Books #30

[glubby]

I usually read in silence. I can read with a bit of background noise but it takes me a while to get focused and stop being distracted. If I have music on I keep stopping and going ooh I love this song! And losing my place in my book

Re. Loop earplugs I got the ‘quiet’ ones for sleeping as I have very noisy seagulls and crows near my house that wake me up in the early hours. I find them very comfortable even when sleeping on my side, and although they block out a lot of noise they still let in a tiny bit of sound (which is a plus for me because I’m paranoid about sleeping through a smoke alarm or other emergency)

To get back on the topic of books… I read ‘My Husband’ and ‘The Rachel Incident’ over the weekend. My Husband was pretty good but I found it quite slow to get into (the focus on very mundane minute details of a relationship was kind of the whole point so I can’t fault it for that, but it still made it drag in parts) I found myself going “wow what an absolute psycho” every time I put the book down so it succeeded in its aim. And I LOVED the Rachel Incident and finished it in a single day, I loved the 2010s nostalgia and found the story really interesting and (not exactly a spoiler but don’t want to risk it lol) thought it had a good ending (i.e wasn’t one of those annoying endings that leaves you hanging with tons of unanswered questions) so thanks to those who recommended it in this thread

 

[nbt]

Another new one I enjoy her books but at this point I’m convinced she’s got a factory somewhere

View attachment 3087674

The titles a bit of a mouthful isn’t it?

 

[StatusWoe]

I tripped and fell into Foyles and bought the new Claire Lombardo 🫣

''Tripped and fell into Foyles.'' I just hate it when that happens.

How nice is this cover?? I haven't bought it, just admired from a distance. Its setting is something new, but I'm tired of Greek mythology retellings and this sounds too similar in plot/theme.

 

[Blueblue123]

My wrap up!

The Housemaid is Watching 2.5/5
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Ways - 4/5
Everyone Here is Lying - 4/5
The Night She Disappeared (audiobook) - 3.5

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Honestly Chocolategoggler I promise I'm not trying to tempt you with any more books.

They all say that on here!

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Shock horror I ran out of books to read the other day, then I accidentally found 3 new books on a table. I'd also stacked up an overflow of books on my bedside table shelf. Phew!…........................
But the library have texted to say 10 books are arriving that I've been waiting for.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

I'm currently reading Ali McNamara's It Always Snows On Mistletoe Square.
I was expecting a typical chick-lit romance, but it's not. I won't spoil it if you've yet to read it, apart from to say it's intriguing and different from what I remember of her other novels.
Here's the blurb from the back of the book:

 

[Blueblue123]

People on the reddit book threads are always pontificating about how you're not really reading if you're not "taking it in" etc.

What about those of us with bad memories?! Some things just don't stick, doesn't make our experience less valid.

I did an English degree, which I'm sure I'm not alone in here, I was graded on my ability to "remember" stories but now I read for pleasure there's no need for me to use that much brain power. Some stories are good for the moment, others leave a lasting impression.

It is what it is.

I just finished Everyone Here is Lying... wow.

There's a lot I want to write but it will spoil it... 5

I just finished that too, loved it!

 

[StephenTJackson]

Shock horror I ran out of books to read the other day, then I accidentally found 3 new books on a table. I'd also stacked up an overflow of books on my bedside table shelf. Phew!…........................
But the library have texted to say 10 books are arriving that I've been waiting for.

I keep thinking I'm getting through my to be read books, then I keep finding more hiding behind others on the shelves.

Though I did clear a box full out to charity shops of read books I don't want to keep and some unread I no longer want to read.

My nonfiction tbr pile is the most daunting I think.

My fiction pile i've just accepted i'm gonna be brutal with quitting on books I don't enjoy i think, especially some of the classics I'm not sure I'm gonna enjoy.

 

[cill2019]

I finished Strange Sally Diamond this afternoon so just been having a quick search to find other people’s thoughts on it. Glad I’m not the only one who had a “I loved it until I didn’t” sort of feeling!

