Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This thread is open to discuss The Last Equation of Isaac Severy by Nova Jacobs.



Synopsis
The Family Fang meets The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry in this literary mystery about a struggling bookseller whose recently deceased grandfather, a famed mathematician, left behind a dangerous equation for her to track down—and protect—before others can get their hands on it.

Just days after mathematician and family patriarch Isaac Severy dies of an apparent suicide, his adopted granddaughter Hazel, owner of a struggling Seattle bookstore, receives a letter from him by mail. In it, Isaac alludes to a secretive organization that is after his final bombshell equation, and he charges Hazel with safely delivering it to a trusted colleague. But first, she must find where the equation is hidden.

While in Los Angeles for Isaac’s funeral, Hazel realizes she’s not the only one searching for his life’s work, and that the equation’s implications have potentially disastrous consequences for the extended Severy family, a group of dysfunctional geniuses unmoored by the sudden death of their patriarch.

As agents of an enigmatic company shadow Isaac’s favorite son—a theoretical physicist—and a long-lost cousin mysteriously reappears in Los Angeles, the equation slips further from Hazel’s grasp. She must unravel a series of maddening clues hidden by Isaac inside one of her favorite novels, drawing her ever closer to his mathematical treasure. But when her efforts fall short, she is forced to enlist the help of those with questionable motives.

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Always so quick! Thank you.

I am really looking forward to this one.

Yay! I love giving book recs that others enjoy! We'll see how we feel about this one. Can't wait!

I’ll join after my copy comes in

I picked up my book after work tonight, and then I came home and watched the Globe production of Midsummer Night's Dream on Youtube. So, I haven't started yet beyond the blurb on the back.

But, if any of you are fans of the Bard, go watch this. I don't know how much longer it will be available...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cAwa...

Laura, hope your copy comes in soon! I’ll be reading a small chunk today so we’ll see how far I get.

I started yesterday and am in Chapter 7. I am enjoying, but still waiting to figure some things out. I've been going between it and another I'm reading.

Jenny, thanks for the link! Haven't watched the entire thing but enjoyed the snippet I saw. Will have to make some time.

MelanieJoy wrote: "Laura, hope your copy comes in soon! I’ll be reading a small chunk today so we’ll see how far I get."

My copy came in but I can't make it work for my 4 team challenges atm; especially as two are time sensitive.

How has everyone been doing? Enjoying it? Started? I decided to finish my other book first and haven't gotten much further. I am really interested and will start back up tomorrow.

I'm also starting Other Words for Home. It's YA but came highly recommended by a friend. It is also written in prose.

Just starting now. I wanted to finish another book first, and then I had to clean my house. Fun.

And beginning...

I have to finish a time sensitive task for a different book and then I can pick this one back up on Wednesday. I got through chapter 4 or 5 so far in the audiobook I think.

In my opinion she did ok setting up the setting, plot, and characters, but I got the relatives a little mixed up.

The book has a family tree at the beginning, which helps. I am really curious about what is going to happen in this book. Great opening scene, and good follow up in the funeral/family gathering. I have no idea so far what is going on, but I am only on chapter five.

Is there any way to post a picture of the family tree? I’m almost there but I love that. I’m doing audio so I don’t have it. Or I’ll see if I can get a kindle book as well

I'll try...

Can you read it? I can just type it out if you can't.

I can see it! Thank you!

Wasn't there a little girl? One of Sybil's?

Yes, but apparently she is not important enough to be in the tree!

Wait, the girl is Drew. I’m still a bit confused

Ok, I finished. I'll say more later once you two are further. I did think it started a bit slow but it definitely picked up as it went on. I enjoyed it.

I just finished Chapter 12. I have questions.

(view spoiler)[Who is Phone Book? Why does he want the research? What is the research? Can Alex be trusted? (hide spoiler)]

I am very much enjoying this book. The problem is that I am reading it in small bits at work, and I keep having to, you know, work and stuff. I will probably take it home and finish it tonight.

I hope to finish this by Friday but I'm still only on ch 5, so we'll see. Glad you guys are liking it and having questions! Can't wait to read more!

Jenny, as you go on you will have more questions. Most if not all are eventually answered.

Have you figured out what the equation is for yet?

Maybe? (view spoiler)[I think the equation is about when people will die. There have been a couple of vague hints that way. If it is, I am not sure if it is specific people or random people at specific locations.
Or, it is the traffic thing. (hide spoiler)]

Jenny, did I see you were finished?

(view spoiler)[What did you think about the equation? I'm a math lover but still had issues with it. I thought it was interesting that it didn't have to be right. I thought the whole Isaac thing was a bit sad/strange. I'm still confused about Philip. Was that suicide? Murder of a sort? He wouldn't have gone on his own. I'm super sad about Gregory but at least it made sense. The whole Alex/Hazel thing is maybe. It made me think and made me want to finish so I definitely enjoyed. (hide spoiler)]

Also, did I see you started Hurricane Season? I'll be starting soon. Look forward to hearing what you think. I got it in ebook form which will likely take me longer.

