just_ann_now | Entries tagged with reading

But first, this!

Our California son-in-law, Nick, has accepted a position here in Frederick! Which means he and daughter Ginger will be heading out this way *checks calendar* in 16 days! We are all over the moon over this, as you can imagine. Ginger fell in love with the town on her many visits, and Nick has been discovering new delights as well. It's going to be so much fun to have everyone closer.

What I Just Finished Reading

The Wreath (Kristin Lavransdatter #1), by Sigrid Unset. This was the first book in a Nobel Prize-winning trilogy, and I'm glad I read it, but don't think I'll continue. The historical detail was fascinating, but in terms of plot and character, just too slow moving for me. For A to Z Authors.

What Have We Here? Portraits of a Life, by Billy Dee Williams. I did not realize Billy Dee was a very well regarded Broadway actor before his movie career. This was a fast, enjoyable read. For Keyword: Life.

The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Betrayal, and the Quest for Earth's Ultimate Trophies. by Paige Williams. This was really fascinating, and could easily be considered for the True Crime genre, even if the main characters come across more as bozos than hardened criminals. For A to Z Titles.

Strawberry Yellow, by Naomi Hirahara, and Still Life, by Louise Penny. Both of these books were mentioned in a book I read last week, Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers, by Marta McDowell. (I really need to pay more attention to subtitles; I thought this would be a ~~useful~~ guide to poisonous garden plants like hellebores, foxgloves, etc. I did end up with lots more titles on my to-read list, though.)

What I Am Currently Reading/What I Am Reading Next

Not sure yet, I picked up some from the library yesterday and have a load on my Libby wish list but haven't made a decision yet.

Question of the Day: Helpful suggestions for people moving to a new town? We'll have plenty of recommendations but the more ideas the merrier!

It's 71 degrees and sunshiny out there. Flowers are in bloom and birds are singing. Spring is trying to spring!

What I Just Finished Reading

Salmon Wars: The Dark Underbelly of Our Favorite Fish, by Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins. With a title like that, how could I resist? I learned a lot about salmon farming, none of it very good. I had hoped to learn something too about the wild-caught fishing industry, but that was not part of the authors' agenda here - I'll do that research on my own. For Keyword: Dark.

Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and THE WASHINGTON POST, by Martin Baron. My stomach hurt a lot while I read this but absolutely compelling reading. For Motif: Government, Royalty, Kingdom.

What I Am Currently Reading

The Snow Queen, by Joan D. Vinge. Scifi retelling of the fairy tale, lots going on, not sure how I feel about it. For A to Z Authors.

The Waters, by Bonnie Jo Campbell. Southern Gothic but set in rural Michigan! For Read Broader: Chosen for its cover, because, just look at this

What Am I Reading Next

which also would have been a good choice for its cover!

Very fun reading weekend, I got caught up on lots of fiction!

What I Just Finished Reading

House of Open Wounds, by Adrian Tchaikovsky. There are layers and layers to Tchaikovsky's books, like the layers in the deep ocean dependent on how far the light reaches. I might only get to the first or second level with so many of his recent books (unlike the Bug People books - still my favorites! - which are pretty straightforward. Beetle-kinden GOOD, Wasp-kinden BAD) but they are still hugely, hugely satisfying. Maybe on the rereads I'll make a down a level or two. For A to Z Titles.

Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo. A very enjoyable quick read with coffee on a Saturday morning. For Read Broader - A Middle Grade or Picture Book.

A Deceptive Clarity, by Aaron Elkins. Did someone recommend this book or series to me? Ribby, maybe? I enjoyed it while I was reading, but don't feel engaged enough to continue the series. For A to Z Authors.

Everything That Isn't Winter, by Margaret Killjoy. A longish short story, but Goodreads call is it a book and who am I to argue. I've liked everything I've read by Killjoy, though they are heavily dystopian. For A to Z Authors.

The Galaxy Game, by Karen Lord. This is the middle book of a trilogy, of which I've read the first and last books. TBH I should have reread them both in conjunction with this one, because I really couldn't remember how we got to this point from the first book (The Best of All Possible Worlds, which apparently I liked a lot) and how it relates to The Blue, Beautiful World, which I read recently. I was going to Little Free Library The Galaxy Game, but I think I'll hold on to it a bit in case I do reread the others. For A to Z Titles.

What I Am Currently Reading

The Night Journal, by Elizabeth Crook. Historical fiction/mystery set in early-twentieth-century New Mexico. Slow to start but I'm definitely becoming more engaged. For A to Z Titles.

The Last Ride of the Pony Express, by Will Grant. A young horse enthusiast/journalist recreating the Pony Express route (though at a much more leisurely pace.) I was surprised to learn early on in the book that despite our fascination with it, the Pony Express only operated for nineteen months! It was just too expensive. A hugely readable book - I started it last night, am about halfway through, and if it had been Friday night instead of Tuesday I would have stayed up to finish. A to Z Authors.

