Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
rmaclean4

rmaclean4

Joined January 2017

reading now icon
Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie
reading now icon
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

I found this book of philosophy interesting. The story of the authors survival of the concentration camp was compelling and gave his theory of life much more weight. I am glad that I read this book.

Nameera Hello guys. I am a Clinical psychology student trying to study the psychological well-being empathy and fantasy engagement among Fiction and non fiction readers. It would be great you you take time to fill this form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8dX_2Udab9QKk4CXiI0CeScJNjf-HWh1gTYH8...
6d
21 likes1 comment
blurb
rmaclean4
The Body in Question | Jill Ciment
post image

February Reads
4.5 🌟
The Body in Question: Jill Ciment 📖
3.5 🌟
The Glass Hotel: Emily St John Mandel 📖
3 🌟
Amy Snow: Tracy Rees 📖
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: George RR Martin 📖
2.5 🌟
The Road to Roswell: Connie Willis 🎧
1 🌟
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Mark Twain 🎧
I read Huck Finn to prepare for James by Percival Everett coming out this month.

review
rmaclean4
Let Us Descend | Jesmyn Ward
post image
Pickpick

Poetic slave narrative with mythical elements. Her writing is brutal and lyrical. A must-read for literary fiction fans. 4.5 🌟

review
rmaclean4
post image
Panpan

This is a very problematic and difficult read. I listened to it in preparation for Percival Everett's new novel, James. I did not enjoy this text at all! I can't believe this use to be taught in schools.

BarbaraBB I couldn‘t finish this one either when I read it years ago. I am Sure Percival Everett did a better job! 2w
rmaclean4 @BarbaraBB I loved The Trees. Am excited for James. 2w
dabbe #fanofthepan I enjoyed THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER much more than HUCK FINN. It is a hard read--especially now. 2w
shortsarahrose I HATED this book when I had to read it in high school 2w
11 likes4 comments
review
rmaclean4
The Body in Question | Jill Ciment
post image
Pickpick

Great novel. This is a tight novel. In less than 200 pages, you go through a murder trial, an affair, and the end of a marriage. I read this after hearing Ann Patchett recommended it. It was one of the beat reads of this year so far. I can't wait to read more of this authors work. 4.5 🌟

jlhammar I've been wanting to try this one! 3w
rmaclean4 @jlhammar I am looking forward to reading her other work! 3w
21 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

#womensnonfictionprize2024 First of what I hope.is many reads from The Women's Prize for nonfiction. This confronts the brutal history of slavery in the US South. Not new to me history, but it is important nonetheless. Great audio book. Recommend!

charl08 Looking forward to reading this one! 3w
batsy This sounds good. Added to the list! 3w
muscogulus Heard about this! What an amazing artifact. 3w
23 likes3 comments
review
rmaclean4
The Glass Hotel | Emily St. John Mandel
post image
Pickpick

Loved this novel. I dont know why I waited so long to read this it. Mandel is so "readable." I love how she weaves different story lines together. The ending is beautiful. Highly recommend. 4 ?

BarbaraBB My favorite by her! 4w
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
rmaclean4
post image
Mehso-so

This was a silly, fun, science fiction romance. It was a fun diversion. I thought it could have been edited to make a tighter novel without losing its flair. 2.5 🌟

review
rmaclean4
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | George R. R. Martin
post image
Pickpick

A delightful book of three stories about a Hedge Knight and his "squire." Fun fast fantasy read. 3 ?

blurb
rmaclean4
post image

January Reads. Slowly coming out of my reading slump!
5 🌟
So Late in the Day: Claire Keegan 📖
4.5 🌟
Day: Michael Cunningham 📖
3.5 🌟
Wednesday's Child: Yiyun Li 📖
North Woods: Daniel Mason 🎧
3 🌟
Absolution: Alice McDermott 🎧

review
rmaclean4
North Woods | Daniel Mason
post image
Pickpick

After a slow start, I loved this the deeper into it that I read. Great ending! The novel reminded me of The Understory. Recommend. 3.5 🌟

BarbaraBB I enjoyed this one too. 2mo
28 likes2 comments
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

Like many short stories, I will not remember most of them after a month or so. I love the writing. Many of the stories are centered around Chinese women living in the U.S. 3.5 🌟

review
rmaclean4
Day | Michael Cunningham
post image
Pickpick

Loved this novel. I just fall into his writing. Novel takes place on the same day in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Highly recommend. 4.5 🌟

BarbaraBB He writes so well 2mo
Suet624 I can‘t believe none of my libraries have this book yet. I so want to read it. 2mo
rmaclean4 @Suet624 I hope you get a copy soon! 2mo
25 likes3 comments
review
rmaclean4
Absolution: A Novel | Alice McDermott
post image
Mehso-so

My first Alice McDermott novel. Loved her characters and the setting. The plot was meandering, and I found the 2 narrators distracting. So-so overall, for me. 3 🌟
What McDermott would you recommend I read next?

jlhammar Someone and At Weddings and Wakes were both 5 ⭐️ reads for me. Also really liked 2mo
rmaclean4 @jlhammar Thank you. I am excited to read another novel by her. 2mo
21 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

