I feel ya! I've read 1 book so far this year. Pretty bad for me but I've been consumed with a video game. I can't seem to focus on more than 1 thing at a time.
I still appreciate how you can word your critiques and the things going wrong. You remember the books and also saying the good stuff. I always add some books to my tbr because of these wrap ups. I hope the mental health bus is going up and wishing you all the good vibes.
I‘ve read several of Hilary Mantel‘s essays as well as her autobiography and didn‘t love any of it. It all felt a bit… trying too hard to be „extra learned“ to me. But since her writing‘s become so revered it seems almost sacrilegious to pooh-pooh any of her output. Since I have the Wolf Hall trilogy sitting on my shelf I‘ll give it a try at some point. Maybe I‘ll be pleasantly surprised because my expectations at this point are actually rather low. Sorry to hear about your mental health struggles - and thanks for being open about them. ❤ If it helps, know that there‘s a number of us waiting for the bus to pick us up. So - wave when you‘re passing us by. Love to you and the kitties from tiny-town Austria, Monica 📚🐾🐾
You amaze me that you can read 21 books in a month in which you feel you are struggling. I only work part time, and I struggled to complete 4 books. I had to throw in a short middle grades book to get my 4th book in.
If you like mysteries set on trains, and you fancy some middle grade, I can thoroughly recommend the adventures on trains series where a child goes on trains with his author / journalist uncle and solves crimes
When I need to put something soothing on, I often go back into your TH-cam back catalogue and rewatch your agatha christie round ups and project poirot/mission Marple episodes. Thank you for all the content that I have really enjoyed over the years and still enjoy (im totally here for when you do an agatha reread!!), I really appreciate you continuing even when you are struggling, please just keep to your own pace and we will just always be here. ❤
I’m so glad you liked The Beekeepers Apprentice, one of my favourite series of all time. Please read on, it’s so good! A Monstrous Regiment of Women, and The Moor are particularly good
Maura, take care and know that you are so appreciated and are an amazing, beautiful human being. I hope your spirits improve soon. Do what you love, spend time with positive people, and watch stuff that makes you pee your pants laughing. (Those things always help me, anyway.) ❤
Same rating from me on Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect! Enjoyed it more than the first (also gave the first one a four) and the train vibe was so much fun!
I LOVED Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect just as much as the first one! It's shaping up to be an all-time favourite series for me. The writing and that brand of Aussie humour is just so my thing! It's honestly rude how clever and well put-together these books are. I can't wait for the next one! Christmas and magicians? Bring it on!
Have you seen that Lana Ferguson has a lochness monster paranormal romance coming out later this year? I so pumped as her contemporary but someone is a mythical creature thing is just exactly what I want
SO glad to hear your thoughts on Everyone on this Train is a Suspect!! I was disappointed by the first one (still enjoyed it and gave it 3.5 stars but it was a 5 star prediction) so that has made me so so much more hopeful for the second one!!
I really need to continue was the Between Earth and Sky series. It's been two years since i read Black Sun. I really need to reread it and just continue that series
The beekeeper Apprentice is also my fav Sherlock Holmes fan fiction. My next fav is a manga called Moriarty. I also loved Sherry Thomas series and need to finish it soon. The series isn’t 5 stars but it was about. 3.75-4 stars for me if memory serves me right.
Great roundup of books. I'm really looking forward to reading Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect. I love murders set on trains too and the Ghan is a train I've actually travelled on (fortunately with no bloodshed). Happy to enjoy videos whenever you feel up to posting. Your health (mental and physical) comes first.
Sorry to hear you’ve been struggling lately. I hope you are taking care, making yourself a priority and that it passes soon. Your videos are always a highlight of my week. Really intrigued about this longer books project!
Was really happy to get a new episode of WTOOT this week! Glad you're choosing to release updates when you're able to do so rather than forcing yourself to adhere to a strict schedule.
