Read 200 pages of The Briar Club by Kate Quinn.  It is seems disjointed and difficult to read.  As I think about it I'm considering reading from back to front, hoping that it will make more sense.  Anyway I renewed it at the library.  And, I just finished reading The Masterpiece: A Novel by Fiona Davis, which is good, very good.  

Oh bummer REK I was hoping to get The Briar Club I generally like Kate Quinn books

I finished Murder at the Mortuary (Ginger Gold, Bk 5) by  Lee Strauss

Set in 1924 London. Fun series. I lot of discussion around how when have changed from Victorian era and how the older generation is dealing with it.

Hi, guys!  I've been MIA.  Work is insane, and we have had nothing but company and social obligations on weekends.  I hate to wish the rest of summer away (especially when it is quite precious in Minnesota), but this introvert is longing for the long, dull days of January! 

I am stil listening to Ordinary Grace by (the man of the hour it seems around here), William Kent Krueger.  I am enjoying it very much. 

I got about 75 pages into Love in the Time of Cholera, but I had to bail on it.  I just couldn't get into it.  It's very much "high brow" reading, and while I appreciated the clever writing and humor, it just wasn't my thing.  I will have to acknowlege that this celebrated author is just not for me.  I couldn't get into One Hundred Years of Solitude either. So, I started a newer release, A Short Walk Through a Wide World, which I am about 30% finished with.  It's okay.  I'm thinking that with all the stuff I have going on right now, by the time I fall into bed and start reading, I have a hard time concentrating, which may explain why I've been "eh" about just about everything I've picked up to read lately.  The audio books I listen to in the morning while I'm getting ready and on my drive to work when I'm still fresh. However, I have a feeling I would enjoy the books I've been listening to even if they were print books. 

Alice:  I, too, generally like Quinn's novels.  My reaction to this one may be a reflection of what's going on in my life now.  Have found it hard to read since May when DH was diagnosed with cancer and struggle through some books.  Even sent some back to the library after trying a few chapters.  Perhaps someone else will share their reactions.  However, I did really enjoy The Masterpiece, which is about a little known illustrator who became famous for her work in that area during the 1920s.  When she turns to oils, she is afraid that her image as an illustrator will cast negative vibes on her oils so she signs them Clyde, the name of a dog in the story.

Hello!  I finished listening to Ordinary Grace, and I enjoyed it.  Kelly - I concur with you.  I liked This Tender Land a bit better. OG was good, but there were a few things that kind of rubbed me the wrong way - like how much the adults let a couple of kids be involved in some pretty heavy stuff, and the fact that a potential killer was approached without involving the law.  LOL! I started listening to The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. I'm about halfway through reading A Short Walk Through a Wide World. 

I finished Simon, the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles about a half hour ago. I loved it, and give it 5 stars. Linda (Mom) tried it and gave it up. But I think she just wasn't in the right frame of mind.

As many of you already know, with Paulette Jiles, you have to let her be the storyteller, and let the story roll out in its own time.. The plot and the characters need a little time to marinate and then simmer, until they become a complete, and quite lovely, novel.
 

I finished The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by  Hazel Gaynor.  Duel time book set in 1838 and 1938. The 1938 discussed the Big Hurricane of 1938. The book focuses on the import roles that lighthouse keeper support. Good book

I finished As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner this afternoon while waiting to get a tire puncture fixed. Set in 1918 Philadelphia, against the devastating impact of the Spanish Flu. It was excellent, but it occurs to me that if I had read it before the COVID pandemic, it may not have had quite the affect on me that it did.

Next up is Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar.

Alice, I added The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter on my wishlist. 

Hello!  I finished A Short Walk Through a Wide World last night.  Eh.  It was interesting but possibly a little bit too psychologically, philosophically and spiritually deep for me.  LOL!  It is one of those books open to interpretation, and I'm more about - just tell me a story.  ;) I am going to start The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver this evening.  Yes, I'm sure I'm the only person here who has never read it. Still listening to God of The Woods, which is very, very good. 

Kelly - I haven't read any Paulette Giles, but I do have News of the World on my Kindle.  

Does anyone know of any books that would fit the "book featuring horses" category of this year's  HF Challenge?  I was going to read To Ride a White Horse, but I got about 25 pages in and bailed.  I'm much of a horse person.  I've looked at other people's lists in the challenge thread, but a lot of them seem to be mysteries, which I'm usually not into. 

Shelley, Have you read Horse by Geraldine Brooks? It was on my top ten list last year. Dual timelines, with the current timeline set in Washington DC. 

Not everyone likes it, with the dual timelines being the main complaint. I loved it, and the audio is excellent! 

https://www.paperbackswap.com/Horse-Geraldine-Brooks/book/0399562966/

And, I, also, have not read The Poisonwood Bible. I'll be interested in hearing what you think. I have liked all the other books by her that I have read.

Hi all, 

I've been reading some non-HF lately, but picked up Robert Harris' Imperium yesterday.  I enjoyed Pompeii by him.

Shelley - regarding the horse prompt, (stupid question) but have you read everything from Sharon Kay Penman?  There are horses on the cover of most of her books.  Also, any book where the characters need to travel by horse will fit this prompt.  I'll probably use a Poldark book for this prompt, since I am trying to knock out the series this year, and travelling by horse is pretty prominent in the stories.

CR

Hi, guys!  I finished listening to The God of the Woods a while back, and I really enjoyed it.  Then I listed to Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger, which isn't HF, but I thought I'd give it a try since it's a freebie on Audible. I liked it.  I think I may listen to the next book in the Cork O'Connor series since that one is also free on Audible. However, in the meantime I decided to start The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo as my next audio book. 

I'm still reading The Poisonwood Bible, which is slow going.  Mostly because I have been super tired by the time I hit my bed, which is generally the only time I read during the day (audio books being the exception as I listen to them while I'm getting ready in the morning and to/from work or when cleaning or something).  I think if I could just get to bed a little earlier and read more than 10 or so pages a night, I might get into it more and make faster progress. 

Thanks for the "horse" book recs.  I will check them out! Carolyn, I have read several SKP books but it's been a while, and I'm sure I'm in the middle of one or two of her series.  Will check my book shelf. 

Shelley, Linda has read the Cork O'Connor series and absolutely loved them! I read Lightning Strike, and am ready to read Iron Lake. I didn't know it was a freebie w/ Audible - thanks for that tip!

I finished Heart of the Nile by Will Thomas in the wee hours of this morning. It was good, and the plot was clever, as they always are. And the last couple of chapters tied up all the little loose ends in a most satisfactory way. However, I don't think this book was as good as some of the others in this series. I'm not sure if the author's story board of which character knew what little detail, and when was as accurate as it should have been.

But, a solid 4-star book regardless, and I will be looking forward to the next book in this series. I love the characters!

Ordered Heart of the Nile by Will Thomas from the library.  Thanks for commenting about it Kelly.  Sometime I forget where I am at in a series so it's nice to b reminded.

I finished an excellent HF book Three Words for Goodbye by  Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb. Set in 1937, Long Island, Paris, Venice and Vienna.  Highly recommend.