Password-protected posts contain heavy spoilers and are there to prevent accidental spoiling. They can each individually be accessed with the password "SPOILME(#of the post)". That means if the post is numbered #0000, the password is SPOILME0000 - SPOILME all in caps, no space in between.
Enter at your own risk. And have fun!
It’s Time Travel Thursday! Hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog, this is where you get to take a look back at what you were reading this time last year (or the year before or the year before that…) and get to relive those bookish memories!
This time last year I was reading:
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.
Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.
Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she’s a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden – lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult’s true powers are hidden even from herself.
In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls’ heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.
My thoughts: I loved the author’s Something Strange and Deadly series, and I thought I’d like this one too but I ended up being very meh about it. I continued with the second book in this series and didn’t like it either, and decided not to finish the rest of the series. It’s quite disappointing.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Have you read this book? What did you think of it? What were you reading this time last year?
Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.
Today’s topic is Unread Books on My Shelves I Want to Read Soon.
The keywords here are “books I want to read soon”. I have a whole lot of unread books on my shelves that go back a long way, but a lot of the books I want to read soon are relatively new to the TBR just because I like bright, shiny, new things. I will try to list the older ones though. I’m also not adding books I want to reread soon because technically they’re not unread.
Top Ten Unread Books on My Shelves I Want to Read Soon
Dracula by Bram Stoker – This has probably been on my TBR longest out of the other books on this list but then again I have a lot of classics on the TBR that I mean to read one day. I started listening to this on audio a couple of years ago, but had to stop because it got scary when I was listening to it to sleep.
The Glass Château by Stephen P. Kiernan – This book was only published last year, but it feels like it’s been on my TBR for a long time because I’d been waiting for it since the author announced it two years ago. I was so excited for it but it’s a year later and I still haven’t read it! I need to remedy that!
Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane – Same story as above. It was only published last year, but I’d been waiting for it and I really want to read it soon.
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder – This has been on my TBR for years and years and years, and I don’t know why I haven’t gotten to it! I mean to start it this year. For sure!
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson – I only added this to the TBR late last year, I think, or early this year. So it’s really new, but it’s one of the really shiny and new-to-me books I want to read soon.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara – This has been on my TBR for 4-5 years? I want to read it but kept putting it off because I haven’t felt emotionally strong enough for the dark subject matter. I feel like I’m ready now.
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – Another classic that’s been on the TBR for ages, but I want to read it soon because Demon Copperhead is apparently based off of it, and I want to read that soon too!
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver – I heard so many good things about this book and I’m really excited for it. I added it to the TBR last year, so it’s relatively new too.
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint – I think I added this one to the TBR three years ago on a mythology binge. I still really want to read it sooner rather than later.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna – Added last year and really want to read it very soon! It sounds really fun and many people have said good things about it.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Would you read any of these books?
Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings.
The Zoo, Some Ghosts, A Date, and Always Books
Last week was pretty fun! I managed to get to the zoo again, and it was great because the weather was nice. I went on the weekend and there was a lot of people so it was pretty lively. I wasn’t able to see the polar bears and the otters as much as I wanted because it was so crowded and everyone else were vying to see them. And they were mostly kids, or adults with kids, so I didn’t think it was a good idea to push them out of my way. 😂 I’m thinking I might try to go again on a weekday when there are fewer people around.
For food, I made some wontons and soy sauce chicken. They were both so yummy, but seriously, the wontons might be more work than they’re worth. I like them better fried and crispy so I might just do the fillings meatball style and leave off the wonton wrappers the next time I want wonton soup.
On Wednesday, we went to see the new Ghostbusters movie, which I loved because it’s a Ghostbusters movie, but some people have said it’s not that good and the storyline needs work. Thinking about it after, I agree it could’ve been better, but I still enjoyed it because it’s the Ghostbusters and I’m just easy to entertain.
We also finished watching Fallout Season 1. I love where it ended but I’m also very eagerly awaiting a Season 2 because there are still a lot of questions I need answered.
