Tag: Miscellany Page 25 of 171

HC Chats with Witty & Sarcastic Book Club about 2024/2025

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On January 15, 2025

In Blog Series, Books, HC Chats, Miscellany, News/Misc.

I’m very pleased to welcome Jodie from Witty & Sarcastic Book Club to talk about what happened on our blogs last year, the books that stood out to us, as well as some hopes and goals for 2025–and very vague reading plans. We ramble a bit about some other things, too.

I hope you enjoy this.

The audio on my end is a wonky (and maybe hard to listen to) at the beginning, but it settles down after a little bit (but is still too loud compared to Jodie’s). Will go back to my old microphone next time.

Show Notes

Blogs/Websites we mentioned:
Peat Long’s Blog: https://peatlong.wordpress.com/
The Orangutan Librarian: https://theorangutanlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Pages Unbound: https://pagesunbound.wordpress.com/
Read Christie 2025: https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2025/read-christie-2025

Bookshop Pages, we’d appreciate you using one or all of these:
Behind the Pages Bookshop Page: https://bookshop.org/shop/BehindthePages
Witty and Sarcastic Book Picks: https://bookshop.org/shop/WittyandSarcasticBookPicks
HC’s Bookshop Page: https://bookshop.org/shop/irresponsiblereader

Particular Books We Mentioned:

MUSIC MONDAY: “We Happy Don’t Worry” by American Authors

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On January 13, 2025

In News/Misc.

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 weekend turned into one of those, so this is going to have to settle for the post for today (hopefully not tomorrow, too)

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Saturday Miscellany—1/11/25

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On January 11, 2025

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet Can You Guess the Book Titles from These Emojis? Test your knowledge of classic novels and contemporary bestsellers —Let’s start off the week with something silly. It’s also proof that I cannot communicate in emojis. I got none of these.
bullet Why reading out loud is important—something more for the “do audiobooks count?” nonsense (hat tip: booklistfordays)
bullet Craig Johnson’s Next Novel Drops May 27, Was Inspired By Cowboy State Daily Story
bullet There’s a New Version of Hamlet Staged in Grand Theft Auto—I initially rolled my eyes at this (but was going to include it only for the excuse to post the headline), but on third or fourth thought…I’m a little intrigued.
bullet Why I’m making 2025 my year of dead-tree books
bullet Raven’s 2025- The Year of ‘Read Like Nobody’s Watching’… —This is the approach we should all approximate
bullet Bookish Goals in 2025—good, SMART goals
bullet My 2025 Bookish Ins and Outs—wise plans
bullet Presenting the Picture Prompt Book Bingo Challenge for 2025 —After telling myself to cut back on challenges this year, I see this one–which looks like it coule be fun to try.
bullet Five Fantasy Bookstores and Libraries I’d Love to Explore—yeah, I would spend time in these
bullet Plot Pet Peeves—I cannot imagine anyone (other than authors/publishers, apparently) arguing aginst any of Krysta’s points.
bullet The 12 Best Sci-Fi Novels of the Last 10 Years—According to Collider and Reddit, anyway. Although, having read 5 of these, I’m inclined to believe them.
bullet Trying and Failing to Figure Out “Escapism” in Books—some good thoughts from Molly Templeton (as one expects) and others.

It’s the Time of Year for Best of Lists like these to embiggen your 2025 TBRs (or to give you fodder to think about).
bullet Celeste at A Literary Escape listed Favorite Books Published in 2024 and Favorite Backlist Reads of 2024
bullet My Top 10 Ten Books of 2024 and My Top Ten 10 Books for Children 2024—from Left on the Shelf (the latter defintely added to my TBR)
bullet From Worlds Unknown’s 2024 Wrap Up – A Year in Books + What’s Coming in 2025

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
bullet Fiction Fans 2024: Year in Review—a fun look back at their year that was
bullet The Conversation with Nadine Matheson M.W. Craven: Luck, Crime Writing and Life Lessons—I would’ve gladly listened to a few more hours of them talking shop.

