Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
DGRachel

DGRachel

Joined May 2016

LibraryThing member DGRachel

Howler. Passionate dog mom. Opinionated mood reader with eclectic tastes. I‘ll try any genre once. http://tailsfromthedogside.blog
blurb
DGRachel
I Don't Care | Julie Fogliano
post image

Work is very work-y…
#wdncw #wedonotcare

lil1inblue 🙌 🙌 🙌 We do not care if people do not like the boundaries we set at work. 19h
dabbe L😍VE! I actually insisted that parents email me with their questions and to NOT call. It was imperative to have a written record of who said what, and phone calls never allow you that--unless you're recording them. And yes, work on those writing skills, people! 🩵💙🩵 18h
Bookwormjillk I‘m not the biggest fan of AI but if you can‘t write an email ChatGPT is a thing 17h
See All 6 Comments
DGRachel @Bookwormjillk I‘ve found that the people who insist the most on phone calls are the people that just want to whine or argue. We do not care about why they think they shouldn‘t have to do something. After 25 years doing this job, I‘m not fighting with you. Do what you‘re supposed to be or don‘t get paid. Your call. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 17h
DGRachel @dabbe I struggle with phone calls for several reasons. Most people accept it when I tell them that and ask them to put their questions in an email. Every so often though… 17h
Bookwormjillk @DGRachel in my work people who want calls usually want to transfer the labor of documenting their BS to me. 15h
34 likes6 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

I probably shouldn‘t mark this reread as a review, but consider this a review of the audio narrated by Simon Vance. Vance is perfect for le Carre‘s novels. This one is not as adventurous or glamorous as his more well known novels, but the author himself notes that this is closer to reality than Spy or Tinker Tailor. It‘s petty, sad, and filled with egos that desperately want to be relevant but aren‘t. Le Carre‘s writing is brilliant, as always.

40 likes1 stack add
blurb
DGRachel
post image

Not in the database, but the special short story made available after the Apple TV season of Murderbot wrapped up is delightful. It‘s just too short. It‘s a teeny taste of the world I‘ve come to love through these books and I‘m greedy for more.

julesG It's toooooo short!!! 1d
DGRachel @julesG I wholeheartedly agree! 1d
44 likes2 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

Billed as Dexter meets Richard Scarry‘s Busy Town, this is…disturbing. I‘ll leave it at that.

AllDebooks Woah, what a combo!! 😅 4d
Chrissyreadit that is a description you don‘t see everyday 4d
45 likes2 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Mehso-so

We didn‘t get nearly enough of the old gang - minimal Bess, George Hannah, and Carson, although more Papa Drew than normal. Instead, we get Effie, but sadly she‘s an obnoxious scaredy cat. I actually found this one slow and rather tedious, and I don‘t think there was a single side character, villain or victim, that I liked. I think I‘m just in a mood, though. More grumbling under the spoiler tag. 😬 #nancydrewbr

DGRachel Venomous vs poisonous. It‘s not that hard to distinguish between the two and shouldn‘t we be teaching kids the correct terminology? Also, they are not aggressive. They aren‘t hunters. And dang it, Nancy, would it kill you to have a functioning flashlight instead of relying on candle? And how do you not hear a desk being moved across the floor? 🤦🏻‍♀️ 4d
Ruthiella Having grown up with Black Widow spiders, I also found the threat of an attack ridiculous. But kudos to Nancy for applying the correct first aid when Effie is bitten. 4d
DGRachel @Ruthiella The other thing that irritated me was the miraculous save by Ned at the end. He totally came out of nowhere. 4d
Librarybelle Feel free to grumble! This is a light pick for me—not the strongest in the series, but not the worst. 4d
37 likes4 comments
quote
DGRachel
post image

