Tag: Miscellany Page 6 of 171

So, I’m relaxing on this bonus quasi-holiday and my wife casually asks, “When are you going to start the crock pot?” Eeep, an hour ago! And in the ensuing dash to throw things together for the extended family dinner tonight, I realize that I didn’t get a pretty important and flavorful ingredient. So…in the tradition of Men Everywhere who put things off, I rush off to the store. Thankfully, not for gift shopping…but still. I now return to the safe ground of talking about books. I can be trusted with books.

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?

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis	Son of a Liche by J. Zachary Pike, read by Doug Tisdale Jr.

I’m wrapping up my time in Narnia today.

Son of a Liche is very clever–occasionally hilarious, a little touching, with plenty of intrigue and stabbing. It bugs me that I’m probably leaving it untouched for a few days thanks to my work schedule. (not so much that I’m going to go to work when I don’t have to, mind you)

What did you recently finish reading?

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire	Cold Days by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

Time with the Wayward Children is always well-spent. This latest installment is just more proof. I should have a full post up Monday–it will be very positive.

Cold Days was just so much better than Ghost Story.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Through the Corner of Circles by Meg Ashley	Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher, read by Robertson Dean

I was given this book by Ashley’s son, and it sounds pretty good. A little contemporary fantasy, a little Lakota myth. Sounds like a fun combination.

I’d looked at Dear Committee Members before, but never got around to it. I was reminded about it in a conversation last week and decided to give it a whirl.

Are you going to get any reading done over the next few days, or are you going to be occupied with friends/family?

I attended a work-adjacent social activity yesterday* . I’ve got two social gatherings tomorrow** . And one the next day.*** I don’t know myself anymore. So I’m going to rush back to my comfort-space of books for a bit now.

* And enjoyed it.
** I’m anticipating enjoying both.
*** I’ll likely have fun here, too.

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?

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis	Cold Days by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

Wow, you can remember the problems with the fifth Narnia novel, and then there’s re-reading it. I can appreciate it for what it is, but Lewis doesn’t make it easy, you know?

While I don’t love the plot developments that led to Cold Days (I don’t hate them either), I’m enjoying this more than I did Ghost Story (although I did like it more this time through).

What did you recently finish reading?

Zoe’s Tale by John Scalzi	Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger, read by David Chandler

Zoe’s Tale was so much more fun than I expected once I realized what I was going to be reading. It could be my favorite of the series (although I’ve said that with every book in the series, so take that with a grain of salt).

Iron Lake itself was fine. But I think I made a mistake by going with an audiobook. It’s a very Joe Pickett-ish kind of plot and setting, which is fine. But when you have Joe Pickett’s narrator reading that to you…the word “distracting” is an understatement.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Christmas Tree Killer by Chris Frost	Son of a Liche by J. Zachary Pike, read by Doug Tisdale Jr.

This seems like a good time for Chris Frost’s latest.

I grabbed Son of a Liche right after I listened to Orconomics, but forgot that I had it, until one or more of the people on SFF Addicts Ep. 183: Our Favorite Reads of 2025 LIVE. Whoops.

Are you going through something seasonal now? Trying to finish challenges?

I’ve been on a roll lately–or so it seems–lotta good books, mostly that I’ve put off reading for too long (well, one was because of a massive line at the library, but I still feel like I put it off). Here’s hoping the streak continues.

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?

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis	Ghost Story by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

I’ll be starting The Silver Chair here in a bit. I’m not sure what else to say. Good times and Puddleglum await (even good times with Puddleglum, as odd as that sounds to say)

Ghost Story is my least-favorite of the Dresden Files–but each time I read/listen to it, it grows on me. Who knows? By the end of the week, I might be dropping the “pretty” from my short eval and just call it “good.”

What did you recently finish reading?

Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw	Too Old For This by Samantha Downing, read by Elizabeth Wiley

Strange Practice is this great UF hybrid of McGuire’s Incryptid series and Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate with far less snark and innuendo. That’s not a great way to describe it, but it’s the best that I can do. It’s a lot of fun with a bunch of heart.

I’m still chewing on Downing’s latest–but in short, I’m glad I read it and will be recommending it.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by ABenjamin Stevenson	Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger, read by David Chandler

The length of Stevenson’s third book (190ish pages) is one of the big selling points, I wondered a little bit that the second book was stretching things. A compressed tale could help a lot.

I had Iron Lake in this spot a few weeks back, but the download got corrupted and I had to delete it and then re-check it out. So…let’s try this again: I’ve been assured that I’ll enjoy Krueger’s Cork O’Connor books, and that lighter fare than his others. (not that I have a problem with his others, but I’m not going to listen to them while working/driving). Am used to David Chandler’s voice, his work on the Joe Pickett books is solid. Should be a good time.

How’re things going for you? Read anything good lately?