Books on the Nightstand discussion

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General chat > What are you reading July & August, 2025

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message 1: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Welcome to July. I hope the heat isn't cooling your propensity for reading.

I'm about to finish (fewer than 50 pages to go) A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais A Most Puzzling Murder by two-time Booktopian author Bianca Marais.

It certainly is a novel novel combining both a don't-want-to-put-down mystery with puzzles to help the reader solve the who-done-it.

I'm going to think about this a bit before I post a review. Parts I liked, parts not so much. We'll see how it changes in the last 50 pages.


message 2: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Finished two books today Bright April by Marguerite de Angeli Bright April which is a children's book that I heard about when Dr. Carla Hayden was interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais A Most Puzzling Murder

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


message 3: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Merrily I roll along. Today I finished listening to Theater Kid A Broadway Memoir by Jeffrey Seller Theater Kid: A Broadway Memoir Five. Big. Stars.

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


message 4: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Between long car trips and beating the heat by staying in my air-conditioned bedroom, I've finished listening to Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa Hunchback which I gave 3-stars.
I finished reading Spellbound My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith by Phil Hanley Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith which I gave 4-stars. This retired Special Ed teacher had visceral reactions to this man's time in elementary school. And, even though my book discussion group doesn't meet for more than a week, I finished that book (I'm usually reading the choice a day or two before our meeting). The Art Thief by Michael Finkel The Art Thief which I gave 4-stars, but I'm considering upping the ante.


message 6: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
I finished the second volume of my year-long read Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2 The Complete and Authoritative Edition (Volume 11) (Mark Twain Papers) by Mark Twain Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2: The Complete and Authoritative Edition (Volume 11). It is a slow project, but I am enjoying it.

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


message 7: by Julie (new)

Julie M (woolyjooly) | 315 comments Finally getting to "Horse" by Geraldine Brooks. But I really want to read her latest, "Memorial Days" as I am a fan of her former husband-writer Tony Horwitz.(RIP).


message 8: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Finished Pronoun Trouble The Story of Us in Seven Little Words by John McWhorter Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words. It was a bit scholarly, explaining how English came down to 7 pronouns which is not the same as other languages. I did appreciate learning why possessives are 's. The entire book's point is a rationalization for using 'they' as the nongender specific pronoun.


message 9: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Finished listening to Hatemonger by Jean Guerrero Hatemonger. It's a nonfiction book about advisor to the president Stephen Miller. It just backs up my thinking that he's the devil incarnate.


message 10: by Eric (new)

Eric Kibler | 8 comments Linda wrote: "Finished listening to Hatemonger by Jean Guerrero Hatemonger. It's a nonfiction book about advisor to the president Stephen Miller. It just backs up my thinking that he's the de..."


“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.” - Shakespeare


message 11: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Finished reading The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney The Nest. I'm in the minority by only giving it 3-stars. Most of my friends had previously loved it.

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


message 14: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Inhaled Orbital by Samantha Harvey Orbital after an initial false start. I originally listened to it but knew I wasn't "getting" it, so I started over and read while I listened. I'm glad I did. The writing is exquisite. The entire book is profound.


message 15: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
I finished listening to Not My Type One Woman vs. a President by E. Jean Carroll Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President. Not exactly what I anticipated. Gave it 3-stars.


message 16: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
I finished two books today. This morning I finally finished reading The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie The Bone Thief. It took me a tad over 2 weeks to finish this 300 page book. It was an ARC and a mystery which should have grabbed me; it didn't. I gave it 2 stars.
This evening I finished listening to Original Sin President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by Jake Tapper Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. I gave it 3-stars. Makes me really worry about our government.


message 19: by Linda (last edited Aug 04, 2025 09:21AM) (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Catching up:

I listened to My Brother Jason The Untold Story of Jason Corbett’s Life and Brutal Murder by Tom and Molly Martens by Tracey Corbett-Lynch My Brother Jason: The Untold Story of Jason Corbett’s Life and Brutal Murder by Tom and Molly Martens. I was not aware of this story although it's evidently been covered by 48 Hours and 20/20. It's engrossing. I gave it 4-stars.
I read two books I marked as 4-star reads. The first a children's book Randy Rainbow and the Marvelously Magical Pink Glasses by Randy Rainbow Randy Rainbow and the Marvelously Magical Pink Glasses which is a very positive story of a young child who was 'different' and learns to accept himself for who he is. The second was by an author I try to read as soon as he has a new book published, Carl Hiaasen. Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen Fever Beach is a frolic of a Proud Boys-like group stopped by an otherwise thinking man and his current paramour. Now UI have to wait how long for his next book? 😢
THEN, I read and listened to Culpability by Bruce Holsinger Culpability not because it's an Oprah book but because the author is a Booktopia alumnus. I haven't read all of his books (yet) but I tend to give him 5-stars. This one is definitely that, if not higher.


message 23: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Finished listening to two books yesterday. 2024 How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America by Josh Dawsey 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America I had been within 51 minutes of finishing this a couple of weeks ago when it was returned by Libby. It's a behind the scenes of last year's presidential campaign. I gave it 4-stars.
And finished Weepers by Peter Mendelsund Weepers is different. Weepers is a union that consists of people who go to funerals and memorial services to cry. I gave it 3-stars.


message 25: by Julie (new)

Julie M (woolyjooly) | 315 comments After finishing G. Brooks' "Horse" I remembered I had never read "Year of Wonder-A Story of a plague year" which our book group read (but I didn't) many years ago. Not exactly the most uplifting but VERY interesting from a historical fiction standpoint. And I had bought the paperback edition about 10 years ago at HPB, so it was on my shelf! I just had to read another by this talented writer. Now " March" is on reserve at my local library too.


message 26: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
I finished listening to This American Woman A One-in-a-Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg This American Woman: A One-in-a-Billion Memoir. I'd seen the author performing her stand-up routine and thought she was hilarious. Although I thought the book was good (3.5***), it wasn't hilarious. It is heartfelt. I appreciate hearing about the differences in our cultures. The audio ended with segments by her husband and two of her children. There's a lot of love and admiration in that family.


message 27: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
I finished listening to The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin The Pleasure of My Company by the remarkably talented Steve Martin. What can't that man do? It's quirky and I really enjoyed it. I'll give it 4.5 stars.


message 28: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Finished listening to Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza A Reckoning by Peter Beinart Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning. I highly recommend. I felt the author was balanced in his perceptions, but I did note that not everyone who reviewed the book didn't think so.


message 29: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Oh, my! I just finished reading My Friends by Fredrik Backman My Friends. This is a must read if you read literary fiction. The writing is exquisite. It illicits a panoply of emotion. Although it's not a mystery, it's very mysterious as two people's stories slowly are revealed. Read it!


message 32: by Linda (new)

Linda | 3113 comments Mod
Finished A Play of Isaac (Joliffe the Player, #1) by Margaret Frazer A Play of Isaac I give it 3.5 stars. It's the first of a seven book series of which I own the next three. I'll finish what I have.


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