Category: News/Misc. Page 102 of 241

Saturday Miscellany—12/17/22

On December 17, 2022

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 Before we turn the page on 2022 Idaho, let’s talk about how books were in the ‘eye of the hurricane’—local public radio looked back at the book-related controversies in the state this year
bullet The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest “Winners” for 2022—these winners and Dishonorable Mentions are all worth your time, but I’m going to have to insist that you all take a moment to read the Children’s Lit & YA entries.
bullet The Ultimate Guide to 35 Popular Book Genres—I’m not certain that Reader’s Digest can speak that authoritatively on this, but this is pretty solid.
bullet Legally bookish: Reese Witherspoon and the boom in celebrity book clubs
bullet Here are a few more Best of ’22 lists to embiggen your TBR Stacks:
bullet You can sod off, 2022, but leave the books please—from Criminal Minds (the blog, not the CBS show)
bullet Top Five Powerful Books I Read in 2022—an interesting approach to the idea
bullet The 13 Best Literary Adaptations of 2022—from LitHub
bullet 14 Authors Share the Best Books They Read in 2022—from NetGalley’s blog
bullet Operation 2022: Success! (Or Favorite Books From this Year)—from Witty and Sarcastic Book Club (so much temptation!)
bullet The 103 Best Book Covers of 2022—I love this post every year on LitHub, so many pretty pictures…
bullet How to Plan for Your 2023 Reading Challenge—It is the time of year for this project…some good advice from NetGalley’s blog
bullet Self-Education Project Part Two: The Extended Great Books Reading Plan—or you could take this approach…zowie
bullet Speaking of advice here’s some more: Bookish Gift Ideas #1 and Bookish Holiday Gift Ideas—likely too late for Giftmas or whatever you celebrate. But good for the rest of the year, too
bullet 746 Books is 9 today!—746 Books turned 9 this week and Cathy reflects on her Quixotic project.
bullet While I Was Reading announced an end to their well-deserved and understandable hiatus: Welcome Back
bullet QOTD: Do you use bookmarks? I do, just not actual ones. Here are some weird/random things I (and my daughter) use!
bullet 5 reasons why we love morally gray characters and 5 books that feature them

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon (and, for the second week in a row, a couple that I missed recently):
bullet Secrets Typed in Blood by Stephen Spotswood—Pentecost and Parker are hired by a mystery writer to find the killer who keeps lifting their method of killing from her short stories.
bullet Posthumous Education by Drew Hayes—Fred the Vampire Accountant spends a semester as a college professor. Sure, why not? I can see him really enjoying that. I just doubt he’s going to get to spend too much time teaching.
bullet Destructive Reasoning by Scott Meyer—a serial killer targeting actors playing Dr. John Watson. Sounds like a case for the Authorities! (because their funding source is about publicity first and crime-fighting second) I didn’t think we’d get a second novel featuring this team, so this is just gravy to me.

The Friday 56 for 12/16/22: Sacrifices by Jamie Schultz

By HCNewton

On December 16, 2022

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

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

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

from Page 56 of:
Sacrifices

Sacrifices by Jamie Schultz

“You know they’re chock-full of demons, right?”

“I don’t know that. This is the twenty-first century. We tend to be extremely careful about calling aberrant behavior demonic possession when it might simply be mental illness.”

“Seriously? Under these circumstances?”

“None of them appear to have any history with the occult, that I can turn up, let alone the kind of lengthy history that results in end-stage possession . . .” Elliot spoke quickly and precisely, dressed it all up with technical-sounding jargon, but a note of uncertainty clung to her voice like a parasite, sucking the life out of it.

WWW Wednesday, December 14, 2022

By HCNewton

On December 14, 2022

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

So…this week may turn out to be nothing but things I’ve already composed or that I can quickly plug a couple of things into—that brain fog thing is hitting me hard anytime I do something more strenuous than turning a page or pushing a remote button. So, here’s today’s plug ‘n play post.

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 Sacrifices by Jamie Schultz (7 years after I bought it!) and am listening to The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz, Rory Kinnear (Narrator), the new Hawthorne and Horowitz mystery, on audiobook.

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What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Olivia Blacke’s Vinyl Resting Place, a fun cozy, and Junkyard War by Faith Hunter, Khristine Hvam (Narrator) on audio, which wasn’t cozy at all.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be Pet by Akwaeke Emezi—I have no idea what to expect out of this, I am going solely off of a recommendation. My next audiobook should be the third installment in the Pentecost and Parker series, Secrets Typed in Blood by Stephen Spotswood, Kirsten Potter (Narrator).

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Hope you’re having a better—and healthier—week. Reading anything good?