I haven’t had time to watch Renegade Nell or 911 since the last Sunday Post, but I’m not in a hurry either. There are a few movies I’d like to catch up on before getting into binge mode with another series, maybe. I’ve been trying to read Anna Karenina and I’m thinking of watching the movie first so that it might make it easier for me to follow the book. We’ll see.
All the happy things:
I got to go to the zoo again!
Movie and dating with the husband. We had lots of fun, it’s been a while since we spent the whole day out on a date. No special occasion, it was quite spontaneous.
I managed to get a lot of reading done!
I was able to go to the library twice this week and spend a couple of hours there each time for uninterrupted reading! I hope to do more of it next week.
I might be getting better at this cooking thing.
I’m up to date on my Goodreads and The Storygraph! Until I read more, that is.
The Books
Books I read last week:
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent – I finished this last weekend after I published the Sunday Post, so I’m adding it for this weekend’s Sunday Post.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden – I loved the Winternight series and while the subject matter for this one is completely different, I felt the same vibes. I love the otherworldly, mystical feel of it.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Finished! The check-in is next weekend but I didn’t want to wait. I figure it’s still going to be fresh in my mind when we get to the discussion, and I can’t wait to hear what everyone else thinks!
Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham – This is a graphic novel. I picked it up Friday morning just to flip through the pages and see what it’s about and ended up finishing it in an hour or so. I enjoyed it very much!
Books I’m reading:
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – This is for my in-person book club’s BOTM. We’re meeting this upcoming weekend so I gotta get it read this week!
Slewfoot by Brom – I got it on audiobook right after finishing The Count of Monte Cristo. I’ve been curious about it because I’ve heard good things, but I’ve read The Child Thief by the same author and really didn’t like it. I’m giving the author a second chance with this book and I’m managing my expectations. Hopefully I’ll end up liking it, but I’m also ready to DNF and move on, if not.
I’m focusing on The Kite Runner, and after that I want to read The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie because it’s the BOTM for my online book club. I’m still unsure about Slewfoot, so the sooner I get into it or DNF, the faster I can move forward. I already have a couple of nonfiction audiobooks ready just in case I DNF. I’ve also got several reviews to write for the books I finished, and I need to update my reading challenges as well.
How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!
It’s Time Travel Thursday! Hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog, this is where you get to take a look back at what you were reading this time last year (or the year before or the year before that…) and get to relive those bookish memories!
This time last year I was reading:
The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can’t imagine working anywhere else. But lately it’s been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who’s fresh off a journalism master’s program and convinced he knows everything about public radio.
When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it’s this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it’s not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts.
As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers.
My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. It was just the right amount of funny, serious, and sexy. I love the funny scenes – not just the banter between Dominic and Shay, but Steve being cute and adorable, and I also love the awkward and self-deprecating stuff. The serious stuff were handled really well too – the grief and loss talk, not just on the radio but when the characters talk to each other. I love how Shay and her mom communicates about their feelings, and yes, the vulnerable conversations between Dominic and Shay gave me feelings. The sexy scenes were hot and steamy too, and I love that because it seems like sometimes you either get a fluffy love story with lots of sexy scenes, or a more serious romance without anything steamy. I really love the balance here. Definitely checking out the author’s other books!
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Have you read this book? What did you think of it? What were you reading this time last year?
Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.
Today’s topic is a Characters I’d Like to go on Vacation With. I had to really think about this one. There are many characters I love, but not necessarily for going on vacation with. Some I’d happily go on adventures or quests with, or if I’m escaping from prison or running a heist or killing monsters, but for a nice, relaxing vacation? Hmm…
Top Ten Characters I’d Like to Go on Vacation With
Ren, Gray, and Vargo from The Rook and Rose series – I love them so much and I would so love to hang out with them doing whatever. Maybe reading pattern together or tarot cards, telling fortunes for fun, or just having drinks together. I think they can be chill and fun companions for a vacation.
Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables – I can imagine just sitting at a nice breezy cottage reading side by side with Anne, maybe going on walks enjoying the scenery, picking flowers, making up whimsical stories and fairy tales together. This could be such a nice, relaxing vacation.
Viv, Tandri, and Thimble from Legends & Lattes – Honestly, I don’t so much want to go on vacation with them, as much as I want to go on vacation to them. I’d love to visit Viv’s cafe, drink some coffee, have some of Thimble’s delicious baked goods, hang out and get to know the regulars, listen to the bard playing music, play chess with the old man even though I can’t play chess, try to pet Amity. And I’d love to chat and become friends with Viv, Tandri, and Thimble if he’ll talk to me!
Rocky from Project Hail Mary – I could take or leave Ryland Grace, but I’d love to go on vacation with Rocky. I think he would be such a fun companion, and I wouldn’t even mind that he watches me while I sleep, and of course I’d return the favor. I think we’d have fun conversations, maybe develop a few inside jokes, and I know I’d love learning more about him.
The Wayfarer crew from The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet – I don’t know what kind of vacation we’d be having, but I just really want to hang out with them and be a part of their vibe. I love how they get along with each other, respect each other, learn from each other. I think there might be a couple of them I’d get annoyed with while on vacation, but I’d still want to be there with all of them.
Have you read any of these books? Did you like the characters? Would you go on vacation with them?
Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings.
Kitchen Not So Confidential
There’s been a lot of cooking this past week. There’s no special occasion or anything, I just felt like it and had the time, and maybe I’m also enjoying the cleaner kitchen and want to take advantage of that.
I made Butter Prawns, some random soups with everything thrown in, Braised Pork Belly with hard boiled eggs, napa cabbage stir fry, and other stuff I didn’t take pictures of. I’ve been eating well but I’m not sure if I can keep this up! I should probably try to get better at taking food pictures if I do!
I’ve finished watching 911: Lone Star and I was going to start watching the original 911, but a couple of other shows caught my eye so I’ll probably alternate when I have time. I started watching Renegade Nell on my own and I’m quite enjoying it even though I’m still not sure what the end game is and why Nell is special. My husband and I are watching Fallout together. Neither of us play the game but that’s not going to stop us enjoying the show. We’re only on the third episode at the moment. I’m really loving Lucy’s character. Not too sure about Maximus.
The weather has also been pretty nice and we took some walks around the neighborhood. That made me very happy and I hope the weather keeps getting better and we get to take more walks. It’s supposed to snow again later this week but I won’t mind it too much as long as I get to walk outside a little more.
All the happy things:
All the food!
The walks and the warmer weather!
I bought a couple of organizers to organize my sticker collection and I love them!
I bought a few skeins of yarn I’m excited to use, soon!
Had a nice chat with a friend who made me feel encouraged about things I’ve been wanting to do
Got started on organizing my closet
The Books
Books I read last week:
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett – I’m so happy I finally finished this book! I’ve been anticipating it so much. I think I like the characters we meet in the first book more than the ones here, but I like them too, and I’m glad we were able to see more of Poe. I’m looking forward to the next book too!
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree – Another one I’ve been anticipating. I loved the first book, and I love this one too! I love that it’s so much more about bookshops and books. And I love Viv as ever. She’s someone I’d love to be friends with, and I love how her character is written so well that you just feel drawn to her the same way the people in the book are drawn to her.
Books I’m (still) reading:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – I meant to finish the rest of this book but was distracted by another audiobook. Plus the next check-in is still some weeks away so I’ve got time!
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent – I’m 65% in and enjoying it very much! I promise I’ll get back to The Count of Monte Cristo after I finish this!
I’ll finish up my audiobooks of Daughter of No Worlds and The Count of Monte Cristo, and I’m starting a buddy read for The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden this week. If I can make it, I’d like to get started on The Kite Runner for my in-person book club before the week is out.
I’m also hoping to get caught up on my book reviews and update my books read on Goodreads and The Storygraph.
How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!
It’s Time Travel Thursday! Hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog, this is where you get to take a look back at what you were reading this time last year (or the year before or the year before that…) and get to relive those bookish memories!
