You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Please read through the reporting thread carefully to ensure to report correctly to get your badge/s.

After you have read your chosen book(s) for this month's group theme read, please report in the thread below.

Please state what book you read (and link it), how it fits the theme, that you discussed it (and where), and briefly summarize what you thought of the book and/or link to your review if you have written one.

If you lead the discussion, please state this in your post.

Here is an example for how to report your read:

“I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and discussed it in the [Harry Potter/Buddy Read/Other books in theme] thread. I really enjoyed the book. I watched the film first so I already knew the story line but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the book more as there was more detail involved. Plus I listened to the audio which was narrated by Stephen Fry who is a superb narrator. 4 stars.”

If you read more than one book which fits the theme, please report all your reads in the same post rather than in separate posts.

Please note, there are THREE different badges that can be obtained for group reads. Those reading and discussing one of the two chosen group reads will receive a colorful badge similar to those for previous group reads. Those reading and discussing any other book in the theme will receive a stamp. The discussion leader for the two chosen group reads will receive a badge stating they led the discussion. Maximum amount of badges you can receive for the group reads is TWO - one for the chosen group read/discussion leader and one for any other book in the theme.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. put your Wall of Fame Name at the beginning of your post as follows: WoF Name - Sandra
2. have read the book(s) before or during November 2023.
3. discussed it in the relevant thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favorite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in that thread.
4. Report that you have read AND discussed the book.

WoF Marnie

I read The Island of Missing Trees and discussed it in the group thread. I was impressed with the beauty and originality of the storyline and writing. A five star read for me.

I also read Deeper Than the Dead for the general theme read. I talked about it in that thread and am happy to add a new to me author.

WoFSharonBiskit

I read a general tree on the cover theme book. I read Divine Fate.


This was this month’s choice for a book in my RL bookclub. It does have a beautiful Fall tree on the cover. I wasn’t too sure about the story at first. (I am NOT a huge cozy mystery fan.) All in all, the story wasn’t bad and it was different from the boy meets girl, falls in love type of thing. I ended up giving it a 3 star rating.

WoF Janice

I read The Island of Missing Trees a few months back and recalled enough to discuss it in the group theme read thread. The writing was very beautiful, almost at odds with the civil war in Cyprus.

I also read Deeper Than the Dead and discussed it in the general thread for books in the theme. This was a murder mystery surrounding an apparent serial killer in California. I was thoroughly engaged in this book and didn't want to stop reading. It was fun trying to figure out who the killer was.

WoF Katrisa
I read The Island of Missing Trees and am leading the discussion.
I absolutely love this book. It was one of my favorite reads the year it came out and it remained a 5 star read for me. I am a fan of Shafak in general, but this book is my favorite of hers. It is beautifully written and I love how she weaves the natural world and the human world together. Also I had zero knowledge of Cyprus and the partition that happened there (and is still happening) before this book so I also always appreciate when books open my eyes to history that is new to me.

WoF - Lilisa

I read The Island of Missing Trees and discussed it in the group thread. This was a re-read for me and loved it equally, if not more, the second time around. This is one of those books where there are so many layered thoughts, the storyline is so well executed, and the writing is simply evocative. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

WoF Jayme

I read The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth by Ben Rawlence. and am leading the discussion.

I finally finished the book and I am glad that I read it. I did learn a lot about the boreal forest and its impact on our lives and how climate change is causing the trees to "move" or grow where they shouldn't. I also enjoyed how he delved into the lives of indigenous groups and creatures (reindeer, polar bears) living in the northern regions of the world and how climate change has altered their ways of life. It is worth reading.

WoF: Kristie

I read A Brighter Flame and discussed in the general theme thread. It has two leaves on the cover that are supposed to look like a flame, but I think they look like a turkey. lol I really enjoyed this story of a family coming together. They were dealing with a lot of real issues. It wasn't perfect, but I ended up giving it 5 stars because I loved it so much. I am going to look into more of Nolfi's books in the future.

WoF Vicki

I have read and discussed The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth. I found it a really slow read that I struggled with at times. Then sections, usually when he'd meet up with locals, would come along and get me through. The book is about all the tiny interactions in the natural world and how climate change is affecting the landscape of the Arctic. There were loads of details that the author pointed out that were interesting and I hope stick with me. Yet the book is super depressing as numerous experts he interviewed had very bleak outlooks for climate change.

Wof Cherie

I read and discussed The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth

I really feel the same way as Vicki and Jayme in their assessment of the book and what they wrote is the same way I felt about it. There were some good parts and slow parts and some really depressing parts. It was mot difficult for me to read, just slow, slow , slow in sections. Much of the tree information was very interesting to me. The global warming stuff and Artic ice melting stuff painful. It does not look good.
I am glad that I decided to read it with the group and that it was available from my library.

WoF Kabrada

I read A Snowball's Chance in Hell, which features a number of trees on the cover, and discussed it in the relevant thread.

Badges and stamps have been posted. Let me know if I missed anyone.

WoF Grainne

I am a little late recording, sorry Sandra.

I read The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth and I discussed it in the thread. It was a slow start, slow middle, and slow end when I read it. I found the author labored the point a bit in many places. There was little hope in the book and the author highlighted many of the negative changes that have taken place in the various locations that he went too. At first, I liked his organization of chapter by location but as it neared the end I found some key points were repetitive of previously stated points about snow, permafrost, tree aging etc. and that made the book even slower.

I rated it 2 stars for those reasons.

No problem, Grainne. It is posted.

Thank you Sandra!