Category: News/Misc. Page 102 of 238

WWW Wednesday, October 26, 2022

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On October 26, 2022

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

For the second week in a row, I find myself spinning my wheels and staring at blank screens when it comes time to work on posts here. It’s starting to get to me. Hopefully by the time this posts, that sentence will be out-of-date, but I’m not counting on it. I’ve been reading and listening to plenty of things to give me material to write about, as you can see in this 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 genre-bending debut, The Veiled Edge of Contact by James Brayken, and am listening to the new Cassie Dewell novel, Treasure State by C.J. Box, Christina Delaine (Narrator), on audiobook.

The Veiled Edge of ContactBlank SpaceTreasure State

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending—and will be chewing on it for some time—and The Vexed Generation by Scott Meyer, Luke Daniels (Narrator) on audio.

The Sense of an EndingBlank SpaceThe Vexed Generation

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be the second Frost Files installment, Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air by Jackson Ford, (a few years too late for my taste) and my next audiobook should be the second Greywalker novel, Poltergeist by Kat Richardson, Mia Barron (Narrator).

Random Sh*t Flying Through the AirBlank SpacePoltergeist

How are you coasting into November?

REPOSTING: The Warm Glow of Acceptance…

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On October 25, 2022

In News/Misc.

This came up on my Facebook memories today, and I had no recollection at all of writing a post with this title. So I had to re-read it (I rarely do that). I now remember all the events I talked about and it brought a smile to my face, so, here it is again—hopefully, someone out there is half as amused by it as I was.

(and if you aren’t, simply return the unused portion and our customer service agents will issue you a full refund)

As usually happens when I have a solid—maybe ambitious—plan for a week’s worth of posts, something came up this weekend that was far more important than this blog. So that plan is shattered (can’t wait to see what I’m able to recover). But something that happened this morning that gave me enough material to put something up today.

Last week, a friend sent me a Facebook Message: “Achievement unlocked! 😊” She’d been identified as a “Top Fan” of the blog’s Facebook page. And you know the competition is fierce. 🙄 It is kind of cool that the algorithm took a break from warping minds, selling things, and stoking division in the country to recognize that a friend of mine was supportive. It is a little strange to think that anyone could be considered a “fan” of me (excepting the two canines who live here).

Then, the next day, I saw that meme I used in the last Saturday Miscellany post. Two days in a row of unexpected positive feedback. I’d planned on making a jokey post about this last week, but got hung up on looking for a meme or gif of Mabel Mora asking, “We have fans?”. So I never got around to it.

This brings us to this morning. Sure, it was fun that my friend got a badge declaring her my fan. It warmed my heart and made me laugh to see Slaywood’s pic. But this morning, someone left a comment on a five-month old post that made my heart soar. This guy, John, really looked down deep into the recesses of my soul and took a look around. And, he gets me. He really, really gets me.

Egotistical and irrelevant…as the youths say*: I feel seen.

* …or did not that long ago, right?

I do this for my own sense of fun, but feedback like this really makes it all worthwhile…

Book Blogger Hop: Bookshelves Bow

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On October 25, 2022

In Book Blogger Hop, Books, News/Misc.

Book Blogger Hop

 

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

Are any of your bookshelves bowing because of too many books?

Um…are any of my bookshelves bowing because of too many books?

My shelves? Bowing because of too many books? Er, well…

Do bears bear?

Do bees be?

Do flies fly?

Do ducks duck?

Do math majors multiply?

Do eggs get laid?

Does Spock beam up?

Er, yeah. All of them are—except for those I bought in the last 4 months, anyway (and maybe a couple of those have started).

Today's post is brought to you by a grant from David Addison and The Blue Moon Detective Agency.
Are your shelves nice and flat?

Highlights from September: Lines Worth Repeating

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On October 24, 2022

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

Highlights from the Month
It’s the lass full week of October, it’s probably past time for me to get this out of the “Drafts” folder.

