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Wednesday, January 11, 2023

First book of the year, first in-person book group of the year, other updates...

Hello fellow readers!  I'm stopping by for a just a bit to share an update on 2023 in 'kay's world' so far.  Hope all of you have had a good start to the year.  I've finished two books and am trying to decide on my next read, I've attended an in-person book group and sent my thoughts to my 'out-of-town' mystery group on their first read of 2023 and I'm still trying to 'survive' house renovations.  Ha!

My first book this year was The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.  It was also the book selected for the January meeting of the 'Historical Fiction' Book Group I attend here.  I really, really liked it.  I'm determined to read more of this author's books.  I do have several on my Kindle or I can get them at the library.  The book group was pleased with the book and we had a great discussion.  I think everyone liked it and some, like me, loved it.  We talked about Bletchley Park and also about other aspects of 1940's England and wartime that are included in it.  There are three main characters and each woman, Osla, Beth, and Mab, have a different approach to life, but they all get assigned to Bletchley Park and share their gifts in helping out their country during the war.  I believe they were all based on real women and it was clear that Kate Quinn had done a huge amount of research for her story.  If you haven't read this book, I recommend it.  If you have, what did you think?  The 'Historical Fiction' group will read The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi for February.  Looking forward to it!  

The 'Mystery Book Group - Austin' that I attended for so many years is also one that I am planning to read along with.  We had several members who moved from Austin to other places and several kept up with our reading and sent their thoughts each month.  That is my plan as well.  The January book read was The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz.  I read it at the end of 2022 and gave Gayle (the new leader) my reactions to share.  I liked it OK-ish.  The protagonist and his inner thoughts got on my nerves a bit.  He seemed more 'well-balanced' than he actually was.  In this book, Jacob Finch Bonner is an author that teaches creative writing for a MFA program.  One of his students shares a bit about a book he is working on and informs Jacob that he doesn't need his help as a teacher.  After a few years, Jacob hears that the student has died and the book apparently was never published.  Jacob decides to tweak the plot a bit and write that story himself.  It goes great and Jacob is famous and then he gets a message 'You are a thief'.  Gayle wrote a blog post about the group meeting and discussion here - take a look and see what you think.  The 'Mystery Book Group - Austin' is reading The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb for February.  I'm looking forward to it!  

I also recently finished Stacy Willingham's new book, All The Dangerous Things.  It came out officially yesterday, but I had an early release copy from Book Of The Month and enjoyed reading it as my second book of 2023.  I liked her debut book, A Flicker In The Dark, last year.  The author had a lot of praise for that first effort and I think people will like this second one too.  Isabelle Drake's son, Mason, was taken from his bed in the night a year ago and has not been found.  She doesn't sleep at all or not much.  She can't.  She needs to find her son.  The police investigation has stalled and Isabelle is invited to be on a true crime podcast to share her story.  Who can Isabelle trust?  Anyone?  I'll be watching to see if others read this one and what their thoughts are.

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Lastly, regular life is progressing.  By that I mean, home renovations are still progressing.  Slowly.  Slowly.  The guys that are replacing all the floors have been here this week and gotten started on that aspect.  Most other things are finished or close to being finished.  One day, I'll check in here and say that all is done.  Maybe.  Hopefully.  Ha!!  Have a good week, everyone!

32 comments:

  1. I'm a bit behind on Kate Quinn's books, but I do appreciate the way she highlights women's stories and especially their wartime contributions.

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    1. I've actually only read one other of her books - THE ALICE NETWORK. Liked that one a lot, but I really liked this one. This author does do a good job of highlighting women's unusual and little-known roles in wartime.

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  2. That was a very nice update, Kay. I like the sound of All the Dangerous Things and will look into The Rose Code too.

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    1. Cath, I think you would like both of them!

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  3. I just didn't realize there was so much that had to be done in the new house. Such a long process for you to go through.

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    1. Oh, yes! I knew it took months - we did this before at one of our houses in Austin - late 2010. However, in addition to just a lot of changes, renovations and building these days have all kinds of complications - shipping delays, staffing, etc., etc. Sigh.

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  4. Yeah I think both The Rose Code and The Plot were a bit mixed bags for me. I liked some aspects of them and not other parts. Still both seemed worthwhile. Have a great week.

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    1. Susan, it sounds like your experience was much the same as mine - well, for THE PLOT anyway. I did really like THE ROSE CODE.