Book Blogger Hop: Favorite Reading Nook

By HCNewton

On December 12, 2022

In Book Blogger Hop, Books, News/Misc.

Book Blogger Hop

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

Do you have a favorite reading nook?

I can—and do—read anywhere: in a house, with a mouse, in a (or on a) box, with a fox, in a car, in a (or under a) tree, on a train (theoretically, never been), in the dark, in the rain (assuming I have some sort of cover—can’t let the pages get wet), with a goat, but definitely not in a boat (I get seasick quicker than Toby Daye gets new clothes blood-stained.

But lately, I tend to do most of my reading in my recliner—where you have to sit juuuust right, so the broken spring doesn’t dig into your back. If you do that, it’s about the most comfortable chair around. That can be dangerous when I’m a bit drowsy, but that spring can serve a useful purpose.

This question, made me think of a post from a few years ago, and since I’m too sick to come up with more than 2.5 paragraphs today, I figured I’d copy and paste it here. It seems sort of appropriate.

Where the Magic Happens…or something

Three years ago when I switched to a day job, my reading habits had to change—among other things. It took almost no time at all to realize that reading in the break room just wasn’t going to work—it was too loud, there were too many things going on, you couldn’t sit by yourself, really. And then there were all these nice people wanting to talk.

Actually, people, in general, being around was something to get used to, but that’s another story.

Then I realized that there were perfectly good stairs a lot closer to my workspace than the break room was. So I started hanging out there and reading—sometimes, sitting on the stairs, other times leaning against the railing—it’s at a decent height for that. Nowadays, that’s where 40-60% of my weekday reading happens while on break.

It’s not perfectly quiet, but it’s close enough. Except when the flautist practices every couple of months. There are people who pass through—and some of them talk to me, but the conversations are short—because they’re on their way to somewhere else. Sometimes it’s just a “hi,” and occasionally I workshop ideas for posts here when someone asks about what I’m reading. I’ve even been given a couple of good recommendations.

Now, the keen-eyed among you might have noticed a couple of post-its on the wall (circled below).

So, for a couple of years, people would joke about putting up a sign where I read with my name on it or something (more than one person has suggested getting me a chair). But last December, I moved to a different floor, and within a month, someone had put up the larger post-it reading “[H. C.]’s Reading Spot.” This would be in the larger circle.

A couple of weeks later, that person asked if I liked my sign. I had to confess that I had no clue what she was talking about and apologized profusely. Who pays attention to the walls along the stairs? Especially when you’re not climbing the stairs, but are focused on the book/eReader in your hand. So when I went out for my next break, I went looking for it—and she’d added another post-it (the smaller one), “<– This is the sign.”

Very helpful.

So, yeah, that’s where I read and recharge from all the interaction with people so I have enough energy to get back to work and interact with more people.

Sure, it’s not as snazzy as some of the reading nooks you see on Instagram, Bookstr, etc. It could be more comfortable, that’s for sure. But I’ve gotta say, when the book is halfway decent, I don’t notice. That’s where the magic happens.

What about you—do you have a particular space that’s best to read in?

Saturday Miscellany—12/10/2022

By HCNewton

On December 10, 2022

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

It’s that magical time of the year…the Goodreads Choice Award Winners have been named and everyone is griping about it. Haven’t read any of the winners, but this year’s crop looks better than the last few, IMHO.

Running late today, so that’s all the introduction you get (I can hear the cheers now). On with the links!
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 ‘I want to savour every word’: the joy of reading slowly—Sounds great. I honestly don’t think I’m physically capable of it.
bullet I’m sure most of you saw this tweet where a disappointed author vented about the small showing at a reading and then got all sorts of encouragement from all sorts of authors—it’s a great thread and then it got picked up a whole lot of news outlets (like NPR).
bullet Now You Too Can Bake Like Emily Dickinson This Holiday Season—I’m not sure why anyone would want to, but…
bullet The gift that actually does keep on giving.
bullet How Edgar Allan Poe Reinvented American Literature – and Science Writing
bullet Don’t Kill the Dog—an author reflects on that cardinal rule
bullet 10 of the Best Gifts for Book Enthusiasts (That Aren’t Books)
bullet #R3COMM3ND3D2022 The After Show Party #BookBlogger—a quick recap and look back at this great series
bullet It’s December, which means it’s time for Best Of lists…where people tell you about all the books that you heard great things about but didn’t get around to:
bullet Tor.com Reviewers’ Choice: The Best Books of 2022
bullet The Best Crime Novels of the Year: 2022 from CrimeReads
bullet My Top 10 Reads of 2022! from Out of This World SFF
bullet Everything Counts As Reading
bullet I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie: Six Alternative Uses for Shelf Bending Novels—Paul Goat Allen has some great tips
bullet Here’s how I view negative reviews
bullet Quotables: Words that Stuck with Me in 2022—Witty & Sarcastic Book Blogs shares great lines from this year’s reading

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
bullet Blood Brothers Podcast Episode 114 with Andrew Child—this great conversation makes me wish I liked his contributions to the Reacher canon more.

