This. Was. WILD. I haven't read a book like this in years. Ambitious world-building and fascinating characters. A magical NOLA, a young but brave MC, and a story that blazes ahead while you desperately try to keep up. It was an experience, more than just a book. Trying to distill it down to a couple of sentences is impossible.

YES! Hall managed to write a rom com with heart and depth that really explores what it means to take the scary step toward a healthy relationship. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to read the sequel (currently two people ahead of me for it from the library).

Charlie Hall is a con artist with a skewed sense of right and wrong, a sad and regrettable past, and a new determination to do right. But her curiosity, impatience, and buried want of revenge keep leading her astray. The shadow magic in this book is SO interesting. It took me a while to really get a handle on how it worked and some people might say it isn't really thoroughly explored in the book, but honestly, that didn't bother me. (Tbc)

I want to read these before I watch the show, so I'm alternating between Book of Night and the comics.

"He only went outside to dump the compost into a weird worm bin that none of them was sure was working. With all the coffee grounds they added, the only thing Charlie was certain of was that all those worms were WIRED. If a bird ate one, it was going to fly directly into the sun."

I don't know how many people would call this a "Beach Read", but, well, I read it at the beach so now it fits the bill.

"And if he longed for another life, he was with Charlie now. It didn't matter what was in his heart any more than it mattered what was in hers."

Ooh, creepy start.

Got this from the library on a TikTok recommendation. Apparently it has good bi representation. After reading a little about it I'm not sure it's quite up my alley but I'm gonna give it a try.

I ended up loving this book. You may recall that April May, the main character, didn't really do it for me. In the end she was so human and relatable. Did she make a lot of stupid decisions? Jfc, yeah she did. I spent most of the book wanting to shake her. But that made for a compelling read. The actual story is amazing. (Continued in comments...)

I have to say, if this was a story JUST about April May and her romantic endeavors, I don't think I'd keep reading. BUT the Carls and the Dream are DEEPLY fascinating and I want, I NEED, to know more.
I'm starting to understand a little about my reading tastes (they've changed so much), specifically what I'm looking for in a main character (though I find it difficult to put into words) - I want them to care about others. (Continued in comments.)

Listening to the audiobook through Libby. The narrator seems to be modulating his voice for a much younger audience (which absolutely makes sense) but it's taking me out of the story a little - all the dialogue is spoken in b the same cheerful tone, even when the author describes it as pensive or sad or angry.

I'm enjoying it though! I think Riordan has done a great job of making you empathize with the characters.

"There was a song in this forest, too, but it was a savage song, whispering of madness and tearing and rage." - Naomi Novik

I loved this. It's a purrfect, complete story in and of itself. Agnieszka is a great heroine - she's unapologetically herself, whether that's afraid and uncertain or firm and sure.
I've seen some people say it should've been split into two books, and I would say there are at least two distinct stories - Agnieszka being taken to the tower and learning to accept her power, and her and the Dragon's fight against the Wood.

I'm about half way through and loving it. It's quick but deep. Poor thing got wet when I was traveling but it's still readable.

I am LOVING this! I'm listening to it (got it from my library through Libby) and I just want to sit in my car and listen all day!

I went to visit my mom today and listened to it the whole ride which is unusual - I usually have to switch to music at some point because my brain starts drifting.

I just did NOT feel connected to the story or the characters. I thought it was a great premise and parts of it made me gasp or laugh but when it finished I wasn't aching to read the next installment.

"Like Cordelia, you are yourself a dowry." ?? I feel a little faint...

My book made me cry...

I think this book would only be interesting if you already had an interest in Egypt. It's a little dry, everything laid out very matter-of-factly. Each chapter is an "interview" with a new character as they tell us THEIR version of events around the rise and fall of the Heretic, Akhenaten. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it.
#foodandlit2022

"When they learn I teach acting, people who love the theater but are not of the theater often ask me just what one teaches to hopeful aspirants that turns them eventually into trained actors."

#firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

I didn't love it. This is the first of his histories I've read, though I've seen some performed. I just didn't think it all meshed well. There's several Shakespeare plays I love (mostly comedies, ngl), but I found the language in this one to be particularly inaccessible at times, especially when King John or the Bastard were speaking. They were also both incredibly long-winded. Who knows, maybe Robin Hood has just poisoned the man for me.

School being what it is I'm reading a new play about once a week - this time it's King John and the language is kicking my butt. This edition is SO ANNOTATED that I get lost reading the footnotes and forget what's happening in the play. I'm working my way through On Acting for my major.
I'm listening to No One Goes Alone through the Libby app. I'm only a few chapters in. And, ofcourse, Akhenaten for #foodandlit2022. That's my #weekendreading !

Reading this for #foodandlit2022 and so far I'm finding it very interesting. I read a young adult novel about this pharaoh way back when I was in middle school and thought he was fascinating. He completely upended Egyptian religion. He was also married to Nefertiti.
#weekendreads

I listened to the audiobook. This had such promise but it was so disappointing. The premise is great, I love fantasy novels where magic is woven through average, every day life. But the execution left much to be desired. I think the world-building was pretty good, not great, but good. But the characters are shallow and two-dimensional, their back stories rushed, and their interactions felt totally false. Also, I didn't love the narrator.

