I hated Theo of Golden so much. I read 75 pages, then the last 25 pages to confirm my hatred and IT WAS EVEN WORSE THANI THOUGHT and I hope you can get through Book Club without barfing.
I live near several great theater and music schools, and recently saw a fantastic version of Die Fledermaus for twelve bucks (!!). The costume designer outfitted Prince Orlofsky as PRINCE, and I had to smother laughter. I know nothing about opera and this was the perfect way to dip my toes.
2. Reminds me of Dogwood Dell - plays and concerts where we could just run around and I'd meet up with friends and slap away 50 million mosquitos and gather a new layer of sweat. The sun would sink but it didn't change the temperature.
4. I started reading Margaret Atwood's (500+ pp) autobiography and by p 300 it was becoming a slog. Her childhood was interesting but her early adulthood....not so much. I hate giving up on a book that I've invested so much time in but the new Tana French was giving me the stink eye, so I put down the Atwood and picked up The Keeper. No regrets.
Yes! This is exactly what it reminded me of. And I love Margaret Atwood as much as the next woman but oof, that does sound like a slog. Enjoy The Keeper!
Happy to know I can skip Theo of Golden. I'm also at a point in my life where I DNF books with impunity. What's making me happy? Bikes-after knee surgery in January I finally feel like I can really push it again. I'm volunteering at my favorite gravel cycling event this weekend (not up to that mileage yet). Picking my favorite teams for the World Cup purely on vibes - I recommend checking out Norway, Curacao, Japan, and Ivory Coast on social media.
Gardening is the best. My mood lifted as soon as things started to pop through the snowcrete this spring (did you have that in NC? 4" inches of frozen snow on top of 4" of powder snow on everything and it took a MONTH to melt). I didn't really get it until I tried it and now it's my favorite thing. Instant dopamine every time. Even just shuffling around pulling weeds is good.
We got a real-ass foot of snow! Luckily we didn't get as much ice so it didn't stick around forever like it did further north. But yeah, watching things grow feels like a tiny miracle.
Thanks for the warning about Theo of Golden, my book club had considered it recently as well. Deleting from the "to read" list! On the flip side I convinced my book club to read Dungeon Crawler Carl and then immediately worried that everyone would hate it since it's such a departure from our usual fare, but thankfully it was universally adored! Having a cat as a central character helps.
I started reading Theo and was not enjoying it after the first 40 pages or so & stopped, thinking I’d go back to it later. So many people rave about this book, including 2 friends, so I kept wondering what was wrong with me since I wasn’t enjoying it. Glad to hear I’m not the only one. My biggest regret is that I bought it rather than checking it out from my library. Hate that I wasted money, but I got it from my local independent bookstore, so at least there’s that.
I really hated the telling not showing in Theo, and hoo boy if you thought the religious undertones were bad at the beginning you should have seen the end! Theo was actually compared to Jesus! I did stick it through to the end mostly because my friend really wanted me to read it. I can totally see how the masses think it's a "feel good" book, though, but I think a lot of people aren't reading critically.
I read up until the first "bestowing" and then found an outline to see how it ends. Nope to all of it! I get the sense that Theo is how the writer imagines himself, which, of course.
Ha! My friend that read it argued that they didn't see the religious overtones (!) and so I Googled and found an interview with the author and the religious overtones were definitely intentional. Don't know if you read far enough to meet the character of Ellen, but he has a new book coming out called Ellen of Golden. (eye roll). I won't be reading it.
Thank you for confirming my fears about Theo of Golden. I shall not be reading.
As for what's making me happy: Widow's Bay, baby. I'm sad that it's almost done!
Definitely skip it - it's just awful. And thank you! Widow's Bay was not on my radar, but I'll check it out.
Widow's Bay is SO GOOD. I am obsessed.
I hated Theo of Golden so much. I read 75 pages, then the last 25 pages to confirm my hatred and IT WAS EVEN WORSE THANI THOUGHT and I hope you can get through Book Club without barfing.
I am going to be THAT person who just hated it. I just cannot understand how anyone made it through the whole thing.
