Category: Currently Reading Page 43 of 72

WWW Wednesday, December 1, 2021

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On December 1, 2021

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

Time for WWW Wednesday!

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?

Easy enough, right?

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading aptly named The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. As the new month kicks off it’s time for the next Jane Yellowrock—Cold Reign by Faith Hunter, Khristine Hvam (Narrator) on audiobook.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon CakeBlank SpaceCold Reign

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished the heartbreaking and heartwarming wonder that is Mike Gayle’s All the Lonely People and I finished my tour revisiting the Alex Verus series with Forged by Benedict Jacka, Gildart Jackson (Narrator) on audio.

All the Lonely PeopleBlank SpaceForged

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be The Last Time She Died by Zoë Sharp and my next audiobook should be We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy by Kliph Nesteroff.

The Last Time She DiedBlank SpaceWe Had a Little Real Estate Problem

You reading anything good in the midst of the seasonal busy-ness?

November 2021 in Retrospect: What I Read/Listened to/Wrote About

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On December 1, 2021

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

Well, November’s numbers here aren’t that impressive—a mere 19 books, with a total of 5,758 pages or the equivalent. Some of those were pretty short books/booklets, too. I knew I was going through books slower than usual all month (still not sure why), but it wasn’t until a saw those numbers that it really hit me. And sure, I know people who’d be happy with 19 books for a year—so the “mere” is mostly tongue-in-cheek (and because I know what my numbers usually are). More importantly, I know that it’s not about the numbers…they’re just very distracting. Oh, the other number, a 3.8 average suggests that those books were good enough to slow down and savor.

Anyway, here’s what happened here in November…

Books Read

The Case of the Missing Marquess The Appeal Shadow Rites
3 Stars 5 Stars 4 Stars
The Man Who Died Twice The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss Love & Bullets: Megabomb Edition
5 Stars 3.5 Stars 4 1/2 Stars
Return from a Distant Country The Dark Hours Master of Formalities
3 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars
The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise The Astonishing Mistakes of Dahlia Moss The Morality of God in the Old Testament
3 Stars 3.5 Stars 3.5 Stars
Daughter of the Deep The Twelve Monotasks Super Powereds Year 1
3.5 Stars 4 Stars 3.5 Stars
Leaving the LAW Psalms that Curse All the Lonely People
3.5 Stars 3.5 Stars 5 Stars
Forged
4 Stars

Still Reading

Things Unseen The Appeal The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

Ratings

5 Stars 3 2 1/2 Stars 0
4 1/2 Stars 1 2 Stars 0
4 Stars 4 1 1/2 Stars 0
3.5 Stars 7 1 Star 0
3 Stars 4
Average = 3.8

TBR Pile
Mt TBR November 2021

Breakdowns
“Traditionally” Published: 14
Self-/Independent Published: 5

Genre This Month Year to Date
Children’s 0 (0%) 11 (5%)
Fantasy 1 (5%) 19 (7%)
General Fiction/ Literature 2 (11%) 19 (7%)
Horror 0 (0%) 0 (0%)
Humor 0 (0%) 7 (3%)
Mystery/ Suspense/ Thriller 8 (42%) 106 (39%)
Non-Fiction 1 (5%) 18 (7%)
Science Fiction 2 (11%) 19 (7%)
Steampunk 0 (0%) 1 (0%)
Theology/ Christian Living 3 (16%) 33 (12%)
Urban Fantasy 2 (11%) 46 (17%)
Western 0 (0%) 0 (0%)

Review-ish Things Posted

Other Things I Wroteotherwriting
Other than the Saturday Miscellanies (6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th), I also wrote:

How was your month?

November

The Friday 56 for 11/26/21: All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle

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On November 26, 2021

In Currently Reading, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

The Friday 56This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
The Friday 56 Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
The Friday 56 Find a snippet, short and sweet.
The Friday 56 Post it

from Page 56 of:
All the Lonely People

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle

The sense of relief Hubert felt when he saw Joyce walking toward him as he waited outside the entrance to the Regal was enormous. Her desire to go to the pictures with him hadn’t been an elaborate dream, a figment of his imagination, or a practical joke. She was here, she was really here, and the sight of her made him grin from ear to ear. She was, he thought, even more beautiful freed from the confines of her Hamilton’s uniform of demure black dress with dainty white bow and lacy collar. Sporting a navy-blue duster coat over a flowery lemon dress with green heels, she was a vision of spring and Hubert told her so.

