MARA! Yes! I gave 3 1/2 stars to Thursday Murder Club when I first read it. Then gave the second book 5 stars when listening to the audiobook. It is so good. And book 4 is FANTASTIC!
By the way, if you love Tor novellas I highly recommend The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi! It's an African inspired fantasy that's extremely short 😃
i'm always so impressed with how much you read and how well you are able to articulate your thoughts about the books! Definitely going to get some stuff from novel wicks they look so good 🥰 and as always the makeup is a slay 💅🏼💅🏼
I definitely think the Thursday Murder Club improves/matures with each installment. The Last Devil to Die was 5 stars for me-- and I rarely give cozies more than 3.5 stars and I've *never* given one over 4 stars. It is such an intelligent and tender book. It has changed me-- and that is my criteria for a 5 star rating!
Congrats on all the project progress! My goals for next year include reading more international settings, being willing to dnf series, and reading at least 200 books.
I think your cat is adorable! I don't light candles at all as my cat would find a way to get them, He is too smart for being a cat! Merry Christmas to you and your cats!
Enjoyed this a lot -- thank you. I'm so glad you enjoyed the second and third Osman books more. I love that series -- loved it from the first book (but I am a Brit!) I have not read The Last Devil to Die yet -- although I bought it on the day it came out -- I am not in a place to be emotionally wrecked right now. Thank you for recommending Written In the Stars -- that sounds like something I need to read right now -- I had not heard of it.
Lol I just let my kitty investigate my candle, granted it's not on a shelf where he can knock it over. He's singed a few whiskers but I think he's learned his lesson.z
Congratulations on finishing the Trollope series. Agree with you that the Small House at Allington was my least favorite. Lily Dale was such an irritating character. Dr. Thorne was my favorite but I loved the Last Chronicle of Barset and was pleased to see Mrs. Proudie finally get her comeuppance. Finished The Last Devil to Die this morning. I love the characters. This one is my favorite.
I ended up changing my GR mystery vote to The Last Devil to Die. I loved it so much!! (not so much the plot, but the character journeys). I hope it works for you too! ❤
I’m not surprised that Let All the Sinners Bleed hit you hard. SA Cosby has an incredible authorial voice. Meanwhile, Richard Osman just…. I can hardly think about that book without tearing up. I hope you made it through in one piece.
The thing with Mariana Zapata to me is that, when it hits it’s amazing (Kulti is my ultimate comfort read), but then, when it doesn’t it makes me scream “WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!”. It’s so desorienting (hopefully that’s a word)
Osman's #2 was great compared to #1! Unfortunately, for me, it was also much better than #3 ☹️. I'm still in line for #4 from the library. Started at 84th - several weeks later, I am 32nd🙃 Enjoy your holidays!!
An entertaining wrap-up as always! The candles seem delightful and I'm intrigued by Written in the Stars now! November was a mixed bag with some dnfs (including finally giving up on The Bear and the Nightingale after many attempts), but I did read and enjoy Bookshops & Bonedust, The Ministry of Pain (Yugoslavian author Dubravka Ugresic), and Moon of the Turning Leaves
currently reading the man who died twice (on audio) and in the first 10% already started feeling like the quality had jumped from Book 1. Felt like Book 1 was mid and yet I've already cried in Book 2!
Yes, you will probably 😢 in Richard Osman's 4th book. So good. I love that series, but I also do love British wit. I was raised on Monty Python's Flying Circus 🤹♂️ and John Cleese and Eric Idle are long time faves so all that to say the humor in his books really works for me. I've also been reading my dark romances by Neva Altaj and Jagger Cole. I slipped in the 2 clone aliens from Ruby Dixon. I caught up on my Emily Brightwell(Mrs Jeffries series) and M.C.Beaton (Hamish McBeth series) and then I reread the first Hidden Legacy trilogy.
loved the video! and always thrilled to be granted a kitten sighting. ❤🐾🐾 i thought there was 1 book with a 5***** rating; did i miss it when you showed/talked about it? 🤔
I only finished one book during November but it was a 5 star read. Muppets in Moscow by Natasha Lance Rogoff is about Sesame Street making episodes in Russia just after the Soviet Union fell.
I agree about MZ. I love many of her older books (Under Locke, Wait for It, Kulti) but her last couple of books, including All Rhodes Lead Here, just haven't worked for me. She's seriously in need of a good editor. She's no longer an auto-buy for me. I haven't given up on her completely, I'll just be vetting her books first on KU or through the library.
I've read one or two LIsa Jewell books.. and the author seems to really lean in on that element in more than one of her books. But her writing style doesn't grab me either.
Omg, you not liking the Lisa J. makes me feel so much better! I’m trying to read it now and besides the questionable aspects you mentioned I’m finding it so incredibly boring. I’m at 50% and thinking I should just DNF it.
