On The Same Page discussion

There are always books that "everyone" is reading or that everyone says you "should read" or worst of all the someone or more than one someone tells you that you "have" to read. I always have trouble reading those books. Sometimes the description of the book just doesn't appeal to me. Sometimes I figure the book is just over hyped (sometimes I'm right about that). Sometimes I just get a stubborn streak and refuse to read what "everyone" is reading. Most of all I hate for someone to tell me I "have" to read something. It's been my experience that forcing someone to read a book is the best way to ensure that they will hate that book.

Over the past few years though I have discovered that sometimes when I break down and read one of those books, I am pleasantly surprised. It turns out that sometimes "everyone" is right, and I did "have" to read that book. The Kite Runner was one of those books for me. I resisted it for years but when I finally read it, I was blown away. Wouldn't my reading life have been less full if I had missed that book? Yes. More recently there was Cutting for Stone. Wow! What a book! I had literally refused to read it for years. Now, I'm so glad I didn't miss that book.

So this list is made up of a few of "those" books that I may have been missing. I'm going to read them and mark them off my list with either HIT or MISS. The first book on the list is actually a book one of my good friends in High School loved and insisted I "had" to read. I'm not going to tell you how long ago that was but I'm finally going to find out if she was right. Who knows, maybe I've just been missing it all this time.

1. Jamaica Inn Completed 4/8/25 Hit
2. The Silent Patient Completed 2/27/25 Miss
3. Water for Elephants
4. Where the Crawdads Sing Completed 5/14/25 HIT!
5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Completed 1/31/25 Hit
6. Neuromancer Completed 1/26/25 Hit
7. PachinkoCompleted 1/29/25 Hit
8. The Thirteenth Tale. Completed 2/15/25 Miss
9. Shotgun Lovesongs. Completed 2/22/25 HIT!
10. The Lincoln Highway Completed 3/16/25 HIT
11. The Old Man and the Sea Completed 3/22/25 Hit
12. The Little Prince Complete 1/15/25 Hit

Alternates (But not really because, you know, I "have" to)
13. Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster. Complete 3/10’25. Hit
14. The Year of Magical Thinking Complete 2/25/25 Hit
15. The God of the Woods Complete 1/5/25 Miss
16. The Berry Pickers Complete 1/15/25 Hit

For clarity:
Hit = Everyone was right! I would have hated to miss this book.
Miss = What was everyone thinking? I would never have missed this if I hadn't read it.

Interesting - I also have Jamaica Inn on my 12+4 list this year.

A couple of these books I have also held off on reading for a similar reason, but there are also a few gems that I really enjoyed.

I like some of du Maurier's work. I'll be interested in your thoughts on Jamaica Inn. Neuromancer was definitely interesting and Water for Elephants was too. Joan Didion makes you think. Good luck with your choices, Michelle. Enjoy your 2025 reading.

Btw, I also have the habit of avoiding books that everybody seems to enjoy immensely.

Great list! I usually don't read what the others are reading, but I've read almost all on this list. Can't wait to see your reviews, happy reading!

Michelle wrote: "There are always books that "everyone" is reading or that everyone says you "should read" or worst of all the someone or more than one someone tells you that you "have" to read. I always have troub..."

There are 4 or 5 of those I really loved, maybe 4 I was pressured into trying and hated, and then some I never read. Looking forward to seeing your ratings.

I've only read Water For Elephants and Seven Husbands, both of which I enjoyed and would recommend.
I can also have a stubborn streak. At one point everyone seemed to read Eleanor Oliphant - I only ended up eventually reading it as it was gifted to me. And once I read it, I did like it

Melissa wrote: "Interesting - I also have Jamaica Inn on my 12+4 list this year.

A couple of these books I have also held off on reading for a similar reason, but there are also a few gems that I really enjoyed."

Glad to know there are some gems on the list, Melissa. I guess we'll both find out if Jamaica Inn is all that this year.

Melissa wrote: "Interesting - I also have Jamaica Inn on my 12+4 list this year.

