Tag: Miscellany Page 37 of 183

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:
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.
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.
Audiobooks Have Taken Over My Life, and I Love It
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.
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.
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:
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)
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?
Low Midnight by Carrie Vaughn
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)
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:
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.
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.
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. “
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.
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.

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:
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.
Why reading out loud is important—something more for the “do audiobooks count?” nonsense (hat tip: booklistfordays)
Craig Johnson’s Next Novel Drops May 27, Was Inspired By Cowboy State Daily Story
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.
Why I’m making 2025 my year of dead-tree books
Raven’s 2025- The Year of ‘Read Like Nobody’s Watching’… —This is the approach we should all approximate
Bookish Goals in 2025—good, SMART goals
My 2025 Bookish Ins and Outs—wise plans
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.
Five Fantasy Bookstores and Libraries I’d Love to Explore—yeah, I would spend time in these
Plot Pet Peeves—I cannot imagine anyone (other than authors/publishers, apparently) arguing aginst any of Krysta’s points.
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.
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).
Celeste at A Literary Escape listed Favorite Books Published in 2024 and Favorite Backlist Reads of 2024
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)
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:
Fiction Fans 2024: Year in Review—a fun look back at their year that was
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)
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
Us by David Nicholls
Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
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:
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.

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:
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
Support an indie author by leaving reviews—An Evergreen Reminder
New You? Or Old Books? Here’s a resolution: Craft a personal canon
20 Years of Old Man’s War—Scalzi looks back at the publication of OMW, the book that changed his life
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)
Reading Ladies’ Carol has a few 2024 Blog Reflections to kick off 2025
She also posted: Best of the Best: 2015 to 2024—a nigh-Herculean task
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)
State of [Pete Long’s] Delirium 2025
Fictionophile’s SEVEN Bookish Resolutions 2025—some good, SMART, goals.
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. 🙂
Biblionerd Reflections’ My Favorite Backlist Reads of 2024 and My Favorite Books of 2024
The Fantasy Hive 2024 Year-End Awards—Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum
2024 Book RoundUp —The Voracious Reader has some great taste.
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.
Spells and Spaceships’ My Books of the Year 2024.
The Shaggy Shepherd’s Most Memorable Reads of 2024
Top 10 Books Read in 2024—from Pete Long. My TBR can’t handle this kind of pressure.
Stephen Writes continues to put out good lists (and make me feel better about all the year-end lists I have planned)
The Best Settings I Read In 2024
Top 10 Books I Read In 2024
MIke Finn’s My 12 Favourite Reads of 2024
746 Books has three lists to tempt you:
My Favourite Books of the Year: Part One – The 746!
My Favourite Books of the Year: Part Two – The Irish!
My Favourite Books of 2024: Part Three – New to Me!
reader@work’s Books of the year: 2024 edition—made me reconsider a book I’d previously decided against
My Top Ten Books for 2024!—from The Orangutan Librarian
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?
Endsinger by Jay Kristoff—the disturbing, yet satisfying, (as I recall) conclusion to the Lotus War trilogy
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).
Broken Soul by Faith Hunter
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden—I should revisit this one
And I mentioned the release of Low Midnight by Carrie Vaughn.