Kro's List: 2023 - Part 2

Hello All
My name is Kro (he/they) and this will be my second year with the group as I joined LT in March of 2022. I live in Minnesota and am in school currently between working overnights at a hospital. I’m a lifelong reader, but I also enjoy writing, painting, and playing video games.
This group was so welcoming last year and made a huge impact on my reading habits (as well as my book buying habits…) and I’m happy to be back and see if I can actually give 75 a go this year; though, realistically I’ve goaled myself to hit 60.

Feel free to share any thoughts or such and enjoy these pictures of my cats; Ayda (left) & Naro (right).

Currently Reading


Ordered: Bookclub - Personal - Personal Nonfiction - Library Audiobook

Reading Interests
- Classics (Books considered as must reads and are on most top 100 lists, at the very least top 1000)
- Religious Study (Trying to grow my world understanding of people and thought, as someone who grew up non-religious)
- True Crime (Originally went to school for psychology with a focus in correctional/forensic psychology - although I'm no longer on that path it's still a subject of great interest to me)
- Psychology (Often intertwined with a focus on forensic psychology and neuroscience)
- Philosophy & World-Thinking (Just out of a personal fascination with how thought is perceived and understood)
- Light Reads/Recommendations (Not everything needs to be from a list or educational, sometimes just need a little light escapism)

A List of 25 Books to Read in 2023: (4/25)

1 – Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
2 – A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
3 – The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
4 – Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi
5 – Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty
6 – The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan
7 – For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
8 – Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston *Finished*
9 – The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller *Finished*
10 – The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
11 – Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk *Finished*
12 – The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
13 – The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston
14 – The Witcher Series by Andrzej Sapkowski
15 – Gypsy Boy by Mikey Walsh
16 – The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
17 – Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
18 – Beautiful Boy by David Sheff
19 – The Tell-Tale Brain by V.S. Ramachandran
20 – Mr. Murder by Dean Koontz
21 – House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski
22 – The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
23 – Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips *Finished*
24 – Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
25 – The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

January – March Reads:

January – 6
#1 - The Want-Ad Killer by Ann Rule (01/05/23) Paperback - 287pgs - 6hrs16mins
#2 - The Way Back Home by Courtney Peppernell (01/10/23) Paperback* - 222pgs - 2hrs25mins
#3 - Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (01/13/23) Paperback - 256pgs - 8hrs05mins
#4 - Room by Emma Donoghue (01/19/23) Borrowed - 321pgs - 8hrs04mins
#5 - Feel the Fire by Annabeth Albert (01/24/23) E-book - 227pgs - 8hrs04mins
#6 - The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (01/28/23) Paperback - 371pgs - 10hrs10mins
#X - I Am a Cat by Soseki Natsume (Ongoing) Paperback - 18pgs - 0hrs37mins
#X - All That She Carried by Tiya Miles (Ongoing) Audiobook - 3hrs
February – 7
#7 - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (02/08/23) Borrowed - 385pgs - 8hrs25mins
#8 - Normal People by Sally Rooney (02/10/23) Paperback - 273pgs - 5hrs51mins
#9 - Galatea by Madeline Miller (02/12/23) Hardcover* - 56pgs - 0hrs33mins
#10 - The Two Lions by Nagisa Furuya (02/13/23) Manga* - 255pgs - 1hr42mins
#11 - Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (02/25/23) Hardcover - 369pgs - 9hrs28mins
#12 - Toad Words and Other Stories by T. Kingfisher (02/27/23) E-book* - 114pgs - 3hrs43mins
#13 - Seven Days by Venio Tachibana (Story) & Rihito Takarai (Artist) (02/27/23) Manga - 358pgs - 1hr55mins
#X - All That She Carried by Tiya Miles (Ongoing) Audiobook - 3hrs57mins
March – 17
#14 - Sasaki and Miyano: Vol. 7 by Shou Harusono (03/01/23) Manga* - 173pgs - 1hr45mins
#15 - She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai (Story) & Tsubasa Yamaguchi (Artist) (03/03/23) Manga - 180pgs - 0hrs45mins
#16 - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (03/07/23) Paperback - 288pgs - 6hrs44mins
#17 - Hirano and Kagiura by Shou Harusono (Story & Art) & Kotoko Hachijo (Novelization) (03/08/23) Paperback* - 132pgs - 2hrs33mins
#18 - Hirano and Kagiura: Vol. 1 by Shou Harusono (03/09/23) Manga* - 136pgs - 1hr13mins
#19 - Forever Words by Johnny Cash (03/10/23) Paperback* - 132pgs - 1hr21mins
#20 - When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole (03/18/23) Paperback - 352pgs - 7hrs15mins
#21 - All That She Carried by Tiya Miles (03/19/23) Audiobook - 2hrs33mins - 9hrs30mins
#22 - My Love Mix-Up: Vol 1 by Wataru Hinekure (Story) & Aruko (Art) (03/23/23) Manga* - 175pgs - 1hr10mins
#23 - My Love Mix-Up: Vol 2 by Wataru Hinekure (Story) & Aruko (Art) (03/23/23) Manga* - 175pgs - 1hr05mins
#24 - My Love Mix-Up: Vol 3 by Wataru Hinekure (Story) & Aruko (Art) (03/23/23) Manga* - 175pgs - 1hr04mins
#25 - My Love Mix-Up: Vol 4 by Wataru Hinekure (Story) & Aruko (Art) (03/23/23) Manga* - 175pgs - 1hr07mins
#26 - My Love Mix-Up: Vol 5 by Wataru Hinekure (Story) & Aruko (Art) (03/24/23) Manga* - 175pgs - 1hrs14mins
#27 - My Love Mix-Up: Vol 6 by Wataru Hinekure (Story) & Aruko (Art) (03/24/23) Manga* - 175pgs - 1hr08mins
#28 - Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (03/25/23) Paperback* - 191pgs - 2hrs49mins
#29 - Hirano and Kagiura: Vol 2 by Shou Harusono (03/27/23) Manga* - 165pgs - 1hr29mins
#30 - Therapy Game: Vol 1 by Meguru Hinohara (03/29/23) Manga - 168pgs - 1hr50mins

April – June Reads:

April – 6
#31 - Therapy Game: Vol 2 by Meguru Hinohara (04/04/23) Manga - 192pgs - 2hrs16mins
#32 - My Love Mix-Up: Vol 7 by Wataru Hinekure (Story) & Aruko (Art) (04/07/23) Manga* - 168pgs - 1hr01mins
#33 - The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid (04/08/23) Paperback* - 410pgs - 11hrs17mins
#34 - Holes by Louis Sachar (04/17/23) Borrowed - 233pgs - 3hrs42mins
#35 - Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta (04/22/23) Paperback* - 323pgs - 7hrs40mins
#36 - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (04/27/23) Paperback - 369pgs - 8hrs48mins
May – 5
#37 - Dry by Neal & Jarrod Shusterman (05/12/23) Paperback* - 390pgs - 7hrs17mins
#38 - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (05/19/23) Paperback - 337pgs - 8hrs16mins
#39 - Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (05/23/23) Paperback - 218pgs - 4hrs39mins
#40 - The Old Man and the Gun by David Grann (05/25/23) Paperback* - 133pgs - 3hrs03mins
#41 - Beastars: Vol. 12 by Paru Itagaki (05/27/23) Manga - 201pgs - 1hr32mins
June – 11
#42 - My Policeman by Bethan Roberts (06/02/23) Paperback - 289pgs - 8hrs07mins
#43 - Beastars: Vol 13 by Paru Itagaki (06/05/23) Manga - 200pgs - 1hr20mins
#44 - Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier (06/06/23) Paperback - 192pgs - 4hrs08mins
#45 - Boys Run the Riot: Vol. 1 by Keito Gaku (06/09/23) Manga - 222pgs - 1hr25mins
#46 - Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (06/12/23) Paperback - 394pgs - 8hrs36mins
#47 - Boys Run the Riot: Vol. 2 by Keito Gaku (06/13/23) Manga* - 174pgs - 0hrs58mins
#48 - Boys Run the Riot: Vol. 3 by Keito Gaku (06/14/23) Manga* - 190pgs - 0hrs58mins
#49 - Boys Run the Riot: Vol. 4 by Keito Gaku (06/15/23) Manga* - 248pgs - 1hr13mins
#50 - Sasaki and Miyano: Vol. 8 by Shou Harusono (06/16/23) Manga* - 138pgs - 1hr20mins
#51 - Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (06/21/23) Paperback & Audio - 44pgs - 1hr34mins & 5hrs
#52 - Helium by Rudy Francisco (06/28/23) Paperback* - 95pgs - 1hr04mins

July – September Reads:

July – 8
#53 - Blacksad by Juan Diaz Canales & Juanjo Guarnido (07/06/23) Comic - 176pgs - 3hrs12mins
#54 - Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (07/12/23) Paperback* - 223pgs - 5hrs38mins
#55 - Heathen by Natasha Alterici (07/15/23) Comic - 336pgs - 4hrs
#56 - My Love Mix-Up: Vol 8 by Wataru Hinekure (Story) & Aruko (Art) (07/22/23) Manga* - 176pgs - 1hr
#57 - Hirano and Kagiura: Vol 3 by Shou Harusono (07/23/23) Manga* - 142pgs - 1hr05mins
#58 - Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton (07/26/23) Comic - 430pgs - 4hrs18mins
#59 - Beastars: Vol. 14 by Paru Itagaki (07/27/23) Manga - 201pgs - 1hr21mins
#60 - The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa (07/27/23) Paperback* - 180pgs - 5hrs
August – 5
#61 - Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina (08/11/23) Hardcover* - 331pgs - 8hrs12mins
#62 - Ariadne by Jennifer Saint (08/17/23) Borrowed - 305pgs - 9hrs49mins
#63 - She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (08/26/23) Hardcover* - 411pgs - 12hrs30mins
#64 - Beastars: Vol. 15 by Paru Itagaki (08/27/23) Manga - 197pgs - 1hr30mins
#65 - Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury (08/30/23) Hardcover* - 160pgs - 0hrs47mins
September – 3
#66 - The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill (09/06/23) Hardcover* - 118pgs - 2hrs34mins
#67 - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (09/16/23) Paperback - 334pgs - 10hrs24mins
#68 - He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan (09/29/23) Hardcover* - 483pgs - 10hrs23mins*

October – December Reads:

October – 5
#69 - A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher (10/04/23) Hardcover* - 243pgs - 5hrs56mins
#70 - Halloween Fiend by C.V. Hunt (10/05/23) Paperback* - 103pgs - 2hrs44mins
#71 - Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca (10/07/23) Hardcover - 275pgs - 3hrs25mins
#72 - My Love Mix-Up: Vol 9 by Wataru Hinekure (Story) & Aruko (Art) (10/10/23) Manga* - 189pgs - 0hrs54mins
#73 - We're Safe When We're Alone by Nghiem Tran (10/28/23) Paperback* - 153pgs - 2hrs53mins
November – 5
#74 - Sasaki and Miyano: Vol. 9 by Shou Harusono (11/04/23) Manga* - 128pgs - 1hr06mins
#75 - Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig (11/11/23) Hardcover* - 281pgs - 7hrs37mins
#76 - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (11/18/23) Audiobook - 16hrs
#77 - Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente (11/22/23) Paperback - 349pgs - 9hrs37mins
#78 - The Princess Bride by William Goldman (11/28/23) Paperback* - 414pgs - 9hrs37mins
December – 5
#79 - Winter in the Blood by James Welch (12/03/23) Audiobook^ - 5hrs
#80 - Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (12/19/23) Audiobook^ - 9hrs
#81 - Links by Natsuki Kizu (12/20/23) Manga* - 240pgs - 1hr35mins
#82 - Rules by Cynthia Lord (12/31/23) Audiobook^ - 4hrs
#83 - Severance by Ling Ma (12/31/23) Paperback* - 291pgs - 7hrs04mins

Reading Challenges & Goals

Downsizing My Physical TBR Goal
Owned at Start of 2023 - 196
READ THIS YEAR: 27
Books Purchased in 2023 – 129
READ THIS YEAR: 31

Shared Reads
APRIL: The Song of Achilles with Stasia (alcottacre) *****
JUNE: Their Eyes Were Watching God with Stasia (alcottacre) ***
JUNE: The Bone People with Anita (FAMeulstee)

African Novel Challenge 2023
NIGERIAN: Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta ***
SUDANESE: Silence is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addonia

Classics List: Guardian's Top 1000 Must Read Books
Previously Read - 25/1000
READ THIS YEAR: 2
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Ann Rule's Complete Collection
Standalones - 2/19
READ THIS YEAR: 1
Crime Files - 0/17

Dean Koontz Collection
Standalones - 8/68
Odd Thomas Series - 0/8

Around the World Challenge

I'm including books I've previously read even though I'm just starting to officially track it this year to make it easier on myself and because it will already take a long time to accomplish as it is.