A couple of these books I have also held off on reading for a similar reason, but there are also a few gems that I really enjoyed."

I've read several other DuMaurier, Bill, and enjoyed them. But never Jamaica Inn. Probably because I was told I had to. I'm glad you have read and enjoyed so many of the others. Maybe this will be a list of hits after all.

Ioana wrote: "Great list! I usually don't read what the others are reading, but I've read almost all on this list. Can't wait to see your reviews, happy reading!"


Good to know you have read so many of them Ioana. It makes me feel like these really were books I missed and I need to get busy.

Bonnie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "There are always books that "everyone" is reading or that everyone says you "should read" or worst of all the someone or more than one someone tells you that you "have" to read. I ..."

UhOh! Sounds like an even split Bonnie. Which ones should I look out for?

Vikki wrote: "I've only read Water For Elephants and Seven Husbands, both of which I enjoyed and would recommend.
I can also have a stubborn streak. At one point everyone seemed to read Eleanor Oliphant - I only..."

I enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant too so maybe I will enjoy the two you recommend. I hope so I have been looking forward to Water for Elephants and Seven Husbands.

It will be fun to see what you think of this list. I have succumbed to peer pressure and read many of these books.

For me:

1 star - The Old Man and the Sea

3 stars - Jamaica Inn, The Silent Patient, Where the Crawdads Sing, Midnight in Chernobyl

4 stars - Water for Elephants, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Pachinko, The Thirteenth Tale

5 star- The Lincoln Highway

Alissa and I have The Little Prince on our buddy reads list and I'm also hoping to read The God of the Woods with Ioana in the middle of the year. Even if you can't join us, I'll be watching here to see what you think. Have fun!

interesting breakdown Lea. It doesn't look good for The Old Man and The Sea but I'm excited for Lincoln Highway. I read and enjoyed Gentleman in Moscow so my expectations for that one are high.

Good luck and great idea for a list, Michelle.

I've read a few, and have a few on the tbr. I don't usually succumb to books that I should read or have to read. I actually rebel against them for some reason. I do however, have an entire list, of books that Bill recommended and may need to focus on him. 😂🤣

Michelle wrote: "interesting breakdown Lea. It doesn't look good for The Old Man and The Sea but I'm excited for Lincoln Highway. I read and enjoyed Gentleman in Moscow so my expectations for that one are high."

The Old Man and The Sea was the first Hemingway novel I read and turned me away from reading him until I met my husband, who appreciated Hemingway. I will say that I usually dislike short stories, but that is where Hemingway shines. His short stories are his best work, IMO. This book is short, and maybe I was grumpy when I read it before.

I think The Lincoln Highway is very different than A Gentleman in Moscow, so maybe lower your expectations a bit. I enjoyed both books, but I felt they weren't very similar.

@Alondra. I'm looking forward to the Bill recommended list LOL.

@Lea I actually do like Hemingway, but he is an acquired taste. You are right about his short stories. It's the economy of words in his writing that I admire.

I have heard others say that the two Towles books are very different. People seem to fall on one side or the other. I'm anxious to see where I land.

Michelle wrote: "I have heard others say that the two Towles books are very different. People seem to fall on one side or the other. "

I loved them both.

Hopefully that will be my experience too Laurel

I loved your opening post and I'm exactly like you when it comes to those books. If books get hyped, I just wait until the hype flew over and then read them. I don't want my opinion being influenced by the hype before reading the actual book.
When it comes to 'The kiterunner': I had that book for so many years, but never read it. After seeing the movie, I'm sure I'll never read it...
I really enjoyed 'The thirteen Tale' and need to read numbers 3, 4 and 7 too.

Michelle wrote: "@Alondra. I'm looking forward to the Bill recommended list LOL.

@Lea I actually do like Hemingway, but he is an acquired taste. You are right about his short stories. It's the economy of words in..."

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

So far, most are 4 & 5 Star reads. I think Bill knows what he's talking about. 😂🥰

@Saar. I'm looking forward to The Thirteenth Tale. Good to know you enjoyed it.

