, about Moshfegh's short story collection, said it better than i ever could--

There's something eerily unsettling about Ottessa Moshfegh's stories, something almost dangerous, while also being delightful, and even laugh-out-loud funny. Her characters are all unsteady on their feet in one way or another; they all yearn for connection and betterment, though each in very different ways, but they are often tripped up by their own baser impulses and existential insecurities. This is a perfect description of My Year of Rest and Relaxation.

Alias Reader wrote: "The challenge certainly led you to a very eclectic mix of books, deb. I've enjoyed reading your thoughts on them as you complete the prompts.."

Thank you, Alias. They are a mix of books, aren't they? It's one reason i like the Challenge so much. I may tailor mine next year, though, as my TBR is eclectic on its own. Somehow what we come up with evades too many of the books on that list, darnit!

I have not read anything else by her, as none of the descriptions sound like I'd be a target reader.

Had it not been for my daughter, i suspect i never would have given Moshfegh a try, as none sound like my cuppa. So, here i sit. :-)

madrano wrote: "Hailey wrote: "
Third was The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson. I wrote a very long, slightly unhinged review about it, which you can read here...."

I liked reading your reviews, Hail..."

You're welcome, madrano. I'm glad to hear my review of The Reappearance of Rachel Price got some laughs out of you. It's so fascinating how a book can go from something one thinks they'll enjoy to a book they end up strongly disliking.

I agree. Fortunately, sometimes it's a quick change, so one can abandon the book, if desired.

I didn't read much in July - only three books and two of them were rereads. :)

Horror in the Woods: Book 1 in the Extreme Horror Series by Lee Mountford - 5 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (reread)


The Handyman by Bentley Little - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hell: The Possession and Exorcism of Cassie Stevens by Tom Lewis - 5 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (reread)


That is my wrap up for July. :)

All top rated ! Nice.

Marie, i like that you re-evaluate the books after rereading them. It's neat to see your consistency. And i really liked the phrasing in your concluding comment on The Handyman, "I have more books by this author simmering on my kindle and will jump back into his work later this year."

Simmer on!

Alias Reader wrote: "All top rated ! Nice."

Thank you, Alias! :)

madrano wrote: "Marie, i like that you re-evaluate the books after rereading them. It's neat to see your consistency. And i really liked the phrasing in your concluding comment on The Handyman, "I have more books ..."

I do reread books quite a bit. I use that simmer saying quite a bit - lol. :)

Thank you Deb. :)