thatgolfb
Unicorn
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Post by thatgolfb on Jan 9, 2024 22:35:31 GMT -6
The narration in Circe was gorgeous though and I think it was 90% of my enjoyment of the book. The story was fine enough but my gosh I felt like I was in an art painting listening to it Hmm maybe I should request the audiobook. I will try it since I’m taking a break from it anyway! Or actually it may be on Spotify. |
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jaygee
Diamond
Posts: 28,973 Likes: 226,636
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Post by jaygee on Jan 10, 2024 0:55:03 GMT -6
My goal was 35 books last year and I got 39, but I didn't read the first 9 months of the year because I was writing. I got book 2 written of my series! but probably won't publish until all 4 are written 🥴. I've gotten really into contemporary romances if anyone has any good recs. I just finished the hating game, and 99 percent mine and really enjoyed both. I also just finished Ruthless Vows 💕 Have you read any Jasmine Guillory books? I’m not a huge romance reader but I always enjoy her books since they are so contemporary. |
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jaygee
Diamond
Posts: 28,973 Likes: 226,636
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Post by jaygee on Jan 10, 2024 1:01:34 GMT -6
I haven’t been updating here but I’ve been busy reading. I finished 27 books in 2023 which is good considering I didn’t read from April-July. My goal for this year is 30.
I can’t remember when I last updated here but in December I read The Measure and Yellowface. Both 4 stars for me.
I started Evil Eye by Etaf Rum but it wasn’t grabbing me and then I was too busy to read before Christmas. I needed something lighter so I grabbed Finlay Donovan is Killing It and read that on my vacation, finishing on Jan 1. I gave that 3.5 stars. Quick read but not my fav. I also listened to Real Self Care by Dr Pooja Lakshmin. Really enjoyed that and will probably reference back to it again.
Now I’m back to Evil Eye and really enjoying it. It’s heartbreaking but so well written.
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cnf
Ruby
Posts: 21,625 Likes: 105,166
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Post by cnf on Jan 10, 2024 5:28:11 GMT -6
I finished Divine Rivals and it’s convinced me I’m broken because it was just fine, I wasn’t blown away by it. I'm only like maybe 20% in and it's just ok. The lack of world building so far is driving me nuts. Give me some details about the world other than the gods. I can't really wrap my brain around it. |
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cnf
Ruby
Posts: 21,625 Likes: 105,166
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Post by cnf on Jan 10, 2024 5:30:21 GMT -6
Did you not have to read Of Mice and Men in high school? I definitely remember reading it. I didn’t! I was in the IB program and our reading list seemed quite different than what others usually say they have read. We had a Latin American unit, for example, where we read House of the Spirits and One Hundred Years of Solitude (which both remain a couple of my favorite books!) I also didn’t read The Catcher in the Rye or To Kill a Mockingbird so I should add those to my list. Oh, yeah, you missed all the standard high school reads, lol. The district the girls are in and the one I teach in have IB and now I'm curious what the reading list for the IB English courses look like. ETA you didn't read Animal Farm either!? What about Fahrenheit 451? The Great Gatsby? |
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emma
Ruby
Posts: 18,927
Likes: 86,826
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Post by emma on Jan 10, 2024 7:06:09 GMT -6
I finished Divine Rivals and it’s convinced me I’m broken because it was just fine, I wasn’t blown away by it. I'm only like maybe 20% in and it's just ok. The lack of world building so far is driving me nuts. Give me some details about the world other than the gods. I can't really wrap my brain around it. yes! The lack of world building bothered me too, it doesn’t really get much better. I was reading some of the reviews and it seems like people liked that aspect because there was no info dump and the story focused on the main plot. But to me it felt like a half arsed attempt at fantasy, like the author threw in some magic and a made up place but didn’t really commit to the genre. It felt confused, like was it fantasy, or WW1 historic romance, or WW2 romance? |
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sudsy
Opal
Posts: 9,158
Likes: 51,463
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Post by sudsy on Jan 10, 2024 7:16:37 GMT -6
Did you not have to read Of Mice and Men in high school? I definitely remember reading it. I didn’t! I was in the IB program and our reading list seemed quite different than what others usually say they have read. We had a Latin American unit, for example, where we read House of the Spirits and One Hundred Years of Solitude (which both remain a couple of my favorite books!) I also didn’t read The Catcher in the Rye or To Kill a Mockingbird so I should add those to my list. IB girls UNITE! 🙌 |
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cnf
Ruby
Posts: 21,625 Likes: 105,166
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Post by cnf on Jan 10, 2024 8:25:44 GMT -6
I'm only like maybe 20% in and it's just ok. The lack of world building so far is driving me nuts. Give me some details about the world other than the gods. I can't really wrap my brain around it. yes! The lack of world building bothered me too, it doesn’t really get much better. I was reading some of the reviews and it seems like people liked that aspect because there was no info dump and the story focused on the main plot. But to me it felt like a half arsed attempt at fantasy, like the author threw in some magic and a made up place but didn’t really commit to the genre. It felt confused, like was it fantasy, or WW1 historic romance, or WW2 romance? It does not make it better. I can't figure out when and where this story takes place and it's bothering me. They're using typewriters and candles but also have electricity and high heels. Tell me where I am! |
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Pizzaslut
Ruby
*it’s a joke. get some hobbies.
