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KathyWheeler

KathyWheeler

Joined May 2016

review
KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

We learned a lot about book programs designed to provide reading material for soldiers during WWII. You wouldn‘t think it could possibly be a political issue but it was. One of the programs even got entangled in a voting bill. After we finished that, we started Rachel Maddow‘s Prequel, and I listened to Deanna Raybourn‘s A Curious Beginning on my #audiowalk. The Blue Angels were practicing above us.

review
KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

This book is original and fun. It plays with the format and rules for golden age detective fiction. The plot is a bit convoluted, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but it doesn‘t detract from the story. I was often distracted by the narrator‘s pronunciation of “assume.” He uses an “sh” sound like in “shoe.” You never realize how often an author uses a word until it‘s said oddly! #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
Holly: A Novel | Stephen King
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It‘s raining hard here, so instead of going for a walk, I‘m settling in to start Holly after finishing up Murder Road.

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KathyWheeler
Murder Road | Simone St. James
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Pickpick

Well, Broken Girls is still my favorite Simone St. James book, but Murder Road gave it a good, solid run for its money. April and Eddie are sympathetic characters, and the story is interesting with just the right touch of the supernatural.

jlhammar Starting this tonight! 3d
KathyWheeler @jlhammar I hope you enjoy it. I really liked it. 3d
22 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
Murder Road | Simone St. James
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“”Librarians know everything.” My husband will say this periodically, and I always tell him that I appreciate it, but it‘s not true. What many of us are good at, though, is knowing where to find answers.

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KathyWheeler
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I‘m liking this book, but I find I really do need to pay attention! I took my husband out for his birthday, and the views out the windows were what we saw as we ate our lovely meals. I kept waiting for the rain, but it never happened. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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Took a quick trip to the beach today. The tagged book was my #audiowalk book. I read some of Murder Road sitting on the beach, and When Books Went to War is our current road trip book. It‘s really interesting. We started 4 different fiction titles — all by authors we both like — and couldn‘t get into any of them! I guess we were both in the mood for nonfiction.

28 likes1 stack add
review
KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

Is the plot ridiculous? Yes. Does it depend way too much on coincidence? Of course. But I don‘t read Finlay Donovan books for realistic plots. I read them for the chaos and fun, and this one delivers. In fact, I liked it better than the last one. I loved the very end. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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These books are the exception to hating characters doing dumb stuff all the time as they are so chaotic and fun. Finlay, Vero, and, eventually, the whole gang including Nick and Stephen, are in Atlantic City with Finlay & Vero trying to hide their activities from everyone else. #audiowalk It was so pretty outside that I sat by the bay and read The Splendid and the Vile for a bit.

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KathyWheeler
Smile Beach Murder | Alicia Bessette
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Mehso-so

Ok, I like a cozy mystery with a plucky heroine, but what I absolutely cannot stand is when that heroine is deeply stupid, confronting suspected murderers alone in isolated places. That‘s not plucky and brave — that‘s just dumb. This was my nighttime book, but I only had an hour left so I finished it up on my walk. #audiowalk

KathyWheeler Also, I discovered in this book that there‘s such a thing as chapters that are too short. It was my nighttime listen, so I set a timer for the end of chapters so I don‘t miss much if I fall asleep, but the longest chapter was only 4 minutes! (edited) 1w
29 likes1 comment
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KathyWheeler
Murder Mystery Book Club | Danielle Collins
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Pickpick

This was a light, fun, fluffy, short listen. Exactly what I needed. I liked the characters and the setting in Key West. Not so sure I care for what might be a love triangle, but that‘s a small thing. #audiowalk The picture on the top left wasn‘t on my walk; it‘s a view of Mobile out of a downtown restaurant window. I met some friends there for happy hour, and I liked the view.

