Book Club

[CANDLEQUEEN]

I just finished I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson, it was really good. Now onto Tick Tock, by James Patterson............

[CareBears]

Just finished A Better Man by Louise Penny, very good from start to finish, plenty of action, and kept my brain thinking, I really enjoy this author!

[BirkiLady]

Maid by Stephanie Lane (1 Star)

Have no idea what the hype of this book is about. The story line about a single female who makes poor choices was boring, but when she becomes pregnant and continues to make really unwise choices about the two one-sided relationships, her choice of part-time employment (without any benefits), driving miles to work a minimum wage job for a few house, driving hours to drop her daughter off for weekends (hasn't she ever heard of meeting half-way?), their living situations . . . and buying a diamond ring with her tax refund, I felt the author was completely out-of-touch with the majority of single mothers and how they really lived & cared for themselves and their children.

The use of so many F-bombs was unnecessary in this type of novel. Lane did describe her characters and locations well.

All-in-all, this book was a big NO, NO, NO in my opinion.

[Catty2]

Today I finished Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins.  Emerson, Georgia and Marley have been best friends ever since they met at a weight-loss camp as teens.  When Emerson tragically passes away, she leaves one final wish for her best friends: to conquer the fears they still carry as adults.  You'll laugh and cry - I really enjoyed this book.  P.S. I've read 8 books this month. 

[dawg lover]

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@esmerelda wrote:

@smoky22  and any others who can/care to answer.

Rather than drag up a thread from 2018 about A Gentleman in Moscow I'll ask here...(possible spoiler for those who have not read it and plan to so look away)...

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Who was the gray/silver-haired woman he was with at the end?  Was it Anna? 

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@esmerelda  and @smoky22 - I was at the library today, and I looked in the back of the book for the answer to your question.  The ending is left open to the reader's interpretation, but I interpreted it as a happy ending, just as you did.  It was a great book.  I read it a few years ago, but couldn't recall every detail. 

[Alter Ego]

@esmerelda This is what the author had to say about the last page of The Gentleman in Russia:

Spoiler

On the book’s last page…

On the book’s last page, an individual is sitting in a tavern. Some readers are unsure of who this individual is. All I can tell you is that the person sitting in that tavern is described by a specific adjective which has been used throughout the novel to describe a specific character. So, if you’ve read closely, you should know the answer yourself.

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The adjective is "willowy", which had been used to previously describe Anna.  I never even considered it could be someone else - I can't remember the story, but didn't she help him escape?  (I could be way incorrect and not remembering that part of the story.) 

[esmerelda]

@Alter Ego Thank you. I may have to revisit the story myself.  There were children mentioned at the end also. I don't know how they would be connected to the woman you mentioned. Aside from that, I thought as you said.  Whether she helped...I don't remember anything about that. Doesn't mean it didn't happen.🙂

Thanks for posting. 

@Alter Ego I went back for another look and you are right!  The children I mentioned were a couple/few paragraphs earlier and had nothing to do with the woman. 

[Judaline]

@LoriLori  Where are you??

[SWEET]

Just finished A Woman Makes A Plan (autobiography/memoir) by Maye Musk.  Here is my review from GR.

"I have to admit I had no idea who she was and just wanted an autobiography to read. However, I did know her son was Elon.

I devoured this book in one day. I find her life very fascinating with not only being a model at 70 but how she worked hard as a single mom in her 30s, having kids (3 w/in 3 years), going through an abusive marriage, divorced him, and is a registered dietician not only in South Africa where she was born, but in Canada and the U.S. and how hard she worked to get where she is now. She's moved so much over the years but that's the way she wanted it and is happy being single for almost 40 years and is happy in her life.

Her advice both in nutrition and in life is sound and logical.

She's a beautiful person inside and out. I went on the internet to see other pictures of her besides the ones in her book and on the cover and she is gorgeous and has been all of her life."

Up next is ARC of Barbara Delinsky's A Week At The Shore.  I've loved all of her books.

[LoriLori]

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@Judaline wrote:

@LoriLori  Where are you??

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Hey, Jude.  Got a heads-up from in my email that you posted.  I know, it's wrong of me to be away so long and I've missed you and everyone and you    Hope your holidays were great.  Have I been here since the holidays?  I don't even know anymore.  Putting this in a spoiler box so anyone can read it and anyone can skip it

Well it won't let me out of the spoiler box now (figure) so just, thanks for anyone who thought of me and I guess while I'm still awake and signed in it's a great time to catch up on what you've been reading

Spoiler

I was sick with a cold most of November.

December into January I had a long-lasting mild case of flu.

A big sneeze and suddenly I'm having surgery.  Don't ask.  Maybe you've heard of it.  And they misdiagnosed me in the ER so my primary got me into a specialist and there was not much anesthesia but I was so desperate.  

And the freaking hospital which I fought all the way to the top wouldn't even return my copay.  Where else but healthcare do you get the wrong thing and no refund?

So this surgery...OMG for a small thing located in a weird place brought on by a sneeze, I guess all together it's just wiped me out.

It took me a full month to read my last book.  A month!  I'm slow but not that slow

And now I seem flu-y again starting last night.  TMI.  Can't believe it.  But it's true.  Have missed this place.  How are you?  How were your holidays?

Spoiler

ETA:  Posting here has tired me so much I'm off to sleep.  But it's been worht it.  Thanks for calling me home, Jud. :I've missed you and hope all is well with your health and with your beautiful family  heart: 

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