Hello there and Happy January! December flew by as the months seem to do lately, but such is life. It was a quiet month for me in terms of reading, but I did get a lot of knitting done for Christmas gifts, etc. which is nice. Sometimes it’s nice to take the time to do something with my hands. This is actually one of the things that I told myself I would prioritize when I quit my second job earlier in the year, but didn’t actually do until December – in that I’m happy to have finally spent some time working with my hands. Anywhoodle, let’s get to it.
This Month I Read:
This was a very quiet reading month, mostly because I wasn’t listening to audiobooks while I was knitting. I completed one book and am currently working through two others.
I finished: Coach by Devney Perry – yes I know this was not on my end of year TBR, but sue me. No one actually believed I would stick to it 100% anyways. I am currently reading: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women’s Lives by Barbara Burman and Ariane Fennetaux These two are both on my end of year TBR so there’s bit of success in it for me!
This Month I Hauled:
I picked up a few books this month between extra book of the month credits and sales and gift cards. After all, I’m always happy for an excuse to book shop.
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke Medusa’s Sisters by Lauren J.A. Bear How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems That Shape Our World by Deb Chachra The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross Weyward by Emilia Hart A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr The Women’s War by Jenna Glass Vita Nostra by Marina & Sergey Dyachenko The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Emperor’s Blades by Brian Staveley
Non-Bookishness:
I already mentioned the knitting that sucked up most of my free time in December, but what else did I do while I was knitting away you ask? Watching Stargate SG1 of course! This is my first start to (hopefully) finish watch of the show and I’m kind of grossed out by how much of it I’ve watched in the last month, but I do so enjoy it. So continue I shall as I work on completing my current project.
How was your December? Any good books or big accomplishments?
Happy December! 2023 is coming to an end and I’m getting ready to read my little heart away for the end of the year. I want to enjoy books, and maybe I’m trying to meet my Goodreads goal while I’m at it… At least I’ve got my end of year TBR to focus on! In all seriousness, we are gearing up for the holidays, work is both crazy busy and not which is a fun dynamic to manage, and I’m just trying to stay awake long enough at night to get some decent reading in. I’m really much too young to be this old…
This Month I Read:
November was, with one exception, quite the reading month for me. There’s a little bit of everything here and I am quite pleased with the turnout.
1. To the Advantage of Both by Lory Lilian, 4 stars 2. The Many Faces of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Margot McNeil, 3 stars 3. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros, 2 stars 4. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett, 5 stars 5. Her Sisterly Love by Lucy Marin, 4 stars 6. Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson, 5 stars 7. Stay With You by Melanie Shawn, 4 stars 8. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi, 4 stars
This Month I Hauled:
This was certainly a decent book shopping month, if nothing else. This is mostly the result of driving up to New Hampshire for a weekend. I stayed in a town pretty close to Dartmouth so there were a couple of very cool independent bookstores in the area that I just had to check out.
Nothing too exciting here. I recently purchased a new mountain bike that I haven’t had a chance to take out yet unfortunately, but I’m very much looking forward to that before it gets too cold to be out all day. As far as what I’ve been watching, I’ve continued with my Fall Gilmore Girls rewatch and I’m into season 5 now. I also, after debating the science of zombies with a coworker for 30 minutes recently, decided it’s past time that I finish up the Resident Evil movie franchise. I got two and a half movies in so far, but I forgot that they really could have stopped with the first (which I actually still quite enjoy). We’ll see if I don’t manage to finish these up in December.
How was your November? Any wins to share? Anything you’re looking forward to in December?
We’re officially into the end of the year which is mind blowing. Time flies, whether we’re having fun or not. I spent the end of September and early October in Sweden which was awesome. We had a great time, found the tiny little farming town that my great, great grandfather was born in, learned and shopped a ton, and plain enjoyed Europe. The rest of the time I was home and working way too much. Story of my life.
These Months I Read:
Very little. I read two books in September and between the rest of September and October I was reading, but not completing five different books at any given moment. The two books I completed (and no one is surprised one of them is a P&P variation) are:
A Brief History of Living Forever by Jaroslav Kalfar 4/5 stars Undoubtedly by Design by Michelle D’Arcy 4/5 stars
These Months I Hauled:
There have been many books acquired recently. There are lots of great new releases coming out the end of this year, plus I got some backlist stuff I was curious about.
