Tag: News/Misc Page 12 of 29

Get To Know the Fantasy Reader Book Tag

On August 23, 2022

Get To Know the Fantasy Reader Book Tag
I was tagged by Celeste over at A Literary Escape (a blog you should be reading) to do this, and it was a lot of fun to do. But I honestly don’t think that I’ve thought this hard about Fantasy books in ages—maybe ever. I had a couple of die-hard Fantasy reading friends in College that probably made me think about it pretty hard frequently (and taught me more about it than I’d have learned on my own—I still hear their voices in my head as I think about various books).

What is your fantasy origin story? (How you came to read your first fantasy novel.)

My first? I couldn’t tell you, there were a handful of stand-alones that I remember reading at my public library (don’t ask me the titles). The first one I have a distinct memory of—I remember the bookstore and context, too—was:

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

There was a whole display of the entire Chronicles of Narnia, but I hadn’t yet come across a series that you had an intended order before. I remembered watching (and getting bored by) a cartoon version of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe in some group setting. But I liked the idea—and an adventure at sea sounded fun. It’s probably the one from that series I’ve read the most—the story of Eustace and the Dragon will be among my favorites until my memory goes, Reepicheep is probably a standard that I unconsciously rate characters against. Still, I’ve often said that this series/books from it turned me into a C.S. Lewis fan—it was Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain that turned me into a Fantasy fan.

If you could be the hero/heroine in a fantasy novel, who would be the author and what’s one trope you’d insist be in the story?

Um…er…well. That’s a good question. Um. There’s an appeal to Sean Gibson or K.R.R. Lockhaven, for sure, that’d be fun. I think life in a Patricia Brigg’s (non-Mercyverse) Fantasy world would be difficult. I don’t know if I could handle living in a Seanan McGuire or Patrick Rothfuss novel, that’d break me (living in a Sarah Chorn novel would do me in even quicker). Joe Abercrombie would destroy me in a different way. If Jim Butcher wrote it, I’d at least sound more clever than I am. Maybe life in Pell would be okay—as long as I wasn’t a gnome or an elf—so, I guess Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne.

Trope in the story? Hmmm…is food that isn’t a stew and hardtack a trope? Comic relief characters surviving is a nice trope (and you know I’d be a better fit for that than the hero, no matter what the question said). I guess dragons would be good—dragons in a non-antagonistic relationship with the humanoid populace would be better. I’d also go for talking dogs.

What is a fantasy you’ve read this year, that you want more people to read?

Most of the fantasy I’ve read this year has been good enough to qualify, but let’s go with:

The Marauders, the Daughter, and the Dragon

The Marauders, the Daughter, and the Dragon by K.R.R. Lockhaven

This just came out last week, so few people have read it. I was supposed to post about it today, but didn’t quite finish it in time (this was originally scheduled for later in the week, it’s not like I did this instead)—it’s sweet, it’s fun, and a good adventure. Friends, Readers, Internet Denizens, lend it your eyes!

I also want to mention The Part About the Dragon was (Mostly) True by Sean Gibson—it definitely could use more readers (what book couldn’t?).

What is your favorite fantasy subgenre? What subgenre have you not read much from?

Hands down, my favorite is Urban Fantasy, although I honestly think of it as its own genre, and am probably not going to respond to any of these prompts with UF answers. Subgenre I haven’t read much of? Er…I really get lost when people talk subgenres of Fantasy (although, Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub‘s series on them this year is helping me) Romantic Fantasy, maybe? I think I’ve read a couple of things that qualify there. I don’t think I’ve read any LitRPG. I guess that qualifies as “not read much from.”

Who is one of your auto-buy fantasy authors?

Just one? Kevin Hearne. As far as I know, the only thing of his that I don’t own at least one copy of is his SF novella/short story (don’t remember the format at the moment)—and that’s just because I only think of it when I’m short on funds, or know I wouldn’t read it immediately so I talk myself out of it. I’m still going back and forth about what I think of the last third of The Iron Druid Chronicles, but really dig everything else (and on at least every third day, that applies to the IDC).

How do you typically find fantasy recommendations? (Goodreads, Youtube, Podcasts, Instagram.)

