Category: Books Page 71 of 170

It’s been a quiet week on the blog, I know. I’m going through one of those spells where I just have no energy and fall asleep at my keyboard while writing. I managed to get 1/3 of my planned posts for the week up. So now I have no energy and a paralyzing anxiety about things that pretty much only I care about. It’s a fun combination, I highly recommend avoiding it🙂 I trust that I’ll shake it off (I always have before), but in the meantime, expect things to be slim around here.

Meanwhile, I’m hoping that the people who keep Twitter going are able to stabilize that ship, because despite all the helpful posts about going to Mastadon, I just don’t feel smart enough to figure it out (and yes, I’m this close to hiring one of my kids to do set it up for me…I can’t believe I’m at the age where I’m relying on my kids to do this for me). I hope I don’t lose track of all of you in the seemingly-immanent collapse.

But for now, here’s a quick miscellany to wrap up the week!

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:
125 Most Borrowed Books—In honor of its 125th Anniversary, the Brooklyn Public Library posted a list of its 125 most-borrowed books. It’s a fun list and one that gives a pretty clear view of their primary borrowing demographic.
Author Sarah Maclean shared a handy-dandy thread on how to keep up with favorite authors in a post-Twitter world
Behind the Blue Wall: How my time in the LAPD Academy helped Shape My Series—Aaron Philip Clark gives some background for his series
Damppebbles’s annual recommendation-fest, #R3COMM3ND3D keeps chugging along and the hits keep coming—some great-looking reads this week (as per usual).
…with #BookBlogger Carol
…with #BookBlogger HC Newton (what does he know, anyway? Guy can’t even handle social media platforms)
…with #Author Joy Kluver
…with #BookBlogger J – LoveBooksReadBooks
…with #Bookstagrammer Zoebeesbooks
…with #Bookstagrammer Lynda Checkley
…with #BookBlogger Namrata Ganti
’Tis the Season to Buy Books … for Other People—a guide to giving books as gifts. Not just for the upcoming season, these suggestions apply year-round.
Christmas gift ideas for book lovers – edition 2022-2023—even for those of us not big on certain seasonal observances, I enjoy looking at this kind of posts (and really like #3)
The Six Stages of Having Too Many Books—I can relate to this—also, I think it’s amusing enough to justify putting up with The New Yorker trying to sell a subscription.
Is listening to an audiobook, reading?—Are we all fed up with this question yet? Delany makes his position clear early on.
In Defence of Nasty Reviews—preach it! That line from Joanna Russ is one I’m going to employ at every opportunity.

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
Page Break with Brian McClellan Ep 55 – Nicholas Eames – Epic Fantasy Author—a fun chat, and a little glimpse at the next book in the trilogy

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
title by Cherie Priest—everyone’s favorite Travel Agent/rookie psychic is back in this strong follow-up. I opined about it a couple of weeks ago (back when I seemed to be able to write things).
Have I Told You This Already?: Stories I Don’t Want to Forget to Remember by Lauren Graham—I find Graham’s writing as least as charming as her acting, so I can’t wait to dive into this jog down memory lane. (Also, it’ll check off one of the last book challenge items I have this year.)
The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz—Horowitz himself (well, the fictional one) is the prime suspect in this book’s murder—will Hawthorne be able to help him? More importantly, will he want to?
Welcome to the Game by Craig Henderson—I can’t resist a good high-speed car scene in print or in film, this one looks like it should have a few (and probably some other gripping material).
How to Survive Everything by Ewan Morrison—An estranged father kidnaps his teenaged children to help them survive an impending pandemic that he’s certain is around the corner (even if no one else is).

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and extend a warm welcome to yvonnembee, who followed the blog this week. I hope you enjoy the content and keep coming back.

Between Twitter collapsing and insert-your-own-description of Election Day, I didn’t see a lot of bookish things to read this week (could be me being distracted by the books I was working on more than the other items, honestly). So this is going to be another skimpy entry. By all means, point me at things you think I missed. We’ve also got the holiday season commencing, so that typical results in a plethora of things to read or a real desert.