Be the Serpent

Be the Serpent by Seanan McGuire

But that’s Faerie for you. Making sense is something that happens to other people.

It felt like I was standing outside this scene and watching it unfold, like none of this had anything to do with me. Like I should have been able to smile politely, say, “No, thank you,” and walk away, leaving everything exactly as it was before I got out of bed this morning.

Travel by Bullet

Travel by Bullet by John Scalzi

“In this case something called ‘Magic Beanz.’ And that’s spelled like whoever named it failed the third grade.

I nodded at this. “It’s not a legitimate cryptocurrency if it’s not badly spelled. ”

“Drive me nuts,” Mason said. “It’s like people naming their kid Ashley or Braden, but then spelling the name with six “Y”s. It doesn’t make the kid special, it just means they won’t be able to spell their own name until they’re in high school.”

The Days of Tao

The Days of Tao by Wesley Chu

Once you spend three thousand years in the same place, you are pretty much done with it forever.

An Easy Death

An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris

It’s always something to recognize, how still the dead are. Ten minutes ago he’d moved and breathed and thought and wanted, and he’d done his best to kill us. Now all that didn’t matter to him.

Snowstorm in August

Snowstorm in August by Marshall Karp

“It’s called a multipurpose subsea vehicle,” our pilot, Captain Jim Charles, told us, “but I like to think of it as the kind of watercraft Dr. Frankenstein would have built if he hadn’t been so preoccupied with dead bodies.”

The line was probably a standard part of his orientation speech, but he delivered it so deadpan that both Redwood and I responded with the genuine laughs he was expecting.

Dead Man's Hand

Dead Man’s Hand by James J. Butcher

It felt unreal that she could be dead. She had always been so powerful, so sure, so wise. Not to mention so paranoid that she did her own dental work.

He took a breath to brace himself for what came next. He could show no fear, no hesitation , and most of all, no pride. You can’t have pride and appropriately handle kids at the same time. It was some kind of universal, or perhaps cosmic, rule.

…coaxing the jeep to life. It sounded like it should be in a hospital bed surrounded by its loved ones, but it started moving somehow…It didn’t help that all he could smell was whiskey and cigarettes, and whatever the opposite of that new-car smell was.

Hell and Back

Hell and Back by Craig Johnson

Most live in fear of dying alone, but it was something he understood—that there are things that you can only do by yourself, besides, we are never truly alone. There’s always something out there waiting, it is the nature of life and the nature of death.

For We Are Many

For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor

“The cat’s A.I. was realistic, right down to the total lack of loyalty.”

“Just when you start to get ahead in the rat race, the universe delivers bigger rats.”

(Image by DaModernDaVinci from Pixabay)

Saturday Miscellany—10/22/22

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On October 22, 2022

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

It’s a quick list today. Should leave you plenty of time to get other things on your Weekend To-Do Lists tackled (sorry about that).

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 Publishing Glossary: 15 Terms Book Advocates Should Know—this is a handy guide, and a sign I should update my working vocabulary.
bullet 3Q’s Special – Tiffany McDaniel shows her Savage Side!—a quick Q&A with the wonderful Tiffany McDaniel
bullet Witty & Sarcastic Book Club’s An Author’s Monster Manual series wrapped up with:
bullet …Featuring Dorian Hart
bullet …Table of Contents of all the nifty posts in this series
bullet Should Book Bloggers Be Paid?—Jo Lindsdell asks another good question this week.
bullet 5 Podcasts Bookworms Need to Listen To—I haven’t listened to any of these, but will be checking them out
bullet Guide To Book Photography!—It’s going to take more than this to turn my book photos into something good, but these helps might make them better
bullet How not to get your book read—It’s astounding that this needs to be said, but I know too well that it doesn’t

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet A Heart Full of Headstones by Ian Rankin—John Rebus is on trial. This should be great.