Spoiler: Strange Sally Diamond ending

I have no problem with books that don’t have a neatly wrapped up happy ending, but I just felt so disappointed with how Sally was left by the author. After coming through such trauma and making something of herself, to see her go back so much was frustrating. Maybe more realistic but I don’t think the rest of the book was gritty or real enough to justify that as an excuse for the end.

I thought the ending was really well done, but I absolutely get why most don’t like it. My heart broke for her, I absolutely loved this book
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I’ve just finished Weyward wow. Absolute mixture of emotions. It was slow and at times I thought is this going anywhere but it was beautifully written, raw, uncomfortable at times and uplifting in others
4.5/5

 

[emmer_moans]

i had to bail sorry mhairi, i like you and all but the dialogue in this book reads like you ran it through an ai generator. also there’s almost no plot to speak of, just a lot of characters making observations about things. genuinely amazed by how high its goodreads rating is.

I worry that soon a lot of authors will run prompts through AI for dialogue and then just do some edits and publish in order to meet deadlines. I want to read books that have been lovingly crafted, like with JKR's Strike series.
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My library charges a 20p per book, per day fine, and also charges 70p per reservation which puts me off a bit.

I didn't know libraries charge to reserve! I know they used to have late fees. I only listen to audiobooks on borrowbox though so I suppose the app doesn't charge. But that's a shame if they start charging to reserve.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

The one hundred years of Lenni and Margot is 99p this month. I really loved it when I read it.

 

[Ding]

I've had my first big reading slump of the year so far and only read one book this month (and it wasn't even good) Just haven't been in a reading mood. Just started my first Lisa Jewel book though, None of this is true. Hoping it will get me out of my slump!

 

[StrawberryBanana90]

Hey all, just wondering if you use kindle or read physical books. I’ve only started getting back into reading. I’m reading Everything I never told you now.

I’m mainly physical but a kindle is so useful when you’re travelling! (And when you’re bored at work and can read it on your desktop so it looks like you’re busy )

 

[emerald]

Seen plenty of people say "wallah!" online but that's the first I'm seeing it in a published and proof read book

 

[Libbylulu]

I’ve not read many 5 this year but I’m currently reading Know My Name - Chanel Miller. I’m only half way through and can’t recommend it enough. I’m also listening via audible so her recounting her story makes it even more powerful

 

[cill2019]

Finished The Reappearance of Rachel Price yesterday 16 hrs of my life I won’t get back it was fine. Genuinely didn’t like any of the characters, it was so slow until about 80% through then sped up. 3.5 at best

Been listening to Weyward today doing the ironing and I’m really enjoying it so far

Feel a wee bit of a fraud as all my books so far this month are audio but I just don’t get a chance to sit and read

 

[SaintLeo]

I remember practically living in my library as a tween and my life changed when I discovered the suggestions folder. Every day I’d take it off the shelf, carry it to the study tables and add a new suggestion. One that jumps out of my memory was continually requesting more Animal Ark books. Now keep in mind that the library already had the full collection (which I’d read multiple times) and I was basically asking them to provide books that didn’t exist! I absolutely loved that suggestion book even if none of my suggestions actually came to anything.
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Another memory of that time just came to mind - it was the days pre mobiles and if I hadn’t come home from school my mam would ring the library to ask the staff if I was there. I was so well known there and there often that they were basically my unofficial afterschool club for about three years.

My favourite bit of our library when I was younger was the “teenage” section they had. This was in the early 90s and the shelves were full of American high school series like Sweet Valley High and Cheerleaders. There was also one called All That Glitters about a girl who got a part on a daytime soap opera! I probably read everything in each series but never in the right order cos it just depended what was available on the day.

 

[emerald]

Random question for you all, do you listen to anything whilst you read? I usually "need" to have some kind of ambience YouTube video on during the day/evening but magically have no problem reading in silence before I go to sleep. I've seen people in reading vlogs read with films/TV on in the background, which I used to do as a teenager but flummoxes me now. Even music with words in is too much for me some days.

 

[daisynoon]

i think she might how do editors not pick these things up?!? (though i actually might like “wah-lah!” more, will start using it)

I bet she thanks her editor at the end, too.

Wah-lah has a certain panache to it, or "pan-ash" as Katherine Center would probably say.