Category: Currently Reading Page 4 of 71

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 World Entire by Jo Perry	Songs for Other People’s Weddings by David Levithan with songs by Jens Lekman, read by Jefferson Mays

A year-and-a-half late on The World Entire, which has bugged me all along. Now that I’m almost halfway in and can say with a degree of certainty that this is Jo Perry’s best work to date, it really annoys me that I let this slip through the cracks repeatedly. It’s just excellent on several levels–and probably more than I’ve seen yet.

Levithan’s latest is wonderful–flawed, but wonderful. I’m finishing it today (and not just because Libby is taking it away this evening).

What did you recently finish reading?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis	Small Favor by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

I’m a few months behind schedule on my Chronicles of Narnia read, but revisiting this first volume was just as good as expected. And yes, I’m reading them in the (correct) order by publication.

Thanks to a wonky work schedule, Small Favor is still my last audiobook (that’ll hopefully change later today)

What do you think you’ll read next?

And to All a Good Bite by David Rosenfelt	The Greatest Possible Good by Ben Brooks, read by Emma Gregory

There are few pleasures more certain than an Andy Carpenter book.

As it is wont to do, Libby dropped a bunch of audiobooks on me last week, so I had to derail my planned next book. This one looks promising, and like it should tick a lot of boxes. Looking forward to diving in.

You have any recommendations from your recent reads? Any big “must get to”s before the calendar flips to 2026?

Yeah, I’m running late…sleep has been too attractive this week, and the blog is suffering. No promises that I’ll turn it around this week, but one can hope.

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?

Love the Stranger by Michael Sears	Songs for Other People’s Weddings by David Levithan with songs by Jens Lekman, read by Jefferson Mays

I’m having a lot of fun with Sears’ follow up to Tower of Babel–which came out in paperback yesterday. I’m a little annoyed at myself for missing the hardcover release last year, but am glad I’m catching up now.

I’m not that far in Songs, but it’s good to be back in a world Levithan created.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison	Small Favor by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

I don’t think I can put my thoughts about The Goblin Emporer into a pithy sentence or even paragraph. I hated to finish it, I just wasn’t ready to leave that book.

At a certain point, I did actually remember everything that happens in Small Favor and then spent hours trying to talk myself out of it, as if I could convince the audio to change and several events not happen until another book, so I didn’t have to listen. I’m not sure that makes sense.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Second Lies the Son by Matt Phillips	What If…Kitty Pryde Stole the Phoenix Force? by Rebecca Podos

All I needed to see was “by Matt Phillips” to jump on this ARC. Can’t wait to learn what it’s about.

Kitty Pryde and Phoenix force? ‘Nuff said.

What’s been grabbing your attention lately?

Just a couple of days until candy-pocalypse, anyone else dreading the leftovers (and on-sale leftovers at local stores) ruining health/resolutions? Don’t get me wrong–I rather enjoy seeing all the trick-or-treaters and passing out candy. I just wish they’d do a better job of cleaning us out. (if they’d clean us out quickly, so I could actually read something, that’d be even better).

You have enough pre-post banter? Good, me too.

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 Broken Detective by Joel Nedecky	How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future by Maria Ressa, read by Maria Ressa & Rebecca Mozo

Am cracking Nedecky’s book open later today. I skimmed the cover a couple of weeks ago when I got it, but remember nothing that I read. All I know is that Run Amok books hasn’t let me down yet. I assume the trend will continue.

I saw Ressa interviewed recently and thought “I want to learn more about her.” And what do you know? She has a memoir (that’ll probably shift into something else later on). I think we’re only into her mid-20s right now, and I’m fascinated. Not that surprisingly, given her career in journalism and activism, she’s a strong audiobook narrator, so bonus points for that.

What did you recently finish reading?

Front Desk by Kelly Yang	The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Takami Nieda, read by: Naruto Komatsu, Kenichiro Thomson, Susan Momoko Hingley, Yuriri Naka & Ami Okumura Jones

Last night, I read the very charming (yet honest about race and immigrant struggles in the mid 90s) Front Desk for a reading challenge. I don’t know that it needs two (at least) sequels, and I doubt I’ll get to them, but I was very satisfied with this MG read.

The Healing Hippo has convinced me that Michiko Aoyma and I should part ways. There’s nothing bad about the book, but I just don’t get the appeal.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison	Small Favor by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

The Goblin Emperor is the last Fantasy Book Club read of the year–and it looks like we’re going out strong. Hope so, anyway.

