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Here is the Folder and thread to tell us what your monthly reads for January 2023 were.

What books did you start the new year reading ?

Please provide:
~ A GoodReads link
~ A few sentences telling us how you felt about the book.
~ How would you rate the book

I started the year with an excellent read.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Fiction
Rate 5/5
Emmett, who is eighteen, is being driven home by the Warden to the family farm in Nebraska. He has received an early release from a juvenile work farm because his father passed away. The mother disappeared years ago. The farm is being foreclosed on and he is now the guardian of his eight year old brother, Billy. Unbeknownst to all, two other friends from the work farm have stowed away in the wardens trunk. Emmitt and Billy want to head to California in search of their mom on the Lincoln Highway. This highway crosses the U.S. from NYC to San Francisco. And so begins the wild journey of Emmitt, Billy and the two friends. I absolutely loved this book. The writing was stellar and the plot kept me turning the pages. A five star book on all levels.

Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World by Anthony Doerr
Rate: 2/5
Audio- Read by author
The narration by the author was very good. Unfortunately, I found the book quite dull. The author wins the prestigious Rome Prize. He will be a fellow at the American Academy in Rome to pursue independent study. So off he goes from Idaho with his wife and two newborn twins to Italy. The book focused more on the day to day care of babies. Very little was on the sites of Rome. Take a pass on this one and read Italian Neighbors or An Italian Education by Tim Parks


Why We Can't Wait by Martin Luther King Jr.
Non Fiction
Rating: 5/5
This is book 4 of 11 in the King Legacy Series. King writes about the civil rights campaign in 1963. This book also includes his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail". The reader gets a good understanding of Kings thinking and actions during this turbulent year. This is a must read if you want to understand the Civil Rights movement.

Thanks for sharing! I need to move Why We Can't Wait higher up in my TBR. I feel like there's so much I don't know, or learned incorrectly and need to relearn.

Here are my January reads:

The Push 2/5 stars
This was a book club read and I didn't really enjoy it. It's marketed as a thriller, but it felt more like an excuse to complain about all things motherhood. Oddly enough, as a mother to young kids, I still couldn't relate to much in the book. The "twist" also wasn't really a twist. I thought the premise was great, but the execution was lacking. I should add - I'm a bit of an outlier in my 2 stars. It's a debut novel for Ashley Audrain and currently has 4.09 stars on ŷ������.

Demon Copperhead 4/5 stars
I really enjoyed this one, although to be fair it's more my "type" of book than the previous. It's just a lovely written, well-told story, as are many of Barbara Kingsolver's books.

Bad Feminist 4/5 (3.5 rounded up)
Roxane Gay has a wonderful way of telling her truth. She's not perfect and owns it, but also has strong opinions and isn't afraid to share them. I don't often read short stories, but found hers enjoyable and entertaining.

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row 5/5 stars
I truly believe anyone (especially in the US) would benefit from reading Anthony Ray Hinton 's story. Although his story is heartbreaking, his voice is powerful. He'll leave you angry, depressed, and inspired all at once. The narrator for the audio was very good as well.

This Is Your Mind on Plants 4/5 (3.5 rounded up)
This was my first of Michael Pollan's work (other than hearing him on podcasts), and I mostly enjoyed it. I would only recommend it to someone who loves plants (or one of the 3 highlighted: Caffeine/coffee bean, Peyote/Mesculine, Opium/Poppy flower), and it dragged a bit in places. But overall interesting and well written.

Overall a very nice start to the year for you, Lindsay ! I enjoyed reading the recap of your reads.

I have Demon Copperhead on my TBR list. Like you, I've enjoyed the Barbara Kingsolver books that I've read.

Alias Reader wrote: "I started the year with an excellent read.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Fiction
Rate 5/5
Emmett, who is eighteen, is ..."

I'm a fan of Tim Parks myself.

Lindsey wrote: "Here are my January reads:

The Push 2/5 stars
This was a book club read and I didn't really enjoy it. It's marketed as a thriller, but it felt more like an excuse to complain about..."

Great job this month! It's fine to give a low rating, as long as you clarify why.