Girl! We are reading twins 😂 I had read “Everyone on this train is a suspect” first and then followed up with book 1 in the series and DEFINITELY enjoyed book 2 more. Book 1 was too busy with characters and events and also waaaayy too serious (brother’s death?!). Book 2 had a whole lot more humor 😊. If you are interested in a book with fantastic character work, consider Elizabeth George. Just finished “Great Deliverance” and even though it started really slow, the characters made up for it! Lastly if you like to read a heart warming slice of life kind of story, consider “Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting” by Clare Pool. Thanks for the video! I will read the Duke Who Didn’t 😊
I read Everyone on this train... and I thought the pacing was better than the last book. I thought the tone was so different, the last book was unexpectedly dark and this one was like a comedy-mystery anime in book form? I still loved it. Also it was a love letter to Australia, made me want to go on a train journey (not in Australia)
I've started reading Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (about 40 pages in) and I'm finding the MC to be kinda unpleasant😅 I'm thinking about dnf-ing it, but I'll give it a bit longer before deciding 🤔 (Also, what I am realizing I want in mystery is, well, more Poirot and that nothing really compares to him for me, Miss Marple coming close 😆)
Adding The Duke who Didn't and Black Sun and to my tbr 🙂 thank you Im reading a fun debut sci fi just now Cascade Failure by LM Sagas. Bookshops and Bonedust next! One of my favourite books so far this year Greta and Valdin, very funny Looking forward to Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo and Julia Armfields next book in June! 🎉
Sending you so much love and good energy, Mara 🤍 Your vlogs bring such comfort and your recommendations are always so on point! Take care 😘 #OneDayAtATime
Read Wolf Hall two years ago and it certainlty was some words on a page put together to make sentences hahaah. Like by the end I knew less about Thomas than I did going in haha. Very excited to continue Black Sun, Id been put off because so many people didnt like book 2 but I think now with 3 coming out, Ill binge book 1 and read the next 2. Agree about Prince of Fools, its fine, well written but Abercrombie has spoiled me for that haha. That being said I did really like The Book That Wouldnt Burn, and I for once kinda liked him writing a world that was still dark but had a bit more hope in it.
I read Once Upon A Broken Heart this month, I didn't dislike it but I don't think I'm going to continue in the series. Felt like a fairytale and a little YA to me. But the story didn't move very fast. I think a teen might enjoy it more, or someone in the mood for a vibes only read. I'm currently reading The 13 Problems because I realised I hadn't read it and I was reading Marple - the Agatha Christie collection by other authors that came out a while ago. Enjoying them both! I'm nearly finished on a re-read of Polaris Rising for bookclub. Very enjoyable sci fi romance in an Ilona Andrews style.
I had 26 things read though a lot of light novels and manga/manwha + a slew of ongoing manwa. Traditional books included: The City of Stardust The Fox Wife The Untitled Books The Very Irregular Society of Witches Black Powder War (Reread to complete the series) The Only One Left ; I liked Irregular Society and the Fox Wife I really recommend as being very interesting.
I do think your mirrored heaven review solidified that the series is a dnf for me. If only cause I only liked the first book and I tend to want my trilogy enders to be strong points not the weak points.
Ah.. I am one who didn't like Everyone on This Train is a Suspect as much as the first. (In fairness, it very well could be me/timing-- the last two months have been a strain.) I thought the whole meta aspect was fun and fresh in the first book ... but it became annoying in this book. I love a mystery (or any story) on a train so I really should have enjoyed this one! I guess we'll see what book 3 brings. I will continue if he publishes another.
Super late to the party but I liked Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone.. and DNF'd Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect. I was extremely wary of the premise (groups of authors frequently don't work for me nor am I super excited about the trains), I missed the nonlinear storytelling from the first book, and I really disliked the.. uhhh.. incorrect accusation, let's call it. 😅. But, I'm also not a huge murder mystery reader. =]
3 months into the year and I’m still thinking of reading something.
I feel ya! I've read 1 book so far this year. Pretty bad for me but I've been consumed with a video game. I can't seem to focus on more than 1 thing at a time.
@verucasalt4535 what game?
@@Momofdom Balders Gate 3. It won game of the year 2023.
I still appreciate how you can word your critiques and the things going wrong. You remember the books and also saying the good stuff. I always add some books to my tbr because of these wrap ups.
I hope the mental health bus is going up and wishing you all the good vibes.
Thank you kindly 🙏
I‘ve read several of Hilary Mantel‘s essays as well as her autobiography and didn‘t love any of it. It all felt a bit… trying too hard to be „extra learned“ to me. But since her writing‘s become so revered it seems almost sacrilegious to pooh-pooh any of her output.
Since I have the Wolf Hall trilogy sitting on my shelf I‘ll give it a try at some point. Maybe I‘ll be pleasantly surprised because my expectations at this point are actually rather low.