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KathyWheeler
If It Bleeds | Stephen King
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Pickpick

I am always astounded by King‘s ability to write shorter works. He admits to having “diarrhea of the mouth,” but his short stories and novellas usually prove him capable of reigning himself in. He does so admirably here. I especially liked the first story - Mr. Harrigan‘s Phone and the title story, featuring Holly. I‘m not so sure he quite knew what to do with the second story. Murder Mystery Book Club was my #audiowalk book. #LosersClub👇

KathyWheeler The Life of Chuck is the second story, and King got a little experimental (for him) with it. The fourth story, Rat, is perfectly fine. 2w
26 likes1 comment
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KathyWheeler
Murder Road | Simone St. James
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Murder Road came today! I love Simone St. James, but I forgot I‘d pre-ordered this. 😊

jlhammar So excited for this! 2w
27 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
KathyWheeler
1979 | Val McDermid
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Mehso-so

Too many uninteresting sections and too many cliches for this to be a pick. I really did want to like it because I have liked McDermid‘s writing in the past, but this just didn‘t do it for me. #audiowalk

kspenmoll Good to know; I enjoy her Karen Pirie series. (edited) 2w
KathyWheeler @kspenmoll I read the Wire in the Blood series, which I loved, and was going to start the Karen Pirie one. (edited) 2w
26 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
1979 | Val McDermid
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Well, about 80% in, something happened that made me care about what‘s going on in this book, so I will finish it. I‘ve only got an hour and a half left, so I‘ll probably be done tomorrow. I may start Make Trouble early for #SheSaid. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
If It Bleeds | Stephen King
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I‘m reading If It Bleeds for #LosersClub. It‘s another Stephen King book that I‘ve had since it was first released but never read. I‘m taking this opportunity to finally read it.

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KathyWheeler
1979 | Val McDermid
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Oh, yippee. Now we have my other least favorite thing to read about in fiction — terrorism. I also haven‘t made up my mind if I like our heroine, Allie. I‘m not even sure she is our heroine, even though the series is named after her, because I feel as if we get a whole lot more of Danny. Maybe the series should be his. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
North Woods | Daniel Mason
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Pickpick

The writing in this book is just beautiful. The interconnected stories range from pre-Revolutionary USA history to (possibly) far in the future and all revolve around a house in Massachusetts. I found the stories of the apple farmer and his daughters to be a bit too long. I almost quit here, but I‘m glad I didn‘t. The real power was in the later stories.

Reggie I was shocked at what happens with the daughters! The gay artist and the pulpy crime guy were my favorite parts. Glad you liked it! 2w
KathyWheeler @Reggie I know! I wasn‘t expecting that at all! The gay artist and the true crime guy were also my favorites. I liked the ending of the metal detector guy‘s story. (edited) 2w
Reggie @Kathywheeler oh yeah, especially after you read about his wife leaving him and then she gets left and he has the grace to care for her until the end. 🖤 2w
See All 6 Comments
Tamra My favorite was the end! I rarely love an ending. 2w
KathyWheeler @Tamra That was a wonderful ending. The more I think about this book, the more things I find to love about it. 2w
35 likes6 comments
review
KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

I needed a Christie palate cleanser after Murder at Mallowan Hall, so I turned to Christie herself. This is a lesser known novel with a much older Poirot who doesn‘t appear nearly as much as he should. However, I still enjoyed it. Any number of the characters could‘ve have plausibly been the murderer, but I never suspected the actual one even though they also made sense. Hugh Fraser is, as always, a delightful narrator.

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KathyWheeler
Agent to the Stars | John Scalzi
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Pickpick

Agent to the Stars is a ridiculous book, and it was tons of fun. Apparently, Scalzi wrote it to see if he could actually write a novel. Wil Wheaton does a great job narrating it. 1979 is my #audiowalk book. I‘m not invested so far. I like McDermid, the time period interests me, but so far it seems to be about financial crime and tax evasion, and that bores me. I hope I‘m wrong.

23 likes1 stack add
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KathyWheeler
Murder at Mallowan Hall | Colleen Cambridge
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Mehso-so

This was just okay. Phyllida Bright works for Agatha Christie and is also her friend. She loves Poirot, and when a murder happens at Mallowan Hall, she takes it upon herself to try to solve it Poirot style. Unfortunately, this book is pretty boring. There‘s far too much detail about the everyday tasks and clothing of the staff. Bright‘s Poirot-like villain and motive reveal speech at the end is far too long, pretentious, and boring.

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KathyWheeler
1979 | Val McDermid
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Just started this for my new #audiowalk book. I didn‘t get that far into it because my walk was short, but I‘ve liked other Val McDermid books, so we‘ll see.

