Joani > Recent Status Updates

I hesitate to say this since so many have enjoyed this novel. While I've read and enjoyed a few magical realism novels, this one feels punishing to me. (LOVED 'Children of Blood and Bone.) I am persevering since others have enjoyed this book. But the time lapses between readings, are increasing...

Better than half-way through this incredible book. Learning so much about this widespread migration in which over 6M African Americans left the South to escape Jim Crow. Pulitzer prize-winning Wilkerson spent several years doing extensive research in documenting the big picture of this movement while focusing on the lives of 3 individuals who embarked on journies North and West looking to improve their lives.

I am, once again, enjoying another book in Penny's wonderful series. Love her descriptive language, her strong sense of place and well-developed characters. I so enjoy her writing and will undoubtedly be reading all of her books. Trying not to race ahead to see "whodunnit," but rather to pay attention to her carefully planted seeds to try to work this one out. She's a master in this genre.

Been a long time since I've read Anne Tyler. Loved "The Accidental Tourist" and my favorite, "Breathing Lessons" among others. While "A Spool of Blue Thread" starts off a little slow, it eventually picks up, and I recognize the wonderful writing style that is Tyler's alone. I also find myself laughing at how much my husband and I resemble some of her characters--quirky but endearing. Nice to visit an old friend.

Despite knowing the fate of Lusitania, I am spellbound by this true story. It undoubtedly will be one of my favorite reads in 2016. Well written and researched, it gives us a riveting account of escalating WWI and how the introduction of U-boats changed warfare. While gaining some historical perspective, we glimpse into the personal lives o the civilians who are about to board this magnificent cruise ship.

While I loved Penny's first book, Still Life, and enjoyed her second, A Fatal Grace, I am disappointed with The Cruelest Month. It's a bit bizarre and implausible, but I'm persevering, though at a slower pace. I'm encouraged by one reviewer's comment that Penny's books get better w/her 4th. Since I thoroughly enjoyed her first, and to a lesser degree her second, I am hopeful such is the case.

About half-way through this murder mystery. Not a genre I generally read, but I love the quirky and endearing characters and the great writing. I undoubtedly will be reading other books in this series.

You know you're in trouble when you're just a little more than half-way through a nearly 800 page book and you can't put it down! Really enjoying this novel and Tartt's beautifully descriptive phrases. So far, she's managed to keep me on the edge. Sure hope it continues to do so.

I am enjoying this delightful epistolary novel and enjoying learning about Guernsey's cast of characters. Love the tongue-in-cheek humor and the way the island residents look out for each other during a difficult period in history.

I can't be bothered to finish reading this soap opera. Life is to short.

The more I read, the better it gets. Some interesting twists. Probably one of the longest books I've read since George Eliot's "Middlemarch," but I'm really enjoying it.

As the German war machine approaches, I find myself reading more quickly w/my heart in my throat. I worry about Marie, the little blind french girl, who relies heavily on her father, and Werner, the young, orphaned electronic genius, who naively thinks the youth camp is a better fate than the coal mines which took his father. A beautifully written and poignant read.

I've been yearning for a read like this for some time. Again, it is difficult for me to believe this is Coplin's first novel. I enjoyed the writing as much, if not more, than this beautifully crafted story. I look forward to reading other novels from this talented writer.

I am three-quarters of the way through this book and really enjoying it. Have it finish it today since the loaned e-book will disappear from my computer! Hoping it has a decent ending. So far it is engaging and I love the writing. Difficult to believe this is Coplin's first book.

What can I say? Despite all the rave reviews, I've gotten 1/3 of the way through and can't go any further. Just seems ridiculous and a waste of my time. I must have a different sense of humor than most. Some passages were funny admittedly but I found most of it tedious and silly. While it's not often that I purchase a book and don't finish it, I'll make an exception for this one. Too many book on my to read list...

Once again, I am reminded of the price women paid to be considered "worthy" or attractive. The Chinese tradition of foot binding was not only considered to be highly attractive, but helped to ensure a women's chastity (women were unable to walk very far) and kept them out of politics and other arenas dominated by men. While painful to read, this story's focus on Chinese customs & the role women played is intriguing.

Since I'm a Kindle reader, I can only tell you what % of the book I've read. It's amazing how much truth you can garner from fiction. Did a little research this morning to see whether I could support the terrible truths about how people w/Hansen's Disease (leprosy) were treated in the mid 19th century. Heart wrenching, well written, and a real eye opener. Amazing what some will do to their neighbors when fear rules.

Since I'm a Kindle reader, I can only tell you what % of the book I've read. It's amazing how much truth you can garner from fiction. I did a little research this morning to see whether I could support the terrible truths about how people w/Hansen's Disease (leprosy) were treated in the mid 19th century. Heart wrench, well written, and a real eye opener. Amazing what fear does to people.

Learning a lot about the war between the Turks and the Greeks and the way the "allies" abandoned the unfortunate people caught in between. Heart-wrenching history that I never learned about.