Litsy

pan

This entire book could've been 10 pages if they just COMMUNICATED and treated her depression...😕
I'm thinking that Colleen Hoover isn't my author 😔

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I was not impressed with November 9, and after reading reviews of her other books, I've decided she's probably not for me, either. 5mo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks She‘s not for me either!! 5mo

Parvez Felt the same while reading Verity. That could have been an excellent short story. 5mo

See All 6 Comments

dabbe She needs to slow down and give better care to her plot-lines. #mytwocents 5mo

BkClubCare Yay! My FOMO on Hoover is dwindling to zero 🤣 5mo

AvidReader25 @BkClubCare I tried two of her books and she‘s not for me! 5mo

53 likes6 comments

AvidReader25

The Once and Future King | T. H. White

pick

Ill-Made Knight: This section was huge, but I love that we saw a deeper character arc with Lancelot. He travels the spectrum from hero to lover to madman & finally penitent & proud father. There‘s a lot to process, but 1 thing that stood out was Arthur's realization that forcing people into peace through violence sends the wrong message & isn't sustainable. It‘s interesting he continues to ignore his wife's infidelity at all costs.
#OAFkingalong

AvidReader25 @batsy @rubyslippersreads @BarbaraJean @MeganAnn @Vansa @dabbe @BkClubCare @Suet624 @RaeLovesToRead @wordslinger42 @Lcsmcat @Read-y_Picker @Bluebird @thereadingreference @TheAromaofBooks 5mo

AvidReader25 Now here‘s where I am frustrated with the story. In the entire book, so far, there‘s been almost no interesting females characters we get to explore Maid Marion in the first book actually had a bit of a personality, but we only got to see it for a minute. Guinevere‘s portrayal is completely unrealistic. This queen, who is part of a groundbreaking nation building a new system of law is supposed to be a petulant, jealous, and petty. 5mo

AvidReader25 Instead of showing us a complicated picture of unexpected passion and complex loyalties, we see her pitch fits when she doesn‘t get her way and completely ignore Lancelot‘s moral struggle. It just wasn‘t believable to me. I‘d like to see her story through a different author‘s lens. 5mo

See All 33 Comments

TheAromaofBooks I've just never been a fan of Lancelot, who always comes across as self-absorbed and masochistic to me, so this book was a bit of a struggle for me. I agree about Guinevere (and I think also the portrayal of Elaine) - both the women in this story didn't feel realistic to me... but then, I didn't particularly like any of the male characters, either haha Also, I've been spoiled by Gerald Morris's Arthurian tales, which I LOVE. 5mo

currentlyreadinginCO I liked this section! This was the turning point for me where I became invested. I don't really enjoy any of the characters, and I agree with the point that I would like to see all of this through another author's lens ... I guess that I like the story and I'm glad that I'm reading it, but I'm not overly impressed with T. H. White's writing. 5mo

currentlyreadinginCO I did like Guenevere, though. She's a mess, but I don't think it's less tongue-in-cheek than the other portrayals. I was compelled by the explanation of her living through wartime and being unable to fight. But yeah, she loves two men that are supposed to be superior to all others, and she's caught in a fascinating mess over it. I would love to see her written with greater depth. 5mo

currentlyreadinginCO And I understand how that's contradictory haha 5mo

Lcsmcat @thereadingreference I liked this section too. But I found I sympathized more with Lancelot. He‘s got this deep-seated need to prove himself, like a little boy who never quite believes that he is lovable. Jenny is a mess, but a believable one. Think Marie Antoinette, married of as a teenager against her inclination and for political reasons. It tracks for me. And I‘m loving White‘s tongue-in-cheek anachronistic style. 5mo

dabbe In some of my research before teaching this, I discovered that T.H. White had a troubled childhood. His parents barely paid attention to him while growing up in India, and he blamed his mother more for that than his father. #gofigure Quite a few critics even labeled him as a misogynist. That “might“ be one reason why few women get portrayed well here. #mytwocents 5mo

currentlyreadinginCO @Lcsmcat definitely! I loved the mentions of airplanes 😂 5mo

