Category: Book Tag Page 2 of 5

Back to School Book Tag

On September 3, 2024

Back to School Book Tag
When I saw this over at Chasing Destino last week, I thought that seems like a bit of seasonal fun. I might want to try that. And as I did try it, I discovered it was a bit of seasonal fun. (phew)

It was created by That Book Gal blog, and if you desire to jump into the Back to School Fun, be sure to tag the creator.

English – Name your favorite author’s (or books) writing style.

Cover of Mortal Stakes by Robert B Parker

Mortal Stakes by Robert B. Parker

I just can’t get enough of Robert B. Parker’s style–even when the novel is “meh,” his voice…man, oh, man. (the similarities between his and so many other authors I follow blindly show just how much I love his voice).

This is a dangerous topic for me, style is so important in my tastes, I could list two dozen others here…I’m going to leave it with two others that I can’t help but think of…

Cover of Dead Beat by Jim Butcher Cover of The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

Math – A book that made you frustrated!

Cover of the Meifod Claw by JW Bowe

The Meifod Claw by JW Bowe

I literally just searched my posts for the word “frustrated” and this one came up. Sorry to Mr. Bowe but man, this book did.

Science – A book that really made you think or question things.

Cover of The Appeal by Janice Hallett

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

You just can’t get through Hallett’s fascinating and mind-boggling book without having to rethink everything you’ve read in it by the end.

History – Your favorite book from a different time period.

Cover of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Did anyone really think I’d say something different?

Art – Your favorite book with pictures.

Cover of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Illustrated Edition by Douglas Adams and Chris Riddell Cover of The Mysteries by Bill Watterson and John Kascht

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Illustrated Edition by Douglas Adams and Chris Riddell and The Mysteries by Bill Watterson and John Kascht

This was a stumper for me (especially with all of the board books and picture books that I’ve been swimming in lately), but the artwork in these two are just great.

Drama – A book you would love to see turned into a movie.

Cover of Whistful Ascending by JCM Berne

Whistful Ascending by JCM Berne

I don’t know how it could happen, but I’d preorder every Blu-Ray collector’s edition today. (outside of animation…maybe when the Invincible team start looking for their next project).

Music/Band – A character with a similar music taste to you.

Cover of The Heathens by Ace Atkins

The Heathens by Ace Atkins

There was a character, TJ Byrd, that Atkins made a Spotify playlist for–I listened to it a lot. It’s not really representative of my taste as a whole, but it hit a sweet spot. (and every other character that I could tie to a specific taste made me think, “eh, that’s too ____ for me”)

Lunch – A food from a book you would love to try.

Cover of Kneading Journalism by Tony Ganzer

Kneading Journalism by Tony Ganzer

Between how bad I am at baking bread, and the fact that I might have celiac…this isn’t something I should try (but man, did I want to)

Bus Ride Home – A book or author that is relaxing.

Cover of And Be A Villain by Rex Stout

Any Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin book by Rex Stout

Reading Stout is like coming home after a long day. It takes me less than a page to be comfortable and forget whatever chaos is around me.

Extra Credit – A book someone recommended that you enjoyed.

Cover of No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister

I could name so, so, so many–and I feel like I’m insulting people who aren’t Carol who’ve recommended books to me. But this is the most recent and the freshest in my mind.

Sorry to not mention one of your recs Nicole, Micah, Jodie, Paul, Sean, Jamie, Mom…..

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with. How’re you hitting the books?

gif of Fozzie looking for laughs
See what I did there? Hitting the books…Ha!!

The Quintessential Summer Book Tag

By HCNewton

On August 22, 2024

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

A generic-looking tag reading 'The Quintessential Summer Book Tag'
This was created by TheBookishKat and I found it on Jo Linsdell’s ever-so-helpful Book Tags To Try This Summer post. I just needed a little variety in my life, so figured I’d give it a shot.