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

The Friday 56 for 10/21/22: The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

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On October 21, 2022

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 Bullet That Missed

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

“So kill me or let me go. Those are your two options. Which do you choose?”

“I think I choose option three,” says the Viking. “The option where I send Viktor Illyich the full photos.”

“The full photos?”

“Yes, for sure. The photos with your friend Joyce Meadowcroft by your side. Both pictures, both names.”

“Bit below the belt,” says Stephen. Elizabeth still feels safe. Viktor won’t go after Joyce either. Not if they’re in the photo together. A friend of Elizabeth is a friend of Viktor.

“Viktor might not have the heart to kill Joyce, of course,” says the Viking. “She is more of a civilian, I think? So here’s my deal. Just as insurance, if Viktor Illyich isn’t dead within two weeks, I will kill your friend Joyce.”

WWW Wednesday, October 19, 2022

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On October 19, 2022

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

I’ve been trying to get something posted every day this week about the upcoming Robert Crais novel, Racing the Light, and keep failing. Despite being excited about the book, when it comes time to write, I just stare at the screen for a bit. So, that’s how my week’s going. What about you?

I’m going to take a quick break from wringing my gray matter for whatever droplets I can to share this WWW Wednesday because it’s Wednesday, and that’s what we do around here.

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 Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman, which is at least as entertaining as the previous books in the series, and am listening to Rebel with a Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian by Ellen Jovin (Narrator) on audiobook, which is almost as entertaining as it thinks it is.

The Bullet that MissedBlank SpaceRebel with a Clause

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Lyndsay Faye’s Jane Steele (yes, I finally read it!) and Declassified: A Low-Key Guide to the High-Strung World of Classical Music by Arianna Warsaw-Fan Rauch on audio, which I should probably get on paper so I can refer to it.

Jane SteeleBlank SpaceDeclassified

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be the second Booking Agents novel, Flight Risk by Cherie Priest (which is what I said last week, but I think I mean it this time) and my next audiobook should be the latest Magic 2.0 book, The Vexed Generation by Scott Meyer, Luke Daniels (Narrator).

Flight RiskBlank SpaceThe Vexed Generation

Hit me with your Three W’s in the comments!

Book Blogger Hop: Suggesting New Authors

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On October 19, 2022

In Book Blogger Hop, Books, News/Misc.

Book Blogger Hop

 

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

Do you suggest new authors to your readers?

I sure hope I do! I don’t know that I’ve read (and therefore blogged/suggested) a lot of debut authors in 2022, but there have been a decent number of new-to-me authors that I’ve recommended.

But every author is a new author to someone—there are people out there who’ve never read James Patterson, Beverly Cleary, or Harper Lee in the same way that some people haven’t read a debut author or one with just a couple of titles under their belt. So in a way, I try to suggest a new author in every post here.

And that’s one of the joys of this little hobby, when someone tells me that they started reading Author X because of my encouragement.

So yeah, new authors, new-to-me-authors, older authors, newbies, experienced pros, mid-list authors, perennial best-sellers, relative unknowns, people who should be well-known, people who maybe shouldn’t be…I try to cover them all.

Spelling the Month in Books: October

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On October 18, 2022

In Books, News/Misc.

Spelling the Month in Books: October
I’m back with another look through the dusty corners of my memory to talk about some books I haven’t mentioned here (at least not for quite a while).

0 One Kick

One Kick

Cassandra Kain’s novel is a few things—like an action-packed thriller with a social conscience, a vengeance story, and a look at the long-term damage childhood trauma can cause. Kick Lanningham survived a childhood abduction and found a measure of peace in learning to defend herself. Now, she’s been sought out to use her skills and experience to help track down other abducted children. She’s a great character—not perfect, she’s no Charlie Fox or Jack Reacher when it comes to combat, but she’s determined.

