Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is the Folder to tell us what your monthly reads for June 2021 were.

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

To summarize the month of June reading wise, I only read three (3) novels as listed below:

- The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson (non fiction)

- This Tender Land by William Kent Kreuger

- News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Simon, two of those are books I'd like to read one day and one I've already read.
I enjoyed News Of The World.

Are you going to watch the movie of News Of The World?

I’d like to catch movie sometime yes now that I’ve read novel to see if Hollywood’s vision matches my own. Have you seen it yourself?

No, I haven't seen it yet but I'd like to.

I can now rent it via my PlayStation Store for $7 Canadian compared to $25 Canadian back in early 2021 as it was released as a “Home Premiere” since it was expected to be a theatre release but pandemic threw that off track.

The delightful Geraldine Verne's Red Suitcase by Jane Riley ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

I’ll throw in my two cents worth to say i have read the book but not seen the film. In a way i don’t yet want to spoil the good feeling the book gave me. I intend to see it, however…someday.

My June reads were:


Super Learning: Advanced Strategies for Quicker Comprehension, Greater Retention, and Systematic Expertise (Science of Accelerated Learning 2.ed) by Peter Hollins
Non Fiction
Rate: 5/5
This concise book was very good. It's useful for both students and nonstudents. I will definitely read more by this author.

Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
Non fiction Memoir
Rate 3/5
The writing is very basic. I think the memoir would have benefited had it been written by a professional writer. The book is close to 500 pages and should have been edited way down. The author did note the screen play was around 110 pages or so. The insight into life under Mao was very interesting. It's great that one can go on YouTube and see the author perform. He was an amazing dancer. A movie was made of the book. However, I haven't seen it yet.

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
Audio book narrator: Roe Kendall
Fiction
Rate 2/5
This was the author's first published novel. I did find the story intriguing but didn't care for the confusing ending. Honestly, I didn't get it until I researched it online. Ishiguro even noted in the Paris Review that, "
... but I do think it’s too baffling. The ending is almost like a puzzle. I see nothing artistically to be gained by puzzling people to that extent. That was just inexperience—misjudging what is too obvious and what is subtle. Even at the time the ending felt unsatisfactory. "
I listened to the audio. I didn't care for the way the narrator, Roe Kendall, did one of the characters. I would recommend the paper book over the audio.
Kazuo Ishiguro won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature. I do plan on reading his other books at some point.
The Remains of the Day
Never Let Me Go


Eat for Life: The Breakthrough Nutrient-Rich Program for Longevity, Disease Reversal, and Sustained Weight Loss by Joel Fuhrman
Non fiction
Rate: 3 -
Audio book- Narrator - author
I would recommend his original book Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss
over this newer book. Eat to Live is much easier to understand. This book was way too detailed, unnecessarily so, IMO. I listened to the book while exercise walking. I find this genre very motivational to listen to while working out.

Useful write-ups, Alias!

Thank you, John.

Nice thoughts on all of these books, Alias.

I recognize what you are saying about Ishiguro's book. I'll probably read it in time; I like his writing. However, I thought rather the same things you did when I read The Buried Giant. It was well written and a really good concept but that didn't always make for a riveting read, yet it did make for a thought provoking read. I thought that Ishiguro was rather bold for the way he told the story. This book sounds a lot the same.

My reads for June:

Ice and Bone: Tracking an Alaskan Serial Killer (4-star) - an interesting true crime look at a serial killer & his life, as well as the aftermath the families had to deal with by the loss of their loved ones.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Wreck of the Golden Mary (4-star) - an almost forgotten short story of Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and 4 almost (completely?) forgotten but well-known in their time authors. Dickens and Collins write the mainframe of the story, while the other four authors add a total of 5 stories that flesh out the mainframe. It's very well done.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Slow Jogging: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, and Have Fun with Science-Based, Natural Running (3-star) - an interesting book for beginner runners. Not what I was looking for. but an interesting read, none the less.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hell to Pay (2-star; audio) - I was hoping to like this one more. The story moved along much too slowly to keep me listening intently.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

June for me was better than the past couple of months, overall. Three stars means it's fine for a library book or cheap copy, if the description/review interests you.


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Periodic Tales: The Curious Lives of the Elements


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


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Giovanni's Room


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


⭐⭐⭐ Queen Anne: The Politics of Passion


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


⭐⭐⭐ The Last Great Walk: The True Story of a 1909 Walk from New York to San Francisco, and Why it Matters Today


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


⭐⭐ Interior Chinatown


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

Petra wrote: "My reads for June:

Slow Jogging: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, and Have Fun with Science-Based, Natural Running (3-star) - an interesting book for beginner runners. Not what I was looking for. but an interesting read, none the less.

I also read this book. I'm not a runner, so I found the idea of slow jogging -- not running-- appealed to me. It seemed I would be less prone to injury. This is the video of the author that brought me to the book.
Slow Jogging: science-based natural running for weigh-loss, health & performance bene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...

