On The Same Page discussion

Any way you want it
That’s the way you need it
Any way you want it
-Journey 1980

This independent reading thread for 2025 is all about reading what I want to read in the format that works best for the moment and recording it here in a way that makes me happy. I want to sprinkle quotes throughout because I enjoy that. I want to try to complete 2 12+4 challenges. I want to fill in my 2025 motley challenge as I go. I want to make progress on my ongoing presidents challenge which I will track on this thread. I want to read about 150 books overall. And most difficult of all this year I want to learn to DNF a book when it becomes clear to me that I really don't want to read it. I also hope my Goodreads friends will chime in often. Your comments are always welcome and make this more fun.

The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.
-Melody Beattie

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence."
– Calvin Coolidge

My Reading through the Presidents Challenge

1. George Washington - 1. The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon completed 3/16/20 2. Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy completed 3/31/22
2. John Adams - First Family: Abigail and John Adams completed 8/6/20
3. Thomas Jefferson
4. James Madison
5. James Monroe
6. John Quincy Adams
7. Andrew Jackson
8. Martin Van Buren
9. William H. Harrison William Henry Harrison: Young Tippecanoe 1/16/25
10. John Tyler
11. James K. Polk
12. Zachary Taylor
13. Millard Fillmore
14. Franklin Pierce
15. James Buchanan
16. Abraham Lincoln - 1. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln completed 9/25/20 2. And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle completed 4/18/23
17. Andrew Johnson
18. Ulysses S. Grant - Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant: All Volumes Volumes 1 & 2 only completed 10/11/22
19. Rutherford B. Hayes
20. James Garfield - Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President completed 6/21/25
21. Chester A. Arthur
22. Grover Cleveland
23. Benjamin Harrison
24. Grover Cleveland
25. William McKinley
26. Theodore Roosevelt -The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt completed 11/15/21 The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey completed 8/1/25
27. William H. Taft
28. Woodrow Wilson
29. Warren G. Harding
30. Calvin Coolidge - The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge: Authorized, Expanded, and Annotated Edition completed 12/30/21
31. Herbert Hoover
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt - No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II completed 11/7/23
33. Harry S. Truman
34. Dwight D. Eisenhower
35. John F. Kennedy
36. Lyndon B. Johnson
37. Richard M. Nixon -1. All the President's Men completed 6/9/23 2. Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America
38. Gerald R. Ford
39. Jimmy Carter - His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life completed 1/5/23
40. Ronald Reagan - An American Life completed 4/28/22
41. George H. W. Bush - 41: A Portrait of My Father completed 12/27/24
42. Bill Clinton
43. George W. Bush
44. Barack Obama - A Promised Land completed 2/17/21
45. Donald Trump - TheRoom Where It Happened: A White House Memoir completed 4/6/21
46. Joe Biden
47. Donald Trump

"If the problem is fear, the answer is knowledge." – Joe Biden

Let the wild rumpus start!”
― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

I’m starting off the year with:
The Lost Story Hardback. I really like this author.
Mrs. Plansky's Revenge Audiobook. Funny.

Good luck and happy reading, Michelle.

Can't wait to see what you pick over the course of the year. ☺️

Thanks Alondra. I feel like I'm off to a good start.

I always enjoy your reviews, the quotes and the stars! I can't wait to see what you read in 2025, happy reading!!

Ioana wrote: "I always enjoy your reviews, the quotes and the stars! I can't wait to see what you read in 2025, happy reading!!"

Thanks Ioana! I look forward to you checking in now and then throughout the year.

Happy reading, Michelle! I always enjoy your reviews too.

Lea wrote: "Happy reading, Michelle! I always enjoy your reviews too."

Thanks Lea!

“I’m just saying—when you hear hoofbeats, don’t look for a zebra.”
― Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

3 books
15 pages

3 audiobooks
0 print

#1 Mrs. Plansky's Revenge A fun start to the year. Mrs. Plansky receives a phone call in the middle of the night and inadvertently falls victim of a scam. After the scammer wipes out her entire fortune, the FBI says she won't get her money back and she is forced to admit to her family what happened, she sets off to Romania to bring the scammer to justice. 4 don't mess with old ladies stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#2 The God of the Woods Siblings go missing from a summer camp 15 years apart. A young investigator believes that finding some answers to the first disappearance will solve the second. 4 what happened in the woods stars. Mystery.