There are a couple of friends who are pretty good sources (hi, Nicole and Micah!). But I think I get most from Book Blogs—Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub, Paul’s Picks, Before We Go Blog have probably landed more on my TBR than the others. The Write Reads Book Tours and Escapist Book Tours are pretty good sources—they are likely more effective in actually getting me to read something rather than just adding it to my TBR. Under a Pile of Books has put a couple of things on my radar/or moved them higher on the TBR.

What is an upcoming fantasy release you’re excited for?

Amari and the Great Game

Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston

This is really the only one I can think of that’s coming out in the near future. If we were talking about Crime Fiction, I could rattle off a dozen books I’m waiting on. But Fantasy I really only think of when it’s out.

What is one misconception about fantasy you would like to lay to rest?

It’s all D&D/Tolkein-esque stuff about groups of people wandering around in pseudo-Medieval European countries, speaking in faux British Accents, Sword and Sorcery kind of things. I think that misconception is dwindling, but that’s the dominant perception (including, I think, among a lot of Fantasy readers!) from what I can tell.

If someone had never read a fantasy before and asked you to recommend the first 3 books that come to mind as places to start, what would those recommendations be?

Oooooof. That is hard, and would vary a little from person to person, depending on their preferences/personality. I’d do better with recommendations for people who have some familiarity with it, maybe from a few years ago and are looking to get back into it. But for newbies? Hmmmm…

Kings of the Wyld

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

There are enough “classic” Fantasy themes and features to cue someone in—and it’d match up well with expectations. But it’s got this nice, contemporary feel to it that should make an intro to the genre easier than some others.

Also, it’s just ridiculously fun. I can’t see anyone reading this book and not wanting to find similar books. I want to go re-read it now.

The Hum and the Shiver

The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe

This is a contemporary fantasy (some call it UF, but I don’t buy that) set in Appalachia. I’ve read this at least three times (and listened to the audiobook once)—so far. It’s a great way to see that not all Fantasy takes place in pseudo-Medieval European settings. There’s a hard-to-define magic at the root of this book, but it’s expressed in the music of the residents of Cloud County, a people known as the Tufa. I found this series at just the right time and have been nearly-obsessed with it since the beginning. I’ve recommended it often—and will continue to do so.

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

It’s just such an easy point-of-entry—there aren’t a dozen different races of sentient beings, there’s so much heart, not a lot of violence, and (mostly) timeless humor. It’s a fast, breezy read—unlike so many in a genre that’s stereotyped as being full of 500+ page tomes full of six-page descriptions of every last meal.

Who is the most recent fantasy reading content creator you came across that you’d like to shoutout?

I guess that’d be Peat Long’s Blog (“Perhaps the most erratic blog in Fantasyland”). There are a number of blogs that I check in on almost daily that are devoted to Fantasy (many more than are devoted to Mysteries/Crime, which is odd if you look at what I read), and most of those put out very thoughtful and thought-provoking content (which is why I keep coming back, I guess). Peat’s the most recent blogger on that list—posts about individual books are good, but the ones about the genre in general have been helpful to me.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

The Friday 56 for 8/19/22: The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu

By HCNewton

On August 19, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
The Art of Prophecy

The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu

It took her old eyes several squints in the darkness before she sighted the small figure dangling halfway down. At the base of the wall was a cluster of soldiers, with Sinsin standing just below the boy as if positioning himself to catch him if he fell. What by the enlightened imprint of Goramh’s ass was that fraud still doing here?

Taishi focused on the boy. Whatever credit she had given Jian for thinking outside the box last night was immediately wiped away by his trying to rappel down a hundred-foot wall with fifty feet of rope. Even more stupid was that it had taken him climbing all the way to the end of the rope before he realized he was in trouble.

The Friday 56 for 8/12/22: One Decisive Victory by Jeffery H. Haskell

By HCNewton

On August 12, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from 56% of:
One Decisive Victory

One Decisive Victory by Jeffery H. Haskell

Jennings sat back, staring intently at the map. She manipulated the controls, zooming in on the compound and rotating it clockwise to look at the building from all angles. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but… what about a compromise?” she asked.

From the expressions on the other marines, Nadia suspected those words might never have escaped the sergeant’s lips before.

The Friday 56 for 8/5/22: Composite Creatures by Caroline Hardaker

By HCNewton

On August 5, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
Composite Creatures

Composite Creatures by Caroline Hardaker

The house already felt different.

We’d taken down our meagre Christmas decorations the day before (we’d only hung them up so the house looked festive for the party), and though the place felt lifeless now and drained of colour, that wasn’t why it was odd. The passageway seemed lighter and the doors further away, as if I was psychically stretching out into every room on alert for sharp things or towers likely to fall. I was a thousand eyes cast across the floor and tingled with electricity, ready to release a bolt.

I dropped the folders at the bottom of the stairs and flung my soaking boots on the shoe pile. Art and I gave each other a look and then began to walk the mile up the stairs, Art balancing the box carefully in his arms. My hand kept slipping on the bannister, and either because of nerves or the cold, I couldn’t feel my feet.

The Friday 56 for 7/29/22: The Shoulders of Giants by Jim Cliff

By HCNewton

On July 29, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

Since I’ve been focusing on Self-Published works here this week, I figured I’d use a self-published work for this post, too. This is a flashback to the first self-published book I can remember buying…

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from 56% of:
The Shoulders of GiantsE

The Shoulders of Giants by Jim Cliff

The following morning, I woke up to hear noises coming from my kitchen. The clock on my bedside table read 10:14. As quietly as I could, I slid out of bed, pulled a pair of jeans on over my boxers, and picked up my Glock.

As I left my bedroom and started across the hall towards the closed kitchen door, I smelled bacon. This was bizarre for two reasons. Firstly, I couldn’t work out why someone would break into my apartment and start cooking, and secondly, I didn’t think I owned any bacon.

I took a deep breath, and kicked the door with my bare foot, simultaneously aiming my pistol at the first thing I saw, and yelling “Freeze!” The door swung open violently, to reveal a man standing in front of my fridge-freezer.

Before my brain registered what was happening, Scott let go of the carton of juice in his hand, and by the time it hit the floor, his gun was in his hand, and pointed at me.

The Friday 56 for 7/22/22: Ghost of a Chance by Dan Willis

By HCNewton

On July 22, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56% of:
Ghost of a Chance

Ghost of a Chance by Dan Willis

“What’s this?” he asked as she pulled out a small key ring.

For a brief moment a frown crossed her lips, but she replaced it almost instantly with her sardonic smile.

“This is the reason I’m here,” she said, inserting a key in the lock. She turned it and pushed the door open. “Don’t touch the handle,” she said, reaching inside to switch on a magelight. “It’s got a needle coated in a nasty contact poison hidden inside it.”

Alex raised an eyebrow at her, but she just shrugged.

“What?” she said. “Don’t you have security measures around your valuables?”

The Friday 56 for 7/15/22: AMORALMAN by Derek DelGaudio

By HCNewton

On July 15, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
AMORALMAN

AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies by Derek DelGaudio

“Why do you think the puppeteer was there?”

“How should I know?”

I told her I wasn’t a philosopher and then accused Plato of being a lazy writer. She tried to move on and discuss other elements of the story—the shadows, the prisoners, and the inexplicable escape. But I couldn’t. For me, the story was centered around a deliberate act of deception. To gloss over that deception, and ignore the motives of the deceiver, was incomprehensible to me. The Universe wasn’t trying to deceive us when we believed the Earth was at its center. And the Earth wasn’t trying to pull the wool over our eyes when we believed it was flat. But the puppeteer in the cave was trying to deceive those prisoners. And I wanted to know why.

Would You Rather: Extreme Book-Lovers Edition Book Tag

By HCNewton

On July 14, 2022

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

Would You Rather Book Tag
I saw this over at chasing destino, and decided to give it a try–I had a lot of fun with this one, hopefully, you have fun reading this.

Mid-way through putting this together, I had a vision of Tom Haverford and his pals in the Hot Tub playing this game (Parks and Recreation, Season 3, Episode 2: “Flu Season”), and I can’t get it out of my head. Thankfully, these questions are easier (and more tasteful) than anything Tom came up with.

Tom Haverford in Spa

1. Would you rather have a friend who loses your books, or one who dog-ears them?

I’d rather have one less friend.

