Tag: Down the TBR Hole Page 3 of 4

A lot of this entry came down to availablity, which almost feels like cheating. Oh, well…

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Between the Bridge and the River by Craig Ferguson Blurb: “Two childhood friends from Scotland and two illegitimate half-brothers from the American South suffer and enjoy all manner of bizarre experiences which, as it turns out, are somehow interconnectedand, surprisingly enough, meaningful. An eclectic cast of characters includes Carl Jung, Fatty Arbuckle, Virgil, Marat, Socrates, and Tony Randall. Love, greed, hope, revenge, organized religion, and Hollywood are alternately tickled and throttled.” My Thoughts: Probably a fun, offbeat read. But…I can’t easily locate a copy, so… Verdict:
	Why Do We Quote? the Culture and History of Quotation by Ruth Finneghan Blurb: “Drawing from anthropology, cultural history, folklore, cultural studies, sociolinguistics, literary studies and the ethnography of speaking, Ruth Finnegan’s fascinating study sets our present conventions into cross-cultural and historical perspective. She traces the curious history of quotation marks, examines the long tradition of quotation collections with their remarkable recycling across the centuries, and explores the uses of quotation in literary, visual and oral traditions. The book tracks the changing definitions and control of quoting over the millennia and in doing so throws new light on ideas such as ‘imitation’, ‘allusion’, ‘authorship’, ‘originality’ and ‘plagiarism’.” My Thoughts: This is either going to be dry as dust or fascinating. In the end, this comes down to my time… Verdict:
	Jukebox by Saira Viola Blurb: A young lawyer who wants to run a record label. A young journalist on the hunt for a story. A potentially (probably?) corrupt businessman is the means for both to get what they want. Which means at least one of them will be disappointed. Verdict:
	The Stench of Honolulu: A Tropical Adventure by Jack Handey My Thoughts: It’s a novel by Jack Handey. Loved this guy’s stuff on SNL. Why didn’t I buy this when I had a chance? Verdict: Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum
	The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language by Mark Forsyth Blurb: “…a completely unauthorized guide to the strange underpinnings of the English language. It explains how you get from “gruntled” to “disgruntled”; why you are absolutely right to believe that your meager salary barely covers “money for salt”; how the biggest chain of coffee shops in the world connects to whaling in Nantucket; and what, precisely, the Rolling Stones have to do with gardening. This witty book will awake the linguist in you and illuminate the hidden meanings behind common words and phrases, tracing their evolution through all of their surprising paths throughout history.” My Thoughts: This is exactly the kind of thing I love to read. Verdict:
	Siege Line by Myke Cole My Thoughts: This is the third novel in the prequel trilogy to Cole’s Shadow Ops series. I thought (and still do) that the first in this trilogy was the best thing that Cole had written, and the rest of the series was probably just as good. But it just feels (and felt, which is why years later I haven’t read them yet) like homework–I just don’t care about how we got to Shadow Ops enough, and didn’t really connect with any of the characters in the first of this series. Verdict:
	The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce My Thoughts: I liked Joyce’s The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and this music store romance will probably be just as good. Verdict:
	Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry My Thoughts: Fry can write. He’s clever and well-informed. Can’t imagine that his book on Greek Myths–a mix of re-telling and scholarly notes–won’t be anything but good. I should check to see if he reads the audiobook, that’d make it a slam-dunk… Verdict: >
	Starlight by Mark Millar Blurb: “Forty years ago, Duke McQueen was the space hero who saved the universe. But then he came back home, got married, had kids, and grew old. Now his children have left and his wife has passed away, leaving him alone with nothing except his memories…until a call comes from a distant world asking him back for his final and greatest adventure.” My Thoughts: This sounded intriguing enough that I could understand why I was interested, but I didn’t feel an overwhelming need to read it…I really just couldn’t decide, but I knew I didn’t want to spend money on it. So I decided that I’d give this a thumbs up if my library system had a copy…and you should be seeing a post about this within a week or two. Verdict:
	Bosstown by Adam Abramowitz Blurb: A bike messenger turns amatuer sleuth as he looks into his ailing father’s shady business. My Thoughts: There are some really good reviews for this from people I respect, which is the only thing that makes me pause. But, a bike messenger? I’m just not feeling it…mabye if I rewatch Premium Rush (a movie far better than the premise…) Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 6 / 10
Total Books Removed: 74 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

Just taking a quick glance at the authors for this batch let me know I wasn’t going to be cutting a whole lot. Annnnnd, I didn’t.