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week? (a mostly great week for reviewish posts and new releases)
bullet The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
bullet Us by David Nicholls
bullet Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
bullet And I noted the releases of Golden Son by Pierce Brown, Firefight by Brandon Sanderson, Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch, The Witches of Echo Park by Amber Benson, As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire by Seanan McGuire—The latest Wayward Children book is everything you want, as I tried to say recently.

An image of a woman searching through shelves of books over the words 'The person who doesn’t read lives only one life. The reader lives 5,000. Reading is immortality backwards. - Umberto Eco'

WWW Wednesday—January 8, 2025

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On January 8, 2025

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

After a two-week break, we’re back to WWWing on Wednesdays. This is basically a recap of my year thus far.

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 The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs Cover of The Bang-Bang Sisters by Rio Youers
The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction
by Alan Jacobs		 The Bang-Bang Sisters
by Rio Youers, read by Kristen Sieh

I knew this was my third time reading The Pleasures of Reading, but what I didn’t realize until yesterday when I was logging it I realized that the first time was in 2015 and the second was in 2020. So clearly, I have a start on my 2030 TBR.

As far as The Bang-Bang Sisters? I don’t know what to say…WOW is about as much as I can say with 12% left to go.

What did you recently finish reading?

Cover of Robert B. Parker's Buried Secrets by Christopher Farnsworth Cover of Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher by Katie Siegel
Robert B. Parker’s Buried Secrets
by Christopher Farnsworth		 Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher
by Katie Siegel

I was apprehensive about a fourth author taking over Jesse Stone, but Farnsworth made a believer out of me. I hope he sticks around for a while.

The second installment in the Not a Detective series is a lot of fun.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Cover of Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds Cover of The Boys of Riverside by homas Fuller
Pushing Ice
by Alastair Reynolds		 The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory
by Thomas Fuller

I’m a little intimidated by Pushing Ice, the January selection for the SF Book Club. I’ve heard good things about it, but it is a heavy-looking 550+ pages.

I’ve heard some good things about Fuller’s book, looking forward to the change of pace (and, hopefully, a good book, too)

What goodies are you starting your year with?

MUSIC MONDAY: “Modern Nature” by Sondre Lerche & Lillian Samdal

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On January 6, 2025

In News/Misc.

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—1/4/25

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On January 4, 2025

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet January 1, 2025 is Public Domain Day: Works from 1929 are open to all, as are sound recordings from 1924!—While the list of some of the more prominent titles is interesting, it’s a good piece on copyright, public domain, and even some of people behind the works
bullet Support an indie author by leaving reviews—An Evergreen Reminder
bullet New You? Or Old Books? Here’s a resolution: Craft a personal canon
bullet 20 Years of Old Man’s War—Scalzi looks back at the publication of OMW, the book that changed his life
bullet Robert Crais: A Crime Reader’s Guide to the Classics—You read this, and you never have to read another word about Robert Crais again. It’s just that good. (the last section is a must read)
bullet Reading Ladies’ Carol has a few 2024 Blog Reflections to kick off 2025
bullet She also posted: Best of the Best: 2015 to 2024—a nigh-Herculean task
bullet Lashaan’s A Year in Review — 2024 at Roars and Echoes. I’m so tempted by just about everything mentioned in this wrap up (except for the very tiny amount of things I’ve already read/watched)
bullet State of [Pete Long’s] Delirium 2025
bullet Fictionophile’s SEVEN Bookish Resolutions 2025—some good, SMART, goals.
bullet Politics in SFF: Yes or No? Book Berne-ing 18!—Berne delivers what will be come to known as the definitive take on the subject for years to come. (okay, probably not, but it should be a contender if such a thing were possible)

