nannygoat, are you sitting on a hard or soft chair? You don't even notice, do you?

Hahaha!!!!

Just have the follow up chapter left to read in Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond. Oh my. I've been poor but not poor like described in this book. Read it.

I finished Marriage of Opposites which was so highly recommended. I did like it, and especially thought the historical aspects were really amazing. However for whatever reason , I don't know, I thought the writing was beautiful and the story was amazing but on the whole, I didn't adore it as I should have.

On a totally different note but related to the post right above by rosesstink I just started White Trash. I have been on the wait list for that one for many months. I am reading it on my kindle, and there is a long intro/preface since the Presidential election so I kind of skipped over that. I really enjoyed Hilbilly Elegy so I am looking forward to this...but so far it's reading so much more like a thesis ...

4kids, I'd strongly recommend The Marsh King's Daughter. It covers similar themes to My Absolute Darling but I found it to be by far the better book. The plot is absorbing and unlike some recent reads that put me off, it truly did delve into a difficult and dark topic (abduction, sexual abuse, captivity) in a way that taught me about a part of life I've never experienced-and hope never to of course!

Roses, at book club last month a member told us about meeting the lead book reviewer at the Washington Post at a social event. She, being a very good book club member, of course asked him to recommend a book that had impressed him and he responded that Evicted had moved him more than anything he's read in decades. So the WaPo recommended it to her and now you've recommended it to us so it's going on my list!

And while I'm here may I second fouramblues and thank Annie so much for this monthly topic! I love finding out about great books that I'd otherwise never read and this discussion is always a delight.

PS fouram, hope you will come out of lurkerdom and share some of your recommendations.

Yes, a big thank you to Annie! This has become my book club & love the reading suggestions. I finished Circling the Sun and found it so interesting that I spent hours on Wikipedia reading about the individuals in the book. Beryl was a trail blazer, way ahead of her time & society. Next up for me is Never Caught. It's the story of a slave owned by George Washington's family.

Bothell, you may enjoy Beryl Markham's book, West With the Night.

I'd like to second the thank you to Annie for keeping this going every month. The older I get, the more I realize how grateful I am for the small blessings in my life -and having this ever-ready source of books is most definitely one of them, so thank you Annie!

I just noticed that Elizabeth Berg has a new book out. I didn’t even notice what it’s about, but quickly added the sample to my Kindle. She’s one of my favorite authors.

Its an older book, but I was just reminded of Molokai when I saw it on Amazon. One of the best books I’ve ever read.

Annie, another thank you from me. Mostly I turn to books that friends, both IRL and virtual, recommend.

Bothell, I am chronically slowed down when reading because I often need to stop and consult the computer to find out what a certain city in Europe looks like or some landmark somewhere. If a place really exists, I like to have a visual image to round out the story. It's one of the reasons why visiting the Holy Land made the Bible really come alive for me.

Running, good to know about The Marsh King's Daughter. Based on previous postings, I think you and I have similar reading taste, WTE of course, of The Tea Girl LOL. I didn't love that book anyway, but didn't despise it like you. I think I picked up Marsh King's Daughter on a whim when I saw it on the new release shelf at my library. I ended up starting on The Child Finder first the other day but probably won't get much reading in until Friday. That one is also about a missing kid obviously. I have My Absolute Darling on my TBR list, but I may have to skip that one - can't read so many books at once with similar theme. I'll have to add Evicted to my list too - second time I've heard of this book recently.

Sueb, I loved Molokai as well. I read that years ago. I meant to read his book Honolulu as well as I lived there many years ago, but never got around to it.

Sheila, I loved the beautiful writing in The Marriage of Opposites but I felt the story started to drag on in the latter half. Overall I liked it but understand what you mean about not adoring it.

I too love these monthly reading threads as I get many great suggestions here, but just wish I had more time to spend reading.

Linelle and Bothell, I also have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and alternate book and computer reading. It's funny how old fashioned print and new fangled technology intersect!