Non-bookishness:
The big one is watching season two of The Wheel of Time. I was interested to see where they were going to go with it having formed an idea of where they were deviating from the story lines in the books and while, of course, the books are better… I don’t hate what they’re doing on the show. That third episode with Nynaeve though! They are going there, gut wrenching. Aside from that, fall is the best time for some Gilmore Girls action, so I’m about halfway through a rewatch now.
How was your September/October? Any good books read, shows watched, etc. etc?
Hello internet! Happy September. It’s my favorite time of the year. Fall weather moves in, it’s my birthday Month, and my favorite travel month – watch out Sweden, we’re headed your way soon! The past two months have been busy and I’ve been dealing with a fun third-life crisis that is me generally questioning my life choices and what I actually want out of life which has been LOTS of fun. That said, I’ve actually read and acquired a fair bit in the past couple of months so let’s just see about recapping all of this.
These Months I read:
The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay 4/5 stars Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 4/5 stars Her Werewolf Bodyguard by Jodi Vaughn 2.5/5 stars The Only One Left by Riler Sager 5/5 stars The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater 4/5 stars
Darcy & Elizabeth – AKA the books getting my through my third-life crisis: Think of Me by Elizabeth Adams Ardently Loved by Lory Lilian Suddenly Mrs. Darcy by Jenetta James Pemberley Heat by Lory Lilian To Marry Without Affection by Kate Beauford In Sickness & Health by Frances Reynolds 4/5 stars Mark of Character by Sarah Courtney 4/5 stars Yours Forevermore, Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory The Dragons of Kellynch (Jane Austens Dragons #5) by Maria Grace 3/5 stars Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion (Jane Austens Dragons #6) by Maria Grace 4/5 stars
DNFs: Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman – this is just not the book for me. I knew it after the first chapter and ended up just bringing it back to the library.
This Month I hauled:
So, hi. My name is Hannah and I like to buy books. Some might say I have a problem, but I don’t consider book buying a negative. That said, I was a bit spend happy at the bookstores these past couple of months, plus I got a few birthday books early. I’m not listing them out this time, the photos below speak for themselves. Even if they may not be a complete showing of what I acquired in the last two months. LOL
Non-Bookishness:
Outside of bookishness, I finished Supernatural which was almost a relief by the end. That last episode. I knew what was coming, but not how and what the fuck. I watched the last season of Jack Ryan which I think is my second favorite of the four. I watched the Red, White, & Royal Blue movie, which I loved and finally made me read the book (yes, I watched the movie first!) And finally I started watching Stargate SG-1 which is the only part of the Stargate enterprise that I haven’t seen yet.
So it’s been a busy couple of months! What have you all been up to these months? Do share!
Hi All, Happy July! This is going to be a quick one as June was a really… really slow book month for me. I spent most of the month working on a large photo editing project and watching entirely too much Supernatural. I’m actually okay with this upon reflection since I have been wanting to tackle this project for a while and I’m very close to done.
That said, I do have a nice four day weekend for the holiday and all my responsibilities are already done, so I should have plenty of time for reading and editing over the next few days. I also want to shadow the Summerween readathon coming up from 7/7-7/13. I won’t have the time to participate fully, but I do want to try to read a couple of spooky books during the week that fit into their prompts, so we’ll see what I come up with.
This Month I Read:
Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica – I actually haven’t rated this yet because I’m still sorting through it in my head four weeks later.
Aand that’s it. Like I said, quick.
This Month I Hauled:
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay The Watchers by A.M. Shine Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Augustina Bazterrica Mordew by Alex Pheby The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer The Will of the Many by James Islington
Most of these were impulse pick ups, with the exception of Bazterrica’s book which I preordered during a sale a couple of months ago. I think I might still be recovering from Tender is the Flesh so I don’t actually know when I’m going to read this one yet. I promise this is a good thing, not a bad thing though.
Non-Bookishness:
As I mention above, June pretty much revolved around me spending most of my free time working on a project and binging Supernatural while I was working on it. I’m actually a little bit ashamed to say just how much I managed to watch, so let’s just say I got through more than one season and less than all of them.
How was your June? Anything of note? Did you get any projects checked off of your ‘I’ll get to this someday’ lists?