1. Iced Drink- a refreshing book

Graphic of an iced drink and the Cover of The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I don’t remember what I was home sick with when my mother brought this home to me, but it helped me feel better then and every–countless–time that I’ve read it since then. This story about fifteen contestants (and 1 mistake) competing for the inheritance of Samuel W. Westing has always been as refreshing as the best iced tea I’ve ever had.

Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay

2. Cotton Candy- a book that was fluffy and sweet

Graphic of Cotton Candy in a cup and the Cover of The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade

The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade

So this was just charming and sweet from beginning to end. Yes, it was written for a MG (at the oldest) audience, but I enjoyed it as much as–if not more–than cotton candy. It was light, it made me smile, and it made me want more.

Image from Pixabay

3. Sunglasses- a dark book

Graphic of Sunglasses and the Cover of According to Mark by H.B. O'Neill

According to Mark by H.B. O’Neill

Does it get darker than a couple of hundred pages about a broken-hearted man, who needs social/medical/psychiatric aid, seeking to kill himself because he’s convinced that Mark Twain wants him to? (still, it is a beautiful book with some moments of joy)

Image by Ronny Overhate from Pixabay

4. Picnic on a Rainy Day- a sad book

Graphic of a raining cloud and the Cover of The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

With a little thought, I could come up with sadder books, no doubt. But this was the first to jump into my mind (since I’d already used According to Mark). I stuck with it, because it fits this so well–not only is it sad, but like even a rained-on picnic, there are plenty of smiles and even some chuckles and warmth in this book. But yeah, it won’t just be rain that dampens your cheeks by the time you finish this.

Image by J S from Pixabay

5. Sand- a book that irritated you Red Queen

Graphic of a pile of sand and the Cover of Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado

Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado

This felt like it was written using a template to generate the hero, her sidekick, and the villains by an unimaginative committee looking for the next Lisbeth Salander or Robert Langdon (obviously, more of the former than the latter). It grated on me like sand in your clothes and shoes after you leave the beach (and yet, it kept me turning the pages, which is another kind of annoying).

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

6. Summer Blockbuster- favorite book-to-screen adaptation The Princess Bride

Graphic of people looking at a movie screen and the Cover of The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Is there another answer? I mean, really?

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

7. Dropped Ice Cream- a book you were anticipating, but it wasn’t good

Graphic of an ice cream cone on the ground and the Cover of Winter's Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch

Winter’s Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch

After the success of The October Man, I had faith in Aaronovitch’s ability to pull off an American adventure. Especially because I already know and like Special Agent Reynolds from when she shows up with Peter Grant. But, it’s just clear that Aaronovitch pull off writing in the U.S. from an American perspective. If this was about Peter or Abigail coming to visit Reynolds and running into trouble, I could’ve bought it. But this narrator just isn’t an American (or really, that American Evangelical…not even an ex-Evangelical). A rare miss in this series.

Image by Izwar Muis from Pixabay

8. Palm Tree- a tall book you loved 42

Graphic of a palm tree and the Cover of 42 The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams edited by Kevin Jon Davies

42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams edited by Kevin Jon Davies

I honestly couldn’t think of another tall book. But also, I like to spread the word about this as much as I can.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

9. Bonfire- a book you want to burn

Graphic of a campfire and the Cover of Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Sure–I’m diametrically opposed to book burning of any kind, but if there was a fireplace in use anywhere near me when I finished this book, I’d have been tempted to toss it in. (and would’ve gladly paid the library fees). The ending of this just made me so mad. I know I’m in the minority with this book, but I don’t care.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

10. Fireworks- a book that exploded onto the scene

Graphic of fireworks exploding in the sky and the Cover of Don't Know Tough by Eli Cranor

Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor

If you’re going to make your debut, you want to do it like Cranor. From the first page, this book hits you with the velocity of a rocket taking off—and as far as I can tell that’s how the book went, too. Suddenly, every Crime Fiction account/page I follow was talking about this book.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

I don’t typically actually tag people when I do these, but I’m curious to see what you’d put here. So if you made it this far, consider yourself tagged. (no need to go overboard on graphics like I chose to do for reasons that I don’t quite get)

Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow Icon

The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag ’24

By HCNewton

On April 29, 2024

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag
I’ve seen this on various blogs, but can’t seem to find the creator, so I can’t credit them. I’d like to, if anyone knows who did it.