This time last year I was reading:
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
When the technologies we use every day collapse our experiences into 24/7 availability, platforms for personal branding, and products to be monetized, nothing can be quite so radical as… doing nothing. Here, Jenny Odell sends up a flare from the heart of Silicon Valley, delivering an action plan to resist capitalist narratives of productivity and techno-determinism, and to become more meaningfully connected in the process.
My thoughts: To be honest, I missed a lot of the details, but I get the gist, and it’s better to retain 10% than to never read it at all, so. My takeaways: I want to be more mindful, try to replace more social media activities with some real life activities,. Otherwise, just making time for doing nothing and scheduling “doing nothing” in my calendar and actually sticking to it.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Have you read this book? What did you think of it? What were you reading this time last year?
Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.
Today’s topic is a Freebie so I’m going with Books with Cats in the Title. If you’re wondering how I came about this brilliant topic, what I did was reach out for the first object on my left, and it was my cats! (I might have cheated, but you’ll never know!)
Top Ten Books with Cats in the Title
Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood – I read this as a young adult and it made a significant impact on me. It showcases the dynamics between girl friendships in a time where girls were pitted against each other. I feel like we’re getting better but there’s still a lot of progress to be made. It’s been a while since I read it so maybe it’s time for a reread.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody – I’ve been reading this book on and off because I find it fascinating, but there are spoilers for a lot of books I haven’t read so I skip parts and sometimes put it down until I read the books in question.
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron – Nonfiction books about animals inevitably make me cry. I read this book a long time ago and I barely remember the details, but I definitely remember the sobbing.
White Cat by Holly Black – I read this so long ago I don’t even remember reading it, but I love Holly Black and apparently there are two more books in the series. This is a great excuse to reread and read the other books too!
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss – Can you believe I’ve never read this?
Grumpy Cat by Grumpy Cat – I haven’t read this one either, but I’ve seen the memes and love them!
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa – I remember hearing a lot about this book a few years ago, and I was initially planning to do a buddy read, but I got busy at the time and then just never came back to the book. If you’ve read it, is it still worth reading?
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams – A classic I’ve heard about but haven’t been interested in. I’d love to hear what other people think about it.
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut – Another classic, one that I am interested in reading. Hopefully soon.
Cat Daddy by Jackson Galaxy – My husband and I watched many episodes of My Cat From Hell before we ever decided to adopt our cats, and it has helped us so much in understanding how to care for them. The book was good too; it had a lot of touching and interesting stories about himself and his experience with cats.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Would you read any of these books?
Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings.
Reading is Better than Cleaning
The “Spring Cleaning” has become more of a regular cleaning, which is fine. I’m good with it. I’m accepting it. Regular cleaning is good too.
Honestly, I’ve been spending a lot more time looking around the house, planning it in my head, and procrastinating, than actually cleaning. And consequentially, I haven’t had the peace of mind to read very much last week. Which I guess is good because I haven’t caught up with my book reviews either.
Why do I do this to myself?
I could’ve just read my books and let my house be a mess. Lesson learned. Next time whenever I think of cleaning, I’ll read instead. Remind me again if you ever hear me say I’m planning to clean.
(P.S. I’m not even going to mention that it snowed again.)
All the happy things:
My husband is back home from his trip! Yay, I’ve missed him!
My mother bought me some brand new clothes!
I got some of my old favorite books out of storage and I can’t wait to revisit them again.
I made cookies!
Our next check-in for The Count of Monte Cristo readalong is tomorrow morning (Sunday morning, I’m writing this on Saturday), I’m so excited for the discussion!
The Books
Books I read last week:
Funny Feelings by Tarah Dewitt – I loved that it was about comedy and comedians, and of course, that it had a fake dating trope. I also love that it featured a deaf character and deaf-specific jokes. I listened on audio and it was just a fun read.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo – This book was one of the nominees for my in-person book club’s April BOTM. It didn’t win, but I was intrigued and it was available on audiobook so I decided to read it anyway. I’m glad I did, it was really good!
