This one starts fast and I must say, so far I‘m really entertained! 🚆

This quiet, powerful story tackles school bullying, anxiety, stress, forgiveness, & friendship. Seven students, victims of school bullying, find themselves traveling through a mirror & into a mysterious castle where one of them will be granted a wish. The story unfolds slowly as they overcome their distrust, learn to open up & trust again, & as they find the courage to confront their fears. Twists at the end offer even more emotional depth. ❤️

Read this for work & thought I would mention it for two reasons. First, if you are interested in geography, mapmaking, the process of discovery, this offers a fascinating, albeit it scholarly, look at the subject (fair warning, it is definitely aimed at students/academics). More importantly, every time I read something like this, I marvel at people venturing out into the world without GPS, without knowing much about what is beyond the horizon.

Today‘s reading is an award winning book from Japan…

Spending time with the Forgers never disappoints! Love this story and these characters. Anya is a delight—and never more so than in this one when she and Damian try to find time to meet…alone…and of course nothing goes according to plan! Friendship, spy battles, Yor‘s cooking, finals, you name it, this installment has a lot going on. Fabulous, frenetic, and always fun, Spy X Family is simply the best. 😍 Highly recommend the entire series.

I didn‘t like this standalone book quite as much as Tan‘s Daughter of the Moon Goddess/Heart of the Sun Warrior duology but it was still a fun, fast paced, entertaining read. Gods, mortals, evil flying creatures, portals, love (lost and perhaps found), danger and high stakes—if you like all these things, you‘ll find a lot to like in this book. Great characters, great world building—Tan is a great writer and knows how to tell a good story.

#Two4Tuesday

1. Absolute favorite thing in winter is reading a good book with a hot cup of tea while snow is falling outside. Love the quiet, love looking out the window and seeing the snow, love diving back into the book.

2. Sometimes when I read the tagged book it‘s as if I can feel the cold wind, hear the crunch of snow under my feet. More than any other book I‘ve read, this one makes me FEEL winter.

@TheSpineView

Vol. 3 and this series is getting better & better now that we are fully involves involved in the game. What really makes this story work is the main character, Dokja, who is not only surviving but also actually thriving because he‘s read the book, he knows what happens &, most importantly, he‘s good at adapting when his actions change what happens. More danger, bigger monsters, & even great evil in this one. Fun & very entertaining series.

Fluffy snow is falling and everything is quiet—perfect reading conditions. Think I‘ll start this one today.

Actually Volume 2. When the sole reader of a 1,300+ chapter book published online finds himself & the world in the midst of that very same story, it will take all his knowledge, wit, & courage to survive. Especially when viewers of the show (because that‘s what it is) & other players have their own agendas. Danger, schemes, high stakes—it‘s a really fun, entertaining read. Even better, it‘s being adapted for a K-drama due out later this year!

This book is exactly what would happen if you mixed The Mummy with Indiana Jones with Night at the Museum with the Met Gala with Amelia Peabody—Davis throws all the best/worst archaeology, museum, tombs, curses, bad family, treasure hunting, you name it tropes at the wall and for the most part they stick. Is it in any real way accurate? No. Is it a fun and entertaining read? Yes, it is and I can see this being a fun escape for readers.

#ThreeListThursday @dabbe

Impossible to resist a “greatest books” list.

I‘ve read 56 of the 100 books which puts me, at the moment, at #20 on the list.

Favorites include the tagged book—love it and The Fellowship of the Rings—as well as I Want My Hat Back (love Klassen), American Born Chinese, and The Graveyard Book.

Books I would add: The Lightning Thief (first Percy Jackson), Stuck (Oliver Jeffers), & The Monster at the End of this Book.

Today‘s reading—the Met, ancient Egypt and a mysterious queen, a curse. What could go wrong? I imagine all sorts of fun and adventure awaits. Danger too…

Sometimes you just want to read about an underdog taking on the bad guys…creatures…whatever they might be. Happily this fit the bill perfectly. Jinwoo Sung is known as the “Weakest Hunter of All Mankind” which means he isn‘t much use when it comes to a fight…until it becomes clear it‘s going to take brains not brawn to solve the predicament he finds himself in. And then, of course, he discovers it‘s actually much more complicated. A fun read.

Can a bad story be beautifully written? This book unambiguously proves the answer is yes. There‘s no story here—which was undoubtedly the author‘s intent—it is simply 200+ pages of people marveling at the vastness of the universe, the wonder & fragility of human existence, seeing Earth from space, & the simultaneous mundanity/extreme risk of living on the space station. Gorgeous, contemplative writing but it‘s oddly lacking in emotional impact.