John wrote: "
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Giovanni's Room
"

Nice review, John. I also like that you mentioned it started slow but ended up a 5 star book. I'll keep that in mind when I read it. Thanks !

Alias, I slow jog (or run, whichever name one give it) all the time. My normal pace is about 9 1/2 minutes a kilometer (about 14 minutes a mile). It's a nice, easy pace and I've never had an injury. Throughout the run, I can speak, sing or chant easily (if I wanted to) and my heart rate is comfortable but raised.
I had hoped for more information or background on the running technique but it veered into marathon running (not for everyone), fancy shoes that aren't for everyone and basic diet information about eating fewer calories than you need each day.

I did like the phrase, Niko Niko running, meaning to run at a slow pace that lets one enjoy the run and stay at that pace. Don't hurry.

John wrote: "
⭐⭐⭐ The Last Great Walk: The True Story of a 1909 Walk from New York to San Francisco, and Why it Matters Today

John, the link for this review is for the Queen Ann book.

John wrote: ⭐⭐ Interior Chinatown

But, I stuck it out hoping it would get better, instead getting more ridiculous; I want my time back! Perhaps, it appeals to folks who laugh at "America's Funniest Home Videos" and such? The slapstick aspect killed the underlying message to me.: ..."

Thanks for the warning. I am not a fan of slapstick at all.

Petra wrote: "My reads for June:

Ice and Bone: Tracking an Alaskan Serial Killer (4-star) - an interesting true crime look at a serial killer & his life, as well as the aftermath the families ha..."

I am going to pass this title on to a neighbor friend. She loves the crime genre. Thanks !

Alias Reader wrote: "John wrote: "
⭐⭐⭐ The Last Great Walk: The True Story of a 1909 Walk from New York to San Francisco, and Why it Matters Today

John, the link for this review is for the Queen Ann book."

Fixed above, thanks! Here's the correct link as well:

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

Thanks, for correcting the link, John.

My neighbor friend loves books on walking/hiking. Even though the book wasn't exactly what you were looking for, I'll pass the title on to her.

Thank you !

Alias, I can understand what you wrote about Pale Hills, particularly the ending. Sometimes when an author does that, i am torqued. Other times, I like and approve of it, after the frustrating realization that truly was the ending. In your case it seems an unfortunate narrator didn’t help.

At least you had one great book! I’m glad you shared about them all.

Petra, i’m signing myself up for Monte Francis book. I wasn’t aware of the murders but the discovery story sounds fascinating.

The Dickens, et al, too, intrigues for the combination angle.

One thing i like about stories such as the Garry Disher is crime solving in somewhat isolated areas. Sounds good from that perspective.

But I’ll pass on the slowjogging, although the value of this over running sounds on-target.

Neat variety of books for the month.

John, your first review, on the elements, ended with a great note, regarding the book and renewal. I appreciate the tip, as libraries are my most steady source for books. And this one sounds good.

The Baldwin review was good and your personal feelings most welcome.

Your observations about the Queen Anne bio are similar to mine. For me, too much was drawn from the letters and too little from the author. When we visited Blenheim there was a lack of commitment in stately the two were lovers, despite have tableaux of the two in a couple of the rooms. I suspect there is no definitive idea at this point how physical they were.

Oddly, i was not a fan of Interior, either, but the slapstick only confirmed what I already disliked. Honestly, i’m surprised the book has been as widely read as it has. As you noted, his point was made early, making the rest poor variations on the theme.

It seems you had a very good reading month, all in all.

madrano wrote: "John, your first review, on the elements, ended with a great note, regarding the book and renewal. I appreciate the tip, as libraries are my most steady source for books. And this one sounds good.
..."

Thanks, as always, for the thoughtful feedback. Hope your travels are going well! When I visited Santa Fe years ago, I thought," This is a lot like Nantucket, swapping out turquoise for scrimshaw!"

I finished a read/listen of A Hand to Hold in Deep Water by Shawn Nocher It is outstanding!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Oh, i can see that, John. Both artwork materials can be quite striking. We are having a good time, enough that my brother is joining us next week. Hurrah.

Sandy, what a complement on the writing and characters. Thanks for sharing.

I finished a number of books begun earlier this year.

Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning—Tom Vanderbilt. The author shares his experiences learning 5 new subjects, as well as studies about them. Included are singing, surfing, drawing. Somewhat inspirational but quite informative.

Arsenic and Adobo—Mia P. Manansala. Mystery set in a small town with Filipino recipes. This is the first in a series and will read further but i can’t say i loved or hated it.

99 Poems: New & Selected—Dana Gioia. A mix of poems on life, as well as some “story” poems, which i felt were less successful. Overall, though, i like his work.

