Tag: Miscellany Page 24 of 171

Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2024


The topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesdays is the Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2024

I’ve done this (or something similar) the last few years (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023), and have come to look forward to it. It’s one more chance to talk about people I quite enjoy talking about. Hopefully, these names get to continue to pop up on this here site for years to come. One common theme I noticed through most of these–their work just made me happy, it was fun to read. Maybe the subject or their style was on the lighter side–there’s more MG/YA-ish things here than I typically list, too. I dunno, I just enjoyed getting to know these authors via their work. I’d love to interact with them, too–if any of those listed here read this and want to participate in anything with me. Please let me know.

I was going to count the co-authors as one, but I couldn’t decide between 6 or so others for the final slot, so they get counted individually, but I’ll talk about them together.

Here’s this year’s list.

Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2024

(alphabetically)

10 Robert Jackson Bennett Robert Jackson Bennett

Bennett has been one of those authors that I’ve meant to get around to since his first book was released and authors/bloggers I respect started hyping his work. There was something that kept me from taking the plunge–I’m not sure what, but I did have City of Stairs in my hands several times without plunking down ye olde debit card.

Naturally, I’m annoyed that I didn’t–but I’m more than happy that I took the plunge with this Fantasy/Mystery Hybrid. The worldbuilding is fantastic, the details he’s put into this environment, magic and science systems are amazing, and the storytelling is even better. I was just blown away with everything he put on the page.

And that’s without mentioning that The Tainted Cup is a riff on Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Anyone who’s going to tackle that is going to get my attention.

In case you’re curious about what I said about the book that put him on this list, click here.

9 A. Y. Chan A.Y. Chan

Chan infused her debut novel with energy, enthusiasm, and a solid understanding (well-earned) of martial arts and what a young girl has to go to gain that understanding. But mostly, she wrote a fun adventure that can appeal to her target audience as well as crusty old guy like me. What’s not to like about an author who can do that?

In case you’re curious about what I said about the book that put her on this list, click here.

8
7
Dewey Conway Dewey Conway
Bill Adams Bill Adams

These two assembled a bit of MG magic as well. It would be pretty easy to tweak the voice, upgrade the danger in a couple of spots, change a chicken into something a bit more (obviously) dangerous, and leave most of the major plot points alone to bring the readers a pretty decent fantasy novel for adults. But no–they went somewhat silly and goofy, kept the chicken (thankfully), and made the whole thing an earnest and satisfying read for young and old alike. I can’t wait to see what else this pair is capable of.

In case you’re curious about what I said about the book that put them on this list, click here.

6 Katie Cook Katie Cook

Cook’s art is eye-grabbing in itself. You add in her characters, charm and this story? I need nothing else.

I”m not sure what else to say. There’s an optimism, a positivity, and a sense of whimsy that poured out of this book and I’m very glad I took a chance on it.

In case you’re curious about what I said about the works that put her on this list, click here.

5 Peter David Peter David

Technically, David wasn’t new-to-me this year, because he’d published under another name previously. But I challenge any one to look at the works of his alter ego and tell me that I “knew” this version of him. Also, it’s my blog so I can make up the rules.

But more importantly, David’s work belongs to that great tradition of talking to his audience in terms they might have to reach a little for and never talking down to them, despite his subject matter.  I felt like I was reading a kindred spirit (but one who can actually write).

In case you’re curious about what I said about the book that put him on this list, click here.

4 Rob Hart Rob Hart

Hart is one of those authors that I’ve meant to read for ages now (okay, I checked–I put a book on a wish list back in 2016). But things happen and I just never got around to it–but his 2024 release called to me and then pressed almost all of my buttons while I was reading it. It’s one of those books that felt tailored to me. Then I read this interview with him, and everything I was thinking about him as a result of the book turned out to be right. I can see myself becoming quite familiar with his work in the years to come.

In case you’re curious about what I said about the book that put him on this list, click here.

3 Cameron Johnston Cameron Johnston

The Last Shield had a perfect hook, a perfect elevator pitch, and the execution was close enough to perfect that you’d have to get a magnifying lens out to see where/if it fell short. Like with David and Hart, it’s like he was writing something for me–or for people who like all the same things as I do (and, I assume, he does). And of course, you want to read someone like that.