It's been such a good reading weekend for me! I've finished several books and graphic novels. Now it's time to crack down on some school work but I hope to carve out a few more hours with a book later.

I've got an audition coming up and our instructors are always telling us how important it is to read the script before you audition. I've read R&J before, and seen several productions, but it's been a while, so here we go!
#weekendreading

I really liked this. It's slow paced but sometimes I like that. The language got a little flowery at times but as a whole was beautiful and imaginative. I especially loved how the two timelines finally meet and you fully understand what's happening. The plot unfolds SLOWLY. It's full of mysteries and begs of the reader to take your time, digest what you've read.

My #weekendreads include continuing The Night Circus 🎪 and I started listening to The Paper Magician yesterday. Since I'm going back to school tomorrow I'll be in my car more and able to listen to the audiobook. Two books about magic - I hope that magic carries over into my daily life!

This is really hard to say! I read mostly fantasy so if someone isn't interested in that I'm kind of at a loss, but here are some I know I tell people to read.

📚 The Killer of Little Shepherds
📚 Outlander
📚 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
📚 anything by Neil Gaiman
📚 anything by Jacqueline Carey
📚 Harry Potter
📚 Chronicles of Narnia
📚 The Newsflesh Trilogy

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#sundaysoapbox

It's one of my last lazy days - school starts Monday! I think this book is kind of perfect for me right now; I'm about 200 pages in and it's mostly been set-up but INTERESTING set-up. It's taking its time and I'm enjoying that, in this liminal space between holidays and classes.

Also, Minerva has become part of our holiday decor.

This was such a breath of fresh air. I wasn't sure what kind of book this was gong to be but I knew I was interested in reading about ancient Greece. Miller wrote a beautiful character exploration in which Circe, with us along for the ride, takes a thousand years to figure out who she is and what she wants. She too often allows others to influence her and the reader gets to watch as she grows and learns about herself and the world.

I was able to get in 7 hours of reading yesterday!! I start school next week so I'm feeling the pressure to get everything in order. I only need 4 more hours to reach my goal! Right now I'm at 16 total in 3 days. #20in4

I read for a total of 5:14 hours yesterday and managed to finish Goldenhand. It was good but didn't have the same feeling of urgency the earlier books in the series do. It felt just a little more lighthearted, which was very strange for this series. I enjoyed it though!

#20in4

Happy New Year!! Leko impatiently waits for me to take breaks from reading and pay attention to him - he's a GOOD BOY.

I realized I didn't keep track of how long I read yesterday for the #20in4 #newyearspecial, so, conservatively, I'm gonna say about 4 hours. I finished two short stories in the Old Kingdom series and started Goldenhand.

I'm making my way through Nix's Old Kingdom stories. Apparently I'm gonna have to get a book of short stories that I don't have yet, To Hold the Bridge. I'm thinking I might try to buy an ebook version, if it's available.

I almost forgot the #20in4 #newyearspecial starts today! I should be finishing this book and starting the next in the series. @Andrew65

I've been rereading this series. I first read it probably 17 years ago when Across the Wall was the last book in the series. Now there's two more! Reading this as a teenager, I was so inspired by Sabriel and Lirael and how they pushed themselves to become what they were destined to be. I'm so glad I picked them up again.

Just got back from vacation which my dog went on WITH US and he still hasn't gotten sick of me ❤ Started Black Sun two days ago and now I'm almost 400 pages in. IT'S STELLAR. I already want to read it again and I'm not even finished!

I'm really excited about this one! I've seen a TON of great reviews. And reading outside between classes is paradise.

I had no idea what this book was about - Neil Gaiman is one of those authors that I don't need a summary, just give me the book. This is SO GOOD, and SO CREEPY. I had moments where my heartbeat sped up a I read. Can't wait to finish.

I loved this! It was so cute and interesting. The callout of Fandom culture made me laugh. I am looking forward to the sequel.

So the last book I was reading was really bad and it put me in a funk - I tried really hard to finish it but it was so lackluster that I kept putting it off, so I wasn't reading anything. I decided to DNF it and move on.

One thing I find conspicuously absent in the author's description is the fear a person feels when admitting to being abused. The embarrassment and shame. I wonder, though, if that is only an effect of modern times? 🤔

Just started this and I'm really looking forward to getting into the meat of the story. I don't know if the author intended this but he seems to be also be commenting on how European colonizers ruined the natural landscape of America. It's subtle but noticeable.

This book is giving me strong DaVinci Code vibes, with a dash of an Ocean's heist movie. The lore recounted in the book has been interesting. I'm finally getting REALLY engaged in the story- it's been building to a soft reveal that was expected but still fun.

Petsitting cats means letting them come to you. Reading is the perfect way to do that because cats love nothing more than interrupting what you're doing ?
I'm loving how this book is discussing colonialism and it's dire effects on a country's history when the colonizing country "rescues" artwork for museums.