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KathyWheeler
Murder at Mallowan Hall | Colleen Cambridge
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The tagged book is really my nighttime book, but I hadn‘t yet picked a new walking book, so I listened to it on my #audiowalk today. I started reading North Woods while we were at the beach; its structure is really interesting. Agent to the Stars is our road trip book — it‘s about an agent who discovers his new job is to introduce a friendly, but ugly and stinky, alien race to humans. We are loving it.

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KathyWheeler
The Devil's Bed | William Kent Krueger
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Pickpick

While I ended up liking this better than I thought I would, it‘s my least favorite Krueger book. The plot is disjointed, and most of the plot twists are too predictable. There‘s this shadowy group out to assassinate the First Lady of the US, and I never really understood the motivation for it. I do like our hero, Bo Thorson, though, and Krueger gives him a good backstory. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
The Devil's Bed | William Kent Krueger
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I can‘t say I‘m loving this book so far; it‘s just okay. I went on a pretty long walk today and thought I had finished it. Nope — turned out I was only at 57%! I honestly don‘t know what else there is to say, but clearly there‘s more. I‘ve never experienced this “I really wish it were over” feeling with Krueger before. #audiowalk We are probably in false spring right now; it‘s so beautiful outside!

UwannaPublishme Beautiful photos! 3w
lynneamch Thought of you Wednesday when I went to Fairhope. Enjoyed lunch at Hope Farms and bought a couple books at Page & Palette. 3w
KathyWheeler @lynneamch I was at Page & Palette today and got a book. 😊 3w
lynneamch 😃Lol. Always enjoy your walking maps and trying to figure out where you are. Planning on exploring Point Clear next week. 3w
27 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

I didn‘t walk today because I found myself just too tired to do so — probably leftover from COVID — but I did finish The Ghost Orchid. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would because it took some unexpected turns. My favorite part, though, involved a case of Alex‘s that was completely unrelated to the murder.

bookaholic1 Love this series...Alex and Milo are my all time favorites 3w
KathyWheeler @bookaholic1 I love them too. 3w
24 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir
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Pickpick

My husband and I listened to Project Hail Mary as our road trip book. We both loved it. He said the science was good, and it wasn‘t too far over my head too often. The story was great and touching. I wasn‘t expecting that ending. I liked The Martian, but loved this book. We started Agent to the Stars, and I continued with The Ghost Orchid on my #audiowalk

Texreader I love that you both listen to audiobooks together. Wish my hubs would do that! 4w
KathyWheeler @Texreader I suggested it on a trip one time — I think with the first Dresden Files book — and he found he really enjoyed them. I‘d been listening to them for years on my walks and in the car by myself. 4w
31 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
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So far, this is one of the less interesting Alex Delaware books, but it‘s still not bad. Beautiful day out today. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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Because of Covid and the fatigue from it, I have not walked for 17 days. I was finally able to do so today. I always love a new Alex Delaware book, so this one is my new walking book. #audiowalk

Bookwormjillk I‘m glad you‘re back out there. It took me a while to get back to normal too. 4w
KathyWheeler @Bookwormjillk Me too. I wasn‘t expecting it to be this long! 4w
26 likes2 comments
review
KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

Despite the L. Frank Baum debacle, I liked this book. We have a similar philosophy of reading — never be ashamed of the reading that speaks to you. Also, don‘t take the classics so seriously. Many — Austen, Shakespeare, and Dickens — have humor, but we can‘t see it because we are so invested in these books as “serious literature” and serious can‘t be funny, right? Seeing the humor in Moby Dick was what allowed me to finally finish and enjoy it.

batsy Great point re: the classics. Many were the contemporary popular reads, as well. 1mo
KathyWheeler @batsy Yes, they were. 1mo
26 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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KathyWheeler
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This is my evening reading. Shouldn‘t someone who is a self described bookworm, has an MFA, teaches reading and writing, and read all of the Oz books more than once know that The Wizard of Oz was written by L. Frank Baum not Frank L. Baum? If not, shouldn‘t an editor have caught this? The error appears multiple times.