Beloved—Toni Morrison. Well executed story which required concentration but was rewarding. This was on my DL, so to learn more, please go to that thread.

The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos—Judy Batalion. Great story shedding light on the female resistors in Poland during WWII. The story is related chronologically, which diluted the strength of their stories, i believe, to the point i took a break from reading for a couple of weeks. Worth it.

Hitty, Her First Hundred Years—Rachel Field. Nice YA about a wooden doll and her adventures with different families. Another DL for me, just because I’ve wanted to read it but hadn’t yet.

The Mercies—Kiran Millwood Hargrave. Striking story about a fishing village in the 1700s which lost most of their men in a freak storm. New religious leaders soon begin a witch hunt.

The final book i’ll mention is Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century—Jessica Bruder. Fascinating nonfiction about people in the US who live out of trailers and such, houseless beings. It was educational for me and has me looking at our economy differently.

Quite a varied lot, so congrats for the breadth of information!

madrano wrote: "I finished a number of books begun earlier this year.

Wow ! Well done, deb.

I usually don't pause a book and come back to it. I guess because with my memory, I would have to start all over again from the start. lol

Deb, you've had a very interesting month of reading.

Light, breezy series such as Arsenic and Adobo are good to have in one's reading pouch. I pull out a Stephanie Plum book occasionally. I neither love or hate them but they are entertaining, when I'm in the mood for them.

I have Nomadland on my library's "for later" shelf and hope to read it soon. I think it could be an eye opener.

Your making good progress on your DL project.

Nice month!

Thanks to each of you for the comments. Sharing is a joy with this group!

In June - I didn't read tons like I have putting up here lately, but I did come in with at least 10 reads for the month. :)

The Devil's Equinox by John Everson - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Phantom by William Massa - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Nightmare Collection: Volume 1 by Lee Mountford - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Bloody Mary by J.A. Konrath - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Devil's Island by Mark Lukens - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Haunting of The Wilson Estate by Hazel Holmes - 3 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Iron Maidens by Sarah Jane Huntington - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sharkwater Beach by Tim Meyer - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Rusty Nail by J.A. Konrath - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I stepped into the crime thrillers by J.A. Konrath as a GR friend told me a few years back to check them out, so I am finally reading them. I own the whole series except for two books, so I am making my way through them. I only read one of the books in July which I will post on here sometime today for the July reads, but I really love this series so far as the main character is easy to get attached to plus she is funny with a sassy attitude. This author, J.A. Konrath also writes horror books - so he is a mulit-genre author. I haven't tried his horror books yet as he wrote a series in that genre too which I need to step into at some point. But I do love to read crime/suspense thrillers as well. Thought I would give a short reason why I stepped into the crime series. :)

Another busy reading month for you, Marie. Thanks for the intro to a new mystery series, Jack Daniels. I enjoy humorous mysteries. I’m looking forward to diving in, considering your fine reviews.

Does it disappoint you when one in a series is very short, the way this Hexecutioner was? I can see that it might be frustrating.

I appreciate the list of stories from a collection. It helps make decisions easier.

madrano wrote: "I’m looking forward to diving in, considering your fine reviews...."

Cool Madrano! I hope you like them as much as I do. :)

madrano wrote: "Does it disappoint you when one in a series is very short, the way this Hexecutioner was? I can see that it might be frustrating...."

Not really as I had already checked into all the books before stepping into the series - they are like serials except they don't continue on with the same characters except the hero. The interesting thing about this series is that you find out more background on the hero as the story progresses. But with that book on the Phantom I was just wishing for a little more of a background on the villain - sometimes though you just get what you get I guess! LOL

The books are no different to me than reading an anthology with short stories - it would be about the same thing. I like full length novels but I also like to read short stories as well. Not much seems to bother me on reading books (lol) as I am kind of laid back on the books I read. :)

Marie, your enthusiasm for reading shines through your reviews. Thanks for answering my questions about disappointment or not.

Hello everyone, I’m new around here but I’m happy to see all the books you have read.

I just finished The divine comedy and I’m currently reading the picture of Dorian Gray

Welcome to the group, Israel. I enjoy reading classic literature but haven’t read the Dante Alighieri. I hope you like Oscar Wilde novel. It’s thought provoking.

We look forward to your future posts about books you’ve been reading. Again, welcome.

Israel wrote: "Hello everyone, I’m new around here but I’m happy to see all the books you have read.

I just finished The divine comedy and I’m currently reading the picture of Dorian Gray"

Welcome to Book Nook Cafe. Thank you for joining our group.
We look forward to getting to know you.

Hi Israel! Welcome. Glad you found our group.

Israel wrote: "Hello everyone, I’m new around here but I’m happy to see all the books you have read.

I just finished The divine comedy and I’m currently reading the picture of Dorian Gray"

Hello, Israel! I am fond of classics, although they work better for me as audiobooks.