What I Am Reading Next

Bravely, by Maggie Stievater, who mentioned it recently on Facebook, intriguing me. For Not-Book-Bingo TV/Movie Tie-In.

Question of the Day: Hot drinks - coffee, tea, chocolate, something else? I'll have one cup of coffee in the morning, after that it's hot tea (English Breakfast or Earl Grey or herbal Lemon Ginger if I'm feeling poorly) for the rest of the day.

For a short month, February sure has felt draggy, hasn't it? And it isn't even done yet.

What I Just Finished Reading

Nonfiction:

How Animals Grieve, by Barbara J. King. Fascinating, also heartrending. For Monthly Motif: Animal.

Factory Man: How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local - and Helped Save an American Town, by Beth Macy. A really interesting history of the Bassett furniture company, as well as an overview of how foreign competion has decimated a number of communities. I feel guilty for all my recent furniture purchases and I will certain research any more of them very carefully in the future. For Keywords: One.

The Con Queen of Hollywood: The Hunt for an Evil Genius, by Scott C. Johnson. WOW. If you are in to True Crime, but not so much in to blood, this is the book for you. For Not Book Bingo: True Crime.

Somewhere in the Unknown World, by Kao Kalia Yang. Stories of refugees from around the world, now living in the Minneapolis area. I cried. For A to Z Authors.

The Incredible Journey of Plants, by Stefano Mancuso, Gregory Conti Translator. A quick read and an enjoyable one (though I couldn't really figure out the purpose of the illustrations). For A to Z Titles.

Fiction:

The Cat Who Saved Books, by Sōsuke Natsukawa, Louise Heal Kawai Translator. A short, fun read. For Not Book Bingo: In Translation.

Heir Apparent, by Vivian Vande Velde. I didn't make a note of whichever of you recommended this, but thank you! It was SO.MUCH.FUN. The Yuletide fic on AO3 was fun, too! For Keyword: Heir.

Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus. Ok, my track record with popular fiction is not good - I look at the Goodreads Choice nominees every year and say whaaaat, but I really enjoyed this. (I heard about it from the TV show, but don't watch TV - I'd much rather read!) I pretty much inhaled this in an evening and a bit the next afternoon. For Monthly Motif - Face on the Cover.

Florida, by Lauren Goff. Short story collection set (mostly) in Florida, but not the shiny Disneyfied Florida, but the buggy snaky Florida. Really well written and atmospheric. For Not-Book-Bingo: Short Stories.

The Borrowers, by Mary Norton. A quick read and fun. For A to Z Authors.

What I Am Currently Reading

Pests: How Humans Creat Animal Villains, by Bethany Brookshire, for A to Z Titles.

What I Am Reading Next

My carefully-laid plans are falling in to place, and I shall soon be settling in with a nice, big, Adrian Tchaikovsky - House of Open Wounds.

Question of the Day: Book or Movie Villains - who's your favorite? There are so many to choose from! Hannibal Lecter, Voldemort, Sauron (both Eye and Mouth versions) but my current favorite is probably Emperor Palpatine. Just when we though we were rid of him, like a rat, he came crawling right back out.

What I Just Finished Reading

The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation, by Anna Malaika Tubbs,for A to Z Authors.
Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America, by Mayukh Sen, for A to Z Authors.
A City on Mars:Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?, by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. Of the three, this was the most fascinating and thought-provoking (though reading it won't lessen my love for good space-opera, like, say, The Expanse.For Keyword: City.

Swordspoint, by Ellen Kushner. One of my favorite books in the whole world. Reread this time for Monthly Motif: Dynamic Duos.
Village in the Dark, by Iris Yamashita. Name-check to places I was familiar with, from when we lived in Alaska! An enjoyable read, even if the premise was a bit far-fetched. For Not-Book-Bingo square "2024 Release".
The Tusks of Extinction, by Ray Naylor. Very scifi scifi novella, a painful read for animal lovers, but fast-moving. For a "Thriller" square.
Year One, by Nora Roberts. Pandemic fic (though published in 2017) in which fey creatures like elves, fairies, shapshifters survive (as well as their dark counterparts). A fast read, but I doubt I'll continue the series. For A to Z Titles.
The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher, by E.M. Anderson. Fantasy in which the Chosen One is, rather than a teen as seems customary in fantasy, an eighty-year-old woman! A fun read. For A to Z Titles.
The Wishing Game, by Meg Shaffer. Hugely enjoyable short novel, left me with a warm happy fuzzy feeling. I used it for a "Debut Author" square but Goodreads has it tagged for all kinds of things, so if you are doing a reading challenge you can probably find a spot for it. Much fun.