Nanny: I have to confess that I do all my reading on my Kindle. That way I am never out of books. I have an electronic library card & check out books on line. I'm sure Amazon has noticed a drop in revenue since I'm no longer buying books on a regular basis.

bothell, I did the same thing after reading Circling the Sun! A thousand thanks to Annie for continuing this thread each month!

Bothell, I'm sure Amazon misses you!

Paper makes reading physically pleasurable for me. Feeling the heft of the book and and turning pages gives me immense satisfaction. Kindle would be a difficult transition for me.

sueb and 4kids - There are two books titled Molokai. They both have really good ratings on Goodreads. I've read the one by Alan Brenner. The other is by O.A. Bushnell. I have that one set for "to read" because the subject matter was very compelling. Which have you read?

Please, everyone, include author when you post.

I like a real book but I’m fine with iBooks or Kindle app on my iPad. The thing is, if the book is good, you don’t care. I read the entire Song of Ice and Fire series on my iPad, and they are long books, and it was fine. What ebooks do have over paper is the ability to search. How often I go, who was that guy? When did that happen? It’s easier to tie threads together.

My main medium is a library book, but if I get antsy, I’ll do iBooks.

Roses, sorry. It’s the Brennan book.

Roses, Molokai by Alan Brennert (not Brennan) is the one that i read-sorry, did not realize there were two. I knew I’d read the same one as Sue b/c i remember when she mentioned it back when she read it.

Halfway through Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and it's very insightful and moving. A friend recommended it to me with the comment that it's not just about the sudden death of her spouse and her grief; it's that of course but also a very useful guide to dealing with loss or trauma both by the individual and by anyone interacting with someone who's going through it.

Am also in the middle of The Female Brain and finding it fascinating. Disclaimer: this is my book club pick and I'm hosting our December meeting to discuss. After initially balking at evaluating any womanly decision or thought via hormones ;), I've warmed to the thesis and it certainly does a good job of explaining how and why women think and feel during the major phases of our lives. Definitely recommend this one--I just finished the chapter on teen girls and oh wow did it bring back memories! Some good and some doozies I'd never want to relive either for myself or my daughter LOL.

Another huge thanks from me to Annie for keeping this thread going. I tend to read the same authors and genres most of the time, but enjoy seeing what others have discovered and like to read, especially when you all give a little capsule summary of why you like (or dislike) a book. The best example is The Alice Network which wasn’t even on my radar but was recommended here a month or so ago. It’s my favorite book this year.

I switched gears and read Janet Evanovich’s latest, Hardcore Twenty-four, and have started David Baldacci’s End Game.

I'm currently in the middle of Flight of the Sparrow: A Novel of Early America by Amy Belding Brown. It's a true story about a Puritan woman taken captive by Indians. After struggling a bit with descriptions of the violence, I've settled into it and find it engrossing. I'll follow up when I finish it.

I read and enjoyed The Alice Network but I think I read too many WWII stories in a row for it to stand out for me. I think the one I enjoyed most was We Were the Lucky Ones.. but that may be because it's the last I read too. I am still struck by the spirit the family carried forward-- even when torn apart and isolated.

I am currently reading The Goldfinch. Only a few years behind the rest of the world LOL. I believe I remember a number of people here not liking it .. but so far (1/4 of the way) I am liking it.

For the past few years, since I've been back to reading (I had stopped for about 10 yr because I couldn't focus and enjoy), I have been reading much slower than before. I brushed it off as "well, I just have less time to read" but at a recent vision appointment, I learned that I am reading at a speed far below average. It was the first thing in a long time that caused me to be embarrassed and ashamed. Silly, I know given my vision issues, but I had always been a very fast reader. Once in school, we had our reading speed tested and I was the top of the class with both speed and comprehension. Of all the things affected by my poor vision and depth perception, this is the one that should least embarrass me.. but there it is. I am just glad that I can enjoy reading again!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thanks to Annie Deighnaugh for starting this thread, thank you to those who mentioned and recommended The One-in-a-Million Boy. It was such a touching book and I wouldn’t have discovered it if not for this thread.