Previously Read
AFGHANISTAN - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2022)
ARGENTINA - The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez (2022)
AUSTRALIA - The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams (2022)
CANADA - The Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2021)
FRANCE - The Stranger by Albert Camus (2022)
JAPAN - The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (2022)
MEXICO - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2022)
MONGOLIA - The Blue Sky by Galsan Tschinag (2022)
POLAND - The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski (2019)
SOUTH KOREA - Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo (2022)
SWEDEN - Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (2022)
TURKEY - The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak (2022)
UNITED KINGDOM - Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (2014)
UNITED STATES - False Memory by Dean Koontz (2015)
VIETNAM - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (2022)

Read This Year
IRELAND - Normal People by Sally Rooney *
NIGERIA - Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta ***
SOUTH AFRICA - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah *****

Kitten & Kro Bookclub

JANUARY:
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (01/14/23) Mine
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (01/28/23) Hers
FEBRUARY:
Normal People by Sally Rooney (02/11/23) Hers
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (02/25/23) Mine
MARCH:
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (03/11/23) Hers
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole (03/25/23) Mine
APRIL:
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid (04/08/23) Hers
Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta (04/22/23) Hers
MAY:
Dry by Neal Shusterman (05/06/23) Hers
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (05/20/23) Both
JUNE:
My Policeman by Bethan Roberts (06/03/23) Mine
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (06/17/23) Mine
JULY:
*Taking a Month Off*
AUGUST:
Heathen by Natasha Alterici (08/12/23) Mine
Ducks: Two Years In The Oil Sands by Kate Beaton (08/26/23) Mine
SEPTEMBER:
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (09/09/23) Both
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan (09/23/23) Both
OCTOBER:
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina (10/07/23) Mine
A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher (10/21/23) Mine
NOVEMBER:
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente (11/04/23) Hers
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig (11/18/23) Both
DECEMBER:
The Princess Bride by William Goldman (12/02/23) Both
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (12/16/23) Both

Read & Discuss Every Other Week

If you’d like to see my cousin’s reviews and thoughts on these books or other books she’s reading I’d welcome you to visit our bookcentric Instagram @kittenandkro. :)

Top 5 of 2022



Favorites Throughout 2023

Hello & Welcome!

Happy second thread, Kro! Enjoy your month of reading!

>13 PlatinumWarlock: Thank you Lavinia, you too!

Monthly Overview

Had a pretty good reading month in June and am excited to have 52 books read for the year already! I have realized I want to do more mood reading and less planning, so my plans are more like loose guidelines for now, we'll see.

Favorite of the Month: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

June Stats
Books Finished - 11
Pages Read - 2,186
Time Read - 30hrs 43mins (+5 Audiobook)

July Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
Heathen: Complete Omnibus by Natasha Alterici
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
Personal Picks
The Bone People by Keri Hulme - I need to finish it yet from last month
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
Borrowed Reads
Tweak by Nic Sheff
Beautiful Boy by David Sheff
Ongoing Long Read
I Am a Cat by Soseki Natsume

Happy new thread, Kro! Wishing you many happy read in the days ahead! I'd like to get to Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands

Happy new thread, Kro!

>1 WhiteRaven.17: Lovely pictures of Ayda and Naro.

>16 vancouverdeb: Thank you Deborah! I hope your reading goes well as well and yes, I'm very excited to finally be getting to Ducks this month, I've heard nothing but great things thus far.

>17 FAMeulstee: Thank you Anita! I can't believe Ayda is already almost a year old.

Happy new thread!

Happy new one, Kro! You and I are neck-and-neck this year. I finished June at 52 too.

Happy new thread, Kro. Great to see you so active again here in 2023 and long may it continue.

>19 foggidawn: Thank you Foggi!

>20 drneutron: Thanks Jim! How interesting, it's a good midyear count. I'll be curious to see if we keep in pace with each other for the second half.

>21 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul. Glad to be here and plan on sticking around for as long as I can.

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Kro! I've heard a lot of critical acclaim for Our Wives Under the Sea so I'm interested to see your thoughts.

>23 figsfromthistle: Thank you Anita!

>24 curioussquared: Thanks Natalie! It's definitely piqued my interest. I've also heard a lot of acclaim for it which made me order it & have since heard some reviews that it wasn't what they were expecting and were let down, so I'm very curious as well what my take will be. Lol.

July looks like it will be an interesting reading month! Can't wait to see your comments on some of those. :)

>26 ursula: Yes, I'm excited for this months reads - now if only I could find the time to actually read. :)

#53 - Blacksad by Juan Diaz Canales & Juanjo Guarnido

This comic follows private detective John Blacksad in a noir America that has a 1940's & '50's crime thriller feel and story, where the artists have taken people and projected their personalities through the animals they are depicted as.
First off, the artwork in this comic is absolutely gorgeous with high attention to detail and I constantly found myself lingering over the imagery, enough so that I would consider rereading it all again just to take in the artwork once more. As for the story aspect, it is very well written and has characters that are easy to recognize and get into, but it can be a little heavy in it's subject matter. The first story being a typical gritty detective mystery that is followed by stories following the notorious racial parties and communist concerns of that time that were a little harder to read.
Definitely recommend to anyone who loves that noir detective vibe and story setting or if you're looking for a comic with standout artwork.

Rating: ***
Finished: 07/06/2023
Stats: 176pgs - 3hrs12mins
Category: Comic - Noir America - 1940's Crime Thriller

#54 - Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

Leah has just returned from a longer than planned undersea voyage and Miri is coping and coming to terms with the wife that's been returned to her.
Right off I will say I think this is a strong contender for one of my favorites of the year, I picked it up and could hardly set it down once doing so. The writing is beautiful and insightful, taking you along this bizarre yet bland life that has ensconced these two individuals and pieces together the scattered times of during and after Leah's trip down below the surface. This book was so perfectly and exactly what I was expecting that I almost felt deja vu reading it, as if I had done so already.
I've read other reviews that were disappointed because they were expecting horror mystery and less love story, which I can understand, but I thought this was still a great horror mystery, it was just a subtle, less is more and quiet reflection kind of story, an unsettling unease, that I love in books.
Highly recommended and it's such a quick read.

Rating: *****
Finished: 07/12/2023
Stats: 223pgs - 5hrs38mins
Category: Personal Pick - Unsettling Vibes - Queer Love

BB from Ursula - So glad I picked this one up & am looking forward to more of the recs I've saved from you.

>29 WhiteRaven.17: Ooh, your review definitely intrigues me. Guess I'll have to pick this one up!

>29 WhiteRaven.17: Great review, especially the comment about the book meeting your expectations so much you feel as though you've read it before. I love it when that happens!

>30 curioussquared: Right after I posted this I got my daily kindle deals email from BookRiot and you guessed it, I am now the owner of Our Wives Under the Sea on kindle. Oops!

>30 curioussquared: & >32 curioussquared: What a perfect coincidence! Lol. I hope you end up enjoying it and I'll be very curious to see your thoughts on it when you do read it.

>31 libraryperilous: Thank you and yes, it was just the best feeling. Typically I'd be a little disappointed if a story played out just as I imagined, but for this book it was exactly right.

>29 WhiteRaven.17: Oh wow, I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! I think it was definitely advantageous for me that I went in not expecting either a horror mystery or a love story, haha. But yes absolutely on the unsettling unease.

>34 ursula: Yeah, this is definitely a book that is better to go into with little or no expectation of what kind of story it's going to be. I think you had set it up well in your review because I also went into it expecting an unsettling story but nothing else.

#55 - Heathen by Natasha Alterici

Introduced to a young warrior, Aydis, who has just been outcast from her Viking homestead for the crimes of kissing another woman, we follow her on an adventure of Norse mythology filled with iconic figures, such as Freyja and Odin.
This really was an enjoyable read, that both my cousin and I enjoyed. The story is interesting and engaging and though the artwork can come off as simple or plain it is able to portray emotion very well. The one complaint it that later on in the series the main artist is switched and the artwork done in the later half are a little disappointing, losing the appeal of the original art style and at times making some of the woman characters a little more gratuitous in their womanly aspect that felt unnatural and didn't fit the ease with which the characters were originally depicted. Because of this, the ending felt off, but overall it was a good story and something easy and engaging to get into, glad I picked it up.