What I Am Currently Reading

Jellyfish: A Natural History, by Lisa-Ann Gerswhin. For A to Z Titles.
VenCo, by Cherie Dimaline. Dimaline is a pretty reliable author for me, but so far this is not engaging me as much as her other books have. For A to Z Titles.

What I Am Reading Next

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which it seems I've had on hold forever, plus a big stack of nonfiction books I'll be picking up today!

Question of the Day: Do you have a favorite pasta shape? When I was a kid, growing up in an Italian-American community, the pasta aisle of the grocery store seemed to stretch on forever, with every imaginable shape. I miss that! My go-to shapes now are thin spaghetti, rotini, penne. (It's hard to think of questions! Harder than figuring out what to cook for dinner! Which is why we eat so much pasta, I guess.)

Goodbye, January. You felt like you lasted way too long.

What I Just Finished Reading

Both The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library and The End of Drum Time both focused on women obsessed with the wrong men - one through sorcery, one through hormones. The End of Drum Time did have a lot of interesting insights into Sámi culture and history, so that was a benefit.

My Family and Other Animals, by Gerald Durrell was GREAT fun when he was talking about animals and nature - beautiful, lyrical writing, I felt like I was right there - but not so much when he was writing about his family. I know it was meant to be humorous/sardonic, and filtered through a child's perception, but what an annoying bunch. This was the first part of the "Corfu" trilogy, and I doubt if I'll read the rest. For a "Memoir" slot.

X, by Sue Grafton. I'm not much of a mysteries fan, and I've never read Sue Grafton before, but this was a highly readable novel of the "Sassy, School-of-Hard-Knocks-Graduate Lady Private Investigator" sub-genre. For A to Z Titles.

What I Am Currently Reading

The Prospectors, by Ariel Djanikian. Literary fiction, unlikeable characters, slow moving. For A to Z Authors. (How do these things even end up on my radar? I'll have to start keeping better notes.)

Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World. I just started this this morning and two chapters in I alread feel that I've learned a lot! Very enjoyable. A to Z Authors.

What I Am Reading Next

My two library books are both nonfiction, so I'll have to check out my Kindle for some fiction to offset it!

First off, happy birthday

cairistiona! Hope your days has been full of wonderful things.

What I Just Finished Reading

Once I finished London - I knew it was long, but I didn't remember it being that long - I had very short attention span left, so it's mostly been short stories, short novels, novellas.

What We Fed to the Manticore, by Talia Lakshmi Kolluri. Animal-centric speculative fiction by an AAPI author.
Monstrous Alterations, by Christopher Barzak. Fairy tales, monster tales, gothic tales retold. For LGBTQ Author.

Community Board, by Tara Conklin, really hilarious contemporary fiction, for a Bookseller Rec slot.
The Great Transition, by Nick Fuller Goggins. Climate-fiction-suspense-thriller, a really good read. For Monthly Motif - Seasons, Weather, Climate.
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls, by Cherie Dimaline. I did not realize this was YA (I've been trying to avoid YA) but Cherie Dimarie is a pretty reliable author for me. profiterole_reads, if you are in to ghost stories at all, I think you will like this.For A to Z Titles.

Chouette, by Claire Oshetsky. This novella, about a woman who births an owl baby, was bizarre. Goodreads readers are like, "It's an allegory, right? I really loved that about it!" and the author is like, "IT'S ABOUT AN OWL BABY. I WROTE IT AND I SAY SO." Also the cover is really different and appealing. For A to Z Titles.
Untethered Sky, by Fonda Lee. I wasn't a fan of the other Fonda Lee I read (Jade City) so I didn't jump right up to read this, but it was SO GOOD. For a "Woman Author" slot.

What I Am Currently Reading

A Buzz in the Meadow, by Dave Goulson. A Kindle book deals impulse purchase, because, just look at that cover! Though it's a bit confusing for me, since he uses English common names for many wildflowers. I just started this so I'll have to figure out a workaround.

What I Am Reading Next

Haven't decided! Any thoughts?

I guess it's brrrrrrrr just about everywhere today, good reading weather!

What I Just Finished Reading

Landlines, by Raynor Winn. Rainy, cold, cloudy, rainy, rainy, hot, too hot, rainy. If books like this (as well as A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson) are supposed to inspire me to go hiking, sorry, fail. (I love walking, though, and am at this very moment trying to decide if I want to brave the low temperatures and wind chill to walk today. It's sunny! There are lots of cleared sidewalks after yesterday's snow! We'll see.) For a One Word Title slot. Edited to add, after additional thinking: I did not miss the point of the stunning effect this particular hike - from the furthermost possible edge of Scotland to her home in Cornwall - had on her husband/hiking companion's degenerative neurological disease. Also, this book has a really pretty cover, if you have a "Pretty cover" slot.

Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings, reread, for a Poetry slot. I don't usually do audiobooks unless I'm traveling, but hearing Joy Harjo read and sing her own words is such a delight.

A Grandmother Begins the Story, by Michelle Porter. Interrelated stories from five generations of Métis women, several bison, the Earth herself, two Very Good Dogs, and one well-loved Volvo wagon. And just look at that gorgeous cover! I absolutely INHALED this and think you will love it, too. For a Debut by an Indigenous Author slot.

Buffalo Is the New Buffalo, by Chelsea Vowel. Speculative fiction short stories by an indigenous author, really original takes on some common sf tropes. For A to Z Titles.

Better Living Through Birding, by Christian Cooper. Not a birding book! Christian Cooper’s memoir describes growing up under a triple whammy - black, gay, nerdy- with an emotionally abusive parent (with whom he later reconciled.) I found his search for a nature - based spiritual center inspiring. The event that brought him to national attention is not the focus, which is fitting, because there’s much more to him than a single encounter with an unhappy, fearful woman. For a Memoir or Biography slot.

What I Am Currently Reading

Still working my slow way through Edward Rutherford's London. For a Historical Fiction/Published before 2000 slot - hits both at the same time!

Bad Girls from History - Wicked or Misunderstood?, by Dee Gordon. Maybe if she wasn't trying to hit 100 Bad Girls in one book? Maybe if she selected one or two from each of her various categories - Courtesan, Mass Murder, Con Artist, and so on, to study in depth? Maybe if she talked about why and how these women became Bad Girls, and why our interest in them? Instead, it's like flipping through a deck of Bad Girls trading cards. For a "Lowest Rated on TBR" slot, and so far, very well deserved.

What I Am Reading Next

Something pretty different from my recent reading, Community Board, by Tara Conklin, for a Bookseller Recommendation slot.

Question of the Day: *don't ask about the weather don't ask about the weather DON' ASK ABOUT THE WEATHER* What's a book that you loved as a child, and still love? For me it's Linnets and Valerians, by Elizabeth Goudge. I still dream of having a little private study room like Nan's!

Two weeks in a row! Go me!

What I Just Finished Reading

Well, I was not expecting to fall down this particular rabbit hole, but a very enjoyable rabbit hole it has turned out to be. It started with London Under: The Secret History Beneath the Streets, by Peter Ackroyd, a fascinating history of London's sewers, underground rivers, Underground, vaults, and government facilities. This led me to a reread of Rivers of London #1 (Midnight Riot), by Ben Aaronovitch - how could I have forgotton how much I loved this? And then Perilous Times, by Thomas D. Lee - climate dystopia with added Arthuriana, and just terrific, simultaneously terrifying and way too much fun.

Also (before I got on the Anglophile track) was Streets of Gold:America's Untold Story of Immigrant Success, by Ran Abramitzky and Leah Boustan (A to Z Authors) and Z:A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Anne Fowler (A to Z Titles).

Edited to add: I completely forgot about the Adrian Tchaikovsky, And Put Away Childish Things, which he must have written as a fun exercise/palate cleanser from all the heavy scifi he's been putting out lately. At first I thought it was going to be a mystery related to an obscure children's book series, and thought to myself, "Hasn't AT heard of Yuletide? No fandom is too small or obscure!" and though fandom love and obsession was part of it, there was a lot more going on than that.

What I Am Currently Reading Nothing! I just finished Perilous Times at bedtime last night.

What I Am Reading Next

A reread of Edward Rutherford's London, because I am still in that mood.

Question of the Day: I know I was gone a long time, and I did keep up with Dreamwidth reading, but what's new and fun with y'all?

Hello! Let's try this again.

What I Just Finished Reading

Starter Villain, by John Scalzi. A hugely entertaining start to my reading year. Definitely an ensemble production; I bought my daughter a copy because of the cats but my favorites were the labor-organizing dolphins! For A to Z Titles.

100 Places to See After You Die, by Ken Jennings. I found this annoyingly snarky, especially in the Mythology and Religion sections. I had to keep reminding myself that it was following the conventional voice of this type of guide, and not to take things so seriously. For A to Z Authors.

Slow Time Between the Stars, also by John Scalzi. A novella? Long short story? More quiet and introspective than other Scalzi books I've read, very enjoyable. For a Kindle Unlimited challenge. (Because I can't walk past a list without immediately wanting to cross things off of it, I've been doing the quarterly Kindle challenges. They've been enjoyable, for the most part, and prompted me to read things I otherwise wouldn't, like the whole Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series, for example.)

What I Am Currently Reading

The Bone Trap, by Tormold Cockburn. Did one of y'all recommend this to me? I'm enjoying it, though there are some stylistic quirks. For a "Place You'd Like to Visit" square on the Not-Book-Bingo card that I invented for myself.

