lycomayflower is trapped under a cat with a book in 2024
Forum75 Books Challenge for 2024
Melde dich bei LibraryThing an, um Nachrichten zu schreiben.
1lycomayflower
Welcome to my 2024 reading thread! Click here to go to my introduction post.
This first post contains an on-going list of the books I've read this year, with the most recent reads at the top. I am planning on continuing only to review books where I really have something to say this year, so the list is simply that--a list of what I've read. Numbers in parentheses are page counts for each book. The book titles are touchstones. If the page count is a link, that will take you to my review in my thread, if there is one. Click here to visit my 2023 thread.
Total Pages: 5,500
30.) A Strange and Stubborn Endurance (529)
29.) The Story of English in 100 Words (audio)
28.) Beach Read (361)
27.) The Silent Patient (323)
26.) Weirdos from Another Planet!
25.) King Arthur's Very Great Grandson
24.) Other Voices, Other Rooms (187)
23.) Yukon Ho!
22.) Yes, Daddy (290)
21.) Redemption of a Slave (167)
20.) Something under the Bed Is Drooling
19.) Gaytheist (255)
18.) Dreambound (385)
17.) Calvin and Hobbes
16.) The Hound of the Baskervilles (audio)
15.) Why We Read (329)
14.) Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect (320)
13.) Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (401)
12.) All the Beauty in the World (180)
11.) Death Under a Little Sky (344)
10.) The Red House Mystery (211)
9.) Heading North (287)
8.) Safe and Sound
7.) Ruined (329)
6.) Happiness Falls (387)
5.) Big Panda and Tiny Dragon
4.) The Lost Library (215)
3.) Fangs
2.) In Between: Creativity Set Free
1.) The Cat Who Taught Zen
2lycomayflower
Hello! My name is Laura, and this is the seventeenth year I've kept an LT thread tracking my reading. That's a long time to publicly review everything you've read, and I've been growing weary lately of feeling like I have to have something to say about every book I read. So this year I will only be tracking my reading here, as a matter of course. Should I read something I really want to say something about, I will review it on my thread. But for the most part, expect to see just the titles of what I've read plus a star rating (and maybe occasionally a word or few--like "recommended" or "hard but worth it." Please feel free to talk to me though! About what you're reading, what I'm reading, or just to check in.
I read pretty widely, but I'm most likely to read romance, memoir, mysteries, YA, sci-fi, fantasy, and literary fiction. I'm in my early-forties, work as an editor, and carry on living in the south (it's been the majority of my adult life now) despite constantly missing winter and wanting to move back north (I grew up in north-east Pennsylvania). When I'm not reading, I like to do photography, write, crochet, swim, and watch TV.
Fav Reads in 2023
North Woods
Grandma Gatewood's Walk
Wolfsong
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Reads That Did Not Float My Canoe in 2023
Our Wives Under the Sea
The Cat Who Saved Books
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island
I read pretty widely, but I'm most likely to read romance, memoir, mysteries, YA, sci-fi, fantasy, and literary fiction. I'm in my early-forties, work as an editor, and carry on living in the south (it's been the majority of my adult life now) despite constantly missing winter and wanting to move back north (I grew up in north-east Pennsylvania). When I'm not reading, I like to do photography, write, crochet, swim, and watch TV.
Fav Reads in 2023
North Woods
Grandma Gatewood's Walk
Wolfsong
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Reads That Did Not Float My Canoe in 2023
Our Wives Under the Sea
The Cat Who Saved Books
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island
3lycomayflower
Gracie Meowin' (and me), who likes to lie on my throat while I read.
Thursday Next, who lives with her "dad," from whom I am separated, but comes to visit when he's out of town.
7laytonwoman3rd
I can tell you how to resize that photo of the galoot, if you like.
8lycomayflower
>7 laytonwoman3rd: I feel like I used to know, but yeah, hit me with that info, plox.
10katiekrug
Happy new year, Laura! Ihope to pop in a bit more often this year...
I like your idea of not "reviewing" every book you've read and saving the effort for when you really have something to say. I might try that.