Rating: ***
Finished: 07/15/2023
Stats: 336pgs - 4hrs
Category: Bookclub - Comic - Norse Mythology - Queer Love

BB from Amber (scaifea)

New Additions



First Photo
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell - Self-Pick
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George - Rec from Foggi (foggidawn)
From the Mouth of the Whale by Sjon - Noted from Anita's (FAMeulstee) Reads
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa - Noted from many on here
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai - Self-Pick
The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai - Self-Pick
The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh - Noted from Stasia's (alcottacre) Reads
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa - Noted from Stasia's (alcottacre) Reads
The Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds by Suzanne Collins - Self-Pick
Second Photo
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - Noted from Kim's (Berly) Reads
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - Self-Pick
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner - Self-Pick
Circe by Madeline Miller - Rec from my cousin
If We Were Villians by M.L. Rio - Self-Pick
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak - Noted from Beth's (BLBera) Reads
Babel by R.F. Kuang - Self-Pick

These hauls are actually from back in May, but I'm very behind in getting them up and posted. Just haven't had the time or energy, so here they are now - (I have at least one more haul from May yet too - I have an addiction. Lol). A lot of them are book recs I've gathered from this site and others, almost all the books in the second photo are popular books - that I've seen at least - except for The Lost Apothecary.

>37 WhiteRaven.17: That is a nice haul, Kro.
I hope you enjoy From the Mouth of the Whale, when you get to it.
A Little Life was one of my favorite reads in 2021.

>37 WhiteRaven.17: Some good stuff!!

A Little Life was one of my favorites, although I know it's a pretty divisive book.

>38 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. I'm trying to plan a trip to Iceland within the next year, so it's one of the two or three Icelandic books I was trying to get to read near/on that trip.

>39 ursula: Thanks Ursula!

To both, I will definitely have to try to get to A Little Life sooner rather than later if it was a favorite for both of you!

Happy newish thread Kro!

>37 WhiteRaven.17: Some interesting books there.

A Little Life DESTROYED me. I can't say I "enjoyed" it, but I couldn't stop reading it.

Babel is on my list to read soon! I got it for Christmas.

>41 humouress: Thank you Nina.

>42 curioussquared: Yes, I've heard it's a very emotional read, I'm going into it prepared. Look forward to your thoughts. Babel is on my cousins list too so we're planning to read it together in January.

#58 - Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton

A memoir following Beaton right out of college as she moves to the oil sands in Alberta to work and pay off her school loans, a work location that is rife with misogyny and isolation.
I have to say I thought this was well done and understand the praise of it, the characters and situations are very real and relatable and the overwhelming melancholy and frustration with the situations are carefully spotted with moments of lightness or stark humor. I also appreciated the subtle approach Beaton took, in presenting the situation and allowing the reader to take it in and reflect on the pain of it for themselves, often leaving gaps and silence where there might be an inner-monologue or reflection. Personally, this approach worked really well for me, but when discussing it with my cousin she expressed wishing there had been more of Beaton's thoughts to express the awfulness of the situation and to give more of a clear voice to calling out behavior she was subjected to.
Overall, I recommend it, but after talking to my cousin I do give the caveat to the type of reader that doesn't like subtlety as it is otherwise just a long reminder of conversations and situations that any woman has most likely experienced.

Rating: ****
Finished: 07/26/2023
Stats: 430pgs - 4hrs18mins
Category: Bookclub - Graphic Novel - Memoir - Misogyny & Environmental Work Places

#60 - The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

A story of a young housekeeper who comes to work and care for an older mathematics professor who suffered a brain injury 17 years ago that has left him with only 80 minutes of workable memory since then.
I had a good time with this short little read, it's easy to get pulled into and was an interesting way to combine mathematics into a fictional relationship based book. It was an exploration on how someone can form bonds with people even when they have to start almost fresh everyday and to take care in judging how someone behaves when they have their own private struggles they're maintaining. I don't really have anything to note, it was just a good read and I had fun thinking over the mathematics in my head as a bonus and found myself wanting to work out some problems on my own.
Recommend for a short, enjoyable little read. This is my second book by Yoko Ogawa and I will probably continue to read more by her.

Rating: ***
Finished: 07/27/2023
Stats: 180pgs - 5hrs
Category: Personal Pick - Relationships - Memory Problems - Mathematics

BB from Stasia (alcottacre)

I still haven't read any books by Yoko Ogawa, Kro, despite having a few on the shelves. Best one you have read?

>46 PaulCranswick: I've liked both, but I'd say The Memory Police, it was one of my top reads last year and it definitely has sat with me longer than I think this last one will.

Monthly Overview

A little late getting this up, I've had this chronic fatigue for the last few weeks that is making functioning difficult and it won't go away and on top of this we hired a new person at my job and it's been an absolute nightmare of a situation. I've been escaping into reading, but it's been hard to keep my focus. Here's hoping this fatigue passes and something is done about the work situation so this month can be better.

Favorite of the Month: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

July Stats
Books Finished - 8
Pages Read - 1,864
Time Read - 25hrs 34mins

August Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Personal Pick
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Borrowed Reads
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Ongoing Long Read
I Am a Cat by Soseki Natsume

>48 WhiteRaven.17: Sorry to read you are so tired, Kro. The situation at your work doesn't help either.
I hope you feel better soon!

>1 WhiteRaven.17: Your cats are beautiful, Kro! My cats approve :)

>11 WhiteRaven.17: I need to make sure all of those are in the BlackHole!

>37 WhiteRaven.17: Nice hauls!

>44 WhiteRaven.17: Get to dodge that BB as I have already read it. Whew!

>45 WhiteRaven.17: Glad to see you enjoyed it!

Sorry to hear about the fatigue and the nightmare new hire :( Not fun at all!

>49 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita! I hope so too!

>50 alcottacre: Nice to see you stop through Stasia. My cats appreciate the compliments (they are both a little vain, lol). Yes, those are definitely my highest recs! Thanks and yes, I'm glad I finally got to Ducks, they were both good!

>51 curioussquared: Thanks Natalie, it's definitely made for a poor combination and reawaked an inkling to look for something new job wise.

Hi there!
>37 WhiteRaven.17: Nice book haul!!
>48 WhiteRaven.17: Pooh to CF and the new employee. : P
Wishing you fun, escapist reading. : )

>53 Berly: Hi Kim! Nice to see you have enough time to swing through. Thank you! I'm wishing the same right now, my brain has been fried this month.

