Books #37

[anniemouse]

My May books, a couple of terrible ones but some very good reads this month too.

 

[Booklover]

Currently loving Shy Creatures. And these are my birthday pressies from my oldest. Gave him a list of suggestions, and he bought them all!

 

[Mamacita]

I read 2 books in june which is 1 more than the last two months

Ferdia Lennon- Glorious exploits - picked up from this thread and it was a good one, bit different and liked the vibe!

Heidi Swain- Best Summer Ever- didnt realise it's part of a series which seems to be a theme for me, but it stands on its own. And by stands i mean i actually hated this book, it has no business being 400 pages. Genuinely flabbergasted by all the five star reviews

 

[ordinaryjelly]

I am still keeping to my no more than 8 books on my tbr.

Currently have

- The Running Game by Robert Galbraith/JKR (Re-read ready for The Hallmarked Mark)

- The Missing Family by Tim Weaver, my Mum gave it to me. Neither of us realised it is book #13 in a series. I will still read it because I do not need another series to start.

- Once Upon A Lie by Lisa Ballantyne

- Sandwich by Catherine Newman

- Tell No One by Harlan Coben

I have just finish The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith/JKR again a re-reread. I first read these two books in 2022/23 when they were published so had forgotten some of the intricacies. Especially between Cormoran and Robin.

Going to take a Stroke break and perhaps read Sandwich.

 

[Carapop]

About to start the new Kate Sawyer. I highly rated The Stranding so I have high hopes!

Goodreads

Discover and share books you love on Goodreads.

www.goodreads.com

 

[StephenTJackson]

Everyone's monthly summaries have got me thinking about ratings. Basically I have two questions:

How does your personal book rating scale work?

and specifically: What does it mean if a book is 3 stars?

I don't rate books, partly because I'm not sure if I'd be very consistent with what a 3 star book is (or a 5 star, or a 1!) But I sometimes wonder - is a 3 star book one you liked? or disliked? Was it Meh? Would you recommend it to a friend?

For me a 3 star book is a book I've enjoyed, often read very quickly, it's often an easy read, maybe cliche, maybe part of a series, but something I enjoy, but when i finish I move on from the book, wouldn't ever really think about again, not necessarily something I'd recommend to anyone, but I would say anything bad about it if asked.

Four star, good book, maybe savoured a bit more, maybe a bit different, or really grips me and I can't put it down, makes me anticipate the next one if it's a series, and importantly would recommend.

Five star, The Will of the Many. Love it. Give me more. Can't wait for the sequel. Stays with me. Will rave about to anyone, recommend it, would read again. It's special. Hard to describe why sometimes. But it stays with you is the big thing.

Two stars, has to be an easy read, I have to finish it, but sometimes question myself why did I choose to finish it - will often be because it's in a series I'm reading. But regret spending the time on it.

One star, why did I finish this. Hated it. But hate read it because other people said it was good or a clasic. (The Ministry of Time, Doctor Zhivago)

Zero star - DNF. although some one star books probably deserve zero stars, but if I finish it, it gets a star by default.

 

[Lindylou]

Yup! Husband has shouted across the lounge to me on occasion to see if I’m awake coz he hasn’t seen me move
Actually that’s another plus point, stealthy nanny naps!

 

[veronica71]

Better later than never - my May reads

 

[mindlessness]

The name change from Sally and Tim Walker to Raynor and Moth Winn made me giggle. Moth, really? trying to reinvent themselves I guess?

I like nature writing (and books about landscapes etc) but The Salt Path has never quite appealed.

 

[twilightgarden]

Guess who got approved for the new Eddie Flynn book on NG He’ll get me out of my reading slump for sure!

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Gosh is it that time of the month again!
Here is my monthly reads. I haven't finished some of them as I find myself currently listening to/reading three books at the same time.
So I'm going to give my stars for the books I've not finished based on what I think so far:
A Wartime Wedding in the Dales is 4*, The Piers Morgan book is a 4.5* and the Marple audio book is a 5*.
Having found it difficult to concentrate on audio books, well, this one has had all my attention so far, which is a bloody miracle as far as I'm concerned!
I'm guessing it's 12 new stories written by 12 top authors. I've just listened to the Val McDermid one. Seems you can listen on audible - possibly as a free book.

 

[QueenBW]

Oh fun!!


How many books have you read (if you set yourself a target are you on track?):

168 (I read to escape and this year has been a dumpster fire but also some of these were short stories or novellas).

Pages Read/Hours listened (if you track):

38,518 pages

Favourite read so far:

Fiction: Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley.
Nonfiction: Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green or Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson.

Least favourite read so far:

Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton

Book that surprised you (can be good or bad):

Tartufo by how much I hated it, I expected to love it and find it quirky and charming.


Book you're looking forward to read between July-December:

Oh man, so many.

I want to get to Sunrise on the Reaping but the summer doesn't feel like it's its time.

The new Stephanie Perkins book, Overdue, comes out in October and her YA romances were some of my favorites back in the day.

Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?:

It's been a mix, but there have been several disappointments for me. Many of my 5 stars have been rereads .

 

[veronica71]

I saw this on Facebook. This is me!

View attachment 3575507

I saw a tweet from Waterstones earlier with a pile of new releases and actually said out loud ffs there are too many f-ing books being written can they have a break and let us catch up!!!!

 

[CommentBelow]

I finished Wedding People today and am on the ‘it was really good’ side for the thread fence! Haven’t decided on my star rating yet but definitely 4.something. Not a 5 star due to no massive emotional reaction.. did laugh a few times throughout tho and think I’ll think about these characters in the future

 

[StephenTJackson]

Spot the Difference

This is really poor for HarperCollins IMO.

 

[ordinaryjelly]

Thank you for starting the new thread

My mum gave me 3 books in the week. All trusty Agatha Christie novels. The first three Miss Marple books. I have read one and am now on The Body in the Library.

I have read a lot of Christie's book and I think it is impressive how they have stood the test of time. I still maintain that nobody really comes close to her in the murder mystery genre of books. She set the bar high.

Anyone reading anything exciting this weekend?

And has anyone given in to the Watersones £75/£65 gimmick yet?

 

[daisynoon]

I've just seen a financial confession on Instagram. The person pays £100pm for storage for their books (assuming a big yellow type place) and keeps buying more.

Own up. Which one of you is it?

Thanks for making me feel like my book collection isn't as out of control as I thought it was!

 

[Booklover]

Three is quite a feat for me! Two were very good 5* reads, and highly recommend.

 

[LaBlonde]

Hi lovely. I dont feel I really belong in this thread anymore, which is mainly my own fault, I stupidly seen it as a safe space for me when in reality the Internet isnt that and I naively let my guard down and forgot that not everywhere is a safe space and I am very much protecting my own peace. This is not aimed at anyone other than myself, I get carried away sometimes and forget that not everywhere is like the little circle Ive curated for myself offline.

That being said I hope you are feeling better and doing well

My favourite book of the year so far is Hermit by Chris McQueer. Id really recommend it.

we miss you CF; but look after yourself, you have to do what feels right (and safe) for you. i said it at the time but i completely understand how that whole conversation made you feel that way and i don’t think you need to put all the onus on yourself for that. i think of you everytime i see beartown on my shelf and so will always send you good vibes.

we’ll always be here if and when you want to come back

 

[ordinaryjelly]

I do the good reads challenges.

I put 730 books this year (remember I am paraplegic so have limited movement / activities) I am 3 books ahead. Oh average I read three 370ish page books a week.