Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Readerann

Readerann

Joined October 2016

blurb
Readerann
Readathon: Occasional List : Geleentheidslys | Gauteng (South Africa). Education Media Service
post image

The stack is ready to go for #DeweysReadathon this Saturday (10/21)! It starts at 8:00 a.m. EST (6:00 a.m. for me). I can‘t wait to ‘unplug‘ for a day. 😀
#Deweys24hourreadathon

Bklover Bandit Queens was so good!! (Particularly the second half) 1mo
Readerann @Bklover Good to know! The title is intriguing. 1mo
BkClubCare The Great Believers! A tie in #ToF2023 - thoughts? I am perfectly fine with it. I would choose LaRose but that could possibly be Recency Bias. I liked Makkai‘s latest, too! (edited) 3w
See All 8 Comments
BkClubCare Circe good, too. 3w
BkClubCare Whereabouts was odd and odd-but-lovely transportive. Hope all is well. Happy November 3w
Readerann @BkClubCare I haven‘t read the ToF judgments yet because I‘m still in the middle of three of them! (Reading time has been sparse lately.) I‘m still enjoying Great Believers, Circe, and Bandit Queens. I did like Whereabouts. It‘s hard to believe Lahiri wrote that in Italian, then translated it herself! And now it‘s ToB time! *Sigh* It‘s still comforting somehow to know there are thousands of books out there I want to read. 🤣 (edited) 2w
BkClubCare @Readerann - I know it is thrilling and upsetting all at the same time. But somehow, I end up reading at light speed! No slumps til April 🤣 2w
Readerann @BkClubCare “Thrilling and upsetting all at once.” Exactly! I WISH I could read at light speed. I‘m too old to change my compulsion to read every single word. 🤓 2w
24 likes8 comments
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

Maybe reading this just now wasn‘t the best idea as I am feeling overwhelmed at how evil people can be. I plan to see the movie, but am wondering how 2 hours can do justice to this complicated story. By-the-way, the book is very good!

currentlyreadinginCO I just got tickets and it's actually 3.5 hours 😲 going to be hard to stay focused haha 1mo
CSeydel @currentlyreadinginCO I wish they would bring back intermission! (edited) 1mo
Bklover @CSeydel Heck yeah for intermission!! Oh, the good old days 😉😊 1mo
See All 8 Comments
RebelReader We are planning to go tonight, but 3.5 hours???? I‘ll need at least one potty break if not 2. 😝 1mo
Tamra @RebelReader I think I‘m going to wait for streaming! I do want to read it first. 1mo
RebelReader @Tamra I might wait for streaming too. I read the book when it first came out. 1mo
Readerann @currentlyreadinginCO Oh wow. I had no idea it was that long! I‘m glad you prepared me. 😬 1mo
Readerann @CSeydel @Bklover @RebelReader @Tamra I really want to see it, but am just not sure I can sit that long. I have a hard enough time with just 2 hours! 1mo
27 likes8 comments
review
Readerann
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
post image
Pickpick

Oh my, this swept me off my feet. I don‘t always love Oprah‘s picks, but this was a winner.

review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

I enjoyed this tale of a brilliant young woman fighting to practice medicine in the early 19th century.
A local library “group read”.

review
Readerann
The Ambassadors | Henry James
post image
Mehso-so

This was my 4th James and the toughest one to get through. It felt like too much work to figure out the complicated, dare I say shallow, relationships and aspirations of the characters.
#1001books

BarbaraBB Kudos for reading so many James! 2mo
Readerann @barbarabb I liked (not loved) the others, but this one was a different kettle of fish! 😗 2mo
BarbaraBB I haven‘t dared to pick it up yet. I have that same edition. 2mo
16 likes3 comments
review
Readerann
The Secret Pilgrim | John le Carre
post image
Pickpick

I‘ve been working my way through the Smiley novels and I think this is my favorite. In addition to his stellar writing, I appreciate le Carré‘s unflinching look at the world of espionage. No sugar-coating here.

review
Readerann
The Golden One | Elizabeth Peters
post image
Pickpick

It‘s always fun spending time with Amelia Peabody and crew. Also, Barbara Rosenblat might be my favorite narrator.

blurb
Readerann
post image

This book is indeed a strange new thing. I like Faber‘s writing but my overall judgment is still unclear. I‘m 70% done and I think I know what‘s going to happen, but I hope it doesn‘t. 😗

Update: I‘d have to give it a so-so. After finishing, still not quite sure how I feel about it.