#61 - Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina

Following young native, Anna Horn, the book follows the time around the sudden disappearance of her younger sister as she attempts to put together what happened. Giving a glimpse into how life on the reservation is effected by the new casino and money and the voice of Native American mythos and beliefs.
This was a fantastic read and has quickly placed this author on my list to keep an eye out for - this is their debut. It's told in a way that jumps around in time, going back and forth throughout the story, but it serves it's purpose well and is never confusing to follow along. There are a lot of subjects covered from environmental impacts of progression, preservation of Native American history, gender expression and identity, human trafficking, tribal law, and others that all weave perfectly into the story and never detract from the core mystery unfolding or feel too heavy. Neither my cousin or I could put this book down once starting it, constantly thinking 'just one more chapter'.
I will easily and highly recommend this book, it also has a really nice cover design that initially drew me.

Rating: *****
Finished: 08/11/2023
Stats: 331pgs - 8hrs12mins
Category: Bookclub - Native American Mythos - Mystery - Human Trafficking

#62 - Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

A Greek retelling about Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete, whose story is intertwined with that of the Minotaur, Theseus, and Dionysus.
I borrowed this book from my cousin as she loves feminist retellings and this was a favorite for her last year. Unfortunately, I found this book quite 'meh' and it took forever to get through even though it's not that long. It starts off strong with the story of the Minotaur, but then devolves into what is essentially a memoir of her life beginning to end with no clear plot or point to the book besides just telling her life. Furthermore, this book is strongly written of as being a feminist retelling and for me I just don't think the book delivers on this at all - the only feminist thing being that it's told from her point of view, but even then every step of her decisions seems to solely come down to the men around her with no strong or clear voice of her own. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it and it was an entertaining story, but I think this is a book I would have been fine never reading.

Rating: **
Finished: 08/17/2023
Stats: 305pgs - 9hrs49mins
Category: Borrowed - Greek Retelling

#63 - She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Tossed into the life of a young girl barely surviving and how she intertwines her fate and the fate of her blessed brother, through monkhood, and eventual war. A genderbent reimagining of the rise of the Ming Dynasty.
This is book one of the duology and it is an intriguing and engaging read. There is not a single moment of filler or fluff in this book, as everything has meaning and import with no wasted space. There is a lot to cover and follow, but none of it ever gets confusing or muddled and despite numerous characters and plots I was never lost on who was who or what was going on - and I'm notoriously bad with names. Additionally, the book switches between a few pov's, but its done in a very organic way and only for necessary understanding. This book somehow makes the reader feel like an all seeing spirit floating around and watching a story play out, a type of detachment from being personal to the characters or even knowing without a doubt who your villains and heroes are that makes the story that much more intriguing.
It is also told in such a way that you could almost just read this first book and be satisfied with the story, but I am very curious to start and read the second book.

Rating: ****
Finished: 08/26/2023
Stats: 411pgs - 12hrs30mins
Category: Bookclub - Historical Reimaging - Queer

>55 WhiteRaven.17: >57 WhiteRaven.17: My local library has copies of those so I am going to have to check them out. Thanks for the recommendations, Kro.

>55 WhiteRaven.17: This is definitely a book bullet. Thanks for the rec! Hope your work situation has improved since your last update.

>58 alcottacre: Oh yes, I hope you like them if you pick them up.

>59 curioussquared: Yeah, hope you end up liking it! Thank you, but sadly, no, it's somehow progressively worse and every other department and person besides my direct manager is befuddled on why the new hire is still here despite them not doing their work & putting patient care at risk. It's been beyond stressful & I've brushed up my resume because I don't know how much longer I can manage.

>60 WhiteRaven.17: Ugh, I'm sorry to hear that. Sending good wishes for the future.

>61 curioussquared: Thank you Natalie. It's appreciated. :)

Monthly Overview

This past month was a lot, between work, general fatigue and burnout, and figuring out general life things. I also, after two years, finally got some testing done that confirms I am on the autism spectrum and have ADHD - which explains so much and is what I was expecting from testing but its been a lot to process and figure out how to treat that confirmation. So I've been a little inactive on here and with keeping up with everything. I appreciate those who still stop by and keep up - thank you. :)

Favorite of the Month: Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina

August Stats
Books Finished - 5
Pages Read - 1,404
Time Read - 32hrs 48mins

September Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
Personal Picks
The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Borrowed Reads
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Your September plans look great! A House With Good Bones and Piranesi are on my lists to read too :) Interested to see your thoughts on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes which I haven't been convinced to read yet -- but maybe your review will be the one that convinces me :)

>64 curioussquared: Thanks Natalie! Those two are the ones I'm most looking forward to. :) I admit that Ballad was not on my list to ever go back and read, but with the movie releasing this November & knowing my cousin will want to go, I figured I should at least read the book first. The original trilogy was great, so I'm hoping this one is worth it.

I hope September is an easier month for you Kro.

>66 PaulCranswick: Thank you for the well wishes Paul. It was alright, but clearly I've been away from here for all of it.

Hello - just placing a little message here to acknowledge the disappearance from LT I've had for the past month and that I'm about to post a lot to try and get caught up on reviews and all. I don't know if I'll have the time or energy yet to catch up on everyone else's threads, but hopefully I'll get around to that.

#66 - The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill

A retelling of an older Japanese tale of 'The Crane Wife', that takes place on a lonely little farm surrounded by drone run fields and focuses on a young woman's childhood from when her mother brought home a strange bedfellow to stay - an eerie, unsettling crane.
This is a short little book that I started and finished in one day with ease. I have not read the original tale that this book was inspired from so I can't comment on the similarities or take, but it was an intriguing little story that sets up this foreboding world with machine run farming and a young girl trying to care for her little brother and make sense of what is happening with her mother and the crane that has invaded her home. Additionally, this book only enforces my feeling of cranes being ominous creatures.
I'd recommend it if you're looking for a short, foreboding and intriguing read.

Rating: ****
Finished: 09/06/2023
Stats: 118pgs - 2hrs34mins
Category: Personal Pick - Foreboding/Unsettling

#67 - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Follows Elizabeth Bennett and her acquaintance to Mr. Darcy and all that surrounds that. I think most are well familiar with this particular story.
This year my cousin and I decided that for each other's birthdays since we live states away and neither of us are huge gift people, that we'd pick one of our favorite books and the other person would read it as a birthday "gift" - regardless of what the book was - so we could discuss. My cousin picked this book, so I read it for her birthday despite not having the best experience with my last Austen (Sense and Sensibility). I liked this quite a bit more, the big thing being that the romances actually made sense to me and I found the characters more notable or memorable as I was reading. Overall though, I don't think regency romance is really my vibe and I'm not particularly drawn to read anymore by Austen, at least not anytime soon.
I think I can appreciate and understand the love for Austen's work and maybe in the distant future I'll read something else by her again.

Rating: ***
Finished: 09/16/2023
Stats: 334pgs - 10hrs24mins
Category: Cousin Recommendation - Classic - Regency Romance

Monthly Overview

Well, I've been off LT for a month. Was sucked into a hyper focused fixation for a few weeks and work has still been a mess. We've now had two people from my department quit, I know one is looking for something else, and the other is thinking of moving to a new department - leaving myself and the coworker that has brought down the whole department and I've been sending out resumes for a little over a week now. And more...hoping I can at least reclaim my reading this next month.

