Tuesday, November 8, 2016

I show you my books, you show me yours... vol.22


Jana & Steph are bringing us book lovin' bloggers our favorite day of the month again - Show Us Your Books day!  It's the day of the month that my goodreads gets the most activity...and I do love myself some goodreads.  Be my friend (if we aren't already.) 

What I've read since the last link-up:

1.  Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart -
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I never found myself getting truly stuck into the story or needing to know what happened next.  However, I did love the character of Constance Kopp and the fact that much of the story is based on actual events and people. I got a little bored with the pigeons. Not gonna lie. 3.75/5

An entertaining read for crime fiction fans that (as one of our hosts Steph says) passed the time just fine.  I liked that most of the characters are flawed and screwed up.  I assumed it was going to go one direction, and it went another (I think that's what we call a "twist", folks), and I liked that too.  3.75/5

Meh. It was fine. It just wasn't as endearing as I remembered. The descriptions of the scenery and nature was the best. The characters annoyed me often.  2.75/5

What's up with these .75 ratings this month?  I don't know, but just go with me.

4.  The Island by Victoria Hislop - This is not a quick read, but it was worth it. So many stories within a story about the culture of Crete, family, love, sacrifice, betrayal, heartache, loyalty, grief, shame, hope, community, and more. I learned about an island that housed a colony of Greeks afflicted with leprosy and the culture of a small Crete village located just across from it...communities that I've never read about in fiction. 4/5

5.  I Hear the Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty - My second book to read from this series, and my second time to be disappointed. 2.5/5

6.  The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison - This is my kind of effed-up, thought-provoking book.  I gobbled this up in one day. Thanks to Kristen for the recommendation in this post.

I didn't have the greatest month of reading, but they can't all be phenomenal, can they? 

Currently reading:  Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo...and I just looked; I have 11 books that I'm waiting for my turn at the library.  We'll see what's next!

I've shown you mine, now you show me yours..............
                

27 comments:

  1. Baby Doll and Butterfly Garden are on my list! Just waiting for them to come in at the library!

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  2. I read Molok'ai last year about a leprosy colony on an island in Hawaii and it was sooo good so I'm really interested in The Island.

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  3. Girl Waits with Gun was a strong like for me. Like you, I loved Constance and agree the pigeons did grow a bit old. They play less of a role in Lady Cop Makes Trouble. :) I really want to read The Butterfly Garden but my library doesn't have it. The description reminds me of Hannibal (TV series). I'll have to see if I can get my library to order it!

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  4. Heidi disappointed me when I read it last year too.

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  5. Aaah, I want to read The Butterfly Garden!

    I remember liking Heidi, but I do wonder what I would think of it as an adult. I saw part of a film version recently (a German one from like the 60s or 70s) and the character of Heidi was SO unbearably sweet!

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  6. I added Baby Doll and The Butterfly Garden to my list...they both sound very intriguing for when I am in the mood for crime!

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  7. oh bummer about girl waits with gun. it's on my list, and i think my library just got it in. i am worried about the pigeons now haha. baby doll is on my list, i think netgalley declined me. rude. you sold me on the island. sounds amazing!
    i am so glad you liked the butterfly garden! i always worry when i read books like that and then recommend them, because i read like YA/romance/fantasy haha so i'm like is this mystery/crime/creepy/messed up book actually good, or is it just good to my low standards? lol.

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  8. Girl Waits with Gun is on my list but bummed to hear you didn't love it. I am curious about the pigeons now, haha. You're right about reading months, they can't all be great but glad you had some enjoyable reads in there!!!

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  9. Haha, I've seen people go half stars, but you might be the first to do quarter increments! My reading month was kind of iffy, too. A couple good ones, but a lot of slow reads and not many books read overall. Just blegh.

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  10. Girl Waits With Gun is on my list, but probably not one I'll get to before this year is over. I haven't heard of The Island, but it sounds really good!

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  11. The Butterfly Garden is already on my to read list. I may have to get to it sooner than later! I'm not sure if I ever read Heidi when I was a child. Sorry to hear it was disappointing. There are some childhood classics that I'd like to go back and read or reread now.

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  12. The pigeons were annoying. Sort of like the elephants in that one Jodi Picoult book. But you know how I feel about that book and also, Comedy Central just had an episode of Drunk History featuring the Kopp sisters. It's spectacular.

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  13. That's why I'm afraid of re-reading some of my childhood favorites - I'm afraid some of the magic will be gone.

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  14. I've heard a lot about GWWG but I think I actually have no idea what it's about. Maybe it's time I actually read a synopsis. Thinking about The Butterfly Garden too but still kind of a chicken about it!

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  15. Girl Waits With Gun seems to be on many people's lists. I'll have to check it out!

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  16. I have The Butterfly Garden on my Kindle, but I haven't had the chance to read it yet, hopefully soon because I love those crazy types of books too! I'm also adding The Island to my list as well because I always love reading books about different countries and cultures. A book my mom recommended to me called Moloka'i sounds like it has a similar storyline to The Island. It's about a leprosy community on the Hawaiian Islands. So maybe pick that one up when you have the chance!

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  17. I had a less than stellar month in terms of reading, too. Ebb and flow, ebb and flow. Not familiar with any of the books you read last month. The Butterfly Garden sounds intriguing... Have a good one!

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  18. So many of these are already on my TBR list. I'm adding The Island now :) I just got a text saying I had stuff in at the library, too.... It's gonna be a fun weekend :)

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  19. I wasn't really the Girl Waits with Gun book (and the sequel?) because it just doesn't seem like the type of topic I'd really want to read about.
    I haven't read anything on your list this month!

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  20. I read Heidi as a very young girl. I remember not loving the ending although right now I can't remember the details. I might be due a reread.
    http://runwright.net

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  21. I think I really need to read The Butterfly Garden and The Island!

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  22. The Butterfly Garden was definitely cuckoo for cocoa puffs.

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  23. I really want to read The Butterfly Garden and the girl with gun books. I haven't read Heidi, it's a bummer you liked it less the second time around. : / XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

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  24. Baby Doll and Butterfly Garden are on my list too! Butterfly Garden terrifies me a bit though...even though I love a good effed-up thriller.

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  25. What a broad range of books! I haven't even heard of most. I live in a cave or something!

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  26. I had The Butterfly Garden checked out from the library, but it was a case of too many books and not enough time ... So I returned it without reading it. I'm definitely regretting that decision! I'm planning to hop back on the waiting list soon, though. (After I've finished at least two more of the books I currently have checked out!) At least the waiting list was pretty short for that one.

    Baby Doll is also on my list, and I'm glad to see it had an actual twist. Too many thrillers promise that and just don't seem to deliver. (Or maybe I'm just getting really good at figuring out where some of these stories are headed since I read so many of them?)

    I think I'll add The Island to my list. I have to be in a very specific sort of mood to read books like this, but it sounds like it will be well worth it when I finally feel like reading it. Your description for this book actually reminded me a bit of a mix of Middlesex and Fall on Your Knees. I enjoyed both books, but Fall on Your Knees is one of my absolute favorites.

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