What I Am Reading Next

Strange Planet by Nathan Pile, for the Monthly Motif "Comedy Club". (Yes, I know it's the June motif, but when have I ever let details like that get in my way?)

What I Just Finished Reading

The Change, by Kirsten Miller. Reminscent of The Power, by with very engaging characters and a plot pulled from the headlines. Un-put-down-able (I just made up that word.)

The Daughters of Izdihar, by Hadeer Elsbai. This held my interest while I was reading it, but I didn't really engage with the characters, so I don't think I'll follow up with the sequel.

In the Serpert's Wake, by Rachel Hartman. I did not even know there was a sequel to Tess of the Road until I saw the Hugo nominations! And I probably would have been well served by rereading Tess before this since I had to spend a lot of time playing mental catch-up. This was also the second book I'd read in a week about dragons AND colonizers, interesting literary trend there, I don't think I saw it coming. An interesting contrast to To Shape A Dragon's Breath with the POV's of the colonized, the colonizers, and the clueless do-gooders among the colonizers.

On Earth as It Is on Television, by Emily Jane. Hugely entertaining First Contact story, not a single thing to not-like about it *grin*

On the other hand, Bewilderment, by Richard Powers, was probably the most depressing book I've read in I can't remember when. A reimagining of Flowers for Algernon, so I knew it wasn't going end with rainbows and unicorns, but then there was HORRIBLE HORRIBLE POLITICS and also GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER and yeah, he also threw in PANDEMIC the last few pages figuring no one would notice. YIKES.

What I Am Currently Reading

As soon as I'm done with this I will finish up A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery by Curtis Craddock, another sequel where I can't for the life of me remember what went on before but is so hilariously over-the-top that I can't stop laughing my way through it, which is probably what I needed after Bewilderment (with several hours of deep calming breathing in between.)

What I Am Reading Next

The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis, another 100% reliably entertaining author for me.

Question of the Day: Do you have a current TV, movie, or book character fandom crush? For me at the moment it's Fenn Rau from Star Wars Rebels, and I'm already anticipating a major girlcrush on Sabine Wren when Ahsoka drops next month!

Still very hot and terribly, terribly dry; I planned my garden for drought-resistance so it's still looking good considering the circumstances.

What I Just Finished Reading

The Bug People reread, begun last November, finally came to its glorious conclusion Monday night - I think the last 200 pages of that last book, Seal of the Worm, has got to be one of the most exciting and heart-stopping things I've ever read. And knowing the fates of the main characters really didn't diminish the thrill of the reread, because I catch something different every time. Tchaikovsky has written a ton of things since, and is finally achieving some well-deserved recognition, but in my heart of hearts I hope he'll someday return to give us the origin stories of these Kinden.

In between the Bug People (to catch my breath) there were other very good reads such as The Shuddering City by Sharon Shinn, Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow, and Hell of a Book, by Jason Mott.

What I Am Currently Reading

To Shape A Dragon's Breath, by Moniquill Blackgoose. Smush together Temeraire, Harry Potter, Norse mythology, and Pride and Prejudice, season liberally with Indigenous culture and diverse characters, and you will have this most excellent book! I am loving it, though to be honest I'm at 60% and it's been mostly character and world-building; I'm hoping to see some plot arrive soon. It's the first of a series so I suspect that I'll be left hanging at the edge of a very large cliff, but I'm also worried that I can't find any information about upcoming books in the series. I would be heartbroken to see this world abandoned.

What I Am Reading Next

Question of the Day: Are you a Lark or an Owl?I'm most definitely a Lark, and would be even if my cat's stomach-clock didn't go off promptly at 5:15 am. Especially in this weather I enjoy a very early morning walk, or yoga in the back yard just as the sun comes up.

erulissedances, you don't even have to answer this! I know you are an even Larkier Lark than I am.

But first, a garden update!

The front garden really starts to shine mid-June through mid-July

You can see purple coneflowers (though they are actually pink!), larkspur, butterfly weed. Coming soon: two if not three kinds of bee balm, black eyed susans, what I am thinking might be evening primrose.

In the backyard, the first of various kinds of lilies: Asiatic, stargazer, day lilies. Coming soon: even more bee balm, garden phlox.

