Category: Books Page 2 of 136

October 2024 in Retrospect: What I Read/Listened to/Wrote About

On November 1, 2024

In Books, Calendar Items, Currently Reading, News/Misc.

I finished 24 titles in October (8 up from last month, 1 down from last October), with an equivalent of 6,605+ pages or the equivalent (1,657+ up from last month), and gave them an average of 3.7 stars (.43 down from last month). Man, audio-only productions really mess with my page count math.

A stupid cold, a lot of activity on the personal front, and miscellaneous other things are really draining my energy and making it hard to post lately. I’m trying to come up with a workable solution to this that doesn’t involve retirement (either from this or the day job). In the meantime, I’ll just grumble about how little I”m writing 🙂 Actually, that cold did more than set back my writing–you’ll note on the calendar at the bottom of the post that there are two blank days there. I don’t know the last time I spent two days without reading.

Anyway, here’s what happened here in October.
Books/Novels/Novellas Read/Listened to,6

Still Reading

Saint Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy

Ratings

		Average =	3.7
	4		0
	2		2
	8		0
	2		1
	6

TBR Stacks/Piles/Heaps

	Audio	E-book	Physical	Goodreads Want-to-Read	NetGalley Shelf/ARCs/Review Copies
End of 2023	6	47	68	153	5
1st of the Month	5	58	75	166	6
Added	5	5	8	2	6
Read/ Listened	5	1	5	1	3
Current Total	5	62	78	167	9

Breakdowns:
“Traditionally” Published: 21
Self-/Independent Published: 3

Genre	This Month	Year to Date
Children’s	0 (0%)	7 (3%)
Fantasy	1 (4%)	32 (15%)
General Fiction/ Literature	3 (13%)	21 (10%)
Mystery/ Suspense/ Thriller	10 (42%)	67 (30%)
Non-Fiction	3 (13%)	20 (9%)
Science Fiction	4 (17%)	18 (8%)
Theology/ Christian Living	2 (8%)	24 (11%)
Urban Fantasy	0 (0%)	25 (11%)
“Other” (Horror/ Humor/ Steampunk/ Western)	1 (4%)	2 (2%)

Review-ish Things Posted

In Medias Res: Black Maria by Christine Boyer
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
Grandpappy’s Corner: How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan, Lee Wildish (Illustrator): What Little One Doesn’t Need to Know This?
On the Unity of Christ by Cyril of Alexandria, John Anthony McGuckin (Translator): A Powerful Dialogue on the Person of Christ
Black Maria by Christine Boyer: A Small Town Has Some Big Secrets Exposed
On Classical Trinitarianism: Retriving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God edited by Matthew Barrett. An Outstanding Defense/Explanation/Retrieval of the Vital Teaching
The More the Terrier by David Rosenfelt: Andy Carpenter’s 30th Is as Satisfying as the 1st
The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 57: Dealing with Shadows by R. T. Slaywood: I Didn’t See That Coming
The Debt Collector by Steven Max Russo: She Just Wanted Some Work…
Hermit of Paradise by Kim Sanders, A Novel That Swings for the Fences
A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke: A Charming New Odd Couple of Amateur Sleuths
Pupposites Attract 1 by Hono Natsuna, Matt Trayvaud (translator): And They Called It Puppy Love…
Blood Reunion by JCM Berne: Space Vampires, Secret Identities, and a Promise of Something Worse

Other Things I Wrote
Other than the Saturday Miscellanies (5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th), I also wrote:

Enough about me—how Was Your Month?

October Book Haul (and some other stuff)

By HCNewton

On October 31, 2024

In Books, Miscellany, News/Misc.

The ones of you demanded a new video and I have acquiesced, with a Book Haul–because, why not?

Also featured–my lingering cough, and more “um”s than I care to admit (even if Valerie Fridland’s defense of the use of it in Like, Literally, Dude was convincing), and me likely butchering the pronunciation of some author names. Sounds like fun, right?

WWW Wednesday—October 30, 2024

By HCNewton

On October 30, 2024

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

Here on October 30, I’m sitting here next to 3 of my September TBR books, probably won’t finish in time, eh? But let’s see what I have been working on…

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:

What are you currently reading?


Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg	I’m Still a 10-Year-Old Boy by Nancy Cartwright

I’m starting the second Sharpe & Walker book today–I’m really eager to see what this book says about the series as a whole. Also, Eve Ronin is supposed to show up–can’t complain about that.

It’s fun to hear Cartwright talk about her life and career so far. I expect that the book will get even more fun once she starts voicing the titular 10-year-old.

What did you recently finish reading?


Spook Street by Mick Herron	Obitchuary: The Big Hot Book of Death by Spencer Henry and Madison Reyes, read by Spencer Henry, Madison Reyes, and Annette Amelia Oliveira

Spook Street was just fantastic. I really don’t understand why I haven’t made the time to read everything by Herron yet*. And while I know the titular “Spook” is a reference to spies, this is his spookiest (in terms of unnerving) yet.

Obitchuary is a cute and light-hearted look at the biggest taboo topic I can think of. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to come up with more to say.

* Paul, my friend, feel free to not say anything in response to this. I know you’ve been telling me this forever. Feel free to resume telling me this in January when I’ll have seemed to have forgotten.

What do you think you’ll read next?


Nobody’s Hero by M.W. Craven	Adventures in Cryptozoology: Hunting for Yetis, Mongolian Deathworms and Other Not-So-Mythical Monsters by Richard Freeman, read by Derek Perkins

I’ve been sitting on this ARC of Nobody’s Hero for awhile, wanting to post about it closer to the release date. I’m beyond ready to dive in.

Adventures in Cryptozoology seemed like it could be fun. At the very least, it’ll help boost my sagging Non-Fiction numbers for the year.*

* (that’s mostly a joke)

What have you been reading lately, what are you planning on reading while dealing with (or hiding from) Trick-or-Treaters?

Highlights from September: Lines Worth Repeating

By HCNewton

On October 29, 2024

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations

Highlights from the Month

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The tunnel is about 20 feet long. Or 7 meters. Man, being an American scientist sucks sometimes. You think in random, unpredictable units based on what situation you’re in.

…I don’t want to be in some other part of the ship if something interesting happens.

Just as I’m thinking that, something interesting happens.

Knock-knock-knock.

No, that’s not creepy at all. Being in a spaceship twelve light-years from home and having someone knock on the door is totally normal.

It’s a simple idea, but also stupid. Thing is, when stupid ideas work, they become genius ideas. We’ll see which way this one falls.

I cross my arms and slump into my pilot’s seat. There’s no gravity to properly slump with, so I have to make a conscious effort to push myself into the seat. I’m pouting, darn it, and I intend to do it right.

Chasing Embers by James Bennett

“I have seen your world, little beast. I have drunk of its terror and hope. Humans fear the darkness that gave them birth and harness the light to outshine the stars. They build machines that cough with smoke and poison the very air. They suck up the blood of the earth and pour filth into the seas. They speak boldly of freedom and peace and think they can buy them with war. Money is their temple and greed their god. They stand in defiance of all that is real, turning magic into myth, myth into Remnants, choosing to live in a cold dead dream.”

The Debt Collector by Steven Max Russo

“You’re a good egg too, Gabby,” he said, smiling awkwardly. They each picked up their beers and clinked glasses. Just a little scrambled, he thought.

Nugget’s Tenth Life by Adam Holcombe

Brother yowled and turned to race down the buidling, but Nugget was made of sterner stuff (that stuff being the brilliant stupidity of youthfulness).

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

They say hunting monsters will turn you into one. That isn’t what’s happening now. Sometimes to kill a dragon, you have to remember that you breathe fire too. This isn’t a becoming: it’s a revealing. Ive been a monster all along.

“May your life be long and easy.”

It’s a common blessing out here, but I’ve never dissected it before, Why are we, who are so unhappy, fixated on long lives? What is the point? An easy life isn’t a blessing. Easy doesn’t mean happy. Ale doesn’t mean anything at all. Sometimes the path to an easy life makes you miserable. The only person I’ve ever heard value happiness is the former empress. She named her second son happy, hoping it would be true. She knew the cost of an easy life, and the uselessness of a long one. She had both. She wished neither for her child, only that he a some point be happy. Was he? Was anyone?

She smiles, less like she thinks I’m funny and more like she wanted prove she knows how.

…that’s what a sister is: a piece of yourself you can finally love, because it’s in someone else.

