Misty's "Clear the Shelves" ATY-24 challenge

[Misty]

I just finished my second novella by Rachel Howzell Hall - How It Ends. I enjoyed this one as much as the first. It was very satisfying. I'd like to read a full-size novel by her now.

[Misty]

For prompt #36 - A book featuring a character in education - I read River Woman, River Demon by Jennifer Givhan. Parts of this book I absolutely loved. Then, (view spoiler)[ she sleeps around on her husband, her kid catches her, and there is just no discussion about it later, and it's really kind of icky. (hide spoiler)] The husband in the book is a professor at UNM (where my daughter goes!), so that is the character in education angle. It's probably more of a 3.5 stars rating for me because of that. She is a really good writer, and the mystery was fantastic, so I will definitely read the other book of hers that I have.

#20BooksByLatinaAuthors

[Misty]

For prompt #13 - A book that is on a Five Books List; reader’s choice of which list - I read Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray by Anita Heiss. Technically the list this was on was a shortlist that was 6 books, but it's five if you take out the winner. Plus, I hate this prompt, I a couple of years ago, I decided that if I loathed a prompt, I would allow a cheat, so I'm cheating. This book was so good. It was depressing, but it was fabulous, and I highly recommend it.

[Misty]

I just finished Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn. I would really like to say great things about this book because the writing is really fantastic, but the story just fell flat. I'm not sure I like a single character in the book, which isn't necessary, but I also just didn't really dig much of the plot, the way it ended, etc. It was not satisfying at all. I have another one of her books, and I will likely give it a shot, but I'm not overly enthusiastic about it.

[Misty]

For prompt #48 - A second book that fits your favorite prompt - I went with the very first prompt: #1 - A book with a title that ends in A, T or Y - because it got me to read a book that had been on my TBR forever. These books are set in Arkansas not far from where I grew up. They are so much fun. I have been listening to them, and the narrator is fantastic. They are cozy mysteries. I used to read a lot of them, but I haven't in recent years. I have been really enjoying these. They weirdly make me a little homesick.

[Misty]

For prompt #43 - A book by an Edgar Award-winning Author - I read Small Kingdoms & Other Stories by Charlaine Harris. It also fit with another challenge I was doing. These stories feel like they should fit in with something else she has written, but I don't think they do. It was a wild ride, and I enjoyed it.

[Misty]

I listened to Talking While Female & Other Dangerous Acts and finished it last night. It is not technically a book I suppose, but I am counting it anyway! :) It is a group of essays/stories (non-fiction) pulled together by Teatro Luna. All of the authors are Latina Women. It is an absolutely fantastic collection. I recommend anyone who has Audible to get it.

[Misty]

I finished Jubilee by Jennifer Givhan last night. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Her writing is very good, but her stories don't always seem to completely work. The wrap up of this story was fantastic. There were things that just didn't tie up and parts of the story that are just left hanging. However, I am glad that I read it. I'm not sure if I will read anything else she writes.

#20BooksByLatinaAuthors

[Misty]

For prompt #30 - A book set in a country bordering the Mediterranean Sea - I read The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. This book was a big "meh." It was okay. It's been on my TBR for a long time. I really have nothing to say about it. I have no interest in reading anything else she has written.

[Misty]

I listened to a short collection of poetry by Hala Alyan: You're Not a Girl in a Movie. There were only a few poems, but I really enjoyed all of them, and I definitely recommend listening if you have Audible.

[Misty]

For prompt #40 - A book involving a wild animal or endangered species, in the content, title, or on the cover - I read Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. It was anotehr "meh" book. The casual racism/classism in the book is a real turn off. Yes, I know it was written during another time, but ugh.

[Misty]

For prompt #16 - A book related to the phrase "It's Raining Cats and Dogs" - I read Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima. It is the first book of the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. I got it on Audible a while back because I mistakenly thought it was a kid's book, and I got it for the kids. It's not a kid's book. LOL. I really enjoyed it. I was hooked from the beginning. I'm so excited about it that I got the next four on my phone ready to go. :) I love mysteries.

[Misty]

I just finished The Preacher by Camilla Läckberg, and I loved it! It was so twisty. It is the second book of hers that I have read. This book is #2 in a series, and I have the next few. I'm really looking forward to reading them.

[Misty]

For prompt #34 - A book related to the name of one of Snow White's seven dwarfs - I read Red Dust Running by Anita Heiss. I had not originally planned for this to be an ATY24 book, but it's a "happy" book, so it fits. I am not a romance reader - at all. I did not realize this was a romance book when I started reading it. It's still not my favorite genre, but I did enjoy this book.

[Misty]

I just finished Sweet and Deadly by Charlaine Harris. It was an interesting mystery. It was her first novel. It was okay, but she definitely got better.

