Hoping to finish these this weekend for #20in4. I was also able to get the Winspear on audio from the library. I‘m attempting to whittle down the old TBR and these have all been on my list a LONG time.

Well, this just wasn‘t for me. I can understand how one would appreciate its inventiveness, but it left me with the same discomfort Murakami causes me. (Sorry, Murakami-lovers.)
I continue to plug along with old ToB books from this year and years past. There are never enough reading hours in the day. 😁
#ToB2022

This was a different twist on race and class from anything I‘ve read recently. I liked that I didn‘t have a handle on what Alix or Emira would do next.

I‘m giving this a pick because I remain a fan of Louise Erdrich‘s writing. However, I did not like this one as much ‘The Night Watchman‘. It felt like she had a vision for the novel, then Covid and George Floyd happened and the book veered off into perhaps a few too many directions. I can‘t say how she could have handled anything differently. It‘s a tricky time for fiction.

OK, the story is weird. BUT…it‘s worth reading for the brilliant wordplay throughout which, keep in mind is TRANSLATED into English. 😮
#ToB2022

Beautiful. I wish I had read this years ago so I could keep coming back to it. It reminds me I need to consistently read to feed my soul in this day and age.

I thought this was very well-crafted and a page-turner. There were a few things that bothered me, however. See first comment for spoiler. I‘m off now to read other comments and see if it was ‘just me‘. 😬
#ToB2022

Most everyone seems to love this book, but it just didn‘t resonate with me. I‘m not sorry I read it, but am also glad it was only 250 pages.
#ToB2022

I really enjoyed this unique little novel. It was fascinating getting a glimpse into the life of an interpreter at The Hague (although that‘s not really what the book is ‘about‘). To echo what my friend, @BarbaraBB said, I love the ‘atmosphere‘.
#ToB2022

Let me just say I loved the first two pages. Expectations are high now! #ToB2022

ETA: It DID meet my expectations!

I wanted to like this more than I did. Although there were sections I loved, I felt I couldn‘t really sink my teeth into it. #ToB2022

I may just be a crankypants, but this redundant style of writing irritates me.

Really good writing, but a little too much family misery for me. Didn‘t love it.

I laughed out loud several times despite the gruesome scenes. I suppose I have a soft spot for dark humor. I will also add that it‘s heartbreaking.
#ToB2022

I can‘t seem to resist Franzen even though he, in turn, enthralls, disgusts, fascinates, and annoys me.

I‘m dating myself here, but couldn‘t resist taking this photo. 😁 The book was fun and clever, but I certainly don‘t see it winning the #ToB2022. (I didn‘t ‘get‘ a lot of the slang and had to return the book to the library before I could look it up - oh well.)

This took a little work getting into, but boy did I love it in the end! I‘m enjoying my ToB longlist library holds so much, I may not get to many on the shortlist. 😐

Yep, I did it. All 1,275 pages! I‘m not sure we‘ll ever see another historical fiction writer like James Michener. He was supremely talented at spewing lots of facts, yet making you enjoy it!

Like many others, I‘m surprised this didn‘t make the Tournament of Books shortlist. Maybe they decided winning the National Book Award was enough! Not sure it‘s one of my top favorites of the year, but it is clever and thought-provoking.

Profoundly disturbing, yet beautiful. Anxiety levels will be up for a while, but I‘m not sorry I read it.
#ToBLonglist

Some lovely poetry and descriptions of nature (though excessive, perhaps). I did get a little weary of Emily becoming ‘insensible‘ (apparently the 18th century equivalent to swooning 😂).
#1001books

I‘ve had an epiphany about du Maurier. If I ignore the implausible plot elements and just focus on her luscious writing and rich characters, I thoroughly enjoy her books. This was my third by her and my favorite so far.

A lot of people seem to love this, but there were too many ‘peeing-off-balconies‘ (and other places) and wth? moments for me.
#ToBTournamentofFavorites

Certainly not a pleasant read, but I‘ve been curious about Chuck Palahniuk for years. I can‘t quite give the book an enthusiastic pick, but it was inventive and will stay with me for a while. 3* out of 5 (I have not seen the movie.)