#3 The First Part Last A sixteen-year-old Dad tells his story. 3 life gets real stars. Contemporary Fiction/Banned.

Currently Reading:
The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory
The Lost Bookshop
The Lost Story

“Being humorless, she thought, was even worse than being dumb.”
― Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

Good to see that you enjoyed The God of the Woods. I'm hoping to read that too this year. Mrs. Plansky sounds fun. I didn't have that one on my list.

Lea wrote: "Good to see that you enjoyed The God of the Woods. I'm hoping to read that too this year. Mrs. Plansky sounds fun. I didn't have that one on my list."

Mrs. Plansky was a hoot! TGOTW was good but I'm not sure it was everything it was hyped up to be. It was a well written complicated story but I wasn't on the edge of my seat and I felt that the resolution was a little bland. Later in the year and farther away from the hype will probably make it better.

Michelle wrote: "Mrs. Plansky was a hoot! TGOTW was good but I'm not sure it was everything it was hyped up to be. It was a well written complicated story but I wasn't on the edge of my seat and I felt that the resolution was a little bland. Later in the year and farther away from the hype will probably make it better."

I really liked Long Bright River, but went into that book blind, not really knowing what it was supposed to be. Unfortunately, now that I know Moore can write, my expectations are higher. I will have to tamp those down a little. :-)

4 stars for the The God of the Woods, great news! I'm on the waiting list for it, hope to get it by end of Feb or so. I love this quote:

“Being humorless, she thought, was even worse than being dumb.”
― Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

Michelle wrote: "“I’m just saying—when you hear hoofbeats, don’t look for a zebra.”
― Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

3 books
15 pages

3 audiobooks
0 print

#1 [book:Mrs..."

Great update, Michelle. God of the Woods sounds good, but the biggest complaint was that it was a tad too long and wordy. I'm thinking of adding it, since it actually won the GRCA, but not because it won the GRCA. 🤔🤣🥴

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Mrs. Plansky was a hoot! TGOTW was good but I'm not sure it was everything it was hyped up to be. It was a well written complicated story but I wasn't on the edge of my seat and I ..."

Liz Moore can definitely write! That was the good part of the book. It just had so many flawed characters and the story was so complicated. After a while you just wanted resolution.

Ioana wrote: "4 stars for the The God of the Woods, great news! I'm on the waiting list for it, hope to get it by end of Feb or so. I love this quote:

“Being humorless, she thought, was even worse than being d..."

Me too. Liz Moore had a lot of great observations like that from many of the characters. That was a plus. I just felt things could have moved along a little faster and maybe the ending could have had more oomph!

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "“I’m just saying—when you hear hoofbeats, don’t look for a zebra.”
― Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

3 books
15 pages

3 audiobooks
0 print

#1 [bookcover:Mrs. Plansky's Revenge|6..."

Yes. A tad too long and wordy would about sum it up. The GRCA is still a good indicator of a quality book even if you think the hype for the book was a little inflated.

Michelle wrote: "Yes. A tad too long and wordy would about sum it up. The GRCA is still a good indicator of a quality book even if you think the hype for the book was a little inflated...."

Okay. I'm adding it. I like a good mystery and don't mind wordiness; as long as it is going somewhere or adding to the story.

What A cool idea. The reading wheel keeps on turning.

I am very curious to see what you read for your president's project. I am reading a lot on the Founding Fathers right now too. I am really enjoying Chernow's Washington and 1776 was also great.

Happy reading! Looking forward to hearing more about various books you discover.

Starting off strong Michelle! Looks like I'll be adding Mrs Plansky's Revenge and The God of the Woods to my lists

Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. —C. S. Lewis”
― Meg Shaffer, The Lost Story

6 books
775 pages

5 audiobooks
1 print

#4 The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory. The true story of an all deaf football team that comes together to win the state championship. The well researched and detailed look at the deaf culture was fascinating. The play by play football games were the opposite of fascinating. That could just be me I’m not much of a sportsball person. I did feel though that the narration of the audiobook fell flat, especially in the sections of the book dealing with the actual games. 3 needed more sports announcer less anchorman stars. Nonfiction.