In case you’re curious about what I said about the book that put him on this list, click here.

2 M.D. Presley M.D. Presley

Presley’s Urban Fantasy series scratched the same itch as Schultz’s Arcane Underworld and Connolly’s Twenty Palace series do–UF featuring somewhat unsavory types with chips on their shoulder and a desire to work against the system while following strong moral compasses of their own. Also, magic that doesn’t quite fit the mold of just about anything else out there. (I qualify that with “just about” so I can’t get corrected by everyone who reads this)

If you do all that? I’m going to be happy to encounter you.

In case you’re curious about what I said about the books that put him on this list, click here and here.

1 Shami Stovall Shami Stovall

Stovall’s Chronos Chronicles remind me of James J. Butcher’s work, and a little of Comby’s Vale Investigation series (I’m not sure anyone else would make the connection). Good, solid UF PI fiction with a magic system that makes sense almost immediately–and is also close to, but very distinct from, many of the standard UF systems. There’s a sense of fun to these that Butcher misses–this might be where I think of Comby–while maintaining the drama. I dunno, I just dig this stuff and I’m glad Stovall crossed my path this past year.

In case you’re curious about what I said about the book that put her on this list, click here (I have another overdue post about the second in the series, too).

MUSIC MONDAY: “Zombie” (Acoustic Version) by The Cranberries

The Irresponsible Reader's Music Monday logo

Music Monday's originated at The Tattooed Book Geek's fantastic blog and has shown up hither, thither, and yon since then.

This came up on some sort of shuffle this weekend, I don’t think I’d ever heard this version before. Which is a crying shame, this is excellent.

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Saturday Miscellany—1/25/25

Robert Burns was born on this date in 1759 and there are celebrations of this throughout the world tonight–I’v never been to one but have been wanting to since the 90s (social anxiety, the gift that keeps on giving). At the very least, find some time tonight yourself to read “A Red, Red Rose,”, “To a Mouse,” or one of his other poems in the closest approximation of a Scottish Brogue while drinking something appropriate. I’ll be entertaining (scarring for life?) my family with such this evening*—join in!

* And I know at least one of you is thinking of asking—no, I will not be putting this on my YouTube channel, I’d end up getting a lifetime ban from reading Ian Rankin or something equally horrible.

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 Jules Feiffer, award-winning political cartoonist and writer, dies at 95, Jules Feiffer—Author, Illustrator, Cartoonist, and More—Dies at 95 —there are few illustrations from books that I read as a child that I remember as vividly as I Feiffer’s The Phantom Tollbooth drawings. (wasn’t always crazy about his political cartoons, but I could appreciate them)
bullet Print Book Sales Saw a Small Sales Increase in 2024 Publishers Weekly also breaks down the top sellers of the year, some interesting titles there. (but largely entirely predictable, too)
bullet Mystery Writers of America Announces 2025 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominations—I recognize so few of these names/titles that I’m a little embarrassed.
bullet The truth about fiction: What distinguishes fiction from nonfiction? The answer to this perennial question relies on how we understand reality itself—if you want to get your metaphysics on today…
bullet How the world fell for ‘romantasy’: Dragon sex is hotter than ever—When I stumbled over this, I was sure that there’d be some snobbery about the sub-genre going on—and you could argue that there is—but it’s a good look at this growing area and an appreciation of it, too.
bullet Men Have Bigger Problems Than Not Reading Novels: For James Folta, What’s Wrong With Men is What’s Wrong With America—you might disagree with a lot of what Folta says here, but his reaction to the whole “Men Don’t Read Novels” idea running around lately is worth chewing on.
bullet Series Release Day for Ninja Heroine Lily Wong—Eldridge’s series gets a new publisher, a fresh look, and hopefully new readers. I was already annoyed with myself for not buying the fourth book yet, and now my covers will be mismatched. And now I have to think about getting the new set, just to appreciate them.
bullet Just Keep Swimming—Peter Hartog/David provides some “writing and author-y updates” and some general sagacity
bullet The Laws—Michael J. Ciaraldi looks at just how unworkable The Three Laws of Robotics really are (sob, sob, sob, I’m sooooo disillusioned)
bullet From The Hard Word, Scott’s Top 10 (Okay, 13) Thrillers and Crime Novels of 2024—some good choices here (and a couple of things I should probably add to my list)
bullet Host Mortem: Cover Reveal and Interview!—I’m going to have to keep my eyes out for this
bullet The Role of AI in Modern Storytelling—this is sure to provoke a thought or two. I’m not entirely convinced that I disagree, as much as I want to.
bullet Great Books With Bad Beginnings
bullet Disappointing Books By Favourite Authors
bullet Gorgeous (Hidden) Book Covers—I know that I have a couple of these on my shelves, but Booktails might have inspired me to go look under all my dustcovers just to be sure. If I don’t post anything for the next few days, you’ll know I succumbed.
bullet Fantasy Bookcase Decor for Your Home Library