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:
Today in AWWWW: Reading out loud to dogs improves literacy in kids.—Along these lines, my daughter’s work has taken her to a few events at a local library where kids can read to therapy-dogs-in-training, as a way to help both participants. Which is about the most wholesome thing I can think of.
5 Helpful Ways to Overcome Reader’s Block—I’m pretty sure almost every piece on Blocks/Slumps I share has these tips, but who knows… (I just can’t help myself)
Carlisle author MW Craven’s detective Washington Poe gives boost to Cumbria—a nice side effect to being the home of one of the greats
Damppebbles’s annual recommendation-fest, #R3COMM3ND3D, is in full swing—be sure to drop by for all the temptation and maybe a new favorite or twelve:
…with BookBlogger Joanne
…with BookBlogger Kate
…with BookBlogger Anita
…with BookBlogger Emily Quinn
…with Blogger, Reviewer and CrimeFictionCommentator Ayo Onatade
…with Author Pernille Hughes
…with Bookstagrammer Charlotte Bonner
The Anxiety of the TBR Shelf—co-sign
23 of the Most Iconic Young Adult Books of All Time—I don’t consider myself much of a YA reader (not opposed to it, but, you know), but I’ve read a larger number of these than I’d expected to
5 Millennial-Approved Young Adult Book Series That Are Still Going Strong

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
The Thriller Zone Episode 105: Robert Crais, author of Racing The Light—a short and snappy chat with the great

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
Desert Star by Michael Connelly—Ballard gives Bosch one last shot at his White Whale—the killer of a family of four who has gotten away with it for far too long. Expect a very positive post from me next week.
Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson—like most Wilson books, this seems to defy summarizing in a line or two. Click the link for a description.
Blue Like Me by Aaron Philip Clark—this sequel to Under Color of Law puts the LAPD detective-turned-PI on the hunt for a cop-killer.

I don’t think I have much to say today before diving into things (I rarely do, probably, I’m just rarely self-aware enough to stop talking), so let’s skip my blather and get right to the good stuff:
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:
Words we think we know, but can’t pronounce: the curse of the avid reader—Been there, done that. I particularly enjoy when strong Jeopardy! contestants display this. If those masters of the minutiae stumble, I can get away with it, too.
On the Cult of Craftism
‘It provoked an erotic shock in me’ – Marian Keyes, Nick Hornby, Leïla Slimani and other writers on the books that changed them
Five Mysteries That Inspire Serious Childhood Favorite Vibes: Find out what mystery you should read next based on your favorite childhood books.
A Milestone, of a Sort: One Kay for The Iron Gate—Harry Connolly (who I will convince more of you to read if it’s the last thing I do) looks at his sales and ponders the state of his career
My First Thriller: S.A. Cosby—A great profile of Cosby and his first novel.
Thoughts on Cozy Fantasy by K. R. R. Lockhaven—Lockhaven dropped by Fanfiaddict to offer some thoughts on the subgenre. Apparently, I’ve been reading it longer than I realized.
Dolls, weirdness, and imaginary numbers…—Fahrenheit Press announces an upcoming release. All I can say is that you have to read about it. (and probably order it)
#R3COMM3ND3D is back! This is likely my favorite annual blog series and I’ve already been tempted by too many books to read (and I’ve been happy to see some familiar titles, too).
…with #BookBlogger Lorna
…with #BookBlogger Ally Parsonage
…with #BookBlogger Carla
…with Author Anne Coates
…with Reviewer Me And My Books
Transmissive Authors: A Theory and Thoughts
A Blogger’s Life: Anxiety Ridden Mind of a Blogger—The Withering Blog talks about resuming blogging, or “My Return from Exile”
Books, books, and more books—shelves to admire and a habit I can relate to

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
The Flood Circle by Harry Connolly—Fresh on the heels of The Iron Gate, Ray and Annalise are up against their greatest challenge yet—with the greatest rewards. I’m trying to work this into my schedule ASAP. If I go without sleep this week…
Racing the Light by Robert Crais—Elvis Cole (with some help from Joe Pike and Jon Stone) hunts for a missing/abducted podcaster. I had a few enthusiastic things to say about it.
Gardens by Benedict Jacka—an action-packed novella in the Alex Verus universe. .