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon (and one from last week I thoughtlessly overlooked):
bullet The Hero Interviews by Andi Ewington—a comic collection of interviews with various Fantasy heroes that looks like a lot of fun. Check out this here review for a better (and informed) take on it.
bullet Bodacious Creed and the San Francisco Syndicate by Jonathan Fesmire—the third installment in this Steampunk/Western/Zombie Adventure series is out and looks like a good ‘un
bullet My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby—Cosby’s first book has been reissued and I’m kicking myself for not hunting it down after Blacktop Wasteland.
bullet Gone edited by Stephen J. Golds—30 pieces of short crime fiction from a great-looking lineup of writers
bullet The Perception Of Dolls: The Fantoccini Street Reports by Anthony Croix, edited by Russell Day—I’m not even going to try to summarize this. Just click the link. It’s Russell Day and Fahrenheit Press, ’nuff said.
bullet Grit, Black, Blood by Ashley Erwin—another one I don’t think I can summarize in a sentence or two (without reading, anyway).

The Friday 56 for 12/9/22: Radio Radio by Ian Shane

By HCNewton

On December 9, 2022

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

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

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

from Page 56 of:
Radio Radio

Radio Radio by Ian Shane

He picks up the box to indicate that his ten years at this company could barely fill a cardboard box. “My last bit of advice that you’re going to ignore is to not give these bastards a reason.”

This is the best bit of advice he’s given me. It doesn’t sound so stupid when it comes from someone who’s not in an authoritative position. “Yeah,” I say softly. “Thanks.”

Tony makes his move to the door. “Hey, Tony,” I say, stopping him at the threshold.

“Yeah.”

“I’m gonna miss you, man.” Tony chuckles a bit. “No, you won’t.” He smiles at my seemingly transparent attempt at comfort. “But thanks for saying so.”

I walk to the doorframe to watch him walk away from the station for the last time. I felt a subtle sense of loss as I saw him turn the corner. It’s the sort of loss an FBI agent might feel after putting away a mob boss that was the subject of a three-year probe. He was a worthy adversary. We were like Eliot Ness and Al Capone, Dr. Richard Kimble and the one-armed man, Batman and The Joker.

LITERARY LOCALS: Introducing a New Series of Posts About Writing in Idaho and Books Created Here

By HCNewton

On December 8, 2022

In Literary Locals, News/Misc.

Literary Locals
Idaho is not known for being home to many authors—we’ve produced Carol Ryrie Brink and Marilynne Summers Robinson (although both moved away), and Anthony Doerr resides here. But really, our greatest claim to literary fame is that Hemingway shot himself here.

This is a shame in many ways.

Now, I do know that Idaho has a good number of independent authors toiling away—either self-publishing or putting out their work through independent presses. And it occurred to me this summer, that I’ve done a lousy job of promoting them. I’ve blogged about the books of Devri Walls, J.C. Jackson, and Jeremy Billups, but that’s pretty much it. But I knew there are others out there.

Sure, my talking about their works isn’t going to turn them into best sellers or anything, but every little bit helps, right?

So, I started working on a little project that I’ve decided to call Literary Locals. I’ll be reading and posting about works from local authors I spot (and the works that I think I’ll like), I’ll be spotlighting some titles, and doing some Q&As with these authors—both about their own works and being a writer in Idaho. I’ve got a few authors who’ve graciously agreed to take part in this, and I think it’ll be fun.

Before I realized that I should attach a label to this project, I started with Danielle Higley, the author of The Stories Behind the Stories: The Remarkable True Tales Behind Your Favorite Kid’s Books, posting about her book and the first of the two Q&As I hope to do with her.

Then I did something that really shows I didn’t think much before proceeding, and sent Q&As to a bunch of independent authors less than a week before November. Also known to many as NaNoWriMo. “Hey, would you interrupt the big time-consuming event that you’ve been gearing up for to spend some time on my project?” is really not a great move. Thankfully, I’ve gotten some responses and I’m going to be able to really get things underway next week.

So stay tuned and get to know some of the people in my neighborhood.

I should add that if any Idaho writer stumbles across this post and wants to get in on the action, let me know! The more, the merrier!

