Week 7: 2/6 - 2/13

[Nadine in NY]

Erin wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "So I've been struggling a bit with Iron Flame because it's so boring (as previously whined about) but for some reason my daughter offered to read to me the other night, and she...

Oh no, I'm planning on pick that up next! My friends love it though,so I'm hoping I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I like it"



It gets better after the first 150 pages. There was just too much going on in the beginning, the plot was darting off here, there, everywhere, it had no focus. Now we have a focus. (And my daughter got tired of reading - phew! she missed the REALLY sexy part where they broke more furniture!)

[Joanna G]

Nadine in NY wrote: "Has anyone noticed that book cover art seems to be getting more "amateurish"? At first I figured it was just one or two books, odd choices from the publisher or cost-cutting here and there, but loo..."

I think it's just inevitable, with the trend in romance books being more for illustrated cartoon-y covers rather than the Fabio style, even if they're spicy. I think that's been established as the new romance cover style, so now they're putting less effort in because you can still know at a glance what type of book it is? Certainly, any one cover is less likely to stand out, so why out the effort in? I do kind of hope they'll be some movement away from that style - or at least more variation in cover types.

That said, in a recent Goodreads list of romances, I was surprised to see how many of them had skulls! I know dark romance is a thing, and quite popular on booktok, but a skull on the cover just doesn't read as romance to me!

[Britany]

Nadine in NY wrote: "Here Beside the Rising Tide by Emily Jane - if you've ever thought "I'd like to read a book like Mona Awad's, but cozy" then THIS is your book!! It is thoroughly absurd, both serious and silly at the same time. I thought this was a debut novel, but I was so excited to find out she had written another book a few years ago! More books to read!! I checked off "magical creatures" because there are sea monsters (both good and evil sea creatures), but this would also fill a 2015 prompt, set near a body of water, unlikely friends, nature is the antagonist, and married couple living apart."

This checks off SO MANY prompts Nadine - I may have to add it to my list. Thanks for sharing.

[Britany]

Quick check in and I'm back from Napa - it was a wonderful experience and I took today off work to just lounge around and listen to book podcasts and veg out.

6/75 GoodReads Challenge
6/50 PopSugar Challenge

Finished:
1.) The Wedding People by Alison Espach (#27-Resort) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I really loved this book, the characters were so endearing to me, I chuckled and found the writing completely poignant. Now, I want to be a winter keeper when I "grow up".



Currently Reading:
1.) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
2.) Here One Moment
3.) These Silent Woods



QoTW: If you had an opportunity to lead a literature class for teens (ages 16-18), which books would you put on the curriculum?

Hmm, this is a hard but intriguing question:
1. The Great Gatsby - short but powerful message
2. James
3. Something by Laura Hillenbrand - Seabiscuit or Unbroken

[Britany]

Kenya wrote: "I have a consultation tomorrow to talk things over with the artist -- wish me luck, folks.."

Good Luck Kenya! Hopefully, you'll be able to share a photo once its done!

[Ron]

The book LatinoLand: A Portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood Minority just came out in paperback this week!

This was one of my favorite books of 2024, so I'm excited to read it again.