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Thursday, February 17, 2022

February reading and book groups so far...

 


Hello book friends!  Can you believe that February is already half over?  I can't.  The days are passing quickly.  I couldn't find a good picture from my morning walks (which have been a bit nippy this last couple of weeks), so I'm sharing a picture of my new library's 'Blind Date With A Book' display.  Have you ever tried one of those?  I've seen other libraries and bookstores have this type of event.  Books are gift-wrapped and a 'teaser' is taped to the 'gift'.  The patron decides on one to try, unwraps it, and begins reading their 'blind date'.  This library also included a nice bookmark.  After you try the book, you're asked to turn in a 'review' of your date.  It could be a 'dud' or you'll 'just be friends' or maybe 'love at first sight'.  Ha!  I had selected a book on Monday when I was volunteering and was going to check it out when I completed my 'shift' of shelving.  Well, someone else 'stole' my 'date'!  My second choice was a 'just friends' selection.  Or maybe a 'dud'.  I was nice in my 'review'.  (P.S. It really was a 'dud' for me!)  Oh, my 'blind date' was Milkman by Anna Burns.  Not for me.  Have you read it?

I've been busy the last couple of weeks with several things house related and we also were lucky enough to have an ice storm.  Most tiresome that was.  Not as bad as the big storm last year that Texas had, but we had to stay home for 2 or 3 days.

Reading:

My reading has been progressing, but not as fast.  I did complete the book for the new Mystery Book Group here (will talk about that in a minute).  I also read The Unheard by Nicci French and Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner.  Both the last two fell into the psychological thriller realm and, though I've read other books by Nicci French and liked them, this one was only OK for me.  Greenwich Park has been reviewed well and I think many have liked it, but the protagonist was way too anxious for me and I ended up thinking that I need a break from these type books.

I've decided to catch up on J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas series and have now completed Faithless in Death and Forgotten in Death.  Today, I started Abandoned in Death, her newest that just came out.  My reading feels much better.  I love Eve and Roarke.  

Book Groups:

Since it's been a few weeks, I'll talk about a couple of book group meetings.  When I last posted, it was the day before the 'Talking Texas' Book Group met and we discussed Land That I Love written by Gail Kittleson.  I'm going to share about this book and our meeting, which the author attended, next week.  Gail also was kind enough to write a guest post for the blog and it will be up next week as well.  Stay tuned!  We really liked the book, by the way.

The ice storm cancelled our 'Historical Fiction' Book Group discussion unfortunately.  We had read The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.  That one will be talked about quickly at our March 3rd meeting as well as the March book, These Is My Words by Nancy Turner.  Sadly, I'll have to miss the meeting as I'll be in Austin for a few days.  I read These Is My Words a number of years ago and liked it very much.  Have you tried that one?  Recommended.

The second week of the month is the 'Brown Bag' Book Group, which reads fiction/non-fiction.  We had a fun time talking about Lorna Landvik's newest, Chronicles of a Radical Hag.  Not many in the group had known of Lorna Landvik's books and another member and I recommended a few for them to try.  Ever read this author's works?  I've enjoyed what I've read.  Our book for March is The Library Book by Susan Orlean.  I'm looking forward to hearing what others think about that one.  And I think I'll re-read it. 

Have I confused you about my many book groups yet?  Ha!  Today's meeting was the 'Shrouded in Mystery' Book Group.  First book discussion and it was a lot of fun as well.  We talked about The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I personally liked the book a lot, though I have heard from other bloggers that it wasn't quite such a favorite.  This group definitely got the whole 'older people' sleuth vibe.  One member wanted to sign up to move into the retirement community that the characters live in.  We talked about how it might look if adapted for TV and who might play the characters.  The librarian has read the second book in the series, The Man Who Died Twice, and said she really liked that one too.  I felt like I could see Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, the character that was a spy 'back in the day'.  Thumbs up from that group for sure.  Our next discussion will be The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths.  I love that book!  I had a good time telling them about the Ruth Galloway series by the author as well.  Hope some will try that as well as her Magic Men series.  

That's all I have about book groups.  As I said, I'll share more about Gail Kittleson's Land That I Love next week, as well as her guest post about historical research.

Hope all of you are well.  Now if only spring would burst forth with those wildflowers!!!                  

24 comments:

  1. I still haven't read The Stranger Diaries! I need to bump that one up on my library list. Loved, loved, loved These Is My Words, which I've read at least two times.

    Hope that ice storm didn't cause any damage to your trees.

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    1. Les, I think we read These Is My Words at the same time, right? Maybe that Porch Swing book group. I'm sorry to have to miss that discussion. Sigh. No, we did not have damage from the ice storm. We were very lucky that we had recently had our trees trimmed and maintained by a company. Wasn't cheap but needs to be done every few years. Several had been damaged by that storm last year.

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  2. The Blind Date With a Book idea is so fun! I'm not that adventurous, though. I like knowing what I'm getting into. I can usually get a fairly good idea if I'm going to like a book from the plot summary, cover art, and author.

    Sounds like you're reading some great books. I enjoyed THESE IS MY WORDS and THE STRANGER DIARIES as well.

