Lovely book. This reminds me why I will continue to read the Newbery winners.
#ReverseReadathon #Deweys #Newbery

I loved this! Now I must see a performance. This is one of the two books I finished for #ReverseReadathon. I did read part of all ten books in my stack - the first time I‘ve ever done that! #Deweys

Final stats: 874 pages, 12 hr 21 min

Starting the #ReverseReadathon with the tagged book. It‘s good! #Deweys

Beautiful collection of quotations. I picked this up from a “new age” bookshop a few months ago, and find that reading a few pages each day grounds me. I just tried to order copies for some family members, but it doesn‘t seem to be available. Shame.

Don‘t hate me, but I did not love this book! I found the first half silly, the second half much improved but confusing, and the ending dragged on too long. I was surprised because I loved Beartown.

Dr. Hyman‘s ideas make sense to me, but it‘s annoying that Pegan = Paleo + Vegan, yet he encourages you to eat meat! 3.5/5*

This series has been a guilty pleasure for me for years. But with the passing of M. C. Beaton, I think I will put Hamish Macbeth to rest.

I‘m in the minority in not loving this one. I enjoyed the nature writing and learning more about wolves, but had several issues with the “sub-plots”, especially towards the end.

There was a lot to process here. It took me so long to read it, I‘m afraid I‘m just ready to move on and not analyze too much. I mostly liked it. 😊

I‘m a fan and enjoyed getting to know Randy a little better. Audiobook recommended (read by Randy).

This was a fun one on audio - although I did have to check my Kindle copy a few times to remember who certain characters were.

Such a sad, but excellent book. This has been on my Kindle for years, but I may not have chosen the best time to read it. Add the people of Zimbabwe to those for whom I feel heartbroken.
Late reporting, but I finished with 9 hours 49 minutes for #20in4. Hoping to do a little better next time.

I enjoyed this second installment of the Maisie Dobbs series. I don‘t believe I liked the first one as much, but I‘ll definitely be continuing the series. The narrator did a good job with the various characters. First book finished for #20in4 .
And yes, I like my old-fashioned headphones. 😁

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!