What are YOU reading? (Formerly Summer of Books...)

[cktc]

Nov 24, 2023 23:32:28 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

I read Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros last week and LOVED it. And then immediately reread it. The next book just came out and I have it on hold at the library, but will probably cave and buy it instead. We’ll see. In the meantime, I forced myself to read The Five-Star Weekend by Elon Hilderbrand as it is due back to tomorrow, and it was not the best follow up read to Fourth Wing - I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it a few books ago.

But seriously, if you like fantasy at all, I highly recommend Fourth Wing. Fantasy isn’t what I gravitate to, but I do love the Harry Potter and Rick Riordan series, so after having multiple people recommend Fourth Wing, I put it on hold at the library and I’m so glad I did (though now I want to buy a copy).

I'm working on book 2 right now.

Also just started reading the Adventurer's Guild with DS. I'm so excited that he is interested in Fantasy/Adventure books and we can share that now.

[Artemis Windsong]

The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk AB.  I ordered a print book for my grandson who has PTSD.  I hope he reads it.

I'm a believer in the more a person knows about a mental illness, the easier it is to cope.

Edit

Unresolved trauma from childhood and beyond seem to be the root source of drug/alcohol additions as well as a lot of mental and other illnesses.  There is a wealth of information to support coping.  Yoga is one of many.

I asked my back and knee issues if unresolved trauma were the cause.

[tcu2003]

Dec 20, 2023 22:49:56 GMT -5 cktc said:

Nov 24, 2023 23:32:28 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

I read Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros last week and LOVED it. And then immediately reread it. The next book just came out and I have it on hold at the library, but will probably cave and buy it instead. We’ll see. In the meantime, I forced myself to read The Five-Star Weekend by Elon Hilderbrand as it is due back to tomorrow, and it was not the best follow up read to Fourth Wing - I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it a few books ago.

But seriously, if you like fantasy at all, I highly recommend Fourth Wing. Fantasy isn’t what I gravitate to, but I do love the Harry Potter and Rick Riordan series, so after having multiple people recommend Fourth Wing, I put it on hold at the library and I’m so glad I did (though now I want to buy a copy).

I'm working on book 2 right now.

Also just started reading the Adventurer's Guild with DS. I'm so excited that he is interested in Fantasy/Adventure books and we can share that now.

Ooh, I haven’t heard of The Adventurer’s Guild series. I think DS may like it, if I can get him to give it a shot - books I suggest tend to be met with disdain, but he loves Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, etc. I’m going to see if he wants to read it together.

[tcu2003]

Recap of 2023 reading. I read 179 books, which is far and away the most books I’ve read in a year since I started tracking via Goodreads in 2011 or so. In 2022, I only read 38 books, and 41 in 2021. Last year I made a conscious effort to spend less mindless time on my phone and try to read more, and it paid off. That said, I also read a ton of free kindle unlimited books that I didn’t love, so gave a to’ of 2* reviews. Here are some of my favorites from 2023:

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
The 1619 Project: A New American Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton
Memphis by Tara M Stringfellow
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
You Got Anything Stronger by Gabrielle Union
The Reunion by Kayla Olson
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
The Sum of Us; What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas.

[Artemis Windsong]

The Life She Was Given, Ellen Marie Wiseman - a lot of twists in this.

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate - Suprisingly, I gave my friends prayer boxes for Xmas and this book came up on my recommended book list.

Next is AB When The Wind Blows by James Patterson.

My library newsletter made lists of the most checked out books in 2023 both in print and audio.  I'll review it after the Patterson book.

I also got 2 recommendations from an avid reader The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts and Meet Me At the Lake - IDK author.

[snapdragon]

I listened to Inheritance by Nora Roberts - I actually really enjoyed this one! I knew going into it that it was a trilogy so the ending did not surprise me at all. Yes, it was a cliffhanger, but it seemed like the logical conclusion to break the book off there. Looking forward to book 2 in the future.

Also listened to Judgement Prey by John Sandford and it was average. I liked the story, it just didn't have anything that really excited me. The ending fell a bit flat for me.

Read   Spirit of the Wood by Kristian Britain and enjoyed that also. I am hoping that we will get a fuller length book sometime in the next year or so.

Reading   Anything With Nothing by Mercedes Lackey - This is a compilation of stories in the Valdemar verse. 

[snapdragon]

Just listened to The Handler by L.T. Ryan - good book but I figured out who the "real" bad person was about 1/3 of the way through, just by the way the Dog was acting around them. So a 3.5* 

Going back to a feel good listen now as a palate cleanser.

[snapdragon]

I am about 60% in on Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey. I am enjoying it so far.

[mathsplosion]

Feb 6, 2024 18:26:48 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

I am about 60% in on Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey. I am enjoying it so far.        

I enjoyed that one, too. 

[Artemis Windsong]

Before You Found Me, Brook Beyfuss  4.2 stars on Goodreads.

I'm just about 1/3 through the book. So far, it's about severe abuse solutions.

[snapdragon]

Finished Trickster King by R.J. Blain - enjoyed to book alot and will be re-reading it in a few days. 

[Bonny]

Just finished Born a Crime by Trevor Noah.

I thought I understood Apartheied but the book was a real eye opener from someone who grew up living it. It's a great piece on racism in general.

[steph08]

I really enjoyed Trevor Noah's book as well!

I'm trying to read more this year, and I'm at 17 books so far (to be fair, 5 of them were technically short stories (less than 100 pages). 

I just finished Matthew McCoughaney's Greenlights, which was pretty good. 

I really enjoyed The Things We Cannot Say and The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer.

Right now, I'm reading Fourth Wing because my DH wouldn't stop telling me that it was all over TikTok. I'm about 75 pages in, and it's going OK so far.