I like your idea of not "reviewing" every book you've read and saving the effort for when you really have something to say. I might try that.
13FAMeulstee
Happy reading in 2024, Laura!
14norabelle414
Happy New Year, Laura!
16lycomayflower
*waves* Hello, all! I'm glad to see you all here!
17lycomayflower
1.) The Cat Who Taught Zen, James Norbury *****
A birthday present from LW3, what I read immediately and was a delight.
A birthday present from LW3, what I read immediately and was a delight.
18lycomayflower
2.) In Between: Creativity Set Free, Don Freas
A very cool little book collecting photographs of many of Freas's sculptures along with short reflections on his creative processes. Don is a cousin of mine of some manner of nth and removal. My grandfather and his father were first cousins. It's been a long time since I've seen him, but I remember fondly a family reunion brunch when I was in college where he talked to me like an adult about art and things.
A very cool little book collecting photographs of many of Freas's sculptures along with short reflections on his creative processes. Don is a cousin of mine of some manner of nth and removal. My grandfather and his father were first cousins. It's been a long time since I've seen him, but I remember fondly a family reunion brunch when I was in college where he talked to me like an adult about art and things.
19lycomayflower
3.) Fangs, Sarah Andersen ****
A collection of comics about a vampire and a werewolf who fall in love. Very fun.
A collection of comics about a vampire and a werewolf who fall in love. Very fun.
20MickyFine
>19 lycomayflower: That collection was so lovely. I also enjoyed some of the very silly jokes it included. ❤️
22laytonwoman3rd
>18 lycomayflower: You and Don are second cousins, once removed. (Of course that also means you and Larry have the same relationship...but never mind.)
23lycomayflower
4.) The Lost Library, Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass *****
Another birthday present and another absolute winner. I loved this immensely.
Another birthday present and another absolute winner. I loved this immensely.
25lycomayflower
>20 MickyFine: Yes, it was a delight all around!
>21 Tess_W: Thank you!
>22 laytonwoman3rd: I knew you would know.
>21 Tess_W: Thank you!
>22 laytonwoman3rd: I knew you would know.
26lycomayflower
6.) Happiness Falls, Angie Kim ****
27lycomayflower
7.) Ruined, Sarah Vaughn, Sarah Winifred Searle, and Niki Smith ****1/2
CA: illustrated nudity and sex
A Regency romance graphic novel. I loved the art (I've read and loved Searle's work before) and the story was delightful. Recommended.
CA: illustrated nudity and sex
A Regency romance graphic novel. I loved the art (I've read and loved Searle's work before) and the story was delightful. Recommended.
28MickyFine
>27 lycomayflower: Glad to hear you enjoyed this as it's on The List already.
29lycomayflower
8.) Safe and Sound, Mercury Stardust ****1/2
I didn't actually read it from cover to cover, but I turned all the pages, read bits and pieces, and looked over a lot of the pictures and diagrams. I follow Mercury Stardust on Instagram and love her approach to demonstrating basic home repair with a side of queer honesty and joy. (Also, she gets 8 billion points for calling herself "The Trans Handy Ma'am." I love it.) Since I didn't actually *use* the book to do any of the maintenance or repairs she discusses, I guess I can't say for sure, but from my perusal, this looks like a great guide for any renter (or homeowner) for the kinds of things that are quite likely to come up (weather-proofing windows and doors; unclogging toilets and drains; basic dishwasher, dryer, and washing machine maintenance; rehanging doors; replacing cabinet hinges; and so on). Also includes tips about what not to do, a guide to finding an apartment and checking your lease for nonsense, and a list of the simple tools it's good to have on hand. I saw this at my library today, and while I largely checked it out to support my library's buying (and prominently displaying!) the book, I enjoyed the hour I spent with it. I think it would be a great gift for someone getting their own place for the first time.