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
bullet As Told To Episode 80: Benjamin Dreyer—a nice chat with everyone’s favorite copy editor.

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week?
bullet Angel’s Tip by Alafair Burke
bullet Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
bullet Breach Zone by Myke Cole
bullet Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull
bullet Fiddlehead by Cherie Priest
bullet iZombie, Vol 1: Dead to the World by Chris Roberson, Mike Allred
bullet And I talked about the release of Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham—man, I wish these Veronica Mars novels had kept going

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet The Drafter by Kim Harrison—Harrison’s least appreciated (as far as I can see), but my favorite, is out in a new edition.

PCDD: Post Character Death Depression. Symptoms include: sobbing, curing into fetal position, distraction, unfocused vision, constant state of exhaustion, hiding, being unable to communicate, inability to complete simple tasks, refusing to leave dwelling, unreasonable anger or sadness @theunitedheroes / merryhalfbloods

WWW Wednesday—January 22, 2025

So, this is the Winteriest week we’ve had here this Winter, and all I want to do is huddle down with a book and a gallon of tea. How about you? Hopefully, it’s a bit more comforatble (although a quick glance at the news suggests that it isn’t).

Now let’s get on to the WWWing.

WWW Wednesdays Logo

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:

What are you currently reading?

 

 

Cover of I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger Cover of Subculture Vulture by Moshe Kasher
I Cheerfully Refuse
by Leif Enger
Subculture Vulture: A Memoir in Six Scenes
by Moshe Kasher

I don’t know that I fully grasp everything that Enger is up to in this book–but I don’t care because the prose is just great (although it would be nice if I could put it together before the end). This dystopian world feels all too real (even if there’s magical realism lurking around).

Kasher’s second memoir is much funnier than his previous one (shocking that a memoir that ends with a teenager finally getting sober wasn’t a hoot). This is provocative, thoughtful, and entertaining. For example, I never cared about “Rave culture” and am okay with that–but the approx. 90 minutes he spent talking about it was really engaging.

What did you recently finish reading?

Cover of Sword & Thistle by S.L. Rowland Cover of The Accidental Joe by Tom Straw
Sword & Thistle
by S.L. Rowland
The Accidental Joe: The Top-Secret Life of a Celebrity Chef
by Tom Straw

Rowland’s cozy fantasy is less cozy than it’s predecessor–but it’s close enough that it shouldn’t bother those who want the coziness, but it should also appeal to those who prefer more “stabby stabby” (to quote someone).

Tom Straw’s first (I think) book under his own name (instead of Richard Castle’s) is a hoot. It’s going to be hard to express how fun this was.

What do you think you’ll read next?

 

Cover of Hit The Ground Running by Kate Ashwin Cover of The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire
Hit The Ground Running
by Kate Ashwin
The Innocent Sleep
by Seanan McGuire, read by: Raphael Corkhill

An “offbeat” or “humorous” cyperpunk? Is that allowed? Should be fun to find out.

It is going to be so weird hearing the voices Toby, Tybalt, et. al. in a voice that doesn’t belong to Mary Robinette Kowal. Still I’m looking forward to giving it a shot.

What’s keeping you company as you try to get warm?