What I Just Finished Reading

A lot of things! But here are the highlights:

In the Lives of Puppets, by T.J. Klune. Ok smush together Pinocchio, The Brave Little Toaster, Marvin the Paranoid Android from Hitchhiker's Guide, and The Winter Soldier, and you will have this book. I'm not sure the author was entirely successful - sometimes it just felt like too much - but it was certainly an entertaining read.
The Master of Samar, by Melissa Scott, doing what she does best - historically based fantasy worldbuilding, intriguing plot and characters. I read this right after reading Martha Well's Witch King which, sad to say, I found confusing with the time period flipping, and confusing with the main plot resolution. (Somewhat disappointing, because I came to her books long ago via her fantasy series, which have been eclipsed by the success of Murderbot.)
Lord of Uncreation, by Adrian Tchaikovsky, the final book in the Final Architecture Trilogy. Confusing at first trying to remember who was who and what was going on, but then I got in to the groove and found it very satisfying. I think that is the last of the newer Adrian Tchaikovsky books I needed to catch up with, so now I can just kick back and enjoy finishing up the Bug People reread I started last fall.
The End of Men,by Christina Sweeney-Baird. Holy moly. A pandemic novel, published in 2021, in which 90% of the world's population of men are killed. 10% are immune, women are asymptomatic carriers, male babies are infected in the birth canal, with most dying within 24 hours. The first 2/3 of this are pretty grim, but, I'll tell you, I sat down with this at 6:30 pm and was done by 11pm. Once women start running the world in earnest, things improve dramatically. I don't think this is meant to be a series, but holy cow, I would LOVE a sequel.

What I Am Currently Reading

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen. I'm not sure how this got on my list - A to Z Authors? A to Z Titles? but I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

What I Am Reading Next

Picking up Some Desperate Glory, by Emily Tesh, tomorrow!

What I Just Finished Reading

Several things, but let's just talk about two of them:

Dual Memory, by Sue Burke. Sue Burke is one of my very favorite scifi writers - every thing she does is absolutely unique. (I mean, I love exploding spaceships, but sometimes I just want something different.) Her other books that I loved had sentient plants (Semiosis); this one has Machine Intelligences sparking revolution. A very Andor-esque vibe, including the main character. I could have read this for another hundred pages, very enjoyable, highly recommend.
City of Last Chances, by Adrian Tchaikovsky, an epic fantasy rather than scifi. This book was so massive that my hands cramped up holding the library hardback, so I bought myself the Kindle version. Again, Cassian-esque vibes, huge cast of characters, really intriguing worldbuilding which is a hallmark of Tchaikovsky's books. I think at the moment this is a standalone, but to be honest, I would love this as a series.

What I Am Currently Reading

The new Martha Wells, Witch King. Long before Murderbot, and even before Books of the Raksura, Martha Wells was an exquiste fantasy writer, with intricate worldbuilding, skillful plotting, and engaging characters. Much as we all love Murderbot, I'm delighted to see her return to her epic fantasy roots with Witch King.

Tomorrow, and Tommorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin. This was on about a zillion Best Books lists in 2022, and came highly recommended by a close reading buddy. It's...ok? Maybe it's because I'm not a gamer, and was busy in the 90's so I'm not really getting all the pop culture stuff, or I've seen enough (or read enough) of people in bad relationships to think "THIS IS NOT GOING TO END WELL, GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN", or, (most likely) my head is still in epic fantasy/scifi/Andor-esque worlds. Or maybe I'm just old. Who knows.

What I Am Reading Next

I have a Kate Atkinson, Shrines of Gaiety, which I don't know much about but Kate Atkinson is a pretty reliable read for me, so we'll see.

Question of the Day: Inspired by

cairistiona. What condiments are in your fridge? Offhand I can think of Dijon mustard, soy sauce, sesame oil, barbecue sauce. Not a lot (but I do have SIX KINDS of vinegar in my pantry cupboard!)

From my walk today:

Two out of three ducks prefer fancy boots over naked feet!

What I Just Finished Reading

The first two books of an intriguing trilogy, Take Them to the Stars, by Sylvain Neuvel. Part cold-war thriller, part historical fantasy, a good read.

What I Am Currently Reading

If you've ever wondered what would result if an award-winning author woke up one morning and thought, "How about a seven-hundred-plus page novel about the history of the timber industry in Maine and Southern Canada?" then, Barkskins, by Annie Proulx, is for you! Very Michener-esque, but more introspective than action-packed, lots of indigenous characters, history and culture, very rich in description.

What I Am Reading Next

The last book in Take Them to the Stars should be arriving at my library any minute now!

Question of the Day: What are you reading/watching/doing this week?

(Probably the last day for the Lilacs and Books icon, my lilacs are fading fast.)

What I Just Finished Reading

Quite a few things, but the most noteworthy were The Crane Husband, by Kelly Barnhill - most excellently creepy! - and Guns of the Dawn, by Adrian Tchaikovsky, which surprisingly, did not feature ANY bug- or -bug adjacent people, spiders, shapeshifters, or space ships. Austen-esque, hugely entertaining, I stayed up WAY too late Friday night to finish it.