And it’s time for another installment of “HC scrambles to listen to the existing Dresden Files books before Twelve Months is released.” I’m embarassed to admit that I conflate a lot of Small Favor with the next book, Turn Coat, so I’m eager to get some clarification on it.

How are you closing out October?

I anticipated having nothing but energy after a week’s vacation, and yet…anyway. I managed to get this put together, and hopefully I’ll have a post or two tomorrow of substance.

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?

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir	The Summer War by Naomi Novik, read by Ella Lynch

I’m about a hundred pages into Gideon the Ninth and I’m not sure this book is for me–but I’m interested enough to keep going (also, the book club meeting is Monday, and I want to be ready for it).

It’s been too long since I’ve spent time in Novik’s writing. The premise of this short work intrigued me, too. Pretty sure this brief book is going to hit hard.

What did you recently finish reading?

Callus & Crow by D. B. Rook	Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow

Rook takes a bunch of ideas and genres and mashes them together. Mostly successfully. This is a creepy read with some characters that are going to stay with me.

I’m not sure I think that Doctorow’s prescriptions are the right way to go (I sure can’t think of better ones, though–at least they’d be good starts), but his “why everything suddenly got worse” feels pretty spot-on. The book isn’t that hopeful, because I really don’t see a lot of people being interested in fixing things.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi	An Instruction in Shadow by Benedict Jacka, read by Will Watt

Time to actually make progress in The Old Man’s War series!

Time to get a quick refresher on The Inheritance of Magic series!

You been reading anything good while the leaves turn around you?

The weather around here has caught up with the calendar, and it’s finally chilly. Talking about the weather is a dull way to start this, but honestly–it’s the most interesting thing I’ve got to go with. Which says a lot about me 🙂 Before I get more cliché, dull, or rambling let’s just get to the meat of the post, okay?

Oh, hey…anyone know of a decent (preferably quick–possibly MG or YA) book with an insect on the cover? Asking for a frenemy.

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 Epic of Marindel: Chosen by Nathan Keys	Secrets of the Purple Pearl by Kate McKinnon, read by Kate McKinnon & Emily Lynne

I’m about at the 2/3 mark in Chosen, I’m having some issues with the theology Keys is presenting (the perils of Christian Fantasy), but am enjoying the story.

So, I put off listening to Son of a Liche, because Lilly delivered a few holds to me, and then the work I was doing couldn’t be done while listening to audiobooks–so I’m in a bit of a crunch now. (more information than you wanted, I know). Anyway, I’m thoroughly enjoying the second in The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science series. It’s just ridiculously fun.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa, translated by Louise Heal Kawai	Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland by Martha Barnette

My goal is to have a full post about The Cat Who Saved Books up tomorrow, so I’ll be quick here–I really enjoyed it.

Friends with Words, meanwhile, is something that held my attention just enough for me not to be annoyed by starting it. That’s about it. Rats–I loved the title

What do you think you’ll read next?

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree	Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger, read by David Chandler

I listened to Legends & Lattes a couple of years ago, and am going to give it a quick read to brush up for a book club discussion. (and to be ready for book 3 next month)

I’ve been assured that I’ll enjoy Krueger’s Cork O’Connor books, and that lighter fare than his others. (not that I have a problem with his others, but I’m not going to listen to them while working/driving). Am used to David Chandler’s voice, his work on the Joe Pickett books is solid. Should be a good time.

Do you have anything good to work through while adjusting to the weather?

(assuming your local weather has shifted recently)

Part of being AFK last week meant that there was no WWW Wednesday, and I’m sure you all missed it. I heard the wails, “What’s HC reading??” Sorry about that. It must’ve been hard on you all. Never fear, it’s back.

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 Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa, translated by Louise Heal Kawai	Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland by Martha Barnette

I needed a work translated into X languages for a reading challenge, and didn’t want to rely on Backman (although I have a handful of his to catch up on), so I thought I’d give this Japanese work a shot.

Barnette’s subtitle sold me–I honestly have no idea what I’m getting into.

What did you recently finish reading?

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury	The Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home by Stephen Starring Grant

This book by Bradbury was not my cup of tea, but…man, I’m glad I read it. I’m not sure that makes sense, but it’s true.

