Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

Guidelines for posting in this thread

We like to see a bit of discussion about the books we are reading, rather than just posting the book link (and the occasional link to a review). The comments should include:

- Books you just started or are currently reading. You might want to add a few words about the book to let other members know whether you like it or not so far.
- Books you just finished, Please include your rating (1-5 stars) and a few words about the book (even if it's something as short as "I loved it / hated it.") If you wrote a full review, you can share the link to it but please include a short summary of your thoughts alongside it.

The Spanish Daughter by Ecuadorian Lorena Hughes is a historical mystery set in the cacao plantations of the 1920s. It involves intrigue, family secrets and creates a picture of the era. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

I am reading Nine Princes in Amber via The Great Book of Amber omnibus. This is the first reread of the three stories I previously read in the series.
I've forgotten almost everything since I read it a decade ago, so it practically feels brand new.

I'm also hoping to start Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience, in earnest, later today. I read a few pages of the introduction, and I am intrigued. I borrowed it from the library to join the group read; I'm going in blind, so I have no idea what to expect.

Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and Things That Sustain You When the World Goes Dark by Australian journalist, broadcaster and author Julia Baird is a self-help book and memoir about how to find beauty and awe in the small things in life to buoy us through the tough times. 3.5 stars for me. Here is my review

I've been listening to The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene and reading From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Split Tooth is an award-winning debut read by Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq. It tells the story of a girl growing up in Nunavut in the 1970s, a gritty, harsh but beautiful tale that blends fiction, memoir magical realism and mythology. The audiobook has excerpts of her unique singing. Here is my review

I’m currently reading the Complete Sherlock Holmes as one of my 2023 goals! I’ll also be reading other books in between each SH story so I don’t get too overwhelmed

I just finished Still Life by Louise Penny. I thought it was very good. It is murder mystery set in a small village in Canada. It had quite a few twists and turns. It kept me guess till the end of who the real murder is.

Reading Solito. It was so hyped. Unfortunately, I’m pretty disappointed. Since I’m not fluent in Spanish, it’s frustrating at times to constantly look up phrases that are not translated. I’m sure this is intentional but it isolates many readers who will be put off from doing the work if the aren’t bi-lingual. It’s written from the perspective of a child but it’s not consistently believable that a child would have developed these stream of conscious thoughts. For the first half of the book there is a preoccupation with cigarettes. Second half moves better but just not as engaging as say an American Dirt. Still have 100 pages left so reserving final rating. Wish there was more effort to care about these characters.

Happy New Year!

This is my first time contributing to a thread here on Goodreads - hope I don't mess it up.

I just finished reading In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren, which was unfortunately not exactly my cup of tea. Still easy going and relatively fun to read - mainly due to the winter/Christmass-y vibes and the endearing family dynamics (a 3* star read for me).

Have now started reading:
1. Agatha Christie's Sad Cypress,
2. The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett and
3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

They all seem highly promising - I will update with ratings once done.

Happy New year everyone! I've belonged for years and am going to try to comment more this year!

I just finished Our Missing Heartsby Celeste Ng. Audio. Maybe reading it would have been better? Narrated by Lisa Ling she tended to read like a journalist. I have to think about this one a bit before rating.

Currently reading

The Lincoln Highway and thoroughly enjoying

Little Women

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

Finished reading A Matter of Life and Death by Andy Marr last night. (5* read). Loved the character development as well as the story.

Currently reading:

Little Women

The Disinvited Guest: A Novel

Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds

Scarlet Lies by Samoan author Lani Wendt Young is a rom-com featuring plus-size heroine Scarlet who has to go home to Samoa for her sister's wedding and ends up falling into the lap of a handsome stranger on the flight home. Here is my review

Just finished and enjoyed it (though it was obviously YA.) Gave it 4 stars for great characters and movement.

I've just finished Pride and Prejudice. I'm so glad I finally read it since I'd put it off for so long. I'd always thought it would be boring or intimidating, but I started out by listening to the audiobook which made it easier and helped hook me in. I really enjoyed the witty humor and the satire of it all.