I’d love to stay. Forcing Dell into small talk is fun because she so bad at it with me. It’s like she’s being asked to communicate with a child or snake—something that is either boring or dangerous, with no in-between.

It burns, but that’s too simple a term. It burns like opening your eyes in the light burns, like being born probably burns. It doesn’t feel like my body is responding to a foreign substance, but like the substance is awakening cells usually dormant.

Death can be senseless, but life never is.

I told Esther before that nothing was inevitable, but that was before I felt so helpless to change absolutely anything at all.

An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka

I’ve always liked London at night. The noise and bustle of the day fades away, and in the quiet you can feel the presence of the city. It has its own nature, kind of like its own essentia—old, layered, and complex, man-made construction on top of millennia- old earth. Generation after generation of people, with the plants and animals of old Britain living with them side by side. It’s neat and chaotic and ancient and sprawling, and it’s my home.

It wouldn’t be the first time I’d broken the rules, but I’ve always had an instinctive feeling that there’s a difference between breaking the rules and doing something wrong.

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

Daphne raised her hand. Nobody noticed. Daphne stood up, her hand still raised. They still ignored her. Daphne did not like being ignored, in the early days of her career, she’d been overlooked on account of her sex, talked over and patronized by a series of self-important, untalented little misogynists. So much had improved in the intervening years, and she was glad to see that a couple of the Councilors at the meeting were female. But now, she was being ignored because of her age, she appeared to have jumped out of the frying pan of sexism and into the fire of ageism–the final frontier of -isms.

(Image by DaModernDaVinci from Pixabay)

Saturday Miscellany—10/26/24

By HCNewton

On October 26, 2024

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

This week’s Saturday Miscellany would have no problem in a 10-Items-Or-Less lane.

Tiny entry this week. But I think you’ll find it worth your time.

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet Why History & Social Science Cannot Substitute for Classic Fiction—there’s a little snobbery there with the “Classic” bit, but once you account for that…
bullet Judy-Lynn del Rey: The woman who revolutionized the fantasy genre is finally getting her due—a cool profile of an unsung SF/F hero
bullet A Modest Request for a Little More Genre Chaos—Molly Templeton advocates for “gleefully mixing genres”
bullet The Magic-Wielding Characters Bracket Challenge—I fell behind reading these this week, looking forward to catching up—you should, too.

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week?
bullet The Last Detective by Robert Crais
(and that’s it…very quiet week)

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet Good-Looking Ugly by Rob D. Smith—an ugly rageaholic is conned by a long-lost cousin to help her rip off a cockfighting championship inbetween court-ordered therapy sessions.
bullet Remember You Will Die by Eden Robins—I’m not even going to pretend to summarize this book in a line or two…click the link. Love the idea behind this, hope the execution lives up to it.

WWW Wednesday—October 23, 2024

By HCNewton

On October 23, 2024

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

I’m a whiny bookwyrm today. I got hit by a ton of bricks masquerading as a mild cold yesterday and it’s really knocked me for a loop. And everyone in earshot knows just how miserable I am. (typical guy, I know, I know…I don’t plan on changing that. Self-improvement is not my bag)

But you didn’t come here to read me go on and on about that (and I could). So, let’s turn to the WWW.

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:

What are you currently reading?


The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein	Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor; read by Ray Porter

I might have read a Heinlein book in Middle School—I honestly don’t remember if I finished it. But he’s one of those guys you often wonder if you missed something by skipping. So, I might as well, right? Also, it’s the book that the SF Book Club will be discussing next week.

Not Till We Are Lost continues Taylor’s effort to explore deeper and darker issues—while not losing all the yuks. I’m really enjoying this.

What did you recently finish reading?


Hermit of Paradise by Kim Sanders	Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis, read by Keval Shah

The less said about Hermit of Paradise the better. So…Dreadful is about a dark wizard who wakes up in his lab, with no recollection of his name, his goals, why he has a princess locked up in a cell, or pretty much anything else. It’s worth the time. Also…last week, in our RPG session, I ended up playing a necromancer who had no memory of his abilities (or that he was a necromancer). It was a nice bit of coincidental timing, and I probably owe Rozakis something for borrowing so much.

What do you think you’ll read next?