I didn't actually read it from cover to cover, but I turned all the pages, read bits and pieces, and looked over a lot of the pictures and diagrams. I follow Mercury Stardust on Instagram and love her approach to demonstrating basic home repair with a side of queer honesty and joy. (Also, she gets 8 billion points for calling herself "The Trans Handy Ma'am." I love it.) Since I didn't actually *use* the book to do any of the maintenance or repairs she discusses, I guess I can't say for sure, but from my perusal, this looks like a great guide for any renter (or homeowner) for the kinds of things that are quite likely to come up (weather-proofing windows and doors; unclogging toilets and drains; basic dishwasher, dryer, and washing machine maintenance; rehanging doors; replacing cabinet hinges; and so on). Also includes tips about what not to do, a guide to finding an apartment and checking your lease for nonsense, and a list of the simple tools it's good to have on hand. I saw this at my library today, and while I largely checked it out to support my library's buying (and prominently displaying!) the book, I enjoyed the hour I spent with it. I think it would be a great gift for someone getting their own place for the first time.
30lycomayflower
>28 MickyFine: It really was just so lovely. I could *see* them falling in love, which is one of the best things about a well-done romance.
32lycomayflower
>31 katiekrug: Hurray! Hope you like it!
33norabelle414
>29 lycomayflower: I've had my eye on this (since I will likely be a renter for the rest of my life), I'm glad you enjoyed it!
34lycomayflower
>33 norabelle414: Seemed like it would be pretty useful, I think especially for someone who might rent the same place for long periods of time.
35lycomayflower
9.) Heading North, Holly M. Wendt *****
Holly has been one of my closest and dearest friends for upwards of twenty years, and I read this book more than once in early draft form. I suppose that's your full disclosure from me here, but perhaps the fact that this was the third or fourth time I read this novel will also help illustrate how good it is when I tell you that it was an absolute joy to read again.
The story primarily follows Viktor, a gay Russian hockey player on the cusp of making it really big, who loses his whole team and his secret lover in a plane crash. We watch as Viktor tries to navigate his career, his grief, and his identity. We also get several chapters from the point of view of Liliya, who manages the San Francisco team where Viktor lands for the season after the crash. As a woman in management in hockey, she, like Viktor, struggles against a culture that makes little room for women or queer players.
Given that premise, it might be tempting to suspect that you ought to know hockey at least a bit to read the novel. Allow me to disavow you of that notion. Because one of the glories of Holly's writing is that it knows things and is always beckoning the reader in to know those things too. The descriptions of the games, of the players' movements on the ice, effortlessly conjure an understanding of what is happening that does not require any previous familiarity with the subject.
Aside from these assured descriptions, Heading North also shines in its character development. Viktor is whole on the page, his grief, his fears, his confusions, his hopes all laid bare for us through an achingly close interiority and carefully captured actions. Other characters, too--Liliya; McTavish, Viktor's roommate in San Francisco; Adie Barnett, one of the team's trainers--come alive in tiny moments, in quick pieces of dialogue. The dynamics of groups of men are captured brilliantly as well. Trash-talking on the ice, posturing and joshing in the locker room, more intimate moments between friends--all are here in enviable clarity.
I have a complicated relationship with literary fiction. I love beautiful writing and beautiful sentences. I adore astonishing character work. I am here for substantive literature that tries to get at something, to discover something, to affirm something. But I sometimes grow weary of the tendency in much litfic to be a bit drear, to shy too hard away from anything like a happy ending, to be suspicious of unambiguous hope. But here, in Heading North, is a novel that holds up hope and healing without sacrificing one iota of substance or stunning characterization or beauty. I recommended it whole-heartedly.
Holly has been one of my closest and dearest friends for upwards of twenty years, and I read this book more than once in early draft form. I suppose that's your full disclosure from me here, but perhaps the fact that this was the third or fourth time I read this novel will also help illustrate how good it is when I tell you that it was an absolute joy to read again.
The story primarily follows Viktor, a gay Russian hockey player on the cusp of making it really big, who loses his whole team and his secret lover in a plane crash. We watch as Viktor tries to navigate his career, his grief, and his identity. We also get several chapters from the point of view of Liliya, who manages the San Francisco team where Viktor lands for the season after the crash. As a woman in management in hockey, she, like Viktor, struggles against a culture that makes little room for women or queer players.