Have read several of these including The Thirteenth Tale, Jamaica Inn, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster, Water for Elephants and The Little Prince. They're all so different from each other, I liked them all though one that sticks out in my mind is The Little Prince. Haven't picked it up in decades and I still remember the story, the illustrations. Such a wonderful book.

2025 looks to be filled with plenty of good books waiting for you. Enjoy!

Lillie wrote: "Have read several of these including The Thirteenth Tale, Jamaica Inn, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, [book:Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story ..."

Thanks Lillie! Good to know you enjoyed so many of these. Looks like I really have been missing something.

I have read and enjoyed most of the books you have on your list. good luck!

Thanks Jackie!

I'm kicking off this list with The God of the Woods. I feel like this is one of the most recent "everyone has to read this" books. We'll see if it's a hit or a miss for me.

Michelle wrote: "I'm kicking off this list with The God of the Woods. I feel like this is one of the most recent "everyone has to read this" books. We'll see if it's a hit or a miss for me."

I hope it's good, I'm on the waiting list for it, and will buddy read it with Lea whenever we both get it. Fingers crossed!

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm kicking off this list with The God of the Woods. I feel like this is one of the most recent "everyone has to read this" books. We'll see if it's a hit or a mis..."

I'm actually reading it first because when I first put it on hold there was a 20 something week wait list. Suddenly it popped up as available yesterday. Go figure!

The Thirteenth Tale and a Year of Magical Thinking were both 5 star reads for me. I also have The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo on my challenge this year. Good luck with your challenge.

Michelle wrote: "Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm kicking off this list with The God of the Woods. I feel like this is one of the most recent "everyone has to read this" books. We'll see if it's ..."

I'm glad there are some 5 stars in my future Denise. Let's hope Seven Husbands lives up to the hype for both our sakes.

First book of the list completed. The God of the Woods
is a miss for me but just barely.

A very complicated plot but to condense it down to the basics. Two siblings go missing from a family run summer camp 15 years apart. The first case is closed but locals believe the conclusion was a miscarriage of justice. A young investigator believes that solving the first case will give answers to the second but she learns that old secrets are deeply buried and new ones might not need to be brought to light.

I want to be clear that I enjoyed this book. It was well written, and I was eager to see both mysteries solved. Why a miss then? I put this one on the list because it was one that was being hyped at the time I made the list. It was a good book but I'm not sure it lives up to the hype. I was not on pins and needles, and I grew a little tired of the characters. Every character had their deep psychological issues and it just got to be a little much.

4 overbearing men, decadent wealth and neglected children stars.

“Panic,' said T.J. But no one raised a hand.
She explained. It came from the Greek god Pan: the god of the woods. He liked to trick people, to confuse and disorient them until they lost their bearings, and their minds.”
― Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

“Her voice, it seemed, had been continuously decrescendoing since birth, so that by age twelve, she could scarcely be heard.”
― Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

“Her father once told her casually that she was built like a plum on toothpicks, and the phrase was at once so cruel and so poetic that it clicked into place around her like a harness.”
― Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

“To be a human is complex, and often painful; to be an animal is comfortingly simple and good.”
― Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

Michelle wrote: "First book of the list completed. The God of the Woods
is a miss for me but just barely.

A very complicated plot but to condense it down ..."

Yeah, I think I already told you that I added this; so, yeah.... LOL

Also; not saying it is "4 overbearing men, decadent wealth and neglected children stars"...Now, THAT'S a review!.😂😂😂

Thanks Alondra! Hope you enjoy it.

Currently reading The Little Prince and Neuromancer and listening to The Berry Pickers. That should take a bite out of this list!

Michelle wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "There are always books that "everyone" is reading or that everyone says you "should read" or worst of all the someone or more than one someone tells you that you "ha..."

I loved Jamaica Inn, Water for Elephants, The Seven Husbands.. , and Pachinko

Bonnie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "There are always books that "everyone" is reading or that everyone says you "should read" or worst of all the someone or more than one someone tells..."

That makes me want to dig into this list even more Bonnie. I'm looking forward to all of those.

