Book Nook Cafe discussion

2024 book challenge Rachel
1- Biography, autobiography or memoir


2- Business, economics, finance (personal, business or home) F or NF


3- Health, fitness or diet


4- History


5- Historical fiction


6- Humorous story, or comedian wrote it, or light hearted fun read


7- Legal or lawyer character F / NF


8- LGBTQ+ character F/NF


9- Medical or character related to topic F/NF


10- Mystery, Thriller, or suspense


11- Political, social science or governments F/NF


12- romance, relationships or love. F/NF


13- science F/NF


14--travel F/NF


15- philosophy, ethics, morality


16- Young adult book F/NF


17- Spiritual or inspirational F/NF


18- book that takes place during a holiday. Any holiday.


19- book with a relationship in the title (father, mother, daughter, son, sister or brother)


20- The Arts: Music, art, theater, acting, dance or poetry.


21- Banned book or Challenged book


22- Debut novel


23- Award winning book or nominated for award


24- A play


25- A book published before you were born


26- Published in 2024


27- Nature, environment or animals. F/NF


28- book that takes place in WWI, WWII, or other war F/NF


29- cosmology, space, astronauts, outer space- F/NF


30- Sports F/NF


31- Horror or scary


32- Self help or creative or How to


33- psychology


34- food mentioned in book, recipes or chef mentioned in book F/NF


35- about a disability or character has a disability F/NF


36- a book about one of your 5 senses ( touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste) F/NF


37- color in title


38- Weather related F/NF


39- Myth, sci fi, magical realism, or fantasy


40- Dystopian


41- Author last name begins with B, N or C


42- audio book


43 - Topic or a character has one of the 7 deadly sins or more! (pride, greed, envy, gluttony, sloth, wrath and lust) F/NF


44- Book with one word title


45- A book over 500 pages


46- A book with either an Index, Map, photographs or Glossary


47- Translated into English


48- Book that takes place in or is about a country you don't live in. F/NF


49- Short story collection Or Essay collection


50- book written by a BIPOC author or character is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color )) F/NF
*****************************************************
Extra prompts from participants in the challenge.
*****************************************************


51- Author not a native of the country in which the book is set.


52- Book written by an Indie author or Indie press.


53- Read 2 books by Vendela Vida


54- Read 2 books by Sara Gran,


55- Crime, F/NF


56 - immigrants/immigration F/NF


flag

You did it, Rachel !

I added your name to this thread so you can easily find it.

We all look forward to reading your posts throughout the year
as you tackle the challenge.

Thank you for taking the time to figure out this crazy GoodReads system. It's not easy to learn and you did it !

Welcome to the Challenge, Rachel!

WOW!!! Happy Days are Here Again (imagine me singing)! Thanks for all the help.The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening, this is a memoir!

I imagine listening to this book is the way to go, since he's a radio reporter. I like that subtitle, Life Spent Listening--yes!

Rachel wrote: "WOW!!! Happy Days are Here Again (imagine me singing)! Thanks for all the help.The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening, this is a memoir!"

I've added that to my TBR list, Rachel. Thanks for the title. I think I may go audio on this one.

Thank you for persevering with this crazy GR system. We all value your comments on books and are happy to have you join the challenge.

I could not have done it without your patient help. Glad to be aboard.

Glad to see this thread of yours, Rachel. And what a way to start.

The Secret Hours

I so enjoyed this book. It is perfect for any le Carre fans.

Rachel wrote: "The Secret Hours

I so enjoyed this book. It is perfect for any le Carre fans."

Sounds like a good Thriller. Nice job on the prompt.

I've only read Slow Horses by Mick Herron, so am glad to have this standalone title.

Well done, Rachel.

How to Say Babylon

This checks a few categories on the challenge. I like but did not love this book. Perhaps because I am not a poetry person at all. The author is a poet. The author did not have an easy childhood to say the least.

Rachel wrote: "How to Say Babylon

This checks a few categories on the challenge. I like but did not love this book. Perhaps because I am not a poetry person at all. The author is a poet. The auth..."

Sorry to hear it wasn't a winner for you. I see it was a Read With Jenna book club selection.