Another voice in the chorus of thanks for Annie! I do appreciate it, and look forward to reading this thread each month.

Currently finishing up Beartown, by Fredrik Backman. I'm impressed by his agility in creating believable, relatable characters of different ages and genders. I noticed that as well with A Man Called Ove.

Next up is either Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, or The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante.

Just finished Ordinary Grace. Extraordinary and exquisite- a must-read.

I just started Ordinary Grace this morning...guess I'll go to bed and get reading!

I'm presuming that's Ordinary Grace by Krueger, not Brehony, yes?

Krueger is the one I'm reading, so I think that's the one people are referencing.

Just read My Very Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward. I'd recommend it. It was sad at many parts but a compelling read.

beagles -that book really opened my eyes to what the families of people dealing with mental illness face on a daily basis.

I agree. It must be so frustrating/ scary especially with so much misunderstanding still about mental illness. It's a great book!

I've started The Marsh Kings Daughter now. I'm not very far in, but I'm having a hard time putting it down.

Finished A Man Called Ove and ended up teary eyed. This is one of those books that is so good I won't watch the movie version. They will only muck it up. Will start Ordinary Grace tomorrow. I'm hoping I like it as well as others here did, as I will be in a captive situation tomorrow with little else to do.

A group of friends and I went to see the movie A Man Called Ove because most of us had read the book. Surprisingly, all of us, men and women, thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The casting was superb. It played for only a few days at our local art museum and the man in front of me was attending it for the second time because he enjoyed it so much. Every once in a while the movie directors get it right and I think they did with this movie.

I thought the movie was better than the book. Some parts of the book plot were too Hallmark movie adjacent for my taste. The movie is a little dark and more subtle.

I just finished Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. Mrs. Richardson was such a believable character to me. A women with a seemingly perfect life and a seemingly charitable soul. But was she? Boy, have I known a few women like her.

Next on my list, The Life we Bury by Allen Eskens.

Justerrilynn, Thanks for confirming it belongs on my Top Ten list along with (Extra) Ordinary Grace!

JT, I'm reading The Life We Bury right now. It's reading more like YA fiction so far. The plot description sounded promising but the author's writing style is just okay IMHO.

Oh poo on the YA fiction and just okay on The Life We Bury book. Now I'm not so excited to start it tonight. It sounded like one of those ...I can't put it down books.

Nannygoat. any other fav's?

I just finished The Last Days of Cafe Leila by Donia Bijan. Picked it up after the mentions of it on this thread and seeing it has a 4+ rating on Goodreads. I thought it okay/pretty good.

Justerilynn, I highly recommend The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. Wish I was reading it for the first time......

Very interesting ccrunner and d_gw. I may have to eat my words!

JT, it gets good reviews on Goodreads. It certainly isn't horrible but it is written in the first person and he's a college aged guy so it comes across as if he's speaking to peers. I will say that it's a very quick read. I blew through the first 100 pages this morning. I probably could've finished the book if I didn't have other things to do. I do plan to finish it.

Roses, I had mixed feelings about Cafe Leila. I found some of it a bit farfetched (her daughter's behavior) and did not like the ending.

4kids -did you enjoy all the food mentions in Cafe Leila? The author owns a restaurant. I was craving all that delicious sounding food all the while I was reading.

I just finished Ordinary Grace; like many others here I really enjoyed it. An interesting story, nicely written, good character development. Thanks to the people who've recommended it!

One thing I loved was how he handled minor characters. I've read a few books lately and by the time I get to the middle of the book and a character from the first part of the book is mentioned again and I have no idea who they are. So often the author gives no clue to remind the reader about them. He had a very subtle hand with that and I loved that it just took me a sentence or two to go, "Oh, that's who they are. I remember now."

4kids - I wondered about the plausibility of a lot in Cafe Leila. I know it's fiction but some of the situations didn't ring true in the setting.

Olychick, he even made the weather a character! I was practically sweating throughout the entire book!

Oh, nannygoat, I don't remember that specifically; now I want to reread it.

Bring a cold drink and fan!