Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is the Folder and thread to tell us what your monthly reads for February 2025 were.

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

These are my Feb. reads. All in all a good month for me.


The Lost Art of Silence: Reconnecting to the Power and Beauty of Quiet by Sarah Anderson
~ non fiction
~ Rated: 3/5 Good
~ Format: eBook

The book is divided into various sections and how each relates to silence.

~ Lived Experience. This is the authors experience.
~The concept of Place. The author explores various areas such as the desert and nature.
~Spirituality. In this section she examines spiritual and religious traditions.
~ The arts (literature, painting and music)
~The Darker Side of Silence. (war, prison and solitary confinement)

I should note the book is more than a discussion of the absence of sound. True silence needs to be internal too.


Sonny Boy by Al Pacino
~ Non Fiction Memoir
~ Rated 3/5 Good
~ Format: eBook

This memoir begins with Pacino's hardscrabble life growing up poor in the South Bronx, NY. He then shares his experiences on various films as well as acting on the stage. Over the years he has received many awards for his performances including an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. The book also includes photos, which I always enjoy seeing.

The book is an honest account warts and all. He is very modest and not boastful. I thought the writing, especially at the start was very choppy but as the book progressed it got a better. Pacino fans will enjoy this one a lot.


James by Percival Everett
~ Fiction
~ Rate: 5/5 A top read for me. Excellent on all fronts.
~ Format eBook( I think audio would be wonderful too)

James is the retelling of Mark Twain's 1884 classic, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, from the point of view of Jim, the runaway slave who joins Huck on his journey down the Mississippi river.

I thought the book was excellent.


The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
~~ Non fiction
~~ Rated 3/5 Good
~~ Format: eBook

The book is about what has happened to the kids born after 1995. They are known as Gen Z.

The stats Haidt provides are harrowing. Feelings of worthlessness, depression, self harm, suicides, loss of interest, isolation, and anxiety all have skyrocketed.

He posits that the arrival of the smartphone in 2007 changed everything. The iPhone was introduced in 2010. It was the first iPhone with a front -facing camera. That same month Instagram came on the scene. He calls the period of 2010-2015 The Great Rewiring of Childhood. Even if one doesn't agree with all of the author's concerns and suggestions I think this still would be a worthwhile read for parents and teachers.


I'm going into March continuing to read and listen to:

Hitler's People: The Faces of the Third Reich - --Ebook

Healthy Brain, Happy Life by Wendy Suzuki---Audio Book

Alias, you've read interesting books. The Lost Art of Silence and The Anxious Generation both sound interesting. James is on my radar and moved up, thanks to your endorsement of it.

My reads for February:

By far, my favorite books this month are:
Shades of Grey and Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde.
Although they are supposed to be part of a trilogy, they read well and complete as a duology. If the third book is never written, I'm happy with this story. It seems complete.
My reviews:
Shades of Grey (5-star) - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Red Side Story (5-star) - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust (audio; 4-star) - I was thrilled to find that there was a new Flavia de Luce story. I thought the series ended a couple of years ago.
I do like the narration of these stories. They are well read with perfect inflections for a young, precocious girl sleuthing and "helping" the police solve murders. The stories are fun, witty and humorous. There's also a serious side to Flavia's story.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (there's not much to say about the story itself without giving it away. Suffice to say that I enjoyed the characters)

Maisie Dobbs (audio; 3-star) - kind of slow but that's because there is a lot of background information telling us how Maisie grew up and became a detective. Interesting but not part of the story she's invesigating. This book is a good introduction to the series but not the most rivetting to read. I'll read the second book before deciding on whether to continue with the series. This book may not be a good one to judge.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Dragonfly (2-star) - nah, not for me. Much too tame and "sweet". Nothing much happens in this story except that grandfather and granddaughter spend time travelling on a boat. They never met before, there are past issues with father/son, yet this story was dull and not interesting.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

China (audio; 3-star) - I had to return this audio to the library a number of times. It's so long! I started listening on Halloween! ....And the wait list is long also. That tells me that the story is a good one. I would agree. This is a good story and kept me engaged throughout. However, it's very British and mainly told from that side. That aside, this is an interesting story of the Opium Wars in China.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Alias Reader wrote: "These are my Feb. reads. All in all a good month for me.