What I Am Currently Reading

Ok, Adrian Tchaikovsky, but WITH spiders and jelly fish and spaceships, rereading Children of Ruin, in preparation for...

What I Am Reading Next

Children of Memory! As well as these:

What are you reading this week?

What I Just Finished Reading

Shadow Scale, by Rachel Hartman. The sequel to Seraphina, and I actually liked it more - more action rather than the Austen-esque-ness (is that a word? I guess it is now) than the first one.
The Praxis (Dread Empire's Fall), by Walter Jon Williams. For Not-Book-Bingo "Exploding Spaceships", but that didn't happen until close to the end, mostly it was soap opera, rather than space opera. My library has the next two books in the series, but I'm undecided as to whether I'll continue.

Rez Life, by David Treuer. A to Z Title.
Solitary: Unbroken by Four Decades of Solitary Confinement by Albert Woodfox. Horrifying but inspiring. A to Z Title, also Tookie's Favorites
The White Mosque, by Sofia Samatar. This was fascinating - I knew very little about the Mennonites, other than the fact they occasionally show up at our local Farmer's Markets with baked goods. I had no idea whatsover that in the late nineteenth century a Mennonite Doomsday cult set up a colony in Central Asia. Sofia Samatar (whose fantasy novels I've enjoyed) is Mennonite, and weaves a bit of her own family history into the larger tale. Excellent reading. Not Book Bingo "Color in the Title"
On Animals, by Susan Orleans. A collection of enjoyable magazine articles, pleasant reading. A to Z Authors
Standoff: Standing Rock, the Bundy Movement, and the American Story of Occupation, Sovereignty, and the Fight for Sacred Lands, by Jacqueline Keeler. Infuriating discussion as to the difference between treatment of white anti-federal-government protestors and mostly-(but not solely)Indigenous environmental activists. A to Z Author, Tookie's Favorites
The Lost City of the Monkey God, by Douglas Preston. Part real-life Indiana Jones, part medical mystery. A to Z Author, also Tookie's Favortes.
No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners, by Noah Rasheta. Clear question-and-answer format, easy to read. For Not Book Bingo "Spirituality"
The Heroine with 1001 Faces, by Maria Tatar. "dismantles the cult of warrior heroes, revealing a secret history of heroinism at the very heart of our collective cultural imagination." I wish she had addressed fanfiction *grin* though she did reference The Silence of the Girls and A Thousand Ships, Greek Mythology fanfiction, frequently. For Keyword: With
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, by Atul Gawande. Made me very glad we have our end-of-life paperwork and instructions in place. A to Z Title, also Tookie's Favorites
Eating to Extinction: The World's Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them, by Dan Saladino. I used this for Not Book Bingo: Cookbook or Food Related, but it would just as easily qualifed for a Biodiversity slot, had I had one. Really fascinating reading - I went through this more quickly than I expected because it was hard to put down.

What I Am Currently Reading

What A Fish Knows:The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins, by Jonathan Balcombe. Just started this but I'm enjoying it so far. A to Z Author.

What I Am Reading Next

Haven't had much Biography in the nonfiction mix, so Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy, by Damien Lewis, for A to Z Author.

Question of the Day: What's everyone been up to?

What I Just Finished Reading

The Book of Form and Emptiness, by Ruth Okeki. I mentioned this book last week, and ended up absolutely loving it - one of the best books I've read in a while. For Keyword: Book

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. I was not by any stretch the target audience for this, but I did have a lot of fun reading it - an excellent change of pace from my previous books. For Keyword: Game or Contest.

First Sister, by Linden A. Lewis. The Handmaid's Tale? In Space? And a bunch of other stuff, none of which made a whole lot of sense to me. For Keyword: First.

Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman. When I was putting together my reading lists for this year, I thought back fondly to the days when my reading mostly consisted of High Fantasy (Dragons!Wizards!) and Hard Scifi (Exploding spaceships!) So I added some of those to my Not-Book-Bingo card. Seraphina was great fun and reminded me of all the stuff I loved about dragon-centric books. There's a sequel, and I've already put in on hold.

Into the Riverlands, by Nghi Vo. Enjoyable novella, very pretty cover art (if you like pigs, which I do.)

Killers of a Certain Age, by Deanna Raybourn. Amusing! For A to Z Titles.

What I Am Currently Reading

Below the Edge of Darkness: A Memoir of Exploring Light and Life in the Deep Sea, by Edith Widder.

The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild, by Enric Sala.

What I Am Reading Next/A PSA

I'm going to be focusing mostly on nonfiction reading over the next few weeks, so I may not post as regularly. I'll keep up with my Reading Page though! Stay safe in whatever weird weather may happen, and enjoy looking forward to the new season on the way!