BkClubCare Had you heard that Faber wrote this while his wife was battling cancer? Knowing this colored how I perceived the marriage in the story. Fascinating stuff. 2mo
Readerann @BkClubCare Oh wow - I didn‘t know that. That does indeed put a different spin on things! 2mo
BkClubCare @Readerann - and even more so, with some distance from it. He just couldn‘t relate to her world, the lack of control, how time stops and reality is distorted— so many things to think about. 🤗 2mo
13 likes3 comments
review
Readerann
Larose | Louise Erdrich
post image
Pickpick

Not my favorite by this author, but still a solid 4*. Native American culture fascinates me, and Erdrich is a masterful storyteller. (She also has a lovely reading voice.)

BkClubCare We were probably reading this at the same time! I read it for the goodreads group who follow the TOB - is that why you read it? 3mo
Readerann @BkClubCare Yes! I kind of lurk around there and am trying to finish the few “Tournament of Favorites” books I haven‘t yet read. Have you read them all? 3mo
BkClubCare Horse is underway right now; my last one. 3mo
16 likes3 comments
review
Readerann
Yellowface | R F Kuang
post image
Pickpick

I read most of this in one day - couldn‘t put it down. There were a few things that bothered me but after this and Babel, I‘m adding everything Kuang has written to my TBR.

currentlyreadinginCO Completely agree with all of this! I binged this & Kuang has me forever now, but yeah, I had some questions 🤣 4mo
Readerann @currentlyreadinginCO Yeah, not sure how much I would have liked this if it had been written by anyone else! 4mo
26 likes2 comments
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

Lovely essays about the importance of maintaining our close ties to the natural world.

13 likes1 stack add
review
Readerann
Trust | Hernan Diaz
post image
Pickpick

I wasn‘t sure how I felt about this until I finished it. I thought about it…then I thought some more. And I decided the structure and all the layers were really kind of brilliant (imho). Another winner from the #Tob2023longlist #Pulitzer

BkClubCare Same!! The ending and how it all fell into place OMG 5mo
22 likes1 comment
review
Readerann
Demon Copperhead: A Novel | Barbara Kingsolver
post image
Pickpick

SO good. Barbara Kingsolver is a master at combining sadness and beauty.

review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

🤔 The writing is impressive, but I‘m giving it a tepid “pick”. I read the whole book with a sense of uncomfortable anticipation - like watching what you suspect might become a horror movie.

review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

I seem to have found yet another Japanese author I like. Plus, I learned a lot about sustainable forestry. 🌲 🌳

sarahbarnes I love Japanese fiction! I‘ll have to check this author out. 7mo
rwmg Have you read this by the same author? My favourite book about Japanese lexicographers (alright the only book I've read about Japanese lexicographers). Great characters and the translator did a really good job so even as someone with no knowledge of Japanese I could follow the characters' discussions. (edited) 7mo
Readerann @sarahbarnes I learned about this one from the annual World Book Day list on Amazon. I usually love those books. 7mo
Readerann @rwmg I haven‘t read that one yet, but I definitely will! 7mo
18 likes4 comments
review
Readerann
Life After Life: A Novel | Kate Atkinson
post image
Pickpick

I finally got to this after 10 years (!) on my TBR. It‘s very good, although by the end I was a little weary of the time jumping.

BkClubCare I keep saying I will read more by this author since I loved this and I still haven‘t. (It‘s been 10 years?!?) 5mo
Readerann @BkClubCare Time sure flies when you have hundreds of books on your TBR! Haha. 😆 (edited) 5mo
BkClubCare @Readerann - Don‘t we know it! 😂😩😥 5mo
23 likes3 comments
review
Readerann
The Last Cuentista | Donna Barba Higuera
post image
Pickpick

Books like this clever sci-fi thriller (middle-grade) remind me why I continue to read the Newbery winners. The audio was wonderful.
#Newbery

15 likes1 stack add
blurb
Readerann
Readathon: Occasional List : Geleentheidslys | Gauteng (South Africa). Education Media Service
post image

Reading all day. Yessss!!!
#deweysreadathon

review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

As usual, I‘m enjoying ToB longlist books more than some on the shortlist. Historical fiction may be my favorite genre, and this one has great characters and atmosphere. Even though the narrative jumps back and forth in time (that seems to be a trend for authors these days), I didn‘t have trouble following it.

Ruthiella I love Historical Fiction! I‘ll check this out. 👍 7mo
BarbaraBB I have this one in my shelves. Thanks for the heads-up! 7mo
Readerann @Ruthiella @barbarabb Hope you like it! 7mo
14 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

It was time to mix it up, and jump into Smiley‘s world for a while. I think I‘ll try to finish up this series. I‘d forgotten how good Le Carré is.

BarbaraBB I‘ve had this one on my shelves for ages. Glad to hear it is good. (edited) 8mo
Readerann @BarbaraBB It took me a few Smiley books to get into the “flow”, but I think they have a style all their own. 8mo
BarbaraBB Ah, you‘re on a Smiley roll! 8mo
17 likes3 comments
review
Readerann
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
post image
Pickpick

An ambitious novel, which I thought flowed really well. I also appreciate there were some glimmers of hope amongst all the tragedy. An apt summary from a blurb on the back: “Imagine a mash-up of Stranger Things and Salman Rushdie”. 🤔
#ToB2023 (I do realize the tournament is over - hashtag is for my reference 😁.)

BarbaraBB Glad you liked it. I should change the hashtag though to #ToB2023 😉 8mo
Ruthiella I like this one more now that it is far behind me. Though maybe that‘s a testament to the writing. I should probably go back on Goodreads and add a star! 8mo
Readerann @BarbaraBB Oh, whoops. Thx! 8mo
Readerann @Ruthiella Definitely an “uncomfortable” read. 8mo
20 likes4 comments
blurb
Readerann
The Violin Conspiracy | Brendan Slocumb
post image

I won‘t finish this before the start of the tournament (100 pages in), but I am so disappointed. I love mysteries and I love the violin, but I do not love this writing. I‘m surprised the book made the shortlist. Oh well. Expectations were too high.
#ToB2023 #ToB23 #LitsyToB23

BarbaraBB It‘s an okay read but for me not shortlist worthy either! 9mo
17 likes1 comment
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

While I didn‘t love this as much as “A Constellation of Vital Phenomena” (it certainly didn‘t flow as well), I‘m a sucker for meticulously researched historical fiction with interesting characters. I grew up in Utah and didn‘t know about German Village!
#ToB2023 #ToB23

review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

This story had the perfect author to tell it. I think I will try some of Wilson‘s short stories next. I‘ll bet he comes up with some interesting stuff.

review
Readerann
Writers & Lovers | Lily King
post image
Pickpick

This was just the book I needed right NOW. I couldn‘t put it down - was awake half the night finishing it on audio. 😁

Ruthiella I liked this one too. And its depiction of restaurant work was spot on. 10mo
Readerann @Ruthiella I‘m lucky enough to not have personal experience. Poor Casey had quite a miserable time of it! 10mo
BkClubCare I like her writing 🙌 9mo
24 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

I have to let this percolate for a while, but my first impressions are: great writing and character development, although there were periods where I didn‘t like either Sam or Sadie much. I‘m not a gamer, so that maybe kept me from LOVING the book. I will also have to read some other reviews to see if I can get a handle on the purpose of a particular plot twist.
Overall, I did enjoy it.
#ToB2023 #ToB23

BkClubCare So many layers to this 10mo
Ruthiella Yeah, often neither Sadie or Sam were nice…they needed Marx to regulate the friendship. 😢 (edited) 10mo
Readerann @BkClubCare Agreed. I‘m not totally sure what I think yet. 10mo
Readerann @ Ruthiella Exactly. Marx being such a great guy made Sadie and Sam appear even more unlikeable. 10mo
31 likes4 comments
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