[book:The Lost Art of Silence: Reconnecting to..."

Many thanks for your thoughts!

With the Pacino book, some are slow to get going (traction), but he's a notable actor whose talent development deserves recognition.

My 86 y/o mother, who texts and websurfs a plenty, with a degree in elementary education, wonders if kids' dependence on cyber is a net minus?

Petra wrote: "My reads for February:

By far, my favorite books this month are:
Shades of Grey and Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde.
Although they are supposed to be part of a tri..."

As a HUGE audiobook fan of Flavia, thanks for this! Obviously, things had to go in a new direction. Saving the latest as a 'treat' for myself!

Petra wrote: "Alias, you've read interesting books. The Lost Art of Silence and The Anxious Generation both sound interesting. James is on my radar and moved up, thanks to your endorsement of it."

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Petra wrote: "My reads for February:

By far, my favorite books this month are:
Shades of Grey and Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde.
Although they are supposed to be part of a tri..."

You had a very nice mix of books this month, Petra. You had only one disappointment. I enjoyed reading your reviews.

John wrote: "As a HUGE audiobook fan of Flavia, thanks for this! Obviously, things had to go in a new direction. Saving the latest as a 'treat' for myself!..."

John, that was my thought, too, when I heard there was another Flavia book. And.....it appears that another is planned for next year.
Enjoy the treat when you get to it. I did.

Hello everyone! For the month of February, I managed to read four books.

I started out the month with The Phoenix Keeper by S.A McLean. My full review can be found here if you're interested.

The plot of this one involves Aila, a zookeeper at a magical zoo who has to do everything in her power to revive her zoo's phoenix breeding program. Oh and there's also some mystery about who took the phoenixes at a nearby zoo.

To me, the idea of a zookeeper at a magical zoo is a pretty cool one and I think for the most part, the book did it justice. For example, the way that Aila goes from this ball of anxiety to a confident, more assertive person was fantastic, especially when it came to moments where the reader gets to see her passion for phoenixes on display. Also, from the way the first chapter engulfs the reader in the zoo environment to the wildlife book-like segments between each part, you can really tell the author had a lot of fun with the worldbuilding.

Now, admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles, but I have to give credit where credit is due. The love triangle in this book is actually kind of enjoyable and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that each suitor Aila has is given a decent amount of time to shine and that each relationship has a unique feel to it.

That being said, there were some things that just didn't really come together. Like, in chapter five, there's an entire scene that takes place at the zoo's griffin show and not only does it contradict everything that the reader learns about it, but it doesn't even have any real impact on Aila while the other two griffin show scenes do. In other words, the griffin show scene in chapter five did not need to exist. Oh and remember that mystery I mentioned? Yeah, it's... terrible. The best way I can describe it is that it's trying to be a subplot, but it appears so infrequently, that I genuinely forgot it was supposed to be a thing half the time. It's also very easy to guess who the culprit is because, for some reason, there aren't that many suspects. With all of this in mind, it makes me question why the mystery element was even included in the first place.

Rating: B

The second book I read was A Man and His Cat Volume Three by Umi Sakurai. You can read my review on it here.

Basically, while some other things do happen (like Fukumaru the cat going to the vet), it's mainly focused on why Kanda-san has a fear of concerts and doesn't want to perform publicly and the introduction of Kanda-san's rival, Hibino-san.

This series continues to impress me. In addition to having its fair share of hilarious moments, I really loved how it expanded upon Kanda-san, whether that's in relation to his fears or the fact that he's given a rival. Speaking of the rival, he was a pretty fun character and the way he tries to hard to be Kanda-san's rival, only to be ignored by Kanda-san makes for such a fun dynamic. However, Hibino-san also has this nurturing side to him.

