Down the TBR Hole (28 of 29+)

Clearly, the key to making severe cuts to the “Want to Read” list, focusing on the older things on the list. If you’re wanting a reminder of all the stuff you’ve recently been excited about, well, look at the recent additions. All these last few entries in this series have done is remind me about all the cool stuff I wanted to read lately.

Yeah, I trimmed a little this time out, but not much. But I did work a little harder on arranging things so I could move some books from the “Want to Read” List to the “Have Read” List. All in all, a pretty good thing, right?

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:

Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
Order on ascending date added.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
Read the synopses of the books.
Decide: keep it or should it go?
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)

	I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider Blurb: “this lighthearted collection of one- and two-page comics, writer-artist Grant Snider explores bookishness in all its forms, and the love of writing and reading, building on the beloved literary comics featured on his website, Incidental Comics” My Thoughts: I like Snider’s comics, Lashaan mentioned it favorably, and, I’ve got a copy waiting at my local bookstore for me. It’s a keeper. Verdict:
	How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One by Stanley Fish Blurb: “In this entertaining and erudite New York Times bestseller, beloved professor Stanley Fish offers both sentence craft and sentence pleasure. Drawing on a wide range of great writers, from Philip Roth to Antonin Scalia to Jane Austen, How to Write a Sentence is much more than a writing manual—it is a spirited love letter to the written word, and a key to understanding how great writing works.” My Thoughts: “a spirited love letter to the written word” keeps this on the list. Verdict:
	Black Canary: Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir Blurb: The Court of Owls has (somehow) taken over Gotham City and imposed a dicatorship, stripping women of most/all rights–inluding the right to sing. Teenater Dinah Lance helps women of the city rise up (which pursuing a romance with Oliver Queen). My Thoughts: The premise is stupid, the DC Icons series is very hit and miss for me. But I’m curious and have seen some mostly positive reviews. Verdict: I’m gonna cut this, but if my library ends up getting the audiobook, I’ll probably give it a try.
	Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas Blurb: The story of Starr Carter’s father, Maverick, leaving the King Lords when he learns he’s a father. My Thoughts: I honestly don’t care about Maverick’s past beyond what we learned in The Hate U Give. That was enough. Some of Starr’s classmates, I could see learning a bit more about. Seeing what happens to Maverick after The Hate U Give might interest me. OR–now this is a crazy idea, just hear me out–something that has nothing at all to do with her previous work. But this? I can’t muster the enthusiasm. Verdict:
	A Question of Navigation by Kevin Hearne Blurb: 50,000 humans are abducted and are being taken to an alien planet. Five of them (scientists all) are set aside for one purpose, the others are destined to be eaten. It’s up to the scientists to save the day. Verdict:
	The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino Blurb: “Yasuko Hanaoka is a divorced, single mother who thought she had finally escaped her abusive ex-husband Togashi. When he shows up one day to extort money from her, threatening both her and her teenaged daughter Misato, the situation quickly escalates into violence and Togashi ends up dead on her apartment floor. Overhearing the commotion, Yasuko’s next door neighbor, middle-aged high school mathematics teacher Ishigami, offers his help, disposing not only of the body but plotting the cover-up step-by-step…When the body turns up and is identified, Detective Kusanagi draws the case and Yasuko comes under suspicion. Kusanagi is unable to find any obvious holes in Yasuko’s manufactured alibi and yet is still sure that there’s something wrong. Kusanagi brings in Dr. Manabu Yukawa, a physicist and college friend who frequently consults with the police. Yukawa, known to the police by the nickname Professor Galileo, went to college with Ishigami. After meeting up with him again, Yukawa is convinced that Ishigami had something to do with the murder. What ensues is a high level battle of wits, as Ishigami tries to protect Yasuko by outmaneuvering and outthinking Yukawa, who faces his most clever and determined opponent yet.” My Thoughts: 1. This sounds interesting. 2. A Japanese mystery would be an interesting change of pace. 3. Jeff made it sound pretty good on a Like the Wolfe episode. Verdict:
	First Cut by Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell Blurb: “For San Francisco’s newest medical examiner, Dr. Jessie Teska, it was supposed to be a fresh start. A new job in a new city. A way to escape her own dark past. Instead she faces a chilling discovery when a suspected overdose case contains hints of something more sinister. Jessie’s superiors urge her to close the case, but as more bodies land on her autopsy table, she uncovers a constellation of deaths that point to an elaborate plot involving nefarious opioid traffickers and flashy tech titans who got rich off Bitcoin.” My Thoughts: While, I’m a little hesitant about the premise, however, I really liked Melinek’s memoir Working Stiff (also co-written by Mitchell). I think the real-world expertise she brings could make up for that reticence. Verdict:
	August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones Blurb: “August grew up in the city’s Mexicantown and joined the police force only to be drummed out by a conspiracy of corrupt cops and politicians. But August fought back; he took on the city and got himself a $12 million wrongful dismissal settlement that left him low on friends.” Now he’s looking into a staged suicide of someone who he turned down for a job. Verdict:
	Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia Blurb: Raven Roth and Garfield Logan arrive in Nashville looking for answers about the incredibly weird things that have happend to/around them recently from Slade Wilson (clearly, a bad idea, unless Garcia’s really messing with things). They meet and “feel a connection, despite the secrets they both try to hide. It will take a great amount of trust and courage to overcome the wounds of their pasts. But can they find acceptance for the darkest part of themselves? Or maybe even love?” My Thoughts: I’ve enjoyed the first two books in the series, and am just waiting for this one to be released. Verdict:
	Shadow of a Dead God by Patrick Samphire Blurb: “It was only supposed to be one little job – a simple curse-breaking for Mennik Thorn to pay back a favour to his oldest friend. But then it all blew up in his face. Now he’s been framed for a murder he didn’t commit.So how is a second-rate mage, broke, traumatized, and with a habit of annoying the wrong people, supposed to prove his innocence when everyone believes he’s guilty?” My Thoughts: Fantasy + detective fiction is generally a win for me, but I know I don’t have a great track record of following through on lager Fantasy novels lately. So I’m on the fence with this one. But that “second-rate mage” line…that stands out and keeps this on the list for a little while longer (at least). Verdict: