Tag: News/Misc Page 13 of 26

Huh. When I looked at this list, I really thought I’d cut some fat (although this part would be harder than the rest since some of these aren’t published yet, so I haven’t heard anything about them from other readers). I still managed to cut a little bit, which puts my Want-to-Read list under 150–which means overall, I’ve cut 90+ from the list since I started this (either through deleting or reading). I call that a win.

The big question is, what will this list look like in 2024-5 when I try this again?

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells Blurb: FBI Agent-turned-Forest Service investigator is on the hunt for a killer in the Sequoia National Park. My Thoughts: I vaguely remember reading about this on a Crime Reads post–sounded good (still does), and I’d probably enjoy it. But…I know I’m not going to get around to it. Verdict:
	The Cipher by Isabella Maldonado Blurb: A pair of FBI Agents (both with troubled pasts) are on the hunt for a serial killer. My Thoughts: This one (and the next by Maldonado) were also featured in a Crime Reads post. The mini-blurb above sounds pretty generic, I know, but I remember something about the write-up that convinced me that Maldonado is somsone I want to try. So I put the first entries in her two series on the list, and am going to keep them there for at least a little longer. Verdict:
	Blood’s Echo by Isabella Maldonado Blurb: A Phoenix PD Detective is on a crusade to take down a local crime family My Thoughts: See above. I typically enjoy police detectives more than FBI Agents, so I’m leaning to trying this one first. Verdict:
	The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz Blurb: Owen and Luna have been best friends since college, the kind you always wonder why they didn’t end up together. When Owen’s wife is murdered, Luna starts putting pieces together with that murder and things that happened years ago. The book “examines the bonds of shared history, what it costs to break them, and what happens when you start wondering how well you know the one person who truly knows you.” My Thoughts: It’s Lutz, so of course I’m going to read it, she’s still on my “auto” list–writing the above blurb is the first time I even looked at a synopsis I have the eARC on my Kindle now, actually, it’s probably going to be the first novel I start in 2022. Verdict:
	How to Save a Superhero by Ruth Freeman Blurb: A ten-year old becomes convinced that a former superhero is a resident of the retirement community her mom works at. What’s more, she stumbles onto a conspiracy that puts him–and the whole human race–in danger. My Thoughts: I thought I remembered where I saw this book recommended, but it’s not on the blogs I thought it was. Whoops. Regardless, it sounds like a cute story. It’s staying, I need some MG fluff. Verdict:
	Fatal Storm by Carrie Vaughn Blurb: “Cormac and Amelia take a job at a quaint Victorian mountain lodge: keep an eye on the famous psychic there to judge whether the place is haunted. Simple, right? Three problems: the blizzard that snows everyone in for the weekend, the murdered body that shows up in the morning, and the fact that everyone is sure Cormac did it.” My Thoughts: I just need to take some time and read all the Cormac and Amelia stories, and keep forgetting. This story’s presence on the list is a mnemonic device to help. The pair was a big part of what made the Kitty Norville series work–am glad to see them keep the world alive. Verdict:
	Family Business by S.J. Rozan Blurb: “The death of a powerful Chinatown crime boss thrusts private eye Lydia Chin and her partner Bill Smith into a world of double-dealing, subterfuge, murder, and—because this is New York City—real estate.” My Thoughts: Like the Lutz book earlier, Lydia Chin/Bill Smith books are auto-reads for me. This one is waiting at the Library for me to pick up. I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while. Verdict:
	Dance Among the Flames by Tori Eldridge Blurb: I’m not even going to try to do this one. Click the links. My Thoughts: This looks like a heckuva departure from her Lily Wong series. I’m super-curious about it and am looking forward to its release. Verdict:
	The Awkward Black Man by Walter Mosley Blurb: A collection of short stories. My Thoughts: For years, I’ve felt like I’m missing out on not getting into Mosley–not a FOMO kind of thing, more of a “what is wrong with me that I don’t appreciate him.” After Allyson J Johnson mentioned it in a WWW Wednesday comment, I thought this might be a good way to jump start that effort (although a subsequent comment chilled me a bit). Verdict:
	How to Save a Superhero by Ruth Freeman My Thoughts: Okay, yeah, something about this clearly appealed to me because I put on the list twice. Whoops. Verdict: At least this helps me trim the number, right?
	Maxine Justice: Galactic Attorney by Daniel Schwabauer Blurb: “Maxine Justice is an ambulance-chasing lawyer desperate for relevance and cash when aliens hire her to represent them before the United Nations.” My Thoughts: I saw an advertisement for this on Publishers Weekly, and the premise seemed so ridiculous and tongue-in-cheek I had to give it a shot. Verdict:
	One for All by Lillie Lainoff Blurb: A YA gender-bent Three Musketeers featuring someone who (today) would be diagnosed with POTS. My Thoughts: My daughter’s recently been diagnosed with POTS, so it’s been on my mind. When I saw this mentioned on my Twitter feed, I had to give it a shot. If for no other reason than to make sure my daughter gives it a read. Verdict:
	The Liar’s Knot by M.A. Carrick My Thoughts: I was really impressed with the first in this trilogy last year. I’ll likely be as impressed with this one–I will admit that I’m intimidated by the prospect of picking it up. Can I remember enough of what came before? Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 2 / 13
Total Books Removed: 7 / 33

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

By only cutting one out of ten last week—by dint of reading it—I wondered if this revisiting was really worth the trouble. This week’s results were more encouraging.

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Miss Kopp Investigates by Amy Stewart My Thoughts: My enthusiasm for this series has waned, as evidenced by the fact that I’m not two behind. I’m not sure why I put this on the list—maybe just to nudge my memory that these books exist? I will admit, though, that this sounds more interesting than the sixth book. I guess that’s enough to justify keeping it on the list. Verdict: A tepid
	The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde My Thoughts: I really do want to like Fforde, so a YA Fforde book about an employment agency for wizards? Sounds interesting. The agency being run by a 15-year-old who starts receiving visions about protecting the last dragon? Now you’ve really got me intrigued. Throw in a cover featuring a dragon and a VW bug and you make it hard not to judge a book by its cover. Verdict:
	The Forgotten Girl by Rio Youers Blurb: A 26-year-old street performer is beaten up by thugs looking for his girlfriend. A girlfriend he doesn’t remember. Apparently, she has the “ability to selectively erase a person’s memories—an ability she has used to delete herself from Harvey’s mind. But emotion runs deeper than memory, and Harvey realizes he still feels something for Sally. And so—with the spider threatening—he goes looking for a girl he loves but can’t remember,” and danger ensues. My Thoughts: I wish I remembered why I put this on the list in the first place, maybe it’d convince me to keep it there. Verdict:
	E.B. White on Dogs by E.B. White Blurb: A compilation of “the best and funniest of his essays, poems, letters, and sketches depicting over a dozen of White’s various canine companions” put together by White’s granddaughter. My Thoughts: Do you have to ask? Verdict:
	Monkey Around by Jadie Jang Blurb: “Barista, activist, and were-monkey Maya McQueen was well on her way to figuring herself out. Well, part of the way. 25% of the way. If you squint…” My Thoughts: When the blurb for an Urban Fantasy starts like this, I stop paying attention, and click the “Want to Read” button. Also, Paul’s Picks had good things to say. Verdict:
	The Burn by Kathleen Kent My Thoughts: The Dime was so good, I added the rest of the trilogy without looking at what they were about. I really don’t care, just need to fit them into the queue. Verdict:
	The Pledge by Kathleen Kent My Thoughts: See above. Verdict:
	Surviving the Extremes: What Happens to the Body and Mind at the Limits of Human Endurance by Kenneth Kamler Blurb: “A true-life scientific thriller no reader will forget, Surviving the Extremes takes us to the farthest reaches of the earth as well as into the uncharted territory within the human body, spirit, and brain…Divided into six sections—jungle, high seas, desert, underwater, high altitude, and outer space—this book uses firsthand testimony and documented accounts to investigate the science of what a body goes through and explains why people survive—and why they sometimes don’t.” My Thoughts: My daughter (or was it her boyfriend) talked about needing to read this for a class—or maybe it was recommended by a professor—and thought it might be fun to read to talk about with them. But then the class didn’t happen or something…I really don’t remember. But they didn’t end up reading it, and I’m not super interested in it. Verdict:
	The Exodus Betrayal by N.C. Scrimgeour My Thoughts: It’s a cyberpunk-y SF thriller that I’m just not in the mood for. This time, it’s despite the nice things Paul’s Picks had to say. It’s probably pretty good, but I just know I’m not going to get around to it. Verdict:
	The Library: A Fragile History by Andrew Pettegree Blurb: “Perfect for book lovers, this is a fascinating exploration of the history of libraries and the people who built them, from the ancient world to the digital age.” My Thoughts: A history of libraries? That sounds pretty good. But it also sounds like a lot of work. When I read about this at Witty and Sarcastic Book Club, the idea intrigued me. But lately, the part where Jodi wrote, “There was just no excitement shown in the pages. I felt like the authors weren’t really all that invested in what they were writing. And that sort of rubbed off on me a little bit,” speaks loudly to me. Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 4 / 10
Total Books Removed: 5 / 33

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

When I wrapped things up back in May, I’d trimmed the Want-to-Read list down to 132, and it’s at 154 right now. That’s not bad—I read a couple from the list, added a few more. But, in keeping with the aim of this project, let’s see if I can trim a little fat to go into the New Year not needing a diet. I didn’t quite get to too many from this list in the ensuing months…which does make me wonder (again) about the efficacy of this list. But that’s for another time—or maybe a therapist.