Given that premise, it might be tempting to suspect that you ought to know hockey at least a bit to read the novel. Allow me to disavow you of that notion. Because one of the glories of Holly's writing is that it knows things and is always beckoning the reader in to know those things too. The descriptions of the games, of the players' movements on the ice, effortlessly conjure an understanding of what is happening that does not require any previous familiarity with the subject.
Aside from these assured descriptions, Heading North also shines in its character development. Viktor is whole on the page, his grief, his fears, his confusions, his hopes all laid bare for us through an achingly close interiority and carefully captured actions. Other characters, too--Liliya; McTavish, Viktor's roommate in San Francisco; Adie Barnett, one of the team's trainers--come alive in tiny moments, in quick pieces of dialogue. The dynamics of groups of men are captured brilliantly as well. Trash-talking on the ice, posturing and joshing in the locker room, more intimate moments between friends--all are here in enviable clarity.
I have a complicated relationship with literary fiction. I love beautiful writing and beautiful sentences. I adore astonishing character work. I am here for substantive literature that tries to get at something, to discover something, to affirm something. But I sometimes grow weary of the tendency in much litfic to be a bit drear, to shy too hard away from anything like a happy ending, to be suspicious of unambiguous hope. But here, in Heading North, is a novel that holds up hope and healing without sacrificing one iota of substance or stunning characterization or beauty. I recommended it whole-heartedly.
36laytonwoman3rd
>35 lycomayflower: *Standing ovation*
37lycomayflower
>36 laytonwoman3rd: Thankee
38lycomayflower
10.) The Red House Mystery, A.A. Milne ***1/2
39Berly
>35 lycomayflower: Now that is one strong, beautifully written endorsement!! Book bullet. : )
40lycomayflower
>39 Berly: HURRAY. I hope you enjoy it!
41lycomayflower
11.) Death Under a Little Sky, Stig Abell ***
Quite enjoyable in part, with engaging descriptions of the main character making a hermity life for himself in an isolated location and a compelling enough mystery (if a little light on the detecting). But the descriptions of naked bodies (sometimes incidental, such as when a character is swimming, and sometimes sensual and/or sexual) felt slightly icky to me, though I couldn't for sure say why, except perhaps that they always felt tinged with nastiness when they seemed meant to be either neutral or joyful. Eventually, the mysterious death the plot revolves around turns out to have been the result of a serial stalker, rapist, and murderer of women in the area. The inevitable (?) scene of peril where the murderer threatens to rape the main character's girlfriend also felt icky (of course), but it felt icky in kind of the same way the other descriptions did. Which was unpleasant in the extreme. Ultimately the book left a bad taste behind, and I am unlikely to read any more of what I expect will become a series.
Quite enjoyable in part, with engaging descriptions of the main character making a hermity life for himself in an isolated location and a compelling enough mystery (if a little light on the detecting). But the descriptions of naked bodies (sometimes incidental, such as when a character is swimming, and sometimes sensual and/or sexual) felt slightly icky to me, though I couldn't for sure say why, except perhaps that they always felt tinged with nastiness when they seemed meant to be either neutral or joyful. Eventually,
42Owltherian
Omg your cat is adorable. I have a few cats that kind of look like them too.
43lycomayflower
>42 Owltherian: Thanks! She's a real sweetheart.
46Owltherian
>43 lycomayflower: You're so welcome. All I get from my cats are scratches lol, although she is sweet when she isn't overly stressed.
47lycomayflower
>46 Owltherian: I get scratches sometimes, too, though they are usually accidents of playing.
49Owltherian
>47 lycomayflower: yeah, my cat doesn't really play anymore, she hides.
50Berly
>48 lycomayflower: I have tix to go see her speak in April!!
51lycomayflower
>50 Berly: Ooo, hope you have a great time!