It’s the Time of Year for Best of Lists like these to embiggen your 2025 TBRs (or to give you fodder to think about). I’ve made purchases/planned purchases/placed library books on hold from these. One title in particular keeps showing up on these lists (including what I’ve posted the last few weeks). It’s going to be on my list, too. Which just makes me feel better about including it–I knew what I was doing. 🙂
bullet Biblionerd Reflections’ My Favorite Backlist Reads of 2024 and My Favorite Books of 2024
bullet The Fantasy Hive 2024 Year-End Awards—Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum
bullet 2024 Book RoundUp —The Voracious Reader has some great taste.
bullet 2024, A Year in Reading: Best Books of the Year—from Asking the Wrong Questions. The third sentence is one of the most relatable things I’ve read in the last few months.
bullet Spells and Spaceships’ My Books of the Year 2024.
bullet The Shaggy Shepherd’s Most Memorable Reads of 2024
bullet Top 10 Books Read in 2024—from Pete Long. My TBR can’t handle this kind of pressure.
bullet Stephen Writes continues to put out good lists (and make me feel better about all the year-end lists I have planned)
bulletThe Best Settings I Read In 2024
bullet Top 10 Books I Read In 2024
bullet MIke Finn’s My 12 Favourite Reads of 2024
bullet746 Books has three lists to tempt you:
bullet My Favourite Books of the Year: Part One – The 746!
bullet My Favourite Books of the Year: Part Two – The Irish!
bullet My Favourite Books of 2024: Part Three – New to Me!
bullet reader@work’s Books of the year: 2024 edition—made me reconsider a book I’d previously decided against
bullet My Top Ten Books for 2024!—from The Orangutan Librarian
bullet Dillon Michael White’s Top Books of 2024 is a quick watch well worth your time

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week?
bullet Endsinger by Jay Kristoff—the disturbing, yet satisfying, (as I recall) conclusion to the Lotus War trilogy
bullet Broadchurch: A Novel by Erin Kelly—I cannot get enough of Broadchurch‘s first series in any format (I will not comment on the rest).
bullet Broken Soul by Faith Hunter
bullet As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden—I should revisit this one
bullet And I mentioned the release of Low Midnight by Carrie Vaughn.

Lies Book lovers tell: 1. I don't need to buy every book in the series 2. Just one more page 3. Just one more chapter 4. My TBR Pile is under control 5. You can leave me alone in the bookshop #BookLoversWillUnderstand

2024 Plans and Challenges: Year-End Look

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On January 2, 2025

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

2024 Plans and Challenges
I’d hoped to keep charging ahead with Grandpappy’s Corner and Literary Locals, and while those haven’t completely died off, I haven’t done that much with them as I expected.

How’s the perennial, “Cut down on my Goodreads Want-to-Read list and the unread books that I own” goal going? Well, I bought very few books in February, so that helped, but overall…?

 

Audio E-book Physical Goodreads
Want-to-Read
End of
2023		 6 46 68 153
End of 1st Quarter 4 50 64 154
End of 2nd Quarter 3 54 79 162
End of 3rd Quarter 5 58 75 166
End of 4th Quarter 3 68 78 167

Michael Che saying 'I wouldn't call it a disaster'

Goodreads Challenge
Goodreads Challenge 3rd QuarterI topped it by 1, but Goodreads won’t give me the silly graphic for 2024 for some reason. So you’re going to have to take my word for it.

12 Books
12 Books Challenge
I didn’t touch any of these, and I’m really annoyed with myself.

Reading with Wrigs
Reading with Wrigs
Like I mentioned the other day, I didn’t finish this one, either.

  • A Book with a Dragon: Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire
  • A Book with the word “leap” in the title: Couldn’t think of one.
  • A Book with the Olympics: Running and Jumping by Steven Kedie
  • A Book with an Election or Politician: The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher
  • A Work of Fiction with an Eclipse: Missed it
  • A Book by an Author Who Has Written Over 24 Books: Dream Town by Lee Goldberg
  • A Book Set in a Different Culture Than Your Own: I have an idea or two.
  • A Book of Poetry: Enough Rope by Dorothy Parker
  • A Book with Time Travel: A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen
  • A Book with Antonyms in the Title: I really thought I’d get this one, but, alas
  • A Book Told from the Villian’s Point of View: Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart kind of applies.
  • A Book With a Purple Cover: Abnormal Ends by Bryan McBee