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	The List by Patricia Forde Blurb: “In the city of Ark, speech is constrained to five hundred sanctioned words. Speak outside the approved lexicon and face banishment. The exceptions are the Wordsmith and his apprentice Letta, the keepers and archivists of all language in their post-apocalyptic, neo-medieval world.​On the death of her master, Letta is suddenly promoted to Wordsmith, charged with collecting and saving words. But when she uncovers a sinister plan to suppress language and rob Ark’s citizens of their power of speech, she realizes that it’s up to her to save not only words, but culture itself.” My Thoughts: I remember thinking this MG dystopian fantasy looked great, but was still about to cut it until I read the synopsis…and, I just can’t. Verdict:
	The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty Blurb: The first in McKinty’s mystery series set during The Troubles. My Thoughts: I’ve never heart anything but praise for this series. Also, I have a friend who has threatened me if I don’t read it. Verdict:
	Redemption Street by Reed Farrel Coleman Blurb: “Ex-NYPD officer and freshly minted PI Moe Prager travels up to a decaying Boscht Belt hotel to uncover the truth behind a decades old fire that killed seventeen people, including his high school crush. Away from his beloved Brooklyn and out of his element, Moe finds that the locals aren’t as eager to dredge up the painful past or to stir up the embers of that long dead fire as he seems to be.” Verdict: It’s Coleman. Duh.
	Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman My Thoughts: I’m sure there’s a good reason that I haven’t read Gaiman’s retelling of Norse myths…okay, that’s a lie. Such a reason couldn’t exist. Verdict:
	Deathstroke, Vol. 1: The Professional by Christopher J. Priest, Mark Morales, Joe Bennett, Jason Paz, Carlo Pagulayan, Belardino Brabo Blurb: Confronted by his own troubled past and challenged to reinvent himself before he loses everything and everyone in his life, Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke, finds himself and those he values most in the crosshairs—stalked by an unseen enemy. My Thoughts: Been a fan of Wilson for forever, how do I not read this? (especially because my library has it?) Verdict:
	Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World by Rob Sheffield Blurb: “Dreaming the Beatles is not another biography of the Beatles, or a song-by-song analysis of the best of John and Paul. It isn’t another exposé about how they broke up. It isn’t a history of their gigs or their gear. It is a collection of essays telling the story of what this ubiquitous band means to a generation who grew up with the Beatles music on their parents’ stereos and their faces on T-shirts. What do the Beatles mean today? Why are they more famous and beloved now than ever? And why do they still matter so much to us, nearly fifty years after they broke up?” Verdict:
	The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton Blurb: “Marked by tragedy, traumatized at the age of eight, Michael, now eighteen, is no ordinary young man. Besides not uttering a single word in ten years, he discovers the one thing he can somehow do better than anyone else. Whether it’s a locked door without a key, a padlock with no combination, or even an eight-hundred pound safe … he can open them all. It’s an unforgivable talent. A talent that will make young Michael a hot commodity with the wrong people and, whether he likes it or not, push him ever close to a life of crime. Until he finally sees his chance to escape, and with one desperate gamble risks everything to come back home to the only person he ever loved, and to unlock the secret that has kept him silent for so long.” My Thoughts: Great hook, Hamilton’s writing. How can it not be a heckuva ride? Verdict:
	Drifting in the Push by Daniel Garrison Blurb: “…a fast-paced, comical romp that takes the reader on a journey through the unintentional adventures of one man’s reality. From the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, from Mexico to Alaska, missteps, stubborn obstacles, and fate are his constant companions, along with an offbeat assortment of entertaining characters.” Verdict:
	The Punch Escrow by Tal M. Klein Blurb: “Joel Byram, our smartass protagonist, is an everyday twenty-second century guy. He spends his days training artificial intelligence engines to act more human, jamming out to 1980’s new wave—an extremely obscure genre, and trying to salvage his deteriorating marriage. Joel is pretty much an everyday guy with everyday problems—until he’s accidentally duplicated while teleporting. Now Joel must outsmart the shadowy organization that controls teleportation, outrun the religious sect out to destroy it, and find a way to get back to the woman he loves in a world that now has two of him.” My Thoughts: I have no memory at all of this book. Which is a shame, I should have read it. Verdict:
	The Secret History of Jane Eyre: How Charlotte Brontë Wrote Her Masterpiece by John Pfordresher Blurb: “In this perceptive book, John Pfordresher shares the enthralling story of how Charlotte Brontë wrote her masterpiece and why she tried so vehemently to disown it. What few people knew then—and even fewer know today—was that as she tended her invalid father and held the family together, Brontë was re-imagining her experiences as a governess, her fears for her dissolute brother and her devastating passion for a married man into an immersive, brilliant novel. By aligning the details of Brontë’s life with the timeless characters and plot of Jane Eyre, Pfordresher reveals the remarkable parallels between one of literature’s most beloved heroines and its vulnerable and deeply human creator and why Brontë didn’t want those parallels exposed.” My Thoughts: You have to ask? Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 1 / 10
Total Books Removed: 68 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

Did a lot of cutting in this time out—mostly of books that I would probably enjoy if I took the time. But the point of this is to make these calls, regain some focus on my reading plans, and whatnot.

Still—if you think I was short-sighted and/or just plain wrong, let me know.