Well, Happy June everyone! It’s a new month, which means a new wrap up and one guess which section of this wrap up will be the longest! May certainly flew by, but I also feel like this month is the closest I’ve been to where I want to be since quitting my part time job and working on getting my life together, whatever that actually means. So that’s a nice positive. So, without further adieu, here’s what May looked like:
This Month I Read:
Longbourn: Dragon Entail (Jane Austen’s Dragons #2) by Maria Grace Netherfield: Rogue Dragon (Jane Austen’s Dragons #3) by Maria Grace Junior by Macaulay Culkin Falling for Mr. Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory The Taker (The Taker #1) by Alma Katsu Fourth Wing (Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros
I’m currently reading Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica which is…. interesting….
This Month I Hauled:
The Book of Eve by Meg Clothier Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati Godkiller by Hannah Kaner The Valkyrie by Kate Heartfield In an Orchard Grown from Ash by Rory Power
Shutter by Ramona Emerson Jade City by Fonda Lee The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica Written in Bone by Sue Black Flush by Bryn Nelson: Anyone who thinks i’m going to walk by a book about poop and not pick it up… you are wrong, lol.
The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter Multiples edited by Adam Thirwell Man, Fuck This House by Brian Asman Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse Foundation by Isaac Asimov The Taker by Alma Katsu Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky The Starless Crown by James Rollins Dragonfall by L.R. Lam
Non-Bookishness:
One of the most fun things about this month was seeing Six on Broadway. It’s about the six wives of Henry VIII and while it’s not at all what I was expecting, it was A LOT of fun to see. Other than that, I stumbled upon the show The Winchesters which I now know is the parents of the Dean and Sam from Supernatural which I never actually watched more than a few episodes of. I really enjoyed The Winchesters though and after finishing it I decided I need to go back and watch all of Supernatural. So that’s coming up in my life.
That’s really about it for May. What were your favorites this month? And anything you’re looking forward to for June? Do share!
So, it’s May (or close enough to it as I’m starting this) and I’m honestly not quite sure if April happened. Obviously it did, but the sentiment stands. This was quite the month! I had a busy early month leading up to the wedding in Mexico trip, then of course the Mexico trip, and we’ve been back a little over a week and it’s just been catch up, catch up, catch up. I’m still not caught up, lol. I told myself that I was going to work on my work/life balance as well as just my plain old life balance when I got back from Mexico, and so far I think I’m doing alright. I think… Anyways lets talk about April.
This Month I Read:
This was a MUCH better reading month than March was. I’m so relieved. I don’t even care that it was mostly Pride & Prejudice variations again. I’m just happy I managed to get some reading in. I can also officially add in thanks to Dewey’s for a couple of extra titles on this list.
Foiled Elopement by Renata McMann & Summer Hanford The Benefits of Extensive Reading by Lori Lilian An Accidental Scandal by Melanie Rachel Darcy’s Wedding Surprise by Andrea David Darcy’s Affair in Brighton by Andrea David Snowed in with Darcy by Andrea David An Agreeable Compromise by Jann Rowland – this is one of the wildest variations I’ve ever read for those into these Engines of Empire (The Age of Uprising #1) by R.S. Ford – 5/5 Stars, this was so good! Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell Pemberley: Mr. Darcy’s Dragon (Jane Austen’s Dragons #1) by Maria Grace – it’s a series! I didn’t know that when I bought this, but I’m so excited!
This Month I Hauled:
I am terrible. I went a little crazy this month. The thing is, there is a book I wanted, but I couldn’t find a physical edition in the US, so I did what any sane person would do. I bought it from Waterstones (RIP The Book Depository 😦 ) and bought a few other things to make the shipping worth it. But waiting for books to come from overseas does NOT equal instant book gratification which means I had to go to the bookstore. So this happened.
Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressman Taylor – This was a random grab for me, but is apparently a classic from 1938 that called out the dangerous impact that Nazism would have on the world. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton Ghosts by Edith Wharton – I haven’t even read the book my mom got me last month about personal libraries and collecting books and Edith Wharton, but apparently it’s time for me to start buying her books anyways! Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai – I didn’t even read the whole synopsis of this book, I just saw the inspired by Egypt at the beginning and put it right into my buy pile.
But then, this Barnes & Noble didn’t have one of the books I really wanted… so I had to go to another one that DID have it and this happened.
Animal Farm by George Orwell – I’ve been wanting to reread this and now I have a copy of my own. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood – I mean… a 70-something year old lady who likes whiskey and skinny dipping in the Thames (which, maybe 1000 years ago, but I don’t know about now) but still, I am intrigued. The World Gives Way by Marissa Levien – I am PUMPED to read this, I’ve heard some glowing reviews recently Furyborn by Claire Legrand Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – This is one of many gorgeous editions of this book available right now and I had to have it. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – This is a gorgeous hardback edition that has a bunch of extras tucked into it like a map of London as it was during this time and some gorgeous illustrations etc. I could not resist.
And then I opened Amazon to look for something and they had a buy get get one 50% deal on books… you get the point. I mean who needs self-control when it’s books, right?
The Lightning Theif by Rick Riordan Circe by Madeline Miller Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – I never read this one when it was really popular a few years ago, but my curiosity got the best of me this week. Saga Vol 8, 9, and 10 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples – I can finally get caught up on this series!
Non-Bookishness:
Not much going on here. I haven’t really been watching anything, but I have been trying to get caught up with the book blogosphere and booktube. Other than that, not to repeat myself too much, but I’m working on work/life balance, whatever that means! I hope to find out more over the next month!
How was your April? Any good, reads, buys, watches, trips, etc? Do share!
Blink…. It’s a new month, how wild! March was quite a month. I am officially a one job lady which is weird. It’s the first time in over seven years that I’m working one job. That said, I got thrown into a huge project at work and all the time I was working at my part time job I’ve been working at my full time job since quitting. So free time and I still haven’t gotten all that acquainted.
April has potential though! I’m headed on vacation next Sunday for ten days in Mexico for my cousins wedding. Since I am NOT made to spend that kind of time sitting around at the beach, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to distract myself with BOOKS. When I get home though I need to start setting some boundaries between work and my personal time because I have had zero of that for the last six or so weeks and it’s starting to wear on me… but, let’s get to the wrap up.
This month I read:
Mr. Darcy’s Perfect Storm by Caitlin Marie Carrington A second book who’s title I don’t even know…..
This is where it gets sad. I thought I was going to read the shit out of Engines of Empire but unfortunately that did not happen. I thought I was going to finish the third Mistborn book and that didn’t happen. I did read an ebook from an omnibus of Pride & Prejudice that I never even got the title of and haven’t even taken the time to go back and get it as you saw from the above. Maybe I should do that so I can fill in the massive blank spot in my notebook.
This month I hauled:
Lots actually. My mother talked me into an impromptu bookstore visit, and she bought me a couple of gifts when she went away for a weekend. Also, I bought myself a congratulatory book present that I am SO pumped for. Let’s get into it.
Contemporary German Fiction edited by A. Leslie Willson What a Library Means to a Woman: Edith Wharton and the Will to Collect Books by Sheila Liming
These are a couple of books that my mom picked up for me as a gift. Here’s a tidbit of knowledge. I’ve never read an Edith Wharton book and I had no idea that her personal library was so vast and well known. I also had no idea that her home was just over an hour away from me and I really can’t wait to go see it when her estate reopens for visitors in May, even though I still barely know anything about her.
The Verso Book of Dissent edited by Andrew Hsiao and Audrea Lim The Eighth Girl by Maxine Mei-Fung Chung Himalaya: A Human History by Ed Douglas Engines of Chaos by R.S. Ford The Tangled Tree by David Quammen Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
This stack is the result of the impromptu bookstore trip and I have quite a mix here. Engines of Chaos is the only thing I was looking for. The rest of these caught by eye while browsing and since I have no control…. I own them now. The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi though, there is no chance that wasn’t coming home with me when I saw the recommendation card from staff… This is all I know about the book but I do anticipate reading it.
Last but not least the very exciting purchase I made as a congratulations for quitting my second job….
Oh yes I did. Have I read these yet? Nope. I did break my rule and watch the first two seasons of the show though. These editions are gorgeous and I’ve had my eye on them and just hadn’t broken down. Until now. They are so colorful and the illustrated editions of The Last Witch and Sword of Destiny are stunningly beautiful. Also, they look so pretty on my shelf. I am that emoji with the heart eyes every time I look at them.
…. And no, we are not going to discuss the fact that I already own copies of some of the books, thank you.