Spook Street by Mick Herron	Pigeon-Blood Red by Ed Duncan, Dave Keyser

I had to put Spook Street on hold Monday so I could hit a couple of deadlines…can’t wait to get back to this. A fantastic setup from Herron, can’t wait for the other 2/3.

Pigeon-Blood Red looks like a promising crime thriller. Intrigued by it.

How do you distract yourself from colds/flu/etc.? TV, a comfort read, whatever’s next on the TBR, rewatching beloved movies? (I’m a combination–I used to turn to Rex Stout like chicken soup). What are you reading now (hopefully while healthy)?

Saturday Miscellany—10/19/24

By HCNewton

On October 19, 2024

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet Bookselling Out: How the market transformed American bookstores—a fascinating article/review about what looks like an equally (or more) fascinating book on the history of American bookstores
bullet Quiz: Can You Identify These Last Lines of Classic Mystery and Crime Novels?—I did not do well with this one…
bullet “I Enjoy capturing the time we live in in my writing.” :Buzzkill’s Alison Gaylin—a good Q&A with Gaylin about her latest book.
bullet Why Do Bad Adaptations Scare Us? Cashgrabs, Fandoms and the Terrifying Prospect of When He Was Wicked—I have no opinion on about When He Was Wicked/the prospects thereof, but I enjoyed the rest of it.
bullet Sharpen Your Fangs: A Guide to Vampire Fall—”Vampire Fall”??? This list of books about vampires could make for a year’s TBR (well, if you augmented it a little)
bullet The Magic-Wielding Characters Bracket Challenge—I typically list every entry when Witty & Sarcastic Book Club does a series, but I’m going to lose track if I try. So I’ll just put this link here and tell you to go read these.
bullet Incoming: The ScifiMonth 2024 Challenge, Read-along and Buddy Reads—Bookforager provides a list of prompts for ScifiMonth 2024, it’s going to be a god one, folks. (I might even stick my foot in a little bit this year instead of just reading the posts)

This is just cool
bullet Jeffrey Speight announced this week that this month’s profits from his books Paladin Unbound and Mystic Reborn will go to the Hurricane Helene Relief Fund. I’ve only heard good things about them (particularly Paladin Unbound). Get some good reading and do a little good, too.

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week?
bullet Incarnate by Anton Strout
bullet One Kick by Chelsea Cain—I’m still irked we never got a follow-up
bullet L.A. Requiem by Robert Crais—sharing these posts lately about this re-read really makes me want to do another. Particularly when I think about this book.
bullet I noted the release of The Younger Gods by Michael R. Underwood, too.

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet The More the Terrier by David Rosenfelt—I’m glad Rosenfelt puts out multiple books a year, or the fact that this is the 30th Andy Carpenter book would make me feel older than I already do. Still, as I recently wrote, this holiday installment is every bit as entertaining as the first books were.
bullet An Instruction in Shadow by Benedict Jacka—the second book in the Stephen Oakwood series. I’m so excited to jump back into this world and learn a bit more about it—I’m seriously tempted to go without sleep for a couple of days so I can finish my current read so I can get to it.
bullet Midnight and Blue by Ian Rankin—Rebus, Rankin. ’nuff said.
bullet The Waiting by Michael Connelly—Bosch. Ballard. Connelly. ’nuff said again.
bullet Billy the Kid: The War for Lincoln County by Ryan C. Coleman—Billy the Kid is one of those characters that I’ve always been drawn to. Everything I’ve seen/heard about this book makes me certain that I’m going to relish this telling.
bullet Dogs and Monsters: Stories by Mark Haddon—”eight mesmerizingly imaginative, deeply-humane stories that use Greek myths and contemporary dystopian narratives to examine mortality, moral choices and the many variants of love.”
bullet Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris—the daughters of Jonathan Harker and Professor Moriarty investigate gruesome deaths in turn-of-the-century Paris

WWW Wednesday—October 16, 2024

By HCNewton

On October 16, 2024

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

I got new glasses today and the vertigo-ish feeling from wearing them is not my favorite thing in the world. I can’t wait for that to be over with.

Also, to paraphrase a certain Fez/Bowtie/Stetson-wearing Mad Man: I wear trifocals now. Trifocals are cool.

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:

What are you currently reading?


Robert B. Parker’s Buzz Kill by Alison Gaylin	Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis, read by Keval Shah

Weeks after I initially tried (aka the week it was released) I get to dive into Gaylin’s second at-bat with Sunny Randall in Buzz Kill.