The 2024 Booktempter’s TBR Challenge

The 2024 Booktempter's TBR Challenge
All 12, plus two stretch goals. Fourteen off the TBR. Sure, it’s just a drop in the bucket. But a step is a step.
January – Lucky Dip: Randomly choose a book by someone you’ve never read before: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Stretch Goal – In the same spirit I give you permission to read the last book to enter your TBR pile. Actually read something you’ve got yourself to recently read: Hacked by Duncan MacMaster
February – Lovers Meeting: No not romantasy focused – this challenge is somewhere in TBR is a delayed treat. Read an author you’ve loved and held back from reading because the time was not right. Its time for you two to get re-acquainted. Enjoy yourself! Return of the Griffin by JCM Berne
March – Spring :You know that first book of a series you bought and have now realised is now finished? You have my permission to read this at last. And you know what? Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn
April – Diamond Anniversary: Diamond is the birthstone of April so your challenge is to read something over 60 years old: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
May – The Fourth…May the force be with you and I permit you to read a SF themed tale: Grave Cold by Shannon Knight
June – The Longest Days: You may choose the longest book in your TBR pile the days are long so go for it: The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
July – The Ides have it In an ongoing tribute to Julius pick a tale of intrigue and scheming: The Last King of California by Jordan Harper
August – Travel Broadens the Mind: Choose a Book that is from an author from a different country to yourself: The Nameless Restaurant by Tao Wong. I’ve read all from other places that aren’t from this year, so…Canada (which doesn’t seem to count, but does)
September – Back To School: Choose a Book about a character learning something – be it in school, a new power or something about themselves: Project Hail Mary by Andy Wier
October – Yep Its Halloween Time: Find a spooky themed read!: My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby (a murder mystery focusing on a mortuary worker, as creepy as I could come up with)
November – Short but Sweet: Four Novellas – and you cna do this in a month: 1-800-CallLoki by Dawn Blair
Stretch Goal – I test you – I want eleven short stories read – magazine, collection or anthology!: Instinct: An Animal Rescuers Anthology by L. J. Hachmeister
December – Parting Gifts: Read a Book gifted to you – before Christmas comes and you realise you’ve still not read it!: Shadow of Hyperion by JCM Berne

Backlist Bingo 2024
Backlist Bingo 2024 4th Quarter
I did get a bingo, but not the blackout that I hoped for.

20 Books of Summer

✔ 1. This is Who We Are Now by James Bailey (my post about it)
✔ 2. Blood Reunion by JCM Berne
✔ 3. Ways And Truths And Lives by Matt Edwards
✔ 4. The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
✔ 5. Grammar Sex and Other Stuff: A Collection of (mostly humorous) Essays by Robert Germaux (my post about it)
✔ 6. The Camelot Shadow by Sean Gibson
✔ 7. Last King of California by Jordan Harper
✔ 8. Steam Opera by James T. Lambert (my post about it)
✔ 9. The Glass Frog by J. Brandon Lowry (my post about it)
✔ 10. The Legendary Mo Seto by A. Y. Chan (substitution) (my post about it)		 ✔ 11. Curse of the Fallen by H.C. Newell
✔ 12. Heart of Fire by Raina Nightengale (my post about it)
✔ 13. Detours and Do-overs by Wesley Parker (my post about it)
✔ 14. Bizarre Frontier Omnibus #1 by Brock Poulson (my post about it)
✔ 15. Howl by e rathke (my post about it)
✔ 16. Bard Tidings by Paul J. Regnier
✔ 17. Panacea by Alex Robins
✔ 18. Cursed Cocktails by S.L. Rowland (my post about it)
✔ 19. Big Trouble in Little Italy by Nicole Sharp (my post about it)
✔ 20. The Nameless Restaurant by Tao Wong (my post about it)

In sum…while I read a lot of great stuff this year (and even more good stuff), I didn’t do so good with my goals. Oh well.
Elmo Shrugging 'Oh well.'


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

Reading with Wrigs 2024 Challenge—Well, that’s a miss.

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On December 31, 2024

In Books, Kevin Hearne, News/Misc.

Reading with Wrigs
Rising from the ashes of the While I Was Reading Challenge, came Reading with Wrigs. I’ve done pretty well with While I Was Reading most of the I participated, and I thought this would be the same—but it wasn’t meant to be this year. I just assumed I’d come across some of these without going out of my way to look for anything. Ah well, I’ll do better next year.

Probably.

