Ann_R - Reading May - August 2024

Edited to add content:

After thinking on it, I've decided to go back to following the group and individual topics but not trying to maintain my own thread. Although I realize in-depth reviews aren't required here, I do think they add something to the Club Read experience. Right now, I'm not up to that level of participation and composition.

Original Post:

I've followed Club Read for years, occasionally commenting on individual topics. My reasons for not adding my own reading journal are varied but I think the above quotation provides a partial explanation. While on the subject of "Sense is Sensibility" may I add that is only novel by Austen I haven't read yet but I do plan to tackle it this year.

I primarily use my LT account to track my reading and print out the results at the end of each year. My reading tastes seem to vary, so I generally don't have a set reading plan. My mood, current interests, the seasons and library availability, usually dictate which books I choose to read.

My reviews are often concise unless I really have a strong reaction to a book, either positive or negative. I hope some of the long-time Club Read members will drop by and comment every once in a while.

Thanks for hearing me out. Wishing you all a fulfilling year of reading.

(Photo credit: Pinterest)

These are the books I've read so far in 2024. This is a screenshot, so there aren't any embedded links. To view my 2024 bookshelf and individual titles, please use this link. Instead of backtracking with individual reviews, I'll start with my May reading.

Completed Books May - August 2024:

(Reserved for stats, links, notes to myself and other oddities)

Possible June Reading:
Austen - Sense and Sensibility

Image credit: clipart.info/sunshineclipart

Title: The Woman They Could Not Silence
Author: Kate Moore
Genre/Subgenre: Nonfiction/Biography
Format: Ebook and Audio
Publication Date: 2022
Month/Year Read: May 2024
Rating: ★★★★
Thoughts:
Set during the mid-1800 in the U.S., we find Elizabeth Packard married and with children. As Elizabeth becomes more outspoken about her personal opinions concerning religious theology and feminism (gasp!), her husband Theophilus Ballard cooks up a plan to have her committed to a mental asylum.

After many years, through her intelligence and determination, Elizabeth manages to be released. She never stops fighting for the remaining women in the asylum, while continuing her quest to have antiquated laws changed to protect women's rights. The cost is high though, as her husband remains in control of the younger children and the property.

I did not find the writing quite as engaging as within Moore's prior book, Radium Girls. Perhaps this is due to the fact "Radium Girls" concentrated on the plight of multiple women, while this book was primarily focused on Elizabeth.

One cannot read this book without considering current political agendas, especially in the U.S. After gaining so much momentum toward the rights of women and other marginalized groups, do we really want to lose all that?

I'm so glad you decided to start a thread, Lisa. My name is Lisa too, and my middle name is Ann. How's that for a coincidence? I see you read The Ardent Swarm. I did too, last year for the Africa Challenge. I thought it was quite interesting, especially the beekeeping aspects. What did you think?

>8 labfs39: That is a nice coincidence. :-)

I also thought The Ardent Swarm was thought provoking and well written. The author managed to cover a wide variety of subjects in a short book. The methods of beekeeping interwoven with the attacks by predatory hornets made for an interesting contrast to presenting traditional village life in Nawa versus the religious/political upheaval. I think this is going to end up being one of my favorite books of 2024.

Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting here.

>3 Ann_R: I'm currently reading this one. Well, sort of. It's been on pause for a month or more now. But I do plan to finish it!

Hello from me, too! I look forward to following along. I like the screenshot of what you’ve read so far this year.

>2 Ann_R: Remains of the Day is an excellent book!

>10 WelshBookworm: >11 rachbxl: >12 ELiz_M: Thanks so much for stopping by.

>10 WelshBookworm: That's understandable. It took me a while to get through as well.

Switching to a slightly different format so I can keep up with posting here. I'm not the best at writing individual reviews. It really depends on the book and if I feel compelled to write something.

May Books Read:

1. The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore (nonfiction) ★★★★
   This has a slow moving narrative but otherwise is a worthwhile read covering the horrors of Victorian mental asylums and the lack of women's rights.
   
2. Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts (historical fiction) ★★★★★
   A well researched historical fiction novel that deserves more attention. For anyone who loved The Wizard of Oz or is interested in learning more about Maud Baum. I absolutely loved this book and didn't want to put it down.
   
3. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (fiction/mystery) ★★★
   An excellent set-up for the mystery. I can understand the popularity of this story, however it was predictable. I didn't care for the racism. I haven't read a lot of Christie's novels so maybe I'll try another one sometime.
   
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Hello, Lisa, glad to see your new thread. Great opening quote in introductory post! I look forward to your comments on Sense and Sensibility, it’s one of my favorite Austens. (I also tend to keep my book comments brief unless I have a strong reaction I want to share.)

>15 Ann_R: I used to tie myself in knots trying to write thoughtful reviews that might be of use to others. Then I changed tack and it got easier. I no longer think of what I write as a "review", it's just my personal reaction to what I've read and it's for me first and foremost. If it turns out to be of interest to anyone else, so much the better. If I really have something to say my comments might be quite lengthy, but more often than not it'll be a short paragraph. Sometimes I just record the title and the author because I don't feel like saying anything or because I'm behind with my posts. It's all good.

>17 dianelouise100: Thank you for stopping by. I'll be sure to post my thoughts about Sense and Sensibility, too.

>18 rachbxl: Thanks so much for sharing that. I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one who doesn't always feel like posting a lengthy review. Good advice to just write for yourself. : )