First finished read of 2024. I have started 5 books but have not been able to finish any of them. This was great to sit and read cover to cover in a few hours. I love her writing. All three stories are masterful. 5 🌟

review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

It is a quiet story of three generations of an Irish family. Love the writing. The plot was ok. Great to hear the author narrate part of the book. This will be my last read of 2023. Book # 87. Far less than the 100 book goal, but there is always next year. 3 🌟

review
rmaclean4
Shy: A Novel | Max Porter
post image
Pickpick

Short poetic story of a boy that holds a lot of pain and rage. I could only get the audio but would love to read the physical book one day. His use of language is brilliant. Lanny is still my favorite book of this authors. 4 🌟

20 likes1 stack add
review
rmaclean4
The Secret History | Donna Tartt
post image
Pickpick

What a perfect fall read. A classic dark academia novel with echos of The Catcher in the Rye. Loved it! 4 🌟

Suet624 Ridiculous fact: I have yet to read this novel. 4mo
30 likes1 comment
blurb
rmaclean4
In Memoriam | Alice Winn
post image

October Reads!
5 🌟
In Memoriam: Alice Winn📖
Empire of Pain🎧
4.5 🌟
Black AF History: Michael Harriott🎧
The Bee Sting: Paul Murray📖
The Vaster Wilds: Lauren Groff 📖
3.5🌟
Beyond The Door of No Return: David Diop 📖
3 🌟
The Great Reclamation: Rachel Heng🎧
Learned By Heart: Emma Donoghue🎧
Do Tell: Lindsay Lynch🎧

18 likes1 stack add
review
rmaclean4
Do Tell | Lindsay Lynch
post image
Pickpick

Charming, readable debut novel about 1930's Hollywood. 3 🌟

blurb
rmaclean4
post image

Most of my #bookspin #doublespin #bookbingo November list. More Nonfiction than normal for Nonfiction November. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 5mo
21 likes1 comment
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

Beautiful hearbreaking novel set in Senegal in the 1800's. Story about how even the love of white men kill the black africans. The book had a narrative structure that I found awkward. 3.5 🌟 He is an author I will read again.

review
rmaclean4
Learned by Heart | Emma Donoghue
post image
Mehso-so

Well written gay coming of age historical fiction novel. I am just not the right audience for this book. Like The Pull of the Stars, this reads (to me) like a YA novel. 3 🌟

Tamra It was just sooooooo slow! 5mo
24 likes1 comment
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

Amazing history of this family that has profited from the Opioid epidemic. It is a page turner. Highly recommended! 5 🌟

16 likes1 stack add
review
rmaclean4
In Memoriam | Alice Winn
post image
Pickpick

5 🌟. I read this slowly because it was y I did not want it to end. A novel about love, war, and survival. Amazind debut. So very happy I read this. It is one of the top reads of 2023 for me.

review
rmaclean4
The Vaster Wilds | Lauren Groff
post image
Pickpick

Metaphysical novel of a young servant girl's life in the "new" world. A meditation on human connection as well as our connections with nature. Beautiful. 4.5 ?

24 likes1 stack add
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

Required reading for all americans. Educational, eye opening, entertaining, and humbling. So glad I read this book. 4.5 🌟

23 likes1 stack add
blurb
rmaclean4
post image

September Reads. Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl and Tom Lake by Ann Patchett were the outstanding reads of September.

blurb
rmaclean4
post image

October #bookspin! I'm excited to see what numbers come up. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 5mo
19 likes1 comment
review
rmaclean4
Pearl | Sin Hughes
post image
Mehso-so

Why is this on the #Booker longlist. It's a fine book, but nothing I have not read before. Novel about the loss of a mother and the impact it has on her daughter. I had to push myself to finish this one. 2.5 🌟

review
rmaclean4
Bea Wolf | Zach Weinersmith
post image
Pickpick

A delightful graphic novel for kids. Loved the word play and the art style. I was gifted this beautiful book. I dont think I would have read it otherwise. Was a joy to read. 4 🌟

review
rmaclean4
Cherry Orchard | Anton Chekov
post image
Pickpick

After reading Tom Lake, I had to go back and revisit Cherry Orchard. I first studied this play in high school. Was great to read it again.

Becker I did the exact same thing. I wonder how many copies of The Cherry Orchard and Our Town got read because of this book. 😁 6mo
AvidReader25 @Becker So many! I love books leading to other books. 6mo
25 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
rmaclean4
Tom Lake: A Novel | Ann Patchett
post image
Pickpick

I love Ann Patchett. I don't love stories about the theater. I enjoyed most of the novel set on a Cherry farm in MI during the pandemic in which a mother tells her three daughters about her long ago affair with a now famous actor. The Chekhov references are everywhere in the novel. It was when "Cricket" told the last encounter with Duke without the maternal fliter that the book worked for me. Not my favorite Patchett, but well worth a read. 4 ?

rmaclean4 Now off to reread The Cherry Orchard. 6mo
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
rmaclean4
post image
Panpan

I so wanted to like this novel. I have loved some of Alice Hoffman's other work, but this didn't work for me at all. Read like a YA romance with an overbearing feminist message. 2 🌟

HettyG Her books are always iffy for me as well! 6mo
19 likes1 comment
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

An achingly beautiful essay collection to be savored. I am so glad I read this beautiful book slowly. This is a highlight of my reading year so far. 5 🌟. This is the first of many books that I hope to read of Margaret Renkl. Highly recommend!!