53lycomayflower
15.) Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out, Shannon Reed ****1/2
A memoir about books and reading. Like a warm hug of reflections on and insights into reading (and teaching reading/literature). Exactly the kind of book I like to read every once in a while--affirming rather than challenging and providing a lot of chances to nod along in recognition.
A memoir about books and reading. Like a warm hug of reflections on and insights into reading (and teaching reading/literature). Exactly the kind of book I like to read every once in a while--affirming rather than challenging and providing a lot of chances to nod along in recognition.
54lycomayflower
16.) The Hound of the Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle, read by Stephen Fry ****
Of the Holmes I've read (which is some, but not a huge amount), this is my favorite. This was a reread, though it has been thirty years, I bet. Fry does an excellent job reading it (of course), and I think he elevates it with his enthusiastic (but not over-the-top) performance. I think this is a decent starting place if you have never tried Holmes stories before (and even more so if you have managed not to be spoiled for this story in particular). This is part of a complete collection of Sherlock Holmes read by Fry, and as I have the whole thing, I suspect I may dip into more of them.
Of the Holmes I've read (which is some, but not a huge amount), this is my favorite. This was a reread, though it has been thirty years, I bet. Fry does an excellent job reading it (of course), and I think he elevates it with his enthusiastic (but not over-the-top) performance. I think this is a decent starting place if you have never tried Holmes stories before (and even more so if you have managed not to be spoiled for this story in particular). This is part of a complete collection of Sherlock Holmes read by Fry, and as I have the whole thing, I suspect I may dip into more of them.
55lycomayflower
17.) Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson *****
A many times over reread. Still makes me laugh out loud, even though I have much of it memorized. I kind of want to poke the mom and dad in the chest and tell them to eat a cookie sometimes, but I mean, within their exasperation often lies the joke, so. I plan to read through all the CaH collections over the next bit.
A many times over reread. Still makes me laugh out loud, even though I have much of it memorized. I kind of want to poke the mom and dad in the chest and tell them to eat a cookie sometimes, but I mean, within their exasperation often lies the joke, so. I plan to read through all the CaH collections over the next bit.
56laytonwoman3rd
>55 lycomayflower: Parental exasperation is NOT a joke. Gimme a cookie.
57scaifea
I adore Calvin, but as a parent, my god I know that kid would age you so fast. So give them a cookie, for sure, but don't poke them. They've been through enough.
58drneutron
Worst parenting choice I ever made was letting the son read Calvin and Hobbes at age seven. Still can't get a normal picture of him at 33.
60laytonwoman3rd
What, no nuts?
62scaifea
>58 drneutron: *SNORK*
63foggidawn
Yum! I'm taking a cookie, even if I'm not a parent! I am a long-time Calvin & Hobbes fan, if that counts for anything.
64lycomayflower
>63 foggidawn: Cookies are for all! Enjoy.
65lycomayflower
18.) Dreambound, Dan Frey ****
Strange but fun. About a father looking for his lost daughter, who slowly begins to suspect that she has disappeared into a fairy-tale world. Told in epistolary form to good effect. Really about stories, the power of them, and the importance of imagination over strict adherence to reality.
Strange but fun. About a father looking for his lost daughter, who slowly begins to suspect that she has disappeared into a fairy-tale world. Told in epistolary form to good effect. Really about stories, the power of them, and the importance of imagination over strict adherence to reality.
66lycomayflower
19.) Gaytheist: Coming Out of My Orthodox Childhood, Lonnie Mann ****1/2
Graphic memoir about growing up gay in an Orthodox community. Compelling and tough, in exactly the ways you think it might be. Recommended.
Graphic memoir about growing up gay in an Orthodox community. Compelling and tough, in exactly the ways you think it might be. Recommended.
67lycomayflower
20.) Something under the Bed Is Drooling, Bill Watterson *****
More marvelous mischief. This one has a fair few strips where Calvin's parents join in the fun, and those are some of my favorites. I particularly like the one where the dad leaves Calvin in the car while he runs an errand, and Calvin and Hobbes hide under a blanket in the back seat. When Dad comes back, he pretends he can't find him and that he's thrilled to have lost him. His playfulness there is great, and Calvin's indignation when he pops up out of hiding is hilarious. This collection also features "the little racoon" sequence, at which I had to put the book down for a bit and come back when I felt ready. Nine strips of gentle weepy brilliance there.