I liked this a lot, despite never having a full grasp on the powers of a match-pair. 😬 Also a tad long.
#ToB2023 #ToB23

blurb
Readerann
post image

Weird and fascinating and I‘m loving it so far!
#ToB2023 #ToB23

BarbaraBB I am reading this one too now and am pleasantly surprised so far! 11mo
Readerann @BarbaraBB Me too! I was afraid it might be a slog. 11mo
BkClubCare I‘ve still got HOURS to go on this and am losing enthusiasm (audiobook) 10mo
See All 7 Comments
Readerann @BkClubCare I‘m thinking this is better in print. Some sections I race through, but others I like to ponder a bit. 10mo
BkClubCare @Readerann - and yet, the footnotes!! I assume there are footnotes? These are done REALLY well in the audio and I super-appreciate the pronunciations 😊 10mo
BkClubCare I bet the print + audio might be the best way to get through this 🤣 10mo
Readerann @BkClubCare I‘m actually reading it on Kindle (the only library format available). Luckily, I can just touch the footnote to read it. 10mo
20 likes7 comments
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

Michelle inspires me to do better and be better.

Bklover ❤️❤️❤️ 11mo
18 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Readerann
Sea of Tranquility: A Novel | Emily St. John Mandel
post image
Pickpick

I‘ve always enjoyed books about time travel and this is an especially intelligent one. An extra plug: it‘s on Pres. Obama‘s best-of-2022 list!
#ToB2023 #ToB23

review
Readerann
Cold Comfort Farm | Stella Gibbons
post image
Pickpick

Especially delightful on audio. 4 1/2*
#1001books

18 likes1 stack add
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

My emotions were all over the place with this one. Memorable for sure. Gunty has some impressive writing chops. In the end, I‘d have to say I admired it more than “enjoyed” it. #ToB2023 #ToB23

Ruthiella Agree. The plotting was a little too loose for me, but the writing was great. 12mo
BarbaraBB Glad it was a pick for you! 12mo
Megabooks I can see what you‘re saying 👍🏻 11mo
24 likes3 comments
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

I‘m giving this a pick because I like Hamid‘s writing so much. Like others, though, I was left unsatisfied. Sometimes less is more. In this case, less is just…not enough. Will be surprised if it makes the shortlist.
#ToB2023 #ToB23

SamAnne Agreed. Good review. 12mo
16 likes1 comment
blurb
Readerann
post image

Here is my current TBR of #ToB2023 longlist books. I have a few more on hold at the library. Hoping at least a few of them make the shortlist, so I‘ll have a chance at becoming a “completist”. #ToB23

Cathythoughts Very nice! I read and loved Sea of Tranquility, and Trust 👍🏻👍🏻 12mo
BarbaraBB Such a great haul! I loved 12mo
Ruthiella Fantastic stack! Good luck on becoming a completist this year! 👍 12mo
Megabooks Sea of Tranquillity entered my best all time and I enjoyed several others. I hope you enjoy them too! 12mo
BkClubCare I absolutely loved Trust and it needs to be finished before you weigh in! #justsayin‘ (payoff at the end, is what I mean) 12mo
13 likes5 comments
review
Readerann
New Kid | Jerry Craft
post image
Pickpick

Lovely book. This reminds me why I will continue to read the Newbery winners.
#ReverseReadathon #Deweys #Newbery

review
Readerann
Dear Evan Hansen | Steven Levenson
post image
Pickpick

I loved this! Now I must see a performance. This is one of the two books I finished for #ReverseReadathon. I did read part of all ten books in my stack - the first time I‘ve ever done that! #Deweys

Final stats: 874 pages, 12 hr 21 min

blurb
Readerann
Project Hail Mary | Weir Andy
post image

Starting the #ReverseReadathon with the tagged book. It‘s good! #Deweys

Christine Such a fun stack! 1y
Leniverse I did Hail Mary as an audiobook, and it was amazing. I'm sure I would have liked it in print too, but the audio narration was really next level. 1y
Readerann @Leniverse Unfortunately, there was a long line for the audio at the library (now I know why). Audiobooks sure have come a long way! 1y
Readerann @Christine I try to vary the genres enough that I can jump around and not get confused. 😁 1y
27 likes4 comments
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

Beautiful collection of quotations. I picked this up from a “new age” bookshop a few months ago, and find that reading a few pages each day grounds me. I just tried to order copies for some family members, but it doesn‘t seem to be available. Shame.