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Crashing Heaven by Al Robertson Blurb: A cyberpunk-ish story about AI’s going to war with humankind living on an asteroid they control. My Thoughts: Looks good, really good. But I just don’t see me finding the time for it. Verdict:
	Break the Chains by Megan E. O’Keefe My Thoughts: It’s the follow-up to Steal the Sky, which I remember enjoying. I wonder why I didn’t return to this series. But I’m not feeling the pull right now. Verdict:
	MJ-12: Inception by Michael J. Martinez Blurb: U.S. vs. U.S.S.R. paranormal espionage. My Thoughts: Great hook. Seems like a concept worth spending time with. But, as I seem to be saying a lot right now…just don’t feel the need to pick it up. Verdict:
	Thawing A.C. Nielsen by Paul Carey My Thoughts: So apparently, this is about someone who’s figured out how to bring by the cryogenically frozen people back, and then some sort of commentary on TV/Celebrity kicks in? Verdict:
	Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy Blurb: “An asteroid is hurtling toward Earth. A big, bad one. Maybe not kill-all-the-dinosaurs bad, but at least kill-everyone-in-California-and-wipe-out-Japan-with-a-tsunami bad. Yuri, a physicist prodigy from Russia, has been recruited to aid NASA as they calculate a plan to avoid disaster.The good news is Yuri knows how to stop the asteroid–his research in antimatter will probably win him a Nobel prize if there’s ever another Nobel prize awarded. But the trouble is, even though NASA asked for his help, no one there will listen to him. He’s seventeen, and they’ve been studying physics longer than he’s been alive. Then he meets (pretty, wild, unpredictable) Dovie, who lives like a normal teenager, oblivious to the impending doom. Being with her, on the adventures she plans when he’s not at NASA, Yuri catches a glimpse of what it means to save the world and live a life worth saving.” My Thoughts: I remember being pretty excited about this in late 2017, and just not getting around to it. That seems like a mistake on my part. Verdict:
	Extreme Makeover by Dan Wells Blurb: “…a satirical new suspense about a health and beauty company that accidentally develops a hand lotion that can overwrite your DNA.” Verdict:
	Normal by Warren Ellis My Thoughts: A techno-thriller with a heavy dose of conspiracy theories in a mental health facility. Verdict:
	And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman My Thoughts: Doesn’t matter what it’s about, it’s Backman, I should’ve read it years ago. Verdict:
	Betrayals: A Jack Del Rio Thriller by Richard Paolinelli My Thoughts: I enjoyed the first Jack Del Rio book, Reservations, but the premise for this sequel didn’t really grab me. Paolinelli’s online antics (despite a lot of sympathy for many of his personal positions), has further turned me off. Verdict:
	Unconventional by Maggie Harcourt Blurb: “Lexi Angelo has grown up helping her dad with his events business. She likes to stay behind the scenes, planning and organizing…until author Aidan Green – messy haired and annoyingly arrogant – arrives unannounced at the first event of the year. Then Lexi’s life is thrown into disarray.” My Thoughts: I think this came up as a “if you liked Fangirl (by Rainbow Rowell), you’ll like this. Probably good for a quick distraction, but, I’m not really in a “if you liked Fangirl” place now (nothing against the Fangirl, but I don’t see me picking it back up). Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 8 / 10
Total Books Removed: 67 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

This felt like I was trimming a lot of fat while I was writing it, but in the end, there’s plenty of thumbs pointing up (some due to the fact that I already paid for them). Still, it was a good exercise, if only to remind me about things I wanted to—and still want to—read.

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon by Bronwen Dickey Blurb: “When Bronwen Dickey brought her new dog home, she saw no traces of the infamous viciousness in her affectionate pit bull. Which made her wonder: How had the breed—beloved by Teddy Roosevelt and Helen Keller—come to be known as a brutal fighter? Dickey’s search for answers takes her from nineteenth-century New York dogfighting pits to early twentieth‑century movie sets, from the battlefields of Gettysburg to struggling urban neighborhoods. In this illuminating story of how a popular breed became demonized–and what role humans have played in the transformation–Dickey offers us an insightful view of Americans’ relationship with their dogs.” My Thoughts: Think I’m going to pass on this, as fascinating as it sounds. If it’s as good as it looks, it’d just infuriate me and/or break my heart. And then I’d have to go adopt a pit bull, and I just don’t have room for that. Verdict:
	Conversations with Eric by Paul Casselle Blurb: “What would you do if overnight you were projected into a mysterious comedy crime novel? What would you do if at every turn you were confronted with gun-toting, murderous psychopaths, your life was threatened on an hourly basis and you suspected the police were as corrupt as the criminals? What would you do if you felt your head was about to explode with the comic madness of it all, and the only sane soul you had to talk to was your labrador? What would you do?…” My Thoughts: This is probably a lot of fun, or a frustating swing-and-a-miss. In the end, just not something I’m going to make time for. Verdict:
	In Twenty Years by Allison Winn Scotch Blurb: “Twenty years ago, six Penn students shared a house, naively certain that their friendships would endure—until the death of their ringleader and dear friend Bea splintered the group for good. Now, mostly estranged from one another, the remaining five reluctantly gather at that same house on the eve of what would have been Bea’s fortieth birthday.” My Thoughts: I’ve never been disappointed in a book by Scotch, and while it’s been awhile since I’ve read one, I could always use another. Also, I bought this for my wife years ago… Verdict:
	Sacrifices by Jamie Schultz Blurb: Magical (and possessed?) thieves are on the hunt for a relic to help out with the demon-possession thing, and have to align themselves with the F.B.I. My Thoughts: Don’t ask me why I didn’t read this when it came out. Must’ve been super-busy. I’ve read the first two novels in this trilogy and was wow’ed by them (read book 1 twice). It’s the last in the series, so I wonder if one of the reasons that I didn’t read it was because I didn’t want it to end. Which is silly. It’ll be dark. It’ll be grim. It’ll be good.Also, I own it, and it’s one of those taking up space on my montly Mt. TBR graphs.Verdict:
	The Unseen World by Liz Moore“Ada Sibelius is raised by David, her brilliant, eccentric, socially inept single father, who directs a computer science lab in 1980s-era Boston. Home-schooled, Ada accompanies David to work every day; by twelve, she is a painfully shy prodigy. The lab begins to gain acclaim at the same time that David’s mysterious history comes into question. When his mind begins to falter, leaving Ada virtually an orphan, she is taken in by one of David’s colleagues. Soon after she embarks on a mission to uncover her father’s secrets: a process that carries her from childhood to adulthood.” My Thoughts: I’m guessing this got on my radar thanks to Moore’s Heft, which I really liked. This, at least right now, doesn’t feel like it’d tick any of my boxes. Verdict:
	Dead to Rites by Ari Marmell Blurb: Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum My Thoughts: It’s the third volume in the 1930’s Urban Fantasy about a Fae PI in Chiciago. Thought the first was great, Marmell’s a lock for a good read, own the second, but didn’t read it for whatever reason. Which is why I didn’t get around to this one (or the next). Something I should rectify. Verdict:
	How to Party with an Infant by Kaui Hart Hemmings Blurb: A book about a single mom in SF finding love from the author of The Descdendants. My Thoughts: Probably a great read. The Descdendants was great, it’s an interesting hook, but I don’t feel a need to shuffle my schedule to get to it. Verdict: Soft pass.
	Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia Blurb: Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum My Thoughts: This tale of an overachiever trying to seal the deal on her Stanford admission by getting a literary agent just doesn’t seem like anything I’m in the mood for now. I’m probably going to miss out on something good, though. Verdict:
	King Of The Moon by Victor Schwartzman Blurb: “A satirical novel where Gulliver’s Travels meets Star Wars via Game of Thrones. Look into a dimension where everyone grows up believing Fox News! Plenty of jokes and cheap shots! A look at one week in the life of a new King who does not want to be King!” My Thoughts: Whhhhaaaaattt? Verdict:
	The Red Chameleon by Erica Wright Blurb: PI Kat Stone (and former UC NYPD officer) fears that someone has recognized her from her past. So she teams up with former colleagues. My Thoughts: Read and enjoyed books two and three in this series, but I always struggle going backwards. I really should do it, though. Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 6 / 10
Total Books Removed: 59 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