#5. The Lost Story A delightful combination of the real world and fantasy. This was literally an adult fairytale and I loved it. 4 don’t we all secretly want to visit Narnia stars. Fantasy.

#6. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness. This one made me feel anxious. Not because I’m part of the anxious generation but because I apparently mothered it and according to this book I didn’t do a very good job. To be fair the author does a great job of evaluating the changes smartphones have brought. The data was well presented and I mostly agree that the author is right. The problem is that we can’t undo some things. His suggestions for change are not bad but implementation will depend largely on the anxious generation. 3 if I had done some of the things he suggests as a parent, child protective services would have been knocking on my door stars. Nonfiction.

Currently reading:
The Lost Bookshop
The Wild Robot

“All books are magic. An object that can take you to another world without even leaving your room? A story written by a stranger and yet it seems they wrote it just for you or to you? Loving and hating people made out of ink and paper, not flesh and blood? Yes, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.”
― Meg Shaffer, The Lost Story

the two big mistakes we’ve made: overprotecting children in the real world (where they need to learn from vast amounts of direct experience) and underprotecting them online (where they are particularly vulnerable during puberty).”
― Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

Socially prescribed perfectionism is closely related to anxiety; people who suffer from anxiety are more prone to it. Being a perfectionist also increases your anxiety because you fear the shame of public failure from everything you do. And, as you’d expect by this point in the story, socially prescribed perfectionism began rising, across the Anglosphere nations, in the early 2010s.”
― Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness

“In a place called lost, strange things are found.”
― Evie Gaughan, The Lost Bookshop

9 books
1502 pages

7 audiobooks
2 print

#7 The Wild Robot A quirky little book about a robot alone in the wild. This was a fun little book. I'm not sure what age group it was actually aimed at. Mostly it would be appropriate as a read aloud for young children but preview it first there were abrupt passages that felt a little too violent. 3 some robots are packing heat stars. Fiction-YA.

#8 The Lost Bookshop Surprisingly good and upbeat. This book touches on so much; women's empowerment, abuse, rare book trading, books, book shops and wraps them all in magical realism. It sounds like a mess but it came together into a delightful tale. 4 magical realism and books about books stars. Historical Fiction-Magical Realism.

#9 The Nickel Boys So glad I finally read this classic. The audiobook is expertly read by J.D. Jackson. I highly recommend it. 4 a book so memorable it will stay with you forever stars. Historical Fiction.

Currently reading:
The Berry Pickers
The Little Prince
Neuromancer

“She discovered that all the different animals shared one common language; they just spoke the language in different ways. You might say each species spoke with its own unique accent.”
― Peter Brown, The Wild Robot

“I couldn’t explain it, not even to myself, but books gave me an unflinching sense of stability and groundedness. That because words survived, somehow I would too.”
― Evie Woods, The Lost Bookshop

“Make a career of humanity. Make it a central part of your life.”
― Colson Whitehead, The Nickel Boys

“Words are powerful and funny things, said or unsaid.”
― Amanda Peters, The Berry Pickers

12 books
1213 pages

9 audio
3 print

#10 The Berry Pickers This was a complicated story about family and guilt with a little mystery thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed it. 4 are our true selves molded more by nature or by nurture stars. Fiction.

#11 The Little Prince I loved this classic children's story. I only regret that I waited until I was grown up to read it. 4 warm fuzzies stars. Fiction-Children.

#12 William Henry Harrison: Young Tippecanoe Before you click on the link and ask yourself "What is Michelle playing at?", let me explain. I'm looking at my President's challenge and thinking that if I want to finish it without buying a bunch of large dusty history books, then I'm going to have to get creative especially with some of the lesser-known Presidents. So, this book, which is actually a young reader chapter book from the Young Patriot series, was available from my library and I thought I would give it a try. It was bare bones as far as history is concerned and certainly a rosy version of history, so I probably won't look to this series again (though I'm not ruling it out). I did learn a few facts about our 9th president though so I feel I can fairly count it. What facts you ask? Harrison was descended from original Jamestown settlers. His father signed the Declaration of Independence and was a governor of Virginia. Harrison served the shortest term of any president - 1 month. He was the first president to use a campaign slogan in his campaign - "Tippicanoe and Tyler too!" 3 what more would you need to know about William Henry Harrison stars. Nonfiction-Children.