I don’t know…On the whole, dog-eared pages don’t bother me too much (not that I’ve done that in decades myself)–but I do have some older books that would look nicer if that had never happened to them. But a lost book can simply be replaced–which (barring the book being out of print, the new one having an ugly cover, or some other calamity befalling it) is almost easier to deal with than manhandled pages (especially if said friend secured their spot in my friendship roster by paying for the replacement unprompted). I guess, ideally, I’d take a lost book over a dog-eared one, but a friend is worth more than either.

2. Would you rather secretly love a book everyone else hates, or secretly hate a book everyone else loves?

I have to keep my love or hate secret? That might be a deal-breaker, for me–I just don’t know if I could get by without writing about my love/hate.

There’s a decent number of books I’ve enjoyed that few have read and, and I’m okay with not being part of the crowd when it comes to super-popular books–especially if I can understand why people think it’s great while I happen to disagree with them. If it’s one of those times where I don’t understand what everyone loves about a book, that bugs me.

I think I’d rather hate a book the rest of the world loves. If I’m a fan of a book, I’m going to want to spread the word and try to find like-minded readers. I want that possibility–exposing friends, family, blog readers, etc. to good books makes me happy. Grousing about a book isn’t particularly a thing I enjoy.

3. Would you rather be stuck on a very long plane or train ride without a book?

I’ve never traveled on a train that wasn’t an attraction on an amusement park, so I’m not honestly sure. But I do know that I’ve never been on a plane without at least one book (and usually a backup). Once we get in the air, I don’t think I’d mind flying all that much–but I don’t want to take the chance, I prefer being locked away in another world when we’re at crusing altitude. So let’s try to get me stuck on a very long train ride and see what happens.

4. Would you rather have dinner with your favorite author or your favorite character?

This is a tough one…I assume whatever fantasy-world that could give me this option could also give me the ability to shrug off my anxiety in order to converse with either the author or character? I could have a lot of fun over a steak sandwich or a Whopper with Harry Dresden (for example), but if I broke bread with Jim Butcher, he could tell me a lot about Harry–and Mouse, Toot-toot, Molly, and everyone. Harry couldn’t tell me anything about Butcher. The same would apply to other favorite characters and favorite authors. So, I’m going to have to go with the author.

Although, there’s a better than even chance that Tilly Bradshaw could tell me things about M.W. Craven that he doesn’t know himself.

5. Would you rather date a character you have a crush on or your crush from real life?

I’m pretty sure my wife would object to me dating anyone. I typically turn questions/prompts about book crushes into questions about fictional dogs, so let’s do that here.

Yeah, I’d love to spend some time with Dresden’s Mouse, Andy Carpenter’s Tara, Atticus’ Oberon (especially if I could hear him tell a story), or Washington Poe’s Edgar (and so on). So, put me down for a play date with a fictional dog. Nothing too major–they’ve got a human to hang out with, and I’ve got a couple of pooches that need attention.

6. Would you rather have your favorite book turned into a movie, or your favorite movie turned into a book?

I’ve read some really solid novelizations of movies (and several ‘meh’ novelizations, too). And like everyone who’s reading this post, I’ve both enjoyed and been disappointed/angered by bad adaptations of novels. Even the most barely adequate novelization is better than a bad adaptation. I don’t want to risk it with my favorite book.

Also, it’s easier for me to forget a disappointing movie than it is a disappointing book.

7. Would you rather read a book with an annoying cliffhanger, or one where your favorite character is killed off?

The phrasing here gets me–is the author of the tag suggesting that there are non-annoying cliffhangers and their target is the annoying kind? Or do cliffhangers get this descriptor automatically?

I’ve survived Dragons of Winter Night, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Where the Red Fern Grows, Battle Ground, and Marley & Me–along with several others that I won’t name so I can leave the liquor cabinet untouched today. I can handle deaths of favorite characters. Usually, after a period, understand and defend the author’s choice (fat chance of that happening with Battle Ground)–but that doesn’t mean I’d rather read something like that.

No, give me a cliffhanger–annoying by definition, annoying in practice, or any other kind.

8. Would you rather lose the ability to read any new books, or the ability to reread books you’ve already read?

Oh, wow…this is tough. This ranks right up there with that poor guy from The Twilight Zone who breaks his glasses before getting to spend the rest of his (probably short) life reading.