Oh, Nancy. Will you never learn? 😮‍💨

#nancydrewbr

Suet624 😂😂😂 4d
Librarybelle 😂 4d
Ruthiella Alas I am afraid not ! 😂 4d
DGRachel @Ruthiella Too true! 4d
dabbe How many times dies she di this? We should start counting these as well. #rashynancy 4d
43 likes5 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

I liked that this one had less overt racism than other entries in the series and it didn‘t include any mention of the creepy tooth collection. However, the solutions seem to stretch logic - the solutions could be right, but there are other explanations that are overlooked/ignored. Good for the target audience, though. #ebbr

Ruthiella Glad to hear this is better than the last one and there‘s no mention of Charlie Stewart‘s weird collection. 😂 5d
54 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

My first romance from Adriana Herrera. It‘s steamy, with wonderful characters. I love a good enemies to lovers tale, and the tension between Apollo and Aurora is fiery. I also can‘t resist an independent FMC who is loved and supported fiercely without being asked to compromise herself for that love.

review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

This is a book that requires patience and commitment to really unpack. I have neither. It‘s beautifully written, with complex characters and dual narratives. On the surface - an author dealing with both her disability and a family that was less than supportive of her, but also deeper themes - modern politics, AI, space tourism, climate destruction and more. Now that I finished, I kind of want to reread and dig into it. Another #camplitsy25 winner!

squirrelbrain Great review! ❤️ 5d
DGRachel @squirrelbrain Thanks! I can‘t remember the last time I wanted to reread a book right away and take more time with it, to really unpack everything. 5d
BarbaraBB Happy you liked it that much! 5d
See All 7 Comments
DGRachel @BarbaraBB What‘s funny is that I almost bailed early on. Zelu rubbed me the wrong way and her family was so horrid. I only kept going because it was for Camp Litsy and I‘m glad I did. 5d
BarbaraBB It‘s not my kind of book at all. But because it was voted a Camp Litsy book I pushed one and really enjoyed it too. 5d
Suet624 I thought about rereading it as well - or at least skimming it. :) 5d
kspenmoll Wonderful review! 5d
63 likes3 stack adds7 comments
blurb
DGRachel
post image

We do not care that we are drowning at work and have more books on our “must read this month” list than we can possibly read this month. We are going to start this early copy of Hamburg Noir that was delivered an hour ago. We are done with the real world. #WDNCW

dabbe AMEN! L😍VE this; enjoy your reading. 🩵💙🩵 1w
37 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
Give Me a Reason | Jayci Lee
post image
Panpan

Out 7/29, this Persuasion retelling is one of the worst books I‘ve read this year. It is painfully repetitive. Most of it is just Anne or Frederick moaning about how they aren‘t worthy or agonizing about still loving the other person but knowing it‘s too late and the feelings aren‘t mutual (of course they are, idiots). It‘s so tedious I literally fell asleep 3 times. How dare they treat my favorite Austen novel this way. It‘s an abomination.

review
DGRachel
Homegrown Magic | Rebecca Podos, Jamie Pacton
post image
Pickpick

I enjoyed this cozy fantasy romance. The characters were fun, even the ones that weren‘t well-developed (Yael‘s parents are practically mustache-twirling villain caricatures) and the fantasy elements (magic) seemed almost unimportant, as though the authors couldn‘t be bothered to really craft a fantasy world. Still, it was a good story, even if I‘m not sold on the idea of a sequel.

review
DGRachel
The Unraveling of Julia | Lisa Scottoline
post image
Panpan

This was the most predictable, unbelievable, and ridiculous thing I have read in years. Purportedly a psychological thriller, it is just a poorly conceived gothic novel. I knew how large parts of this would play out less than 1/4 of the way in and even the finer details were absurd. Don‘t even get me started on the italicized Aws, Args, and Ouches scattered throughout. Scheduled publication 7/15. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