Chelsea.Poole I‘ve had this on my shelf for soooo long. I need to get to it already! Thanks for the reminder 😊 6mo
rmaclean4 @Chelsea.Poole I hope you love it! It was the right book at the right time for me. 6mo
25 likes2 comments
review
rmaclean4
If I Survive You | Jonathan Escoffery
post image
Pickpick

A good book of connected short stories. Not #booker23 worthy, in my opinion. Ok, not great. 3 🌟

BarbaraBB I felt the same 6mo
21 likes1 comment
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

This is a love story that continues beyond life and life and survives war. Reads like a ghost story. The afterward is as interesting as the novel. So glad I read this author and am interested in reading more from this author. 4 🌟

21 likes1 comment
blurb
rmaclean4
In Ascension | Martin MacInnes
post image

An uneven reading month. In Ascension did not work for me. The East Indian was also not my cup of tea. Old God's Time was beautifully crafted but hard to read due to the subject matter. Solito was a top read of my year so far! #bookspin #booker23 @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 6mo
16 likes1 comment
blurb
rmaclean4
post image

The state of my reading this month. Starting books rather than finishing the ones I am reading. My goal in September is to finish what I have started and to carry on with the #booker books I can get my hands on! @TheAromaofBooks #bookspin #doublespin

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 6mo
20 likes1 comment
review
rmaclean4
Solito: A Memoir | Javier Zamora
post image
Pickpick

5 🌟, must read! A poet tells of his journey to the USA as a 9 year old boy. Beautifully written. Highly recommend. The audio is read by the author, and since I do not speak spanish, I was glad to listen to this memoir.

20 likes1 stack add
review
rmaclean4
The Invisible Bridge | Julie Orringer
post image
Pickpick

Love her writing. This is an epic tale of one young man's journey through WWII. I think the prewar section could have been cut back. The author seemed to be in love with her research at times. Like most war novels, it is heartbreaking at times. 3 🌟

review
rmaclean4
Old God's Time: A Novel | Sebastian Barry
post image
Pickpick

Trigger warning for child abuse. I hate books about children being hurt! This was a novel of survivors and the harm they live with. It is a testimont to the beauty of Barry's writing and his skill at plotting this novel that I finished. There is much to be admired here...if not enjoyed. 4 🌟

32 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
rmaclean4
In Ascension | Martin MacInnes
post image
Panpan

This was not for me. I loved the beginning and was lost by the end. 2 🌟

BarbaraBB Ow that‘s a pity. I have high expectations but will temper them! 7mo
rmaclean4 @BarbaraBB I thought I would love it! 7mo
24 likes3 comments
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

I love her writing. This reads like a thriller. Literary fiction but with a pulpusive plot. Set in Londan after a pandemic. 4 🌟

29 likes1 stack add
review
rmaclean4
Untethered Sky | Fonda Lee
post image
Pickpick

Short diverting fantasy read. The author established a full world in a few pages. Fun read. 2.5 🌟

blurb
rmaclean4
Demon Copperhead: A Novel | Barbara Kingsolver

August is all about #booker. Long list announced August 1.
1 Booker
2 Booker
3 Booker
4 Booker
5 Booker
6 Booker
7 Booker
8 Booker
9 Booker
10 Booker
11 Booker
12 Booker
13 Booker
14 BuzzWord ( Weather ) Wolf Winter
15 Simon Savage Pick ( Between the Wars) The World And All That It Holds
16 Book Spin (YouTube)
17 TBR Jar (Fates and Furies)
18 Library
19 Library
20 Library
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Hope there are some good ones in there for you!! 8mo
9 likes2 comments
review
rmaclean4
post image
Pickpick

Beautifully written novel about a small island community off the coast of Main that are forced off the land. I admired the writing more than feeling the story. 3 🌟

22 likes1 stack add
review
rmaclean4
Witch King | Martha Wells
post image
Pickpick

What a delightfully complex world. There is a map as well as a Dramatis Personae! Loved the characters. I hope this is a start os a series. It's a great fantasy read. 3.5 🌟

review
rmaclean4
Such Kindness | Andre Dubus
post image
Pickpick

Great audio book read by the author. A philosophical meditation on being alive while impoverished. This book is in conversation with Poverty By America and Demon Copperhead. Loved it. 5 🌟

22 likes1 stack add
review
rmaclean4
Poverty, by America | Matthew Desmond
post image
Pickpick

What a call to action! I listened to this book and will buy it in physical form also. He outlines direct actions we can take to be active in the elimination of poverty in America. So compelling. A must-read! 4 🌟