I saw this over at Peat Long’s Blog, Biblio Nerd Reflections, and Chasing Destino (and, apparently, did it myself last year), and thought it was worth a shot. Three weeks later, here we are…

How many books have you read so far?

86 is what the ol’ spreadsheet says. Which is larger than I expected, I’ve gotta say (even after subtracting a handful of board books, picture books, etc., that’s still better than I’d have guessed).

Have you already found a book you think might be a 2024 favourite? If not, what was your favourite book you read that wasn’t quite five stars?

Smoke Kings by Jahmal Mayfield , City on Fire by Don Winslow, and The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett are the front-runners so far.

Blank Space

I’ve got Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman coming up this week (probably), I assume it’ll be in the running, too.

Any 1-star books / least favourite book of the year?

America Fantastica by Tim O’Brien is a title that begs for someone to say it’s not that fantastic. And it isn’t. Not really that good–and I kept waiting for it to raise to the level of mediocre, at least. As I tried to describe.

Most read genre so far?

Mystery/Crime/Thriller. Which will come as no surprise to anyone who is not me. I figured it might be on top, but I thought that Fantasy would be a lot closer so far this year. Which probably says a lot about how much reflection I’ve given to things.

1st Quarter Genre Chart

A book that surprised you?

Several of them, really. But I’m going to have to give this one to the 2024 InCryptid novel, Aftermarket Afterlife–McGuire does things in this story I didn’t think she’d do in this series. I was caught way off-guard more than once. Literally stunned.
Literally gif

A book that’s come out in 2024 already that you want to read but haven’t yet?

Ugh. So many of them. The four that come to mind (and I’m sorry to everyone who should have a book that comes to mind, but didn’t).
The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard (And Company) by Seán O’Boyle, Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling by Nijay K. Gupta, The World Entire by Jo Perry, City in Ruins by Don Winslow (but I have to read City of Dreams first).

Blank Space

One goal you made that you’re succeeding at

To read more for and to post more in the Grandpappy’s Corner series.

One goal you made that you need to focus on

All of the others would fit. Catching up on my To-Be-Written stack is my primary focus at the moment.

(not that anyone but me can tell that, I’ll note)

New to you Bloggers/Booktubers/ Bookstagrammers/Booktokers for 2023 you recommend?

bullet Hair Past a Freckle
bullet The Quill to Live
bullet Burt’s Library

As per usual, I’m not tagging anyone in particular, but I’m curious–what’s the first of the year been like for you?

The “I’ll Get Around to it Later” Book Tag

By HCNewton

On March 21, 2024

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

The “I’ll Get Around to it Later” Book Tag
I saw this over at bookforager a couple of weeks ago, and it seemed fun. I’ve been wanting to do another Book Tag, too. So here we go…

This was created by Liesl Brunner at Quote, Unquote and it has a few rules:

Link back to the original post at Quote, Unquote so the creator can read your answers
Link back to the post of the person who tagged you and thank them. Okay, thanks for the fun read, bookforager!
You may use the included graphic anywhere in your post, but you don’t have to. (you can find it back on Quote, Unquote)
Fill all seven categories
You can either leave this tag open so anyone can do it or tag up to seven people

A classic book that you have been meaning to read forever but haven’t yet

The Woman in White

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

I’m certain I could’ve listed about half of “The Western Canon” here (probably much more, but let me live in that river in Egypt), but I went for this one, as the only “classic” I own and haven’t read. (I typically buy classics when I plan to read them) The precursor of much of American detective fiction, you know I’ve got to read this one, (so why haven’t I?)

A book on your shelf that you haven’t read yet

42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams

42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams edited by Kevin Jon Davies

I’ve been looking forward to it for ages (since the Kickstarter to fund it), so I’m not quite sure why I didn’t dive in immediately. I’m a little intimidated to read this, I guess. It’s literally the densest book on my TBR shelf (really thick, high quality paper, it weighs a ton). My goal is to be able to post about it on Towel Day now.