John wrote: "I'm a fan of Tim Parks myself.
.."

I really enjoyed Italian Neighbors and An Italian Education. I read them decades ago. I should re-read them.

Unfortunately, my most recent read by him was a big miss. Italian Ways: On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo. I gave it 2 stars. For me, two stars means did not meet my expectations.

My review was:
Disappointing outing from a favorite author. The author went into tedious detail about train travel in Italy. He sounded like an unfunny cranky old guy.

Good Grief ! According to my journal, I read Italian Ways back in Sept. 2015. I can't believe how the years are flying by. :(

Alias<<< The depressed.

Alias Reader wrote: "John wrote: "I'm a fan of Tim Parks myself.
.."

I really enjoyed Italian Neighbors and An Italian Education. I read them decades ago. I should re-read them.


Great minds, sadly, don't always think alike. My ⭐⭐⭐⭐ review ...

Very well written and funny insight into the Italian character via the national train system. Much of the book covers his home turf in the north, with the final section being a trip to Sicily and back. I confess that never having been to the country myself, and even with the assistance of provided maps, I wasn't able to easily differentiate say Turin from Verona as distinct places, but I'd accept that an Italian who'd never been to the States might have trouble with, say, Dallas vs. Houston as well. My quibbles with this overall excellent book would be that Parks does get bogged down in the intricacies of the ticket purchasing regulations a couple of times, as well as that although his time in the far southeast of Italy (the "boot") was interesting in that he rode their network of (very!) local trains, he waxed a bit philosophical for me as the book drew to a close.

Alias Reader wrote: "I started the year with an excellent read.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Fiction
Rate 5/5
Emmett, who is eighteen, is ..."

Great start to the New Year, Alias, with two 5-star books! It's disappointing about Doerr because he has a lovely way with words. I guess this proves that even fine writing cannot save a boring and uninteresting story.

Lindsey wrote: "Here are my January reads:

The Push 2/5 stars
This was a book club read and I didn't really enjoy it. It's marketed as a thriller, but it felt more like an excuse to complain about..."

Lindsey, thanks for sharing about the books you read this month. It's a share the first disappointed so much. Over the years i've tried reading books that sound similar to my life. Often i am let down because their worlds don't truly seem the same. At least it has me looking at my life.

You had a pretty nice month of reading, and a good mix, too. The Anthony Ray Hinton has been added to my TBR, thanks to your thoughtful comments on it here & elsewhere. It's a topic of interest to me.

Again, thanks for sharing here.

deb

John wrote: "My quibbles with this overall excellent book would be that Parks does get bogged down in the intricacies of the ticket purchasing regulations a couple of times, as well as that although his time in the far southeast of Italy (the "boot") was interesting in that he rode their network of (very!) local trains, he waxed a bit philosophical for me as the book drew to a close..."

John, i find your comments on this informative. My siblings are in Italy now & next week will be approaching that part of the nation. They are traveling by train, so it'll be interesting to see what they say. Our first visit there trains were confusing to us but subsequent train adventures have been much easier.

ANYway, i like reading the comments you & Alias shared about the same book. Thanks to both of you for taking the time.

My January began slowly with the first book but after that, books flew. Ok, to be fair, many were small books for my 100 Challenge and mysteries.

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World--Peter Wohlleben. This began slowly (last year) for me but picked up the pace in the second half. I learned very much from this German forest ranger, including studies about plants in European settings.

The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West--David McCullough tells the story of some of the first settlements in Ohio. Using diaries, letters and city museum offerings. McCullough shared much about the initial planning, execution and first 50 or so years along the Ohio River, beginning in Marietta.

Fen, Bog and Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis--Annie Proulx is a collection of essays about these bodies of water and how they contribute to the environment & are changing in dreadful ways, thanks to humans.

Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land--Taylor Brorby has this North Dakota native sharing about life in the oil rich western part of the state. Brorby, an environmental activist and writer, shares about his estrangement with his parents since his sharing about his sexual preference. His sister has been a mainstay in his life & still is.