Rating: A+

Another book I read this month was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Full review here.

This book goes back and forth between showing Kya's life growing up in the marsh and a murder mystery taking place in a town not too far from the swamp.

For me, when this book is just focusing on Kya living her life, it's beyond excellent. From Kya herself to the way the natural life of the marsh parallels the life of Kya and her family to how Kya gains a great support network in the form of Jumpin', Mabel, and Colored Town, it all comes together to form a fascinating story of a fascinating character.

I would also like to point out how well it handles the "race relations" aspect. In short, it gives the reader pieces to indicate that racial relations in the setting of the book aren't great, but lets the reader put the puzzle together. What's even more impressive is that it isn't even the main focus!

With that said, I really... really didn't care for the murder mystery. While it does provide a heartwarming ending and has about one great twist, it feels like something that was thrown in because the author and/or publisher didn't think Kya's life story would be able to stand on its own. As a result, it is a boring, undercooked piece of dead weight that I just couldn't get invested in. Which is shocking because I love a good murder mystery.

Rating: B+

The fourth and final book I read was Adam & Evie's Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen. I go into more detail about my thoughts on it here.

A college professor named Evie goes on a matchmaking tour in Vietnam to win her late aunt's row-house and falls in love with a guy named Adam.

I have to say, this was a pretty enjoyable book to finish the month on. There were quite a few fun moments, the Vietnam setting was pretty well showcased for the most part, and I love the unique and interesting way the book shows how Adam and Evie handle their feelings for one another.

On the other hand, this book did have some issues. Like, for some reason, the book gave Adam this disturbing jealous side, didn't properly address or deal with it, and still expected the reader to like him. If this was to show that he really cared about Evie, this was a pretty poor way of showing that. Also, there were some moments that just flat out made no sense or were way too reliant on coincidences.

Rating: B-

Overall, February was definitely a much better reading month for me.

Very nice month, Hailey ! You had a nice mix of books, too.

I have to further check out that manga book. I've only read one or two manga and enjoyed them. Thanks !

Alias Reader wrote: "These are my Feb. reads. All in all a good month for me...."

Your reading month has been positive, hasn't it? I'm happy for you & hope March continues the roll, Alias.

Petra wrote: "My reads for February:

By far, my favorite books this month are:
Shades of Grey and Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde.
Although they are supposed to be part of a tri..."

Petra, it's been years since i read Fforde, whose Thursday Next series i relished. We saw him at a book reading in Portland, OR, and found him just as engaging as his books. Now to learn he's moved on without me is a good thing. And what a great idea for a series. Thanks for sharing about it.

And about the other books. Your Rutherford/China comment about it not being multi-generational is an interesting fact. The focus on those years, specifically, though, makes sense.

It looks like a favorable reading month for you, with only one negative. Brava!

John wrote: "My 86 y/o mother, who texts and websurfs a plenty, with a degree in elementary education, wonders if kids' dependence on cyber is a net minus?..."

She asks a valid question, John. I don't know how parents are able to reign it in, at this late date. Initially, i liked the way educators embraced the new technology, making it part of their class work. Who could have seen the flip side, particularly social media, coming?

"Alias Reader wrote: "These are my Feb. reads. All in all a good month for me...."

madrano wrote: #12
Your reading month has been positive, hasn't it? I'm happy for you & hope March continues the roll, Alias."

Thank you, deb. The book Hitler's People: The Faces of the Third Reich however, has been a drag on my reading. The topic is so depressing and I'm not really getting what I was looking for. Which is why these people went down this road. Perhaps there is no answer.

I will definitely need something more upbeat next.

Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! For the month of February, I managed to read four books.

I started out the month with The Phoenix Keeper by S.A McLean. My full review can be found here if you're interested.