Dreadful is a fun light fantasy with a lot of heart, and I really wish I got to spend more time listening to it today.

What did you recently finish reading?


A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke	Constituent Service by John Scalzi, read by Amber Benson

I’m going to be writing a post for A New Lease on Death soon, but the tl;dr version is this: of the four Blacke novels I’ve read/enjoyed, this is the best.

Consistent Service is zany Scalzi SF humor with a dynamite job from Benson. (she’s gotta be in the running for my coveted 1st Annual Narrator of the Year designation)

What do you think you’ll read next?


Spook Street by Mick Herron	Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor; read by Ray Porter

Spook Street is likely up next. Not (just) so I can watch the new season of Slow Horses.

And unless I hear about an audio review copy or a library hold that comes up, I get to catch up with the new Bobiverse book. Which should be fun. Maybe a little dark. But fun.

What’s keeping you busy/entertaining you/distracting you from life in general?

2024 Plans and Challenges: Third Quarter Check-In

By HCNewton

On October 15, 2024

In Books, Calendar Items, Miscellany, News/Misc.

I was feeling bad about it being this far into October before I had a chance to put together my Third Quarter Check-in until I realized that I skipped the 2nd Quarter. I’m really not on top of things this year. This is a recurring theme for this post.

I’d hoped to keep charging ahead with Grandpappy’s Corner and Literary Locals, and while those haven’t completely died off, I haven’t done that much with them. I think the next couple of months should bear fruit along those lines, though. We’ll see.

How’s the perennial, “Cut down on my Goodreads Want-to-Read list and the unread books that I own” goal going? Well, I bought very few books in February, so that helped, but overall…?

	Audio	E-book	Physical	Goodreads Want-to-Read
End of 2023	6	46	68	153
End of 1st Quarter	4	50	64	154
End of 2nd Quarter	3	54	79	162
End of 3rd Quarter	5	58	75	166

Goodreads Challenge

Keep sighing, Downey

12 Books

I haven’t made any dent this at all yet (I still haven’t written posts on 2 of the books that I read last year!!) It’s really getting under my skin. Which is exactly what I said in April. Still true. Still under my skin.

Reading with Wrigs

- A Book with a Dragon: Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire
- A Book with the word “leap” in the title: I’m having trouble finding one that I’m interested in. Any suggestions?
- A Book with the Olympics: I’ve got one picked out, if that counts.
- A Book with an Election or Politician: The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher has a few politicians
- A Work of Fiction with an Eclipse: I’m utterly clueless. Any suggestions?
- A Book by an Author Who Has Written Over 24 Books: Dream Town by Lee Goldberg
- A Book Set in a Different Culture Than Your Own: I have an idea or two.
- A Book of Poetry: Poetry Comics by Grant Snider (I feel bad picking this, but until something else comes along…)
- A Book with Time Travel: A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen
- A Book with Antonyms in the Title: Still drawing a blank (you’d think this’d be easy)
- A Book Told from the Villian’s Point of View: Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart kind of applies.
- A Book With a Purple Cover: Abnormal Ends by Bryan McBee

The 2024 Booktempter’s TBR Challenge

I’m on-target for this one (as much as I can be), and have even accomplished a Stretch Goal.
January – Lucky Dip: Randomly choose a book by someone you’ve never read before: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Stretch Goal – In the same spirit I give you permission to read the last book to enter your TBR pile. Actually read something you’ve got yourself to recently read: Hacked by Duncan MacMaster
February – Lovers Meeting: No not romantasy focused – this challenge is somewhere in TBR is a delayed treat. Read an author you’ve loved and held back from reading because the time was not right. Its time for you two to get re-acquainted. Enjoy yourself! Return of the Griffin by JCM Berne
March – Spring :You know that first book of a series you bought and have now realised is now finished? You have my permission to read this at last. And you know what? Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn
April – Diamond Anniversary: Diamond is the birthstone of April so your challenge is to read something over 60 years old: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
May – The Fourth…May the force be with you and I permit you to read a SF themed tale: Grave Cold by Shannon Knight
June – The Longest Days: You may choose the longest book in your TBR pile the days are long so go for it: The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
July – The Ides have it In an ongoing tribute to Julius pick a tale of intrigue and scheming: The Last King of California by Jordan Harper
August – Travel Broadens the Mind: Choose a Book that is from an author from a different country to yourself: The Nameless Restaurant by Tao Wong. I’ve read all from other places that aren’t from this year, so…Canada (which doesn’t seem to count, but does)
September – Back To School: Choose a Book about a character learning something – be it in school, a new power or something about themselves: Project Hail Mary by Andy Wier

Backlist Bingo 2024

I really need to get moving.