The Pioneers--James Fenimore Cooper. The subtitle is "the Sources of the Susquehanna" and tells about the settling of parts of western New York. Part of the Leatherstocking series, Natty Bumppo complains about the people settling into land he's known as wild since he left home. It's as relevant today as then.

Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, and Other Sex Offenders--Anna C. Salter. This is a disturbing book because she illustrates how easily these predators, for the most part, fit into good neighborhoods and organizations. We all think we can tell who they would be but, as she shares time & again, we cannot. She also shares some useful ideas about protecting you & yours.

The Secret of Chimneys--Agatha Christie introduced me to a previously unknown short series by this mystery writer. Police Superintendent Battle investigates a murder with international significance. Frankly, the small part the superintendent played in the mystery has me wondering why Christie wrote more of them. Disappointing.

The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty--Vendela Vida is a novel i read for our Challenge--second person POV. While i'm not a fan of this viewpoint, i was bemused by the novella. So much so that i am going to read another by Vida for a different prompt. The story--a young woman has left her husband to travel to Casablanca. Almost immediately her backpack with papers & ID are stolen, so the story is what happened next. I liked it.

The Lewis Man--Peter May. This is the conclusion of a trilogy of atmospheric mysteries set on the Lewis Isle in Scotland. May writes well of the land, the people and personal histories. The mysteries are not nearly as interesting, more a vehicle for writing about life there, which i liked. It begins with a body of indeterminate age being discovered in a bog, where locals are cutting peat for winter fuel.

Deep Ellum--Brandon Hobson. Another new-to-me author who engaged my curiosity. This is basically a story about a man who returns home to Dallas because his mother attempted suicide. Detailed are the minutia which make up his days while here, including much walking around the city, seeing new-to-him people, as well as old friends, and painful visits with family. I immediately wanted to read another by him, so am doing so today.

My dad got sick and went into the hospital on the 14th and passed away on the 24th (he had some other procedures done before then, so I was tied up with those as well), so I only got to read one book in January.


by
Vivien Chien

4 Stars - It was a fun, cozy mystery. To me, most cozy mysteries have the same basis, just different characters and different settings. LOL!

madrano wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Here are my January reads:

The Push 2/5 stars
This was a book club read and I didn't really enjoy it. It's marketed as a thriller, but it felt more like an excuse t..."

Thank you Deb! I have gotten so many amazing recommendations from this group and am happy to share mine in return. So many books I would never have come across without this wonderful group :)

madrano wrote: "My January began slowly with the first book but after that, books flew. Ok, to be fair, many were small books for my 100 Challenge and mysteries.

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, Ho..."</i>

[book:Deep Ellum sounds like such an interesting read. I've just added it to my TBR (& it fits prompts I hadn't planned out yet, so that works well!)

~*Kim*~ wrote: "My dad got sick and went into the hospital on the 14th and passed away on the 24th (he had some other procedures done before then, so I was tied up with those as well), so I only got to read one bo..."

Oh Kim I'm so sorry! I hope you're managing ok.

Lindsey wrote: "Oh Kim I'm so sorry! I hope you're managing ok."

I am hanging in there, just ready for things to settle down so I can get back into reading. But I'm having legal problem's with my dad's girlfriend (she stole half his money before I could contact the bank), so things won't be settling down for a while.

Re: Italian Ways: On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo--Tim Parks

John wrote: " My quibbles with this overall excellent book would be that Parks does get bogged down in the intricacies of the ticket purchasing regulations a couple of times,.."

That's what bothered me. The constant carping about the ticket purchasing. I guess I was looking more for the humor I found in the other two books I read of his.

That's cool. We still can be book buddies ! :)

madrano wrote:
Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, and Other Sex Offenders--Anna C. Salter. This is a disturbing book because she illustrates how easily these predators, for the most part, fit into good neighborhoods and organizations. We all think we can tell who they would be but, as she shares time & again, we cannot. She also shares some useful ideas about protecting you & yours..."

Terrific reading month, Deb. You really started 2023 off with a bang.