Lcsmcat @dabbe Thanks. That childhood makes his portrayal of Lancelot make sense to me. 5mo

AvidReader25 @TheAromaofBooks Yes! Elaine and the other female characters all felt that way, very one dimensional. I need to read the Morris tales! 5mo

AvidReader25 @thereadingreference I didn‘t think about her as living in wartime, but being unable to fight and go on quests. I like that perspective. I can‘t imagine how frustrating that would be. I felt very invested too. 5mo

AvidReader25 @Lcsmcat So true, he seemed so broken. It was so strange that we kept being told he was so ugly, like that was his one defining characteristic. 5mo

AvidReader25 @dabbe That‘s heartbreaking, but definitely explains some things. 5mo

BarbaraJean @AvidReader25 I really appreciated Arthur‘s realization about his methods being contradictory. It felt like he‘d internalized Merlyn's teaching—that he had to keep thinking for himself and evaluate the consequences of his choices. I've wished there was more development of Arthur in these last two sections. 5mo

BarbaraJean @Lcsmcat Your summing up of Lancelot and Guinevere feels spot-on to me. They both felt very realistic (well, realistic within the world White has set up!). I found Lancelot sympathetic, too—he‘s the only one who really seems conflicted about the love triangle! Although this section was much slower, I liked the greater complexity it drew out with Lancelot. But I'm conflicted about Guinevere. (continued ⬇) 5mo

BarbaraJean The portrayal of her relationship with Lancelot felt thoroughly believable: willful avoidance of the moral dilemma, irrational and hypocritical jealousy, and even genuine love for Arthur (though a completely different kind). I didn‘t like her, but I found her believable. Like @thereadingreference, I wanted to see more depth. There‘s so much that could have been fleshed out beyond her relationship with Lancelot, and that‘s almost all we see. 5mo

batsy @thereadingreference I had the same contradictory thoughts about Guenever. I thought White was sympathetic to her but somehow couldn't quite bring her to life in the way he could Lancelot, which I suppose is an interesting look at the author's limitations. Like @dabbe mentions Sylvia Townsend-Warner's afterword describes him as having a troubled relationship with both parents but especially his mother. 5mo

batsy @Lcsmcat I agree, I thought Lancelot was so well-done, with a kind of "fatal flaw" in his character (wanting to be noble to the point of not realising why) that it tormented him. It felt very much like a Greek tragedy at some level, but also fleshed out and modern. 5mo

Lcsmcat @batsy I too read it with Greek tragedy in mind. There are so many parallels! And if Guenever was only portrayed as a foul to Lancelot and Arthur, I saw that as the author‘s choice. Her story would be different, as would Mordred‘s or Gawain‘s. But one must choose a perspective to write from. 5mo

BkClubCare @dabbe - this totally jives with my thinking on THW and I only did cursory look at his background. 5mo

currentlyreadinginCO @batsy so true about Lancelot - you summed it up extremely well! Now I'll be reading with Greek tragedy in mind 5mo

dabbe @Lcsmcat Good point on Lancelot, the ill-made knight. 💙🤗💚 5mo

dabbe @AvidReader25 💙🤗💚 5mo

dabbe @BkClubCare You nailed it! 💙🤗💚 5mo

BkClubCare @dabbe - well, not sure abt that! TY for all your sharing of resources and insights!! 5mo

BkClubCare Big kudos and applause for my cohost who took on most (99%) of hosting duties for this readalong!! 👏🏆🗡️ @AvidReader25 Melissa is such a wonderful person and drama lover and world traveler and book friend. ❤️ Thank you everyone who participated!! 5mo

dabbe @BkClubCare 🥰 5mo

AvidReader25 @BkClubCare 😊 I‘ll do readalongs with you any time sweet friend! 5mo