I’m Reading Every Day in February for the American Cancer Society

Read Every Day in February for the American Cancer Society
No one is a fan of cancer. I daresay there’s no one ambivalent toward it.* We’ve all had our lives, the lives of family, friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and even pets devastated by it in one form or another. Fighting cancer, researching better ways to fight it, preventing it–all are laudatory ends. So, I participated in this fundraiser last year on a lark—I’m pretty much going to read every day anyway–let’s see if I can earn some money for a good cause, right?

Fundraiser ThermometerBut this year, it’s personal. Last year, four people in my family dealt with cancer in some significant ways. Three of us seem to have dealt with it successfully—we’re not unscathed, but aside from follow-up tests, we’re pretty much done with it. One member of the family is undergoing treatment now, and we all have high hopes. So it’s not a lark this time, and I’m going to talk more about it than I did last year. (I probably should’ve taken it more seriously last year, but it’s too late to do something about that now).

So please, friends and readers, Donate. Every little bit helps. So, please, chip in. And watch this space as I fill in this calendar (and hopefully, the thermometer).

Blank February Calendar

* As soon as I typed that, I could imagine someone objecting to that characterization. But I’m going to pretend to have faith in humanity and keep the sentence.

2025 Plans and Challenges

Finally it’s time to stop looking at 2024 (as fun as I hope that is’s been) and to start focusing on 2025.
2025 Plans and Challenges
Too many of my goals and the challenges I set for myself for 2024 were not accomplished. I’m okay with that, actually, because they served their purpose anyway, and/or weren’t that big of a deal. Still, I told myself I was going to scale back this year and only have 3 stated “goals” (you will soon see that this did not work out). Still…

I do have things I want to accomplish here over the next 12 months for a variety of reasons—and listing them like this helped last year (although, you’ll see a lot of echoes here from that post. But most of those echoes are of a “continue doing this” nature). So, here’s what I’m going to shoot for around here in the next 12 months.
bullet Cut down on my Goodreads Want-to-Read list and the unread books that I own (a perennial project, but 2024 was not good for the size of that stack)—at least two of the Book Challenges this year should be a fun way to help.
bullet I’m going to finish my Classic Spenser series and maybe find another Classic to do a project read-through. We’ll see about that. (This is a repeat from the last couple of years, but it’s nagging at me, we’ll put this one down in light pencil)
bullet I’m going to continue to be picky in the Book Tours I participate in. I still like Tours, they expose me to things I wouldn’t normally read—and I’m going to keep doing them. But if I’m picky, it helps me focus on other things.
bullet I was planning on cutting back on the Reading Challenges I was trying, but… Well, I already mentioned that. I’ll talk about those in a minute.
bullet Try to interview more authors (maybe others, too?), and get better at that, too. The Literary Locals series is helping with that. Hopefully that also means more of the HC Chats, too.
bullet I want to continue the Literary Locals, but I think I need to find a new phase of it, something different.
bullet I plan on pressing forward with Grandpappy’s Corner, and hopefully do posts for it more frequently.

2025 Book Challenges


Goodreads Challenge
Goodreads Challenge
I lowered this from the last couple of years, although I expect my year-end numbers will be the same. This is mostly an attempt to shift my attention away from the numbers–I honestly don’t care about them, I talk about them just as an indicator of how I spend my time (for myself), although it often comes across as something else. I’m also planning on tackling some more thought-provoking and slower reads this year, so this might help me not care about that. We’ll see how that works.


Read Every Day in February for the American Cancer Society
I talked about this earlier. It’s pretty self-explanatory, really. If you’d like to contribute, please click here.
Read Every Day in February for the American Cancer Society


Reading with Wrigs
Reading with WrigsI missed completing this one last year, but have done some pre-planning on it and feel better about this year’s.


The 2025 Booktempter’s TBR Challenge

The 2025 Booktempter's TBR Challenge
I really appreciate the way this one is put together, and it’s pretty easy—just 1 book a month and my TBR should go down by at least 12, more if I can squeeze in some of the stretch goals. This has been pretty helpful the last three years, and I expect the same this year.


Further Up and Further In
Thanks in part to Ward’s Planet Narnia, but also because I keep finding myself in conversations about Lewis lately, I figured it was time to spend some more time with Jack. For sundry reasons (good and bad), outside of the Chronicles of Narnia, I haven’t really read Lewis this century. It’s time I rectify that by revisiting some old friends and reading things I’ve been meaning to get around to.