As to the predators book and what you wrote about the safety of neighborhoods, many years ago I heard of a website that will tell you where in your area are registered sex offenders. I have to say living in NYC, I was astounded at the number in my area. :(

I no longer recall the website but I am sure if you google, it will be easy to locate. I think it was a government website, though I may be wrong. It's something I would check before purchasing a home for sure.

madrano wrote:
Deep Ellum--Brandon Hobson. Another new-to-me author who engaged my curiosity. This is basically a story about a man who returns home to Dallas because his mother attempted suicide. Detailed are the minutia which make up his days while here, including much walking around the city, seeing new-to-him people, as well as old friends, and painful visits with family. I immediately wanted to read another by him, so am doing so today.."

Isn't that a wonderful feeling when you find a new author that you enjoy and find they have written other books for you to read.

~*Kim*~ wrote: "My dad got sick and went into the hospital on the 14th and passed away on the 24th (he had some other procedures done before then, so I was tied up with those as well), so I only got to read one bo..."

Kim, I am so sorry to learn about your dad's passing :(

Lindsey wrote: "So many books I would never have come across without this wonderful group :)
..."
Lindsey, you've been a wonderful addition to the group. I'm so glad you decided to join. You've added a bunch to my TBR, too ! :)

Here are mine, quite a few thanks to the 100 Challenge ...

A Five Year Sentence by Bernice Rubens ⭐⭐⭐⭐

/review/show...


Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams by Louisa Thomas ⭐⭐⭐⭐


/review/show...


Something to Answer For by P.H. Newby ⭐⭐��

/review/show...


On Fiji Islands by Ronald Wright ⭐⭐⭐⭐

/review/show...


The Suitcase by Sergei Dovlatov ⭐⭐⭐⭐


/review/show...


Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yū ⭐⭐

/review/show...

Very nice month. I haven't hear of any of the authors or books, so I'm taking note. Thanks!

~*Kim*~ wrote: "My dad got sick and went into the hospital on the 14th and passed away on the 24th (he had some other procedures done before then, so I was tied up with those as well), so I only got to read one bo..."

My condolences, Kim, for your sudden loss. I'm sorry that it will take time to straighten up his estate. Burden upon sadness.

We all know what a comfort reading can be at such times. I hope your life settles to a better pace soon. Take care.

Lindsey wrote: "I have gotten so many amazing recommendations from this group and am happy to share mine in return. So many books I would never have come across without this wonderful group ..."

Isn't it wonderful? While i sometimes bemoan my extended To Be Read list, i am grateful people share here about their selections. So many times they enhance my reading life.

Deep Ellum worked for me because i'm in Dallas now. I knew the section of town which his characters live but it was still mostly new to me, which is nice. I'm glad it fits for your Challenge, too.

Alias Reader wrote: "As to the predators book and what you wrote about the safety of neighborhoods, many years ago I heard of a website that will tell you where in your area are registered sex offenders. I have to say living in NYC, I was astounded at the number in my area...."

I have heard of that list but haven't checked it out. I'm sure for many it would provide a comfort. Others might be disturbed to learn how many convicted offenders are nearby.

Oddly, Salter didn't mention the site, possibly meaning it wasn't widely available at the time. I'm not certain.

Alias Reader wrote: "Isn't that a wonderful feeling when you find a new author that you enjoy and find they have written other books for you to read...."

'Tis! Reading Deep Ellum, i had no sense of his ethnicity, which is fine. However, i learned after looking up what else he'd read that he is enrolled in the Cherokee tribe & his subsequent novels are about that part of him. This is one reason i selected another one for our Challenge.

~*Kim*~ wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Oh Kim I'm so sorry! I hope you're managing ok."

I am hanging in there, just ready for things to settle down so I can get back into reading. But I'm having legal problem's with my ..."

Wishing you only the best!

John wrote: "Here are mine, quite a few thanks to the 100 Challenge ...

A Five Year Sentence by Bernice Rubens ⭐⭐⭐⭐..."

From the high to low, John. What a reading month you had! I don't need any downer books in my life right now, so thanks for the warning.

Your review of Rubens book is terrific. I feel as though i experienced the excitement of her writing, then the later less than thrilled side. Thanks for sharing about this one, both the good and the less pleasing.