My most severe cuts yet, which I enjoyed. I’m up to 10% cut off the total list (and I’m roughly 40% through the list I started with), which isn’t quite as dramatic as I’d hoped, but it’s some progress. I’ve also reminded myself of some promising reads that I haven’t made time for yet.

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Don’t Get Caught by Kurt Dinan Blurb: “Max Cobb—Mr. 2.5 GPA, Mr. No Social Life, known throughout the school as Just Max—has just been set-up by the prank-pulling Chaos Club. But this time they’ve messed with the wrong guy. ​ Because if his favorite heist movies have taught him anything, it’s time for Heist Rule #7: Always get payback. It’s time to recruit a crew, and he knows just who to ask. Let the prank war begin.” My Thoughts: This looks like a fun way to spend a day’s reading. I’d probably enjoy it, and understand why I put it on the list. But…it’s just not going to happen. Verdict:
	Who Killed Sherlock Holmes? by Paul Cornell My Thoughts: The third (and final?) installment in Cornell’s Shadow Police series looks good. I think the only reason I haven’t read it yet is that when it was released, my Library didn’t get a copy (I’d read the first two in the series from them), and I didn’t have the cash to get it. Now, I’m just being lazy. Verdict:
	Everybody’s Fool by Richard Russo My Thoughts: A few years ago, I read all of Russo’s novels (and 50% of them since then). The completist in me feels like I need to read this one, but I really never cared for Sully and just am not that interested in spending more time with him. This is going to bug me, but I’ll get over it. Verdict:
	The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction by Neil Gaiman Blurb: A collection of non-fiction pieces by Neil bleeping Gaiman, “Analytical yet playful, erudite yet accessible, this cornucopia explores a broad range of interests and topics, including (but not limited to): authors past and present; music; storytelling; comics; bookshops; travel; fairy tales; America; inspiration; libraries; ghosts; and the title piece, at turns touching and self-deprecating, which recounts the author’s experiences at the 2010 Academy Awards in Hollywood.” My Thoughts: It’s Gaiman. No contest. Verdict:
	Blood Defense by Marcia Clark My Thoughts: I enjoyed Clark’s series about a prosecutor, would probably enjoy her take on a defense lawyer (if only because I have a soft spot for them), but these books have never drawn me. Guess I’ll pass for now. Verdict:
	True Grift by Jack Bunker Blurb: “A bankrupt lawyer and a greedy insurance adjuster concoct a personal injury scam involving a runaway grocery cart and recruit a half-wit golf course greenskeeper as their fall guy. But the plan goes horribly wrong, and as it spirals into a murderous fiasco, the grifters must deal with betrayals, shakedowns, bombs and mobsters to avoid prison… or worse, an early grave in a Southern California landfill.” Verdict:
	Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman Blurb: “[A] heartwarming story about a woman rediscovering herself after a personal crisis.” My Thoughts: Fredrik Backman. No doubt about it. Verdict:
	Congratulations on Everything by Nathan Whitlock Blurb: “A dark and comic novel, Congratulations On Everything tracks the struggles, frailties, and cruelly pyrrhic victories of the middle-aged owner of a bar-restaurant and a 30ish lunch-shift waitress…In an era when the gourmand rules and chefs become superstars, Congratulations On Everything is a hilarious and occasionally uncomfortable dose of anti-foodie reality that reveals what goes on when the customers and Instagrammers aren’t around — and even sometimes when they are.” My Thoughts: eh…. Verdict:
	Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me: What Pop Music Rivalries Reveal About the Meaning of Life by Steven Hyden Blurb: “Beatles vs. Stones. Biggie vs. Tupac. Kanye vs. Taylor. Who do you choose? And what does that say about you? Actually — what do these endlessly argued-about pop music rivalries say about us?” Verdict: Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum
	Life Moves Pretty Fast: The Lessons We Learned From Eighties Movies (And Why We Don’t Learn Them From Movies Any More) by Hadley Freeman Blurb: “In this personalised guide, ]Freeman] puts her obsessive movie geekery to good use, detailing the decades [sic] key players, genres and tropes, and how exactly the friendship between Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi influenced the evolution of comedy. She looks back to a cinematic world in which bankers are invariably evil, despite this being the decade of Wall Street, where children are always wiser than adults, and science is embraced with an intense enthusiasm, and the future viewed with excitement. She considers how the changes between movies then and movies today say so much about pop culture’s and society’s changing expectations of women, young people and art, and explains why Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles should be put on school syllabuses immediately.” My Thoughts: As I said about the first book in this installment, this looks like a fun way to spend a day’s reading. I’d probably enjoy it, and understand why I put it on the list. But…it’s just not going to happen. Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 7 / 10
Total Books Removed: 53 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

