Saturday Miscellany – 11/24/18

Naturally, after a big week last week — a small list. But I quite like the list of odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

• Small bookstores are booming after nearly being wiped out — In honor of Small Business Saturday which once again falls on Tight Budget Saturday for me, so I won’t be participating — but I’ll make up for it.
• I’ve already suggested that you check out damppebbles’ #R3COMM3ND3D2018, but I’m going to remind you a couple of times to do so. I’ve already got a good chunk of January planned thanks to it. I, personally, appreciated Friday the 23rd’s installment (if only so I could remember two of the books I picked)
• 40 Wag-Worthy Dog Books You’ll Want to Get Your Paws On — some of these I heartily endorse, most of them I wish I could find time for.
• Lies Sleeping and the Challenge of Crafting an Intersectional Narrator for the Rivers of London Series — how Peter Grant came to be.
• Crime Reads asks the vital question: Who Should Play Jack Reacher Now that Tom Cruise Is Out? — While I think Jason Segal is an inspired choice (and if he wanted to, I think he could pull it off — but I can’t imagine he wants to), most of the rest of this list is a bit better. Honestly, the first choice “More Realistic, Solid Candidates” is the best on the list, with the last in that category a close 2nd (with one significant problem).

A Book-ish Related Podcast Episode you might want to give a listen to:
• Recommended: Jane Mount and Oyinkan Braithwaite I don’t listen to every episode of this podcast, honestly. Usually only if there’s a guest like/want to hear from or at least one book I want to hear someone talk about. This episode features people less-than-3’ing The Phantom Tollbooth and Jane Eyre — Braithwaite charmed me, I was very pleased when I realized she was the author of My Sister the Serial Killer, which I’d just checked out from the library.

This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
• Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch — the gloves are off and the Folly (and the rest of the Metropolitan Police) are giving everything they have to take down the Faceless Man. Best of the series, a href=”https://wp.me/p3z9AH-3Ah” target=”_blank”>as I said recently.
• My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite — Not only does Braithwaite had great taste in books (see above), she’s written a witty and dark tale of a Nurse who finds her self trying to protect a sister with a knack for killing her boyfriends.
• August by Jim Lusby — A dark crime story involving child abuse, the drug trade, populist politicians and more in Ireland. Bought it instantly, and trying to find a spot in my calendar for it.
• Big Damn Hero by James Lovegrove — The first Firefly novel — a job for Badger goes wrong. Whoda thunk it?

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and extend a warm welcome to Moonlight Snow, Fashion-Creative thinking and jennifertarheelreader for following the blog this week.