17 likes2 stack adds
review
Readerann
Anxious People: A Novel | Fredrik Backman
post image
Mehso-so

Don‘t hate me, but I did not love this book! I found the first half silly, the second half much improved but confusing, and the ending dragged on too long. I was surprised because I loved Beartown.

fredthemoose 💯 same for me! 1y
Readerann @fredthemoose Yay! There are two of us. 😁 1y
MMFinck Exactly exactly the same 1y
Readerann @MMFinck So glad it wasn‘t just me! I often think I‘m too critical of books. 1y
JuniperWilde I‘m finding this one a difficult slog, too. Im this far in bc trusted reading friends have encouraged me to give it more time. ⏰ 13mo
15 likes5 comments
review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

Dr. Hyman‘s ideas make sense to me, but it‘s annoying that Pegan = Paleo + Vegan, yet he encourages you to eat meat! 3.5/5*

review
Readerann
post image
Mehso-so

This series has been a guilty pleasure for me for years. But with the passing of M. C. Beaton, I think I will put Hamish Macbeth to rest.

review
Readerann
Once There Were Wolves | Charlotte McConaghy
post image
Mehso-so

I‘m in the minority in not loving this one. I enjoyed the nature writing and learning more about wolves, but had several issues with the “sub-plots”, especially towards the end.

TrishB Same. 1y
17 likes1 comment
review
Readerann
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois | Honore Fanonne Jeffers
post image
Pickpick

There was a lot to process here. It took me so long to read it, I‘m afraid I‘m just ready to move on and not analyze too much. I mostly liked it. 😊

review
Readerann
Playing with Myself | Randy Rainbow
post image
Pickpick

I‘m a fan and enjoyed getting to know Randy a little better. Audiobook recommended (read by Randy).

review
Readerann
The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman
post image
Pickpick

This was a fun one on audio - although I did have to check my Kindle copy a few times to remember who certain characters were.

review
Readerann
post image
Pickpick

Such a sad, but excellent book. This has been on my Kindle for years, but I may not have chosen the best time to read it. Add the people of Zimbabwe to those for whom I feel heartbroken.
Late reporting, but I finished with 9 hours 49 minutes for #20in4. Hoping to do a little better next time.

review
Readerann
Birds of a Feather: A Novel | Jacqueline Winspear
post image
Pickpick

I enjoyed this second installment of the Maisie Dobbs series. I don‘t believe I liked the first one as much, but I‘ll definitely be continuing the series. The narrator did a good job with the various characters. First book finished for #20in4 .
And yes, I like my old-fashioned headphones. 😁

blurb
Readerann
post image

Hoping to finish these this weekend for #20in4. I was also able to get the Winspear on audio from the library. I‘m attempting to whittle down the old TBR and these have all been on my list a LONG time.

review
Readerann
Subdivision: A Novel | J. Robert Lennon
post image
Panpan

Well, this just wasn‘t for me. I can understand how one would appreciate its inventiveness, but it left me with the same discomfort Murakami causes me. (Sorry, Murakami-lovers.)
I continue to plug along with old ToB books from this year and years past. There are never enough reading hours in the day. 😁
#ToB2022

BarbaraBB I‘m sorry you didn‘t like it, though I can understand why! 2y
BarbaraBB Do you want to be tagged to our #CampLitsy reads this summer 😘?? 2y
Readerann @BarbaraaBb I think I‘ll just be a lurker this time around. I‘m trying to whittle down the old TBR this summer. Thanks for checking. ❤️ 2y
17 likes3 comments
review
Readerann
Such a Fun Age | Kiley Reid
post image
Pickpick

This was a different twist on race and class from anything I‘ve read recently. I liked that I didn‘t have a handle on what Alix or Emira would do next.

24 likes1 stack add