AvidReader25 @BarbaraJean @batsy I think that‘s my main struggle with Guenever. It felt like we only saw her in the context of her relationship with Lancelot and Arthur. I wanted to see her brought to life outside of that triangle, but you are both right, that‘s not the story he was telling. 5mo

AvidReader25 @Lcsmcat @batsy I loved the Greek tragedy parallels throughout the book. These quests and lofty ideals being brought to their knees by mortal weakness and flawed humanity, it was beautifully done. 5mo

28 likes33 comments

Cinfhen

Not That Kind of Girl | Lena Dunham

#TimbitTunes Lena Dunham is #ThatGirl a modern day Brooklynite; outspoken & frank. Crude and unapologetic her “memoir” struck me as a little too self indulgent. As I‘m really not a fan of the HBO series Girls, nor do I follow Lena Dunham on Social Media her book of shared lessons was a waste of time for me.

TheKidUpstairs

mrsh62010 She‘s a terrible person. 5y

Cinfhen She didn‘t come across as remarkable or special, that‘s for sure @mrsh62010 😉 5y

TrishB Never seen or read, but don‘t think I‘m the demographic for this! 5y

See All 14 Comments

Susannah She‘s very problematic, but I don‘t know that I would say she‘s a terrible person. She just strikes me as the epitome of all the worst impulses of Millenials—she‘s never had a thought she didn‘t think it vital to share—and she reeks of privilege that she gives only superficial acknowledgement. (And much of the above is my age coming out. Now get off my lawn, Lena Dunham!😁) (edited) 5y

Cathythoughts I don‘t know this one at all ... sounds perfect for prompt ♥️👍🏻 5y

Cinfhen I agree @Susannah she does embody the worst of millennials and you‘re probably right too @TrishB I was/am the wrong audience for her shtick 5y

Cinfhen I think you can skip this book @Cathythoughts it didn‘t hold too much literary merit 😜 5y

KarenUK I‘m not a huge fan either, but I think to write, act and produce a very popular show at such a young age is pretty amazing, particularly when she has major health challenges. It‘s worth reading the chapter about her in this book. Reading all the comments here reminded me of it.

Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman

(edited) 5y

KarenUK She‘s definitely someone that people react strongly too! 😂 5y

Cinfhen I think you raise a good point @KarenUK don‘t have to be a fan or agree with everything she says or does to recognize she has accomplished quite a lot in her young life. 5y

TheKidUpstairs I was never a fan of Girls, and I've never really connected with Lena Dunham. I think I'm just that little bit too old. But I agree with @KarenUK she has accomplished a lot for such a young woman, so I will tip my hat to her for that. 5y

LeahBergen I was a fan of Girls but not a big fan of this book. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5y

teebe I agree with @mrsh62010 . And a lot of the issues with her re: privilege, racism, etc. aren‘t generational. The one thing that‘s very millennial about her is her own belief in how “feminist” and “woke” she is (then again, hippies in the 60s were the same 🤷🏻‍♀️) (edited) 5y

Cinfhen I think it‘s Lena Dunham @TheKidUpstairs @LeahBergen @teebe she‘s just not “personable” and I think it‘s part age/ immaturity and part upbringing #MyTwoCents Thankfully there are MANY more young women who are role models and people to admire 5y

118 likes1 stack add14 comments

Bookzombie

The Stepford Wives | Ira Levin

I‘m going with Fleetwood Mac‘s 1977 album, Rumors, plus one song. Rumors was fueled by the drama going on in the band (lots of drugs, the implosion of the Buckingham/Nicks relationship and the dissolving of John and Christine McVie‘s marriage). I disagree with Mick though. Stevie Nick‘s song, Silver Springs, should have been left on the dang album. #mytwocents #stepfordsummerparty