Posts: 22,848
Likes: 131,658
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Post by Pizzaslut on Jan 10, 2024 8:27:08 GMT -6
I liked the lack of world building because I just didn't think about it, lol. Fourth Wing took a lot of my energy trying to keep track of it all. I liked I didn't have to do that with Divine Rivals.
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byjove
Ruby
Posts: 16,541 Likes: 86,890
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Post by byjove on Jan 10, 2024 8:27:15 GMT -6
Life has just been insane and besides a little audio book time, I've barely read in a week. What is this nonsense.
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thatgolfb
Unicorn
Posts: 55,134 Likes: 235,509
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Post by thatgolfb on Jan 10, 2024 8:32:08 GMT -6
I didn’t! I was in the IB program and our reading list seemed quite different than what others usually say they have read. We had a Latin American unit, for example, where we read House of the Spirits and One Hundred Years of Solitude (which both remain a couple of my favorite books!) I also didn’t read The Catcher in the Rye or To Kill a Mockingbird so I should add those to my list. Oh, yeah, you missed all the standard high school reads, lol. The district the girls are in and the one I teach in have IB and now I'm curious what the reading list for the IB English courses look like. ETA you didn't read Animal Farm either!? What about Fahrenheit 451? The Great Gatsby? Yes to the Great Gatsby, no to Fahrenheit 451 |
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thatgolfb
Unicorn
Posts: 55,134 Likes: 235,509
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Post by thatgolfb on Jan 10, 2024 8:32:33 GMT -6
We read some Shakespeare and Kindred as well. Oh and The Joy Luck Club.
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thatgolfb
Unicorn
Posts: 55,134 Likes: 235,509
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Post by thatgolfb on Jan 10, 2024 8:35:41 GMT -6
Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart were on there, too. I just Googled IB reading list to jog my memory lol.
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Post by Rusty Red on Jan 10, 2024 8:37:27 GMT -6
Just finished Into This River Will I Drown, TJ Klune. One of his darker ones. Not one of my favorites by him but still ok.
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emma
Ruby
Posts: 18,927
Likes: 86,826
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Post by emma on Jan 10, 2024 8:45:45 GMT -6
yes! The lack of world building bothered me too, it doesn’t really get much better. I was reading some of the reviews and it seems like people liked that aspect because there was no info dump and the story focused on the main plot. But to me it felt like a half arsed attempt at fantasy, like the author threw in some magic and a made up place but didn’t really commit to the genre. It felt confused, like was it fantasy, or WW1 historic romance, or WW2 romance? It does not make it better. I can't figure out when and where this story takes place and it's bothering me. They're using typewriters and candles but also have electricity and high heels. Tell me where I am! exactly, at first I was thinking this is strongly WW2 era but then at the front lines it was all about trench warfare so I was confused again. Then throw in some loose magic and multigods here and there and I can’t figure out the land layout, is it a country or a continent? |
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cnf
Ruby
Posts: 21,625 Likes: 105,166
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Post by cnf on Jan 10, 2024 8:48:58 GMT -6
It does not make it better. I can't figure out when and where this story takes place and it's bothering me. They're using typewriters and candles but also have electricity and high heels. Tell me where I am! exactly, at first I was thinking this is strongly WW2 era but then at the front lines it was all about trench warfare so I was confused again. Then throw in some loose magic and multigods here and there and I can’t figure out the land layout, is it a country or a continent? I can't make it make sense. Just teach me the world so I'm not hung up on feeling out of place for almost 400 pages please and thank you. |
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emma
Ruby
Posts: 18,927
Likes: 86,826
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Post by emma on Jan 10, 2024 8:52:05 GMT -6
I need my fantasy books to come with a detailed map and a deep explanation of its government systems, and 1000 years of political and social history. I will study it like I’m about to start a masters thesis on it
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Post by kittyriot on Jan 10, 2024 8:57:16 GMT -6
I need my fantasy books to come with a detailed map and a deep explanation of its government systems, and 1000 years of political and social history. I will study it like I’m about to start a masters thesis on it Have you read Babel yet? Ridiculous world building of this like. |
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dc2london
Admin 
Press Secretary
Posts: 62,728
Likes: 430,058
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Post by dc2london on Jan 10, 2024 9:32:27 GMT -6