I LOVE this idea!!!!!

Michelle wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "There are always books that "everyone" is reading or that everyone says you "should read" or worst of all the someone or more than on..."

Thanks Alissa! It's been fun so far.

My first hit! The Little Princeby Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A sweet children's classic about a little prince who leaves his planet, learns many things, and imparts some wisdom of his own. This story accompanied by it's beautiful and recognizable illustrations can be enjoyed by all ages. A great book to share with multiple generations.

This is one of those books that I somehow missed when I was growing up. Ever since then I have felt that I should read it. Even so it might not have made this list without my five-year-old grandson telling me I "had" to read it because he loved it. He was right. I loved it too.

4 you can't miss a classic children's book no matter how old you get stars.

Quotable:

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

“All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

“Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Michelle wrote: "My first hit! The Little Princeby Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A sweet children's classic about a little prince who leaves his planet, learns many things, and imparts so..."

That's a beautiful story, and beautiful illustrations.

Michelle wrote: "My first hit! The Little Princeby Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A sweet children's classic about a little prince who leaves his planet, learns many things, and imparts so..."

This book will always and forever be a favorite, loved the story and because we did a play of it in 4th grade. So many wonderful memories associated with it.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "My first hit! The Little Princeby Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A sweet children's classic about a little prince who leaves his planet, learns many thing..."

It is I don't know how I have missed it all these years.

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "My first hit! The Little Princeby Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A sweet children's classic about a little prince who leaves his planet, learns many thing..."

It's the kind of book that is not only memorable but creates memories as well. No matter how old you are when you finally read it.

The hits keep coming with The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters.

A family of migrant blueberry pickers in Maine find themselves unable to accept the loss when their youngest daughter disappears. The book follows the family as they struggle through the coming years particularly the youngest family members. This book dealt with loss, grief and guilt, combining them with a little bit of mystery to draw the reader into the family circle.

I added this book to the list because it was another recent release that was getting a lot of hype. Unlike The God of the Woods, I felt like this one exceeded expectations. It was a quiet book but I was not bored and I loved the characters. Well written. Not earth shattering but I'm definitely glad I didn't miss this one.

4 family secrets and inherited guilt stars.

Quotable:

“I found it strange that no word exists for a parent who loses a child. If children lose their parents, they are orphans. If a husband loses his wife, he’s a widower. But there’s no word for a parent who loses a child. I’ve come to believe that the event is just too big, too monstrous, too overwhelming for words. No word could ever describe the feeling, so we leave it unsaid.”
― Amanda Peters, The Berry Pickers

“When you’re an only child, semi-imprisoned, books become more than paper between hard cardboard, more than the alphabet organized into words and printed on a page.”
― Amanda Peters, The Berry Pickers

“Even people who exude light and happiness have dark secrets. Sometimes, the lie becomes so entrenched it becomes the truth, hidden away in the deep recesses of the mind until death erases it, leaving the world a little different. Secrets and lies can take on a life of their own, they can be twisted and manipulated, or they can burst into the world from the mouth of someone just as they are starting to lose their mind.”
― Amanda Peters, The Berry Pickers

“Fate is a trickster. He likes to set up all the clues just to see if you can put them together and make sense of the things you never thought to make sense of in the first place.”
― Amanda Peters, The Berry Pickers

Love this idea. But why do we procrastinate on these?! Maybe high expectations? Reading Seven Husbands now and so far so good. I read Where the Crawdads Sing and it was excellent in my opinion, but do NOT watch the movie, UGH! Water for Elephants is on my TBR. Sad to hear about God of the Woods, was looking forward to that one.

Other Hits with books like these for me:
The Book Thief
When Breath Becomes Air
Lessons in Chemistry
Greenlights

Lessons in Chemistrt

Don't not read The God of the Woods on my account. It was a good book, just not earth-shattering. If it had been a little shorter and tighter, it would have been a hit for me. I've read all of your above hits except Greenlights. I agree with your assessment on them all, so I guess I better get busy and read Geeenlights.

Still reading Neuromancer. Just started listening to Pachinko.