Book Nook Cafe discussion

This the thread for general book discussions for July 2024.

Tell us what you just read, are currently reading or plan to read. Tell us about your favorite author. Have you read some book news? Share it with the group. Anything related to books and reading, we want to hear all about it !
:)

I'm starting July with Memoirs of a Geisha. I read part of it years ago, but didn't finish, and I might not finish this time if I'm not liking it.

Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "I'm starting July with Memoirs of a Geisha. I read part of it years ago, but didn't finish, and I might not finish this time if I'm not liking it."

I read it years ago and enjoyed it.

I'm starting the month continuing to read
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Alias Reader wrote: "Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "I'm starting July with Memoirs of a Geisha. I read part of it years ago, but didn't finish, and I might not finish this time if I'm not li..."

That's good to know, thank you.

Alias Reader wrote: "I'm starting the month continuing to read
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham"

That sounds good, Alias.

I'm starting July by continuing to read We.
I've been dealing with some family issues, then my back went out last week. Between the two of these things, my reading time in June was minimal. I've missed it. Hope this month is better.

I've switched books already. I'm going to read Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner before Memoirs of a Geisha.

As mentioned elsewhere, i've begun reading Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life--Twyla Tharp, written for old farts like myself. I'm going to take it a chapter a day, to practice her suggestions.

Tomorrow i begin The Wilmington Ten: Violence, Injustice, and the Rise of Black Politics in the 1970s--Kenneth Robert Janken.

Both these books are for the 2024 Book Challenge.

Petra wrote: "I'm starting July by continuing to read We.
I've been dealing with some family issues, then my back went out last week. Between the two of these things, my reading time in June was min..."

Sorry to hear about your back, Petra. I hope you are feeling better real soon.

madrano wrote: "As mentioned elsewhere, i've begun reading Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life--Twyla Tharp, written for old farts like myself. .."

I hope you enjoy it more then I did, deb. I gave it a 2/5
It wasn't bad, just not what I was expecting.
I read it back in December of 2019.

I know we have a few Rooney fans here. So I thought I would share this.

What Sally Rooney is saying about her upcoming book 'Intermezzo'

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/sa...

Normal People
Conversations with Friends
Beautiful World, Where Are You
Intermezzo

Sally Rooney

The Debt Collector by Steven Max Russo

Abby, a tough as nails 'leg breaker' who collects debts for mobsters and bookies, looks like a cute blond co-ed. When Abby is labeled a murderer, she needs all her skills to survive.

This is a thriller with plenty of humor. 3.5 stars

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

My goodness, Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner is a bad book! There are three POV characters with alternating chapters, and they all sound exactly the same. I keep getting confused as to who is talking. The author didn't know how to make her characters sound different. It's very disorienting. It just plods along. I'm at 31% and not much at all has happened. I don't see the point of the book. The characters are stupid people. I don't know how they managed to grow up, they are so clueless about life and other people. Whoever pushed to get this mess published needs to be fired.

Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "My goodness, Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner is a bad book! There are three POV characters with alternating chapters, and they all sound exactly the same. I k..."

:( Sorry the book is disappointing. Sounds like it's time to DNF.
I hope you next one is a winner.

'The Love of My Afterlife' by Kirsty Greenwood is our 'GMA' Book Club pick for July

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/lo...

The Love of My Afterlife: A GMA Book Club Pick by Kirsty Greenwood

Alias Reader wrote: "Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "My goodness, Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner is a bad book! There are three POV characters with alternating ch..."

Thank you, Alias.

Petra wrote: "I'm starting July by continuing to read We.
I've been dealing with some family issues, then my back went out last week. Between the two of these things, my reading time in June was min..."

I moved right past your bad back, Petra, and addressed the rest. I hope you find full relief quickly. The key is to relax. ha!

Alias Reader wrote: "I hope you enjoy it more then I did, deb. I gave it a 2/5
It wasn't bad, just not what I was expecting.
I read it back in December of 2019 ..."

I picked it up because i remembered that you read it, however, i forgot that it failed you. Likely you are just too young for it!

As i mentioned, i am benefiting from it, so am quite satisfied, thus far. She's providing a motivation i have had trouble finding the last month.

Alias Reader wrote: "I know we have a few Rooney fans here. So I thought I would share this.

What Sally Rooney is saying about her upcoming book 'Intermezzo'..."

I haven't read anything by her but i like that she shared at a book festival. :-)

Barbara wrote: "The Debt Collector by Steven Max Russo

Abby, a tough as nails 'leg breaker' who collects debts for mobsters and bookies,..."

I'd quickly pay my debts if i thought she was after me! Yikes!

Thanks for the clever review, Barbara.

Alias Reader wrote: "'The Love of My Afterlife' by Kirsty Greenwood is our 'GMA' Book Club pick for July

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/lo......"

I suspect this will be popular. It's a pass for me. I've not heard of the author but she already appears to be a prolific writer. Good for her & now this!

Kiki wrote: "My goodness, Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner is a bad book! There are three POV characters with alternating chapters, and they all sound exactly the same. I k..."