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
2. Order on ascending date added.
3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
4. Read the synopses of the books.
5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

	Messy: The Power of Disorder to Transform Our Lives by Tim Harford Blurb: “celebrates the benefits that messiness has in our lives: why it’s important, why we resist it, and why we should embrace it instead. Using research from neuroscience, psychology, social science, as well as tales of inspiring people doing extraordinary things, I explain that the human qualities we value – creativity, responsiveness, resilience – are integral to the disorder, confusion, and disarray that produce them.” My Thoughts: Oh sweet—a justification for my lifestyle! Gotta get this as ammunition to use against my wife. Verdict:
	My Contrary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows Blurb: Mary, Queen of Scots, in the court of France, trying to hide that she shapeshifts into mice. My Thoughts: So they’ve run out of Janes and have turned to Marys? Huh. Sure, why not? Verdict:
	Darling at the Campsite by Andy Abramowitz Blurb: “Rowan Darling, an adrift thirty-three-year-old, owns a record store on a run-down block in Philadelphia. Then news of his estranged brother’s death forces a return to Maybee, Illinois, the hometown Rowan left in the dust years ago. Rowan’s plan? Dart in for the funeral, support his mother, then disappear just as quickly. Things to avoid? Margot Beckett, his childhood sweetheart, and Skid Hall, his former best friend who stole Margot and married her. Together, they’ve become the town’s ‘it’ couple.” My Thoughts: It’s Andy Abramowitz, I’ll likely enjoy it. But first I’ll leave it on the Want-to-Read list until his next book comes out… Verdict:
	Questland by Carrie Vaughn Blurb: Jurassic Park but instead of cloned Dinosaurs, it’s “a convincing, high-tech-powered fantasy-world experience, complete with dragons, unicorns, and, yes, magic.” My Thoughts: I have the paperback sitting on my TBR shelf about 2 feet from me. Just need to get around to it. Verdict:
	Swashbucklers by Dan Hanks Blurb: “When Cisco Collins returns to his home town thirty years after saving it from being swallowed by a hell mouth opened by an ancient pirate ghost, he realises that being a childhood hero isn’t like it was in the movies. Especially when nobody remembers the heroic bits – even the friends who once fought alongside him.” Verdict: I really like the sound of this. I actually thought I bought it already.
	The 13th Witch by Mark Hayden Blurb: “Odin has a challenge for Conrad: sign up to protect England from wild magick and get a commission in the King’s Watch…Conrad never could resist a challenge. Before you can say “Ragnarok”, he’s plunged into a world of gods, mages, witches, dwarves and one very aggressive giant mole….Armed with nothing but a sense of humour and a willingness to cheat, Conrad has to find the Witch and save his life.” Verdict:
	Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest Blurb: A travel agent who’s an inconsistent psychic saves the life of a Seattle PD Detective. Desperate for a break in a cold case, he hires her to consult on it. Verdict: By the time this posts, I’ll be done with the book, so, yeah, cut this from the list.
	Faycalibur by Liam Perrin Blurb: “When five armies attack England, everyone on the Round Table is too busy to track down the missing court wizard. Seizing the opportunity to shine a light on the Less Valued, Thomas vows to rescue Merlin and sets himself on a collision course with a talented but overconfident rookie sorceress, a lizard with delusions of grandeur, and one rather unfortunate pigeon.” My Thoughts: The first book in the series was nice, I want to see him go on. There was an optimistic sweetness to it, and want to see Perrin try it again. Verdict:
	Ghost of a Chance by Dan Willis My Thoughts: I’d expected to get through book 3 by this point in the year, which obviously didn’t happen. Still, that means book 2 needs to stay on the list. Verdict:
	Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons by Quenby Olson Blurb: “Miss Mildred Percy is a spinster. She does not dance, she has long stopped dreaming, and she certainly does not have adventures. That is, until her great uncle has the audacity to leave her an inheritance, one that includes a dragon’s egg. The egg – as eggs are wont to do—decides to hatch, and Miss Mildred Percy is suddenly thrust out of the role of ‘spinster and general wallflower’ and into the unprecedented position of ‘spinster and keeper of dragons.’” My Thoughts: I can tell from the description that this is going to be something I love or I’ll be turned off within 50 pages…I’m on the border with it. I don’t know that I’m going to end up reading this, but I want to keep it on my radar for a little bit longer. Verdict:

Books Removed in this Post: 1 / 10
Total Books Removed: 1 / 33
Current Want-to-Read Shelf Total: 153

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)