Link to Silver Springs: https://youtu.be/Ud2XKt2N8fs

DebinHawaii, mabell, ValerieAndBooks, Cinfhen, readinginthedark, erzascarletbookgasm, asiriusreader, CarolynM, BluestockingDuchess, Reviewsbylola, Mdargusch, Pamwurtzler, CoffeeAndABook, Bklover, Librarybelle, batsy, MaleficentBookDragon, rohit-sawant, ElishaLovesBooks, Cathythoughts, GripLitGrl, SledgeReader

Bklover Yesssssss!❤️❤️ 5y

batsy Love Fleetwood Mac! So long since I listened to them ❤️ 5y

Cinfhen Man, did they make for drama!!! And amazing music 🙌🏻 5y

See All 22 Comments

Reggie My parents used to sing Dreams to each other when we were on road trips. Lol 🤷🏽‍♂️ #mytwocents Sara is my favorite song of theirs. Nice post. 5y

CarolynM #unpopularopinion I hate Fleetwood Mac 5y

Mdargusch I loved the Rumors album! 5y

mabell Love the background info! 5y

Cathythoughts Yes !!!!! Fleetwood Mac ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 5y

Bookzombie @Bklover @batsy ❤️❤️❤️ 5y

Bookzombie @Cinfhen Buckingham and Nicks created lots of drama, but even before that the band was no stranger to it. This is my favorite album, but my husband and I also like some of the albums before B & N joined the group. 5y

Bookzombie @Reggie Thanks! ❤️Aww, that‘s a lovely memory about your parents. 🙂 Yes, I have strong feelings about Silver Springs, lol. Sara is a great song. 5y

Bookzombie @CarolynM It‘s okay! We all love and hate different things. ❤️ 5y

Bookzombie @Mdargusch Yay! 5y

Bookzombie @mabell Thanks! Yeah, when you hear the background on songs or what was going on in the artist‘s lives at the time, it gives them such life. Buckingham wrote “Go Your Own Way” about the breakup. Nicks has said she hates the lyrics “packing up, shacking up is all you want to do” in the song. 5y

Bookzombie @Cathythoughts ❤️❤️❤️ 5y

GripLitGrl Yes!!!❤❤❤ 5y

Cathythoughts Oh I remember where I was ( in a little shop , long gone ) when I first heard Dreams in the 70‘s. I remember what I was doing ( buying a dress ) for an event .... I remember it as clearly as today. Songs really do spark memories in our lives. This was a good one for me. I hope for you too 👍🏻❤️❤️ 5y

Cathythoughts I remember asking the woman who owned the shop.... what‘s that song !!!!!!! 5y

Bookzombie @GripLitGrl ❤️❤️❤️ 5y

Bookzombie @Cathythoughts That‘s lovely. Yes, songs really do that. My husband usually buys and downloads new music when we go on a road trip. Then that album always brings back memories of our trip. 5y

DebinHawaii Fleetwood Mac brings back such memories! 😍😍😍Great pick! 5y

Bookzombie @DebinHawaii Thanks! ❤️ 5y

62 likes22 comments

hike.read.repeat

Pacific Crest Trials: A Psychological and Emotional Guide to Successfully Thru-Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail | Zach Davis

Also, I heard that Strayed donates $ to the PCTA which works to maintain the trail. So these elitists need to stfu. #rant #rantover #mytwocents

Anyone read Wild? What did you think of it? If you liked the adventure aspect of I highly recommend Thruhiking Will Break Your Heart by Carrot Quinn. 😁

16 likes

Chelleo

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body | Roxane Gay

so-so

So I finished this and posted it to Goodreads with a ⭐️⭐️ rating and no review because I wasn‘t sure how I really felt about it. @EchoLogical asked me what I didn‘t like about it (given the ⭐️⭐️) so I pondered on it and came up with this: See Comments

Chelleo I haven‘t really figured it out. I‘m not a huge fan of memoirs though I do appreciate her sharing her story. She lived through some dark stuff and made some decisions that really opened her up to harm but she somehow persevered if by nothing other than luck. (1 of 3) (edited) 6y