Favorite of the Month: He Who Drowned the World by Shelly Parker-Chan

September Stats
Books Finished - 3
Pages Read - 935
Time Read - 23hrs 21mins

October Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
A House With Good Bones by T Kingfisher
Halloween Fiend by C.V. Hunt
Deathless by Cathrynne M. Valente
Red as the Sky, Deep as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig
Personal Picks
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
Head Like a Hole by Andrew Van Wey
Borrowed Reads
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

#69 - A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

Enter our protagonist, Sam Montgomery, an archeological entomologist who is on leave from a dig site to stay with her mother in her grandmother's once home. Proceed a southern gothic tale involving roses, bugs, sorcery, and vultures.
I have to compliment Kingfisher on how she writes horror, able to encapsulate the eerie and unsettling while having humorous and thoughtful, real characters. So often horror relies on the characters having no common sense or on suspending their belief in any normal and suitable explanations for the weird or uncanny. Not here, everything is met with an attempt to logically explain the horror, while never lessening the impact of it. Kingfisher also has characters that show their knowledge and not just have it told to us, making them feel more real and true, so be prepared for lots of bug talk in this one. Ultimately, I'm convinced any book by Kingfisher is guaranteed to at least be an enjoyable time and while this one wasn't my favorite, it was still good.

Rating: ****
Finished: 10/04/2023
Stats: 243pgs - 5hrs56mins
Category: Bookclub - Southern Gothic - Haunting

#70 - Halloween Fiend by C.V. Hunt

Set in the small town of Strang where Halloween is a real entity that haunts it's streets and townsfolk and requires a sacrifice every Hollow's Eve.
This story follows a middle aged man, Barry, as he lives with his father and tries to understand his reaction to Halloween's presence. I'll just say this book reads like it's a cheap, horror thriller movie - complete with incomplete and missing plot points, characters that are fairly trope and flat, and subpar writing. Also, never forget the grotesque treatment of animals.
If you're looking for a cheap, quick Halloween thrill and vibes this accomplishes that, but don't expect a particularly good read.

Rating: *
Finished: 10/05/2023
Stats: 103pgs - 2hrs44mins
Category: Bookclub - Halloween Thriller

>71 WhiteRaven.17: Sorry you had such a rough month, Kro.
Your worksituation sounds stressful, I hope you find a better place.
(((hugs)))

#71 - Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca

A collection of three short stories; the first of two women in an online relationship that gets twisted, the second of two parents and their son in a world where science has proved that a God does not exist, and the third of two neighbors in their pushing of social obligations and boundaries.
Firstly, is it impossible to write a horror book without any animal cruelty or death? Asking, because it's present in at least two of these stories and seems to be a reoccurring theme in these type of books. That aside, there was definitely a focus on the exploration of religion in these stories that wasn't particularly of interest to me - at least from the perspective that the characters were coming from and the stories were entertaining and kept me engaged to read through the book in only two days, but weren't anything particularly fresh or new besides having some queer characters. I'd be interested to see if this is a new author, as I think with time there could be growth and I'd be curious to see what kind of stories they write then, but for right now I merely liked this quick read and only recommend to read at your own discretion.

Rating: **
Finished: 10/07/2023
Stats: 275pgs - 3hrs25mins
Category: Personal Pick - Short Story Collection - Horror

>74 FAMeulstee: Thank you Anita. I hope something better comes along too, though I feel bad it's been at the cost of a whole department of good coworkers also having to find something else. The hugs are appreciated. :)

Take your time, Kro. Your pal's threads will await you with some patience my friend. Real Life does get in the way sometimes, doesn't it?

Welcome back. Sorry things have been a bit of a black hole, definitely can understand how that goes.

I read Pride and Prejudice back when I was 17 or 18 and really liked it, but haven't liked any other Austen I've read since very much. I don't know how I'd feel about P&P on a re-read, even.

>77 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul. It seems it really does, the second half of this year certainly has for me. Hopefully others have faired better.

>78 ursula: Thank you Ursula, it has certainly been going lately. That you also have not really enjoyed Austen's work makes me feel better about my own indifference. I know she is well liked and my cousin certainly loves her so I felt it was unfortunate I had meh feelings and thoughts on both the books I had read by her.

Sorry you've been having a hard time at work, Kro!

>68 WhiteRaven.17: I don't know if I'll have the time or energy yet to catch up on everyone else's threads, but hopefully I'll get around to that.
If you find it intimidating to come back after an absence (which I do all the time), I highly recommend declaring "Talk thread bankruptcy" and starting fresh without catching up. No one will mind, they'll just be happy to see you around.

Good to see you, Kro! Sorry work has still been tough and I hope you find something new that you love quickly! And I'm glad to see you enjoyed A House With Good Bones :)

Dear Kro,



Happy Thanksgiving from an appreciative non-celebrator.

>80 norabelle414: Thank you Nora! I will definitely take that advice and declare a reset, I just couldn't possibly catch up at this point.

>81 curioussquared: Hi Natalie! Very late response, but appreciate the message. :)

>82 PaulCranswick: Hello Paul, thank you for the Thanksgiving message - it's one of the rare holidays I actually do something for and I had a very nice time resetting and seeing loved ones.

Just got back to work after finally taking some much needed time off for Thanksgiving and would like to at least get my own thread a little updated and see out the year - so expect to see some past stats and reviews over the next few days.
I don't know if I'm still fully back, it's been rough and this time of year in general is not the best for me mentally, but I'll try to at least stay on top of my personal thread and hopefully catch up on a few others threads if I find the energy. Appreciate all my LT friends here.

Monthly Overview

This is clearly outdated, but I do like keeping things orderly, so here it is regardless.

Favorite of the Month: A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

October Stats
Books Finished - 5
Pages Read - 963
Time Read - 15hrs52mins

November Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
Deathless by Cathrynne M. Valente
Red as the Sky, Deep as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Personal Picks
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Severance by Ling Ma

#75 - Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

Follows Shek Yeung, a fierce pirate queen, after the death of her current husband as she figures out a way to hold onto her power and place in the world as a woman in a dangerous profession.
I was hooked at the description of this book as a 'riveting adventure novel about a legendary Chinese pirate queen' and was eager to read it, but unfortunately it was a misleading description. It's a short and quick book and one of the rare times that I'll say a book should have been tripled in length. Chang-Eppig has engaging and fleshed out characters in a rich world tapestry with pirate alliances, the Chinese government, foreign parties, and Chinese myth and folklore that would have made for an incredible adventure epic. Instead it's cut up and chopped in a dissatisfying way. It's also more feminist tale of motherhood than it is seafaring adventure, most of the book focuses on this, which is all good, but definitely not what the book is portrayed to be.
There seems to be a lack of clear direction on what the focus of this book was meant to be - adventure epic or trials of motherhood and ends up being neither, interesting starts but never brought to their full potentials. I think this author has great potential given their ideas, world building, and characterizations, but needs a little more direction or time to let them come to fruition.