Further Up and Further in A Year with CS Lewis


25 in ’25
I keep seeing people do this (or earlier versions). I’m tackling it essentially as a way to do more than Booktempter’s TBR Challenge (also to tackle a few I’ve said I’ll read before and haven’t). Gamifying my goals tends to work. It’s like a year-long version of the 20 Books of Summer Challenge (RIP). You will note that the books from Top 5 books I will definitely* read in 2025 show up here, I’m really trying to tackle those.

25 in 25 grid


Auditing Challenges
I’m not sure that I want to committ to these, but I saw them on Bookforager’s page, and wanted to give them a shot–they look fun. So I’m going to track them, and if I happen to do well with them, great. If not…oh, well.

(yeah, that’s true with all of these, but I’m sort of calling my shot with the above)
Alphabet Reading Challenge

Alphabet Reading Challenge
The idea is pretty easy, I don’t imagine I’ll find a book for them all (that said, come November, if I’m choosing between a MG novel called “The Quest for Clean Underwear” and a bestseller called “Murder Most Foul,” you know I’m going for the Q)


Picture Prompt Book Bingo Challenge for 2025

Picture Prompt Book Bingo Challenge for 2025
My brain doesn’t do well with things like this, I end up tying myself in knots interpreting the pictures (too literally, usually). But I’m trying to do things outside of my comfort zone–also, I really did the look. So, we’ll see how I do. (I probably will get my kids to help, their brains do better)


That’s everything I have planned, I can’t wait to see what unplanned things happen around here. Hope you’re around to join in the fun!

Top 5 Tuesday – Top 5 books I will definitely* read in 2025


This week’s topic is, “Top 5 books I will definitely* read in 2025. An oldie, but a goodie! And one I can’t wait to see whether I will (or won’t) read these books in 2024… Same disclosure every year: you won’t be subjected to punishment (from me) if you don’t read these. But what are 5 books you really want to tick off your TBR this year?” For the second straight year, I was 4 for 5 from my 2024 list, let’s see how I do in 2025. I own all of these, so that should help–can’t use “no access” as an excuse, and there’s the guilt of these spines glaring at me from my TBR shelves while I’m at my desk.

1 Cover of The Art of Destiny by Wesley Chu
The Art of Destiny by Wesley Chu

Given how much I loved The Art of Prophecy, I don’t understand why I didn’t pounce on this immediately. Well, no more of that. I’m addressing this one soon. I was hoping in January, but I don’t have enough time. Hopefully February.

2 Cover of What's Next by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack
What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to the West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack

The West Wing has (I’m talking acutal public service, not conventions, etc.). This book is a combination of reflections on the show and what those associated with it have done in the real world. Whatever the show’s political shortcomings may be, you gotta admire that and want to bask a little in the celebration of it. Hopefully I get to it this year.

3 Cover of The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur by Lev Grossman

4 Cover of Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by Jason Pargin
Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by Jason Pargin

5 Cover of How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler

This just seemed like a lot of fun–and was a book my kids gave me last year. I don’t like to leave gifts unread, so I need to clean that up. Like the Pargin book above, I’ve set out to read this “next week” so many times that it’s ridiculous. The next time that I set that goal, I’m sticking to it.

Do you have any particular books you’re set on getting to this year?

MUSIC MONDAY: “What About The Children” by Gary Clark Jr. & Stevie Wonder

The Irresponsible Reader Music Monday logo

Music Monday's originated at The Tattooed Book Geek's fantastic blog and has shown up hither, thither, and yon since then.

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Saturday Miscellany—1/18/25

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 Please Don’t Idolize Me (or Anyone, Really)—Sadly, this post from last August by John Scalzi is freshly relevant this week. And, no, I will not be talking more about it. I hope.
bullet The Russian Roots of American Crime Fiction—and the O.G.—Joesph Finder’s piece is a great push to read some classic Russian lit.
bullet Audiobooks Have Taken Over My Life, and I Love It
bullet 8 Thought-Provoking Quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird—Sticking with my tradition (which I haven’t had to invoke in too long), if I see something about TKaM, I share it here. Also, a good reminder about some of these lines.
bullet Jam’s Top Reads of second half of 2024—I hope to read one of these this month–and should probablay look more at some of the others.
bullet The Bard’s Tale Retold: Shakespeare Retellings Done Differently—a fun listicle from Witty & Sarcastic Book Club