When you last mentioned it I did put in my TBR notebook. I think I may still read it at some point. The blurb compares it to Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood which I thought was very good. However, I am sure the writing style is different for both books.

Rachel wrote: "How to Say Babylon

This checks a few categories on the challenge. I like but did not love this book. Perhaps because I am not a poetry person at all. The author is a poet. The auth..."

I appreciate your comments, Rachel. I am a poetry person but the few poems i've read from Safiya Sinclair do little for me.

Good work on the prompt aspect, though!

Alias Reader wrote: "Rachel wrote: "WOW!!! Happy Days are Here Again (imagine me singing)! Thanks for all the help.The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening, this is a memoir!..."

I have not followed Ari Shapiro's work, and it looks like I've missed something wonderful. I am going to put him on my list of people I have to know more about today. Thanks for the introduction.

madrano wrote: "I've only read Slow Horses by Mick Herron, so am glad to have this standalone title.

Well done, Rachel."

And you are two for two. I can see that following your lead is going to increase my TBR list exponentially.

Alias Reader wrote: "Rachel wrote: "How to Say Babylon

This checks a few categories on the challenge. I like but did not love this book. Perhaps because I am not a poetry person at all. The author is a..."

Funny you mentioned Trevor Noah's book as I watched his comedy on Netflix. It is pretty funny and I am not normally a comedy person. Plus for whatever reason I started listening to Black Boy by Richard Wright and I like that much better. It is a semi autobiographical novel of his growing up in the south.

I can imagine that would be true for me, too, Rachel. As much as i like reading Richard Wright, sometimes i fail to get into his cadence. Listening would improve that, i believe.

Some books are much better being heard for me as well.

For some books I like to read along as I listen to the audio. I especially like this for more involved books such a non fiction. I think it helps me to retain more.

I never tried that. I might give it a whirl.
The Paris Secret

This one I thought would be lighthearted but I was totally wrong.

I hadn't heard of Natasha Lester but see that she has a series of books with "Paris" in the title. Have you read any of those, Rachel? What i like about this one is the mix of fashion with female WWII pilots. Curious combo.

The parts about women piloting planes was interesting for sure. But part of it is very dark. Why does WWII have continuing fascination above all other wars? Generally speaking I am done with it unless it has some unique point of view.

Rachel wrote:
post #23
"The parts about women piloting planes was interesting for sure. But part of it is very dark. Why does WWII have continuing fascination above all other wars? Generally speaking I am done with it unl..."

I guess you could put me in the camp of wanting to read non fiction books about WWII. It's so complex that I know I will never fully understand it all.

I just was listening to the wonderful podcast, The Rest Is History. They are also on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@restishistor...
They cover a lot of different topics. That latest series was WWII.

I really like the hosts.

---Dominic Christopher Sandbrook is a British historian, author, columnist and television presenter.

---Thomas Holland FRSL is an English author and popular historian who has published best-selling books on topics including classical and medieval history, and the origins of Islam.

Anyway, they mention quite a few books on the show. One 3 volume set the talked about I've now put in my TBR notebook.

Richard J. Evans
The Coming of the Third Reich
The Third Reich in Power
The Third Reich at War

Normally I prefer fiction to non fiction. I wish listen to the podcast you mentioned.

Rachel wrote: "The parts about women piloting planes was interesting for sure. But part of it is very dark. Why does WWII have continuing fascination above all other wars? Generally speaking I am done with it unless it has some unique point of view..."

It's that last part that keeps me interested, Rachel. As we mentioned on the thread where we discussed stories from other angles, i feel we are only now getting fully details of how women and other minorities contributed to the war efforts. White men returned from war & wrote book, then other white men made films, all of which are appreciated. But the stories from other angles are either minimized or not presented at all. At last, those are being told and i like learning that fuller history.

The same is true with stories about the War(s) which are "smaller", either in context or in where the events occurred, such as the war in Scandinavian countries or atrocious things which happened in small towns in nations we barely know. And, to be honest, i am still a sucker for authentic WWII spy stories.

madrano wrote: "Rachel wrote:
Post #26
"The parts about women piloting planes was interesting for sure. But part of it is very dark. Why does WWII have continuing fascination above all other wars? Generally speaking I am d..."