I thought The Thursday Murder Club was so funny, but it's definitely VERY dry British humor. I can imagine that it doesn't read as funny if you're not used to that type of humor. I haven't read any of the others yet (but I know I'm getting 2 and 3 for Christmas), so I can't say if they are different, but yeah, I can imagine the 'problem' with The Thursday Murder Club is with just not picking up on the humor. I feel like that sounds kind of elitist, 'you just didn't get it', but I don't mean it like that. Just that type of dry and subtle humor sometimes doesn't transfer well to other cultures who then don't recognize certain things as being jokes/meant to be funny.
Like this quote: "Chris takes a swig of Diet Coke. He sometimes worries he is addicted to it. He had read a headline about Diet Coke once, which was so worrying he had chosen not to read the article." That's so funny to me, and the tone and the way the character is positioned is very typical for British humor, and I can imagine people might not think it's funny if they're not used to British humor.
I loved "None of This is True"...however, the whole "grooming" aspect made me quite uncomfortable. I was curious enough to see where Jewell was going to go with it and...Idk, I was kind of disappointed? It's my first Jewell book though and while I did enjoy it in general, I don't know that I can list her as an author to get excited about that. Just my opinion. 🙂
I gave None Of This Is True 3 stars.I debated giving it 2 but ultimately I did enjoy it until the end where she comes across as a pedo apologist.Are we seriously supposed to believe a grown ass man couldn't say no?It also didn't do that thing that makes me give a book 1 star regardless of how well I was liking it before. I've got all the Thursday Mystery books and I'm excited to binge them at some point.British and Australian hiumour are very similar so that likely won't be an issue for me.
I love how you held the candle out to the screen like we could smell it too!
MARA! Yes! I gave 3 1/2 stars to Thursday Murder Club when I first read it. Then gave the second book 5 stars when listening to the audiobook. It is so good. And book 4 is FANTASTIC!
I just started and I’m already bracing myself for the amazingness/devastation 😭
By the way, if you love Tor novellas I highly recommend The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi! It's an African inspired fantasy that's extremely short 😃
"Bogden can get it" is such a mood and i am hereeeeeeeeee for it. He has some sort of unknown charisma
He truly does 🔥
i'm always so impressed with how much you read and how well you are able to articulate your thoughts about the books! Definitely going to get some stuff from novel wicks they look so good 🥰 and as always the makeup is a slay 💅🏼💅🏼
Thanks for sharing my candles!! I Appreciate it!
I definitely think the Thursday Murder Club improves/matures with each installment. The Last Devil to Die was 5 stars for me-- and I rarely give cozies more than 3.5 stars and I've *never* given one over 4 stars. It is such an intelligent and tender book. It has changed me-- and that is my criteria for a 5 star rating!
Loved All The Sinners Bleed. Loved The Man Who Died Twice.
Yes, the 4th book in the Thursday Murder Club will make you cry a bit. 'The Letter' part will do you in and you will have to take a break.
Congrats on all the project progress! My goals for next year include reading more international settings, being willing to dnf series, and reading at least 200 books.
I think your cat is adorable! I don't light candles at all as my cat would find a way to get them, He is too smart for being a cat!
Merry Christmas to you and your cats!
December is going to be a cluster at work, but I'm excited for all the cozy holiday content. 😊
Love those editions of the Anthony Trollope you have.
Me too! Seeing them all together on my read shelf is a reward in itself
Enjoyed this a lot -- thank you. I'm so glad you enjoyed the second and third Osman books more. I love that series -- loved it from the first book (but I am a Brit!) I have not read The Last Devil to Die yet -- although I bought it on the day it came out -- I am not in a place to be emotionally wrecked right now. Thank you for recommending Written In the Stars -- that sounds like something I need to read right now -- I had not heard of it.
Lol I just let my kitty investigate my candle, granted it's not on a shelf where he can knock it over. He's singed a few whiskers but I think he's learned his lesson.z
Kitties and candles? NO THANK YOU!
Christmas is one of the biggest housefire seasons!
Check your FIRE ALARMS!! 🔥
Lots of love to y'all.
Can't wait to watch your goodreads choice award video ❤❤ I look forward to it 😊😊
Congratulations on finishing the Trollope series. Agree with you that the Small House at Allington was my least favorite. Lily Dale was such an irritating character. Dr. Thorne was my favorite but I loved the Last Chronicle of Barset and was pleased to see Mrs. Proudie finally get her comeuppance. Finished The Last Devil to Die this morning. I love the characters. This one is my favorite.
Ah, Mrs Proudie- she was 20 pounds of personality in a 5 pound bag
cannot wait for the end of the year listapalooza! :)
I hope you have a great reading month ahead! 👏🏽
Thank you! You too!
I ended up changing my GR mystery vote to The Last Devil to Die. I loved it so much!! (not so much the plot, but the character journeys). I hope it works for you too! ❤
Just started it 🤞🤞
I’m not surprised that Let All the Sinners Bleed hit you hard. SA Cosby has an incredible authorial voice.
Meanwhile, Richard Osman just…. I can hardly think about that book without tearing up. I hope you made it through in one piece.