I just finished it is called library spy

I loved Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr am now reading Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

Loved Anthony Doerr’s fiction and this account of his stay in Rome on sabbatical with his wife and new born twins is delightful. It’s a quirky encyclopedic account full of fascinating facts and observations. Beautifully written and his accounts of the twins growing up from babies to toddlers is amusing and insightful if somewhat exhausting for both parents. His thoughts on being an author, death, the spectacle of the funeral of Pope John Paul and the accession of Pope Benedict is fascinating! He describes buildings, relevant literature and writers with connection to Rome! I found myself often looking on Google for illustrations his descriptions were so enticing. A wonderful book

Just finished Out, by Natsuo Kirino. I don't read a ton of crime-suspense-revenge thrillers (although I often watch TV shows that match that description), but this was good and creepy. I often found the plot and scenarios seeping into my real life, which was both unsettling and very cool!

Next book, randomly selected from my numbered 222+ book to-read list is Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood, which worked out rather nicely, considering I'd decided a little while ago that I'd like to read more contemporary Japanese fiction.

(I've said this before, but I made a kind of resolution this year that I won't buy any more books, movies, or TV shows in any format until I've read/watched all the ones I own and haven't already read/watched. It could take a decade!!!)

I finished my first book of 2023 a few days ago. A Dowry of Blood. Dracula is one of the few classics that I really like, so I was excited to read this book. The fact that the story is narrated by Dracula's wife was interesting. I don't believe the word "Dracula" is ever actually in the book, so for awhile I was wondering if I was wrong about this being about Dracula. The Harker's don't feature in this story, they are mentioned in passing though, which is what confirmed that this was about Dracula. I would definitely recommend this retelling.

I'm currently reading Death on the Nile, The Third Kingdom, Mostly Harmless, and Wuthering Heights.

I've been reading Duke I'd Like to F... as a buddy read, and I just finished Love and the Single Heiress by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Europe
Russia:
Zuleikha by award-winning debut Russian author Guzel Yakhina is a historical fiction set in 1930s Tatarstan and Siberia inspired by her grandmother’s memories of being exiled to the Gulag. Zuleikha is an oppressed Tatar housewife taken from her home and taken to a remote camp in Siberia where, despite adversity, she finds her inner strength and will to survive. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

Just finished Death on the Nile. I always forget how much I love Agatha Christie. I really need to read more of her books. I was disappointed that I'd seen the movie first and knew who the killer was, but it was still a great book.

Currently reading The Third Kingdom, Mostly Harmless, and Wuthering Heights.

I’m reading a book called Drown Her Sorrows by Melinda Leigh

Currently reading Sarah J Maas' Queen of Shadows!

Just finished Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood, modern classic, in my opinion. I definitely recommend it, especially if you like coming-of-age romances with a dark edge.

My comments contain some thematic spoilers, I guess you could say, but not much (if anything) in the way of plot spoilers.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I'm reading Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience. I am only two chapters in (after reading the introduction), and I have highlighted some interesting information.

I am also starting Tales from Earthsea with a goal of a story a day.

My students are making me read which is inappropriate for middle schoolers in my opinion; I'm also reading , (which is weird because I didn't really LOVE LOVE the first one but the library had multiple new copies available so why not?), (fab ARC copy), and (which I'm surprised I understand considering I didn't read the first book in the series; good writing and captivating to say the least!)

Just finished Wendell Berry's A Continuous Harmony (collection of essays). It's very good; Berry is a powerful rhetorician, and his ideas get into my bloodstream. But they often have the unintended consequence of encouraging me to judge myself by Berry's standards, and I invariably come up short. But I simply can't easily identify how this happens or where the judgment
comes from (Berry or me). Sadly, the perceived judgment leads me to read Berry somewhat defensively, and that's something I need ti relax about when I read more of his stuff as part of my unread book challenge.

Next up: Manning Marable's How Capitalism Underdeveloped Black America.

I've been listening to Young Rich Widows

I’m reading a book called Right Behind Her by Melinda Leigh

The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Australian author Holly Ringland is a magical book set in Tasmania, Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands. It covers Indigenous stories, Nordic mythology, selkies and fairytales as Esther tries to piece together what happened to her sister Aurora and what the seven verses tattooed on her back meant. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

I’m reading a book called Beyond Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury

Currently Reading: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Previous Read: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas
5/5 stars. This is one of my favorite SJM books. I find that the plot of this revolves heavily around both planning and action, even if the action is a little less than what you would expect in a fantasy book centered around war. I think that this book also gives a lot of insight as to how Aelin grew up and why she became the way she did. She has had many, many losses in life and I think the fact that she is so motivated to save the world rather than her own life is so inspirational.