TheBookHippie We just had this conversation !!!!!! 1mo
TheBookHippie I was so frustrated, we have statues and a garden here in town of The Wizard of Oz and this snooty girl who thinks she better than everyone was doing the same thing!!! 1mo
See All 7 Comments
KathyWheeler @TheBookHippie Very annoying! Seems to me the least you can do is get an author‘s name right. It‘s so easy to look things up now. In fact, before I wrote this post, I looked it up just to be sure I was right even though I knew I was. 1mo
Librarybelle How annoying! 1mo
Graywacke Eek. Maybe some careless but savvy editor snuck in a replace all. 1mo
28 likes7 comments
review
KathyWheeler
4:50 from Paddington | Agatha Christie
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Pickpick

This is a low pick. While I liked the story, I was unimpressed with the villain reveal at the end. Christie is not usually one to pull a villain and motive out of thin air — clues are planted along the way so it all makes sense in the end — yet I feel that‘s just what she did here. That said, I otherwise enjoyed the story and loved Lucy Eyelesbarrow.

30 likes1 stack add
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KathyWheeler
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Mehso-so

I‘m getting really bored with the “will they/won‘t they” between Matt and India. India‘s whining, “Oh, I‘m just not good enough for him; I can‘t bring him down to my level” is especially tedious when it‘s obvious Matt doesn‘t feel that way, but she just keeps putting him off and won‘t tell him what she‘s feeling. The other parts of the story are gettin old too as there‘s not been much forward momentum. Least favorite book in the series.

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KathyWheeler
Untitled | Untitled
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1:/ No
2:/ I don‘t know. I met my husband in grad school, we clicked right away, and we are now coming up on our 40th anniversary this year. So maybe.
3:/ Going to the beach for a couple of days with my husband and going to our favorite seafood restaurant.
#WondrousWednesday

Eggs Congratulations on 40 years👏🏻👏🏻🩷 1mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Happy anniversary ❤️ 1mo
KathyWheeler @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs Thank you both, but it‘s not until August. That question of soulmates just made me realize how long it‘s been! 1mo
27 likes3 comments
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KathyWheeler
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Mehso-so

I‘ve been sick with Covid and haven‘t managed to read much, but I did finish this book. Not my favorite Troost. He always comes off as a little smug, but his attitude in this book is off the charts. He dismisses an ancient culture as if it was nothing. I‘m not sure why he stayed in China for an entire month as he hates most of the place and has nothing but disdain for the people & culture. It was amusing in a couple of places, so I won‘t pan it.

TheAromaofBooks I'm reading a biography right now and struggling with a similar author attitude - it feels like he doesn't even LIKE this person - so why did you spend all this time writing a book about her??? 1mo
Librarybelle Hope you feel better soon! 1mo
JessClark78 Hope you feel better soon. 1mo
See All 13 Comments
KathyWheeler @TheAromaofBooks I don‘t get that attitude at all. 1mo
KathyWheeler @Librarybelle @JessClark78 Thank you! It‘s been annoying because usually I‘m just sick for a day or two; this has been a week. I am improving, but it‘s taking a long time. 1mo
Jas16 Hope you feel better soon 💐 1mo
batsy Get well soon 💐 1mo
Ruthiella Hope you feel better soon! ❤️ 1mo
Reggie Hope you feel better. 1mo
CSeydel Oh, that sounds frustrating. I feel that before you can credibly criticize another culture, you should respect it and understand it. It may be a bit dated now, but I remember really enjoying John Pomfret‘s 1mo
CSeydel Also, sorry to hear you have COVID - get well wishes!! (edited) 1mo
KathyWheeler @CSeydel It was just complaint after complaint— China‘s polluted, China‘s crowded, China‘s government is corrupt, China has a lot of beggars, on and on. I‘m not arguing that‘s not true; I‘ve never been there. But it‘s as if he was incapable of seeing anything beautiful there. 1mo
jlhammar Sorry to hear you‘ve been sick. Hope you‘re feeling better soon. 1mo
27 likes13 comments
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KathyWheeler
Untitled | Untitled
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1: Michael Franti & Spearhead‘s The Sound of Sunshine.
2: I‘d split my time between Cape Breton, New Orleans, and Charleston.
3. Making sure I walk and do yoga daily.
#WondrousWednesday

Eggs #3 sounds wonderful 1mo
22 likes1 comment
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KathyWheeler
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I couldn‘t listen to my Hoopla book because, even though the book is downloaded, I had trouble opening the app on Dauphin Island, so I listened to my night time book instead — it‘s on Audible. John Hodgman has a pleasant voice to listen to on a walk. We also listened to Project Hail Mary on the trip there and back. We are really enjoying it. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