I would add that I don't particularly enjoy reading about battle scenes or various artillery used. I avoid books those books. I am, however, very interested in the people. What were their point of view, their concerns and motivations etc.

For example, Deb and have a U.S. presidential bio challenge. We try to read at least one book on each president. That said, I am always seeking out a book that begins with the persons childhood as I think that helps me understand, in part, their motivations or why they are the way they are. That helps me understand other books that may zero in on one specific time period or incident. For example, I very much enjoyed reading Being Nixon: A Man Divided as it discusses his upbringing. Then I can go on to read about his presidency and Watergate.

I like to read about FDR and that time period. That of course brings in WWII, dust bowl, Great Depression etc.. I feel I could read a hundred books on these topics in general and books about the vast number of people who lived during this time and I'd be still just be seeing the tip of the iceberg.

Anyway, that is why I still seek out WWII books. LOL

Alias Reader wrote: "U.S. presidential bio challenge. We try to read at least one book on each president. That said, I am always seeking out a book that begins with the persons childhood as I think that helps me understand, in part, their motivations or why they are the way they are. That helps me understand other books that may zero in on one specific time period or incident. For example, I very much enjoyed reading Being Nixon: A Man Divided as it discusses his upbringing. ..."

While i appreciate knowing about a biography-subject's childhood, i particularly like it when an author shares how some trait from back then stayed with the person throughout their life. This is especially true for presidents and other leaders. When an author reminds us of that, either as they relate the childhood or when the similar behavior occurs during their adult lives, i am even more grateful. It illustrates how some personality traits stay and how others are erased through discipline &/or hard work.

Another thought i had about why WWII history is still being written about is that many feel it was our last, most valid war effort. The goals attained and from the victory came the flourishing of what many felt was the intention of our ancestors. Likely this is why we will not see the same from Korea, Vietnam, and the Mideast conflicts.

I also wonder if there isn't some compare/contrast of issues involved as well. When my husband was in Vietnam, there were no phone calls, other than emergencies; no email; no steady flow of what was happening at home. When he saw the Gulf War soldiers going to tents set up for video calls with family, he stated what a difference that would have made.

Now, think of how even the mail was a mess for the first years of WWII. Many had nothing from the home front, nothing to remind them of their past. This is another part of the battle some admire. (And, incidentally, the fact that it was an African American female military corps who straightened out the US mail system in Europe during the war, makes that WWII history worth continuing to explore.)

I know i'm rambling but i have long thought about how many of us had no interest in military literature, fiction or non. That the proliferation continues is an intriguing question.

madrano wrote:

Another thought i had about why WWII history is still being written about is that many feel it was our last, most valid war effort."

Now, think of how even the mail was a mess for the first years of WWII. Many had nothing from the home front, nothing to remind them of their past.

Very good points, deb. It's something I'll keep in mind when reading about that period.

Speaking of that era, today on The View, Joy recommended a movie loosely based on a book written in 2014. I've put the book on my list. I think the movie may just be in theaters at the moment.

The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis

---The Zone of Interest/Film synopsis
A Nazi commandant tries to build a dream life for his family near the Auschwitz concentration camp.

------The Zone of Interest | Official Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-vfg...

madrano wrote: "Rachel wrote: "The parts about women piloting planes was interesting for sure. But part of it is very dark. Why does WWII have continuing fascination above all other wars? Generally speaking I am d..."

Yes, there have been some TV shows and movies recently that told the story of WWII from Scandinavian points of view. You are so right when you say that most of the story telling has been from a pretty homogeneous point of view.

Three Strong Women

I enjoyed this book but am unsure what the author's intent was. The title, IMO, has little to do with the work. But I do like that it is thought provoking.

Alias Reader wrote: "The Zone of Interest/Film synopsis
A Nazi commandant tries to build a dream life for his family near the Auschwitz concentration camp. ..."