How did you hear about this book, Kiki? It sounds bad to me. I see it's listed as a thriller. If you are at 30+% and are not thrilled...

Re:Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life by Twyla Tharp

madrano wrote:

"As i mentioned, i am benefiting from it, so am quite satisfied, thus far. She's providing a motivation i have had trouble finding the last month.
.."

Excellent ! She is amazing for her age.

madrano wrote: "As mentioned elsewhere, i've begun reading Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life--Twyla Tharp, written for old farts like myself. I'm going to take it a ..."

I love her motivation and her energy, but this is something I may have benefited from starting 30+ years ago, when I actually had energy. I am afraid it's too late for me.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "
I love her motivation and her energy, but this is something I may have benefited from starting 30+ years ago, when I actually had energy. I am afraid it's too late for me...."

JoAnn, this is exactly why i am reading the book. I was in such a slump, yet the book/she is pulling me out. In under a week, my leg feels the best it has since February and i'm getting more done. She's as much a cheerleader as anything else.

That written, i cannot yet imagine actually jumping, which i haven't done in at least a decade. (Don't tell her, though, she seems certain i can, in fact, do it.)

madrano wrote: "JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "
I love her motivation and her energy, but this is something I may have benefited from starting 30+ years ago, when I actually had energy. I am afraid it's too late for me....."

Deb, what exactly did you do this week?

madrano wrote: "Kiki wrote: "My goodness, Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner is a bad book! There are three POV characters with alternating chapters, and they all sound exactly ..."

I think it was in my Amazon recommendations. Nothing really happens until the last third or fourth of the book, then it all sounds like Our House by Louise Candlish with the exception that OUR HOUSE was good. Very good. So was the movie version, I should say BBC series. I finished Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner. It is not worth the time spent reading it. All of the characters are among the dumbest people I've ever encountered, and the plot is very predictable.

Clete by James Lee Burke

In this Detective Dave Robicheaux thriller, lowlifes accidently hide their stash in the car of Dave's friend Clete Purcell, and all kinds of trouble follows.

Good thriller set in southern Louisiana. 4. stars

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

Happy fourth of July to the independent rebels in the group!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was glad to hear Aussie author and former journo Tim Ayliffe say he plans to continue his John Bailey series in and around Sydney. I just enjoyed the latest, #5, The Wrong Man. I know those parts of Sydney but luckily not the dangerous kinds of people Bailey gets mixed up with.
My review of The Wrong Man

Worthy Brown's Daughter by Phillip Margolin

In 1860, when Oregon is a new state - and the issue of slavery is dividing the nation - a White lawyer defends a Black man accused of murder.

Good book, and a departure for Phillip Margolin, who usually writes modern legal thrillers. 4 stars

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

Barbara wrote: "Worthy Brown's Daughter by Phillip Margolin

In 1860, when Oregon is a new state - and the issue of slavery is dividing th..."

Thanks Barbara. I put Worthy Brown's Daughter on hold. I'm reading a book based on conversations with the Dalai Lama. The title is A Call for Revolution: A Vision for the Future

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Happy fourth of July to the independent rebels in the group!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I heard Ayliffe interviewed today and he reckons he’s got many more books in him and would like to do for Sydney what Michael Connelly has done for Los Angeles. He’s aiming pretty high, but why not?.."

Why not indeed !

Aim for the moon and you catch the stars as they say.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Deb, what exactly did you do this week?..."

Walked much more, actually getting out in the heat, was a big priority, JoAnn. We stayed behind in Dallas in order to complete some projects. However, i had barely worked on mine. This week i've accomplished a third of what needs to be done. Honestly, i surprised myself.

Tharp makes an interesting point about living up to what we want in one's remaining years, and what is blocking us. Well, i've accomplished many of my desires, but after the health issues of this year, i needed to re-evaluate & i just wasn't doing that.

So, i suppose the most daunting thing i have accomplished this week is to realize what i want to do, which is continue traveling. Two things hampering that are my health and our storage unit. The health is obvious--until i can walk without trouble, including the calf cramps i've had since the sciatica, i can't build up my energy. Walking is doing this for me.

The storage became a mess last fall. With our daughter's visit & our stay here for the winter holidays (often, we were elsewhere), i pulled bunches of stuff out of containers and didn't return them. 'Nuf said? It's kinda the opposite, JoAnn, of what you are doing. I know we want to keep these items, i just need to repack and store them.

It doesn't sound busy, but that illustrates how inert i had become.

Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: " All of the characters are among the dumbest people I've ever encountered..."

That is a sorry state of affairs, Kiki. When we read such books, i have to wonder about the authors & what they saw that missed engaging the reader.

Barbara wrote: "Clete by James Lee Burke

In this Detective Dave Robicheaux thriller, lowlifes accidently hide their stash in the car of Dave's friend Cle..."

What a story! Thanks for telling us about it, Barbara. The fact he writes evocatively about that part of Louisiana would be a highlight for me, i think.

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Happy fourth of July to the independent rebels in the group!..."