DGRachel For the record, I love gothic novels. I took a class in college specifically on early gothic novels and it was one of my favorite classes. This is an insult to the genre and I want those hours of my life back. 2w
marleed Ohh this was on my radar so I think I‘ll skip this one now. Thanks for you perspective. 2w
Kristy_K Agreed. I couldn‘t finish this one. 2w
DGRachel @Kristy_K I don‘t know how far you got, but it didn‘t get any better from where you quit. 😂 2w
42 likes4 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

Out 7/15 I loved most of this. The writing pulled me in and kept my attention, which is no small feat these days. The characters were complex, and I loved that this had Sirens and a dark Little Mermaid vibe (the Hans Christian Andersen version 🖤). My only quibble was that it had more angst than I prefer. Be honest with each other, you idiots! That said, I will keep my eye out for the sequel, because I need to know how this story ends.

review
DGRachel
Two Twisted Crowns | Rachel Gillig
post image
Pickpick

I didn‘t love it nearly as much as One Dark Window or The Knight and the Moth. I‘m actually a bit disappointed. The writing is still captivating, the characters just as interesting, but I didn‘t feel the same pull. Maybe it‘s because we go from having just Elspeth‘s POV in book one, to having 3 POVs. I understand the need for the change, but I wanted more of Ravyn and Elspeth as a couple. I‘m not sold on the other couple. Still a pick, though.

blurb
DGRachel
post image

Bookspin Bingo board and July TBR with book clubs, buddy reads, NetGalley digital arcs, and library books. I won‘t get through everything. I have an extra couple of days off work, though, and that will help. Maybe. 🤣🤣

blurb
DGRachel
post image

I‘m not loving the audiobook of this but it‘s not the narrator‘s fault. I am not enjoying the story. Switching to print in the hopes I won‘t just bail completely. There‘s an 8 week wait for the ebook, but no wait other than transport from one branch to my branch for the hardcover, so I‘m going to try it in print, but I‘ll miss this weekend‘s discussion. 😮‍💨
#camplitsy25

peaKnit I had to bail. So many good reviews just not my cup of tea I guess. :( 2w
DGRachel @peaKnit Thank you for this. It confirms my choice to get it from the library instead of buying the ebook. I‘m sorry it didn‘t work for you. 2w
Lesliereadsalot It too me awhile to get into this book, but it‘s worth it to keep reading. Great ending! 2w
54 likes3 comments
blurb
DGRachel
Spin Around Space | Igloobooks
post image

Bingo card to come later, but here are my #bookspin and #doublespin for July. Bookspin should be easy since it‘s one of the #camplitsy25 books, but I‘m not sure how I‘m going to squeeze the double spin into my TBR. 😳

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 2w
AmyG Woodworking is wonderful. 2w
squirrelbrain What @AmyG said - it‘s fab! 2w
48 likes3 comments
blurb
DGRachel
Many Junes | Archibald Marshall
post image

I finished 15 books this month. That tells me (a) the world is a dumpster fire and I have been hiding from it by reading and (2) I did almost nothing but work and read. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Always happy to finish both my #bookspin and double spin selections and happy with 1 bingo although I‘d really hoped for two. . My faves were both by new-to-me author Rachel Gillig. It‘s safe to say I‘m obsessed with her books now. #junestats

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!! 2w
43 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
Acrobatic Alligators | Sally Wagner
post image
Pickpick

This is a soft pick, and mostly because I love the illustrations. I met the author during the Greater Charlotte Bookcrawl and she explained the layout of the books - clearly designed to be used for teaching. I‘d hoped for more Dr. Seuss‘s ABC, but the short phrases for each letter lack that silliness and joy. The illustrations are delightful, though. (This is my #doublespin for June)

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2w
52 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
post image
Panpan

I disliked this immensely. It started off with a fast pace, but I came to loathe the main character. She is a sad, dithering woman, struggling to be noticed by her publisher, editor, and pretty much everyone else at a crime writers awards weekend (think Bloody Scotland). It reads like an episode of Murder She Wrote, only less campy and therefore less fun. The prose is okay, the investigation tedious, and the solution an annoying cliche.

blurb
DGRachel
July Jitters | Ron Roy
post image

I think I finally have my July #bookspin list completed. I can‘t wait to see the bingo board. I‘m hoping to have extra reading time with a 3-day weekend and at least one day off work for a doctor appointment, because there‘s a lot on here that I really want to read.

