Classy and Trashy Book Club with the Moorhead Public Library discussion

I'm going to get June's Discussion up a smidgen early, because who knows how Monday will go. Hope to keep hearing what you're all reading!

I just found out that B&N will be hosting Madeline Miller, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles this Thurs June 4 at 6PM our time. I thought some people here might be interested. I heard her speak at an earlier virtual event and really enjoyed it.

Since I'm here, I'll say I'm currently reading the most recent Kopp Sisters book by Amy Stewart and I'm enjoying it, though I don't seem to get through text books as fast as audiobooks.

On audio, I recently listened to the new Hunger Games prequel and thought it was good, but I didn't like it quite as much as the original trilogy. It did show the seeds of several things that we saw in the main trilogy. One of my daughters read it and felt the same way. I also found it wasn't as predictable as I sometimes find YA books. I predicted a couple of things (and mentioned them to my daughter) and I was wrong, which amused her because my kids get annoyed that I can often predict so much that they don't catch.

Just a quick post about what I'm reading - I was all excited to read the new Nora Roberts, 'Hideaway' (you might remember I did the NR binge a while back), but turns out I'm stalling out on it a bit. Definitely not my favorite of hers so if anyone else reads it and wants to complain, let me know. I've also been continuing w/ Deborah Crombie and am on book 9, 'Now May you Weep.' I'm still enjoying this series but am getting a little bit of an itch to take a break from them; I just can't figure out how I want to switch it up. - deb

I listened to the first Deborah Crombie book and finished in the last day or two. I liked it, and it reminded me of lots of other cozy mysteries I've read or listened to, but I admit my mind wandered a bit. Admittedly, that could be because of real life stuff going on and I intend to give the second a try, but so far I wouldn't say that I loved it.

I'm reading the most recent Sebastian St Cyr mystery and I'm liking it, but I'm kind of sad that I don't have any more to look forward to after this one.

And, I'm listening to Evelina by Frances (Fanny) Burney, which has come up multiple times as something Jane Austen would have read and showing that some women published in their own names in their lifetimes. So far, it's surprisingly good and not particularly stuffy or hard to follow. I'll see how it develops, but so far, so good. :-)

Karen wrote: "I listened to the first Deborah Crombie book and finished in the last day or two. I liked it, and it reminded me of lots of other cozy mysteries I've read or listened to, but I admit my mind wander..."

I'm interested to hear what you think of Evelina - I'm pretty sure I read it back in a college, although I don't remember it well at all. Is it in letters?

Sorry the Crombie book didn't blow you away - some of the later ones (maybe 3-10?) have a stronger historical element that I think adds a nice layer. I have the first St Cyr on my phone right now - will let you know what I think of it! (so is the series ending that you don't have any more to look forward to?). - deb

The St Cyr series hasn't ended, I just reached the last of the published ones so I have to wait for the next to come out. Up to now I've been able to choose when I read them or how many I read in a short period since I tried to stretch them out.

I ended up liking Evelina. And, yes, it is written in letters, though some of the letters don't sound like how you'd write since they had dialogue and such. But, I enjoyed it more than I thought I might. I found it an easy listen. The language flowed and wasn't hard to follow and the story, while having some coincidences and moments of eye-rolling was overall enjoyable. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was given how little I've heard about it before starting to take the free online Austen course I've done 4 times so far (and which will be starting again Sunday night).

The Crombie book wasn't bad, but I think I'll like them more when they have dual time periods.

Now, I'm listening to If We Were Villains, which is about a bunch of students studying Shakespearean acting. It's been fun since I recently did a couple of Shakespeare courses and watched a production of Macbeth online (and they do a few scenes from that in the book).