I’m super curious about new books–I imagine I always will be. Not being able to read a new book again is a dire fate indeed.

Never returning to Wolfe’s brownstone? Not seeing Spenser at his best? Never fighting back a tear when Harry Dresden uses the knife to win a war? Not getting to see Mercy Thompson torment the Alpha next door with her rusted out VW? Never seeing Kinsey Milhone at work again? Reading about Rov and the guys at Championship Vinyl and their Top 5 Lists? Not going through the Wardrobe again? Saying goodbye to Boo Radley? … Nope. Just can’t do that. I’d lose too many old friends and characters who might as well be family.

I guess I’d opt for losing the ability to read new books.

9. Would you rather live in a library or a bookstore?

I think a library would have to be my answer here. I learned a thing or two from Claudia and Jamie Kincaid that I could apply to a library, for one (and, in a library, I’d have an easy time finding a copy to brush up on, too).

Librarians are more likely to have a microwave and decent coffeepot–not to mention decent restroom facilities–than bookstore employees are (except for those bookstores with a coffee bar). Also, in a bookstore, you’d have the pressure of keeping the books pristine and ready to sell. Library books are supposed to be well-read/thumbed-through, so I wouldn’t have to worry about that. Lastly, I think it’d be far easier to hide out in a library than in a bookstore.

10. Would you rather lose your place or get a paper cut every time you read a book?

With losing your place there’s the danger that you’ll get something ruined if you check a page ahead of where you left off–or that you’ll miss something important. Both have happened to me more than I care to think. But I spent one summer in college working in binderies and print-shops and paper-cuts were a near-daily thing–drawing blood at least fortnightly. And…no. Just no. You’d think you’d get used to it, but I never did. I did get a lot better at paper-handling and by late July the cuts were decreasing in frequency, but I never got used the cuts. I’ll take losing my place regularly.

Come to think of it, if anyone is around when I’m reading now (including one of the dogs), I’m bound to get distracted and lose my place anyway.

11. Would you rather have to always read in the dark, or always read books with tiny text?

Well, I get some kind of light, right? I’m not the Newton that wrote Opticks, but I’m pretty sure you have to have some light to see print. So I’m going to intrepret this question as “Would you rather have to always read with very little light, or always read books with tiny text?” Either is not going to do favors for my not-yet-fifty-year-old (but getting close) eyes, but I’m going to go with in the dark/very little light.

Going back to the days when I had a small selection of flashlights next to my bed to use after my folks said “lights out,” I’ve done okay with limited light, frequently without noticing it until my wife turns a lamp on. I still do okay with that–but I think my days are numbered there. Small print is getting harder and harder for me, even with my new bifocals, and I just don’t enjoy it. Large Print editions still give me a headache, so my eyes aren’t too bad, yet.

Of course, if we’re talking about an e-reader, it can be as dark as you want in the room…

12. Would you rather read by a fireplace, or on the beach?

I’ve done both of these repeatedly, so this is easy-peasy. Fireplace.

Fireplaces are indoors, which is almost always a plus in my book. They can be just sitting there inert, or making the vicinity warm and toasty. Either way, it’s an improvement over the absence of a ceiling and the yellow ball of fire overhead. Beaches frequently involve people yelling in the distance, strangers walking by and distracting you, a well-intentioned family member shouting at you to look at something–or telling you that you should put your book down and enjoy things.

Also, fireplaces almost never get sand everywhere on your person, making it too uncomfortable to read. Whereas that’s an ever-present danger on a beach.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag ’22

By HCNewton

On July 8, 2022

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag
I’d intended on getting this posted Tuesday, you’ll see how well that worked out for me. I’ve done this tag the last couple of years, and have had a lot of fun with it. This year, I found myself overthinking the answers for some reason—which took some of the fun out of things, but I’m really enjoying being done with it. I have really enjoyed reading the posts that several others have put up over the last week or so, hopefully, this is half as entertaining.

I think I did okay at not mentioning some titles too often—but I had to repeat some. When a book is good in one category, odds are it’ll be good in others.