Currently reading:
Neuromancer
The Haters
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons

But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn’t much improved my opinion of them.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

You’re on a roll Michelle! Love that you enjoyed The Little Prince. It’s been a particular favorite of mine since we did a play based on the book in fourth grade. I take it out and read it every so often.

Lillie wrote: "You’re on a roll Michelle! Love that you enjoyed The Little Prince. It’s been a particular favorite of mine since we did a play based on the book in fourth grade. I take it out and read it every so..."

Thanks Lillie! The Little Prince was recommended to me by my 5 year old grandson. I can’t believe I had never read it.

He wrote until the story was there, outside him, terrible in its truth.”
― Ashley Hope Pérez, Out of Darkness

15 books
1213 pages

12 audiobooks
3 print

#13. The Haters Three pretentious teens with bad attitudes run away from jazz camp determined to find venues to play their own brand of music. This was not a grand adventure story or an inspiring coming of age story. This was mostly a waste of time. 2 yes, I’m hating on the haters stars. Fiction-YA.

#14. Out of Darkness. Against a true historical background two young sweethearts try to find a way to have a life together. Not a bad story and the historical background was interesting. I did feel like there were too many ‘issues’ being addressed and some of the sex and violence was unnecessary to the story, especially for YA. 3 sometimes too much is just too much stars. Fiction-YA.

#15. Blood of Hercules. This was not romantasy. This was not Hunger Games. This was not dark academia. This was not sexy. This was not consensual. This was a very sparse and somewhat confusing plot. This was demeaning to women. This was violent. This was so many trigger warnings strung together that I lost count. 1 yes is not consent if it is coerced stars. Fiction.

Currently reading:
Neuromancer
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons
Pachinko

If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.

[Response to questionnaire in Saturday Review, October 29 1960]"
— John F. Kennedy

If there's anything better, God kept it for himself.”
― William Gibson, Neuromancer

17 books
12 pages

14 audiobooks
4 print

#16 Neuromancer. The cyberpunk classic by William Gibson is worth the read if only for the language and the atmosphere. Nicely done. 3 cyberspace cowboys and troubled 80’s atmosphere stars. SciFi-Cyberpunk.

#17 Pachinko Wonderful multi generational tale about a Korean family living in Japan. A layered story so well written with characters so real that they are unforgettable. 5 making the best choices that life will allow stars. Historical Fiction.

#18 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo What a great book. What a memorable character. Forbidden love set against a Hollywood glamour backdrop. I enjoyed this one start to finish. 4 living life on your own terms stars. Fiction.

Currently:
The Bluest Eye. Audiobook. Breaking my heart so far.
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons ebook. Fun fantasy.

Fill your mind with knowledge—it’s the only kind of power no one can take away from you.”
― Min Jin Lee, Pachinko

No one is just a victim or a victor. Everyone is somewhere in between. People who go around casting themselves as one or the other are not only kidding themselves, but they’re also painfully unoriginal.”
― Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

“Fear cannot breed where there is action.”
― Peter S. Beagle, I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons

23 books
1886 pages

17 audiobooks
6 print

#19 No, David! This children's book was for my banned books challenge. It was banned due to nudity. All of you who find naked stick figure drawings offensive consider yourself warned. Otherwise, a cute little book with a very accurate representation of an active little boy and an homage to parental love. 3 a parent of boys appreciation stars. Children's Fiction.

#20 I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons Peter S. Beagle's classic fairy tale about a prince, a princess, and a dragon exterminator. Fun one! 3 dragon infestation who you going to call stars. Fiction-Fantasy.

#21 Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail Andrea Lankford former park ranger relates her encounters while helping to search for three lost hikers from the PCT. If you like nonfiction, this was a really interesting account of what it takes to actually search for someone who goes missing in a wilderness environment. 4 Countless volunteers, drone spotting, miles of trail hiked to look for clues stars. Nonfiction.