Brownies, for today's offering to the parents on my thread, I think.
x
More marvelous mischief. This one has a fair few strips where Calvin's parents join in the fun, and those are some of my favorites. I particularly like the one where the dad leaves Calvin in the car while he runs an errand, and Calvin and Hobbes hide under a blanket in the back seat. When Dad comes back, he pretends he can't find him and that he's thrilled to have lost him. His playfulness there is great, and Calvin's indignation when he pops up out of hiding is hilarious. This collection also features "the little racoon" sequence, at which I had to put the book down for a bit and come back when I felt ready. Nine strips of gentle weepy brilliance there.
Brownies, for today's offering to the parents on my thread, I think.
x
69laytonwoman3rd
>67 lycomayflower: Again, no nuts... Who brought you up, then?
70lauralkeet
>69 laytonwoman3rd: I'll have your portion, then, k?
ETA: Oops, hi Laura. I got distracted by the presence of chocolate and lost all my manners.
ETA: Oops, hi Laura. I got distracted by the presence of chocolate and lost all my manners.
71lycomayflower
LOL, y'all. I'm glad you're enjoying the snacks.
>69 laytonwoman3rd: Some nice lady who would make the treats without the nasty nuts for her sweet kiddo.
>69 laytonwoman3rd: Some nice lady who would make the treats without the nasty nuts for her sweet kiddo.
72lycomayflower
21.) Redemption of a Slave, Laura Taylor ****
An alpha/omega romance in a historical setting where omegas are treated as property. The plot is a pretty standard trope of abused omega is found by an alpha who is a decent human being, and over the course of the novel the alpha's humane treatment of the omega allows the omega room to regain a sense of agency and personhood while the alpha slowly realizes just how awful his society treats omegas and becomes determined to make the omega's life as good as possible (and maybe try to change the society a bit). When I say this is a standard trope, I don't mean that as a criticism. I love this trope when done well, especially as "done well" often means that the romance plot is sharply tinged by gender studies and queer studies sensibilities. Taylor does it well, with interesting characters and cool worldbuilding. If you like this kind of thing, this one is a pretty solid bet. (And if you don't know what an alpha/omega romance is, maybe don't google it at work, mmkay?)
An alpha/omega romance in a historical setting where omegas are treated as property. The plot is a pretty standard trope of abused omega is found by an alpha who is a decent human being, and over the course of the novel the alpha's humane treatment of the omega allows the omega room to regain a sense of agency and personhood while the alpha slowly realizes just how awful his society treats omegas and becomes determined to make the omega's life as good as possible (and maybe try to change the society a bit). When I say this is a standard trope, I don't mean that as a criticism. I love this trope when done well, especially as "done well" often means that the romance plot is sharply tinged by gender studies and queer studies sensibilities. Taylor does it well, with interesting characters and cool worldbuilding. If you like this kind of thing, this one is a pretty solid bet. (And if you don't know what an alpha/omega romance is, maybe don't google it at work, mmkay?)
73lycomayflower
22.) Yes, Daddy, Jonathan Parks-Ramage ****1/2
CA: abuse, sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, conversion therapy, religious abuse, suicidal ideation, suicide, substance abuse (NB some of these involve a teenaged minor)
Ooofda. Somewhat regretting reading this in one sitting because it was intense. This is the compelling and well and carefully crafted story of Jonah, a young man who was manipulated into increasingly vulnerable situations by Richard, an older man he was initially attracted to. This manipulation eventually leads to a a period of effective sexual slavery and repeated rape. The story follows Jonah through his initial attraction to Richard, the manipulation and abuse, and Jonah's eventual escape and attempts over the following decade to ignore what happened to him and ultimately to heal. An excellent exploration of vulnerability, victimization, complicity, and queer reclamation of faith. Recommended but do mind the content advisory.