[Misty]

For prompt #5 - A book set in one of the 25 most beautiful cities in the world - I read The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak. This book was not my cup of tea. I read The Island of Missing Trees and ended up loving it. This one took a really long time for me to get into, and then it just sort of fizzled out. I didn't hate it, but if it had been her first book that I had read, I would not read others. It was okay. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Misty]

For prompt #31 - A book related to “Going for the Gold” - I read Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Laehrer. This magical gold ink is important to the story, so that's my connection. I absolutely loved this book, and I am so excited for the sequel. This book was all kinds of fun.

[Misty]

I just finished Innocence; or, Murder on Steep Street by Heda Margolius Kevaly. The novel is set in the early days of communist Czechoslovakia. A young boy is murdered in a cinema and the lives or the workers are put under close scrutiny. It was a pretty good novel. It is a little hard to follow in places, but it is complex, so that's understandable.

[Misty]

I just finished The Abominable Man by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. It is book 7 in the Martin Beck series. It was a good one. I have three left. Since they are being yanked from Audible's "included" catalog, I am trying to get through them quickly!

[Misty]

Book 8 in the Martin Beck series by Per Wahloo and Maj Sjowall is The Locked Room. I enjoyed it a lot. I am having fun reading through this series. Two more to go.

[Misty]

I just finished book 9 of the Martin Beck series by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo: Cop Killer. I'm anxious to see how the series will wrap up. I know that Per Wahloo died after they wrote ten, but I also read that they had planned ten books, so we'll see. It's a good series. It holds up well even though it's over 50 years old.

[Misty]

I finished the Martin Beck series by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. It ended really well although I think there were a few things in the last book that didn't quite work. I am really glad that I found the series and was able to finish it before Audible yanked it off the Included list. The last book is The Terrorists.

[Misty]

I am trying to zip through multiple books on Audible before they get yanked from Audible's included catalog. One of the series is the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series by Margaret Mizushima. I just finished book 2: Stalking Ground. I really love this series. I found it by happy accident. Five stars.

[Misty]

Well, I got food poisoning yesterday, and that combined with massive insomnia meant I was up all night long, so I listened to a huge chunk of Hunting Hour by Margaret Mizushima and was able to finish later in the day due to a unusually easy substitute teaching day. It was such a good book. I am really enjoying this series. I have two more to finish before they disappear off Audible's included catalog.

[Misty]

I have finished up the Audible included books of the Timber Ridge K-9 Mysteries by Margaret Mizushima: Burning Ridge and Tracking Game. They are so good! I will definitely finish the series at some point.

[Misty]

I am now on the Fjallbacka series by Camilla Lackberg. I'm trying to get through them before they disappear off Audible's included catalog. I just read book 3: The Stonecutter. This series is so good. This one was just as good as the rest.

[Misty]

I finished The Stranger STRANGER Paperback by Camilla Lackberg - book four of the Fjallbacka series, and it was so good. On to book 5 - the only positive of getting sick from the germy kid whose parents decided it was fine for him to go to school is that I have time to read my books. Of course, I have to take off work with no PTO....... grrrrrrr.........

[Misty]

Well, thanks to the germy kid and the teachers who came to work sick with no masks, I had time to finish my book today. And no, I'm not bitter........... Anyhoo - I finished The Hidden Child by Camilla Lackberg, and it was so good! I have two more to go. There are ten in the series, but it seems that Audible only has up until #7, so I am almost caught up. I'm on to #6. Hopefully the others will be added before too long.

[Misty]

I just finished Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa for a book club. Here's the review I left: Gross, cringy, ridiculous, and unbelievably stupid - these are the words that come to mind immediately in relation to this book. Ugh. I would have DNF'd this book if it wasn't for a book club. This is the worst book I have read in a very long time. The "romance" is gross. The sex is cringy. The whole book feels like a 15 year old read ACOTAR and wanted to create her own version but can't write, has no imagination, and has absolutely no idea how to write hot sex and ended up with an even worse than Twilight immature version of something she thinks will allow her to ride the romantasy genre wave. The language she uses is so stupid: "lady boner" "marry the shit out of you" - give me a break! Do not waste your time on this book. There is a ton of good fantasy and romantasy out there - read that instead.

[Misty]

I just finished Before the Frost by Henning Mankell. I love Nordic Noir, so I thought I'd give this author a shot. Meh. Not impressed. It wasn't terrible, and I'm not saying I'll never read another one of his books, but I'm not jazzed about his writing. The story was okay - actually pretty interesting in parts, but the characters and interpersonal relationships weren't that great. I employed many eye rolls - LOL. He's also not a very descriptive writer. Basically the whole book was just - meh.

[Misty]

I just finished Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. It was pretty good, and I enjoyed it. It is YA - and I mean very YA, so I was not the target audience, but I am glad I read it. I will likely read the others in the series.

[Misty]

I read Unashamed: A Coming-Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians by Amber Cantorna-Wylde this weekend. It is an excellent book although it is tough to read in spots. I will never understand how a parent can disown their child because they are LGBTQ+. Some people should just not have children.