From the article i read about the film, i see it was nominated for five Academy Awards this year. The quote from the director, Jonathan Glazer, i felt this was quite appropriate to our conversation here:

"Glazer, known for movies like 2004's Birth and 2013's Under the Skin, told The Guardian that the "reason I made this film is to try to restate our close proximity to this terrible event that we think of as in the past."

https://people.com/oscars-2024-the-zo...

I am not a fan of Martin Amis but this book sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing this info, Alias.

Rachel wrote: "Yes, there have been some TV shows and movies recently that told the story of WWII from Scandinavian points of view. You are so right when you say that most of the story telling has been from a pretty homogeneous point of view..."

I must say i welcome the new additions, too.

Rachel wrote: "Three Strong Women

I enjoyed this book but am unsure what the author's intent was. The title, IMO, has little to do with the work. But I do like that it is thought provoking."

The cover is striking, imo. . I haven't heard of it or the author, Marie NDiaye. Did you read that remarkably long paragraph explaining the plot?! What the heck? It made me not want to read the book, as the explanation was confusing!

Thanks for telling us about this book, Rachel, as well as your puzzlement about intent.

The Vulnerables

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book.

Rachel wrote: "The Vulnerables

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book."

"The Vulnerables offers a meditation on our contemporary era, as a solitary female narrator asks what it means to be alive at this complex moment in history and considers how our present reality affects the way a person looks back on her past.Humor, to be sure, is a priceless refuge. Equally vital is connection with others, who here include an adrift member of Gen Z and a spirited parrot named Eureka. The Vulnerables reveals what happens when strangers are willing to open their hearts to each other and how far even small acts of caring can go to ease another’s distress. A search for understanding about some of the most critical matters of our time, Nunez’s new novel is also an inquiry into the nature and purpose of writing itself."

Sounds good, Rachel. I love the upside down parrot on the cover!

Rachel wrote: "The Vulnerables

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book."

I loved your review, Rachel. I'm adding it to my TBR. Thanks for sharing about it here.

Alias, thanks for the additional info, too. Neat cover for a book.

Alias Reader wrote: "Rachel wrote: "The Vulnerables

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book."

"The Vulnerables offers a meditation on our contemporary era, as a solitary female narrator asks what it means to..."

I am embarrassed to say I did not notice the cover until you pointed it out.

Welcome Home, Stranger

This is a talented writer who had a good story and let it fizzle, IMO.

Rachel wrote: "Welcome Home, Stranger

This is a talented writer who had a good story and let it fizzle, IMO."

I'm not familiar with this novel. I'm sorry to hear that after a strong start it didn't work for you. That's disappointing.

Rachel wrote: "I am embarrassed to say I did not notice the cover until you pointed it out ..."

This is so easy to miss when we read ebooks, imo.

Rachel wrote: "Welcome Home, Stranger

FROM YOUR GR REVIEW When I got to the last page I turned it and exclaimed "that's it? I do not understand why a writer that can spin a good yarn was satisfied enough with this book to publish it.."

Perfect sentence for some dissatisfying books, Rachel. It's almost as though a reader cared more about the characters and outcome of the novel than the author!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us on this frustrating book.

It seems that writing a good, satisfying ending is an art that not all authors possess. I would think the editor or publisher would say something. Maybe that is not how the publishing world works.

Probably not. Or not as much today as in the past (pre-21st century, maybe?).

I often wonder if the author just couldn't decide how to end the story with the characters they created. I can kinda understand that but it is far too often a complaint of readers, so one wonders what they were thinking.

Probably hoping they can come up with a sequel.

madrano wrote: "Probably not. Or not as much today as in the past (pre-21st century, maybe?).

I often wonder if the author just couldn't decide how to end the story with the characters they created. I can kinda u..."
I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the sequel.

Ilium

I enjoyed this book from first to last.

Rachel wrote: "Ilium

I enjoyed this book from first to last."

Sounds like a good mystery thriller, Rachel.

Thanks for the tip on this title, Rachel. Your review, mentioning the lack of lethal action, increased my interest.

Yes, it is not a high octane thriller which made it appeal to me also.

Black Boy

Audio version. This was hard to listen to but valuable for me to see the world from someone else's viewpoint. It is a superbly crafted work.