What are Divas reading?

[VickiK]

Recently I learned that Pachinko is part of a trilogy. The first book is Free Food for Millionaires, 3rd book is still in the works.

 

[santacruz skier]

Just started reading a great book that chronicles a 4,000 mile human powered expedition from the Pacific rainforest to the Arctic coast. "The Sun is a Compass" by Caroline Van Hemert. It has won several awards and I can't put it down !

 

[VickiK]

Agree, it's a great book and adventure! Wish she'd write another one.

 

[AJM]

Just started reading a great book that chronicles a 4,000 mile human powered expedition from the Pacific rainforest to the Arctic coast. "The Sun is a Compass" by Caroline Van Hemert. It has won several awards and I can't put it down !

It sounds like my kinda book, I'll have to try and hunt it down over here x

 

[santacruz skier]

It sounds like my kinda book, I'll have to try and hunt it down over here x

Do you have a kindle?

 

[Tvan]

I just started "The Personal Librarian" by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray and I can't put it down. Historical fiction based on the true story of J.P. Morgan's personal librarian, a black woman who hid her identity and passed as white in order to build the collection of the Pierpont Morgan Library. I'm a quarter of the way through and loving it.

I just finished "Challenger" by Alan Higginbotham for my book club and it was RIVETING. I'm looking forward to the book club discussions! Wow... so much that the general public didn't know!

 

[VickiK]

Cher, Part One.

 

[santacruz skier]

I just started "The Personal Librarian" by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray and I can't put it down. Historical fiction based on the true story of J.P. Morgan's personal librarian, a black woman who hid her identity and passed as white in order to build the collection of the Pierpont Morgan Library. I'm a quarter of the way through and loving it.

I just finished "Challenger" by Alan Higginbotham for my book club and it was RIVETING. I'm looking forward to the book club discussions! Wow... so much that the general public didn't know!

Really enjoyed "The Personal Librarian."

 

[snoWYmonkey]

The Vanishing Half

 

[yogiskier]

Reading the inspector Rebus series by Ian Ranken. He also wrote the series starting with The Complaints, character is Malcolm Fox. Good stories.

Brene Brown, Atlas of the Heart and Rising Strong.

I came across Ian Rankin while browsing a local bookstore on vacation in Scotland a couple of years ago, but never followed up. Thanks for the reminder!

I am currently "reading" The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett audiobook. My sis-in-law and mo-in-law recommended it when I said I wanted to try a fantasy novel - not sure if I'll get into Pratchett, but it's entertaining to listen to on trips/walks.

 

[RachelV]

Am I allowed to admit that I kind of got into the Fourth Wing books? The writing is not very good but the dragon bonding parts of the story grabbed me. I have not historically been a fantasy person at all but here we are.

2024 was a bit of a year for me and all I have been reading since is easy fiction. I just want someone to tell me a story. And yes, I am aware that we are a full quarter into 2025 at this point.

 

[Tvan]

Finished “The Personal Librarian” and then spent time on the website for the Pierpont Morgan Library and Wikipedia learning about Belle Da Costa Green and the Morgan Family. Amazing story, and a part of history (and high society) that I knew nothing about.

I also, since we are having an ice storm-related power outage and I can’t run the vacuum cleaner, just finished a fluffy chick-lit book called “The Lodge” by Kayla Olson. It’s a 100% predictable romance novel that takes place at Stowe. You’re welcome.

Side note: we seem to be in a season of collecting library cards. Since I retired in January and DH is set to retire in June, our book budget is Somewhat reduced. We already hold library cards to our town library, which fits in a single room in our tiny town hall, and the modest-sized town library in neighboring Middlebury. Last weekend, we went to DH’s alma mater, Dartmouth, where he got his alumni library card. We spent several hours in the amazing, unending stacks there. What an amazing place! I was so jealous that I then applied for a community member library card to Middlebury College’s library. Not as gigantic as Dartmouth, but admirable on its own. what is it about books that is so compelling??

 

[ski diva]

In the summer of 2021 I posted here about Niall Williams' book, "This is Happiness," a lovely, beautifully written book that takes place in a small town in Ireland. He has a new book that came out in the fall called "The Time of the Child," which is also first rate. Set in the same location as "This is Happiness," it's about two people, a father and daughter, who have both missed chances at love and find a new way to give their lives meaning. Highly recommend.

