Beth ’s Comments (group member since Jan 29, 2012)

Beth ’s comments from the Read It Forward group.

Karen wrote: "Still need to read Darkness, My Old Friend and Die For You. ..."

I read DIE FOR YOU a couple of weeks ago. It was my first Unger book and really good. I have HEARTBROKEN in my TBR pile now.

Rachel wrote: "What ever happened to Read It Forward? I haven't been getting any emails from them."


I was wondering the same thing. So after I read this book, because I got it from readitforward.com, I went ahead and started a topic on it. Maybe the Read It Forward folks are busy with their Web site? But since they changed their Web site, it won't let me comment there anymore unless I use the latest browser. I have no control over that. So readitforward.com will have to either fix their Web site or get involved here again if they want my comments (which I'm sure isn't high on their priority list).

Chris wrote: "I totally agree with you. I have been following Gillian Flynn since her first novel "Sharp Objects". She is always unpredictable. I want to go back and read them again before the movies come out si..."

Movies? I didn't hear about movies.

I hope it's OK to start a new topic. But I can't post to readitforward.com.

I won from readitforward.com three Gillian Flynn books, GONE GIRL, SHARP OBJECTS, and DARK PLACES. I read GONE GIRL first because it was such a hit at the time, but Flynn actually wrote the other two books first.

I've read all three now. I just finished DARK PLACES last night. What a great book! Here's my writeup.

DARK PLACES was written by Gillian Flynn before she wrote her 2012 smash success GONE GIRL. Although the two books are different, DARK PLACES is every bit as good as GONE GIRL, and I encourage you to read it. It's a five-star book.

This book begins with a declaration by one main character that will interest you right away. There's no wait of several pages or chapters here, no wondering whether you should give up after page 50.

From there, you will learn, little by little, of an event 30 years ago. You think you see what happened until you see it from another main character's perspective. And every chapter divulges more and more information.

I see in DARK PLACES as well as Flynn's other two books that she has a definite style. That is, all three of her books grab your attention on page 1 and tell the story from different points of view while going back and forth in time.

DARK PLACES should have been the success that GONE GIRL is. Who knows why it wasn't; it really is that good. But I predict that it will be recognized more now when readers of GONE GIRL become curious, as I did, to read Flynn's other books.

Please be glad I skimp on details. I don't tell you the story so you can discover it as you read the book. How can a thriller be thrilling or a mystery be mysterious otherwise?

Read It Forward wrote: "Wendy wrote: "this would be great if i had a bookshelf lol mine are all in boxes =/"

Wendy, I feel for you! I recently moved from NYC to Colorado and have yet to get my books out of storage. Will ..."
When I moved from Michigan to California (I'm back in Michigan now), my books were in boxes for a year until I found a boyfriend who would build me a bookcase. I married him. When we moved back to Michigan, he built an even bigger bookshelf, maybe so I would keep him.

Great contest! I'll get right on it, although I may have to wait until tonight to either email it or post it on Facebook. I have a bookcase that my husband built for me. It has lots of room for more books.

Marti wrote: "Beth wrote: "Good review. What else have you read by Michelle Moran?"

I have read Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, and Cleopatra's Daughter. I have the Madame Tussand book to read from the library,..."

I have read nothing by this author.

I see that Donald Spoto also wrote Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi. I want to try to find a hardcover copy of that book.

I guess there are a number of biographies I'd like to read about the family life a famous person grew up in because that's what made him or her the way they are.

For example, Mikal Gilmore wrote a biography of his older brother Gary Gilmore, the famous serial killer. It was so interesting to learn the family life Gary grew up in and how Mikal, the baby of the family, was treated so differently. I could see so clearly how Gary's experiences growing up in that family made him what he became.

Read It Forward wrote: "Beth wrote: "I do have a favorite, though: DOC by Mary Doria Russell"

Doc is one of my very favorites, too, Beth! Did you see our Read It Forward video chat with Mary Doria Russell and Sarah McCoy..."

Yes, I did see your video chat with Sarah McCoy. I didn't see the one with Mary Doria Russell, but I did better than that: I saw her in person when she was in Michigan at the library in Rochester Hills. I've read everything Russell has written. I think I wrote reviews of most of them.

I haven't read McCoy, although I'd like to and did enter contests to win her book.

I just thought of history book that tops JOHN ADAMS: UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand! UNBROKEN is a wonderful book that proves that truth outdoes fiction.

JOHN ADAMS by David McCullough

Most often history books are dry and they just drone, don't make an effort to maintain reader attention. That's why historical fiction is preferred by so many. But history doesn't have to be dry and boring. If it's written to read like a novel, I definitely prefer that.

JOHN ADAMS is a history book written to read like a novel, although it has its dry sections. (I'm thinking of its long section on Dutch drainage systems or something like that, really long and boring.)

With historical fiction, the reader can never be sure about what is really history and what the author made up. I do have a favorite, though: DOC by Mary Doria Russell. And Russell tells you what is true and what is made up.

Good review. What else have you read by Michelle Moran?

No. I think the opposite is true.

I never read love stories anymore, except a few years ago when I read THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, which I read against my better judgement because of all the great reviews I read. It's fantasy, isn't it? That's not my type of book, but it did turn out to be a pretty good love story. But I didn't think it would be for the first few chapters.

Years ago I read all those authors like the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen, and, as I recall, JANE EYRE was a good love story.

By the way, 1) when I comment on readitforward.com, my name is techeditor and 2) I read BUDDY by Brian McGrory and will have a review soon; if you give me an email address, I'll send it to you.

Beth wrote: "Linda wrote: "Beth wrote: "I hate to political books, election season or no. They're what I call "preaching to the choir" books, i.e., they're books read only by people who already agree."

I am th..."

That sounds wrong, like I don't want to be informed. I find them boring because I am informoed already.

Linda wrote: "Beth wrote: "I hate to political books, election season or no. They're what I call "preaching to the choir" books, i.e., they're books read only by people who already agree."

I am the personificat..."

You're right, of course. But my problem with political books isn't just with those I disagree with. I find political books I've read to be boring.

SEY wrote: "Rachel Carson was a woman ahead of her time. There has been other well written stories of her life.
William Souder is a well known biographer but I hope this is not just "cashing in on her annivers..."

I wonder if your "Big Read" is similar to the Everyone's Reading program at libraries here in Michigan.In Everyone's Reading, one book is chosen by a number of different libraries, and they have discussions and other types of events about that book for several months. It always ends with the author coming to speak and sign books at several libraries.

Read It Forward wrote: "Beth wrote: "Beth wrote: "One thing you can be sure of in my reviews: good punctuation and grammar. :-) "

Beth, we look forward to your review of BUDDY - thank you!

Here's an idea for you: would ..."

Sure. And I already know what I'll say, too, because it's an argument I make all the time at work.

Where do you want me to submit it? Here?

Read It Forward wrote: "Beth wrote: "I prefer biographies to memoirs. It seems in the last couple of years that so many memoirs have come out, that everyone seems to think their life is a story worth selling. I've never r..."

Sure, but I just received BUDDY from readitforward.com yesterday and had already planned to review it. I always post reviews to goodreads.com and librarything.com.

I won't be able to read BUDDY, though, until after I finish one book and read another.

Another "but": sometimes I write good reviews, sometimes just OK. You can see them if you link to my books in goodreads.com. I can always show you the review, and you can decide whether you want it. My reviews are always honest; if I don't like the book I say so.

One thing you can be sure of in my reviews: good punctuation and grammar. :-)