Yes, I am done. Sorry, I have a visitor for a week, so I have been lax in updating.

I liked this a lot, but I did find the end a bit confusing/unexplained.
The premise was so cool, and the characters were interesting. That is a family I would not want to be a part of though. Talk about dysfunctional. Affairs, abuse, neglect, etc. Wow.

Hurricane Season is a trip. It is a stream of conscience powerhouse of a story. It is a bit hard to follow, as there are sentences that go on for pages, and there are no paragraph breaks, so if you lose your place on a page, it is hard to find it again. But, the writing is strong, and the story is interesting. I am just not too sure if I love it or am just trying to love it yet.

Do you guys have any interest in starting or ? I am maybe getting a couple of my Wheel teammates and anyone else who is interested to read them. My team needs E books. teehee.

I'd be interested in Girl, Woman, Other. I'm not sure about Valentine and it will take a few weeks to get a copy.

Stacey wrote: "I'd be interested in Girl, Woman, Other. I'm not sure about Valentine and it will take a few weeks to get a copy."

My copy of Valentine is on order and I 'm first in queue but I don't know when I 'll get it.

I am going to see if anyone else from the Wheel chat thread wants to join, and I will set up a thread(s).

I feel like we haven't been here in weeks!

Cool! The thread for starting Friday is here...

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

Join if you can.

How is everyone doing? It's been quiet, I am guessing we are all busy reading for Wheelathon or other challenges.

I wanted to see if anyone would like to read with me. I am going to start soon as it fits a tag I need. I am thinking of starting Jemisin's and I picked up a copy of which we had discussed reading and can wait until Wheelathon is over if needed.

Yes to all three!
I have read the Obelisk Gate, but I want to read the other two in the series, and would love a reread before I get into them. I loved Binti, so will probably love Lagoon, and the Adana book I keep wanting to get too. I can usually make stuff fit wherever, but if we decide to start one (or more) can we wait until after Friday?

By the way, I am fine, thanks for asking. Work is kicking my butt, and I am generally tired of the world as it is, but other than that, life is ok.
Are you good? Anything wonderful happening where you are? (fingers crossed)

Obelisk is the 2nd in the series. I read the first a few weeks ago.

We can definitely wait. I'm open to whatever works although I'd need to start Lagoon shortly after. Any of the others I'm super flexible on.

Work will get busier soon as classes start back near the end of the month. My kid has had her school start date pushed back so that will be interesting. We started remodeling our house just as the quarantines hit and are living in a rental. Our house is finally being put back together and we should be back in probably in a month. So excited! My bedroom is big and amazing and now has two huge windows that will have a window seat and bookshelves on both sides.

That sounds like heaven!

Let me reread the first Broken Earth then. I forgot the title, but it is on a nearby shelf.

Let me know when you want to start Lagoon.

Hi Stacey, Hi Jenny!

Glad to hear you are both doing well. Doing well here too. I haven't read the first book in Jemisin's series so I will pass on that one. I just checked and can't get a copy of Lagoon. I still can't access a copy of The Lost Book of Adana Moreau. I suspect my little library is trying to catch up on ordering books while they were closed for 3 months.

Your remodeling plans sound just lovely! I suspect I wouldn't want to leave that space :-)

Hopefully I can join the next buddy reads( I'm still waiting for a copy of The Vanishing Half)

Laura, you can pick one! I'm always up for suggestions and there are lots of books that I would enjoy reading that won't have long waits. The wait for Vanish Half will be worth it though!

Stacey wrote: "Laura, you can pick one! I'm always up for suggestions and there are lots of books that I would enjoy reading that won't have long waits. The wait for Vanish Half will be worth it though!"

Okay, how about I pick after wheels? Have you both read the Cormoran Strike series? When it 's released and if you both have read the series it might be a great book to buddy read.

I love Cormoran Strike. Just saying.

Have you seen the tv series? It isn't bad.

Jenny wrote: "I love Cormoran Strike. Just saying."

Me too! No, unfortunately, I haven't.

Jenny, would you be able to start Lagoon on Sunday (16th)? I think that is the same day as the BOM starts. I'm debating - you read it right? Is it worth it?

Laura, I don't know Cormoran Strike but I can try to pick it up. Do you need to read all of them first?

Stacey,
yes, definitely you would want to read the rest of the series first.

Stacey wrote: "Jenny, would you be able to start Lagoon on Sunday (16th)? I think that is the same day as the BOM starts. I'm debating - you read it right? Is it worth it?

Laura, I don't know Cormoran Strike but..."

I can absolutely start that on Sunday. I just got it on Kindle, and I must say, the Kindle cover is very pretty.

I think I gave 5 stars to the BOM book whose name escapes me at the moment. It is not deep, but it is a fun read, and if I remember it right, it was just what I was in the mood for at the time. The main character is one to root for. I keep meaning to pick up the sequel, but since I don't go to the bookstore to browse as often anymore, I keep forgetting.

I'm really looking forward to Lagoon. Our thread is here

Me too!
I am trying to power through a few books today so I can concentrate on that tomorrow. Or, at least part of it.

Laura, up for a book?
Considering and