(Image updated to be legible)

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2w
35 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy
post image
Pickpick

F*** this book and 1000 curses on everyone who voted for it so I had to read it. When I stop sobbing, I‘ll go back to the discussion questions I‘ve missed yesterday and last week, but ugh. It‘s riveting, with complex characters you can‘t help but care for deeply, so well-written, even with multiple POVs, and heartbreaking. Absolutely devastating. I hate you all (not really, but kind of) #camplitsy25

Bookwormjillk I‘m sorry this made me laugh 3w
DGRachel @Bookwormjillk Oh good. It was supposed to. I just can‘t believe Camp Litsy got me again. There were two books last year the I loved but were so emotionally devastating I wished I hadn‘t read them. 😮‍💨🤣 3w
AmyG Sounds about right. 3w
See All 13 Comments
squirrelbrain Love this! #sorrynotsorry 🤣 3w
Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain seems like your job here is done. 3w
squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk - I‘m not taking all the blame - you lot chose it for camp! 🤣 3w
BarbaraBB @DGRachel it‘s emotionally devastating indeed but so so good! I am glad I‘ve able to read it in such good company 🧡 3w
Suet624 Love this review. 💕💕💕 3w
Daisey I‘m still in a hold list for this one, but this review still makes me think I need to red it when I get the chance. 3w
Megabooks Fantastic review!! 3w
Meshell1313 🤣🤣🤣 3w
kspenmoll Wonderful review! I loved it too. 💕💕 3w
marleed I just did that spit thing with my Starbucks reading this review🤣🤣🤣Count me in the camp of lovers of this book! 2w
64 likes1 stack add13 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

My local indie orders these for me before I even know they are being published and then Sherri calls to tell me she has a surprise behind the counter. 💖 This is basically a Narwhal and Jelly version of Grover/Sesame Street‘s The Monster at the End of this Book (which was my FAVORITE book as a child), and it is equally delightful.

Eggbeater I love The Monster at the End of This Book! Stacked. 3w
56 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
DGRachel
One Dark Window | Rachel Gillig
post image
Pickpick

…and with that Rachel Gillig becomes an auto buy author for me. I loved this. The writing is immersive, the characters are compelling, and the magic system is unique and clever. It‘s a good thing book two is already out and that I own it. Do I read the things I‘m supposed to next or do I start book two? 🤔

Bette I loved these…and her newest as well. So unique. ❤️ 3w
DGRachel @Bette I read the newest first and loved it so much I had to pick up this duology. 3w
Blh87 Book 2…immediately. You won‘t be disappointed. 3w
52 likes3 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

An interesting look at how searches are conducted for missing hikers, the tools used by both amateurs and professionals including drones, psychics, in-person searches, and social media. It centers on 3 missing hikers, and while none are found, you get to know the hikers, their families, and the author, a former national park ranger, throughout the searches on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). It‘s informative and heartbreaking.

43 likes1 stack add
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

Gah! I loved this. It‘s my first Ali Hazelwood, and it will not be my last. I adored the banter between Maya and Conor, and the sass of other characters, particularly Nyota. The story was delightful. It was frustrating and steamy and heartbreaking and heartwarming. Problematic or not, I loved it.

britt_brooke I just read this, too. So cute! 3w
Eggs Love Hazelwood! 3w
57 likes2 comments
review
DGRachel
The Knight and the Moth | Rachel Gillig
post image
Pickpick

I asked Bri at PRB for a book that would block out the world, a story that would pull me into its pages and keep intrusive thoughts at bay. She delivered. The writing and world building are immersive, the magic system is fascinating, and the characters are complex and contradictory. I hate that I have to wait for book 2, but I look forward to seeing the stone gargoyle again. I adore him.

