Week 4 Check In

[Susan]

Hello,

How is everyone this last week of January? The days are noticeably longer here in New England.

I just started two books this week and do not have any finishes. I started The Reading List. I am not too far into it yet, but so far it is enjoyable. I am sympathetic to many of the characters and am looking forward to seeing where it goes.

I'm also reading a book of short essays in I Wouldn't Do That If I Were Me: Modern Blunders and Modest Triumphs. Jason Gay is a sports and humor columnist for the WSJ. His writing is a bit Dave Barry-esque. It is easy reading and I can stop with short chapters/essays. So I read it when I don't want to "get into" the other story.

I'm still listening to The Human Division. Slow but steady forward progress. This one is more disjoint than the other Old Man's War books. It was apparently released online as chapters.

QOTW:
What/where is your favorite place to read? I read nearly exclusively in bed before going to sleep. Very rarely I read in our glider/rocker. In the summer I sometimes read outside in my hanging egg chair.

For audiobooks, I listen almost exclusively while walking alone outside. I can walk for a long time when the book is good and weather is decent enough.

[Shel]

I've been immersed in Earthsea this week. I finally finished my re-read of Tehanu, and I think I appreciated it much better than I did the first time I read it when I was younger and had less life experience. It's really a stunning book. I'm on to Tales from Earthsea now, which I've never read before. I just finished the first story about the founding of the mage's school on the island of Roke. I LOVE LeGuin's short stories so I'm really enjoying this volume.

I finished reading A Wrinkle in Time to my daughter the other day. She loved it. Tonight we will decide if we want to move right on to A Wind in the Door or read something else.

QOTW: in cold weather, either curled up on my sofa with a blanket and some hot tea, or in bed. In warm weather, outside on a lounger on our back deck with a cold drink. I've also been in the process of turning a basement storage room into an office/haven for myself, and I'm hoping to find a comfortable reading chair to put down there so I can retreat from my family and have some privacy when I need it. My work-from-home spouse has his own actual office, and my kiddos each have their own bedrooms - I'm the only one in the house who doesn't have a space that is entirely mine! But I'm making it happen :)

[Rebecca]

New Year - A quick picture book for the holiday. Very lovely illustrations, fairly simple story about an immigrant kid learning to take pride in his culture. The formatting on Hoopla was pretty messed up, unfortunately.

Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living - I heard about this on NPR and it sounded interesting. It's kind of an overview of the apparently new-ish scientific study of ritual. I sort of wished there was some more depth at times, but in some cases it sounds like there just isn't a lot of research yet. The author's personal research interest is in extreme rituals like fire-walking, which isn't as interesting to me personally. Still worthwhile overall I think.

Belly Up - This is the first in a series of middle-grade zoo mysteries, in which a tween solves the murder of a hippopotamus. It was great. The author clearly did a lot of research into the various animals and the workings of zoos, and created a realistic combination of state-of-the-art zoo and research facility/monetized-to-the-hilt cash-grab amusement park. The blogger I saw review the series said the cluing and character development only gets better, so I will definitely be continuing the series.

QOTW: I guess my favorite place to read is wherever I am right now. I mostly read during work breaks, so there's not much choice of venue. I suppose if I were to stage an ideal reading session it would be on the couch or outdoors depending on weather.

[Daniele]

Two finishes for me this week:

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World, which I described in the Book Nerds FB group as a warm hug of a book. One of those you put down with a contented sigh. Ok, these teens must be far older souls than I was at their age! But a delight, especially the audiobook version read by Lin-Manuel Miranda. I used it for the Book Nerds "Smart aleck" prompt, since one of the two leads is referred to as such twice in the book.

Different Seasons, a collection of four novellas by Stephen King, including The Shawshank Redemption and what would become Stand By Me. Peak 80s King, but I've enjoyed other stories more. I used it for the "'Tis the season" prompt.

BTW, thank you for the prompt suggestion last week! I've started a tab on my spreadsheet to collect ideas throughout the year, so feel free to throw yours out there at any time!

QOTW: I read mostly in bed and listen to audiobooks on walks with my dog and when driving alone (or on long trips when the SO will be snoring within 10 minutes!) When I used to take the train into the city every day, I used to love reading on my commute. Now, it's such a rare occurrence that I spend half the trip daydreaming while looking out the window :)

[Jen W.]

Hello, everyone. Things have been pretty quiet for me. More reading time, at least. :)

Finished:
Hell Bent - 4 stars - For Popsugar's rabbit on the cover prompt. I realized as I was reading it that I didn't remember the first book too well. It mostly came back to me as I was reading, and I enjoyed it.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor - 4 stars. This was a cute little novella follow-up to the author's Sorcery of Thorns, which I enjoyed.

The Tea Dragon Society - 5 stars - for Popsugar's shortest book on my TBR prompt. This was just adorable, sweet, and gentle.

A Study in Emerald - 4 stars - for Popsugar's started as fanfic prompt. This is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche mixed together with Lovecraft. Interesting twist toward the end of the story as well.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - 5 stars - for Popsugar's BookTok prompt. I'm of an age with the protagonists, and so I had a lot of the same formative experiences with video games, so maybe I was predisposed to love this. It gave me similar nostalgic vibes to Ready Player One, without the future sci-fi plot.

Manga, not for prompts:
Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 22
Something's Wrong With Us, Vol. 12
Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan Vol. 5
Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan, Vol. 6

Currently reading:
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter - I just started it, but I'm enjoiying it so far. I'm planning to use it for Popsugar's historical fiction prompt.

Planned:
Illuminations

QOTW:
Mostly, I read at my computer, or sitting on the couch with my Kindle or a physical book. I used to read or listen to audiobooks on my commute, but that doesn't happen anymore, so...

[Kathy]

Two fast reads to try to get back on schedule. Dashing through the Snowbirds is #32 in the Meg Langslow series that I've been reading since the beginning. They have actually remained pretty solid, she does a good job of varying her scenarios despite her characters living in a small town. Also read my first (and last) Nicholas Sparks book (chosen by my IRL book club); sad and predictable is just not a selling point for me, although I'm fine with an occasional predictable +happy ending.
QOTW:
I read in bed every night, and also at my kitchen table when eating alone. I am grateful to be able to read in a car without problems, as I often get a lot of reading done while traveling. I usually just read on my kindle or libby phone app when I'm out waiting and don't have a physical book.