The ..."

Thank you for these reviews, Hailey. I like that we can either read the shorter, but telling reviews, as well as the more detailed side. It's informative.

The first book sounds like a clever idea, pretty well executed. Neat.

I've read Crawdad & liked it very much. Like you, i found the murder mystery gratuitous. The marvel that Kya was satisfied me plenty, all on its own.

I hope March is as good a reading month as February has been.

I'm pleased to have finished seven books in February. One was a carryover from months ago, though. The following are the books i read. The post # and link to the page where my review is are included, as i don't want to rewrite my thoughts.

The first was not for the Challenge, however. Thousand Cranes--Yasunari Kawabata. Thousand Cranes--Yasunari Kawabata, first published in the US in 1953. Kawabata was the first Japanese writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, in 1968. The story began oddly, with the main character obsessing on his father's mistress's mole, which was on her breast. Hmm. Next, there is a tea ceremony, years later. This is a story about a man finding his place after the death of his parents, as well as uncovering more about them. I liked learning some traditions about the tea ceremony, mostly about the items used & their history. The story, not so much. Still, glad i read this, as it is considered an important part of his oeuvre.

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

#62 The Children of Green Knowe--Lucy M. Boston. I considered it a YA, set in post WWII England. A child must stay with his grandmother (great?) while his father & his bride serve a term overseas. The house is a still-standing Norman structure, which has history to share.

#67 The End of the Affair--Graham Greene. Another post WWII novel, set in London, about an affair and the odd way it ended. Greene writes so very well but, in this one his Catholicism stalled the book, despite it being important. Is that possible?

#85 Michelangelo, God's Architect: The Story of His Final Years and Greatest Masterpiece--William E. Wallace tells the story of the last 20 or so years of the genius's life. He began more projects than in earlier parts, usually with the knowledge he wouldn't be alive to finish them.

#97 Three Days in June--Anne Tyler relates the story of a family of three, divorced, on the weekend the daughter is to be wed. Lovely. I so relish her works.

#98 The Quiet American--Graham Greene, set in 1950s Vietnam, where the French are trying to hold on to their colony. Mixing in a love story probably helped sales but did little for what i believe was the point of the book. It was a doomed cause. Which, as most of us know, the US continued until the 1970s.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
# 109 The Moralist: Woodrow Wilson and the World He Made--Patricia O'Toole. This was the long term book. And a worthy biography it was. While most of us are grateful for the League of Nations, an attempt at universal peacekeeping, its story is an unfortunate one. It's hard not to say it ended up killing WW.

Thanks for the info! Not sure whether I'd like the Kawabata book, though it is relatively short.

You has a wonderful reading month, deb. A nice eclectic mix.

John wrote: "Thanks for the info! Not sure whether I'd like the Kawabata book, though it is relatively short."

Generally, that's what i thought. It took longer because there were some circumstances i didn't understand, so had to reread. And, being me, when a certain brand (?) tea cup or piece was mentioned, i had to look it up.

But i believe i read it within 2 days.

Alias Reader wrote: "You has a wonderful reading month, deb. A nice eclectic mix."

I'm pretty tickled.

As a result of this round up for the month, i realized i never posted about the Kawabata novel. I did, at least, remember to check it off my 1950s list on my Challenge thread. Oops.

Alias Reader wrote: "Very nice month, Hailey ! You had a nice mix of books, too.

I have to further check out that manga book. I've only read one or two manga and enjoyed them. Thanks !"

You're welcome, Alias! I definitely recommend checking out the A Man and His Cat series.

madrano wrote: "#85 Michelangelo, God's Architect: The Story of His Final Years and Greatest Masterpiece--William E. Wallace tells the story of the last 20 or so years of the genius's life. He began more projects than in earlier parts, usually with the knowledge he wouldn't be alive to finish them...."

Nice month, Deb!