“Thank you,” she replied. “The dress is new. I made it myself from a pattern in Vogue. Mum wasn’t sure about the color but I think it’s cheerful, don’t you?”

Hubert smiled.

“It’s like a piece of sunshine on a dull gray day.”

Joyce gave him an admiring glance.

WWW Wednesday, November 24, 2021

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On November 24, 2021

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

It’s Thanksgiving Eve, time to take a break from thinking about too much food and glance at what I’ve been up to the last week with a WWW Wednesday.

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?

Easy enough, right?

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading the ARC for The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better by Thatcher Wine and am listening to Super Powereds: Year 1 by Drew Hayes, Kyle McCarley (Narrator) on audiobook.

The Twelve MonotasksBlank SpaceSuper Powereds Year 1

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Rick Riordan’s Daughter of the Deep (which was exactly what I needed to keep me reading his stuff) and The Astonishing Mistakes of Dahlia Moss by Max Wirestone, Lauren Fortgang (Narrator) on audio (a different narrator for this book, and maybe a better one).

Daughter of the DeepBlank SpaceThe Astonishing Mistakes of Dahlia Moss

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle—it’s been over a decade since I’ve read Gayle, and am eager to see how he’s developed. Wrapping up my Alex Verus revisit just in time for the finale coming out in December, my next audiobook should be Forged by Benedict Jacka, Gildart Jackson (Narrator).

All the Lonely PeopleBlank SpaceForged

How are you spending this holiday week (if you’re in the U.S.)? I’m curious about the rest of the world, too, but it feels awkward to ask how you’re spending a perfectly generic week…

The Friday 56 for 11/19/21: Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

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On November 19, 2021

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

The Friday 56This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
The Friday 56 Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
The Friday 56 Find a snippet, short and sweet.
The Friday 56 Post it

from Page 56 of:
Daughter of the Deep

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

The world is quiet except for the slosh of waves against the hull and my captor’s ragged breathing in my ear. It must be hard work pulling me along, using me as a human shield while swimming backward toward his pontoon. I hope he drowns.

Above us, Gem says grimly, “I’ve got the shot, sir.”

I don’t think he meant for us to hear this comment, but voices carry at sea. The idea of him firing makes my stomach twist. With the ocean swells, and the movements of the ship and my captor, it would be a tough shot even for Gem. Besides, I assume my captor still has his little hypodermic needle somewhere at hand. I hope he sticks himself with it.

“Stand down, Mr. Twain,” Hewett orders.

Really? I think. That’s all you’ve got, Hewett?

“That’s right,” my captor mocks, “stand down, Mr. Twain.”

Opening Lines—Love & Bullets: Megabomb Edition by Nick Kolakowski

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On November 18, 2021

In Blog Series, Currently Reading, Fiction, Love & Bullets Hookups, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc., Nick Kolakowski, Opening Lines, Quotations

Head & Shoulders used to tell us that, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” That’s true for wearing dark shirts, and it’s especially true for books. Sometimes the characters will hook the reader, sometimes the premise, sometimes it’s just knowing the author—but nothing beats a great opening for getting a reader to commit. This is one of the better openings I’ve read recently (it’s technically a reworking of a work I’ve previously used for one of these, it’s just as good the second time). Would it make you commit? How can you not?

Listen.

At some point, a poor sap will look at you and say, “This is the worst day of my life.”

But as long as you have breath in your lungs to say those words, you’re not having your worst day. You haven’t even hit rock bottom, much less started to dig. You can still come back from a car wreck, or that terrifying shadow on your lung X-ray, or finding your wife in bed with the well-hung quarterback from the local high school. Sometimes all you need to solve your supposedly world-ending problems is time and care, or some cash, or a shovel and a couple of garbage bags.

If you see me coming, on the other hand, I guarantee you’re having your worst day. Not to mention your last.

Let me show you how bad it can get. How deep the hole goes. And the next time your idiot friend says something about worst days, as the two of you stand there watching his house burn down with his pets and one-of-a-kind porn collection inside, you can tell him this story. It might even shut him up.