✔ 1. This is Who We Are Now by James Bailey (my post about it)
✔ 2. Blood Reunion by JCM Berne
✔ 3. Ways And Truths And Lives by Matt Edwards
✔ 4. The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
✔ 5. Grammar Sex and Other Stuff: A Collection of (mostly humorous) Essays by Robert Germaux (my post about it)
✔ 6. The Camelot Shadow by Sean Gibson
✔ 7. Last King of California by Jordan Harper
✔ 8. Steam Opera by James T. Lambert (my post about it)
✔ 9. The Glass Frog by J. Brandon Lowry (my post about it)
✔ 10. The Legendary Mo Seto by A. Y. Chan (substitution) (my post about it)

✔ 11. Curse of the Fallen by H.C. Newell
✔ 12. Heart of Fire by Raina Nightengale (my post about it)
✔ 13. Detours and Do-overs by Wesley Parker (my post about it)
✔ 14. Bizarre Frontier Omnibus #1 by Brock Poulson (my post about it)
✔ 15. Howl by e rathke (my post about it)
✔ 16. Bard Tidings by Paul J. Regnier
✔ 17. Panacea by Alex Robins
✔ 18. Cursed Cocktails by S.L. Rowland (my post about it)
✔ 19. Big Trouble in Little Italy by Nicole Sharp (my post about it)
✔ 20. The Nameless Restaurant by Tao Wong (my post about it)

In sum…a lot of stuff to read. A lot more to write. Probably impossible numbers, but fun to try (mostly). Overall, however, when it comes to my goals and challenges, Mike Ehrmantraut speaks for me.

(Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay)

Saturday Miscellany—10/12/24

By HCNewton

On October 12, 2024

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Is it Saturday already? I’d have believed it was October 8–or December 8*, actually—if you’d told me. Been one of those weeks.

* All the political advertisements on my social media feeds make that unbelievable, actually.

Three things make a list, we’re told. So my streak continues.
Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet What’s the Point of Epigraphs Anyway?—good question. I learned more about epigraphs than I expected to know about them ever here.
bullet Pitting Literary Fiction Against Genre Fiction Is Intrinsically Silly: Stop allowing the quest for literary bonafides to get in the way of creativity and enjoyment—hear, hear.
bullet Why you shouldn’t judge others for their reading tastes—Bookworm girl makes the same point, but from the reader’s POV.

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
bullet Crime Time FM’s CHRISTINE BOYER In Person With Paul—answered pretty much every question I had about the book after reading, and was interesting beyond that. (it also reminded me to revisit her entry in Jacked.

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week?
I didn’t post anything but my Saturday Miscellany that week. I don’t know what was going on, but it was keeping me busy. I did mention the release of a few books:

Broken Soul by Faith Hunter—I honestly have trouble remembering which Yellowrock is which, but it was likely a good one. (a good Yellowrock novel is pretty much a tautology)

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan—I actually predicted that this would be the last novel to feature Percy Jackson. Ohhh, I was too old to be that naive. Regardless, it was a fun read.

Poison Fruit by Jacqueline Carey—the third and final Agent of Hel book. Not the best way to end a trilogy (some of the plot points still bother me), but it was satisfying.

Run by Andrew Grant—ahhh…back in those halcyon days when I anticipated a new Andrew Grant (now Child) novel.

Pennyroyal Academy by M. A. Larson—I didn’t get around to reading this YA Grimm-type tale, but it looked good.

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
(not even a list this week, but I know next week there will be a good sized one.)
bullet The Wishing Stone by Adam Holcombe—I’m chomping at the bit to tear into the second book in the Chronicles of Gam Gam. Judging by what I’m seeing on “the socials,” including this post from Witty and Sarcastic Book Club, there’s something to that buzz.

(also applies to my living room)