Chelleo She had some interesting and insightful perspectives and ideas on how society addresses obesity and obese people. It‘s repetitive in many places. I listened to her reading the audiobook version and although she has a nice voice it was sort of devoid of feeling. (2 of 3) (edited) 6y

Chelleo Another reader describes her writing (of this book) as detached and I agree. This is the first book of hers that I‘ve read so I hope Bad Feminist is better given that it‘s focused on an external topic. (3 of 3) (edited) 6y

See All 10 Comments

TheBookHippie I didn't like it either ? I think devoid of emotion is how I describe it. I liked Bad Feminist better, but still yearn for deeper ...Bad Feminist had me laughing -but also made me realize I'm not alone in being a "not considered normal" Feminist which was refreshing . #mytwocents 6y

Chelleo @TheBookHippie I saw glimpses of her sense of humor. I chuckled when she described the “bike-off” in the gym with the other lady. (edited) 6y

TheBookHippie @Chelleo I actually laughed out loud reading Bad Feminist, some of it is so true it's laugh or cry- her sarcasm is on par for sure. 6y

EchoLogical Aww man. Maybe I'll skip this one altogether if it's worse than Bad Feminist. I can't really say what I disliked about it. Only that it failed to grab my attention and I bailed. 6y

Chelleo @EchoLogical I wouldn‘t put it high on a reading list but maybe one day you‘ll be more open to it. It wasn‘t awful, it just didn‘t really go above and beyond for me. 6y

emilyhaldi I totally agree with the "detached" comment. I also didn't feel like many of her thoughts were especially ground-breaking so I was mostly bored. 6y

Dulcinella Mmm... the detached way this book feels might be due to the fact she writes it as a survivor. Sometimes writing or talking detached is the only way to cope. At least I felt that when I read it and it made me like it more. 6y

88 likes10 comments

LauraBeth

Little Fires Everywhere | Celeste Ng

bailed

I‘m just gonna have to go ahead and break up with this book via a post-it note (since this book is set in the 90s and pre-texting). I couldn‘t care less about any of these characters. I‘m sorry but I can‘t. Don‘t hate me! 😀https://youtu.be/dDxmooLg1IM

Suelizbeth I applaud your abandonment! I have found abandoning books to be extremely freeing. Too many books, too little time for clutter. 6y

Tamra I'm in the minority a lot too! 👍🏾 6y

Dolly It's okay, really it's okay. 😄says the person who has not yet read the book🙄 6y

See All 38 Comments

AmyG Never force a read when there are so many other pefect book matches out there for you! One person‘s 5 star book is another person‘s bail. ;) (edited) 6y

HKGirl 😲😢 Jk, I haven't read it yet so I have no idea if I'd like it or not. I did really like her first book though. Have you read that? If so, how do you think it compared? 6y

SheReadsAndWrites I haven‘t read it yet but I am SO with you on “if I don‘t care about the characters, I‘m out.” Too many books out there not to bail when you dont gel with the characters. #mytwocents 6y

Kshakal I love the reference to sex and the city... my favorite episode!! 6y

LauraBeth @Suelizbeth agree! I did make it to page 150 before calling it quits 😀 6y

LauraBeth @Tamra I guess we can‘t like every single book! 6y

LauraBeth @dolly I think this is a case where it‘s me and not the book 😀 6y

LauraBeth @Amyg very true! 6y

LauraBeth @HKGirl I read it forever ago and remember liking it and thinking it was sharp for a debut novel. I think this book is quality fiction - I‘m just not in the head space right now for it 6y

LauraBeth Exactly @SheReadsAndWrites. For me this just seemed like the author really wanted to write a New Yorker article about interracial adoption more than actually wanting to flesh out and inhabit these characters. 6y