54 likes2 stack adds
review
DGRachel
post image
Panpan

I try to make allowances for the time period in which these books are written, but the racism towards Indigenous people was too egregious to overlook and it crops up in more than one case. This is one I wish I‘d skipped. #ebbr

Ruthiella Yes, it was egregious in this one. 👎 1mo
45 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

A fun mystery for Nancy and crew. So much happens in this one! Kidnappings. Pickpockets. Ferry crashes. You name it, Nancy survives it and solves it! I actually found this one delightful despite the non-stop chaos. #nancydrewbr

Librarybelle It was delightful! 1mo
46 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

Dreamscape has been releasing new audio versions of le Carre‘s work narrated by Simon Vance and they are wonderful. I‘m a huge fan of both le Carre and Simon Vance, so this was a comfort reread/listen for me. TSWCIFTC is the quintessential Cold War spy novel and it‘s the book that cemented le Carre as the master of the genre.

DGRachel I also recommend the 1965 film version with Richard Burton. Burton makes a perfect Alec Leamas. (Rupert Davies isn‘t my favorite onscreen Smiley, but Smiley has a tiny roll in the book. Alec Guinness, on the other hand, makes a brilliant George Smiley). 1mo
56 likes1 comment
blurb
DGRachel
Slow Horses | Mick Herron
post image

On Friday, I started two different books and couldn‘t stick with either. I binged the first season and a half of Slow Horses on Apple TV yesterday, started another book that I just can‘t stick with earlier today and am switching over to the tagged book that‘s been on my shelves for YEARS. I probably should wait until I finish all four seasons of the TV show, but I‘m hoping for a book I can‘t put down. 🤞🏻

blurb
DGRachel
Kiss and Spell | Celestine Martin
post image

Twitterpated 🥰

One of my favorite words! I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen it used in a book before.

britt_brooke Ooh, I like that! 1mo
36 likes1 comment
blurb
DGRachel
post image

Abysmal. Hemingway and high school assignments were four of the five. Lord of the Flies is disturbing, but is one of my favorites from this list. (So disturbing). Fun fact - I have been grumbling at most of these lists because The Quiet American is the only Graham Greene they usually list and it isn‘t the one I‘ve read. Only, I just checked The StoryGraph and apparently I read it in 2021 and just didn‘t like it. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 #tlt #threelistthursday

dabbe That is hysterical! And I'll be happy when we're done with this list. I need to find lists that better support what we love to read. I still can't believe I didn't even recognize 72 of these! 🤣 #abysmalindeedy Thanks for playing and sharing. 💙📚💚 1mo
DGRachel @dabbe I think I only recognized maybe 10 from this list and that includes the ones I‘ve read. This list was 🤨 1mo
dabbe @DGRachel 🎯🩵🎯 1mo
34 likes3 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

I absolutely adored this entry in Bateman‘s latest series. Daisy Hamilton is delightful - independent, snarky, and well-armed. Lucien Vaughn is a perfectly swoony Romance hero - devious, sarcastic, and completely besotted. The banter here is hysterical and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this couple find their HEA.

39 likes1 stack add
review
DGRachel
Audition | Katie Kitamura
post image
Mehso-so

WTF?

