I finally got some outdoor reading time today, but then a hailstorm moved in. Blah.
THE WINTER KNIGHT is the last Canada Reads Longlist title in my queue. Arthurian stuff is a hard sell for me, but I think I might love this one. It‘s all character work and everyday mythology and Vancouver, with great vibes. Not at all the “epic poetry, but make it EDGY (sans actual epic poetry)” feel I somehow expected from it. #gaymay
I started THE VICAR AND THE RAKE last night after the memoir I was reading proved, shall we say, kinda dull. It was exactly what I needed: immediate engagement, lots of interesting bits about the edges, and chapters short and punchy enough that you pretty well have to read just one more. I‘m looking forward to the back half today. #gaymay
DELAY OF GAME was my first 2024 book purchase, and I didn‘t rush to read it because not too long after I bought it I bounced off Ari Baran‘s debut pretty durned hard. The character dynamics just weren‘t the sort I could connect with.
I was braced for a similar reaction to this one, but lo! The vibes are excellent! I read the first 15% ahead of a barbecue last night and wished I could duck out to read more. Now I‘m 1/3 in & going strong. #gaymay
A certain little fuzzball cuddled up to my book while I skritched his tummy this morning.
STARS IN YOUR EYES is my fifth Kacen Callender novel. My first two of their books blew me away and ensured their spot on my Must Read list. My next two were resoundingly okay. So far, this one‘s in the middle; really good, but not mindblowing. We shall see how the back half goes. #gaymay
I finished this lovely novella during an outdoor reading session with a buddy who was more interested in sniffing everything in sight than in posing for a picture. Dogs, man.
A LITTLE LIGHT MISCHIEF was a great reminder of Cat Sebastian‘s excellence. Solid character development and good chemistry, all in less than a hundred pages. #gaymay
pickCAN‘T SPELL TREASON WITHOUT TEA offers up some excellent bookstore scenes, a wealth of teas, and a bunch of interesting friendships, all in a world that accepts all forms of queerness. I enjoyed its cozier aspects very much, but I was less enamoured of the overarching magic-and-treason plot until pretty far in. That (highly subjective) imbalance kept the book in like-not-love territory for me, but I still plan to pick up the sequel. #gaymay
I want to cook my supper and read my book. He wants me to give him seventy-three treats. Sigh.
I say I want to read my book, but honestly… well. I don‘t dislike A SWEET STING OF SALT as of page 90. I can‘t point to any element and say, “I hate this,” but I can‘t point out anything I love (or really like), either. One of those. I‘ll give it a little bit longer, then consider whether I want to drift away from it. #gaymay
I‘m still plugging away at CAN‘T SPELL TREASON WITHOUT TEA, this time with an hibiscus-chicory blend I really want to finish so I can clear some space in my tea cupboard.
As of 60%, I‘m pretty sure the book‘s gonna stay in like-not-love territory. It feels divided between its cozy aspirations and a more sword & sorcery impulse. Still, it‘s always nice to read something that includes multiple scenes in a bookstore! #gaymay
pickTHE SINS ON THEIR BONES gives the reader a lot to admire, including a secondary world with shades of 19th century Russia, a magic system rooted in Jewish folklore, and a queer-accepting society. I enjoyed it very much, but I probably would‘ve loved it had there been a bit more depth to the characters‘ relationships and a few more chances for the reader to put things together for themself via context instead of direct revelation. #gaymay