Rating: **
Finished: 11/11/2023
Stats: 281pgs - 7hrs37mins
Category: Bookclub - Historical Fiction - Chinese Mythos - Motherhood

#76 - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

A prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy, this book takes place 64 years before during the 10th annual hunger games when the future President Snow is 18 and still finding his standing in the Capitol.
I had no intentions of reading this prequel until I heard that a movie was being released and running out of time to read the book I listened to this on audio. Admittedly, I think the original trilogy is better (though it's been years since I've read them) and it took me a good moment to get into this one. That said I did end up enjoying it, the background lore and seeing some of the building blocks and history surrounding the creation of the games was very interesting and what I enjoyed most.
If you have any love for the original I must recommend it, as I think the lore is well worth it and unfortunately the movie makes some shortcuts and entire cuts in order to fit everything to screen time so it is a different experience from the book. Sidenote - the movie is good, just it's difficult to fit a 500 page book into a 2.5 hour movie, so it makes some understandable adjustments.

Rating: ****
Finished: 11/18/2023
Stats: Audiobook - 16hrs
Category: Personal Pick - Dystopian - Series

#77 - Deathless by Cathrynne M. Valente

Follows the young Marya Morevna from childhood to adulthood and her time as the bride to Koschei the Deathless.
This book sucks you in immediately with birds falling from a tree and turning into men and you find yourself in this magical, yet bleak, Russian world and imagining. Valente writes this tale very much like a fairytale or fable, often using poetic and repetitive phrasings or story elements that makes it feel like any fable you heard as a child, but this one is way more mature and has it's dark moments. I found it quite enjoyable and it's definitely piqued my interest in looking into and reading more Russian folklore because there were elements and characters that felt so unique and intriguing. Admittedly, I also feel I missed out on half the nuance and references to Russia's political history, I knew enough to know it was giving a nod to certain movements or reigns but not enough to truly appreciate it, so if you are more familiar with Russian politics and history there is even more to enjoy about this book.
I'm still thinking about certain elements of this book, it was unique and intriguing.

Rating: ****
Finished: 11/22/2023
Stats: 349pgs - 9hrs37mins
Category: Bookclub - Russian Folklore - Historical Fantasy

#78 - The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Written as if it were an abridgement this classic tale follows the love story of Buttercup and Westley against Prince Humperdinck, with the notable giant Fezzik and the invincible fencer Inigo.
I'm sure most are well familiar with this story, most notably from the classic movie, that I know I've seen a decent number of times in my lifetime. Reading the book was quite the experience. Goldman does such an excellent job of writing himself into the narrative as a character and proclaiming statements about the former S. Morgenstern that even though this is clear fantasy, it's easy to find yourself wrapped up into the tale and believing it. I can't say I've ever read anything like it and I'm still thinking about how well-done and interesting of a literary device it is.
It's worth reading for that alone and getting wrapped into the fable, but it also is just a good time with great characters and humor.

Rating: ****
Finished: 11/28/2023
Stats: 414pgs - 9hrs37mins
Category: Bookclub - Classic Fantasy - Tale Within a Tale

New Additions



Catch the Rabbit by Lana Bastasic - Noted from Anita's (FAMeulstee) Reads
The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde - Noted from LT; Forgot Who
The Year of the Hare by Arto Paasilinna - Noted from Anita's (FAMeulstee) Reads
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung - Noted from LT; Forgot Who
Bunny by Mona Awad - Self-Pick
The Snow Hare by Paula Lichtarowicz - Self-Pick
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty - Self-Pick

Did a fun thing earlier this year when I was going through my wishlist of books and saw several titles with a word for 'rabbit' on them and decided to see just how many there were and to get them all. It is a popular little furry friend apparently.

Monthly Overview

Still struggling to read as much, I'm someone who reads more in summer when the weather is nice and then losses the desire to do so once it gets cold out. I just want to curl up and play video games or watch movies when it's cold. So in order to keep up with reading I've found myself listening to a lot more audiobooks recently.

Favorite of the Month: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

November Stats
Books Finished - 5
Pages Read - 1,172
Time Read - 27hrs57mins (+16hrs Audio)

December Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Personal Picks
Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
Severance by Ling Ma

Reading Update: I should be all caught up again now with my thread and am very happy to have posted a review for book #75 for the year, not only did I actually reach it this year but have even passed it! So despite not reading as much lately I am feeling very accomplished for this year, as far as reading goes anyway.
Also, I have recently gotten the Libby app that let's you borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your local library and it's a game changer. I don't know why I didn't do it sooner and it is going to save me so much money as audiobooks are very expensive and it helps support my local library, so win win. Looks like audiobooks might become more of a thing for me now and if you have any really good ones you'd like to recommend listening to I'd love to hear them, especially nonfiction. Not sure why, but nonfiction books on audio seem to be my favorite.

Congrats on 75! Also, at this point about 99% of my reading is from Libby and American libraries so I love to see you using that as well. :) I exclusively listen to nonfiction audiobooks but unfortunately I haven't been listening to many of them this year so I don't have any recommendations at the moment. I hope to get back into them a bit next year.

>93 ursula: Thank you Ursula! Yes, I'd heard about it, but didn't think much of it at the time. Then finally got a library card and set it up because I wanted an audiobook for a roadtrip, can't believe I didn't do it sooner. I definitely prefer nonfiction audiobooks, glad to hear you do too, I'll have to keep an eye out for any you read next year. :)

Hi Kro! Good to see you and congrats on 75 😁 I love The Princess Bride book and movie both.

Libby is absolutely the best. I recommend checking to see if your library has any reciprocal borrowing agreements with other library systems in your area. (I just googled "(library system name) reciprocal borrowing agreements" to find mine.) I was able to get cards at 5 different systems in my state this way and access to so many more books :) and I just signed up online, no need to actually go to the other systems! Definitely worth checking to see if your library has any 😁

Nonfiction audios... I don't listen to a ton of nonfiction, but I enjoyed Braiding Sweetgrass, Crying in H Mart, and Bad Feminist on audio semi-recently. I also have How the Word Is Passed and Hey, Hun on hold right now to listen soon.

>86 WhiteRaven.17: Congratulations on reaching 75, Kro!

>90 WhiteRaven.17: I just added one more book with rabbit in the title to read in December: The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen :-)

You may already know this, but if you find particular narrators you enjoy, Libby lets you search by name, so I'll often look for some of my favorites (Simon Vance, Bahni Turpin) if I'm not sure what I'm in the mood to read/listen to.

Congrats on reaching 75!

>95 curioussquared: Hello Natalie and thanks! :) They are both very good, glad I decided to read the book.

This is a fantastic tip! I live in a very rural area and even though my local system pulls from several libraries it's still pretty limited I've noticed. I will definitely have to look into this!

I've had Braiding Sweetgrass on my list for awhile so I'll definitely add that one next and note the others. I've heard pretty good reviews of Hey, Hun - hope it's good for you.