A book that you got recently that you haven’t read

Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits

Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by Jason Pargin

I’ve been told by two very different people (yeah, yeah, everyone’s different, but you know what I meant) separately recommended this to me within a few weeks of each other. Saw it at a bookstore a couple of weeks later, and now, I’m hoping to finish it before Memorial Day.

A book that you’ve had forever but haven’t read

Hallow Point

Hallow Point by Joe Klingler

This is the oldest unread book I own–I read the first Mick Oberon Job, Hot Lead, Cold Iron and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bought this sequel back in January 2016. And then kept putting it off long enough that I can only remember the broadest outlines of the first one. I do need to get around to it (and the 2 following)

A book a friend recommended that you haven’t read

Dawn of Wonder

Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw

Actually, my friend Micah more than recommended this one to me, he gave it to me. As this came out in 2015 and book 2 has yet to see the light of day (a fact I just looked up), I’m thinking I may have made the right call on not reading this one (Renshaw’s reasons are incredibly understandable, but I’m still going to hold off a little longer). But since I’ve enjoyed and/or loved (mostly loved) every book Micah’s ever recommended to me, I probably would like this one, if I ever got around to it.

A book you’re procrastinating on

Literally everything in this post or the 270+ other books I’ve got on one list or another? That’s not helpful. Let’s go with:

Stiletto

Stiletto by Daniel O’Malley

I’ve used this as tag answers before. And, at the rate I’m going, I’ll continue to do so. But…here we are. I’m a little worried that if I get around to it later, my TBR shelf might fall over. It’s gotta be weight-bearing by now.

The next book on your TBR

Aftermarket Afterlife

Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire

I’m pretty sure the next one I’m reading will be this one, before it becomes one of those “I’ll get around to it” books (I’m not sure why InCryptid books tend to get this way, but they do). Actually, I’m hopefully reading it by the time this posts (but something tells me I won’t be). Otherwise, it’ll be this book (because I’m determined to have read everything I bought at the Nampa Library Book Fair last year before I show up to this year’s.

Cooked Goose

Cooked Goose by Laura Jenski

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

End of the Year Book Tag

By HCNewton

On November 28, 2023

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

End of Year Book Tag
I saw this on a couple of blogs last week and thought it’d make a good one for me to do. But when I went back to check so I could link to them, I could only find the entry at Biblio Nerd Reflections. Sorry to whoever else inspired me, I didn’t mean to ignore you, but I apparently did.

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

Blank Space

The only things that really fit here are my project reads—The Existence and Attributes of God: Updated and Unabridged by Stephen Charnock and A Mystery Revealed: 31 Meditations on the Trinity by Ryan McGraw—books that I’ve scheduled my reading to finish on December 31. Hopefully, everything else gets wrapped up before then. I don’t get too worked up about that kind of thing, but I appreciate making a clean start on January 1.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

Nope. I don’t get this kind of thinking—I know a lot of people do read seasonally, and more power to ’em! My brain doesn’t really work that way. I read Christmas-related ARCs in July, I could (but probably haven’t) read a book about a Summer Vacation in the dead of winter. So, basically whatever book I happen to be reading on December 21 will be my transition book.

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

Blank Space

As far as I know (which isn’t very far), the only two that I’m waiting for are Mike Lupica’s Spenser debut in Robert B. Parker’s Broken Trust and the next Bill Smith/Lydia Chin book, The Mayors of New York by S. J. Rozan. But I could easily be forgetting something.

Also, depending on when I decide to post this, the Lupica book could already be out.

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

Blank Space

There are five books that I’ve mentioned on previous tags/lists that I haven’t finished yet. I’m picking three of those (because I’m pretty sure that I’ll get to the other two without calling them out). The Moonshine Messiah by Russell W. Johnson, Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman, and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson Lancaster.