I figured The Mailman would be a breezy, fun listen. And it was–but it also had a lot of good things to say and think about beyond the mail service (but honestly, even that was inspiring). I did not expect what it delivered. (pun unintended, but warmly embraced)

The books I would’ve talked about last week, if I’d been around:

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi	The Grimdwarf: Cursed by JCM Berne
Rightous Trash by Nick Kolakowski	Bounty Inc. by Adam Holcombe

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Epic of Marindel: Chosen by Nathan Keys	Son of a Liche by J. Zachary Pike, read by Doug Tisdale, Jr.

I bought the first volume of Keys’ Fantasy trilogy in Spring of 2024, and I’m tired of running into him without having read it. I know I’ll see him early next month, so I want to be sure to have this finished by then, if only for the guilt. But also, I’ve been curious about it for a year and a half.

I’m looking forward to stepping back into The Dark Profit trilogy, it’s a fun kind of Fantasy.

What have you been reading lately? (after you wake Green Day, obviously)

I’ve got nothing to use as an intro today…so let’s just get into it, okay?

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 E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause by Ty Seidule	The Silver State by Gabriel Urza	On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Entrada Kelly & Kwame Mbalia, read by Jennifer Aquino & James Fouhey

The first half of Robert E. Lee and Me is a maddening combination of mind-numbing repetition and horrific history. I’m not really enjoying the process of reading (I’m pretty sure that you’re not supposed to), but I’m very glad I finally got this to the top of my TBR.

At the same time, I do need something else to break up the reading, so I’m going to start The Silver State this afternoon. It’s been awhile since I did a legal thriller.

I just started On Again, Awkward Again…or am about to when this posts, so I don’t know what to say. The title and then the cover caught my attention…and it looked cute enough. So I took a chance.

What did you recently finish reading?

Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King, illustrated by Maurice Sendak	Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

This was a gentle reworking of the classic story, with some repurposed art by Sendak–which King used to help in his retelling. I don’t know that it’s an instant classic, but it was fun (and I look forward to sharing that with the grandcritters when they get a bit older)

I think I enjoyed Proven Guilty this time through than I’m used to. Which is saying something.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Gnomes of Lychford by Paul Cornell	The Edge of the Crazies by Jamie Harrison, read by Justin Price

Like I said Saturday, I thought the Lychford series had already ended…oops. Glad to be proven wrong, if only for 160 pages

I saw something about the newest book in Harrison’s series a few months ago, and it look good. Finally got my hands on a copy of the first in the series to check it out.

What have you been enjoying lately?

It’s been a strange few weeks here–some adjustments with the Day Job (aka “The Thing that Pays for This”), including a much shorter commute–I’ve lost at least 5 hours for audiobooks a week. That’s going to come back to bite me. But I think I can cope with that. Now I’ve just got to get back to my regular posting schedule (or find a new one). In the meantime…

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?

Babel by R. F Kuang	Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano, read by Angela Dawe

I’m only 1/5 into Babel, but I’m not totally sold on it yet. The world is fascinating. The magic system is something I want to learn so much more about. Some of the characters are promising–and there are a few that I truly hope get their comeuppance (but fear this novel is set up to let them get away with it). But I’m not really connecting with the book–and I should be by now.

I’ve spent the last couple of books thinking that my time with Finlay and Vero has to be drawing to a close–but so far, I’m enjoying this ride a little more than I have been. Which is good enough to keep going for now.

What did you recently finish reading?

Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire	Locks & Keys edited by Alex Scheuermann	The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold by Ally Carter, read by Andrew Eiden & Emily Ellet

After Earth-shattering (and Earth-remaking) events over the last three books, it was good to see Toby dealing with some minor life-and-death stakes again. Er, wait…something’s not right about that sentence. Anyway, a very pregnant Toby is a lot of fun for her fans to encounter.

Locks & Keys was a very strong short story collection–I should have something more to say about it soon.

I didn’t not think Carter’s sequel was near as fun or clever as The Blonde Identity was–but it did the job.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause by Ty Seidule	Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

I’m sure Ty Seidule’s book is going to make me uncomfortable more than once. I’m looking forward to that.

Time for another Dresden Files audiobook. Proven Guilty adds one of my favorite characters in the series (well, re-introduces her and brings her to the forefront she deserves). Should be fun.

How’s September treating you? Reading anything good?