I just got the new Clare Pooley from the library. Adored her last one.
Right now I’m about a third of the way into “What You Need Is In the Library.” I have heard such good things about it, and it’s very sweet, but I am having trouble getting engaged with it. Any opinions on whether I should keep going? And do the stories ever connect, or is it basically just different ones with the common experience of the librarian?
I picked up the rec for All the Colors of the Dark on this thread. I found it very easy/enjoyable to read – especially picking it up and putting it down. Ultimately, a better than average, well written character-driven mystery. I didn’t think it was amazing, but it checked a lot of boxes!
I enjoyed What You Are Looking For Is in the Library, but didn’t love it.
I’m about a third of the way through it and it’s due (e-version on Libby) in 3 days so I’ll be power reading over the weekend. I wasn’t into the plot at several times, particularly the darkest (?) part, and stopped reading twice for several days. Then I kept thinking about it and went back to it and now I’m wanting to find out what happens. It tells me I can’t renew because “multiple people are waiting for this title.”
Is it on a Kindle? If you turn to airplane mode the book will stay loaded on your Kindle until you finish it!
I mostly read on my iPad but also have Libby on my phone. The last time I tried to keep one past the due date by turning off WiFi on my IPad but it returned it from my phone since I’m always connected to Wi-Fi or data on my phone. I may have to delete the Libby app from my phone this time. But then I won’t be able to read my current book while I’m standing in long lines or waiting places.
Yeah that definitely is not a help for all devices but thought I’d mention it in case you WERE on a Kindle! I only have my Kindle on wifi (and off airplane mode) when I’ve downloading a book - otherwise just always keep it on airplane mode!
I power read and finished before it was automatically returned. I liked it overall. It definitely kept me reading to find out how it would all work out.
A few lighter reads - I really enjoyed “The Love Elixer of Augusta Stern” by Lynda Cohen Loigman. Currently enjoying “The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichl.
I love Lynda Cohen Loigman - all of her books are great - if you liked this one try The Matchmaker’s Gift
I have read all of her books. Liked them all.
I just finished the upcoming book for the CC Bookclub (You are Here by David Nichols). I loved it both for the quirky characters and the wonderful descriptions of the landscape and for the many bits that made me smile. You have plenty of time to read it by December 1st!
I was trying to figure out why I had this book on hold; now I remember! Thanks
Looked at my calendar a few days ago and realized that all 3 of my book clubs (in person at a local bookstore, on line with former coworkers, in person in my neighborhood) are meeting next week! I had read one of the books (Beartown by Fredrik Backman).
So I am currently reading and really enjoying “The Big Red” by Louise Erdrich. Small town life, some tragedy and some comedy.
I think Beartown would be a good book for discussion.
I have just started (I mean within the hour) Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures by Katherine Rundell, and I already love it.
Amazon classifies it under Environmentalism, but the voice is more J.K. Rowling than Greta Thunberg. Enchanting, not preachy. Can’t wait to dive back in.
(Oh, just found the NPR review of it, which gives a good idea of the flavor:
'Vanishing Treasures' review: Katherine Rundell captures the wonder of our world : NPR )
On the topic of books, I’ve used Goodreads to see what others are reading, get recommendations, reviews, etc. I’ve recently heard about the site Storygraph, that could replace GR. It’s a black woman owned company, and you can transfer all of your data from Goodreads to Storygraph. Reviews I’ve seen indicate you either like Storygraph or GR…but not both. Curious if any on CC care to comment. This tweaked my interest as would love to have an alternative to the owner of GR (Jeff Bezos)…
I brought my goodreads data over to storygraph earlier this year. It was very easy to do. I wanted to see the genre stats it produces. It does some cool data graphing of numbers of types of books you have read. But, I continue to use Goodreads for my day to day book tracking.
So I let Ministry of Time come off my waitlist after the recs here, which it did today. Only 25 pages in but enjoying so far! (In the meantime I had finally read Station Eleven, as the only one of the “trilogy” I hadn’t yet read, as well as the latest Jackson Brodie by Kate Atkinson.)
For anyone who enjoyed The Ministry of Time you might be interested to know that Rogue Male (the favorite book of Graham Gore - aka 1847) is a real book. Apparently it’s a classic thriller that my have provided some inspiration for James Bond. I’d never heard of it, but I can see why it was a bestseller in its day.
I read it and quite enjoyed it. I can see why it appealed to Gore.