I hope so too 😭😭
The thing with Mariana Zapata to me is that, when it hits it’s amazing (Kulti is my ultimate comfort read), but then, when it doesn’t it makes me scream “WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!”. It’s so desorienting (hopefully that’s a word)
I tried the Brother Cadfael series on your recommendation and really enjoyed it!
Osman's #2 was great compared to #1! Unfortunately, for me, it was also much better than #3 ☹️. I'm still in line for #4 from the library. Started at 84th - several weeks later, I am 32nd🙃 Enjoy your holidays!!
Happy holidays!
An entertaining wrap-up as always! The candles seem delightful and I'm intrigued by Written in the Stars now!
November was a mixed bag with some dnfs (including finally giving up on The Bear and the Nightingale after many attempts), but I did read and enjoy Bookshops & Bonedust, The Ministry of Pain (Yugoslavian author Dubravka Ugresic), and Moon of the Turning Leaves
The Thursday murder club series is awesome!
ok but now I'm so curious about what this 70 year old book crush is like🤣
currently reading the man who died twice (on audio) and in the first 10% already started feeling like the quality had jumped from Book 1. Felt like Book 1 was mid and yet I've already cried in Book 2!
Yes, you will probably 😢 in Richard Osman's 4th book. So good. I love that series, but I also do love British wit. I was raised on Monty Python's Flying Circus 🤹♂️ and John Cleese and Eric Idle are long time faves so all that to say the humor in his books really works for me. I've also been reading my dark romances by Neva Altaj and Jagger Cole. I slipped in the 2 clone aliens from Ruby Dixon. I caught up on my Emily Brightwell(Mrs Jeffries series) and M.C.Beaton (Hamish McBeth series) and then I reread the first Hidden Legacy trilogy.
I am so close to being done with my fantasy reads, cannot wait 😂😅
YOU CAN DO IT 🙌🙌🙌
loved the video! and always thrilled to be granted a kitten sighting. ❤🐾🐾
i thought there was 1 book with a 5***** rating; did i miss it when you showed/talked about it? 🤔
Mara, do you know there’s a documentary series about Agatha Christie starting on PBS tonight. It was on the BBC last year, it’s really good.
I love Fiona Shaw. I looked after her once on a flight from LHR to JFK and she was such a sweetheart.
Aw good to hear she’s a sweetie
I only finished one book during November but it was a 5 star read. Muppets in Moscow by Natasha Lance Rogoff is about Sesame Street making episodes in Russia just after the Soviet Union fell.
I agree about MZ. I love many of her older books (Under Locke, Wait for It, Kulti) but her last couple of books, including All Rhodes Lead Here, just haven't worked for me. She's seriously in need of a good editor. She's no longer an auto-buy for me. I haven't given up on her completely, I'll just be vetting her books first on KU or through the library.
Bogdan can totally get it!
Truly 🔥🥵
I've read one or two LIsa Jewell books.. and the author seems to really lean in on that element in more than one of her books. But her writing style doesn't grab me either.
BOGDAN!!!!❤❤❤❤❤
Omg, you not liking the Lisa J. makes me feel so much better! I’m trying to read it now and besides the questionable aspects you mentioned I’m finding it so incredibly boring. I’m at 50% and thinking I should just DNF it.
I thought The Thursday Murder Club was so funny, but it's definitely VERY dry British humor. I can imagine that it doesn't read as funny if you're not used to that type of humor. I haven't read any of the others yet (but I know I'm getting 2 and 3 for Christmas), so I can't say if they are different, but yeah, I can imagine the 'problem' with The Thursday Murder Club is with just not picking up on the humor. I feel like that sounds kind of elitist, 'you just didn't get it', but I don't mean it like that. Just that type of dry and subtle humor sometimes doesn't transfer well to other cultures who then don't recognize certain things as being jokes/meant to be funny.
Like this quote: "Chris takes a swig of Diet Coke. He sometimes worries he is addicted to it. He had read a headline about Diet Coke once, which was so worrying he had chosen not to read the article."
That's so funny to me, and the tone and the way the character is positioned is very typical for British humor, and I can imagine people might not think it's funny if they're not used to British humor.
I loved "None of This is True"...however, the whole "grooming" aspect made me quite uncomfortable. I was curious enough to see where Jewell was going to go with it and...Idk, I was kind of disappointed? It's my first Jewell book though and while I did enjoy it in general, I don't know that I can list her as an author to get excited about that. Just my opinion. 🙂
I enjoyed The Family Upstairs pretty well but that’s my only other read from her to date
I gave None Of This Is True 3 stars.I debated giving it 2 but ultimately I did enjoy it until the end where she comes across as a pedo apologist.Are we seriously supposed to believe a grown ass man couldn't say no?It also didn't do that thing that makes me give a book 1 star regardless of how well I was liking it before.
I've got all the Thursday Mystery books and I'm excited to binge them at some point.British and Australian hiumour are very similar so that likely won't be an issue for me.
Eeeek a book confused about where it (aka: author) stands on a relationship between a middle-aged man and a child? yikes on all the bikes
You need to be careful even some all natural scents in candles and cleaners can make cats very sick.