* The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss and The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher

Is there a book you think that could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

Absolutely. Pretty much anything I pick up between now and 12/31. Sure, I don’t expect The Secret by the Child brothers will be it—that would be a shock for sure. But otherwise, I hold out hope for almost every book. As I’m still not sure what I’m going to read over the next month, I hesitate to mention a likely nominee (although Rothfulss and Butcher have to be in the running).

Have you already started making reading plans for 2024?

I have indeed. And stopped. And started again. And stopped again. I didn’t do a great job with my goals for 2023, so I’m hesitant to commit to much for next year. I’m also trying to figure out how much I want to plan ahead at the moment—it might be a time to lean into whimsy and clearing off my shelves. And polishing off the 2023 plans that didn’t get accomplished.

* How un-great is still TBD.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

The Firsts of 2023 Book Tag

By HCNewton

On August 17, 2023

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

The Firsts of 2023 Book Tag

This tag was created by Girlxoxo back in 2021. I saw this at A Literary Escape last week, and my first thought was: I need a fast post to make sure I have something to fill my days afk next week. My second thought was that it looked like a fun tag to do. But let’s be real for a second, the first was more important–I had to do extra posts last week to prep, so fast was good. So…here we go:

First Book Read This Year

Harvested

Harvested by Troy Lambert

This starts with our Seattle PI looking into a dog-napping ring and ends up (as you might expect) putting him in the middle of something much, much, bigger.
(my original post about the book)

First Book Reviewed

I really don’t like calling my posts reviews, but for the sake of this tag, I’ll swallow that. I’m a little fuzzy about what they’re asking for, was that the first review of the year? Or was it the first book from this year that I reviewed? Eh…I’ll do both, just because.

The first book I posted about this year was:

Everything’s Changing by Chelsea Stickle

A strange and compelling collection of flash fiction that gave me something unexpected in each piece, featuring some really impressive and disturbing (and disturbingly impressive and imporessively disturbing) prose.
(my original post about the book)

The first book I posted about that I read this year was:

Triptych by by Karin Slaughter

I’ll talk about this down below.

First Book By A Debut Author

Haven

Haven by Ceril N Domace

Domance wasn’t a debut author by the time I read this, but this was her debut. This is a SF book with a layer of Fantasy on top of it–with a healthy dose of Family Drama added to the mix. It’s definitely worth taking a look at.
(my original post about the book)

First Book By A New-To-Me Author

Harvested

Harvested by Troy Lambert

By the end of the month, I will have read three by books Lambert. By the end of the year, it could be four or more. So it looks like our first meeting went well.
(my original post about the book)

First Book That Slayed Me

The Perception Of Dolls

The Perception of Dolls by Anthony Croix, Edited by Russell Day

Slayed me. Haunted me. Took up residence in a dark corner of my subconscious and tweaked a couple of lurking anxieties.
(my original, and insufficient, post about the book)

First Book That I Wish I Could Get Back The Time I Spent Reading It

Triptych by by Karin Slaughter

This first book featuring Will Trent really didn’t impress me–I almost returned it to the library at least 8 times while listening (it was also my first audiobook of the year). My curiousity about one character was satisfied by the end, I didn’t hate the way things wrapped up, and I’ve considered trying one more book in the series. But it was a bad experience for me.
(my original post about the book)

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but hey, join in the fun!

Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag ’23

By HCNewton

On July 6, 2023

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag
I’d intended on getting this posted last week, you’ll see how well that worked out for me. I’ve done this tag the last few years, and have had a lot of fun with it, even if it took me an unexpectedly long time to assemble this one.

I have really enjoyed reading the posts that several others have put up over the last week or so (like Novel Lives, Biblio Nerd Reflections, Pages and Tea, and Twirling Book Princess…I thought I’d noted a few others, too, but apparently not. Sorry if I neglected you). Hopefully, this is half as entertaining.

I think I did okay at not mentioning some titles too often—but I had to repeat some. When a book is good in one category, odds are it’ll be good in others.

1. The best book you’ve read so far this year?

This was a four-way tie that I whittled all the way down to 3. How’s that for not at all decisive? (the other one gets mentioned a couple of times below).