1. The best book you’ve read so far this year?

Either Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor (my post about it) or Reconstruction by Mick Herron (my post about it). My immediate reaction was Don’t Know Tough, Cranor’s work is just gut-wrenching, beautiful, and powerful. But when I was looking over titles for another prompt, I was reminded of Reconstruction and I can’t talk myself out of ignoring it, it was too well constructed (pun unintended but embraced and flaunted).

Oof. And The Border (my post about it) needs to be included, too. I’ve got to stop thinking about this question and move on.

Don't Know Tough Reconstruction The Border

2. The best sequel you’ve read this year?

I think S. J. Rozan’s Family Business (my post about it) leads this by a nose, but I can’t rule out or Lee Goldberg’s Movieland (my post about it). Movieland is the best Eve Ronin novel yet—Eve’s developing into a more interesting and complex character, and she started off great. Family Business does everything the Lydia Chin/Bill Smith —series does best—you’ve got Chinese gangs and the subculture around Chinatown, you’ve got Lydia and Bill’s relationship (professional and personal) firing on all cylinders, some great stuff involving Lydia’s mother, some action, some clever detective work, with everything in the novel occurring withing multiple layers of tradition, family, and secrets. Man…I want to go read it again instead of finishing this post.

Family Business Movieland

I need to exercise some self-control and muster up a little decisiveness soon, two ties in two questions? Pfui.

3. New releases you haven’t read yet but want to.

Sure, I say something about getting in ship shape right before a question that allows plurals. The Botanist by M.W. Craven and The Self-Made Widow by Fabian Nicieza (hopefully I’ll read both this week). The only other one that I can think of is Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air by Jackson Ford (but I need to take care of at least part of prompt #5 first). There are probably a dozen others that belong here, but I’m drawing a blank.

The Botanist The Self-Made Widow A Sh*tload of Crazy Powers

4. Most anticipated releases for the second half of the year.

Hmmm. Well, there’s Final Heir, the last Jane Yellowrock book. I’ve avoided all knowledge of the next Toby Daye novel, Be the Serpent, but I bet it’ll be a humdinger—McGuire was too nice to Toby last year, there must be blood (well, okay, that’s a given…but you know what I mean). Sure, there’s also the next Thursday Murder Club, The Bullet That Missed, and Noelle Holten’s 6 Ripley Avenue—I’m really excited to dive into that. Since it’s the end of the trilogy, I’m really looking forward to A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones, and I can’t forget Racing the Light by Robert Crais—he spends longer than most between books, so there’s a lot of anticipation for a new one.

Final Heir Be the Serpent The Bullet that Missed

6 Ripley Avenue A Hard Day for a Hangover Racing the Light

5. Biggest disappointment.

I feel like I’m picking on books here, but…Rosebud (my post about it)—just because I’m used to really liking Paul Cornell’s books. But I think it’d be The Lost Discipline of Conversation: Surprising Lessons in Spiritual Formation Drawn from the English Puritans by Joanne J. Jung (my post about it)—this is precisely the kind of book that I’d typically lap up. But I think Jung missed the point of what the Puritans were going for and ended up distorting them (IMO) and the book was kind of “blah” regardless.

Rosebud Lost Discipline of Conversation

6. Biggest Surprise.

The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True by Sean Gibson (my post about it). I’d heard nothing but good things about this, but I wasn’t prepared for this level of silliness. The funniest thing I’ve read this year.

The Part About the Dragon was True

7. Favorite new to you, or debut, author.

Eli Cranor. You don’t often come across a writer like this. He’s a crime writer, through-and-through, but he’s the kind you can give to your “Literary Fiction” snob relative/friend and they’ll actually read it.

(although, if I’d waited a couple of weeks last year to read Elizabeth Breck for the first time, it’d be her. No contest. Cranor’s work is better, but Breck’s stuff feels like it was written for me and maybe a couple of other people).

Don't Know Tough

8. Newest fictional crush.

Daisy the pug in Adult Assembly Required (my post about it) would be my new fantasy dog. Daisy’s antics around food remind me of the pug/beagle mix snoring nearby, and the way she gets the humans in the house to fight over her? It’s brilliant, she won me over right away that the other animals in the book (who were great, too) just couldn’t.