#22 The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison's prize winning book about a child, and race, and beauty, and all the unfairness life has to offer. The writing was wonderful. The story was heart breaking. 5 bluest eye stars. Fiction.

#23 Forever . . . You can never go wrong with Judy Blume. In this book she tells a typical story of first love between two ordinary teens who make good decisions. It was once considered racy. Now I think most teens would consider it boring. I thought it was good guidance. 3 M+K=Forever stars. YA Fiction.

Currently reading:
Onyx Storm I think I'm over it.
The Thirteenth Tale Where is this one going?

On the trail of the lost, you may not find what you’re searching for, but you will find more than you seek.”
― Andrea Lankford, Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail

“A solo woman is more likely to survive a perilous incident in the outdoors than a solo man. Yet, the average female hiker fears for her safety more than the average guy does. Ironically, this phenomenon, dubbed the Fear-Gender Paradox, may be why women fare better, because their angst makes them behave more cautiously. Meanwhile, their overconfident male peers are taking more risks and suffering the consequences.”
― Andrea Lankford, Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail

Michelle wrote: "“Fear cannot breed where there is action.”
― Peter S. Beagle, I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons

23 books
1886 pages

17 audiobooks
6 print

#19 No, David! ..."

I enjoyed Beagle's The Last Unicorn and I have A Fine and Private Place on my bookshelf. I should explore his work more.

I felt the same way after reading I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons Bill. Unfortunately my library's selection of Beagle is limited. Time to scour the secondhand shops.

Great update, Michelle. Glad you got through The Bluest Eye. A great book and it tore me up too.

Kudos on your progress, as always!! <3

Alondra wrote: "Great update, Michelle. Glad you got through The Bluest Eye. A great book and it tore me up too.

Kudos on your progress, as always!! <3"

Thanks Alondra! Such an impact with The Bluest Eye. I didn't expect it to affect me so much.

“Reading can be dangerous.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

“For me to see is to read. It has always been that way.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

26 books
2334 pages

19 audiobooks
7 print

#24 Onyx Storm The third in what I thought was a trilogy but now learn is an ongoing series. Unfortunately, I'm kind of over it with this one. A decent story with fairly good world building and an ongoing romance. My complaint is the same as it always is with romantasy. I resent having a good fantasy tale constantly interrupted by explicit sex scenes. But that's just me apparently. 3 needs more dragons stars. Fiction-Romantasy.

#25 The Thirteenth Tale A good gothic tale and a good book for book lovers. I did enjoy it and I'm glad I finally read it but I'm not sure it lived up to the hype. 3 why are twins in literature always creepy? stars. Fiction-Gothic.

#26 Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America Wow! So glad I picked this one up for my presidents challenge. A great overview not only of Nixon's political career but also of that time period. And even better an explanation of the reverberations from that period that are felt even today. That said it is written with an extremely liberal bias so if that bothers you don't read it. 5 unbelievable stars. Nonfiction-History-Presidents Challenge.

Currently:
Shotgun Lovesongs Blowing me away right now.
Dark Matter A re-listen for my RL book club.

“But honesty was a dull blade to take into a knife fight with Richard Nixon — who was simply willing to lie.”
― Rick Perlstein, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America

“Being hated by the right people was no impediment to success. The unpolished were everywhere the majority.”
― Rick Perlstein, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America

“How did Nixonland end? It has not ended yet.”
― Rick Perlstein, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America

Haha, I love your thoughts about Onyx Storm. I haven't read it yet, but I imagine I am going to think the same. The dragons are the best part of those books. I've never heard of Shotgun Lovesongs, but apparently that needs to get added to my TBR.

Lea wrote: "Haha, I love your thoughts about Onyx Storm. I haven't read it yet, but I imagine I am going to think the same. The dragons are the best part of those books. I've never heard of Shotgun Lovesongs, ..."

She actually does such solid world building, I can’t help but think as I’m reading it what a great epic quest fantasy book she could have if so many pages weren’t wasted with you know. LOL. Give Nickolas Butler a try sometime. His writing is just beautiful. I also read and enjoyed his book The Hearts of Men.

