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 July 2025.
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 Jayme

I read The Widows’ Guide to Murder and discussed it in the thread.

This was a very cute cozy mystery with a cast of delightful characters and to many murders to count. I will eventually circle back to the series when I need an over-the-top mystery and a smile. I did discover a new knitting project so a 3.5 rounded to 4 stars

WoF: Kristie

I read The Widows’ Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby and I am the discussion leader in the group read thread. I enjoyed this one. I thought it was fun getting to know the characters and I was surprised by some of the story. I ended up giving it 3.5★ and decided to round up to 4. I think this will be a good series to pop in and out of when I need a lighter read.

I am also reading Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews and discussing in the general theme thread. I'll come back to edit this comment with my thoughts once I have finished. So far, it's been a little challenging getting into the 1860s mindset for this one. The rules were different back then and the dialogue takes some getting used to. The set up has been interesting, but I'm getting the feeling that it's going to be more of a romance focused story than I expected. Edit: I finally gave up on the book. It just wasn't something that I'm interested in and it read more like a YA. I do think other people will enjoy it more than I did. The writing was good.

WoF Marnie

I read and discussed in the group thread Babylonia which is the second book I’ve read by Costanza Casati. I thought the book got stronger as it went on and the MC Semiramis was very well defined. The author didn’t sugar coat the ruthlessness needed to survive as a woman and woman ruler of the time.

I read and discussed Babylonia. This is also my second book by Casati. I gave them both 4 stars, though I liked this one slightly more. I listened to the book mostly on my daily walks and the writing was very immersive and I totally felt like I was there. I liked that the MC, Semiramis was indeed ambitious and at times cutthroat, but also maintains her humanity and compassion throughout and her relationships with other characters are genuine. I liked that she was layered and not one-dimensional.

WoF Janice

I read and discussed Babylonia in the thread provided.

I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it either and got to the point where I just wanted to finish it. I think Casati is a good writer, but a little less brutality would be appreciated.

I also read and posted about two education books by authors with first and last initials the same
Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism by Eve L. Ewing and Slow Violence: Confronting Dark Truths in the American Classroom by Ranita Ray.
Both books were eye-opening and especially the Slow Violence book is one that I think all educators should read. Teachers have a lot of power over the lives of children in our care and everyone has blind spots, so we should use resources to help us peek into those blind spots so that we take the best care of those children in our charge.

WoFSharonBiskit

I read and discussed The Widows’ Guide to Murder, Amanda Ashby .

TBH, it was a very quick read so there wasn’t a whole lot of discussing. I think that the characters made the book. They were quite funny and very real. It was a nice place to escape too. I will remember the next in the series if I want a charming read and a light mystery.

WoF Alexandra

I read The Widows’ Guide to Murder and discussed it in the thread. It was a nice and light read with charming and quirky characters.

WoF - Lilisa

I read The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy by Diana Darke and discussed it in the discussion thread. I enjoyed it - I loved that the text is accompanied by pics - it made for a nice and interesting visual accompaniment to the information on the Ottoman Empire. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

WoF Nix

I read Babylonia and was the discussion leader.

I love Costanza Casati's writing style, and it was a solid 4 stars for me. The characters, the toxic love between them, the quest for power and how ultimately one thing influenced were delivered quite well. I can't get enough of this genre.

WoF name - Amanda(Lily)

I read The Widows’ Guide to Murder and discussed it in the appropriate thread.

I enjoy cozy mysteries, and this was no different. I liked the characters and found the ending of the book very satisfying. The characters get up to some crazy hijinks, and it was a fun read!

WoF Aya

I read Seed by Ania Ahlborn and discussed it in the thread.

It's a short book and lack of details that I wish the author would explain more. It's a so-so book and I gave it 3 stars.

WoF margo

I read and discussed Babylonia.

I liked the book, despite a torture scene that, IMO, was gratuitous. Costanza Casati is an author whose work I will pick up again.

WoF Grainne

I read and discussed The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda

The author did a good job of keeping me guessing throughout and planted a few plot twists as the book curved it's way towards a resolution. The characters are very realistic. The police officers play a role at key times to keep the investigation going.

I like this genre of book and I was particularly pleased to find that Megan Miranda has an alliterative name. I gave this book 3 stars. I thought it was well laid out and that there was good balance between guessing and telling in this mystery.

WoF Karin

I re-read Dying Out Loud: No Guilt in Life, No Fear in Death which I read a number of years ago, by Shawn Smucker since I own it and remember liking it.

This is a biography/authobiography, told in first person. Let me explain. It's not about Shawn Smucker, but he travelled to Turkey where he recorded Stan Steward and took some of the photos in the book, but not all, when Steward was dying from late stage cancer (caught very late.) Therefore, most of it is in the first person voice of Steward as transcribed and edited by Smucker.

Stan, his wife and two children were missionaries in Turkey--and by missionaries I mean they respected the local culture and customs and made many close friends there even though no one converted. However, when his kids were basically grown up (one was in college in the US) he was diagnosed he decided the best thing he could do was to die with hope and peace because he felt that the one thing his Muslim friends lacked was hope. The book ends when he dies, but being true to the nature of it, doesn't write about the results (these can be seen on a video online) which was that it led to conversions.

However you feel about religion or conversions, the story is remarkable for how this family became part of the lives of others, and even learned to live as a community in a way foreign to Americans (there everything is a community decision, eg they once ended up using tile they didn't care for in a bathroom because the group liked it the best.)


At times this book is a tear jerker, particularly because Stan and his wife, Ann, were very close to each other and with their kids, but there are also times where I could see how frightening some of the situations they were in as they travelled to areas near the border of Iran but also how heartwarming many of their interactions were.

Sean Smucker writes many different books; I have no idea if I'll read more by him, but if a book came up and I didn't remember his name, I'd check out his page and see I've read this and think he writes well.

Badges and stamps have been posted. Let me know if I missed you or made a mistake.