It seems to me you had a fine month of reading. Once again, i thank you for the comments on the book about Louisa Adams. I really feel for a mother traveling with children, even today. Back then? And she had to make the arrangements? That's love...or something similar. :-)

Thanks for taking the time to write up these books, John. We all benefit.

John wrote: "Here are mine, quite a few thanks to the 100 Challenge ...
..."

Very nice reading month, John. Really only one clunker in the group.

I've been toying with reading Tokyo Ueno Station I don't mind depressing.
However, it seemed like it fell into the magical realism genre, which is a genre I try to avoid at all costs.

I'm putting Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams on my TBR list. Though I see it's 500 pages and you commented that it dragged on a bit too much. Maybe I'll give it a short leash.

I enjoyed all your reviews and especially that you explained clearly why you enjoyed a novel and why you didn't. It really helps me decide if a book is for me or not. Thanks !

~*Kim*~ wrote: "My dad got sick and went into the hospital on the 14th and passed away on the 24th (he had some other procedures done before then, so I was tied up with those as well), so I only got to read one bo..."

Kim, I'm so sorry to hear of your dad's passing and the legal issues that caused. My condolences to your loss.

Alias Reader wrote: "John wrote: "Here are mine, quite a few thanks to the 100 Challenge ...
..."

Very nice reading month, John. Really only one clunker in the group.

I've been toying with reading [book:Tokyo Ueno ..."

It's told from the point of view of a ghost looking back on his life. It's not like there are talking cats, etc.

RE: Tokyo Ueno Station

John wrote: "It's told from the point of view of a ghost looking back on his life. It's not like there are talking cats, etc.."

LOL. I guess I can deal with a ghost. I'll put it back on my TBR list. Thanks.

John wrote: "It's told from the point of view of a ghost looking back on his life. It's not like there are talking cats, etc. ..."

John, you got me LOLing with that last line. Depressed talking cats would have been several steps too far for me!

Busy month for me!! Got 5 books in :)

Once There Were Wolves - Charlotte McConaghy (5 Stars)
Truly unbelievable, one of my favorite reads in recent memory. Gripping from start to finish; never feels like a thriller, a romance, a drama, etc. Just a well told story with REALLY fleshed out characters. On the shorter side too so it was quick to get through since I didn’t want to put it down. Very educational on wolves and climate change as well!

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue - V.E. Schwab (3 Stars)
It was a good novel, but I wanted to read a different story than the author was telling. This was more focused on the romance and I was so interested in the adventure aspect; the concept behind this novel was so intriguing that I wanted more than what I got.

Salvage the Bones - Jesmyn Ward (5 Stars)
Powerful. Devastating. Not afraid to hurt you. Very emotional family story wrapped up in the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, treated with such savagery and tenderness. Jesmyn Ward is a master of human interaction.

Bunny - Mona Award (4 Stars)
What a genuinely creative and fun story! It felt so fresh and exciting to me, I didn’t really see any of the narrative directions coming, and they were SO outlandish, but that’s what made it such a fun ride. Really, a quality read if you’re looking for something like Heathers with a bit of a sci GI twist.

The Diagnosis - Alan Lightman (3 Stars)
I felt a lot of actual stress when reading this one; it worked best when the narrator imposed a time crunch on himself and took us along for the ride. But it didn’t feel like it was saying anything new, more like an exercise I postmodernismwith a statement to be made about how awful the American healthcare system is, which is not really news

Anyway, thanks for reading along!! Happy reading and happy valentine’s!! :)

Andrew wrote: "Busy month for me!! Got 5 books in :)

Once There Were Wolves - Charlotte McConaghy (5 Stars)
Truly unbelievable, one of my favorite reads in recent memory. Gripping from start to finish; never fee..."

Congrats on the interesting reading month, Andrew. I enjoyed reading your reviews.

I'm going to add Wolves to my TBR list. Thanks for the
new to me title !

Andrew wrote: "The Invisible Life of Addie Larue - V.E. Schwab (3 Stars)
It was a good novel, but I wanted to read a different story than the author was telling. This was more focused on the romance and I was so interested in the adventure aspect; the concept behind this novel was so intriguing that I wanted more than what I got...."