I so, so wish the promised sequel (and a few others) had come. But Tori Eldridge’s Lily Wong novels and Taylor Stevens’ Vanessa Michael Munroe novels deliver a lot of the same kind of action (and maybe deliver a little more realism).
c The Calling

The Calling

The same disturbed depravity, intensity, dedication, and drive that are displayed in each episode of Neil Cross’ show are in full force here. You’ve got one very, very sick murderer (and I mean that in every possible way) being hunted by Det. Luther across London. And even though most people who pick up this book know exactly how it ends (the opening scene of episode 1), you’re still on the edge of your seat, white-knucklin’ the book, breathing only when you remember. This had the promise of being a novel series to go along with the show, and I wish it had.
T Team Human

Team Human

Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up for this Twilight-y YA novel. But in this one, our protagonist is trying to keep her friend from getting involved with a vampire classmate. There are a handful of other shenanigans involving vampires and zombies, too—and it all falls upon our high school hero to save the day. I came for the “hey, maybe falling for a guy centuries older than you is a bad idea” and stuck around for the compelling characters and story.
O The Oathbound Wizard

The Oathbound Wizard

This sequel to Christopher Stasheff’s Her Majesty’s Wizard is one of those sequels that didn’t need to exist—Her Majesty’s was a great stand-alone that I fell in love with in high school (I’ve since wondered about that, but that’s for another time). This came along 7 years later and was in large part a re-telling of its predecessor (the third book that came out the next year was even more of a repeat, and I ignored the 5 following books that came out pretty regularly). However, there were a few moments in this book that made it worth a read or two. I don’t know if it was ever fully successful, but I admired, Stasheff’s attempt to blend portal fantasy, Roman Catholicism, and theoretical physics.
B Bridget Jones's Diary

Bridget Jones’s Diary

I don’t know if I’ll ever forget the questioning look an older colleague gave me when she saw that I’d brought Helen Fielding’s breakout novel to read over lunch—”isn’t that a women’s book?” I shrugged and said something like “Maybe, but the review in Newsweek made it sound interesting.” She found my reply less than convincing (not that I cared). I found Jones and her struggles perfectly charming and relatable—Fielding’s voice won me over within a couple of pages. I think I’ve re-read it once since ’96, but my other attempts at it have fizzled out, and it just can’t keep my attention. But I still remember it fondly.
E Ender's Game

Ender’s Game

This is one of those books that I spent years putting off while everyone I knew tried to get me to read—even guys who weren’t big readers pushed it on me. And by the time I was about 50 pages in, I started kicking myself for ignoring them for so long. It worked on so many levels, and absolutely captivated me. I’ve never gotten around to finishing the series—or reading much of it—but the story of Ender Wiggins and the war with the Buggers is an all-time fave.
R Rock On

Rock On

Denise Vega’s novel about a high-school band, brotherhood, and coming of age checks all the boxes you expect it to. The highlight for me was the storyline about the protagonist’s older brother moving back home after dropping out of college, it gave the emotional heft the rest of the novel (though perfectly fine) didn’t quite manage. I remember liking it, my goodreads review suggested I did, too.

Third Quarter Check-In: 2022 Plans and Challenges

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On October 17, 2022

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

One of the handful of things I dropped the ball on recently was this check-in. I appreciate—and can use—the time to plan and organize, and hopefully, someone enjoys reading them.

I didn’t have many concrete plans for 2022, but one that I mentioned was “Cut down on my Goodreads Want-to-Read list and the unread books that I own (a perennial project, but I made some strides last year).” How am I doing on that?