[Misty]

My daughter and I listened to A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair when we drove down to pick up my other daughter from university. While I did not love this one as much as book one, I still really enjoyed it. There was actually just too much sex in it. It got to where I would roll my eyes. I enjoy sex in a book, but it really started to get in the way of the story.

[Misty]

I listened to Skyward by Brandon Sanderson on the way home from picking up my daughter. She and my older daughter rode together, and I got the dog! LOL. I was hooked from about chapter 6 of this book. It was really good, and I am looking forward to reading the next one. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook because the narrator was fantastic. She really brought the story alive.

This book works for prompt #35 - science or science fiction

[Misty]

I started reading Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd with a fifth grade class when I was subbing. I had it on my list ever since then, and I finally checked it out from the library. It's a kids' book, and it reads like a kids' book, but it is a very good kids' book. The main character has osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) as does the author. It was so good to see this disability represented in this work. I would definitely recommend this book to late elementary and middle school kids. I really enjoyed it.

[Misty]

I just finished Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. I really enjoyed it. It drags a little in spots, but it was still enjoyable, and I'm glad I read it. I had it on Audible, and it is disappearing at the end of the month, so I wanted to read it before I lost it. It's good.

[Misty]

I finished the second Murderbot Diaries novella today: Artificial Condition by Martha Wells. I really enjoy these stories. This one was pretty exciting, and there is an overarching story that I am enjoying as well.

[Misty]

I just finished book 2 of the Drowning Empire series by Andrea Stewart: The Bone Shard Emperor. This series is excellent. The book has multiple points of view. I enjoy all the characters. The next book will be a war, and I am really looking forward to the conclusion of the trilogy.

[Misty]

I am writing a symphony for orchestra and chorus, and I am looking for texts. I found Poems To Live By in Uncertain Times ed. by Joan Murray at the used book store this weekend, so I read it today. The poems are great. Unfortunately, there is nothing that will work for me, but I enjoyed the book! How is this for an odd twist of fate? I opened the book, and there was an inscription on the cover by someone I know! Kind of cool. She was the reverend at a church we attended quite some time ago. She moved back east maybe 15 years ago.

[Misty]

I have another challenge where I need to read a graphic novel by a woman author. I am not a fan of graphic novels, but my almost 15 year really is. I read one of their books: If You'll Have Me by Eunnie. It was a sweet book.

[Misty]

I finished You Like It Darker by Stephen King last night, and I absolutely loved it! I heard there was a sequel to Cujo, so I was super excited to read that. The mc of the stories Rattlesnakes was the husband in Cujo. He didn't have a huge part in Cujo because it was mostly about the wife and kid and rabid dog, of course. I loved how he was the character though. The story was excellent. It was tied for my favorite of the collection. The other was Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream. The only sad part is now I have to wait for another new release! :)

[Misty]

I have been slowly listening to The Unreal and the Real: Selected Stories, Volume One: Where on Earth by Ursula K. Le Guin. I started it because I thought they were Sci-Fi short stories, but they are not. The collection is okay. Some are better than others, but overall I would give it three stars.

[Misty]

I finished Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson today, and I am using it for prompt #18 - A book with a botanical cover. This book is a slow burn, and it is delicious - well, for a while. Then it's still awesome - just not so delicious! LOL. I loved it. So good!!!

[Misty]

I just finished Wisdom Sits in Places: Landscape and Language Among the Western Apache by Keith H. Basso. It was really fascinating. I think the best way to read this book is listening and reading a physical book at the same time because of all the pronunciations.

[Misty]

I finished Starsight by Brandon Sanderson yesterday. It is book two of the Skyward series. I loved it! I loved the first book as well. I got my husband to read the first one, and as soon as it was over he said, "Do we have the next one?" LOL. So he has already downloaded book 3. I'm excited to read that one as well.

[Misty]

I finished Manhattan Dreaming by Anita Heiss today. It's a sweet, cute romance. Still not my favorite genre, but I enjoyed it.

[Misty]

I just finished Paris Dreaming by Anita Heiss. I told my daughter that it feels like a "cozy romance." I have no idea if that is a thing, but it's a sweet story. I gave it four stars which is a bit of a rounding up. I'm glad I read it though.

[Misty]

I finished Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich for prompt #32 - A book with a number in the title. I love this series. It is so much fun. I love the characters and the stories. I haven't read one of her books in a while, so it was nice to get back into that world.

[Misty]

I stayed up way too late last night finished Missing by K. L. Slater. Her thrillers are just too good. This one was particularly fast-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Misty]

I listened to The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion today. This book was not at all what I thought it would be. She writes about the year following her husband's death while her daughter was also horribly ill. It was sad and heartbreaking. I have had four people in my household in the hospital in four months and my son is still in the hospital, so I would not have read this right now if I had realized how raw it would be. It was a very good book, but I do not recommend reading it when you are going through shit.