Happy February! Let me show you something I'm excited about:

A hellebore! In bloom! In my garden! And this picture was actually taken on Sunday. This is the earliest I've have a hellebore in bloom. It beat out the aconites (just starting to bloom) and the snowdrops (won't be long now). I have lots of other hellebores in full bud too, very pleasing. Of course we've had no winter to speak of *KNOCKS FRANTICALLY ON WOOD*. And now we are in February - we could still get snow, up to mid-March or so, but every day that goes by is a day closer to Spring.

What I Just Finished Reading

Heaven, by Mieko Kawakami. From Tookie's Favorites, also Not-Book-Bingo (I made up my own book bingo card) "Character has a disability."

The Book of Goose, by Yiyun Li. Literary fiction, so not entirely my thing - I think I got it off a New York Times Best Books List? Nice cover, though geese are mentioned only briefly. For Keyword: Book.

Zeroes, by Chuck Wendig. Techothriller, sort of sci-fi, a bit of horror. I liked the first Chuck Wendig I read (Wanderers) but wasn't overly delighted with its sequel, so that might be enough Chuck Wendig for me. (Oh, look, Goodreads says I read several of his Star Wars books, but I don't remember them, which probably says something too.)For A to Z Titles.

Split Tooth, by Tanya Tagaq. Couldn't quite figure out what this wanted to be: memoir of Inuit childhood? Poetry? Magical realism? There was some prose that was quite heart-stoppingly beautiful, but otherwise, I didn't really know what was going on. From Tookie's Favorites, also A to Z Author.

Vespertine, by Margaret Rogerson. This one was a great read! Thank you Ribby for recommending it, as well as everybody else I know who has read it and enjoyed it. Is there a sequel coming anytime? It seemed to leave that door open. I would read a sequel in a heartbeat. For A to Z Authors.

One For All, by Lillie Lainoff. This one was TONS of fun - genderbent retelling of The Three Musketeers. Highly recommend!

Book I Bailed Out of, Sadly

Oceans of Kansas: Oceans Of Kansas: A Natural History Of The Western Interior Sea, by Michael J. Everheart. Gorgeous cover art, lots of photos, academic publication but not overly dry, but hey, I'm mumblemumble years old and with only have so many reading hours left to me, 400 pages about fossils seemed a bit much of an investment. (He did mention the Bone Wars, and rival fossil hunters, I'll get to that in a moment.)

What I Am Currently Reading

Packing for Mars:The Curious Science of Life in the Void, by Mary Roach, because I enjoyed other books of her that I've read. For A to Z Title.

What I Am Reading Next

Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton. Historical novel about the rivalry between fossil hunters Edwin Cope and Othniel Marsh. I guess this was research for Jurassic Park? Looks like fun though.

Question of the Day: Signs of the season - have you noticed any yet?

What I Just Finished Reading

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, by F.C. Yee. This was lots of fun! I used this for a bingo square I invented, "Recommended by Two or More Friends." Thank you, everyone who brought it to my attention.
The House of Rust, by Khadija Abdalla Bajaber. Dark, dreamlike, dense. I didn't understand everything that was going on, but oh, some the language was just gorgeous. For Author of Color.

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee, by David Treuer. I enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it. Written by an Indigenous author as a response to Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, this book discusses Native American history and issues from the 1890's to the present. I particularly liked the interviews with contemporary Native American community leaders as well. For A to Z Titles, and also Tookie's Favorites.

The Undocumented Americans, by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio. This left me feeling depressed, angry, and frustrated. For A to Z Titles, and also Tookie's Favorites.

Girl One, by Sara Flannery Murphy. Copy editing missteps threw me off early on - there is no Maryland State University! Hellebores don't bloom mid-summer! - but mostly, this couldn't decide if it was scifi, horror, social commentary, or who knows what. For Monthly Keyword: Girl.

Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship, by Gail Caldwell. OMG HER BEST FRIEND DIED. AND THEN HER DOG DIED. Good thing it was so short, I couldn't have taken much more. For Keyword: Of, and also Tookie's Favorites.

Kings of the Yukon: One Summer Paddling Across the Far North, by Adam Weymouth. A young couple travels the Yukon River 2000 miles from its origin in western Canada to the Bering Sea, tracing the declining King Salmon. It probably doesn't sound that great, but it touched on fish biology, climate change, Indigenous rights, and other topics I found interesting, and I enjoyed it much more than I expected to. For Monthly Keyword: Direction.

What I Am Currently Reading/What I Am Reading Next

Technically, nothing, since I just finished Kings of the Yukon this morning, but in a bit I'll head to the library to pick up the second Genie Lo book, The Iron Will of Genie Lo.

Question of the Day: What's your earliest childhood memory? Mine is being about four years old, in a cabin in New Hampshire, being delighted by a visiting cat which turned out to have been a racoon.

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