[Artemis Windsong]

Slow Horses by Mick Herron.  About retired M15 agents.  AB

Ah, President's Day and I'm a bit more patriotic wearing a special bracelet and flag necklace that I made.

I am listening to home front by Kristin Hannah about two women lives as pilots who moved from full military to national guard helicopter pilots then are again called for active duty while leaving family.

[happyhoix]

Feb 19, 2024 22:10:23 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

Slow Horses by Mick Herron.  About retired M15 agents.  AB

Ah, President's Day and I'm a bit more patriotic wearing a special bracelet and flag necklace that I made.

I am listening to home front by Kristin Hannah about two women lives as pilots who moved from full military to national guard helicopter pilots then are again called for active duty while leaving family.

Wow what a coincidence- our book club met last night to discuss Slow Horses. Such biting, dry English humor. I loved it. Not like any spy novel I ever read before.

[Deleted]

My Year of Rest and Relaxation: Ottessa Moshfegh

This has been on the TBR pile for a long time. Now I am participating in a reading challenge at our library and one item is to read a book you have been putting off. This is it!

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Finished Killing Witches by Bill OReilly.

I learned quite a bit about the Salem Witch trials. His books are always interesting.

[Artemis Windsong]

And Then There Was One, Agatha Christie - AB

House of Spies, Daniel Silva - IDK if I will finish it.

In True Face, Joanna Mendez - about spy disguises.  A search for a review, it is a new book requiring preorder.  Disguises aren't just for spies. 

[seriousthistime]

Jan 1, 2024 13:14:09 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Recap of 2023 reading. I read 179 books, which is far and away the most books I’ve read in a year since I started tracking via Goodreads in 2011 or so. In 2022, I only read 38 books, and 41 in 2021. Last year I made a conscious effort to spend less mindless time on my phone and try to read more, and it paid off. That said, I also read a ton of free kindle unlimited books that I didn’t love, so gave a to’ of 2* reviews. Here are some of my favorites from 2023:

I need to make a conscious effort to do this too. 

I signed up for Audible and have a bunch of books to listen to, but I find on my long distance drives that it's hit or miss whether I can listen to a book and still get the same satisfaction I could from reading it.  Without words on a page (or a Kindle), my mind tends to wander.

[Artemis Windsong]

Hoopla recommended Go As A River by Shelley Read.  I am enjoying the AB.

The thing with AB is mind wandering or distraction, noise drowning out then  missing some important passage.  With a book, I can look back. 

What I like is being able to to other things as well as listen.

[Artemis Windsong]

Cavalier:  An unsolved mystery

The book came up on the library's Reader Group.  It's set in ND and written by someone close to the victim.  I lived in ND then but don't remember anything about the victim.

[Tennesseer]

For those who liked the book 'Water For Elephants' (like I did) know it was made into a so-so movie (my opinion only). It is now a Broadway musical. ABC's Good Morning America had the 'Water For Elephants' cast on the show singing a song from the musical.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Rereading Murder Your Employer.   I like the title and it's a really good book.

[Artemis Windsong]

Finishing AB Just the Nicest Couple  Mary Kubica.

It Ends With Us.  Colleen Hoover.

[tcu2003]

Jan 1, 2024 13:08:02 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Dec 20, 2023 22:49:56 GMT -5 cktc said:

I'm working on book 2 right now.

Also just started reading the Adventurer's Guild with DS. I'm so excited that he is interested in Fantasy/Adventure books and we can share that now.

Ooh, I haven’t heard of The Adventurer’s Guild series. I think DS may like it, if I can get him to give it a shot - books I suggest tend to be met with disdain, but he loves Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, etc. I’m going to see if he wants to read it together.

DS(11) and I both finished the first Adventurer’s Guild book last week and both enjoyed it. I’m slightly annoyed neither of my local library systems have the second (or third) book in Libby, but we’ll do it the old school way and get the hard copy from the physical library.

[tcu2003]

Feb 14, 2024 11:18:10 GMT -5 Bonny said:

Just finished Born a Crime by Trevor Noah.

I thought I understood Apartheied but the book was a real eye opener from someone who grew up living it. It's a great piece on racism in general.

Yes! I really enjoyed that one when I read it a few years ago.

[tcu2003]

Feb 14, 2024 12:14:24 GMT -5 steph08 said:

I really enjoyed Trevor Noah's book as well!

I'm trying to read more this year, and I'm at 17 books so far (to be fair, 5 of them were technically short stories (less than 100 pages). 

I just finished Matthew McCoughaney's Greenlights, which was pretty good. 

I really enjoyed The Things We Cannot Say and The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer.

Right now, I'm reading Fourth Wing because my DH wouldn't stop telling me that it was all over TikTok. I'm about 75 pages in, and it's going OK so far.

What did you think about Fourth Wing? I loved it, thought the second one was okay, and now have to wait who knows how long for the 3rd one to come out.

[tcu2003]

Some of my favorites so far this year:

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kaye Albus
Family Family by Laurie Frankel
Decoding Boys by Cara Natterson
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond


Others I enjoyed:
99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
The Adventurer’s Guild by Zack Loren Clark (11yo son also enjoyed this one)
Built to Last by Erin Hahn
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams
Little Girls Can Be Mean by Michelle Anthony
The Watchmaker’s Daughter (Glass and Steele #1) by CJ Archer (I’m working my way through this series now and only have a few left)

[saveinla]

Just finished Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

[Artemis Windsong]

Undone by Karin Slaughter.  AB

DNF.  The story is about women who are abducted and kept captive.  Two women did escape.  One died, one recovered.  I quit when two more women were captured/confined.

I'll find something lighter.