My Brain Trust (wife and kids) put some work into this series, too, and I’d like to thank them. But really, we could’ve saved our effort and turned to my friends. After we’d struck out at a logo, I asked Micah Burke if he would help us brainstorm some ideas—instead, he produced a handful of images that led to the above logo. I’m telling you, every blogger needs a friend like him—or better, should hire him. And then Jodie from Witty and Sarcastic Book Club spent 10 minutes thinking before coming up with a much better series title than we had after three months of bouncing ideas off of each other. The day before a hurricane made landfall in her home state—again, my gift of bad timing shines forth.

Book Blogger Hop: Rereading Before Reading a Sequel

By HCNewton

On December 7, 2022

In Book Blogger Hop, Books, News/Misc.

Book Blogger Hop

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

Do you go back and reread the previous book before starting the sequel?

In my pre-book blogger days, yes. Almost 100% of the time—or if it was part of a multi-book ARC, I’d read everything leading up to it. Sure, that led to some imbalance—I’d know the beginning of a trilogy really well, the middle part so-so, and then the third would just get one reading (unless I got the hankering to read the whole thing in one bite).

It really helped to get some minor details refreshed, remember the character names (especially in bigger fantasy tomes), and just “prime” my mind in general for what was coming. Also, I clearly enjoyed the previous book—that’s why I was coming back for the next, and it worked as an excuse to revisit the series/author.

But that really went away once I really got into blogging, and I’d have a hard time letting myself enjoy the luxury of a re-read. That’s a whole ‘nother story, though, and not something anyone but my therapist should pretend to care about.

Over the last couple of years, however—this is largely thanks to my local library really beefing up their collections—I’ve taken to listening to a book a week or two before the sequel/next in the series releases. I get all the benefits, and since I don’t make a point of writing about every audiobook I listen to, there’s no guilt or internal pressure. I probably do this for 50% or so of the books in a series that I read, time (and availability) permitting right now.

What about you? Do you go into a sequel cold or do you need a refresher?

WWW Wednesday, December 7, 2022

By HCNewton

On December 7, 2022

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

It’s time for this week’s 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 just started Radio Radio by Ian Shane and am listening to Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry on audiobook.

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What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Mary Robinette Kowal’s The Spare Man, and have already started recommending it to everyone. I also finished the satisfying Stone Cold by C. J. Box, David Chandler (Narrator) on audio.

Blank Space

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be Her Name Is Knight by Yasmin Angoe (and yeah, I said this last week, but other library deadlines reared their head) and my next audiobook should be the trilogy ending Junkyard War by Faith Hunter, Khristine Hvam (Narrator).

Blank Space

What about you?

Saturday Miscellany—12/3/22

By HCNewton

On December 3, 2022

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

I really don’t have much in the way of introduction today (or content, really). I’ve spent the last couple of days pondering something that maybe you have insight into/experience with: With less than a month left, and certain goals left unfinished–why do I keep going to the Library, and reading things that aren’t going to help me get to those goals? (Sure, I’ve been on the list for some of these books for weeks/months, but…)

You may note the absence of any New Releases this week–as usual, I assume that just means I missed seeing something. Clue me in.

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 Is “I Have No Idea,” Ken? I owe my recent “Jeopardy!” appearance — and spectacular flame-out — to books.—If I’m just going to talk about all the benefits and joys of reading here, I’m going to have to talk about the downsides here, too. I enjoyed this former contestant’s appearance—even if she underperformed. This little essay was just as fun.
bullet How to Succeed in Publishing by Really, Really Trying and Getting Lucky—this is primarily advice for writers, but A. Lee Martinez also gives a pretty good perspective on a career from years in the trenches (which is more of my thing to share)
bullet As a Sequel to a Recent Post: One Kay for The Flood Circle—a quick update from Harry Connolly (and hey, if I share an earlier post, I should share the sequel)
bullet Where to start reading grimdark, no matter the genre you prefer—A handy “listicle of listicles” to guide a reader into Grimdark.
bullet Purposely Reading Bad Books—It’s a fun video, but mostly I’m sharing this in solidarity with the thinking behind her recent reads. If I prepped my year-end lists this early, I’d be compelled to pick the same kind of reads myself.
bullet FFA’S Most Anticipated Titles of 2023
bullet As with all good things, Damppebbles’s annual recommendation-fest, #R3COMM3ND3D has come to an end for this year. These last few are just as enticing as those that have come before.
bullet …with #BookBlogger Patricia B.
bullet …with #BookBlogger Sue Bavey
bullet …with #BookBlogger David
bullet …with #BookBlogger Emma—our host closes out the month.
bullet Can Any Book Truly Be Timeless?
bullet Two Sided Coins and Seeing Story Weaknesses As Strengths—Peat’s focus is on the writing side, but thinking along these lines can be a real help when we’re thinking/talking/writing about what we read.