Books #22 Reading Chats

[ToxicPony]

You would think that an easy way to get something off the tbr would be 'I hated a previous book by the author' but no.

I've just read 'To be taught, if fortunate' by Becky Chambers after HATING 'the long way to a Small Angry planet' and I loved it. 5 stars. Top 10 of the year.

I also didn't like the first TWO of the seasonal quartet by Ali Smith, but continued through sheer sunk cost fallacy, and have absolutely loved the other two.

Nothing is safe. All the books must be read.

 

[Elle]

Hi hello excuse me.

Who here has read I Who Have Never Known Men?

What...and I can't stress this enough....the duck.

Absolutely bonkers book. So good.

Please someone talk to me about it I can't stop thinking about it.

 

[killtheold]

Hi hello excuse me.

Who here has read I Who Have Never Known Men?

What...and I can't stress this enough....the duck.

Absolutely bonkers book. So good.

Please someone talk to me about it I can't stop thinking about it.

i've just got this out of the library so i'll try and read it next!

 

[ToxicPony]

Hi hello excuse me.

Who here has read I Who Have Never Known Men?

What...and I can't stress this enough....the duck.

Absolutely bonkers book. So good.

Please someone talk to me about it I can't stop thinking about it.

I've read this and was torn between wanting some DAMN EXPLANATIONS but also thinking the ambiguity is genius.

 

[StephenTJackson]

Always a good day when a new Alexis Hall book is delivered. Just got to finish Frankenstein before I can start this.

 

[daisynoon]

Hi hello excuse me.

Who here has read I Who Have Never Known Men?

What...and I can't stress this enough....the duck.

Absolutely bonkers book. So good.

Please someone talk to me about it I can't stop thinking about it.

Oh, I read it with my book club and I was the only one who liked it! Glad I'm not alone here at least
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View attachment 2515690

Always a good day when a new Alexis Hall book is delivered. Just got to finish Frankenstein before I can start this.

I'm excited for this one, love his Material World books

 

[LaBlonde]

View attachment 2515690

Always a good day when a new Alexis Hall book is delivered. Just got to finish Frankenstein before I can start this.

aaaahhh i love alexis hall! let us know how it is

 

[Elle]

I've read this and was torn between wanting some DAMN EXPLANATIONS but also thinking the ambiguity is genius.

Omg yes. I'm not normally happy with ambiguity - I need answers damn it! But here I just feel like it really worked so I can't be mad?! After everything the ambiguity kind of felt right!

But....still.....
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You would think that an easy way to get something off the tbr would be 'I hated a previous book by the author' but no.

I've just read 'To be taught, if fortunate' by Becky Chambers after HATING 'the long way to a Small Angry planet' and I loved it. 5 stars. Top 10 of the year.

I also didn't like the first TWO of the seasonal quartet by Ali Smith, but continued through sheer sunk cost fallacy, and have absolutely loved the other two.

Nothing is safe. All the books must be read.

This is so funny and so true.

It's exactly what happened with me with Frederik Backman (hello @Caffeinefiend!). I read Anxious People and A Man Called Ove and thought meehhh they're alright. But THEN I read Beartown and I was like what the actual duck is this pure genius I love this book. And THEN I read Us Against You a few months later and was like absolute chef's kiss, compliments to the chef, hats off to the master. I recently bought Britt-Marie was here by Backman so we'll see!

 

[Tofino]

Hiya, I’m new to this thread. Just finished reading the whole of this thread, which was a bit of mistake really as my wishlists and TBR piles have already grown as a result!

I’ve been in a reading slump for years, partly due to having my son (he’s six now!) but actually even before that my finished lists was not great and I think it’s down to smartphones, too easily distracted by the internet.

Last month my friend bought me ‘marshmallows for breakfast’ by Dorothy Koomson for my birthday and I was determined to start reading it right away rather than put it on the bookshelf with everything else to stay unread for years!!

I then heard about stuff your kindle day for the first time, and the world of booktok! And it got me excited to read again. So I stuffed my kindle (which is actually just the app on my phone at this stage) and read a couple of short ones on there (purposely chose the shortest ones first so I could get through more books quicker) and then a paperback which is usually my preferred book. Since I finished Marshmallows for Breakfast (ok but a little dull plot wise) I’ve also finished The Hike (mostly good) and I’m now on The Simple Wild (loving it so much already), all paperbacks. I definitely still have a preference for paperback but the kindle app helps when I’m struggling with putting my phone down! I’m tempted with a proper kindle but I want to be certain I get the use out of it. For some reason a 350 page book on my kindle app feels epic compared to 350 page paperback? Not sure what’s going on there psychologically

I’ve got Before My Actual Heart Breaks coming in the post which will be my next read, that was recommended on this thread so I’m excited for that!

 

[Elle]

Hiya, I’m new to this thread. Just finished reading the whole of this thread, which was a bit of mistake really as my wishlists and TBR piles have already grown as a result!