The older I get, the less I understand.”
― Blake Crouch, Dark Matter

29 books
2669 pages

21 audiobooks
8 print

#27 Dark Matter This was a reread or more accurately a re listen for my RL book club. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. I also recently watched and enjoyed the AppleTV version. I’ve read several books by Blake Crouch but this was my first and so far the best. 4 stands up to multiple reads stars. SciFi.

#28 Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space. This was a great overview of the Challenger disaster and of NASA during that time period. The background information at the beginning was slow but necessary. Ultimately though I enjoyed this realistic and even fallible history of space travel so much more than the glittery version that I got from The Right Stuff. 4 things get real stars. Nonfiction-history.

#29 Shotgun Lovesongs. What a gorgeous book about love, and forgiveness and friendship; about growing up and small towns and the difficulty of being a good human. I highly recommend. 5 it gave me all the feels stars. Literary Fiction.

Currently:

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore Not as exciting as I thought it would be LOL
Birds, Beasts and Relatives. This is really making me want to go to Corfu and live in a rundown house on the beach.

she recalls the final conversation she had with Greg on the beach that afternoon at Cape Canaveral: But if something happens, just be happy. At first, she was angry about the way he died. “But anger isn’t constructive,” she said recently. “People make mistakes. And other people pay for it sometimes.”
― Adam Higginbotham, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space

Sometimes that is what forgiveness is anyway, a deep sigh”
― Nickolas Butler, Shotgun Lovesongs

Dark Matter is one of my all times favorites, I should re-read it too. So glad to hear it's as good the 2nd time as the first!!

Ioana wrote: "Dark Matter is one of my all times favorites, I should re-read it too. So glad to hear it's as good the 2nd time as the first!!"

Check out the AppleTV production if you can. They did a really decent job of it. My RL book club meets tonight. I'm really interested to hear what they thought about it. It's a bit of a departure for the group.

“Bookstores also stimulate our senses. Being surrounded by books matters. Sociologists have found that just growing up in a home full of books—mere proximity—confers a lifetime of intellectual benefits.”
― Evan Friss, The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore

32 books
2693 pages

24 audiobooks
8 print

#30 The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore This is literally a history of bookshops in America. I have to admit as much as I loved the topic it dragged in places. Ultimately though it inspired me to visit an independent bookstore which it featured. The bookstore is about 2.5 hours away from me but is actually one of the closest independent bookstores to me. Planning a trip soon. I would love to visit some of the others featured in the book. 3 you've got to love a bookshop stars. Nonfiction.

#31 The Year of Magical Thinking Joan Didion's classic essay collection on grief. My first by this author but not my last I think. 3 surviving grief stars. Nonfiction-Essay.

#32 The Silent Patient A good suspense novel with a nice twist. I liked the twist. I didn't like the characters. I didn't think it lived up to the hype stars. 3 what happened more important than who done it stars. Fiction-Suspense.

Currently:
Birds, Beasts and Relatives ebook. This book is like a vacation.
The Lincoln Highway Hardback. Loving it.
Next to Last Stand Audiobook. Longmire. Enough said.

“Read, learn, work it up, go to the literature.
Information is control.”
― Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking

“When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”
― Craig Johnson, Next to Last Stand

36 books
3289 pages

38 audiobooks
8 print

#33 Next to Last Stand Sheriff Longmire solves a mystery revolving around a stolen painting of Custer's last stand. Enjoyable as always. Great audiobook series. 3 Longmire takes on the art world stars. Mystery.

#34 The Sun Is Also a Star Star-crossed lovers have one day to share before fate tears them apart. Great little love story. 3 Romeo and Juliet stars. YA Romance.

#35 Nineteen Minutes As always Jodi Picoult writes a fictional novel that is not only controversial and emotionally charged but realistic as well. This story revolves around a school shooting and it's aftermath. Readers cannot help but be drawn into this story. 4 nineteen minutes can change everything stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#36 Winter Lost A little lighthearted Mercy Thompson adventure after the previous heavy hitter. Coyote finds a way to heal Mercy from her previous injuries. 3 Mercy prevents the apocalypse-again stars. Urban Fantasy.