My goal was 35 books last year and I got 39, but I didn't read the first 9 months of the year because I was writing. I got book 2 written of my series! but probably won't publish until all 4 are written 🥴. I've gotten really into contemporary romances if anyone has any good recs. I just finished the hating game, and 99 percent mine and really enjoyed both. I also just finished Ruthless Vows 💕 Have you read any Jasmine Guillory books? I’m not a huge romance reader but I always enjoy her books since they are so contemporary. Her books are great. Quick reads, too |
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emma
Ruby
Posts: 18,927
Likes: 86,826
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Post by emma on Jan 10, 2024 9:34:35 GMT -6
I need my fantasy books to come with a detailed map and a deep explanation of its government systems, and 1000 years of political and social history. I will study it like I’m about to start a masters thesis on it Have you read Babel yet? Ridiculous world building of this like. I haven’t. I’ll add it to my list |
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Post by kittyriot on Jan 10, 2024 9:36:15 GMT -6
Have you read Babel yet? Ridiculous world building of this like. I haven’t. I’ll add it to my list It's long but fascinating. I think you'll like it. |
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melohdy
Platinum
Posts: 2,463 Likes: 13,510
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Post by melohdy on Jan 10, 2024 11:10:51 GMT -6
I finished ACOMAF. So many people said it was better than the first one, which I agree with. But I gave it 3 stars. I will probably wait a bit again before starting the next one. I couldn't work up the energy to continue past the 2nd one. My sister has the whole SJM universe, so I may pick it up another time, but maybe not. |
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lucylou
Platinum
Posts: 2,451 Likes: 7,060
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Post by lucylou on Jan 10, 2024 11:26:29 GMT -6
I stayed up way too late last night reading Verity. I know I’m several years late but dang, that was a wild ride.
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Post by angelashly on Jan 10, 2024 13:08:20 GMT -6
I finished The Other Mothers. It was ok. I was ready to give it a 4 star but the ending wasn’t great so i went back down to 3
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Post by angelashly on Jan 10, 2024 14:03:55 GMT -6
I think I’m going to start my first Harlan Corban book. I saw it was a series and the trailer looked good but I felt I should read the book first.
It’s fool me once
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loony
Emerald
Posts: 12,636 Likes: 45,298
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Post by loony on Jan 10, 2024 14:20:34 GMT -6
I think I’m going to start my first Harlan Corban book. I saw it was a series and the trailer looked good but I felt I should read the book first. It’s fool me once This was on my list for "adapted to screen", however, I did not enjoy the narrator. I have the ebook on hold still though, so I'll be waiting for your opinion.  |
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emma
Ruby
Posts: 18,927
Likes: 86,826
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Post by emma on Jan 10, 2024 15:38:09 GMT -6
I think I’m going to start my first Harlan Corban book. I saw it was a series and the trailer looked good but I felt I should read the book first. It’s fool me once I read that years ago but I think I remember enjoying it. Most of his books are decent thrillers |
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Post by icedcoffee on Jan 10, 2024 15:53:55 GMT -6
I started The Reformatory by Tananarive Due and I haven't been able to put it down. But it's definitely not an easy read
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caer
Sapphire
Posts: 4,674 Likes: 26,830
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Post by caer on Jan 10, 2024 15:57:00 GMT -6
I think I’m going to start my first Harlan Corban book. I saw it was a series and the trailer looked good but I felt I should read the book first. It’s fool me once I haven’t read that one but I’ve enjoyed most of the books that I’ve read by him. I did feel that some of his older books were a bit dated in mindset and how they treated certain characters but even if you don’t like that one, his newer ones are fun. |
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caer
Sapphire
Posts: 4,674 Likes: 26,830
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Post by caer on Jan 10, 2024 16:00:34 GMT -6
My goal was 35 books last year and I got 39, but I didn't read the first 9 months of the year because I was writing. I got book 2 written of my series! but probably won't publish until all 4 are written 🥴. I've gotten really into contemporary romances if anyone has any good recs. I just finished the hating game, and 99 percent mine and really enjoyed both. I also just finished Ruthless Vows 💕 Congrats! That’s so cool. For contemporary romances, I like Emily Henry (Beach Read & Book Lovers are my favorites), Sarah Hogle (You Deserve Each Other & Twice Shy), anything slightly older by Kristan Higgins or Mhari MacFarlane (their new ones aren’t really romances), and anything by Christina Lauren. I also just read and loved The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary. It gave me The Hating Game vibes. |
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