The Way Forward by Yung Pueblo – I’ve been reading this on and off a few pages at a time because it makes me stop and think and reflect. I love the sentiments and it really resonates for me. I originally borrowed a library copy but now I feel like I want to buy my own copy so I can write in it and/or make notes.
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal – (DNF) I was really excited for this because I’d heard so many good things about the author and her books, and it was supposed to be a buddy read, but I only got 22% in and I couldn’t keep going because it annoyed me so much. I felt there was a lot of telling instead of showing and the characters just didn’t connect for me. I’m pretty disappointed because I was looking forward to reading the author’s other books as well, but I don’t think I will now.
Books I’m (still) reading:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – I finished reading up to the assigned chapters for the discussion tomorrow. And then it’s all the way to the end after that. The next check-in is supposed to be the last. I’ve read this book many times already, but I’m loving it all over again with this readalong experience!
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett – Finally getting back to Emily Wilde! I just started and I’m only on Chapter 2, but I’m hoping to spend the whole weekend binging if I can!
It’s Time Travel Thursday! Hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog, this is where you get to take a look back at what you were reading this time last year (or the year before or the year before that…) and get to relive those bookish memories!
This time last year I was reading:
Sooley by John Grisham
New York Times bestselling author John Grisham takes you to a different kind of court in his first basketball novel. Samuel “Sooley” Sooleymon is a raw, young talent with big hoop dreams…and even bigger challenges off the court.
In the summer of his seventeenth year, Samuel Sooleymon gets the chance of a lifetime: a trip to the United States with his South Sudanese teammates to play in a showcase basketball tournament. He has never been away from home, nor has he ever been on an airplane. The opportunity to be scouted by dozens of college coaches is a dream come true.
Samuel is an amazing athlete, with speed, quickness, and an astonishing vertical leap. The rest of his game, though, needs work, and the American coaches are less than impressed.
During the tournament, Samuel receives devastating news from home: A civil war is raging across South Sudan, and rebel troops have ransacked his village. His father is dead, his sister is missing, and his mother and two younger brothers are in a refugee camp.
Samuel desperately wants to go home, but it’s just not possible. Partly out of sympathy, the coach of North Carolina Central offers him a scholarship. Samuel moves to Durham, enrolls in classes, joins the team, and prepares to sit out his freshman season. There is plenty of more mature talent and he isn’t immediately needed.
But Samuel has something no other player has: a fierce determination to succeed so he can bring his family to America. He works tirelessly on his game, shooting baskets every morning at dawn by himself in the gym, and soon he’s dominating everyone in practice. With the Central team losing and suffering injury after injury, Sooley, as he is nicknamed, is called off the bench. And the legend begins.
But how far can Sooley take his team? And will success allow him to save his family?
Gripping and moving, Sooley showcases John Grisham’s unparalleled storytelling powers in a whole new light. This is Grisham at the top of his game.
My thoughts: I’m a huge fan of Grisham’s legal thrillers, not really a big sports fan but I am a fan of sports stories. I came across this book while browsing for audiobooks from my library. I wasn’t initially interested in reading it because I was in a thriller mood, not a sports story mood, but saw all the great reviews here and was intrigued.
I’m both glad and sad that I read it. I’m glad because it’s a really great story. I love the characters, and it was such a privilege to go on this journey with Sooley and see him grow (both literally and figuratively). He’s one of the most compelling characters I’ve ever read about. There were so many ups and downs, and not just ordinary ups and downs, but extreme ones! He went through both the worst things and the best things that could happen to anyone. And through it all, he was still just an ordinary person who happened to have extraordinary skills and determination. I really felt for him and all the people who loved him.
A lot of the book is really sad too, but they are part of what makes this book great. They are really sticking to me and my heart is still breaking. A tiny part of me wishes that I didn’t pick up this book because I didn’t need this heartbreak, but a bigger part of me is glad I did.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Have you read this book? What did you think of it? What were you reading this time last year?