I got on a roll after #6 and ended up putting this one together right afterward. I was surprised by a couple of my decisions here. When I first looked at this list I thought I knew what I would keep/cut, but by the time I finished writing about them, I switched my answer. Some good looking books survived—there are a couple here that I’m tempted to jump on today. Still, as of this post, I’ve cut 15% off the Goodreads shelf. Not bad at all.

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	The Authorities by Scott Meyer Blurb: “Sinclair Rutherford is a young Seattle cop with a taste for the finer things. Doing menial tasks and getting hassled by superiors he doesn’t respect are definitely not “finer things.” Good police work and bad luck lead him to crack a case that changes quickly from a career-making break into a high-profile humiliation when footage of his pursuit of the suspect—wildly inappropriate murder weapon in hand—becomes an Internet sensation.But the very publicity that has made Rutherford a laughing stock in the department lands him what could be the job opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to work with a team of eccentric experts, at the direction of a demanding but distracted billionaire. Together, they must solve the murder of a psychologist who specialized in the treatment of patients who give people “the creeps.”” My Thoughts: Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum Verdict: It’s Meyer. Why am I waiting?
	Home by Matt Dunn Blurb: A Londener returns to the home he left 18 years ago (without looking back) to help out his aging parents and is confronted with his past. My Thoughts: I’m going to say no to this now, but Dunn’s work the kind of thing I’m trying to make myself read more of, so I may come back to this. Verdict:
	Mad Men Carousel: The Complete Critical Companion by Matt Zoller Seitz My Thoughts: I’ve read some of Seitz’s pieces about various episodes (of this and other shows). The guy is a great writer and he knows this show. Would probably be a heckuva read, but if I read this, I’m going to have to rewatch the show, and I’m just not up for that kind of committment right now (as attractive as that sounds) Verdict:
	The Gray Man by Mark Greaney Blurb: A CIA operative-turned-hitman on the run from former allies. My Thoughts: Every time I see one of the books in this series at a bookstore/Costco/whatever, I think “Oh, good the new one! I’d better pick it up.” Before remembering I’ve never read any in the series. How strange is that? It’s probably just my thing, but…I can’t seem to muster the enthusiasm. Verdict:
	The Custodian of Marvels by Rod Duncan My Thoughts: The first two books in this duology-turned-trilogy were really good. The only reason I didn’t read this one is that my library never added it to their collection and I have a strange mental block about buying only the third in a series. (“Just buy the first two while you’re at it,” Duncan/Angry Robot say.) Verdict:
	The World’s Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette’s, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family by Josh Hanagarne Blurb: “Josh Hanagarne couldn’t be invisible if he tried. Although he wouldn’t officially be diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome until his freshman year of high school, Josh was six years old when he first began exhibiting symptoms. When he was twenty and had reached his towering height of 6’7”, his tics escalated to nightmarish levels. Determined to conquer his affliction, Josh tried countless remedies, with dismal results. At last, an eccentric, autistic strongman taught Josh how to “throttle” his tics into submission using increasingly elaborate feats of strength. What started as a hobby became an entire way of life—and an effective way of managing his disorder.” My Thoughts: I’d forgotten all about this book. Sounds fascinating. Probably fits into this group of books, too. Verdict:
	The Thorn of Emberlain by Scott Lynch My Thoughts: I’ll believe it when I see it. I’m not going to complain or bemoan or curse Lynch for the delay here (see also: Rothfuss, Patrick). If this ever sees the light of day, I’ll be there in a heartbeat. If not, I’ll relish the first three in the series. Verdict:
	Crush by Phoef Sutton Blurb: “Caleb Rush, a. k. a. Crush, is the toughest, coolest bodyguard/bouncer in Los Angeles, a man who lives strictly by his own moral code, which doesn’t exactly hew to the standards of US law. When Amelia Trask, the wild daughter of a scruples-free billionaire tycoon, comes to Crush for help, his quiet life roars into overdrive, and he has to use his wits, brawn, martial-arts training, and knowledge of the Russian mafia to stay alive and clean up the mess that young Amelia has created. Crush is a rollicking, page-turning ride through LA, full of action, suspense, memorable characters, and a sly wit.” My Thoughts: I seriously don’t understand why I haven’t gobbled this up yet. Verdict:
	Don’t Eat The Glowing Bananas by David D. Hammons Blurb: “It’s hard to find a decent brunch in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. But that’s all Henry Rosetta wants from the world. That, and not to be eaten by nomadic cannibals. Henry has traveled the nuclear bomb-blasted highways critiquing the finest radioactive eateries and cataloging his experiences…Henry must help the people of New Dallas and learn the great secret of how the world ended. And maybe get a taco along the way.” My Thoughts: This looks strange and wonderful and I wish I knew how I stumbled across it. Still, I don’t see myself making time for it at this point. Alas…. Verdict:
	The Sugar Frosted Nutsack by Mark Leyner Blurb: “Ritualistically recited by a cast of drug-addled bards, The Sugar Frosted Nutsack is Ike’s epic story. A raucous tale of gods and men confronting lust, ambition, death, and the eternal verities, it is a wildly fun, wickedly fast gambol through the unmapped corridors of the imagination.” My Thoughts: Love Leyner’s prose. Love the voice. He’s challenging, provactive and insightful. I’m sure this would be a great read. But for some reason, the idea of reading anything by Leyner feels like homework. And I’m just not that interested feeling that way. Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 6 / 10
Total Books Removed: 36 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call—or the wrong call—with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