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
bullet Crime Time FM ROB PARKER In Person With Paul—nice to hear Parker as the subject of an interview for a change. I really want to read this book now (compared to my general “oooh, a new Rob Parker, I should read that” response)
bullet Speaking of Mysteries Episode 265: Robert Crais—this was entirely too brief. But good to hear from the man himself about his fantastic new book

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week?
bullet Low Midnight by Carrie Vaughn
bullet Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch—which is such a good one, that I didn’t fully appreciate at the time (and I really liked it at the time)
bullet I also noted the releases of: Near Enemy by Adam Sternbergh and The Way Into Magic by Harry Connolly. Two works that I should try to find time to re-read.

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet The Big Empty by Robert Crais—If you take nothing else away from this post, know that this book is out now, and you should be reading it. As I described here.
bullet A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay—a fun book about a marriage on the rocks as the vigilante couple struggles to not go vigilante-ing. I enjoyed it, you’ll likely enjoy it more.
bullet The Troubled Deep by Rob Parker—I will jump on this book as soon as I find an easy way to get it on this side of the Atlantic. “An ex-marine and ex-SBS officer, Cam Killick’s PTSD has made the return to civilian life a living nightmare. The only place he can find peace is underwater, where the world is muffled to white noise. As a cold case diver it is his job to scour the waterways of the country for the lost, the submerged, the drowned, laying their stories to rest alongside them.

Except when Cam throws open the doors to the Brindley car, all four bodies are missing. “
bullet Karma Doll by Jonathan Ames—Happy Doll is framed for a murder in Mexico and has to sneak across the border to find the real killer.
bullet Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao—”A woman inherits a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets, and then embarks on a magical quest when a charming young physicist wanders into the shop, in this dreamlike fantasy novel.” Sign me up.

At one magical instant in your early childhood, the page of a book - that string of confused, alien ciphers - shivered into meaning. Words spoke to you, gave up their secrets; at that moment, whole universes opened. You became, irrevocably, a reader. -  Alberto Manguel'

WWW Wednesday—January 15, 2025

It’s the middle of the week, pretty much the middle of the month, and I’m feeling fair-to-middling. Which all works out nicely. Let’s commemorate this synchronicity by going through this week’s WWW Wednesday, shall we?

 

WWW Wednesdays Logo

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:

What are you currently reading?

Cover of Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds Cover of Sleep No More by Seanan McGuire
Pushing Ice
by Alastair Reynolds
Sleep No More
by Seanan McGuire, read by Mary Robinette Kowal

Words are failing me to try to describe Pushing Ice. I’m a shade past halfway through this and am so impressed. It’s my first Alastair Reynolds novel, and unless the second half falls off the rails, it won’t be my last.

It’s been too long since I spent time with Toby Daye, and I’m enjoying this revisit. As one expects, as I know what’s going to happen, I’m able to enjoy some of the details more. The details are really nicely added. McGuire gave her fans a treat with this one.

What did you recently finish reading?

Cover of The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs Cover of The Boys of Riverside by thomas Fuller
The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction
by Alan Jacobs
The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory
by Thomas Fuller

I’ve said somewhere (or maybe a few places), that this Alan Jacobs book is as close to a Mission Statement that The Irresponsible Reader has. This re-read was a good reminder why I say that, as well as a challenge to make an adjustment or three to my approach.

Fuller provides an engaging and interesting book about a football team that can appeal to even those of us who really don’t care that much about SportsBall.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Question Marks Cover of The Accidental Joe by Tom Straw
The Accidental Joe: The Top-Secret Life of a Celebrity Chef
by Tom Straw

I have no idea what my next print book will be, it really depends on my frame of mind when I finish Pushing Ice; and how much energy it leaves me with. I have a few options, but I’m not going to commit.

Meanwhile, I’ve been wanting to try The Accidental Joe for some months now, and a local library finally added it to their collection–celebrity chef turned CIA asset? Should be fun.

How’s this week treating you?

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