CA: abuse, sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, conversion therapy, religious abuse, suicidal ideation, suicide, substance abuse (NB some of these involve a teenaged minor)
Ooofda. Somewhat regretting reading this in one sitting because it was intense. This is the compelling and well and carefully crafted story of Jonah, a young man who was manipulated into increasingly vulnerable situations by Richard, an older man he was initially attracted to. This manipulation eventually leads to a a period of effective sexual slavery and repeated rape. The story follows Jonah through his initial attraction to Richard, the manipulation and abuse, and Jonah's eventual escape and attempts over the following decade to ignore what happened to him and ultimately to heal. An excellent exploration of vulnerability, victimization, complicity, and queer reclamation of faith. Recommended but do mind the content advisory.
74lycomayflower
23.) Yukon Ho!, Bill Waterson ****
More goodness in the same vein as the others. I'm continuing to enjoy rereading these.
Some pie for the thread parents:
x
More goodness in the same vein as the others. I'm continuing to enjoy rereading these.
Some pie for the thread parents:
x
75laytonwoman3rd
>74 lycomayflower: And is there ice cream to go with? Hmmmm?
78lycomayflower
25.) King Arthur's Very Great Grandson, Kenneth Kraegel ***1/2
Picture book about a little boy who is King Arthur's many-greats grandson and decides on his sixth birthday that it's time to go adventuring. He meets several monsters, none of whom are interested in the kinds of battles he wants to have. So they all become friends instead. Okay. A little abrupt in the end maybe. Illustrations the best part.
Picture book about a little boy who is King Arthur's many-greats grandson and decides on his sixth birthday that it's time to go adventuring. He meets several monsters, none of whom are interested in the kinds of battles he wants to have. So they all become friends instead. Okay. A little abrupt in the end maybe. Illustrations the best part.
79lycomayflower
26.) Weirdos from Another Planet!, Bill Watterson ****1/2
I know I had this collection as a kid, but it didn't come along with me with the others when I moved out. No idea why. But that means it has been a long time since I've read the strips in this one, so it was a lot of fun to rediscover these, some of which I barely remembered.
I know I had this collection as a kid, but it didn't come along with me with the others when I moved out. No idea why. But that means it has been a long time since I've read the strips in this one, so it was a lot of fun to rediscover these, some of which I barely remembered.
80lycomayflower
27.) The Silent Patient, Alex Michaelides **
Jeez crumpets, what a miserable collection of flat, awful characters this was. No one was likeable or compelling. I call bullshit on a lot of the "psychotherapy" that happens here, and especially on the attitudes of the doctors and the way the ward is run. (Is this because of the unreliable narrator? Maybe? Who cares?) The story tripped along, but I never felt terribly engaged or particularly confident that I was going to be happy I stuck around to see how it came out. The twist made me go "Wait. Huh? Oh. I guess?" It felt tricksy and cheatsy instead of well-crafted. I felt like the author was being manipulative rather than performing excellent misdirection. What I *thought* was going on was a lot more compelling to me (and less outright twisty) than what really was. And even though I felt cheated by the twist, I'm not even particularly annoyed? It doesn't even rise to that. I shrugged at the thing generally, I shrugged at the twist, and now I shrug at the manipulation. For book club, or I probably would have stopped bothering about halfway through.
Jeez crumpets, what a miserable collection of flat, awful characters this was. No one was likeable or compelling. I call bullshit on a lot of the "psychotherapy" that happens here, and especially on the attitudes of the doctors and the way the ward is run. (Is this because of the unreliable narrator? Maybe? Who cares?) The story tripped along, but I never felt terribly engaged or particularly confident that I was going to be happy I stuck around to see how it came out. The twist made me go "Wait. Huh? Oh. I guess?" It felt tricksy and cheatsy instead of well-crafted. I felt like the author was being manipulative rather than performing excellent misdirection. What I *thought* was going on was a lot more compelling to me (and less outright twisty) than what really was. And even though I felt cheated by the twist, I'm not even particularly annoyed? It doesn't even rise to that. I shrugged at the thing generally, I shrugged at the twist, and now I shrug at the manipulation. For book club, or I probably would have stopped bothering about halfway through.