Time for #6 in my attempt to clean up that too, too, too long TBR list. I say no to a lot today. (and man, it was satisfying deleting all that from my Goodreads shelf…it’s not like I accomplished anything, really, but it felt like it!)

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You by Courtney Maum Blurb: …a failed monogamist attempts to woo his wife back and to answer the question: Is it really possible to fall back in love with your spouse?…he resolves to reinvest wholeheartedly in his family life…just in time for his wife to learn the extent of his affair. Rudderless and remorseful, Richard embarks on a series of misguided attempts to win Anne back while focusing his creative energy on a provocative art piece to prove that he’s still the man she once loved. My Thoughts: I’m sure I had a good reason for wanting to read this, but I don’t see it now. Verdict:
	Half a King by Joe Abercrombie My Thoughts: I mentioned this recently in my The Stay at Home Book Tag post. I wanted to jump on this when it first came out and got too busy. But now the series is complete and I have no excuse not to. Verdict:
	Perry’s Killer Playlist by Joe Schreiber Blurb: When Perry ends up in Venice on a European tour with his band, Inchworm, he can’t resist a visit to Harry’s Bar, where Gobi told him she’d meet him someday. The last time he saw Gobi, five people were assassinated one crazy night in New York City. Well . . . Gobi shows up, and once again Perry is roped into a wild, nonstop thrill ride with a body count. Double crossings, kidnappings, CIA agents, arms dealers, boat chases in Venetian canals, and a shootout in the middle of a Santa Claus convention ensue. My Thoughts: This is the sequel to the silly, but fun, Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick. Would probably have just as much fun with this one, but it’s just not calling to me, and I’ll probably never get around to it. Verdict:
	The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman Blurb: “The Crimson Petal and the White meets Fight Club: A page-turning novel set in the world of female pugilists and their patrons in late eighteenth-century England.” My Thoughts: Uhhh, what? Verdict:
	School for Sidekicks by Kelly McCullough Blurb: A young would-be superhero is shipped off to an academy to learn to be a sidekick—precisely what he doesn’t want. What’s worse, he’s assigned to a has-been of a hero. My Thoughts: I’ve never not enjoyed a McCullough novel—I’ve read a half-dozen or so of them, and I can’t imagine this would be the exception. But the point here is to be honest about the way I’m using my time, and I just don’t see this happening. Verdict:
	Gooseberry Bluff Community College of Magic: The Thirteenth Rib by David J. Schwartz Blurb: “Gooseberry Bluff is not a school for the chosen ones. It’s a school for those who have run out of choices. An unlikely place for an international conspiracy. But after suspicious paranormal signatures are reported and a professor of magical history goes missing, the possibility of demon trafficking seems more and more likely…” My Thoughts: I really dug Schwartz’s Superpowers and would probably have enjoyed this, too. But it’s been out for so long and the rest of the series never materialized (likely, because of people like me who didn’t buy this one 7 years ago). Not going to bother. Verdict:
	The Dragon Engine by Andy Remic Blurb: “Five noble war heroes of Vagandrak get drunk one night and sign a contract – to journey to the Karamakkos in search of the Five Havens where, it is written, there is untold, abandoned wealth and, more importantly, the three Dragon Heads – jewels claimed to give unspeakable power and everlasting life to those who wield them.But the Dragon Heads aren’t what they think, and the world has not encountered their like in generations! Think Smaug was fierce? You ain’t seen nothing!” My Thoughts: This has literally been sitting on my shelf for five years. I remember buying it for a trip and didn’t get to it then…or since. Sounds fun, and I own it. Gotta get it done. Verdict:
	All In by Joel Goldman Blurb: “Cassie Ireland works as a modern-day Robin Hood for people who have nowhere else to turn, not even to the police. Jake Carter is a roguish high roller traveling the world to play—and win—big-money poker. As Lady Luck would have it, the two unexpectedly find themselves targeting the same mark: Alan Kendrick, a ruthless, mega-rich hedge fund manager who doesn’t mind padding his bank account with a few shady deals. He’s swindled the wrong people this time—and now Ireland and Carter will join forces to take him down.” My Thoughts: I get a Leverage-y/Fox and O’Hare-ish vibe from this. Would very likely enjoy, but as I’ve said a few times today—honestly, I’m not going to get around to it. Verdict:
	A Cool Breeze on the Underground by Don Winslow Blurb: “Neal Carey is not your usual private eye. A graduate student at Columbia University, he grew up on the streets of New York, usually on the wrong side of the law. Then he met Joe Graham, a one-armed P.I. who introduced him to the Bank, an exclusive New England institution with a sideline in keeping its wealthy clients happy and out of trouble. They pay Neal’s college tuition, and Neal gets an education that can’t be found in any textbook– from learning how to trail a suspect to mastering the proper way to search a room. Now its payback time. The Bank wants Neal to put his skills to work in finding Allie Chase, the rebellious teenage daughter of a prominent senator. The problem: Allie has gone underground in London, and to get her back, Neal has to follow her into the punk scene, a violent netherworld where drugs run rampant and rage is the name of the game. Up against punk junkies, antique book thieves, and murderous betrayal, Neal has his work cut out for him to save Allie– and get back above ground for good.” My Thoughts: Winslow’s first novel. How can I not? Verdict:
	We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler Blurb: “Meet the Cooke family: Mother and Dad, brother Lowell, sister Fern, and Rosemary, who begins her story in the middle. She has her reasons. “I was raised with a chimpanzee,” she explains. “I tell you Fern was a chimp and already you aren’t thinking of her as my sister. But until Fern’s expulsion…she was my twin, my funhouse mirror, my whirlwind other half and I loved her as a sister.” As a child, Rosemary never stopped talking. Then, something happened, and Rosemary wrapped herself in silence.In We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, Karen Joy Fowler weaves her most accomplished work to date—a tale of loving but fallible people whose well-intentioned actions lead to heartbreaking consequences.” My Thoughts: I put this on my list?!?!? I’m sure it’s good (reviews, awards, etc. suggest so), but it is so far from being my kind of thing… Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 7 / 10
Total Books Removed: 30 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

