I just finished Enter Ghost and I thought it was very good. Glad to see that it’s your number 2. I’m still thinking my way through my thoughts about it.
Thanks, Brian. Looking forward to hearing your review of Enter Ghost. I had to cut these reviews short since there were 6 books but there's a lot to think and talk about with that book.
"Let me say summer a few more times. Summer. Summer." You make me laugh, Angelia. Loved your vlog. I also really loved Tom Lake and really liked Enter Ghost. I haven't read The Rachel Incident yet, but it is on my radar. Great top choices! Your top three choices all made it to the finals. Well done! I was judging non-fiction in this round, and my top three also made it to the next round. I'm doing fiction in this next round.
Great wrap-up. You went 3/3 didn’t you? That’s awesome. I picked 2/3 in group E, Good Night Irene, The Reformatory, and Victory City were my top three. The other three were 2 short story collections that are both speculative fiction/magical realism and neither hit all the way through. The book that beat out Victory City was my #6, Blackouts. This was an odd one too. And it’s interesting that the only one I had read within the past few months was The reformatory and I read it in December. I also went in having already given that one a 5 star rating so I was constantly comparing. I am doing the next round but got put in nonfiction so all new books. One that I already had on my TBR but haven’t read yet. Fun vlog!
Yes, my top 3 made it! I keep hearing about The Reformatory; I need to try that one. Justin Torres will be at the book festival I'm going to and I'm curious about Blackouts, even though I guess it wasn't your cup of tea. There were a lot of surprises in those results, especially in nonfiction. Happy Reading in your next round!
Congrats, great round up. I read all the books except the Levy book and my ranking would have been exactly the same (not a big surprise with all our twinning going on) You are much nicer to Witness and Questions then I was, I was disappointed with both. Rachel had it moments, but it didn’t live up to the potential I thought was there. The top two were definitely the standouts. I’ve heard great things about Levy, but I sensing Blue is not the one I should start with. Great job!
Thanks. Not surprised that our rankings match up! I'm curious about whether Levy's work is all in this style or if this is a departure. Since I'm already Team Patchett my best souvenir from this project is finding Isabella Hammad. I will definitely look out for her next book.
I sort of feel that it's unfair to have a short story collection in with a bunch of novels (not that it had bearing on your judgment--just an overall observation). I really enjoyed The Rachel Incident and thought it was strong for a debut--I'm also amazed how many reviews of this book include spoilers! Stop it! I haven't read Enter Ghost (going on TBR), but the way you describe it I can agree with your ranking of the top three. Tom Lake! Although I also do love it when books shake up my list/ideas of favorites.
Short story collections always struggle in book prize scenarios. Maybe there should be a big annual prize just for them. I volunteer to judge! The reviews of The Rachel Incident just went ahead and spilled some major plot elements; it's so hazardous to read blurbs and reviews.
I just finished Enter Ghost and I thought it was very good. Glad to see that it’s your number 2. I’m still thinking my way through my thoughts about it.
Thanks, Brian. Looking forward to hearing your review of Enter Ghost. I had to cut these reviews short since there were 6 books but there's a lot to think and talk about with that book.
They all sound mildly interesting, 'I Have Some Questions for You' sounds the most interesting for me.
Since you do read mysteries and thrillers fairly often, I think this would be a good selection.
"Let me say summer a few more times. Summer. Summer." You make me laugh, Angelia. Loved your vlog. I also really loved Tom Lake and really liked Enter Ghost. I haven't read The Rachel Incident yet, but it is on my radar. Great top choices! Your top three choices all made it to the finals. Well done! I was judging non-fiction in this round, and my top three also made it to the next round. I'm doing fiction in this next round.
Thanks, Pat. What group did you get? I'm skipping a round but following with interest. I think this is the first time that all of my choices survived.
I appreciate your thoughts. Tom Lake is so good!
Thank you! Ann Patchett writes so beautifully.
Great wrap-up. You went 3/3 didn’t you? That’s awesome. I picked 2/3 in group E, Good Night Irene, The Reformatory, and Victory City were my top three. The other three were 2 short story collections that are both speculative fiction/magical realism and neither hit all the way through. The book that beat out Victory City was my #6, Blackouts. This was an odd one too. And it’s interesting that the only one I had read within the past few months was The reformatory and I read it in December. I also went in having already given that one a 5 star rating so I was constantly comparing. I am doing the next round but got put in nonfiction so all new books. One that I already had on my TBR but haven’t read yet. Fun vlog!
Yes, my top 3 made it! I keep hearing about The Reformatory; I need to try that one. Justin Torres will be at the book festival I'm going to and I'm curious about Blackouts, even though I guess it wasn't your cup of tea. There were a lot of surprises in those results, especially in nonfiction. Happy Reading in your next round!
Congrats, great round up. I read all the books except the Levy book and my ranking would have been exactly the same (not a big surprise with all our twinning going on)
You are much nicer to Witness and Questions then I was, I was disappointed with both. Rachel had it moments, but it didn’t live up to the potential I thought was there. The top two were definitely the standouts. I’ve heard great things about Levy, but I sensing Blue is not the one I should start with. Great job!
Thanks. Not surprised that our rankings match up! I'm curious about whether Levy's work is all in this style or if this is a departure. Since I'm already Team Patchett my best souvenir from this project is finding Isabella Hammad. I will definitely look out for her next book.
Enter Ghost is the only one of these I have read and your review of it matched my reactions to it very closely. I should read Tom Lake.
I highly recommend Tom Lake! I was really glad that the judging introduced me to Enter Ghost.
All the books sounded great - even the ones you didn't like sounded interesting to me. 😊
They did all have some merits, especially for the right reader. I just wouldn't have chosen #6 or read every story in #5 if I wasn't judging them.
I sort of feel that it's unfair to have a short story collection in with a bunch of novels (not that it had bearing on your judgment--just an overall observation). I really enjoyed The Rachel Incident and thought it was strong for a debut--I'm also amazed how many reviews of this book include spoilers! Stop it! I haven't read Enter Ghost (going on TBR), but the way you describe it I can agree with your ranking of the top three. Tom Lake! Although I also do love it when books shake up my list/ideas of favorites.
Short story collections always struggle in book prize scenarios. Maybe there should be a big annual prize just for them. I volunteer to judge! The reviews of The Rachel Incident just went ahead and spilled some major plot elements; it's so hazardous to read blurbs and reviews.
I did not finish this book that never happens. I donated it to my library.
Which one?