Your description here makes me wonder: what must it feel like to work on a masterpiece and know you won't live to finish them? These must have been bittersweet pieces of work for Michelangelo.

madrano wrote: "Petra, it's been years since i read Fforde, whose Thursday Next series i relished. We saw him at a book reading in Portland, OR, and found him just as engaging as his books...."

Deb, I enjoy the Thursday Next books, too. I've only read the first two so far.
It's nice to hear that Jasper Fforde is a nice person.

Here are mine ...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... by https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... by https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... by https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... by https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

John wrote: "Here are mine ...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... by https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/re..."

I enjoyed your reviews, John.

I listened to Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox and thought it was good. I like that he did the audio.

I'm putting the one you read on my audio books list. Thanks !

John wrote: "Here are mine ...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... by https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/re..."

Thank you for sharing these reviews, John. My sole Himes was Cotton Comes to Harlem. While i liked it, i felt dumped into it, which is explained by the fact it was toward the end of the series. I will go back to the first next.

It's a shame Vanished in Vermillion: The Real Story of South Dakota’s Most Infamous Cold Case wasn't better presented, as the case sounds interesting. I've wondered about some of the "warrant" police searches that i've seen on the news, not to mention fiction TV. It just seems wrong that so much damage is created (if that's the word i want). I'll ask my friend who went to school there, around that time, what she thinks. Thanks for drawing my attention to it.

I'd already added Wordhunter to my TBR, as it just sounds too tempting. Thanks.

And thank you, again, for taking the time to share about these.

I had a great February and enjoyed most of what I read.
I reviewed most of these in the Book Salon, so I'll be brief:

Adult Fiction (3), Adult NF (3), Kids' Fiction (3), Kids' NF (2)
(adult books only listed below...)

The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali

⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Historical Fiction set in Iran.

This felt a bit more romance, a bit less historical. I would have loved more about Iran's history and culture (which there was, but it felt more surface-level), and the characters weren't well developed. Probably more for someone who enjoys dramatic plot-driven novels.


Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Non-Fiction, set in Cambodia.

This was a lovely memoir made even better by the author's daughter reading the audio. It was full of tragic events (I hadn't known how horrific Cambodia's history was) but didn't come across as depressing.
The author did such a wonderful job of telling her story without fanfare, peppering in recipes and humor throughout. I'll probably buy this book eventually just to have the recipes on-hand.


Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Middle/Upper Grade Fantasy, Adventure

I didn't love this one, mainly for the convoluted sentences and unnecessarily difficult vocabulary, but it's a great Fantasy/Adventure novel for those who enjoy the genre.
The main characters are on a mission to save the Archipelago and encounter many fantastical creatures, some helpful, some not so much. Very creative, and I especially loved the glossary of Creatures at the end of the book.


Missing You by Harlan Coben

⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Mystery/Police Drama

This was an interesting enough mystery/thriller, but I found quite a bit lacking. The characters came across a bit annoying and shallow, while the most intriguing character was left without any satisfying resolution. Overall, a clever and quick read.


The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria E. Schwab

⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Historical Fiction, Magical Realism

This one had so much potential. I enjoyed the first half, which leaned more into historical fiction. Unfortunately, the second half devolved into a mess of romantic chaos.
Addie LaRue, the main character, is tricked into an immortal existence where she's immediately forgotten by all as soon as she's out of sight. She's clever and finds ways of leaving her mark.
My favorite parts were her encounters with famous artists and writers.

In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial by Mona Chollet

⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Non-Fiction, Feminism, History
Translated from French

This is another that had a lot of potential but didn't quite meet expectations. The first third was full of historical accounts of the witches of our past, as well as the bureaucracy and patriarchal systems that made witch trials possible to begin with.

The rest of the book should have been a completely separate book in my opinion. It leaned into modern-day patriarchies and women's rights being stripped away, specifically the stigma of unmarried women or women who choose to remain childless. As well as our healthcare system, which is lead from a male perspective. All worth the read, but not really what I was expecting given the title of the book.