Great month, Andrew. I've had this same feeling about a perfectly fine novel that just isn't what i wanted. I'm usually wanting more of one specific part of the book, so get frustrated. It's always nice to know i'm not alone on that front.

Thank you for sharing about all the books you read. The topics were varied and sound rewarding.

Well I had a big reading month in January - read a lot of books:

So off we go (lol):

1) Abominable Snowman by Brian G. Berry - 5 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

2) Cold Sanctuary by Anthony M. Strong - 5 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

3) The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn - 4 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

4) The Vessel by Adam Nevill - 3 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

5) Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny by Eric Butler - 4 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

6) The Ghost Pirates: Sea Horror Novel by William Hope Hodgson - 4 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

7) White Russian by J.A. Konrath - 5 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

8) The Madness of the Invisible Man by David Kempf - 4 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

9) Rose by David Haynes - 4 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

10) The Dismembered by Jonathan Janz - 5 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

11) Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill - 4 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

12) Ghost Town by Mark Lukens - 5 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

13) The Coldwater Haunting by Michael Richan - 5 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

14) Mise en Place by Jeffrey Caston - 5 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

15) A to Z of Horror by Kevin J. Kennedy - 4 stars.
My review:
/review/show...

16) The Hungry Moon by Ramsey Campbell - dnf - no stars.
My review:
/review/show...

Really good month except for that last book which was a dnf - first time reading that author too so disappointed that I wasted a lot of time in that book trying to figure things out - my brain was tired trying to figure out what was going on and there were so many characters to keep track of that I felt I was in a room with 1,000 people and trying to remember all their names! lol I might try him again but it will be awhile before I step into him.

Wow ! Almost a book every 2 days.

I'm glad to see they were winners for you, Marie.

I am delighted that you read several books with titles echoing our winter weather--cold, shuddering, snow, and more. What a crop of books. And, other than that last one, you had mostly 5 & 4 star books. How cool is that?!

And, naturally, i love when you need to haul out Gore Suits & such, as you did in the comically named Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny. LOL

We're so glad you shared with us, Marie. You are a fine resource for these genres. Thank you.

Alias Reader wrote: "Wow ! Almost a book every 2 days.

I'm glad to see they were winners for you, Marie."

Thank you so much, Alias! I had four books going at once is mainly how all those books were read. lol When I would get down to two books I would pick up another two so that I had a few going at once. :)

madrano wrote: "I am delighted that you read several books with titles echoing our winter weather--cold, shuddering, snow, and more. What a crop of books. And, other than that last one, you had mostly 5 & 4 star b..."

Yes - I had lots of winter horror going on! lol Gore suits are a must for some of the books I read! lol

Always a pleasure sharing reviews here with you all! Thanks so much, Deb! :)

Marie wrote: had four books going at once is mainly how all those books were read. lol When I would get down to two books I would pick up another two so that I had a few going at once. :)
"
Amazing. I have a tough time keeping characters and plot straight in one book !

Marie wrote: "I had four books going at once is mainly how all those books were read. lol When I would get down to two books I would pick up another two so that I had a few going at once...."

You what?!? Like Alias, i'm lucky to keep all character names and descriptions right. Four?! Impressive.

Alias Reader wrote: "Marie wrote: had four books going at once is mainly how all those books were read. lol When I would get down to two books I would pick up another two so that I had a few going at once. :)
"
Amazing. I have a tough time keeping characters and plot straight in one book !..."

Thank you! It has sort of become a habit it seems in the last year or so to have at least more than three books going on, but sometimes if I mix up the genres then it is easier to keep track of who is who. lol

madrano wrote: "Marie wrote: "I had four books going at once is mainly how all those books were read. lol When I would get down to two books I would pick up another two so that I had a few going at once...."

You what?!? Like Alias, i'm lucky to keep all character names and descriptions right. Four?! Impressive ..."

Thank you, Deb! Yes it is quite a feat sometimes but I can rotate the books and keep notes. Since I have a kindle fire it is easy to keep the notes and highlights so I know who is who. lol :)

Very impressive, Marie!