The Perception of Dolls by Anthony Croix, Edited by Russell Day (my post about it) is a truly impressive work. I have not been able to stop thinking and talking about Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (and I think I didn’t say enough good things about it in my initial post (my post about it) . Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor shows that his debut wasn’t a fluke.

The Perception of Dolls Chain-Gang All-Stars Ozark DOgs

I should probably mention Fearless by M. W. Craven (my post about it)and Sleepless City by Reed Farrel Coleman (my post about it), too. I’m forcing myself to stop now.

Fearless Sleepless City

2. The best sequel you’ve read this year?

It’d be Samantha Jayne Allen’s Hard Rain (my post about it) or Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air by Jackson Ford. A lot of the stand-out books I’ve read this year are first books in a series and or stand-alones (also, I haven’t read quite as many sequels as I thought I did). Hard Rain does a great job of continuing the growth and development of Annie McIntyre, while telling a different kind of story in that same world. Random raised the stakes from its predecessor and showed that Ford was not pulling any punches—it’s one of those that the more I think about it, the more I’m impressed.

Hard Rain Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air

3. New releases you haven’t read yet but want to.

This list should probably be longer, but off the top of my head (do note, these are books I own, so I should be able to read them easily): Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson Lancaster, All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby, Evidence Pool by Ian Robinson, Blood Runs Cold by Neil Lancaster

Not necessarily in that order.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone All the Sinners Bleed Evidence Pool Blood Runs Cold

4. Most anticipated releases for the second half of the year.

The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss and The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher are reflex answers. Sleep No More and The Innocent Sleep are close seconds, to see how Seanan McGuire handles the conclusion of Be the Serpent and how she handles these two books together.

The Narrow Road Between Desires The Olympian Affair
Sleep No More The Innocent Sleep

Not Prepared by Matthew Hanover is technically an answer to this, but I got an advance copy and I’m starting it this week, so….

Not Prepared

5. Biggest disappointment.

I feel like I’m picking on books here, but…

Karin Slaughter’s Triptych (my post about it) was a major let-down for me and made me unsure that I want to try anything else by her. And The Stench of Honolulu by Jack Handey made me reconsider wanting to read humor.

Triptych The Stench of Honolulu

6. Biggest Surprise.

Ummm…how little I liked those last two books?

Eh, let’s go positive again. I assumed (as I always try to) that I was going to have fun with books with titles like Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto (my post about it) and A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe (my post about it). But I wasn’t prepared to enjoy them as much as I did.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice A Necromancer Called Gam Gam

7. Favorite new to you, or debut, author.

Jesse Q. Sutanto (my post about her book), Ausma Zehanat Khan (my post about her book), and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (my post about his book) would top this list. I can’t believe everyone isn’t talking about Adjei-Brenyah in the same way that S.A. Crosby and Oyinkan Braithwaite were a few years ago (and Crosby still is). Zehanat Khan feels like someone I should’ve been reading for years (and I have some makeup reading to do). Sutanto is just a fantastic breath of fresh air compared to most of the people I read—like Abbi Waxman, but with murder.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice Blackwater Falls Chain-Gang All-Stars

8. Newest fictional crush.

Lola, the corgi in Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen (don’t ask me why I haven’t got a post finished about this yet…) would be my new fantasy dog. Any corgi that can put up with living with a vampire—and actually seem to enjoy it—is a special kind of dog. Honestly, I don’t know that many of her interactions with her vampire, Louise, really won me over (although I appreciated Louise’s devotion to her), but it was the way that Lola helped bring poor Ian out of his shell/emotional wreckage that was so heartwarming.

Vampire Weekend

9. Newest favorite character.

I don’t even know if I can limit this to a handful…Ben Koenig (from Fearless), Vera Wong (from, well, duh), Imaya Rahman (from Blackwater Falls), Juniper (from Mrs. Covington’s), and Nick Ryan (from Sleepless City) all jump to mind. And if I let myself keep thinking, I’d come up with another 6 in 20 seconds. I think I have to go with Juniper (but I could make a case for all of these)

Mrs. Covington's

10. Book that made you cry?

Huh…Don’t think I’ve read one this year. On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel (my post about it) probably moved me the most of the books I read this year. The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow could easily have jerked a tear or two out of me if I’d been in a slightly different mood, ditto for Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire (my post about it).