Non-bookishness:
I don’t have much here. I haven’t watched anything new. I haven’t finished my rewatch/finish of the Terminator movies. I did buy yarn for the first time in years this week. I’m desperate to get back in touch with my hands and spend some time away from computers and my phone, so I’m really looking forward to spending time knitting again now that I’m not working two jobs.
What’s up everyone. So it’s March. 2023. That’s kind of wild. How you been? …
It’s been an interesting year so far. Not to sound like a broken record, but I’ve been working like crazy and really not reading like crazy. Certainly nothing outside of my busy, my mind needs a break comfort zone, AKA Pride and Prejudice retellings – and lots of them. That said, I’m soon to be a one job lady which is terrifying (because I like money. I like making it, having it, spending it and I’m not going to be doing any of those things like I do now, lol). It’s also exciting because it’ll be nice to not have to work 6 days a week EVERY WEEK which I’ve been doing for seven and a half years, so yay for me.
Alright, let’s get into it. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.
These months I read:
More Than a Pretty Face by Frances Reynolds A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity by Amy D’Orazio Drawing Mr. Darcy: Sketching His Character (#1) by Melanie Rachel Drawing Mr. Darcy: A Faithful Portrait (#2) by Melanie Rachel So Little Endeavour at Civility by Kate Beauford An Excellent Walker by Lyndsay Constable
Every single one of these is… you guessed it. A Pride and Prejudice Variation. I’m not ashamed. I know what keeps me sane. Some of these were definitely better than others though…
Currently I’m Reading:
Something More Substantial by Jann Rowland Engines of Empire by R.S. Ford – this book is SO good, but I couldn’t give it the attention it needed so I had to put it down for a while. But I think this book is going to be my first weekend off as a one job lady celebration book.
These months I hauled:
Mistborn: Secret History by Brandon Sanderson: I saw this when I was browsing the bookstore and just grabbed it. As a bookworm does. I don’t know what it is, but if it’s Mistborn related, I’m sure I’ll find some enjoyment. Village of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France by Caroline Moorehead: I read another of Moorehead’s books some years ago, but I really enjoyed her writing and her perspective so when I stumbled upon this I decided to give it a go. The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis: This title catches my eye every time I go to the bookstore, so I finally decided it was time to bring it home. European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewomen by Theodora Goss: I bought this for the title and the title alone. My knowledge of the series is minimal. In fact… The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss: Not pictured here because by the time I realized I left it downstairs I was much too lazy to go down and grab it for a picture, so… I happened to find out that the last book is actually number two in a series, so of course I had to buy the first one. When Women Ruled the World: Making the Renaissance in Europe by Maureen Quilligan: This was picked up on impulse and I was intrigued enough to give it a go. The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman: Another impulse buy when the title caught my eye. Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes: I keep buying Julian Barnes books even though I’ve not ready any yet because I really want to love them… time shall tell. Engines of Empire by R.S. Ford: I saw someone gush about how amazing this book is on booktube and I HAD to have it. The little bit that I have read so far is quite promising.
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson: I read Sorcery of Thorns last year and LOVED it and I have been waiting on this one for a while now. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: This is where the book collector in me comes out. I have this book already, but this edition has painted edges and one side is painted like the colors of the sunset and the water on the rest of the book and I had to have it even though I already have it and haven’t read it yet. The Maidens by Alex Michaelides: The cover caught my eye and the synopsis intrigued me so it went home with me. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware: This was on my TBR and it was on a 50% deal so why not? They Called Me A Lioness: A Palestinian Girl’s Fight For Freedom by Ahed Tamimi and Dena Takruri: It is sad just how little I truly understand the situation with Palestine and Israel, and I stumbled on this book and it seemed like the place to start. The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg: Greta could publish a book with no words in it and I’d buy it. She’s done more with her life in 20 years than I’ll ever do and I respect the shit out of that. Also, I have not idea what is in this book. I didn’t even look. I saw her name and into my buy pile it went. Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes: The title caught my eye, I still don’t fully know what this is, but I bought it because it seemed fun.
Non-bookishness:
Nothing else has really happened. I did take a long weekend in January and went to the Keys with my best friend and we drank lots of gin and got SO sunburned it was hilarious. I finished re-watching Stargate Atlantis and I watched the movie that started it all which I’d never actually seen before. I started watching some of the old Terminator films in anticipation of finally watching the newest ones just so I can know that I’ve seen them whether they’re good or not, but haven’t actually gotten to the newer ones yet. Oh and this past weekend we went to Boston for the Space Adventure exhibit that’s all about the missions to the moon. It was pretty neat AND I got some astronaut tchotchke! What’s not to love?
