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This is a fun story about a researcher looking into the origins of fads and who ends up falling in love and herding sheep in the process.

#gottacatchemall @PuddleJumper (prompt 19, Karrablast: Excitable character)

This was a quick, fun read that reminded me a lot of Crosstalk—but I liked these characters far better. I‘m starting to think that Connie Willis‘ books generally fall into two categories: lighthearted semi-madcap comedies and more serious sci-fi. This was the former & I think I prefer the latter, though I did enjoy this. I must say: her mild satire of corporate culture was hilarious. I mean, there was literally a character named “Management.” 😂

This book was meant to be funny but it's the type of humor that I enjoy more in a movie than in a book. Lots of absurd happenings. Lots of characters introduced but not too deeply. Not too much of a plot. But it was interesting and entertaining for a Sunday read!

The Hula Hoop, miniature golf, the twist. All fads have a low ability threshold. That's why you never see speed chess becoming a fad. Or fencing.

Finished this one while grilling a delicious dinner of salmon, tuna, chicken, potatoes, and corn. The book was fine. The story was cute and funny although I definitely felt like the author was doing that “old man shouts at clouds” thing. The narrator didn‘t help. Either way, it‘s a quick read and it‘s probably far more enjoyable in print.

Lord have mercy, this is an awful audiobook. Kate Reading is basically narrating every young character as a reject from Daria. I wish this hadn‘t been my first exposure to Willis because this narration is leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

Well, shoot—I finished that in less than a day! It's completely not what I expected from science fiction. It's really more fiction about scientists, with humor, social commentary, a little romance, and a lot of silliness mixed in. Anyway, I was quite delighted! This was a great companion to driving, doing chores, and working on a jigsaw puzzle. I completely forgot all my cares for a few hours.

Kate Reading is such a great choice for the audiobook version!

Y'all, this is all about people rushing madly about, doing corporate science and studying trends and visiting libraries and navigating office politics steeped in human absurdity, and it's SO DAMNED GOOD. You should read it. Yes, you! It's SF, but it's so firmly rooted in the real world of the mid/late 90s that only the most biased general fiction reader could hold its genre against it.

Another day of discomfort and aggressive inactivity. Sigh. At least I finished THE MASKED TRUTH and made a good start on BELLWETHER.

I love this book. There isn't a BIG plot (like, no monsters....) but it was a good story. A true science fiction in that it was fiction featuring scientists.

Bout of Books wrap-up! Last week, I finished 2 books (Roomies and Bellwether) and started 3 others, for a total of 865 pages and 1.5 hours of audiobook time. My favorite book of the readathon was definitely Bellwether by Connie Willis; I couldn't stop smiling when I was reading it. I'm also really glad that I finally made some progress on Circe! #boutofbooks #makemereadit

Finished my first read for #boutofbooks ! I love Connie Willis's writing style; there's always a bunch of threads of things going on that wrap up together at the end, with plenty of humor along the way. Though she's typically a scifi writer, this one was about lab scientists in the 90's studying fads and chaos theory and why and how cultural trends begin. It was a quick, fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed. 4⭐️

I put together a pretty TBR stack yesterday for #boutofbooks and then realized I wasn't actually in the mood for any of them 😂 I've been in a reading slump lately but want to break it so I picked up Roomies by Christina Lauren since several Littens recommended her to me when I asked for contemporary romance recs, and also started Bellwether by Connie Willis, since I love that author and she has been known to pull me out of reading slumps 📚

#riotgrams: An epically terrible example of #badcovers. I can‘t even... just... why?

New audiobook! This social satire was published in 1997, and it does feel a little dated. I‘m still enjoying it, though!

First book started and finished in #24in48 readathon, also my 1996 book for #192019challenge

This one didn't quite work for me. Interesting premise (fad researcher and chaos theorist meet, collaboration ensues) but I think it could have been more. Mostly the tone started to bug me--I love snarky and cynical as much as the next person but this shaded into mean a bit too often for my liking. Might have been partly the narration, not sure.

A readathon is definitely better with audiobooks. This way I can read and bake cookies!

Connie Willis has been on my authors-to-check-out list for ages, and I am enjoying this book so far. #24in48
@24in48

Day #24 #autobuyauthors #marchintoreading Connie Willis could come out with a book of her grocery lists and I would buy it.

This was my first Connie Willis book and it was really sweet. Reminded me a bit of The Rosie Project for some reason, although this has more science in it.

And it has some sheep. So gratuitous sheep shot included 😂😂 (Thanks Google)

The first book I finished this year was Bellwether, which I loved. @AnnieMay recommended it and we agreed it had shades of Scarlett Thomas and Douglas Coupland. I loved that it was set in the 90s and I always enjoy a book where I accidentally learn a bit of science/theory that I didn't already know, and it was very funny to boot. I read it on our shared kindle library so sadly no pretty picture!

This is one #uglycover for a fabulous book! It's not Science Fiction but a story about a researcher on fads, located in Boulder, CO. Maybe even with a love story sprinkled in. A total recommend. Despite the cover ; )
#somethingforsept #somethingforseptember #septemberphotochallenge

Fun Friday Photo, the audiobook version. This is my book of choice when I am stressed and need something fun and happy. Kate Reading does such an amazing job narrating it!!

Loved this. It reminded me of Scarlett Thomas' earlier work as well as Douglas Coupland which is definitely not a bad thing in my view. Also I'd never have come across this without @bookriot thanks guys!

Started this on the plane home last night. There was a nice sky. Not happy to be back in grey old England 😒

I love Connie Willis excessively.

Love it so much I named a podcast after it!