I think this year’s books have been the literary equivalent of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. Which is a line I stole from my ’22 post. By the end of the year, something will change that, I’m sure.

On the Savage Side The Once and Future Witches Lost in the Moment and Found

11. Book that made you happy?

Well, really, any book that I rated 3 Stars or higher (most of them for the year) made me happy—it’s why I do this. But I associate happiness with three in particular: Mrs. Covington’s by K.R.R. Lockahven (my post about it), Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto (my post about it), and Cutthroat Cupcakes by Cate Lawley (my post about it) (that might be recency bias, but…eh, who cares?).

Cozy/Cozy-Adjacent books like these just make you feel good. These three still make me feel good as I think about them later.

Mrs. Covington's Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice Cutthroat Cupcakes

12. Favorite book to film adaption?

I almost put nothing here (other than a list of ones I’ve intended to get to), but at the last second, I remembered that Bullet Train was adapted from a novel. I have no idea how it is as an adaptation, but I had a lot of fun watching this a couple of months back.

Bullet Train Movie

and another last-minute memory—the TV show Will Trent. Which is all sorts of okay (which still puts it miles ahead of the first book in the series).

Will Trent

13. Favorite post/review you have done this year?

Everything relating to the Literary Locals series and most of the A Few Quick Questions I’ve done this year are probably my favorites, but I have a hard time picking out individual posts from them, so I’ll go with:
bullet They Asked, so I Answer (just about) Anything for My 10th Blogiversary
bullet TEN(!!!!!) YEARS of The Irresponsible Reader. (or, Happy Blogiversary to me.)
bullet Book Blogger Hop: Are Books a Must-Have in Your Home?

I think my favorite review-ish posts would be (although all of them make me want to spend another hour or so improving them):
bullet The Perception of Dolls by Anthony Croix, Edited by Russell Day: Creepy Dolls, Creepy dolls, and Creepy do!!s
bullet Scratching the Flint by Vern Smith: We Didn’t Start the Fire…
bullet Ten Reasons to NOT Read Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas

14. Most beautiful book you have bought or been given this year?

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall is just a gorgeously put-together book. It’s worth getting just to look at.

Farmhouse

The Hardcover reissue of The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True by Sean Gibson, Mrs. Covington’s by K.R.R. Lockhaven, and However Long the Day by Justin Reed are pretty attractive, too.

Part about Dragon Was True Mrs. Covington's However Long the Day

15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

The lists from my 20 Books of Summer, Books on My Summer 2023 to-Read List (That Aren’t on My 20 Books Challenge), the answers from #3 and 4, and the rest of my challenge reads. That pretty much takes care of the year (but I know I’ll read others, too).
.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

Update: Does Anyone Know What Series This Is?

By HCNewton

On June 1, 2023

In Book Tag, Miscellany, News/Misc.

The other day, I asked for some help for a friend tracking down a beloved series from his younger days.

there’s only one series I desperately want to remember what it was.

Was sort of spooky mystery, 1950ish settling with some siblings always visiting this wise professor who always made them chocolate cake and they were always getting on the wrong side of evil magicians and eldritch powers.

It’s a vague amorphous memory that gives me super nostalgia and angst that I can’t remember anything beyond that image lol

I think the series has been tracked down.

Blogger Murder by Death commented:

Would it be one of John Bellairs’ series by any chance?

and Sean Gibson agreed,

I was thinking John Bellairs! It sounded very Bellairsian…

I passed the idea along and got this response:

Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! I think these might be it!!!

https://www.goodreads.com/series/66883-johnny-dixon

I’m so excited to investigate further

Thanks to all those who replied and those who spread the word. Particularly to Murder by Death and Gibson.