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Non-Fiction, Science, Indigenous Culture

I love everything Kimmerer has written, and this was no exception. It's short and sweet and quite timely given our current political climate and the nature of our money-driven economy.

This is a mash-up of the science of the Serviceberry, the indigenous wisdom related to the Serviceberry (specifically, collective wealth), and the ways in which we can foster shared-economies in the face of greed and cutthroat capitalism.

What a good selection of books, Lindsey. I appreciate your recaps here. While Addie LaRue sounds good, it seems long for what appears to be lightweight lit. That written, i looked at the GR reviews & see some random yahoo is using the review section to serve as a classroom?
Welcome back students. I have been reassigned to teach Writing 102: So many words, so little plot. After my success with my first course...
Curious idea. ANYway, it appears she didn't care for this novel, at all.

Back to YOUR books. Adding Slow Noodles, as well, to my TBR.

Again, thanks.

madrano wrote: "While Addie LaRue sounds good, it seems long for what appears to be lightweight lit. That written, i looked at the GR reviews & see some random yahoo is using the review section to serve as a classroom?"

Mostly, I just appreciate knowing that someone else uses the term "yahoo" :) I started using it in lieu of "dummy" or "idiot" while driving with my littles in the car lol

Lindsey wrote: "I had a great February and enjoyed most of what I read.
I reviewed most of these in the Book Salon, so I'll be brief:

Adult Fiction (3), Adult NF (3), Kids' Fiction (3), Kids' NF (2)
(adult books..."

You not only had a good reading month, you read a lot !

After your post in the Book Salon about The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World I looked at in Target. It's now in my TBR notebook. I had never heard the term serviceberry before. I now know how important they are !

Lindsey wrote: "I had a great February and enjoyed most of what I read.
I reviewed most of these in the Book Salon, so I'll be brief:

Adult Fiction (3), Adult NF (3), Kids' Fiction (3), Kids' NF (2)
(adult books..."

Great job! When I lived on Seattle, there was a Cambodian restaurant in town. They and Laotians seem to get lost behind Thai and Vietnamese culture in western experience.

John wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Great job! When I lived on Seattle, there was a Cambodian restaurant in town. They and Laotians seem to get lost behind Thai and Vietnamese culture in western experience"

Thanks John!
I can't say I've ever had Cambodian-specific food, but the author's recipes made me eager to try.

Alias Reader wrote: "You not only had a good reading month, you read a lot !

After your post in the Book Salon about The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World I looked at in Target. It's now in my TBR notebook. I had never heard the term serviceberry before. I now know how important they are "

Thanks Alias!

My girls' are at an age where they're reading their own books at night, so I'm getting a lot more reading time in (reading alongside them instead of reading TO them every night).
It's made a big difference.

Lindsey wrote: "My girls' are at an age where they're reading their own books at night, so I'm getting a lot more reading time in (reading alongside them instead of reading TO them every night).
It's made a big difference...."

And still setting a great example !

Lindsey wrote: "Mostly, I just appreciate knowing that someone else uses the term "yahoo" :) I started using it in lieu of "dummy" or "idiot" while driving with my littles in the car lol ..."

Funny! After reading your comment, i asked my husband how long i'd been doing this. He said he only remembers it after "Yahoo" became my go to search engine. Then, it clicked. I loved saying "Yahoo says there are 16 US territories?!" This morphed into calling folks yahoos. Which, the family declared, was better than the previous "Fred and Ethel". Seriously.

So "hey!" to you, Lindsey, my yahoo pal!

John wrote: "They and Laotians seem to get lost behind Thai and Vietnamese culture in western experience. ..."

This is true, John. It's nothing i'd given much thought to, either. I suppose it depends on where immigrants from those nations settled. Here in the south, from the Texas coast to at least Mississippi, the Vietnamese settled and are a major part of the towns and other communities along the coast.

