Down the TBR Hole (21 of 24+)

I’ve only got 2 posts to go from the original list–but I’ve added a few since then, I’m going to have to come up with a new Master List soon. I’ve trimmed the list considerably, but not as much as I’d hoped. This series has spurred me to read some things that had been languishing on the list for years, so that’s cool. But I don’t want to spend too much time on that now, I’ll wait until I’m done to do that.

Interestingly (for me, at least), somehow, three cookbooks landed on this part of The List. Which is just strange, I don’t know why I’d put them as “To Read.” I don’t read cookbooks, I can see them on a separate “To Buy” list (I have a few others on it), but…¯_(ツ)_/¯

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Literary Landscapes: Charting the Worlds of Classic Literature by John Sutherland Blurb: “Literary Landscapes delves deep into the geography, location, and terrain of our best-loved literary works and looks at how setting and environmental influences storytelling, character, and our emotional response as readers. Fully illustrated with hundreds of full-color images throughout…Literary Landscapes brings together more than 50 literary worlds and examines how their description is intrinsic to the stories that unfold within their borders…The landscapes of enduring fictional characters and literary legends are vividly brought to life, evoking all the sights and sounds of the original works. Literary Landscapes will transport you to the fictions greatest lands and allow you to connect to the story and the author’s intent in a whole new way.” My Thoughts: This looks like a fun thing to flip through, the kind of thing to have on your bookshelf for the occaisional glance and/or research. But to read? I just don’t see me sitting down to do it. Verdict:
	Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire Blurb: “Sarah Zellaby has always been in an interesting position. Adopted into the Price family at a young age, she’s never been able to escape the biological reality of her origins: she’s a cuckoo, a telepathic ambush predator closer akin to a parasitic wasp than a human being. Friend, cousin, mathematician; it’s never been enough to dispel the fear that one day, nature will win out over nurture, and everything will change. Maybe that time has finally come.” My Thoughts: I read this one in June of last year.. It’s not my favorite of the series, but I enjoyed it (and will hopefully start the follow-up this week). Verdict: Like last week, I almost feel like I’m cheating to kill this from The List since I read it months ago, but…
	The Death of Mungo Blackwell by Lauren H. Brandenburg Blurb: “After an incident involving a food truck leaves Charlie Price jobless, he moves to small Coraloo with his wife and son. They find themselves thrown in the middle of a feud between two old families: the Tofts and the Blackwells.” The book “found a sweet, quiet way of talking about stress, adjusting to new and scary circumstances, and ‘blooming where you’re planted.'” My Thoughts: This was recommended by Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub who described it as “Equally funny and touching, this book managed to warm my cold little heart” (I blatently stole the description from that post). Still sounds good to me.
	Forking Good: A Cookbook Inspired by The Good Place by Valya Dudycz Lupescu Blurb: “a pun-filled and fully illustrated cookbook of 30 original recipes inspired by the philosophy and food humor of the hit show.” My Thoughts: Yes, that sounds like a lot of fun. But I’m never going read it, much less use it. Although, I am curious if any of the recipes used Almond Milk in honor of Chidi… Verdict:
	Indian-ish: Recipes and Antics from a Modern American Family by Priya Krishna Blurb: “This colorful, lively book is food writer Priya Krishna’s loving tribute to her mom’s “Indian-ish” cooking—a trove of one-of-a-kind Indian-American hybrids that are easy to make, clever, practical, and packed with flavor. Think Roti Pizza, Tomato Rice with Crispy Cheddar, Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Green Pea Chutney, and Malaysian Ramen.” My Thoughts: I have flipped through this book, it looks great. There’s a decent amount of non-recipe text, too. So it would take some reading to get through, unlike your typical cookbook. I just need to get around to getting it. Verdict:
	Plant-Based on a Budget: Delicious Vegan Recipes for Under $30 a Week, for Less Than 30 Minutes a Meal by Toni Okamoto Blurb: 100 Plant-Based meals that can be made in under 30 minutes (and cheaply!) My Thoughts: As I try (try) to go Whole-Food Plant-Based, this is something I really need. A foreward from Dr. Greger, increases the appeal. I actually thought I’d bought this already, but I confused it with another one (that I ended up using exactly zero times, which is exactly what it was worth). Verdict: Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum
	The Ninja Daughter by Tori Eldridge Blurb: “[An] action-packed thriller about a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja with “Joy Luck Club” family issues who battles the Los Angeles Ukrainian mob, sex traffickers, and her own family to save two desperate women and an innocent child.” My Thoughts: I read it back in August. This was really good, I’ve got the sequel waiting to be read next month. Verdict: This is another one where I technically get to cut it since I pulled this list months before I read the book.
	Pricked by Scott Mooney Blurb: “Briar Pryce has the power to change the emotions of others by handing them a rose. It is a talent that has done surprisingly little for her, besides landing her a dead-end enchantment delivery job and killing any chance she had with her childhood-crush-turned-roommate. Worst of all, her ability might be responsible for getting her best friend transformed into a cat via a cursed muffin basket. Needless to say, Briar is nowhere near happily-ever-after. But that’s just life as a twentysomething in the Poisoned Apple, New York City’s lost borough of fairy-tale wonder and rent-controlled magic.” My Thoughts: I was set to cross this off as “cute idea, but I just don’t have the time.” But the last clause I quoted there just sounds too promising. Verdict: (with reservations)
	The Land of Roar by Jenny McLachlan Blurb: “When Arthur and Rose were little, they were heroes in the Land of Roar, an imaginary world that they found by climbing through the folding bed in their grandad’s attic…Now the twins are eleven, Roar is just a memory. But when they help Grandad clean out the attic, Arthur is horrified as Grandad is pulled into the folding bed and vanishes. Is he playing a joke? Or is Roar . . . real?” My Thoughts: Looks like it’d be a ton of fun, but I know I’m not getting to it anytime soon. Verdict:
	The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Blurb: “Dutiful Newland Archer, an eligible young man from New York high society, is about to announce his engagement to May Welland, a suitable match from a good family, when May’s cousin, the beautiful and exotic Countess Ellen Olenska, is introduced into their circle. The Countess brings with her an aura of European sophistication and a hint of perceived scandal, having left her husband and claimed her independence. Her worldliness, disregard for society’s rules, and air of unapproachability attract the sensitive Newland, despite his enthusiasm about a marriage to May and the societal advantages it would bring. Almost against their will, Newland and Ellen develop a passionate bond, and a classic love triangle takes shape as the three young people find themselves drawn into a poignant and bitter conflict between love and duty.” My Thoughts: I think I read some article a couple of years ago about “why you need to read Edith Wharton.” I don’t remember where I read it or any of the content. So I really don’t remember why I put this 20th Century Classic on my list. From the description, it’s not my cup of tea. Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 6 / 10
Total Books Removed: 117 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)