Today‘s reading when not working…

This may be my favorite Kosuke Kindaichi yet. In this outing, a young man learns he is the long-lost heir of a wealthy family that‘s been is disarray ever since the man‘s father, as he learns, went on a murderous rampage. What should be a joyful return home to his family quickly becomes a nightmare as people start dying. Love the twists & turns in these mysteries, the setting, characters, & tension. Another entertaining read.

#12Booksof2024

My favorite book of the year was one of the last I read in 2024. My December pick can only be the tagged book, a quietly compelling look at love and grief, myth making, history and storytelling through the lens of warring gods, a grief stricken historian, and a storyteller confronting a terrible fate. Loved the slow, deliberate pace of this book that traces myth to history to story…and much more. Excellent.

@Andrew65

#12Booksof2024

Hard to believe we‘re already up to November with our list—so fun sorting through everything I read and picking favorites. Hard too, but this month was an easy one. Loved this story about a midwife in late 18th c. Maine. Once I started I found it impossible to put down. Setting and characters—with plenty of people to love and/or hate—were fantastic. A great high stakes story that keeps you engaged from page one.

@Andrew65

Took my mom to Barnes & Noble to get her some books for her birthday…and came home with a few for myself. 😬 Surprising absolutely no one I might add…. Tagged book has been in my radar for awhile. Mom recommended Orbital and I‘ve seen a lot about Butter here and other places so I decided to give it a go.

#12Booksof2024

My favorite book in October was City of Bones, a wonderfully inventive and intriguing fantasy from Martha Wells (of Murderbot fame). One of her earlier works it nonetheless displays all the things I like her books for—great characters, snappy dialog, exceptional world building and a story that always entertains and surprises. Reading this makes me want to revisit more of her backlist.

@Andrew65

Starting a new Kosuke Kindaichi murder mystery tonight… Yokomizo‘s plots are always complex, always interesting and the atmosphere is always creepy with a healthy dose of tension and danger. I‘m anticipating another great story.

I find, as was the case throughout this excellent short story collection, that horror is often the most horrific, compelling, and impactful when it is firmly grounded in how the mundane, how the seemingly ordinary parts of life are often the scariest. From a late night drive in dense fog & life in a village surrounded (seemingly) by dog kennels, to a house on a murky pond, the horror in this books simply oozes across the pages. A good read.

#12Booksof2024

My favorite book in September was the first in a new series by the author of The Expanse. Corey (two friends writing under a pseudonym) excels at world building and in this series has created a terrifying & yet fascinating world where humans are not okay and there is a real possibility (probability?) they won‘t survive what is happening. A thrilling & engaging read with high stakes.

@Andrew65

#12Booksof2024

Favorite book in August was one that‘s made its way onto almost all (if not all) the end of year “best books” lists for 2024. I raced through this one and was surprised by how much I liked it. Really well constructed thriller with good writing, interesting & compelling characters, and a tangled bundle of secrets. Definitely an entertaining read.

@Andrew65

The family is still asleep so it‘s just me, a cup of coffee, and a short story collection from South Korea to start my 2025 reading.

🌅📖☕️

Book 221 and done in 2024. This one was every bit as fun as the first book and I definitely look forward to continuing the series. A cast of fun, quirky—and occasionally absolutely ridiculous—characters keep things lively as they navigate rivalries, adventure, and danger all the while one of them is carrying around mummified faerie remains…better not to ask…This one was really entertaining.

#Two4Tuesday

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2025 is filled with all sorts of reading fun!

1. I usually set a goal, well within my reach so I don‘t stress about achieving it, for the number of books I want to read. So, 150 for 2025.

2. Off the top of my head, I‘d have to say I‘m really looking forward to V.E. Schwab‘s new book (tagged)—I‘ve loved everything she‘s written with one exception so I‘m ready to dive into another one.

@TheSpineView

#12Booksof2024

July-this is the last short story collection to make my “favorite of the month” list. What I really enjoyed about this loosely interconnected group of stories is that they focused on older characters, the retirement set, & the trials/tribulations of a group of friends, & individuals, dealing with everything that comes with aging—the ups/downs, the gossip, the indignity, the appreciation for life. Very entertaining.

@Andrew65

#12Booksof2024

Once again, it was a short story collection that stood out in June. Leckie is a big thinker and a phenomenal writer—everything she writes is weird and compelling and wonderful. I get most of it but not all of it and that‘s okay. Reading her writing expands my understanding the of the world/universe we live in—and where we might find ourselves in the future—and that makes for an excellent reading experience.