81bell7
>80 lycomayflower: I read that one for my book club a couple of years ago and I hated it SO MUCH. Hope you have a better book waiting in the wings!
82lycomayflower
>81 bell7: Right?! I'm glad I'm not alone on this. I'm very curious to see what the other members of my book club thought.
83lycomayflower
28.) Beach Read, Emily Henry ****1/2
This was funnier, more substantive, and better than I expected. Not that I was expecting dreary, shallow, or bad, it was just all around *more* than I had anticipated. And one small section made me cry! Really glad that I finally got around to trying an Emily Henry.
This was funnier, more substantive, and better than I expected. Not that I was expecting dreary, shallow, or bad, it was just all around *more* than I had anticipated. And one small section made me cry! Really glad that I finally got around to trying an Emily Henry.
84lycomayflower
29.) The Story of English in 100 Words, David Crystal, read by David Crystal ****
This was a delight. Linguist David Crystal's word book of one hundred English words does a great job of exploring and explaining the history of English and how words change and get added to the language. He read it wonderfully, and his light Welsh accent contributed to its feeling like he was telling me a story. Recommended, especially on audio.
This was a delight. Linguist David Crystal's word book of one hundred English words does a great job of exploring and explaining the history of English and how words change and get added to the language. He read it wonderfully, and his light Welsh accent contributed to its feeling like he was telling me a story. Recommended, especially on audio.
85lycomayflower
30.) A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, Foz Meadows ****1/2
CA: rape, suicidal ideation, animal death (off-page; aftermath on-page); fantasy violence
This fantasy romance took me a bit to settle into. The pace is leisurely, and while there is a lot of plot going on, the focus is often on the interior lives of the two main characters. None of this is a criticism, in fact I think these things elevated the novel. And once I did settle in, I was delighted to be in its company for over five hundred pages. The plot involves an arranged marriage between two noblemen from different territories and the resulting and ongoing court intrigue and politics (plus muuuurder). The world Meadows has built is an affirmational wonder, with one of the territories operating under strict gender roles, heteronormativity, and tight expectations around sex, and the other operating as an entirely queernorm society. With one member of our couple coming from each society, there is a delightful amount of story-appropriate consideration of how two such societies operate, and that was a joy. I loved watching the two characters fall for each other (slowly--it's my favorite kind of slow burn, the sort where the falling and realizing is slow but the characters are rarely apart), and the book as a whole has the kind of tenderness about it that never fails to delight me and which I am always seeking more of in my fiction. Recommended, especially if you wish the current romantasy trend in publishing skewed queerer and/or contained more care and craft at the sentence-level.
CA: rape, suicidal ideation, animal death (off-page; aftermath on-page); fantasy violence
This fantasy romance took me a bit to settle into. The pace is leisurely, and while there is a lot of plot going on, the focus is often on the interior lives of the two main characters. None of this is a criticism, in fact I think these things elevated the novel. And once I did settle in, I was delighted to be in its company for over five hundred pages. The plot involves an arranged marriage between two noblemen from different territories and the resulting and ongoing court intrigue and politics (plus muuuurder). The world Meadows has built is an affirmational wonder, with one of the territories operating under strict gender roles, heteronormativity, and tight expectations around sex, and the other operating as an entirely queernorm society. With one member of our couple coming from each society, there is a delightful amount of story-appropriate consideration of how two such societies operate, and that was a joy. I loved watching the two characters fall for each other (slowly--it's my favorite kind of slow burn, the sort where the falling and realizing is slow but the characters are rarely apart), and the book as a whole has the kind of tenderness about it that never fails to delight me and which I am always seeking more of in my fiction. Recommended, especially if you wish the current romantasy trend in publishing skewed queerer and/or contained more care and craft at the sentence-level.