Let me tell you about Bill, my last client.

from Love & Bullets: Megabomb Edition by Nick Kolakowski

WWW Wednesday, November 17, 2021

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On November 17, 2021

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

There’s not as much turnover from last week’s WWW Wednesday to today’s for my taste. Every book this month (text or audio) has taken/is taking me longer to get through than I expected. Not a big deal, just one of those things…anyhow, here’s this week’s 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?

Easy enough, right?

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart and am listening to The Astonishing Mistakes of Dahlia Moss by Max Wirestone, Lauren Fortgang (Narrator) on audiobook.

The Tower, the Zoo, and the TortoiseBlank SpaceThe Astonishing Mistakes of Dahlia Moss

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Michael Connelly’s The Dark Hours—a very timely book—and Master of Formalities by Scott Meyer, Luke Daniels (Narrator) on audio. Oddly for a Meyer book, I’m not sure what to think yet.

The Dark HoursBlank SpaceMaster of Formalities

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan—I don’t know if I can do another mythology book from him anytime soon, but I’m curious about this. I’m also curious about my next audiobook Super Powereds: Year 1 by Drew Hayes, Kyle McCarley (Narrator).

Daughter of the DeepBlank SpaceSuper Powereds Year 1

Speaking of curious—what’re you reading?

The Friday 56 for 11/12/21: The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly

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On November 12, 2021

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

The Friday 56This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
The Friday 56 Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
The Friday 56 Find a snippet, short and sweet.
The Friday 56 Post it

from Page 56 of:
The Dark Hours

The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly

“So,” she finally said. “On the Albert Lee case, who was the factor?”

“It was a doctor,” Bosch said. “A dentist, actually. His name was John William James. His offices were down in the Marina and I guess he made so much money capping teeth that he started factoring.”

“You said ‘was.’ His name ‘was’ John William James.”

“Yeah, that’s going to be a problem with your case. John William James is dead. A couple years after Albert Lee got murdered, James got himself whacked as well. He was sitting in his Mercedes in the parking lot outside his office when somebody put a twenty-two in his head too.”

“Shit.”

“There goes your lead, huh?”

“Maybe.”

WWW Wednesday, November 10, 2021

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On November 10, 2021

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

Maybe it’s the whole end of DST thing, but my sleep has been out of whack for a couple of days, which is making it difficult to post anything. I’d intended to spend my lunch hour cleaning up a post for today, but I got my eyes dilated this morning, and they’re not focusing very well yet. So much for that idea. At least I’d already assembled this for WWW Wednesday, right?

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?

Easy enough, right?

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading the incredibly fun Love & Bullets: Megabomb Edition by Nick Kolakowski and am listening to Master of Formalities by Scott Meyer, Luke Daniels (Narrator) on audiobook (which is likely to be as fun, I’m not that far into it yet, so I don’t know).

Love & Bullets: Megabomb EditionBlank SpaceMaster of Formalities

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Richard Osman’s The Man Who Died Twice—which was spectacular—and the entertaining The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss by Max Wirestone, Lauren Fortgang (Narrator) on audio.

The Man Who Died TwiceBlank SpaceThe Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss

What do you think you’ll read next?

I’m looking forward to seeing what Renee Ballard is up to in my next read, The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly. My next audiobook should be The Astonishing Mistakes of Dahlia Moss by Max Wirestone, Lauren Fortgang (Narrator).

The Dark HoursBlank SpaceThe Astonishing Mistakes of Dahlia Moss

Hit me with your Three W’s in the comments! (no, really, do it!)

The Friday 56 for 11/5/21: The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

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On November 5, 2021

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

The Friday 56This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
The Friday 56 Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
The Friday 56 Find a snippet, short and sweet.
The Friday 56 Post it

from Page 56 of:
The Man Who Died Twice

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

A nurse walks into the room to fill Ibrahim’s water jug, and the friends fall silent and nod their thanks. She leaves.

“I am conventionally handsome,” says Ibrahim.

“Not at the moment you’re not,” says Ron.

“So you need us to look out for him?” asks Joyce. “Like bodyguards?”

“Hardly bodyguards, Joyce,” says Elizabeth.

“We’re guarding his body,” says Ron.

“All right, bodyguards then, Ron, as you wish.” Ron nods.

“Yep, I do wish.”

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