LauraBeth @Kshakal you can‘t go wrong with Sex And The City 😀 6y

HKGirl @LauraBeth That makes sense! 6y

Tamra @LauraBeth 👌🏾 6y

Kshakal @LauraBeth so good!! One my all time favorites! 6y

TheLudicReader Oh dear, I was really looking forward to this book because I loved her first book. LOVED. 6y

Reggie I like this episode because later on they go to the new club BED where she sees 🍔‘s friends and makes a crazy show of herself. Lololol 6y

Reggie We missed you lots @LauraBeth. I‘m glad you‘re back. 6y

LeahBergen And I hope you actually slapped that post-it right on the cover? 😂 6y

Cinfhen Life's too short to wort about a bail! #YouDoYou 6y

LiteraryinLawrence I did that (bailed on a popular book) last week with The Secret History. Life's too short! 6y

bio_chem06 Did you read her other book?

Everything I Never Told You: A Novel

emilyhaldi I had to do the same thing yesterday with Sleeping Giants after getting to page 200. If you don‘t care, why waste the precious reading time! (edited) 6y

katrrosee Have you read Commonwealth? It‘s kinda the same theme - suburban drama - but the characters are a little different and have all sorts of weird motivations.

Commonwealth

Lmstraubie OMGosh! This post was fantastic! Seriously, I needed that laugh!! 6y

DrSabrinaMoldenReads Thanks for that video though. I loved Sex and the City @LauraBeth 6y

LauraBeth @TheLudicReader oh hey - don‘t take my opinion of this too seriously! I can tell this is quality fiction 😀 I‘m just not in the head space for this type of story right now. 6y

LauraBeth @Reggie you‘re kind to say 😘 and YES! the BED episode 😂😂 6y

LauraBeth @LeahBergen 😂😂 6y

LauraBeth @Cinfhen exactly! 6y

LauraBeth @LiteraryinLititz It took me a long time to get comfortable with bailing on books everyone else loves! 😀 6y

LauraBeth @bio_chem06 I did read her first one and liked it! 6y

LauraBeth @emilyhaldi exactly! I think when I continue to read a book that I‘m not enjoying - then it tends to put me in a bit of a slump if I do actually finish it. 6y

LauraBeth @KatrinaRose I haven‘t read this and I love the premise! 6y

LauraBeth @Lmstraubie 😀😀 6y

LauraBeth @Joyfulmimi me too! 6y

153 likes38 comments

Texreader

The Emerald Atlas:The Books of Beginning 1 | John Stephens

So maybe you all can help me? What's the #subtitle here? I think it should be the line that starts "An ancient book...". But if I'm correct, then which of the remaining titles is the title and what's the other one called? I'm very confused. These are not things they teach in law school or if they did it's been too long and I've forgotten. #aprilbookshowers

RealLifeReading

Missusb My understanding is that there is no subtitle. The book's title is The Emerald Atlas. The Books of Beginnings looks like the series name. The Ancient line is more like a teaser, a catch cry, a Tagline... #mytwocents @Texreader #cantresist #letmelibrarianthatforyou #alwayswantedachancetodothat #thanks (edited) 6y

Zelma I concur with @Missusb 👍 6y

67 likes2 stack adds2 comments

BekahB

HEX | Thomas Olde Heuvelt

I've had these books on previous TBRs, but I never got around to finishing them. I'll probably add my BOTM picks to my February TBR too. Hopefully I don't end this month with partially read books. One of my goals this year is to finish the books I start instead of putting them back on the shelf half read.

#FeistyFeb #TBR

RealLifeReading

mom2bugnbee The Sun is Also a Star was fun. Having said that, give yourself permission to not finish books if they aren't hitting you right. There are too many books, not enough time! #mytwocents 7y

BekahB @mom2bugnbee oh definitely! I actually just went through my bookcases over the weekend and had an honest "are you really ever going to finish this" talk with myself. I got rid of quite a few books. I just feel bad that I have so many partially read ones. 7y

Reviewsbylola I really want to read Ghostland. TSIAAS is so good. 7y

61 likes3 comments

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