The Fireside Chats

“Dead Lake” by Darcy Coates

Posted on October 19, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

I’ve recently finished reading another one. Reading the synopsis, this book sounded a little spooky so I dived right in. The main story was pretty suspenseful through out, even from the very beginning, and it kept me turning the pages. This book would be perfect for someone looking for a good read for Halloween.

This novel also include 4 bonus stories (1)Whose woods these are, (2) Mannequin, (3) Hitchhiker and (4) Bellamy. I think “Whose woods these are” was my favorite out of all of them but “Bellamy” was a pretty close second.

Synopsis: A week’s visit to the remote Harob Lake cabin couldn’t have come at a better time for Sam.

She’s battling artist’s block ahead of a major gallery exhibition. Staying at Harob Lake is her final, desperate attempt to paint the collection that could save her floundering career. It seems perfect: no neighbors, no phone, no distractions.

But the dream retreat disintegrates into a nightmare when Sam discovers she’s being stalked.

A tall, strange man stands on the edge of her dock, staring intently into the swirling waters below. He starts to follow her. He disables her car. He destroys her only way to communicate with the outside world.

And Sam is beginning to suspect he’s responsible for the series of disappearances from a nearby hiking trail.

Stranded at Harob Lake, Sam realizes she’s become the prey in the hunter’s deadliest game…

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Audio books

Posted on October 17, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

Should audio books count towards your reading list? Why or why not? How often do you listen to an audio book? Do you prefer audio books as opposed to reading an actual hard copy or an e-book? If so, why?

I don’t really listen to any audio books. My commute to work is really short……so it would take me forever to get through a book if I listened to it. I might get through 1 or 2 books a year at that rate. Now, if I had a longer commute to get to my job then that would be different. I guess this is why I don’t really listen to audio books. I don’t have that much of a commute and I’m already reading an actual book when I get home from work.

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Snooped

Posted on October 14, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

Have you ever snooped to see what books other people have on their shelves? Have you ever browsed through someone else’s tablet or e-reader to see what books someone else has? Why or why not? Do you think this is rude?

I don’t recall actually snooping though other people’s books (not that I can remember anyway). I’m normally at home browsing the books I currently have to see what I’m going to read next. I probably would browse if the owner gave me permission to do so. Otherwise I would feel like it would be rude some how. I don’t like other people to go through my stuff without my permission or without asking first so why would I do that to someone else?

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Similar interest….?

Posted on October 12, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

What do you do when you meet someone out in public who is reading a favorite book/series of yours? Do you strike up a conversation with them or do you leave them alone to read?

What if you meet someone out in public that you suspect is a fan of your favorite book/series (for example, they are wearing some clothes or they have a visible tattoo that advertises said book/series)? Do you strike up a conversation with them then?

If someone is in the middle of reading something, I would leave them be. Especially if I’ve already read that book/series then I don’t want to spoil it for them before they are finished reading it. I don’t like it when someone reveals a spoiler to me so I won’t do it to someone else unless they give me permission to do so.

If I see someone wearing a t-shirt showing off their favorite books (or if they have a visible tattoo), usually I’ll strike up a conversation with them or at least make a nice comment about it.

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Younger self….

Posted on October 7, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

If you could recommend a book to your younger self, which book would you recommend and why?

I would have started reading the Harry Potter series from the very beginning.. I didn’t get into the series until after the first five novels were already released because I originally thought they’d be too childish for me to read since they were geared towards children.

The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer already had the first 3 books out before I started reading them. I only remember ordering the last book in the series. The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini was already started and the first two books were already out. That series was originally suppose to be a trilogy but it ended up being 4 books instead which I’m glad we got that extra book. There would have been too much loose ends to tie up if there was only going to be a third book.

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Introverts and reading

Posted on October 5, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

Do people who tend to be more introverted….do they tend to read more than people who are extroverted? Why or why not?

I’ve always been on the introverted side of the spectrum….kind of reserved. I was painfully shy as a kid. It was to the point that people would ask my parents if I ever talked. I talked when someone spoke to me first but I was never the person who struck up a conversation first. I was always someone who preferred to read. I’m not saying I’m anti social…I’m just not as outgoing as some other folks out there.

What about you? Do you prefer a good book over someone else’s company? Or are you the opposite?

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Reading pet peeves

Posted on October 3, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

What are some pet peeves that you have when it comes to reading? If so, what are they? Would you be willing to share them?

I don’t like the fact that someone will interrupt me while I’m reading, especially if I get to a good part of the book. But then again, if I don’t want to be interrupted then I’ll just read at home instead of reading out in public so that someone can’t stop me from reading.

I do hate it when someone reveals the ending of a book before I’ve finished reading it. That’s probably the main thing for me. I hate it when someone reveals spoilers. This was the hardest when the final Harry Potter novel came out. I had to avoid everyone else reading it like the plague to keep from hearing the ending in case they finished the novel before I did.

Fun

The Oldest Treasures From 12 Great Libraries

Posted on September 30, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

I found the article below talking about some pretty old books from 12 different libraries (you’ll find the link at the bottom). I thought it was an interesting article but I didn’t know there were so many different old books. I’d be afraid to touch them for fear of damaging them (they probably don’t let you touch them anyway). I’d even be afraid to take a look at them for fear I’d sneeze at the wrong moment when I got to close.

Anyway, do you have any books on your shelves that you think are rare, old or collectable? Are there any books that you have that you treasure more than the others? Why?

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-oldest-treasures-from-12-great-libraries?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Literature, mystery, thriller/suspense

“One by One” by Ruth Ware

Posted on September 29, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

I finished reading this one today on my Kindle Fire. This was a good book, however, I was disappointed with the fact that I was able to guess the ending before I got to the end. I don’t like being able to figure out who did it before the author reveals who did it. I prefer to be surprised and shocked when I get to the end. Besides that, this was a good book. It was paced well so that you are kept entertained.

Synopsis: Getting snowed in at a luxurious, rustic ski chalet high in the French Alps doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world. Especially when there’s a breathtaking vista, a full-service chef and housekeeper, a cozy fire to keep you warm, and others to keep you company. Unless that company happens to be eight coworkers…each with something to gain, something to lose, and something to hide.

When the cofounder of Snoop, a trendy London-based tech startup, organizes a weeklong trip for the team in the French Alps, it starts out as a corporate retreat like any other: PowerPoint presentations and strategy sessions broken up by mandatory bonding on the slopes. But as soon as one shareholder upends the agenda by pushing a lucrative but contentious buyout offer, tensions simmer and loyalties are tested. The storm brewing inside the chalet is no match for the one outside, however, and a devastating avalanche leaves the group cut off from all access to the outside world. Even worse, one Snooper hadn’t made it back from the slopes when the avalanche hit.

As each hour passes without any sign of rescue, panic mounts, the chalet grows colder, and the group dwindles further…one by one.

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What you learned…?

Posted on September 28, 2020 by The Fireside Chats

What have you learned while reading? Did you read to learn a specific thing on purpose? Or did you learn something accidentally while you were reading one of your favorite books?

Normally, I don’t read to learn anything specific. I just read for the fun of it. It’s always been something that I’ll do purely for the entertainment value and/or to relax after a long day at work. I’m sure there was a lot that I learned when I was in school because that was the whole point in going to school in the first place. But if there has been anything that I’ve learned since then, it’s been purely accidental.