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  5. You are already ahead of me with reading in the new year. Way to go!

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    1. I'm just happy to be reading again without so much distractions. Ha!

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  6. I think my book group would probably like The Rose Code. Historical fiction is a genre that most of them like. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about it, Kay.

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    1. I'm really enjoying this Historical Fiction book group, Deb. I don't think I realized quite how much I would like it.

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  7. I'm glad The Rose Code was a big hit! I started The Plot on audio last summer, but had to stop for some reason. I think it was a library download that expired? What I did read was so-so.

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    1. Diana, I would say - don't bother to go back and get THE PLOT again. Too many other books that work better. ;-)

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  8. I have a copy of The Rose Code in my stacks. My mom read it and if I remember correctly, she enjoyed it. I haven't read anything by Quinn, but she has quite a following, so we'll see.

    I haven't read anything by Stacy Willingham, but I recognized her name. Ann Patchett's bookstore (Parnassus Books) had Willingham for an in-store event tonight! I follow the store's Instagram feed, which makes me wish I lived closer to a bookstore that has author events. Sigh.

    Glad to see you here! :)

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    1. Kate Quinn is really popular. Her newest book is called DIAMOND EYE (I think). It's about a female sniper who was also a librarian! Russian and WWII era I think. I'm going to look for it. Yes, Stacy Willingham has been very popular. Glad she got an event at Parnassus Books! I learned about her from a new friend here who has a connection to her. My friend's son-in-law is Stacy's cousin, I think. Anyway, she's the one that first told me about her.

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  9. I am a little reluctant to read The Rose Code because of the length. But maybe someday. I like reading about Bletchley Park

    I don't know if I told you but I have been reading Anna Karenina since September. I was having a hard time of it, and I finally finished reading it last night. That was my first book of the year. I did like the 2nd half much better than the first.

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    1. OK, Tracy, if you can get through 'Anna K', you can get through THE ROSE CODE. Ha!

      P.S. I've never actually read 'Anna K' - don't think I will. ;-)

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    2. The length was a large part of my problem with Anna Karenina. It was also too depressing for me also. I am satiated with reading books that focus on the powerless of women in society at that time. Although I think Tolstoy did a great job of making that point.

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    3. I think the depressing part is not something I need right now - ha!

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  10. All the Danergous Things sounds like my type of read! I Have read a review where someone said they couldn't quite decide if they could trust Isabelle or not -- did you feel like that about her?

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    1. Verushka, I might have felt like that about Isabelle a little. She wasn't what I would consider an unlikable protagonist, but she did have secrets.

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  11. I've been curious about All the Dangerous Things as I've read several good reviews of it. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it, Kay. Onto the wishlist it goes!

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  12. I enjoyed one of Quinn's Empress of Rome books (several years ago) and would like to read The Rose Code. Thanks for sharing. I read Willingham's books in reverse order. Loved the second but I think I might like the first just as much. Looking forward to her next!
    Mary @Bookfan

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    1. Mary, I think that Stacy Willingham has a great career ahead of her. I'll be reading whatever she wants to write! Oh, and several in our discussion group are thinking about reading one of Quinn's Rome books.

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  13. I have a couple Quinn books on my shelf, but I have yet to read them. Hopefully, I can give her a go this year as she definitely sounds like an author I'm going to like.

    Hang in there with the renovations! I know what a pain it is. Our contractor was super nice and easy to have around, but I've also LOVED having my house all to myself and not having to plan around painters, drywall guys, tile people, etc. :)

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    1. Totally understand and agree about the house renovations. Can't wait to be done and, yes, our contractor is a very nice guy, but planning your life around sub-contractors, etc., etc. gets old. Definitely read your Quinn books.

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  14. Happy New Year Kay! The Rose Code is on my TBR. I love books involving Bletchley Park and have loved everything I've read by Kate Quinn.

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    1. Katherine, I do encourage you to try THE ROSE CODE. Think you would like it.

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  15. Yay for book group meetings! I really need to read something by Kate Quinn! I have my in person mystery book group this week so I'm looking forward to it. Hope the renovations continue to go well. I'm sure you are ready to have the house all to yourself! :)

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    1. I'm so slow on commenting back to you, Iliana. Glad your mystery book group meeting went well, as you said on your blog. And, yes, so, so ready to have the house to ourselves. One day....

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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!