Sorry to hear about your mental health struggles - and thanks for being open about them. ❤ If it helps, know that there‘s a number of us waiting for the bus to pick us up. So - wave when you‘re passing us by. Love to you and the kitties from tiny-town Austria, Monica 📚🐾🐾
I also gave 'Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone' 4 stars, so I hope I like the sequel as much as you did!!
You amaze me that you can read 21 books in a month in which you feel you are struggling. I only work part time, and I struggled to complete 4 books. I had to throw in a short middle grades book to get my 4th book in.
it's all about the audiobooks these days :)
If you like mysteries set on trains, and you fancy some middle grade, I can thoroughly recommend the adventures on trains series where a child goes on trains with his author / journalist uncle and solves crimes
When I need to put something soothing on, I often go back into your TH-cam back catalogue and rewatch your agatha christie round ups and project poirot/mission Marple episodes. Thank you for all the content that I have really enjoyed over the years and still enjoy (im totally here for when you do an agatha reread!!), I really appreciate you continuing even when you are struggling, please just keep to your own pace and we will just always be here. ❤
I’m so glad you liked The Beekeepers Apprentice, one of my favourite series of all time. Please read on, it’s so good! A Monstrous Regiment of Women, and The Moor are particularly good
Maura, take care and know that you are so appreciated and are an amazing, beautiful human being. I hope your spirits improve soon. Do what you love, spend time with positive people, and watch stuff that makes you pee your pants laughing. (Those things always help me, anyway.) ❤
Same rating from me on Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect! Enjoyed it more than the first (also gave the first one a four) and the train vibe was so much fun!
I do love a train!
@bookslikewhoa One of my mystery shows came back for a new episode and the first episode was a murder mystery play on a TRAIN. I was so excited 😂
I LOVED Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect just as much as the first one! It's shaping up to be an all-time favourite series for me. The writing and that brand of Aussie humour is just so my thing! It's honestly rude how clever and well put-together these books are.
I can't wait for the next one! Christmas and magicians? Bring it on!
Have you seen that Lana Ferguson has a lochness monster paranormal romance coming out later this year? I so pumped as her contemporary but someone is a mythical creature thing is just exactly what I want
I have that Target mug and it’s one of my faves!
SO glad to hear your thoughts on Everyone on this Train is a Suspect!! I was disappointed by the first one (still enjoyed it and gave it 3.5 stars but it was a 5 star prediction) so that has made me so so much more hopeful for the second one!!
I really need to continue was the Between Earth and Sky series. It's been two years since i read Black Sun. I really need to reread it and just continue that series
The beekeeper Apprentice is also my fav Sherlock Holmes fan fiction. My next fav is a manga called Moriarty. I also loved Sherry Thomas series and need to finish it soon. The series isn’t 5 stars but it was about. 3.75-4 stars for me if memory serves me right.
Great roundup of books. I'm really looking forward to reading Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect. I love murders set on trains too and the Ghan is a train I've actually travelled on (fortunately with no bloodshed). Happy to enjoy videos whenever you feel up to posting. Your health (mental and physical) comes first.
Sorry to hear you’ve been struggling lately. I hope you are taking care, making yourself a priority and that it passes soon.
Your videos are always a highlight of my week. Really intrigued about this longer books project!
Was really happy to get a new episode of WTOOT this week! Glad you're choosing to release updates when you're able to do so rather than forcing yourself to adhere to a strict schedule.
Thank you thank you for the recommendations, been on a dry spell and really needed a good book( I’m on Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect) ❤
Girl! We are reading twins 😂 I had read “Everyone on this train is a suspect” first and then followed up with book 1 in the series and DEFINITELY enjoyed book 2 more. Book 1 was too busy with characters and events and also waaaayy too serious (brother’s death?!). Book 2 had a whole lot more humor 😊. If you are interested in a book with fantastic character work, consider Elizabeth George. Just finished “Great Deliverance” and even though it started really slow, the characters made up for it! Lastly if you like to read a heart warming slice of life kind of story, consider “Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting” by Clare Pool. Thanks for the video! I will read the Duke Who Didn’t 😊
Do you remember what the podcast you listened to about Dead Silence was? I really liked that book.
Hahah waiting to hear my name one of these days! I think she will see it. I think a week is more than enough time. Congrats everyone 😊
I DNF Wolf Hall and even tried the second book, hearing it was better and DNF that one too. Could not connect to the writing at all. I tried.