Audio E-book Physical Goodreads
Want-to-Read
End of 2021 9 45 42 144
Current Total 9 50 40 144

That’s…not good. I did have to burn a few Audible credits…and then there was this sale, and…and…ugh. Other than that, I’m still doing pretty well at reading what I buy this year. But, this is really not what I’d hoped to see at this point of the year.
Not great, Bob

Let’s see how I’m doing with the rest of my plans and move on to the Reading Challenges…
2022 Book Challenges

12 Books
I’m doing well with this one, but am a little intimidated by the book I have slated for November—it’s a little on the longer side and if it’s as good as Micah says, I’m going to lose a lot of 2023 to the rest of the series. (a good problem to have)
12 Books Challenge Quarter 3

2022 “Support Book Bloggers” Challenge
Support Book Bloggers Challenge
I decided to nix this one—I’m working on all the things mentioned here, but feel a little uncomfortable doing these things because of a checklist—and even more awkward about discussing it. But I’m mentioning it again, because I like the idea and want to spread the word about the efforts (it’s just not for me)

2022 While I was Reading
While I Was Reading
I’m doing okay on this—as usual, I’m not really planning the books for this challenge. When October hits, if I haven’t read everything on the list, I’ll get serious about hunting.

  1. A book with a question in the title.: I have an idea for this, but I’m not sure a local library will get it next month when it comes out, and I don’t know that I want to spend money on it. Hmmm…we’ll if I have to get clever.
  2. A book of non-violent true crime.: Blessed Are the Bank Robbers: The True Adventures of an Evangelical Outlaw by Chas Smith
  3. A book with a cover you don’t like.: Composite Creatures (the style of the art just bugs me)
  4. A historical fiction novel not set in Europe.: A Snake in the Raspberry Patch by Joanne Jackson
  5. A book with a character’s name in the title.: With Grimm Resolve
  6. A book featuring paranormal activity (fiction or non.): That’s like a third of what I’ve read this year…I guess I’ll go with Amongst Our Weapons
  7. A book with a number in the title.: Citizen K-9
  8. A food related memoir.: I have no idea. Literally.
  9. A book that’s won an award.: I’ve read a few of these, I just need to track down a title for this blank
  10. A middle grade novel.: How to Save a Superhero by Ruth Freeman
  11. A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign.: This one is going to be hard—it also comes close to disclosing more personal information than I want to share—but I think I’ve got one in mind.
  12. A book that’s a combination of genres.: Bloodlines by Peter Hartog (I also used this for the next challenge, so I’ll probably replace this on the final list)

Your TBR Reduction Book Challenge

Your TBR Reduction Book Challenge
I’m hitting the target on this one—I’ve only managed to hit 1 Stretch Goal (I don’t have many books that apply to the stretches, actually). This isn’t helping that much with my reduce the TBR plan, but it’s not hurting it. So there’s that.

In the months to come, I’m going to have to get creative to find a way to match the challenge with a book. I’m eager to see if I can pull it off.
January – New Beginnings I give you permission to read the most recent book you got on top of your TBR.: Bloodlines by Peter Hartog
Stretch Goal – Read the oldest book in Mount TBR it has waited long enough: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
February – Valentine’s Day Gift
Is there that book by an author you love you picked up and still haven’t read because you do not deserve it just yet? Other items got in the way? You have for this challenge to pick that book up and read it: Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith
March – Fresh blooms
For the beginning of Spring I want you to open a book in the TBR pile by an author you’ve never read before: The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True by Sean Gibson
April – New Openings
April is derived from the Latin for ‘to open’ In Mount TBR there may be the first book of a series. Your challenge is to read: Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker
May – Randommmmm
You MAY pick one random book out of Mount TBR and you must read it: Conjured Defense by J.C. Jackson
June – The Longest Day
Find the longest book in Mount TBR and you must read it: The Border by Don Winslow
July – You Came, You Read and You Conquered
In your TBR there may have been a book you know will be a challenging read. Show it who is the Emperor and read that book until it screams for your mercy and then finish it! AMORALMAN by Derek Delgaudio
August – Holidayyyyy
Pick a book that takes you away to another place. Read it and relax: The Ghost Machine by James Lovegrove
September – Back to School
Pick a book with some link to education. Dark Academia; dangerous school, etc.: The Days of Tao by Wesley Chu (I had a hard time finding something for this prompt, and was so happy when I remembered this started at a summer class)

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

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