 

[ski diva]

BTW, excuse the self promotion, but I thought I'd post a list of my husband's (Jon Clinch), books, since some of you may not know he's a pretty well regarded writer (he was even a clue on "Jeopardy" in the fall!). His first book, FINN, was named one of the year's best novels (2008) by The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and The Christian Science Monitor, and was designated a Notable Book of the Year by the American Library Association. His second book, KINGS OF THE EARTH, was named one of the year's best by The Washington Post in 2010 and was #1 that year on Oprah's summer reading list.

Here are his books:

FINN
KINGS OF THE EARTH
THE THIEF OF AUSHWITZ
MARLEY
THE GENERAL AND JULIA

I think my favorite is KINGS OF THE EARTH, closely followed by FINN -- but they're all really good.

Back to your regularly scheduled program........

 

[Bookworm]

Am I allowed to admit that I kind of got into the Fourth Wing books? The writing is not very good but the dragon bonding parts of the story grabbed me. I have not historically been a fantasy person at all but here we are.

2024 was a bit of a year for me and all I have been reading since is easy fiction. I just want someone to tell me a story. And yes, I am aware that we are a full quarter into 2025 at this point.

No, you are not allowed to admit that (JK) Actually, I'm happy when people are reading ANYTHING and all reading should be celebrated, especially with all the book bans and challenges.
When I want a good story that won't challenge my emotions these days, I like Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie mysteries. They're so witty and fun. You might like them.

 

[Tvan]

Just finished "The Tell" by Amy Griffin. Well-written and comes with appropriate trigger warnings. There's some hype around this book, and while it's a strong story and well-told, I didn't find it to be as gripping as the hype would suggest. Worth reading, but maybe wait for the paperback.

Just started John Green's new book "Everything is Tuberculosis".

 

[Verve]

I came across Ian Rankin while browsing a local bookstore on vacation in Scotland a couple of years ago, but never followed up. Thanks for the reminder!

I am currently "reading" The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett audiobook. My sis-in-law and mo-in-law recommended it when I said I wanted to try a fantasy novel - not sure if I'll get into Pratchett, but it's entertaining to listen to on trips/walks.

Love Ian Rankin! What a great flawed protagonist and Edinburgh is so well rendered.

For fans of those, I’d also recommend checking out Slow Horses and the rest of the series from Mick Heron.

I’m reading the third Jackson Brody book by Kate Atkinson now - guess it’s detective/mystery season.

 

[wernerslab]

While almost all of my reading is borrowed from the romance genre of my local library, I have really enjoyed in the last year a few more 'serious' reads' (in audio form) by 1)Abraham Verghese, The Covenant of Water. I thought it was just a beautiful story spanning generations; 2) Kelli Estes 'The Girl Who Wrote in Silk' also on audio. I learned some things about history I had never learned in school(or life) from that book. I listened to some nonfiction as well called The Chamber Divers by Rachel Lance about the development of underwater reconnaissance tools during WWII. I also enjoyed listening to The Six by Loren Grush about the first 6 women into the NASA astronaut training program including Sally Ride and Judy Resnick (maybe the most well known of the 6).

 

[teppaz]

I can't believe I haven't joined this thread yet. I'm a big library user, including Hoopla and Kanopy, which let you stream movies and series for free.

Last books I read were Bernhard Schlink's "The Granddaughter" (highly recommend) and Mischa Berlinski's "Mona Acts Out" (didn't care for it). Right now I'm in the final stretch of Jeffrey Seller's memoir "Theater Kid." He's one of the producers behind "Rent" and "Hamilton." The book is a lot of fun, though I'm not entirely sure it'd be gripping if you don't care about musicals.

Next up is Christopher Bollen's "Havoc," which is meant to be a good thriller.

 

[Christy]

When I want a good story that won't challenge my emotions these days, I like Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie mysteries. They're so witty and fun. You might like them.

I like these too. I never thought I liked mysteries--every time I read one that was supposedly good, or from a mystery author people love, it was the same (lack of character development, improbable events). But the Jackson Brodie mysteries are exactly like you said, witty and fun. Kate Atkinson is my favorite author in general--I think Life after Life is my favorite book.