Love that, Patty. Thank you.

This series sounds interesting, particularly this one. I know that pleasure you mentioned, reading about places you well remember. It's kinda like catching up with an old friend.

Thanks for the review.

Barbara wrote: "Worthy Brown's Daughter by Phillip Margolin

In 1860, when Oregon is a new state - and the issue of slavery is dividing th..."

Interesting topic, Barbara. We lived in the Portland area for a dozen years, from '90-02, and never realized the history of slavery in the state. And this is with both our children going to high school there. Indeed, my husband & i only learned of it when we visited the area in '14 and went to the Oregon Historical Society Museum. Wealth of info about slavery & whether or not OR would be a slave state. The history continues to be uncovered. for more, try this link--https://crosscut.com/2019/09/yes-ther...

As Margolin is a popular author, i'm glad he wrote about this aspect of OR history. It's important. And the book sounds strong.

Again, thank you, for sharing. Who knows when i would have come across it?

Shomeret wrote: "I'm reading a book based on conversations with the Dalai Lama. The title is A Call for Revolution: A Vision for the Future..."

I see it was published in '18, Shomeret. My presumption is that the book addressed what we saw in those early presidential years, as well as overseas events, which indicated Neo-hatred was spreading. The blurb was not specific.

I just read a story Evidence of the Affair - 88 pages. Pretty good. I am a big fan of epistolary fiction and that's what this was. I do not love short stories but this one was good....decent story arc, satisfying ending......

It was free for Kindle.

madrano wrote: "JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Deb, what exactly did you do this week?..."

Walked much more, actually getting out in the heat, was a big priority, JoAnn. We stayed behind in Dallas in order to complete s..."

sounds like the book is working for you, Deb. I often make myself a list of what needs to be done and crossing things off is very satisfying.

I have to limit my standing to 9 minutes or my back pain becomes unbearable. And my walking time is about 5 minutes at the most. Hard to get much done within those time frames. My legs have little muscle tone due to the fact that I have to sit so much and this has been going on for years. I am thinking of getting one of those things that is like a bike but you use it while seated.

madrano wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Worthy Brown's Daughter by Phillip Margolin

In 1860, when Oregon is a new state - and the issue of slaver..."


Indeed, my husband & i only learned of it when we visited the area in '14 and went to the Oregon Historical Society Museum. Wealth of info about slavery & whether or not OR would be a slave state. The history continues to be uncovered. for more, try this link--

https://crosscut.com/2019/09/yes-ther...

Thank you for this link madrano. Very interesting picture of the history of slavery in that region (which I guess they tried to hide in recent times), It's hard to imagine that the state constitution of Oregon prohibited (free) Black people from living there.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "I just read a story Evidence of the Affair - 88 pages. Pretty good. I am a big fan of epistolary fiction and that's what this was. I do not love short stories but this one was good...."

I like epistolary fiction, too, so have marked this, JoAnn. Thanks for sharing, i'd have not come across it otherwise.

Oops, thunder nearby...will shut down machine.

The Instruments of Darkness by John Connolly

In this supernatural mystery thriller, P.I. Charlie Parker investigates the disappearance of a child.

John Connolly is a master of this genre and this is a fine addition to the series. 4 stars

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

‘It’s a snowball effect’: the gen Z niche reading event making waves in New York
Jul 05 2024

Reading nights and avant-garde literary groups are rapidly emerging as platforms for younger generations to foster community and creatively share personal narratives – and one new series is making waves in New York.

Literary events are on the rise across the US, with CNN citing that book club listings have grown 24% in 2023 from the previous year.

Source: The Guardian

Most Anticipated: The Great Summer 2024 Preview

Summer has arrived, and with it, a glut of great books. Here you’ll find more than 80 books that we’re excited about this season. Some we’ve already read in galley form; others we’re simply eager to devour based on their authors, subjects, or blurbs. We hope you find your next summer read among them.

https://themillions.com/2024/07/most-...

Deb, did you read Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters?
One of my favorite epistolaries.

Also The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - loved the book, the audio, and the movie!

Alias Reader wrote: "Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "My goodness, Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner is a bad book! There are three POV characters with alternating ch..."

I finished Greenwich Park, but it wasn't a good read for me. I couldn't find a book I really wanted to read, so I borrowed an "Inspector Rutledge" mystery. They never fail to entertain and engross. It's The Gate Keeper

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "I have to limit my standing to 9 minutes or my back pain becomes unbearable. And my walking time is about 5 minutes at the most...."

Stuff like this has been plaguing me all year, JoAnn. And , unlike you, i haven't had major medical issues that contributed to them. Since March i've been doing the exercises for the sciatica issue but just didn't budge on going further. When i did this week, i was (too) proud of what little i could do. Sad, but true. And now i'm reaching further each day.

Tharp's book has really just presented me with plenty of upbeat ideas, while not ignoring the downside. Some of the motivators were those i've used in the past, but wasn't implementing any more, such as using Sousa march music or anthems to get me off my dead butt. Sort of my own personal (leaping) cheerleader.