Anyway, here are my incomplete results:

  • A Book with a Dragon: Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire
  • A Book with the word “leap” in the title: Couldn’t think of one.
  • A Book with the Olympics: Running and Jumping by Steven Kedie
  • A Book with an Election or Politician: The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher
  • A Work of Fiction with an Eclipse: Missed it
  • A Book by an Author Who Has Written Over 24 Books: Dream Town by Lee Goldberg
  • A Book Set in a Different Culture Than Your Own: I have an idea or two.
  • A Book of Poetry: Enough Rope by Dorothy Parker
  • A Book with Time Travel: A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen
  • A Book with Antonyms in the Title: I really thought I’d get this one, but, alas
  • A Book Told from the Villian’s Point of View: Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart kind of applies.
  • A Book With a Purple Cover: Abnormal Ends by Bryan McBee

MUSIC MONDAY: “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” by Johnnyswim

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On December 30, 2024

In News/Misc.

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.

Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow Icon

Saturday Miscellany—12/28/24

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On December 28, 2024

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

It’s that magic time of year when I find myself being very strategic in what books I choose to pick up–not in a stats-padding way–but in a “can I reasonably expect to finish this by Tuesday night” sort of way (which turns out to look and act like stats-padding), so I can enter 2025 with a clean slate.

Oh, it’s also magic because of all the time I get to spend with family, the general bonhomie in the air, the wonder in my grandchild’s eyes, and all that other stuff, too.

One more thing before I forget–anyone have any recommendations for a decent reading tracker spreadsheet going into the year? Trying to shake things up and trying something new (and I’m not so sure my usual source is going to put one out). I’m thinking of just making my own (again), but I’m also kind of lazy.

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 The Charles Dickens Illustrated Gallery—A treasure trove of “over 2000 illustrations taken from the most important (and interesting) illustrated editions of Charles Dickens’s works from 1836 to 1912 (the centenary of Dickens’s birth).”
bullet A Critic on Swearing in Fantasy—been too long since I had a good Peat Long rant here. (FWIW, I agree with it. Except the bit about “kids” I hadn’t noticed that before, but I probabaly will now)
bullet The 2025 Fantasy/SF Badge Collection—Spells & Spaceships makes the coolest looking virtual badges.
bullet A Huge Round Up of 2025 Year Long Reading Challenges—a near-overwhelming collection of 2025 Challenges to help plan your year.
bullet Oh Come All Ye Fantasy—Santa Womble brings has a bag-full of fantasy recs.
bullet Ten Recommended Superhero Novels—I keep meaning to do a list along these lines, until I do, I’ll point people at this one.
bullet Quotables: Words that Stuck with Me in 2024—A post I look forward to every year on Witty and Sarcastic Book Blog

It’s the Time of Year for Best of Lists like these to embiggen your 2025 TBRs (or to give you fodder to think about). I’ve made purchases/placed library books on hold from these.
bullet I’ve only read one book from CrimeReads lists (and some of the runner-ups for Best of the Year), but am very inpired to pick up a lot of these:
bullet The Best Debut Crime Novels of 2024
bullet The Best Speculative Crime Fiction of 2024
bullet https://crimereads.com/the-best-crime-novels-of-2024/
bullet Reads of the year for the HIP (Harried Intellectual Parent): 2024—(just in case there are any reading this)
bullet A Fictional Escapists Top 5 Reads of 2024!
bullet Worlds Unlike Our Own’s Best of 2024
bullet Novel Deelights’ Favourite Series of 2024
bullet A few more lists from FanFiAddict:
bullet Tom Bookbeard’s Top Indie Sci Fi and Fantasy Reads of 2024
bullet Matt’s Top Reads of 2024
bullet Harry’s Top 10 Reads of 2024
bullet @LordTBR_FFA ‘s Top 15 Reads of 2024
bullet My Top Ten Reads of 2024—from Hooked from Page One
bullet Books of the year: 2024 edition—from reader @ work
bullet Coe’s Oddly Specific Book Awards
bullet Top Five Memorable Endings I Read In 2024

An image of a stack of old books with the words 'Reading gives us somplace to go when we have to stay where we are.' superimposed on it.

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