So Many Ways to Begin

pick

I liked this but didn‘t love it as much as the other two McGregor books that I‘ve read. Initially I found the prologue rather confusing and couldn‘t figure out who was who. After getting that straight in my head I then became invested and really enjoyed the rest of the book but found the ending a bit odd and rather disappointing.

This is my #bookspin book for December.

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y

BarbaraBB Oh I was mistaken earlier, I didn‘t like this one as much as I did

If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

squirrelbrain No, I agree @BarbaraBB - I didn‘t like it as much either. 3y

youneverarrived I‘m pretty sure I read this years ago and wasn‘t that impressed. 3y

squirrelbrain I think my expectations were too high @youneverarrived - based on how much I loved

If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

66 likes5 comments

squirrelbrain

So Many Ways to Begin | Jon McGregor

My #bookspin (tagged) and #doublespin books for December. I‘m not sure if I‘ll get to Essie or not - it‘s maybe n t in quite the right place on the bingo board (!) but we‘ll see....

Thanks for #bookspinbingo Sarah - it‘s almost embarrassing how excited I get when you post the board...!

TheAromaofBooks

eraderneely I‘m reading Essie on kindle right now! 3y

squirrelbrain Oh, we could have done a #buddyread @eraderneely ! How far through are you? 3y

eraderneely I‘m most of the way through at this point, 80% or so. I‘m really enjoying it, but I love watching these sorts of shows on TV so this was just an extension of that guilty pleasure. 3y

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mamareading I agree! I‘m west coast so when I wake up on the second of the month I open my eyes and remember it‘s #bookspin day and smile and grab my phone!! @TheAromaofBooks 3y

squirrelbrain Ah well I‘m never going to catch up with you then @eraderneely 🤣 but it definitely sounds like I will enjoy it too! 3y

squirrelbrain @mamareading - I‘m in the UK so we have to wait until early afternoon - it‘s torture! Although I was in a meeting today and forgot about it so it was a lovely surprise when it got posted! 3y

Caroline2 Oh I feel like I‘m missing out! Maybe I need to get in on this book spinning business?! 😀 3y

Caroline2 @squirrelbrain @eraderneely I enjoyed Essie too! 👍 3y

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! I love seeing everyone's enthusiasm - it's what keeps this challenge fun for me!!! 3y

56 likes9 comments

rachaich

So Many Ways to Begin | Jon McGregor

pick

Now this was good. Nice bits of prose, nice chapter titles and the ending was perfect.

BarbaraBB I loved his

If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

rachaich @BarbaraBB two other people recommended that too ☺☺☺ 4y

BarbaraBB Really? I always think I‘m the only one who read that book haha 4y

10 likes3 comments

rachaich

So Many Ways to Begin | Jon McGregor

This is Proving an interesting backwards and forwards read.
It took me a few chapters to understand the way in which it was going, and who the characters were.

9 likes

rachaich

So Many Ways to Begin | Jon McGregor

I've read his Reservoir book which I'm undecided about.
Thus giving this one a go... the blurb is appealing, regarding a chap who is a museum curator.
I like the idea of being the curator of your own life...

9 likes

Reviewsbylola

So Many Ways to Begin | Jon McGregor

pick

The format of this one is a bit different. David Carter, born on London during WWII, is a museum curator. He has a high regard for any item with a history behind it, and each chapter is told through the lense of a different vintage piece or document.

I love literary historical fiction, and this fit the bill. I thought the way McGregor laid the story out was different and worked well. And I‘m glad I ended up liking it! @erinreads #readersgonnaread

erinreads 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 At least one of you ended up liking it! 😂 6y

Reviewsbylola @sprainedbrain liked it too! I wonder if maybe some of the others didn‘t give it enough time. @erinreads Although if it‘s a genre I know I don‘t like, I‘m pretty quick to bail. 😬 I can think of two fantasy books from our group that I bailed on. I just hate fantasy. 6y

BarbaraBB I kind of liked this one too. But I only read it because I loved his other book so much. 💕

If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

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sprainedbrain @erinreads I did like it! A lot! 6y

Mdargusch Very interesting way to tell a story. 6y

arubabookwoman I liked Reservoir 13 and If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things, so I bought this one for Kindle. Haven‘t read it yet, though, but your review makes me look forward to it more. 6y

andrew61 I wasn't aware of this one. loved reservoir 13, and if no one speaks..., less so even the dogsso definitely will look for this as he such an interesting writer - thanks for sharing. 6y

emilyhaldi Sounds cool! 6y

Cinfhen This sounds great BUT I REALLY DISLIKED

Reservoir 13

Reviewsbylola I bet I‘ll love it then. 😆😆 @Cinfhen 6y

Cinfhen It‘s REALLY SLOW and if you‘re expecting a “thriller/ suspense “ there isn‘t any😜but the writing was wonderful 6y

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sprainedbrain

So Many Ways to Begin | Jon McGregor

pick

This book is beautifully written... reading it felt like flipping through a scrapbook or family album and learning all about these realistic, flawed, honest characters. So good!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Lindy I'm reading McGregor now and I love his writing also.

Reservoir 13

erinreads 💕💕💕 7y

Reviewsbylola I just got this one and I‘m the last stop for Readers Gonna Read. I‘m nervous because you‘re legit the ONLY one in the group that finished it. 😬😬😬 6y

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sprainedbrain @Reviewsbylola haha! I‘m not a quitter, I guess. 😂 6y

Reviewsbylola I DEFINITELY am but you and Erin both loved it so I want to give it a fair shot. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 6y

sprainedbrain @Reviewsbylola if I remember right, it took some getting used to the punctuation and such... but once I got used to it, I did love it. 😃 6y

Reviewsbylola Ok, I‘m definitely going to give it a good effort. I think I‘ll try and wait until I‘m in the right mood! 6y

erinreads @Reviewsbylola @sprainedbrain ARE YOU SERIOUS? 😂😂😂 I literally can‘t stop laughing now knowing only Jenni finished it! And she was the first one to get it. It‘s a real slow burn but it‘s so so good, hahaha. 6y

Reviewsbylola 😬😬😬 I didn‘t want to tag you because I felt so bad about it. I swear I‘m going to try my hardest. 😂 @erinreads 6y

Reviewsbylola And tbh it sounds like a book I would like . . . 😃 6y

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sprainedbrain

So Many Ways to Begin | Jon McGregor