Adult Assembly Required

9. Newest favorite character.

See what I said above about the new-to-me author, the same goes for Breck’s Madison Kelly. But, no…I had to read her first book last year.

So…I guess it’d be Tuesday Mooney (from Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts (my post about it)) or Tempest Raj (from Under Lock & Skeleton Key (my post about it)). These two are almost as good as Madison, so I’m not complaining too much. Tuesday is too smart for her own good, creative in her own way, irascible, stubborn, witty in an enviable way, and haunted (possibly literally). How do I sum up Tempest? She’s a stage magician drowning in guilt, indecision, and the crushing weight of public scrutiny—yet her personality, curiosity, and intelligence keeps shining through and fighting against her circumstances. There’s something immediately likable about her (rough edges and flaws included)

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts Under Lock & Skeleton Key

10. Book that made you cry?

Huh…Don’t think I’ve read one this year. There was a moment or two in The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd (my post about it)that probably got close, ditto for Light Years from Home by Mike Chen (my post about it). I might have got a little misty at a couple of points in Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman (my post about it), but…yeah, I think this year’s books have been the literary equivalent of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo.

The Cartographers Light Years from Home Adult Assembly Required

11. Book that made you happy?

Well, really, any book that I rated 3 Stars or higher (most of them for the year), made me happy. But I associate happiness with three in particular: Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman (my post about it), Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi (my post about it), and Black Nerd Problems by William Evans & Omar Holmon (my post about it). These filled me with joy, made me want to re-read them immediately, and still make me feel good weeks/months later.

Adult Assembly Required Kaiju Preservation Society Black Nerd Problems

12. Favorite book to film adaption?

It’s not a “film”, but boy howdy is AppleTV’s Slow Horses fantastic. And as faithful as you could ask for, not perfectly so, but close enough.

Slow Horses Apple TV

13. Favorite post/review you have done this year?

I’m having a lot of fun with the Highlights: Lines worth Repeating posts, I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to do something like them. I guess my best (and therefore favorite) post would be What Makes a Good Book: A Reader’s Perspective (Part 1)—I hope I can get the next posts done on that project.

14. Most beautiful book you have bought or been given this year?

That’d be the Limited Edition King of Crows Anniversary hardback. Which works out nicely, because I don’t need another copy of that—I just wanted it as a display copy. It should be great to look at.

Honorable mention goes to Guidebook for Instruction in the Christian Religion by Herman Bavinck, translated and edited by Gregory Parker Jr., Cameron Clausing. The dustjacket isn’t the nicest one that I’ve seen lately, but the book underneath it? It’s almost as nice to look at as it is to read.

King of Crows Anniversary Guidebook for Instruction in the Christian Religion

15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

The embarrassing thing is that I could copy and paste my answer from last year and it’d be pretty accurate. And the two that I did read from that answer were read this year. I will be a bit less ambitious this year for this answer and will limit my answer to the books from 20 Books of Summer, the books listed in #4, E.B. White on Dogs, and I’m going to catch up on Jackson Ford’s The Frost Files: Random Sht Flying Through the Air and Eye of the Sht Storm.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

The Friday 56 for 7/8/22: The Self-Made Widow By Fabian Nicieza

By HCNewton

On July 8, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
The Self-Made Widow

The Self-Made Widow by Fabian Nicieza

At 7 in the morning on Monday, Kenny sat in a makeup chair before his segment on Fox & Friends. He had been on the network often enough that he’d lost any sense of the jitters. The segment went smoothly. The negative was that clearly none of them had read the advance galley of his book, but the positive was that they let him do the bulk of the talking during his segment.

As he left the studio on Sixth Avenue, Kenny got a text from Albert congratulating him on a job well done. He pocketed the phone and entered the subway station. He didn’t really care. Insofar as it would help the book sell, he was satisfied, but Kenny had gotten to the point where appearing on other people’s shows wasn’t enough. He wanted his own show.

Not on a stupid cable news channel talking about the hot air of the day. Something more. A Vice meets adorable but serious Jacob Soboroff meets Columbo magazine type of thing. But for a streaming platform, with episodic storytelling, blowing the lid off unsolved murders, corporate crimes, political scandal.

He didn’t want to wait any longer. He felt he had been waiting his whole life.