As I start the video I have to say I am loving the sweater and earrings combo - how on to paying attention to the video
I read Everyone on this train... and I thought the pacing was better than the last book. I thought the tone was so different, the last book was unexpectedly dark and this one was like a comedy-mystery anime in book form? I still loved it. Also it was a love letter to Australia, made me want to go on a train journey (not in Australia)
I've started reading Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (about 40 pages in) and I'm finding the MC to be kinda unpleasant😅
I'm thinking about dnf-ing it, but I'll give it a bit longer before deciding 🤔
(Also, what I am realizing I want in mystery is, well, more Poirot and that nothing really compares to him for me, Miss Marple coming close 😆)
I honestly can't blame on not liking that guy :D
@@bookslikewhoa I'm getting douchey vibes from him 😆
So glad you read and enjoyed The Duke Who Didn’t as that book is one of my sleeper romance favorites 😊
It's so good!
The Duke Who Doesn’t is such a delight.
for realllll
Adding The Duke who Didn't and Black Sun and to my tbr 🙂 thank you
Im reading a fun debut sci fi just now Cascade Failure by LM Sagas. Bookshops and Bonedust next! One of my favourite books so far this year Greta and Valdin, very funny Looking forward to Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo and Julia Armfields next book in June! 🎉
I'm supposed to be getting an early copy of Brides of High Hill and I honestly cannot wait
Sending you so much love and good energy, Mara 🤍 Your vlogs bring such comfort and your recommendations are always so on point! Take care 😘 #OneDayAtATime
Thank you so much!!
Read Wolf Hall two years ago and it certainlty was some words on a page put together to make sentences hahaah. Like by the end I knew less about Thomas than I did going in haha. Very excited to continue Black Sun, Id been put off because so many people didnt like book 2 but I think now with 3 coming out, Ill binge book 1 and read the next 2.
Agree about Prince of Fools, its fine, well written but Abercrombie has spoiled me for that haha. That being said I did really like The Book That Wouldnt Burn, and I for once kinda liked him writing a world that was still dark but had a bit more hope in it.
Hope you feel better soon. I'm going to have to give Benjamin Stevenson a try. Best thing I read this month was Diavola .
I read Once Upon A Broken Heart this month, I didn't dislike it but I don't think I'm going to continue in the series. Felt like a fairytale and a little YA to me. But the story didn't move very fast. I think a teen might enjoy it more, or someone in the mood for a vibes only read.
I'm currently reading The 13 Problems because I realised I hadn't read it and I was reading Marple - the Agatha Christie collection by other authors that came out a while ago. Enjoying them both!
I'm nearly finished on a re-read of Polaris Rising for bookclub. Very enjoyable sci fi romance in an Ilona Andrews style.
Hurrah for new Marple to read!
Very WISE Nora DNF’s!!! From one Nora completist to another 😊
Gotta know when to fold 'em :)
I had 26 things read though a lot of light novels and manga/manwha + a slew of ongoing manwa. Traditional books included: The City of Stardust
The Fox Wife
The Untitled Books
The Very Irregular Society of Witches
Black Powder War (Reread to complete the series)
The Only One Left ;
I liked Irregular Society and the Fox Wife I really recommend as being very interesting.
I do think your mirrored heaven review solidified that the series is a dnf for me. If only cause I only liked the first book and I tend to want my trilogy enders to be strong points not the weak points.
If it helps to inspire you with this idea to go through all the first books of the ParaNora series quickly, I think it might make a fun vlog👀
I would love to see this!
❤❤❤
Sad to hear you’re on the struggle bus. Luckily, some of us can keep you company lol
Dead Silence is very good!
📚📚📚
❤
Ah.. I am one who didn't like Everyone on This Train is a Suspect as much as the first. (In fairness, it very well could be me/timing-- the last two months have been a strain.) I thought the whole meta aspect was fun and fresh in the first book ... but it became annoying in this book. I love a mystery (or any story) on a train so I really should have enjoyed this one! I guess we'll see what book 3 brings. I will continue if he publishes another.
Yeah I'm definitely curious to see where the series could/would go from here based on that ending
@@bookslikewhoa Yes! I certainly didnt predict this story from where the previous one ended!
Super late to the party but I liked Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone.. and DNF'd Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect. I was extremely wary of the premise (groups of authors frequently don't work for me nor am I super excited about the trains), I missed the nonlinear storytelling from the first book, and I really disliked the.. uhhh.. incorrect accusation, let's call it. 😅. But, I'm also not a huge murder mystery reader. =]