I honestly don‘t know how to rate this. It‘s so far outside of my comfort zone as to be in another universe entirely. I am so grateful that my library had a copy and I didn‘t spend money on it. #CampLitsy25 discussion is definitely going to be interesting. 🤨

DGRachel (Also…this is my June #bookspin so yay for getting that checked off) @TheAromaofBooks 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, I think many of us are hoping for enlightenment from the #camplitsy discussions! 🤔 1mo
Graciouswarriorprincess I‘m just starting this. 1mo
See All 9 Comments
AmyG I keep thinking about this book so it must be…good? 1mo
DGRachel @AmyG I don‘t know that I‘d go that far 🤣🤣🤣 But I will admit that as much as I kept questioning what the heck was going on and wanting to bail, I could. not. stop turning pages, so there‘s that. 1mo
AmyG @DHRachel I kept reading because I thought that the point of the story would reveal itself. It never did. 😳 1mo
DGRachel @AmyG I feel you on that! I wanted to know what was going on and I never found out! 🤪 1mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 1mo
BarbaraBB @DGRachel @AmyG My thoughts exactly 😳 1mo
60 likes9 comments
review
DGRachel
He's to Die For | Erin Dunn
post image
Pickpick

This was a good combination of Romance + police procedural. I loved the characters, even if some of them were more caricature than well-developed individuals. The romance between Rav and Jack was believable, even if a little too insta-lovey for my taste. I was rooting for them the whole time. Published today (6/3). I read an ARC via Minotaur and NetGalley.

44 likes2 stack adds
blurb
DGRachel
Spinning Forward | Terri DuLong
post image

Well, at least the #BookspinGods gave me one book that was already on my June TBR. 😂 I didn‘t have any Greater Charlotte Bookcrawl purchases on said TBR, but I have several that are super short, so I should be able to squeeze one of those in. #bookspin

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 1mo
46 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
The Yellow Dog | Georges Simenon
post image
Mehso-so

Golden Age Crime in Translation. I think the best thing about this is the new minimalist cover from Picador. I don‘t know if my issue is with the translation or the story itself, but I found the text choppy and the “solve” convenient. The ending epilogue was unexpected and a little weird for a mystery novel. Also, TW/spoiler in the comments which yes, I found it unnecessary and unforgivable and I‘ve been mad for more than half the book. 🤬

DGRachel The dog is shot and then pelted with stones. There are descriptions of him dragging himself across the pavement. Maigret does try to get him help, but he dies off page. 2mo
DGRachel The story itself was ok (hence the so-so instead of pan) but based on what occurs in my spoiler tag, I would have DNFd if I hadn‘t gotten this from NetGalley. 2mo
46 likes2 comments
blurb
DGRachel
Many Junes | Archibald Marshall
post image

Lots of things I want to read in June, including finishing 4 books I have in progress. Really hoping the Bookspin gods are kind and pick things that are already in this list instead of adding to it. I know I won‘t finish everything but I‘m hoping to make a good dent in the stack. #junetbr

blurb
DGRachel
May Flowers | James Harris
post image

Finished 17 books this birthday month. I‘m honestly not sure how I managed that many. Lore Olympus is, of course, my fave of the month, but I finished strong with three stellar mysteries in a row. I managed both my #bookspin and #doublespin, and triple bingo!

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!!! 2mo
38 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
What the Devil Knows | C.S. Harris
post image
Pickpick

Harris builds this latest Sebastian St. Cyr mystery around the 1811 Radcliffe Highway Murders. As always, the mystery is well-crafted, the story fast-paced, the writing engaging, and the characters complex. I love all of the recurring characters (yes, even Jarvis, if only because it‘s so much fun to watch him and Sebastian needle each other). Even 16 books into the series, it hasn‘t gotten old or lost any quality.

blurb
DGRachel
post image

10/100 Faves in photo. All Quiet on the Western Front is one of the few books assigned in 9th grade that I managed to finish. Rereading Their Eyes Were Watching God taught me that no one reads the same book twice. Our life experiences rewrites how we respond to the text. A Farewell to Arms started my obsession with Hemingway, and it also sparked a running joke Junior year of high school about being blown up while eating cheese. Kids…🤣🤣 #tlt