Finished:
The House in the Pines⭐️⭐️ I didn’t like the fact that the Maya had a substance abuse problem which makes the reader also question her perception of events. The overall story was ok. It also has a good pace.
Oscar Wilde: The Importance of Being Earnest⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I really enjoyed this production. Such humor and candor for outrageous dialogue.
Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story⭐️⭐️⭐️This was such an interesting book! I was drawn into the way the sheep’s thought process worked in solving the murder and it was believable.
Elektra⭐️⭐️Confusing and too many lead female characters. I listened to the audio version that may have been why. For me not as enjoyable as Ariadne.
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle⭐️⭐️I didn’t think there was anything new that I have not heard of before
The Island of Doctor Moreau⭐️⭐️I felt the scenes could have been written with more clarity and more descriptive.

Everyone Knows You Go Home is a dual timeline novel with elements of magical realism by Peruvian author Natalia Sylvester. It is about family secrets and the hardships of immigration, with a ghost who returns on every Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Here is my review

Finished Mostly Harmless. I gave it 3 stars. For what was originally intended to be the conclusion of the series, I wasn't impressed. Nothing much happens with most of the characters, besides Ford, for the whole first half of the book. I didn't start getting interested until the last 100 pages. I did find the ending, while depressing, to be quite funny. No spoilers. I do intend to read And Another Thing.... Not sure what to expect with that.

Currently reading:
The Third Kingdom
Wuthering Heights
The Martian
House of Hunger
Equal Rites

i just finished The Book of M it was a goodreads contenter in........... 2018, hopefully this group will steer me towards some of the more recent releases that i might enjoy!
Hoping to get my review up soon!

upnext:
Chain of Thorns will start, literally as soon as i get my hands on it!

I"ve been listening to The Good House and reading Murder with Peacocks

I’m reading a book called Alive at 5 by Linda Hurtado Bond

Just started listening to The Scholar this morning.

The Nature of Ice is a contemporary fiction set in Antarctica by Australian author Robyn Mundy. It shifts back and forth between the story of Freya, a photographer spending the summer in Antarctica and a recount of the 1912 exhibition by Douglas Mawson, including excerpts from his diaries and letters exchanged with his fiancé Paquita. Freya’s story is one of creativity, self-discovery and romance. Mawson’s story is one of courage, extreme adventure and heartache. Here is my review

The Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America is a translation of the ancient Viking tales telling the story of the discovery of the Americas. These sagas tell the story of Eirik the Red, exiled from Iceland in the 10th Century, who founded the Norse colony and whose sons discovered the “Vinland” (probably in the Newfoundland area of Canada) around 500 years before Columbus. The sagas are easy to read and feature sea-faring Vikings and feisty females such as the impressive Gudrid and the scheming Freydis. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review.

I finished The Martian. This was by far the best book I've read in a little bit and my first 5 star book of the year. I've never seen the movie, so I'm excited to see if it holds up. This book had a really good balance of humor and suspense. I was on the edge of my seat until the last page. Highly recommend.

Currently reading:
The Third Kingdom
House of Hunger
Wuthering Heights

Giovanni’s Room by Baldwin and Daughter of Darkness by Brooks.

I’m reading a book called Her New Year Baby Secret by Jessica Gilmore

Bridget wrote: "I finished The Martian. This was by far the best book I've read in a little bit and my first 5 star book of the year. I've never seen the movie, so I'm excited to see if it holds up..."

The movie was entertaining but Mars didn't try to kill him as many times in the movie as it did in the book.

Kirsten wrote: "Bridget wrote: "I finished The Martian. This was by far the best book I've read in a little bit and my first 5 star book of the year. I've never seen the movie, so I'm excited to se..."

I just watched the movie yesterday and was really disappointed with the changes they made. Some major plot points were just dropped.

I finished The Third Kingdom and Wuthering Heights today. I was somewhat disappointed with both. I feel like most of the first half of The Third Kingdom could have been cut out. I only have a few books left in this series and will be happy when I'm done. I really didn't see the appeal of Wuthering Heights, not many of the characters seemed to have any redeeming qualities. They were all horrible people.