Help a Buddy Out: Does Anyone Know What Series This Is?

By HCNewton

On May 30, 2023

In Book Tag, Miscellany, News/Misc.

I was texting* with a friend yesterday and he said that he cannot remember the name of most of what he read in middle school. He was largely okay with that, but there’s one exception:

there’s only one series I desperately want to remember what it was.

Was sort of spooky mystery, 1950ish settling with some siblings always visiting this wise professor who always made them chocolate cake and they were always getting on the wrong side of evil magicians and eldritch powers.

It’s a vague amorphous memory that gives me super nostalgia and angst that I can’t remember anything beyond that image lol

Think back 15 years or so, does any one have an idea what he might have been reading? It’s not necessarily (probably not at all likely) YA. I can’t think of anything, and search engines aren’t working for me.

* I have to stress this conversation was in text–he’s a proofreader, and if it got out that he typed like this outside of a text environment, he’d probably stop talking with me outside of formal letters.

The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag

By HCNewton

On April 14, 2023

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag
I’ve seen this on a couple of blogs like Dini Panda Reads and Biblio Nerd Reflections, and it seemed pretty fun. Also, I hadn’t done a tag in ages, and wanted to. It was created by @Roisin’s Reading.

How many books have you read so far?

81 titles on 4/8 (the day I’m composing this), which is where I was on 4/8 of last year (although this year’s number includes more picture books, so I’m behind the pace). That’s not bad at all.

Have you already found a book you think might be a 2023 favourite[sic]? If not, what was your favourite book you read that wasn’t quite five stars?

Fearless Blank Space How to Examine a Wolverine

Fearless by M.W. Craven and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto are destined to end up in my Top 10 of the year, possibly Top 3.

Any 1-star books / least favourite book of the year?

Triptych

The audiobook for Triptych by Karin Slaughter is the only book that comes to mind here. It’s not a 1-Star, and is too well put together for that. But it qualifies as least favorite.

Most read genre so far?

Hold on to your hats here..you’re going to be surprised…it’s Mystery/Crime/Thriller. I’ll give you a moment to gasp while you look at the pie chart.

1 Quarter Genre Chart

A book that surprised you?

That’s a good question. I guess

Magpie Murders

Magpie Murders maybe? I’d heard only good things, so I expected it to be good–just didn’t expect it to be that good. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers might also qualify that way.

Triptych also qualifies because I’m suprised that that book could lead to a 11-book long series and a TV show.

A book that’s come out in 2023 already that you want to read but haven’t yet?

Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor is the one that jumps to mind, but by the time this posts, I should have at leasted started it. I think I’m doing pretty good at keeping up with the new releases I’m into this year…we’ll talk about the side-effects of that below.

A few others that qualify:

Know Thy Enemy Blank Space But Have You Read the Book?

Lie to Her Blank Space Everybody Knows

bullet Know Thy Enemy by Jeffery H. Haskell
bullet But Have You Read the Book?: 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films by Kristen Lopez
bullet Lie to Her by Melinda Leigh (my library hold just became available, so this will be taken care of soon-ish)
bullet Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper

One goal you made that you’re succeeding at

Keeping up with New Releases? But that’s not an “official” goal. I guess it would be The 2023 Booktempter’s TBR reduction challenge and reading stuff for my Grandpappy’s Corner series.

One goal you made that you need to focus on

Every other one. I really want to focus on reading the books I’ve bought (mostly) and/or planned to buy (a few) for the Literary Locals series. These look great and I need to stop distracting myself to read and blog about these. New releases and author submissions keep distracting me and getting my off-target. I need to rein myself in.

New to you Bloggers/Booktubers/ Bookstagrammers/Booktokers for 2023 you recommend?

I’m not sure if these were new-to-me in 2023, but they’re pretty recently new-to-me (or blogs I’ve read before, but I’ve gotten more consistent about checking):
bullet Biblio Nerd Reflections
bullet Gina Rae Mitchell
bullet Mike Finn’s Fiction
bullet reader@work
bullet Read with Me
bullet Stephen Writes