DGRachel Seriously. My boyfriend at the time even wrote about it in my yearbook and it‘s about the only thing I remember from it. Also, a little peeved that the Faulkner, Greene, and Orwell‘s were not the ones I‘ve read by those authors and I didn‘t count the DNF for Tropic of Cancer, but I didn‘t count the DNF for The Hobbit. I‘ve tried to read it at least 4 times and never made it more than 100 pages. I hate that book. 🤣🤣🤣 2mo
dabbe Thanks for sharing all of these! I sometimes wonder where we'd be without our assigned high school reading--for good and bad! 🤣 Thanks for playing and sharing! 🤗 2mo
DGRachel @dabbe Forgot the image! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 2mo
DGRachel @dabbe without assigned reading, I‘d have had a higher GPA Freshman year. 🤣🤣 (the assigned books were mostly 🤢). I do hope that prior to the current administration, assigned reading was becoming more diverse. Zora was one of the few non-“dead white man” authors we had to read and I think we only read her because she was considered local. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2mo
dabbe @DGRachel There's still many “dead white men“ books on our district's list, but we have thankfully become more diversified over the years. There's still hope! 😍 2mo
36 likes5 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

I adore Bryant, May, and the entire Peculiar Crimes Unit. The solutions to the cases are not things I could predict, but they are brilliant and clever. I'm not totally sold on the audiobook narration, but this is a case where the story is so good, I can overlook any issues with it.
This is my #bookspin #doublespin for May. 🥳

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
44 likes1 comment
review
DGRachel
post image
Bailedbailed

I reached 67% and have 3 1/2 hours at 1.5 speed to finish. I‘ve been arguing with myself about bailing all morning, and I surrender. I don‘t know if it‘s the narrator, the translation, or the source material but I dislike the characters, the author seems oddly obsessed with menstruation, and non-white male characters are not written well. I wanted to read this before watching Dept Q, but I think I‘ll skip the TV show as well.

mcctrish This is on my TBR and now I think I will take it off 2mo
DGRachel @mcctrish There seems to be a lot of love for the series but @Hooked_on_books has a review here that captures some of the key things that bothered me. I might have been able to power through except I found the story itself and the main detective both tedious. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2mo
Hooked_on_books Yeah, there are big issues with this one. Bailing was a good move. 2mo
54 likes4 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

I love the Thursday Murder Club. The characters are wonderfully complex-clever and witty. The mystery is well crafted and I love the way it unravels. It was a delight to read.

emz711 It's so great. Are you ready for the TV show? 2mo
DGRachel @emz711 YES! The casting looks PERFECT 🤩 2mo
48 likes2 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

I think this may be my favorite of the series. There's a whole new depth to Mrs. Haggerty, finally some real honestly between Finlay and Nick, and plenty of shenanigans from everyone, including Finlay's kids. It's filled with lots of laugh-out-loud moments and I enjoyed every minute of it.

blurb
DGRachel
June Moon | Kathleen Souza
post image

Finished my #bookspin list for June last night. Lots of things I‘m really looking forward to reading and a couple of categories for mood reading. 💖

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
34 likes1 comment
blurb
DGRachel
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
post image

Just a quick birthday check in on May‘s #bookspin bingo board. I‘m frantically trying to finish four books this week. It‘s not looking good, since this is my busiest week at work, but I‘ll make myself sick trying. 🤣🤣

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Looking great!! And personally I think squares can be checked off for “in progress“ at the end of the month 😁 2mo
DGRachel @TheAromaofBooks I like the way you think!! 2mo
31 likes2 comments
review
DGRachel
post image
Pickpick

Note to self: do better at checking if a book is a standalone and do not read the description of subsequent books before finishing the first. The Goodreads/Storygraph description of book 2 contains a massive spoiler for the tagged book. 🤬 I mostly enjoyed the mix of likable/unlikeable characters. It‘s slow to unfold, but interesting. There‘s a lot happening but I don‘t want to say more and risk spoilers, except eff that ending.

DGRachel Also, I don‘t know if I‘ll finish the trilogy. The writing is good, the plot is complex, but I am so angry about the ending I could just scream. 2mo
58 likes1 comment