Finally got around to this. It was surprisingly good. I should read more SciFi.
#1001books

I‘m so intimidated by Dexter Palmer I can‘t even review his book. How about this: It‘s really, really good. 😁
#ToB #TournamentofFavorites

This is hard for me to rate. The parts about the animation process and artistic inspiration were fascinating, but I otherwise did not enjoy being part of Mel and Sharon‘s world. I guess it‘s a lukewarm ‘pick‘.
#ToB #TournamentofFavorites

SO interesting. This was a timely read, as the trial is finally due to begin on Aug.31!

SO sad, but so good.
#TournamentofBooks #ToB #Booker

I spied this at the library and it intrigued me. Although I like short stories, I have decided this format is TOO short for me. I believe the word ‘haunting‘ was used in the afterword. 😟

I consider myself a big sports fan, but I don‘t hold a candle to these Alabama RVers!
Btw, I also loved ‘Outcasts United‘ by the same author.

Very interesting autobiography of this soccer star. Not only is she a world-class athlete, but she‘s an activist for social justice. She‘ll be on the Olympic team again at age 36!

Please indulge me for all the posts - I haven‘t updated in a while. 😁 It was a little difficult to keep track of the connections between stories (as others have said, it should be read as a novel), but Marra is a great writer. I must admit I didn‘t like this as much as ‘A Constellation of Vital Phenomena‘.
#ToB #ToBTournamentofFavorites

We NEED more people like Secretary Pete in public service! Also, the guy is a good writer.

I‘m a big fan of Elizabeth George‘s Inspector Lynley mysteries, dark though they may be. Be warned - this is a long one.

Finished #20in4 with 10 hrs 20 mins. With all the sports I watched on the weekend, I‘m actually happy with those results!

Thanks again for hosting, @Andrew65

I love books about books!
First completion for this weekend‘s #20in4.

I think Backman is particularly good at character development and I appreciated the way he handled the darker aspects of the plot. Loved it!

I‘m giving this a lukewarm pick. I loved ‘The Remains of the Day‘ and ‘Never Let Me Go‘, so I‘m allowing the author a little extra leeway. 😁

I didn‘t love (nor ‘get‘) all of these poems, but the ones I DID love made it worth reading all 536 pages!

“They were dead. I had seen a lot of dead people, and these two were as dead as any of them.”

Nope. I suspect I shouldn‘t have picked Lee Child‘s first effort to give him a try.

I‘m quite enjoying this tale of Norwegian homesteaders. Possibly my first translation from Norwegian. #1001books

Finished with 11 hr 50 min for #20in4 this month. It sure is fun to keep trying for 20 hours! 😁
Thanks, @Andrew65

My progress from Day 1 of #20in4. Quite a variety in reading material! 😁📚📚

This lovely Newbery-winning book (2018) was a great choice for my #deweysreadathon stack.
My final stats: 12 hours, 872 pages (adding a graphic and children‘s helped with the page total 😁).
Hope all participants had a great time!
#deweys24hourreadathon

This was my graphic choice for #deweysreadathon. It‘s very good so far.
Probably my last post before wrap-up tomorrow. The eyes are tired, so switching to audio and staying away from screens. #deweys24hourreadathon

Enjoying this one on audio. I can‘t believe #deweysreadathon is almost half over. 😩Time does fly when you‘re having fun! 😀📚📚📚

This is a fun one for #deweysreadathon. It‘s zipping right along. My goal is to read for 12 hours today/tonight.
#deweys24hourreadathon #readathon

Posting my #deweysreadathon stack tonight to save time in the morning. I also have a couple of books on Kindle and audio. Last time, I skipped around and didn‘t even finish a book. I enjoyed it so much I might do it again!Good luck, fellow ‘thonners! 🤓📚
#deweys24hourreadathon #readathon

I love books like this that expand my horizons in a clever, unique way. #ToB
I finished #20in4 with just 9 hrs 32 mins. I‘m going for 20 hours next time! Thanks for hosting, @Andrew65

One of my least favorite #1001books so far. On the positive side, I can cross another one off the list.
At 9 hours for #20in4. Hoping to add a few more hours today.

Frivolous and witty - Bertie and Jeeves are just what I need at the moment! At a whopping 3 hrs for #20in4. 😏