How about you, how has the beginning of your 2023 gone?
How wild that I’m starting my December 2022 wrap up, but whether we’re ready or not, 2023 approaches. It’s been a heck of a year, but I’m pumped because I exceeded my reading goal of 52 books for the year and I’ve got tons of great books at my fingertips ready to be read.
This month I read:
The Last House in Lambton by Grace Gibson 4/5 stars This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone 4/5 stars The Bat (Harry Hole #1) by Jo Nesbø 4/5 stars Icebreaker (UCMH #1) by Hannah Grace 4/5 stars
I also started the book about pockets! It’s interesting thus far. The approach is definitely a bit academic, but it’s not unenjoyable at this point. All in all, I’m happy with the reading I managed to to considering how this month went.
This month I hauled:
I was very good to myself as far as books are concerned this month. I bought many… many… many books. In fact I’m waiting for more to be delivered, though I don’t know if they’ll make it this week or not yet (spoiler, they did!) and there are numerous ebooks that I haven’t included here. Suffice it to say, I’ve got some reading material to keep me busy for a while.
Stolz und Vorteil by Jane Austen Yes to Life in Spite of Everything by Victor E. Frankl Murder by the Book: Mysteries for Bibliophiles by Various Authors How We Are Hungry by Dave Eggers Bad Dirt by Annie Proulx Der Kleine Vampir I by Angela Sommer Bodenburg
These are all the books that came home from Germany with me this month. And yes… there are THREE copies of Pride and Prejudice here, two of which I cannot read because I do NOT have enough German to get through Pride and Prejudice in Deutsch. I was also sad because there were zero copies of P&P in the used bookstores I went to, so I had to get new copies from all three shops and really I have the two German editions because I saw the little yellow copy and it was so tiny and cute that I had to have it even though I’d already picked up a copy. So, you know adulting at it’s best.
The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima A Queen in Hiding by Sarah Kozloff A People’s History of the World by Chris Harman A Game of Birds and Wolves by Simon Parkin Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
One of my methods of trying to defeat jet lag was keeping myself busy in the evenings to stay awake which is the perfect time to go book shopping. Hence this pile of books. The Crimson Crown was quite intentional, however the rest of these books were jet lagged me going “Oh! I’ve heard of this,” or “Oh! Stuff to learn!” and not putting the book back down.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The River Between by Ngūgī Wa Thiong‘o Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø This is How You Win the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green The Darkness by Ragnar Jónasson Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldtree The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Funny story. I got home from traveling, went back to work the day after I got home and immediately picked up covid again from an outbreak at work… not from traveling. So after three days in the office I was stuck unexpectedly quarantining for a week and at the end of it I HAD to get out of the house and stretch my legs and there is no place like a bookstore to do just that. This pile is a combination of next books in series, purchasing a hard copy of a book I read on Scribd, some longtime TBR purchases, and random stuff I spotted whilst browsing.
Gideon the Ninth by Tasmyn Muir Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen Still Life by Louise Penny His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
This one JUST made it into this post. I had a gift card and ordered these online recently and they were delivered on 12/31. It’s like it was meant to be. Gideon the Ninth I heard good things about over at Birdie’s Book Nook and decided to pick up a copy when I saw it. Skin of the Sea was a total cover buy – this book is gorgeous and I’m assuming it’s a mermaid book which I find intriguing. Still Life is the first novel in a mystery series that I read a novella from last year or so, but I hadn’t picked up the first book yet. Last but not least, the His Dark Material’s books, mostly because I’m intrigued by the show previews, but I won’t watch it until I read it. I don’t actually know anything about these books.
Non-Bookishness:
Outside of travel, work, covid, and books there is of course holiday celebrations with family. I watched season three of Jack Ryan and started my rewatch of Stargate Atlantis this month as well. I also have a new time drain in the form of a computer game that I’m almost afraid to speak of, but is also so relaxing and fulfilling… so there’s that. But’s that really all for December. Minus the covid, it was actually a pretty good month.
How about you? Any good reads this month? Other good discoveries? Do share!
Among Stories 