I had to stop joining book clubs because I always violently hated everything that the others loved!
I hear you, but I'm trying to make some friends! I'll just have to try and be quiet if everyone else loved it.
I live near several great theater and music schools, and recently saw a fantastic version of Die Fledermaus for twelve bucks (!!). The costume designer outfitted Prince Orlofsky as PRINCE, and I had to smother laughter. I know nothing about opera and this was the perfect way to dip my toes.
That sounds amazing!
2. Reminds me of Dogwood Dell - plays and concerts where we could just run around and I'd meet up with friends and slap away 50 million mosquitos and gather a new layer of sweat. The sun would sink but it didn't change the temperature.
4. I started reading Margaret Atwood's (500+ pp) autobiography and by p 300 it was becoming a slog. Her childhood was interesting but her early adulthood....not so much. I hate giving up on a book that I've invested so much time in but the new Tana French was giving me the stink eye, so I put down the Atwood and picked up The Keeper. No regrets.
Yes! This is exactly what it reminded me of. And I love Margaret Atwood as much as the next woman but oof, that does sound like a slog. Enjoy The Keeper!
Have a great trip to TN and a wonderful visit with Marianne! I hope to see some a shopping haul on here when you're back!
Happy to know I can skip Theo of Golden. I'm also at a point in my life where I DNF books with impunity. What's making me happy? Bikes-after knee surgery in January I finally feel like I can really push it again. I'm volunteering at my favorite gravel cycling event this weekend (not up to that mileage yet). Picking my favorite teams for the World Cup purely on vibes - I recommend checking out Norway, Curacao, Japan, and Ivory Coast on social media.
Love this! Yay for bikes.
Gardening is the best. My mood lifted as soon as things started to pop through the snowcrete this spring (did you have that in NC? 4" inches of frozen snow on top of 4" of powder snow on everything and it took a MONTH to melt). I didn't really get it until I tried it and now it's my favorite thing. Instant dopamine every time. Even just shuffling around pulling weeds is good.
Also "gardening". If Kim France can admit she likes weed then so can I.
We got a real-ass foot of snow! Luckily we didn't get as much ice so it didn't stick around forever like it did further north. But yeah, watching things grow feels like a tiny miracle.
Thanks for the warning about Theo of Golden, my book club had considered it recently as well. Deleting from the "to read" list! On the flip side I convinced my book club to read Dungeon Crawler Carl and then immediately worried that everyone would hate it since it's such a departure from our usual fare, but thankfully it was universally adored! Having a cat as a central character helps.
I’m so glad to hear someone else hated Theo of Golden. It was really boring and trite. I finished it and regret that time.
I give you permission to DNF the next boring book you read.
I started reading Theo and was not enjoying it after the first 40 pages or so & stopped, thinking I’d go back to it later. So many people rave about this book, including 2 friends, so I kept wondering what was wrong with me since I wasn’t enjoying it. Glad to hear I’m not the only one. My biggest regret is that I bought it rather than checking it out from my library. Hate that I wasted money, but I got it from my local independent bookstore, so at least there’s that.
I really hated the telling not showing in Theo, and hoo boy if you thought the religious undertones were bad at the beginning you should have seen the end! Theo was actually compared to Jesus! I did stick it through to the end mostly because my friend really wanted me to read it. I can totally see how the masses think it's a "feel good" book, though, but I think a lot of people aren't reading critically.
I read up until the first "bestowing" and then found an outline to see how it ends. Nope to all of it! I get the sense that Theo is how the writer imagines himself, which, of course.
Ha! My friend that read it argued that they didn't see the religious overtones (!) and so I Googled and found an interview with the author and the religious overtones were definitely intentional. Don't know if you read far enough to meet the character of Ellen, but he has a new book coming out called Ellen of Golden. (eye roll). I won't be reading it.
I mean, the coffee shop was called The Chalice! Please.
Eeek!!! I just started reading it! Having second thoughts now due to these comments, but that is quite the spoiler lol
Eep, sorry! (Leandra, you might want to edit your comment if you're able!)
Yikes! Sorry about that! I edited it. 😬