Of course, there are small enclaves here in the Dallas area, but nothing like down there.

Not sure about Thai, though. While there are numerous Thai restaurants & nail salons, i do not know how large the community is. Or where settled. As for Asian population, Dallas has 3.7%, according to the '20 census.

And i know the Twin Cities has a healthy Laos community. That's about the extent of my knowledge. Which doesn't explain why i felt i had to explain about it.

Will you all miss me when i'm on the road & don't have the time to post!??!

Lindsey wrote: "My girls' are at an age where they're reading their own books at night, so I'm getting a lot more reading time in (reading alongside them instead of reading TO them every night).
It's made a big difference..."

Sweet stage, Lindsey. Enjoy it.

madrano wrote: "John wrote: "They and Laotians seem to get lost behind Thai and Vietnamese culture in western experience. ..."

This is true, John. It's nothing i'd given much thought to, either. I suppose it depe..."

When are you leaving?

madrano wrote: "Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! For the month of February, I managed to read four books.

I started out the month with The Phoenix Keeper by S.A McLean. My full review can be found here if you're in..."

Thank you, madrano! I think Kya's story in Where the Crawdads Sing really goes to show that sometimes, just showing someone living their life can still make for a compelling story.

I think I only read one book, Clear by Carys Davies which is about the relationship between two men who do not share a common language, on a very remote Scottish island.

Davies is a good writer, but her writing is too spare. The book felt more like an outline or a first draft.

I would give it a D minus for plot and a B for writing. I would not recommend it to anyone. it is not immersive and the ending is a deus ex machina. I gave it two stars.

I would have read more, but my left eye is still congested and swollen from the poor air quality following the Los Angeles fires. And there are always fires burning somewhere near Los Angeles even when it's not fire season. Darn! That hurts all of us.

madrano wrote: Will you all miss me when i'm on the road & don't have the time to post!??!

Absolutely!

John wrote: "When are you leaving?....."

March 18 is our "out" date. We must return in June for medical checkups, then off again. At this point, we intend to stay in the US. I cannot recall if i mentioned that earlier.

Thanks for asking, John.

Denise wrote: "madrano wrote: Will you all miss me when i'm on the road & don't have the time to post!??!

Absolutely!"

Thanks, Denise. I hope that didn't sound as though i was begging. lol

madrano wrote: ""madrano wrote: Will you all miss me when i'm on the road & don't have the time to post!??!

Denise wrote:
Absolutely!"

100%.

madrano wrote: "Denise wrote: "madrano wrote: Will you all miss me when i'm on the road & don't have the time to post!??!

Absolutely!"

Thanks, Denise. I hope that didn't sound as though i was begging. lol"
No you weren't. I just enjoy reading your insights and actually everyone's in this group

Thanks, Alias.

Denise, i'm with you on that front. Learning what others are thinking, book-wise or not, makes this an enjoyable group. And, oh!, the books we discover.

Nice batch of books for February.

I like biographies every now and then, and two look interesting, Sonny Boy by Al Pacino and No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality b Michael J. Fox.

Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon looks interesting as well.


Thanks for sharing everyone.

Hailey wrote: "madrano wrote: "Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! For the month of February, I managed to read four books.

I started out the month with The Phoenix Keeper by S.A McLean. My full review can be found h..."

With regard to Where the Crawdads Sing:

I don't think it would have been compelling without the trouble from the boys in her life. Had it been just her living her life, there's no way I would have finished reading it. But I did enjoy the more reflective sections when Kya would identify plant life, shells, birds, etc. But I wouldn't have wanted that for the whole book. I thought the pacing was really good in that book. The balance between active and reflective was really nice.

Edit: The movie seems to be on one cable station or another at least once a week. I'm not a fan of the movie at all. Way too slow.

John wrote: "Here are mine ...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... by https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/re..."

I enjoyed reading your reviews, too, James. I've not even heard of those books, so it was nice learning about them.