Thanks for the tip & recs. :)

>96 FAMeulstee: & >97 FAMeulstee: Thank you Anita! Lol, well I can certainly count on finding 'rabbit' books from you. That one sounds interesting, I'll have to try and keep a lookout for what you end up thinking of it. :)

>98 bell7: Thank you Mary! I actually didn't know that, or at least I hadn't thought about books being categorized by narrator to try looking that way, so thanks for the tip. :)

Congrats on 75!

>92 WhiteRaven.17: Bill Bryson's books are generally enjoyable on audio. I also listened to Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinken, and it was very well done. I imagine his other books would be similarly enjoyable on audio.

>101 foggidawn: Thank you Foggi! Oh, yes, I've been meaning to read a Bill Bryson book so I'll definitely look for that and am noting your other rec.

Congratulations on 75! And welcome to Overdrive/ Libby, too.

>70 WhiteRaven.17: You gave a Jane Austen less than 6 out of 5?! For me, it's her understated humour but a lot of it is cultural and from that time period. You might do better, if you feel inclined to re-read it sometime, to try an annotated version (which, of course, interrupts the reading flow, so I would keep it for a re-read). I read P&P myself as a pre-teen and then we did it in school, with the teacher to explain a lot of the nuances. For something with a bit more bite, you could try Lady Susan.

>103 humouress: Thank you Nina! And yes, I'm already really enjoying having Libby.

Lol! Well I certainly can acknowledge Austen's merits, I also enjoyed the humor in P&P and I did quite like the story, for the time period of it's writing her work is quite readable as well, which is a testament to why she's so beloved. I honestly think for me it's the matter of subject matter (I also struggled with Little Women once it got to their marriages) I just have a hard time really enjoying regency romance or time period domestic pieces. So my rating might be more reflective of my personal tastes. I might yet attempt Austen again, perhaps I'll like her stories more later in my life and I will note that work as one to try when that time comes.

Thinking about you during the festive season, Kro

>105 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul. Hope you and your family are well & enjoy the festive season.

#79 - Winter in the Blood by James Welch

Follows a young, nameless Native American man as he moves through a part of his life, rather distant and driven on by circumstance.
I listened to this on audio and it felt authentic, the conversations and actions feel very regular, real or ordinary. Welch does not sugar coat or try to overdo anything, it's plain and honest but delivered with some really great and poetic writing. There were some aspects of the story that felt oddly descriptive and like too much to me, but that's a personal taste.
Overall it's just a bleak, reflective piece about a man lost to himself, his connections, and to life that I enjoyed.

Rating: ***
Finished: 12/03/2023
Stats: Audiobook - 5hrs
Category: Libby - Domestic Fiction - Native American Lit

#80 - Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Set during World War II, the story follows a few individuals as they move towards the future and paths that have been laid out to them; including, a Lithuanian nurse, a young Polish girl, a Prussian soldier, and a young German recruit.
Honestly, this is one of the best random finds I've picked up and I've already marked some of the authors other books onto my TBR. I tend to not read too many historical fictions that take place during a war as they can be quite heavy, but it's been awhile and this one caught my eye, it is ultimately devastating, but that's no surprise and I knew it would be as soon as I read the title, but that certainly made it no less impactful. The characters are very full of feeling and experience, whether you love or hate them they are compelling. There is also a great afterword from the author that goes into the true facts that inspired the story that has truly stuck with me since I finished the book.
Easily one of my top reads of the year and if you get the chance to listen to it on audiobook it's read by a full cast for each main character and is excellently done.

Rating: *****
Finished: 12/19/2023
Stats: Audiobook - 9hrs
Category: Libby - Historical Fiction - WWII - Multiple POV

New Additions



The Face by Dean Koontz - Fave Author
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman - Fave Author
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf - Classic
Essays and Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson - Classic
The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich - Self-Pick
A Death in the Family by James Agee - Pulitzer Winner
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite - Translated
Night Train by Martin Amis - Self-Pick
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides - Pulitzer Winner
Endurance by Alfred Lansing - Nonfiction
Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff - Pulitzer Winner
The Dragon Lady by Louisa Treger - Self-Pick
Cougars: Solitary Spirits by Dennis L. Olson - Nonfiction

This is my final haul of the year and the last big one I'll have for awhile, seriously need to cut back on book buying next year - even though all of these are from a used bookstore and were pretty good deals.

>108 WhiteRaven.17: Glad to see Salt to the Sea was a five star read for you, Kro. Sepetys is a very good writer, and I enjoyed and recommend all her other books too.

>109 WhiteRaven.17: I've read a few of those - Endurance is my kinda thing (disasters at sea!) and Cleopatra was really good. I also read (most of) Middlesex. I hated it, but I know I'm not in the majority there.

Apologies for the late responses and replies.

>110 FAMeulstee: I had never heard of her before and I picked this one on a whim, but I'm definitely adding her other books to my tbr. Even more so, now that I know you also enjoyed them. :)

>111 ursula: Yes, I'm currently read Madhouse at the End of the Earth which is in the same vein and really liking it so I had to pick Endurance up! I've always wanted to read a book about Cleopatra so I'm glad I picked one up that seems to be well praised. Ha, yeah, I was kinda hesitant to pick up Middlesex as I've heard a lot of divided feelings about it, so we'll see.

#83 - Severance by Ling Ma

Follows young New Yorker Candace Chen through three separate but converging timelines of her life surrounding a life-altering, end of world, type event.
This book really has no description besides it's "The Office" meets end of the world on the back and was picked out for me by my cousin, so I went in almost completely blind with no expectations. Warning to those that are averse to it, but it is a pandemic like scenario, only more deadly. I will say the writing is smooth and I was curious to follow and see what happens but I also don't feel strongly about it overall. An interesting story and way of telling it over three separate points in time, and recommend it if you like pieces that are vibe based with a focus on statement over a typical plot storyline.

Rating: ***
Finished: 12/31/2023
Stats: 291pgs - 7hrs04mins
Category: Gifted - Dystopian - Corporate Life - Pandemic

Yearly Overview
I am running behind this year and kind of dropped off LT this last quarter, mainly because work has been hectic and a pain, hoping things will balance out more in the new year. Very happy I reached 75 though and hope to do the same next year.

Books Read: 83
Pages Read: 19,256
Time Read: 405hrs

Book Stats
Authors
Male: 18
Female: 41
Non-Binary: 2
Format
E-Book: 2
Paperback: 33
Hardcover: 11
Audiobook: 6
Category
Nonfiction: 4
Poetry: 3
Short Story: 2
Children's: 3
Fiction: 39 (Under 200 - 8; 200-300 - 10; 300-400 - 14; 400+ - 4)
Graphics: 32
Translations
Japanese: 31
Swedish: 1

Top 5 of 2023
1 - Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
2 - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
3 - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
4 - Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
5 - Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina

My new thread for 2024 is up as well now. Hope everyone is off to a good start in 2024 and thanks for keeping up with me this year. :)