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    1. The Blind Date thing, well, I didn't keep the book long. I could tell quickly that it wasn't a good match for me. I also had checked another one out (when you self-check you can see what the book is with the RFID tag) and realized I had already read it. Had them check it back in and then put it back on the table. There was one that had a K-9 dog in the story. I should probably have taken that one. Ha!

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  3. I've been eyeing Greenwich Park but not sure this is the right time for that one. Blind Date with a Book sounds fun but, I'm sure it often is not a match made in heaven. I bought Milkman at a book sale but then donated it unread as I didn't think it was for me.

    The weather is crazy around the US. I heard it was 63 in NYC this morning and it was near 60 here yesterday afternoon as well. Take care Kay

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    1. Yes, I suspect that 'matching' for the Blind Date thing is quite difficult. At least they were not books that were for sale. I was lucky with a Blind Date at a bookstore once. Probably a one time event. Ha! Interesting that Milkman wasn't for you either. As to the weather, I keep reminding myself that it's still February. ;-)

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  4. I love hearing about all your book groups! We're slap in the middle of Storm Eunice right now so the wind is howling round the house like a banshee! Yes, I think Helen Mirren would be perfect for Elizabeth. I believe Richard Osman has already sold the film rights to Steven Spielberg.

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    1. Cath, good luck with your weather. Our wind at our new location is a bit more than at our last. Something about the way the hills and the surrounding area are arranged. Anyway, I'm glad you think Helen Mirren is a good choice. I'm not surprised that Osman has sold the right already.

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  5. I've seen those Blind Date with a Book things around a lot! I've always wanted to try it.

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    1. Angela, it's fun to read all the blurbs and then make a choice. Though as Diane says above, probably not that many are perfect matches. Kind of like dates in life, right? LOL

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  6. What a great group of book clubs. I really liked The Stranger Diaries and have wanted to try The Thursday Murder Club!

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    1. Jenclair, I think you might like The Thursday Murder Club. Give it a shot and see what you think. I'd be interested.

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  7. The Thursday Murder Club stubbed its toe as far as I was concerned, but I love These Is My Words, so much so that it's one of the books I find myself recommending over and over.

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    1. Yes, Cathy, I know that The Thursday Murder Club wasn't to your taste. I told the mystery group about your experience with it. Also said that you would agree that whether a book works for one person or another is very personal. Anyway, I think we've shared our love of These Is My Words before. I really recommended others in the group try that one.

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    2. Wow... I attended a book club meeting without having to get dressed and comb my hair!

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  8. I haven't tried the blind date books but I am always tempted. I'm just afraid I'll end up with a book I already have. I think it's great that you are able to take part in so many book groups. I should ask my mom if they have one at the community where she's living. She jumped right in to the social scene there--even took a line dancing class. She isn't sure it's for her but my daughter told her she has to give it a few more tries to be fair--everything is hard at first. She and my daughter are spending today together since it was a holiday from school but I had to work.

    I want to read The Thursday Murder Club and The Alice Network. I read These Is My Words and really liked it.

    I hope you enjoy your weekend!

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    1. I bet your mother's community has a book group. The library isn't the only place here that has them. Glad to hear that she's trying new things. Line dancing - good for her, even if it doesn't turn out to be her favorite. I'd probably fall down quickly - ha! Another thumbs up for These Is My Words - yay!

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  9. You've made me feel like I need to join another book group or two! How wonderful that you have so many different groups to talk all things bookish with. Thanks for reminding me that I'm ready to read another In Death book. I've only read the first two but they are fun.

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    1. Stacy, not sure you'd have time for more book groups, but I'm finding it a good way to meet new people here. A small town enough that I often see people in the grocery store and then think 'where did I meet them?' - ha!

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  10. You've got a lot of book clubs going! Too bad about The Alice Network as I imagine that would be a fun discussion. I listened and enjoyed The Stranger Diaries and now I need to pick up the next one. I have The Thursday Murder Club on my TBR and am looking forward to it. The blind date sounds so fun! My library does something kind of similar. They do wrapped books with a few adjectives that could describe the book but no bookmark and no review.

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    1. I do have a bunch of book group, but I'm enjoying the challenge. And meeting new people. I think that 'Blind Date' thing started a few years ago and many libraries do that event.

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  11. One of the bookstores I love in NYC had a blind date with a book display several years ago and I ended up with Special Topics in Calamity Physics... but it's so long and I still haven't read it. Guess I cancelled that date, lol!

    Thanks for the book club updates, too. What fun! I haven't read any of those books, but plan to read The Thursday Murder Club whenever the mystery mood next strikes.

    Hard to believe February is almost over. Time seems to be passing so quickly again...

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    1. JoAnn, love your tale of the 'cancelled' date. I did the 'Blind Date' thing at a small independent bookstore a few years ago and I can't remember what book I got. It was OK enough, but not a total winner. Hope you'll try The Thursday Murder Club and see what you think.

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  12. I would love to do one of the blind book dates but I am very hesitant to do that at a bookstore. Wish my library did one of those - maybe I'll submit the idea and see if it takes. It's fun though once you find out the name of a book, to see if you agree with the marketing descriptions.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!