I liked this book although I had a little trouble with the motive. There were also several red herrings and too many characters that didn‘t matter. Despite all that, it‘s a solid read and I was never bored. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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I‘m hoping that I‘m not supposed to like Xav‘s friend, Bree, because she‘s pretty awful. So far, Lana, who is the main character, is the only one I‘ve liked from the start. I had a good day — I walked a lot, then this evening we went to see Judy Collins. She‘s 84, but her voice is still crystal clear and lovely. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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Someone on here mentioned this book, and I thought it sounded intriguing, so it‘s my new #audiowalk book. After several days of rain, it was beautiful — if a tad chilly outside — so I got to walk without the fear that the sky would open up any minute. That was nice.

Texreader Beautiful photos!! 2mo
KathyWheeler @Texreader Thank you! 2mo
27 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
Resurrection Walk | Michael Connelly
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Pickpick

This is the lower end of the pick scale for me. I just found some of the events so improbable. There were also some things that neither Mickey nor Harry noticed, and I found the fact that they didn‘t notice these issues to be ridiculous. Overall though, I liked the story. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
Resurrection Walk | Michael Connelly
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It was supposed to rain all day but didn‘t, so I got to walk today. I also got a tragus piercing while I was out. The one I‘d had before closed up, and it was my favorite piercing. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
Resurrection Walk | Michael Connelly
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The last Bosch book made me have conflicting feelings about Harry. He‘s part of this new Lincoln Lawyer book, and it‘s as if the events of Desert Star never happened. I don‘t know what I think about that. I went for a walk, had lunch, came home, and the sky just opened up and poured rain. #audiowalk

robinb Rain all day here too. 😔 2mo
KathyWheeler @robinb Looks like tomorrow will be rainy all day too. 😞 (edited) 2mo
22 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
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Just started this as my nighttime book. For Pete‘s sake! The fat jokes and nasty remarks about larger people are just out of hand here! I don‘t remember that from the first book. There‘s no call for this at all.

BookmarkTavern Yup. I bailed on this one. Especially how many of those comments were directed at a child. 2mo
KathyWheeler @BookmarkTavern Yes! I was shocked about that. 2mo
26 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
Sulfur Springs: A Novel | William Kent Krueger
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Pickpick

While I mostly liked this book, it did get a little repetitive. There was also one instance where Cork didn‘t act quite right given the situation. I found it difficult to believe that neither the sheriff nor Cork‘s enemies noticed it. It could have changed the course of the events if they had. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
The Outsider | Stephen King
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Pickpick

I FINALLY finished The Outsider. I thought I was going to give it a so-so because the first half was boring in places and far too long; however, the second half was not boring and I ended up liking it. I love Holly, and there was no reason for the first half of the book, before Holly shows up, to be so tedious.

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KathyWheeler
Sulfur Springs: A Novel | William Kent Krueger
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It was so pretty outside today but still a little chilly. I didn‘t walk as far as I did yesterday so I didn‘t get as far in the book. It‘s weird to read one where Cork‘s kids barely show up. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
Sulfur Springs: A Novel | William Kent Krueger
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It‘s been awhile since I‘ve listened to a Cork O‘Connor novel, so this next in the series for me is my new #audiowalk book. I did a lot of walking and driving today, so I‘m almost halfway through already. It‘s nice to be back in Cork‘s world even though we‘re in Arizona for this one instead of Minnesota.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 😍 2mo
KathyWheeler @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks These are some of my favorite places to walk. I enjoy the scenery so much here. 2mo
28 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
The Outsider | Stephen King
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The Outsider was published in 2018; I get Stephen King‘s books as soon as they are released. So I‘ve been reading this book off and on for about 5 years. I‘m determined to finish it this month. It‘s cloudy, grey, and depressing outside, so it‘s a good day to get some reading done.

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KathyWheeler
The Celebrants | Steven Rowley
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Pickpick

Low end of the pick scale. The two Rowley books I‘ve read, that weren‘t The Guncle, bored me for a long time until suddenly they didn‘t. I checked this out from the library 3 times before I finished it. The characters aren‘t that likeable, and I had trouble distinguishing the two Jordans. I liked the last half better than the first. I wonder if I had less trouble with The Guncle because I listened to it. This and The Editor, I read the ebooks.