Round 5 of this series…there were a couple I bounced back and forth on (to the good of one and the ill of another). There’s a couple of these that I’d really like to read, but I know I’m not going into it. At this point, I’ve looked at 50 books so far and have now cut about 10% of the total list, I’d hoped for more, but it’s a decent start.

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Chump Change by G.M. Ford Blurb: “Hearing a dying stranger call you by name would leave anyone full of questions. When it happens to private eye Leo Waterman, the more he learns about the late lottery winner’s rags-to-riches-to-ruination life, the more he wants not just answers but justice. That means a road trip to Idaho to find out how a good-hearted young man with millions got skinned–in more ways than one.” My Thoughts: Why haven’t I read it yet? Honestly, this is the only one in the series my library doesn’t own, and when it came time for me to read this one, I was in a book-buying freeze. I’ll fix that soon. Verdict: Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum
	The Prince of Venice Beach by Blake Nelson Blurb: A homeless teen runaway teams with a PI to help find a missing teen. My Thoughts: Don’t remember how this ended up on my radar…just not seeing the appeal. Verdict:
	Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron Blurb: “As the smallest dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius survives by a simple code: keep quiet, don’t cause trouble, and stay out of the way of bigger dragons. But this meek behavior doesn’t fly in a family of ambitious magical predators, and his mother, Bethesda the Heartstriker, has finally reached the end of her patience. Now, sealed in human form and banished to the DFZ – a vertical metropolis built on the ruins of Old Detroit – Julius has one month to prove he can be a ruthless dragon or kiss his true shape goodbye forever. But in a city of modern mages and vengeful spirits where dragons are considered monsters to be exterminated, he’s going to need some serious help to survive this test. He only hopes humans are more trustworthy than dragons….” My Thoughts: I got the audiobook forever ago in an Audible sale. It’s the only audiobook I own that I haven’t listened to. Has to be done (if only to flatline that part of my Mt. TBR chart) Verdict:
	Bad Move by Linwood Barclay Blurb: “Bad Move introduces Linwood’s reluctant hero, Zack Walker, a science fiction writer and perpetually worried father who moves his family from the dangerous city to the peaceful suburbs, and runs headlong into the law of unintended consequence. The Walker family’s change of scene doesn’t bring about tranquility, but it does introduce them to political corruption, a marijuana-growing operation, the neighborhood dominatrix, and murder.” My Thoughts: This sounds like a lot of fun. I’d probably be easily convinced to add this back to the list. But for now…don’t have time. Verdict:
	What Might Have Been by Matt Dunn Blurb: “…romantic comedy about two people in love. Though one of them needs a little convincing…” My Thoughts: Have enjoyed Dunn’s work before, and am trying to read more of this kind of thing–books where no one is killing people make me feel a little better about life (not that I’m planning on stopping the other stuff anytime soon) Verdict:
	The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate by Michael J. Kruger Blurb: “Unlike many books written on the emergence of the New Testament canon that ask “when?” or “how?” Kruger focuses this work on the “why?”―exposing weaknesses in the five major tenets of the extrinsic model as he goes. While The Question of Canon scrutinizes today’s popular scholastic view, it also offers an alternative concept to lay a better empirical foundation for biblical canon studies.” My Thoughts: I’m a giant fan of Kruger’s work (at least the stuff that’s affordable and approachable for non-scholars), gotta get around to this one. Verdict:
	Only The Good Die Young by Chris Marie Green Blurb: An urban fantasy focusing on a ghost PI My Thoughts: I oringally added this one to make sure my (then) planned ghost novel didn’t get too close to it. But then I never got around to drafting that, and well…yeah. That’s that. Verdict:
	Canary by Duane Swierczynski Blurb: A college student forced to become a Confidential Informant for a cop too eager to make a bust becomes a target for killers and crooked cops. Verdict:
	The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 by J.B. Morrison Blurb: A home help caregiver helps an elderly man learn how to enjoy life again. My Thoughts: It just seems like I’ve read too many books along these lines lately (which may contradict what I said earlier about the Dunn book–and probably does). Verdict:
	Bleed Like Me by Cath Staincliffe Blurb: The second Scott and Bailey novel. Really don’t need to know more. My Thoughts: This is a no-brainer. Just gotta find the time. Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 5 / 10
Total Books Removed: 23 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