Currently:
The Lincoln HighwayHardback. Hoping to get back into this one soon.
Birds, Beasts and Relatives ebook. This one makes me smile.
Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster Audiobook. Another heavy hitter I think.

“You can’t undo something that’s happened; you can’t take back a word that’s already been said out loud.”
― Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes

I think you were the reason that I restarted then binged the Mercy Thompson series. Now I’m waiting impatiently for the next one.

Midnight in Chernobyl is a good book. I knew nothing about what had happened other than what the news told us. Love learning new things. Hope you’re able to get back to it soon.

The Lincoln Highway and Midnight in Chernobyl are both good, can't wait to see what you think of them.

Michelle~You are doing such an impressive job. Reading so many books on my TBR. Agree, The Lincoln Highway was good. Also, liked The Year of Magical Thinking and The Silent Patient. His Latest book, The Fury was also good.

Lillie wrote: "I think you were the reason that I restarted then binged the Mercy Thompson series. Now I’m waiting impatiently for the next one.

Midnight in Chernobyl is a good book. I knew nothing about what ha..."

So much that was never in the news or at least I don't remember it being. So many thousands who lost their life as a direct result of the disaster. So much denial.

Ioana wrote: "The Lincoln Highway and Midnight in Chernobyl are both good, can't wait to see what you think of them."

I'm blown away by both of them. I'm at a point in The Lincoln Highway where I'm not sure the direction it's going to go. I hope I don't end up hating this book. I've enjoyed it so much so far.

Kristine wrote: "Michelle~You are doing such an impressive job. Reading so many books on my TBR. Agree, The Lincoln Highway was good. Also, liked The Year of Magical Thinking and The Silent Patient. His Latest book..."

Thanks Kirstine! Most of the ones you mention are from one of my 12+4 Challenges. I'm going back and reading all of those books that people said "you have to read this". So far all of those people have been pretty spot on.

For the hopeless romantics. And the reluctant ones too.”
― B.K. Borison, First-Time Caller

41 books
2971 pages

32 audiobooks
9 print

#37 Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster. Well written and compelling. This one will keep you awake at night. So much that was kept out of the news. An astonishing level of denial. They just kept exposing more people to clean up and cover up. 4 willful ignorance seems to be the true disaster stars. Nonfiction.

#38 Birds, Beasts and Relatives. This was a welcome vacation from more serious reads. Gerald Durrell’s writing is excellent and his memories of a childhood on Corfu make me want to drop everything and spend a year or two there myself. 3 beautiful scenery and hilarious relatives stars. Nonfiction-Memoir.

#39 The Wedding People. I’ll admit I had misgivings about this one due to the level of hype it has been receiving. I was wrong. This is a great book. The characters were fully developed and they all experienced growth along the way. The plot was a lot less predictable than I had imagined. While the book dealt with some pretty heavy issues, it was also genuinely funny. 3 not the wedding party trope romance you are expecting stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#40 First-Time Caller This is the Sleepless In Seattle romance trope that you are expecting but satisfyingly so. 3 mostly sweet romance with a heavy dash of spice stars. Rom-com.

#41 Beowulf. I feel like this one needs some explanation. I have discovered that Ann Patchett does videos on Fridays from her Nashville bookstore. In these videos she recommends books that she loves. Often backlist books. Sometimes classics. Not usually new releases. It is a great way to find out about good books. So recently I saw one where she recommended a particular translation of Beowulf and called it a comfort read. I had to try it of course. The only version of that translation that my library had was an unfortunately abridged audiobook. From this abbreviated version though, I do think she was right. There are kings and monsters and gold and glory; all in this very accessible translation of Beowulf. 3 dependable classic read stars. Classic Fiction.

Currently:
The Lincoln Highway Need more book time.
The Unknown For RL book club.
The Old Man and the Sea

She is so good at predicting what will happen in books, so bad at predicting what will happen in life. That is why she has always preferred books - because to be alive is so much harder.”
― Alison Espach, The Wedding People

Behaviour that's admired
is the path to power among people everywhere.”
― Seamus Heaney, Beowulf

You've had a great 1st half. A nice mix there too. Enjoy the rest of March.

Thanks Bill!