I’ve been in a reading slump for years, partly due to having my son (he’s six now!) but actually even before that my finished lists was not great and I think it’s down to smartphones, too easily distracted by the internet.

Last month my friend bought me ‘marshmallows for breakfast’ by Dorothy Koomson for my birthday and I was determined to start reading it right away rather than put it on the bookshelf with everything else to stay unread for years!!

I then heard about stuff your kindle day for the first time, and the world of booktok! And it got me excited to read again. So I stuffed my kindle (which is actually just the app on my phone at this stage) and read a couple of short ones on there (purposely chose the shortest ones first so I could get through more books quicker) and then a paperback which is usually my preferred book. Since I finished Marshmallows for Breakfast (ok but a little dull plot wise) I’ve also finished The Hike (mostly good) and I’m now on The Simple Wild (loving it so much already), all paperbacks. I definitely still have a preference for paperback but the kindle app helps when I’m struggling with putting my phone down! I’m tempted with a proper kindle but I want to be certain I get the use out of it. For some reason a 350 page book on my kindle app feels epic compared to 350 page paperback? Not sure what’s going on there psychologically

I’ve got Before My Actual Heart Breaks coming in the post which will be my next read, that was recommended on this thread so I’m excited for that!

Welcome! Do you have a favourite type of book? Interested to hear what you think of Before My Actual Heart Breaks . One of my favourites from this year so far. I think having a community like this really helps to propel the excitement about reading forward. Love hearing people's thoughts on books and getting recommendations.

 

[twilightgarden]

I have time off coming up and I'm so excited to sit and read all day, how sad.

 

[Tofino]

Welcome! Do you have a favourite type of book? Interested to hear what you think of Before My Actual Heart Breaks . One of my favourites from this year so far. I think having a community like this really helps to propel the excitement about reading forward. Love hearing people's thoughts on books and getting recommendations.

It always used to be mostly ‘chick lits’ in my 20s and 30s (40s now) but I think I got a bit bored of them which also contributed to the reading slump. Don’t mind thrillers. I also like being an armchair mountaineer which is why the hike appealed. But I like the true event ones like touching the void and the beckoning silence. I’ve got White Spider on my shelf.

But I do want to diversify. Fantasy has never appealed, not even on TV, but I could be persuaded.

 

[LaBlonde]

finished a terrible kindness and feel a bit mean for dropping it from five to four stars because of how rushed the final part was. after such wonderful and beautifully done build-up too! i already miss william a bit

 

[LydiaDeetzHat]

Hi hello excuse me.

Who here has read I Who Have Never Known Men?

What...and I can't stress this enough....the duck.

Absolutely bonkers book. So good.

Please someone talk to me about it I can't stop thinking about it.

i bought it a while back.. should I?

 

[chickhicks86]

Those of you that use Libby, I've noticed that Yellowface is available for anyone to borrow with no holds if any of you have been waiting for a while. Available until 24 October, I don't know if you have to return it then or you get to keep it for the normal amount of time for a Libby borrow. I'm 40% through Demon Copperhead, so I don't know if I'll have time for it before the 24th. I'm enjoying it, but it's taking me ages!

 

[Elle]

i bought it a while back.. should I?

Do it do it do it!!!! It's quite a short one too at around 200 pages.

 

[twilightgarden]

Those of you that use Libby, I've noticed that Yellowface is available for anyone to borrow with no holds if any of you have been waiting for a while. Available until 24 October, I don't know if you have to return it then or you get to keep it for the normal amount of time for a Libby borrow. I'm 40% through Demon Copperhead, so I don't know if I'll have time for it before the 24th. I'm enjoying it, but it's taking me ages!

I noticed this too and forgot to post about it here! I got the audiobook so will see what it’s like.

 

[LydiaDeetzHat]

Do it do it do it!!!! It's quite a short one too at around 200 pages.

cool. I seem to be behind in my reading challenge for the first time ever... had literally no time for 3 months with a full time tit job and jobsearch in the evenings,,so am trying to find short /easy reads to catch up

 

[Marylou]

I read a Valerie Keogh book called The Librarian today. Oh my days, it was truly terrible and I'm just glad it was free from Prime and I didn't pay for it. Nothing but repetitive storytelling for the vast majority of the book, writing was juvenile and the ending was such a disappointment and waste of time.

 

[SaintLeo]

Those of you that use Libby, I've noticed that Yellowface is available for anyone to borrow with no holds if any of you have been waiting for a while. Available until 24 October, I don't know if you have to return it then or you get to keep it for the normal amount of time for a Libby borrow. I'm 40% through Demon Copperhead, so I don't know if I'll have time for it before the 24th. I'm enjoying it, but it's taking me ages!

I’m about 30% into Demon Copperhead and feeling exactly the same way! Enjoying it but if feel like no matter how much I read I’m not getting very far with it! Definitely sticking with it though, plus it’s fitting in with my “read longer books” challenge I set myself.