What’s the fourth round of this going to look like?

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

I didn’t expect that I’d be as wordy as I have been in the first three posts, but this installment being as succinct as it ended up being really was unexpected. I can’t imagine that will continue in the future, concise ain’t how I roll…

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Turn Around Bright Eyes: The Rituals of Love & Karaoke by Rob Sheffield Blurb: A follow-up to Love Is a Mix Tape, which crushed me, Sheffield’s account of falling in love and his wife’s death through mix tapes. This is about him moving on via karaoke. My Thoughts: There’s no reason for me to have jumped on this 7 years ago. Shame on me. Verdict: Gotta get on it.
	The Iggy Chronicles, Volume One by Spencer Quinn Blurb: It’s a short story where Chet’s neighbor and pal, Iggy, is the hero. My Thoughts: I wasn’t crazy about the two Chet & Bernie shorts that I’ve read, but they weren’t bad. I should probably just do it. Besides, Iggy’s fun. Verdict:
	Wounded Prey by Sean Lynch Blurb: A retired cop gets one more chance at the serial killer he couldn’t put away years before. My Thoughts: I don’t remember how this popped up on my radar back in ’13, looks okay, but I read enough like this already, without remembering what originally drew this to me, I’ll probably just let it go. Verdict:
	Doctor Who: Eleven Doctors, Eleven Stories by Various Authors Blurb: This was released back for the 50th anniversary with one story per doctor, each by a different author. My Thoughts: I really dig some of these authors and seeing them take on The Doctor still sounds like fun. Verdict: Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum
	The Dark of Deep Below by Patrick Rothfuss My Thoughts: I’ve been trying to get my hands on this since I read the first Princess and Mr. Whiffle, it’s just hard to find (and pricey). But still, it’d be a blast to read. Verdict:
	The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner My Thoughts: In the short story I read about D. D. Warren, I really liked her. I like her character in the first two novels, but we spent far too much time with Bobby Dodge in both of those. If I knew he wasn’t around, I’d probably have read this by now. Verdict: I’ll delete it, but may end up revising that decision later.
	Love is a Canoe by Ben Schrank Blurb: The author of a classic self-help guide to love and relationships, Peter Herman has won the hearts of romantics and cynics alike. But decades have passed since Marriage Is a Canoe was published and a recently widowed Peter begins to question his own advice. Much to his chagrin, he receives a call from Stella Petrovic, an ambitious young editor in New York City who forces him to reconsider his life’s work, not to mention the full force of his delusions. The book’s fiftieth anniversary is approaching, and Petrovic has devised a contest to promote the new edition. The prize? The chance for the winning couple—a pair of outwardly happy Brooklynites named Emily and Eli—to save their relationship by spending a weekend with the reclusive author. If Peter is going to help the contest’s winners, he must discover what he meant when he wrote Marriage Is a Canoe—and also find a way for himself to love again… Verdict: I’d probably like it, but at this point…eh, I’ve got enough on my plate.
	Judgment Calls by Alafair Burke Blurb: Burke’s debut about a prosecutor on a mission who uncovers a lot more than she bargained for. Verdict: Same as the above–Burke’s a sold writer, this is probably good. But I just don’t have the time, nixing this bugs me more than the rest.
	The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom Blurb: Israel Armstrong is a passionate soul, lured to Ireland by the promise of an exciting new career. Alas, the job that awaits him is not quite what he had in mind. Still, Israel is not one to dwell on disappointment, as he prepares to drive a mobile library around a small, damp Irish town. After all, the scenery is lovely, the people are charming—but where are the books? The rolling library’s 15,000 volumes have mysteriously gone missing, and it’s up to Israel to discover who would steal them . . . and why. And perhaps, after that, he will tackle other bizarre and perplexing local mysteries—like, where does one go to find a proper cappuccino and a decent newspaper? Verdict: Seems charming, I guess? I’m sure this is a fun read, I wish I had a clue what put it on my radar.
	Phoenix Island by John Dixon Blurb: No phones. No television. No internet. No escape. When his defense of a helpless classmate lands sixteen-year-old boxing champion Carl Freeman in real trouble – a two-year sentence at an isolated boot camp for orphans – he’s determined to tough it out, earn a clean record, and get on with his life. Then kids start to die. Realizing Phoenix Island is actually a mercenary training facility turning “throwaway children” into super soldiers, Carl risks everything to save his friends and stop a madman bent on global destruction. Verdict: Say what?

Books Removed in this Post: 6 / 10
Total Books Removed: 18 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)