@Andrew65

Starting what will probably be my last book of the year tonight. Loved the first one and am hoping the sequel is just as good if not better.🤞

#12Booksof2024

My favorite in May was The Hunter. French is a marvelous writer and this second story featuring retired Chicago cop Cal Hooper is every bit as good as the first if not better. French knows how to write setting and character and the way she teases out secrets and the way in which the threads that bind and entangle are prized apart always satisfy. French is an automatic buy for me and this one didn‘t disappoint.

@Andrew65

#12Booksof2024

My favorite book in April was another short story collection—apparently this was the year I got really into short stories. 🤷‍♀️ Anyway, this was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. Loved every single story and anticipate rereading this one in the future. (Also one of my favorite covers of the year.)

@Andrew65

The danger is palpable in this middle grade adventure about a pair of friends who are racing against an evil organization to uncover the last library—and untold riches—on Earth. This is a fun adventure with just enough edge to it to keep young readers engaged—there are some cool menacing mechanical dogs—but it also has a a subtly delivered message about the importance of books, how information equals power, & fighting for what is right.

#12Booksof2024

My favorite book in March was another one from South Korea. The titular story in this outstanding collection is about a serial killer in the early stages of Alzheimer‘s who also believes his daughter is dating a serial killer. Wild premise but the author pulls it off beautifully and the story is one of the best I read this year. I really enjoyed all the other stories in the collection too. Excellent read.

@Andrew65

#12Booksof2024

My favorite book in February was Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 which tells the story of a woman‘s struggle in the face of unrelenting misogyny—at work and at home. Fantastic translation of a powerful, compelling story that was a bestseller in South Korea before becoming a worldwide sensation.

I also really enjoyed The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden.

@Andrew65

#12Booksof2024

My favorite book in January was Dan Santat‘s graphic novel memoir about a trip he took to Europe in middle school. It‘s a wonderful story about all sorts of “firsts,” including first love, as well as the joys, embarrassments, fun, and adventure that comes with being a teenager. A delightful read beginning to end.

@Andrew65

Middle grade adventure today… a hunt for the last library on Earth? Sounds fun to me!

Hazel is the thirteenth child in a family of little means. Her godfather, the Dreaded End, is a god who, after neglecting her for many years, trains her as a healer. Hazel has a rare gift as well—she can see when someone is going to die & can‘t be cured. Court intrigue, a wastrel of a prince (who maybe wants to be something more), a jealous godfather, & a mysterious disease make for an entertaining YA fairy tale retelling.

Going with a fairy tale retelling tonight…

I feel like I‘m going to have to read these stories again to fully “get” them—that being said, this is a great collection of stories, the longest of which is almost a novella, that are all odd & varying degrees of unsettling. They are all very well constructed and the writing is excellent. So too is the translation which is phenomenal. I imagine this is a book that evokes strong love/hate it reactions. I found it really interesting.

Tonight‘s reading…

#Two4Tuesday.

1. Sneaking in a few minutes of reading every morning before the day gets too busy.

2. One of the best traits of the main character, a famous detective named Kosuke Kindaichi, is his quiet persistence. He comes off as unassuming and, perhaps, not altogether present but he always solves the case.

@TheSpineView

This one finds Cork O‘Conner traveling to Arizona after his new wife gets a frantic call from her son. What they find are secrets & lies, a porous border where trouble between drug cartels, vigilante border patrol groups & those trying to keep a low profile as they help undocumented immigrants is brewing, & a past that Cork‘s wife would have preferred to forget about. Solid, although not my fav in the series, story & a good read.

Managed to go a week or two without reading a Cork O‘Conner book. I‘m almost caught up on the series so trying to take my time with the last few…

The latest book by Gu, author of The Old Woman with the Knife, translated into English is a story about four families who move into a government sponsored communal living building. What should be an idyllic home in the countryside becomes something else as each of the young couples struggle, in different ways, to acclimate to their new home & new lives. A quiet book about relationships, how they are maintained & sometimes fracture. A good read.

Easily one of my favorite books of the year & while I loved this story about myth becoming history becoming life I suspect it will be a love it or hate it book for many readers. Kang weaves together tales of a gifted storyteller, warring gods, & a historian in mourning in a story about grief, love, how the past informs the present & the future & how the future likewise informs the past. A thought-provoking read on the power of narrative. Loved it.

There is no better feeling than sitting down with a new book, reading the first chapter and knowing with absolute certainty that the book is going to work for you. All of which is to say, I just started this one and am really enjoying it.

Every bit as good as expected. Val believes her family is cursed—no one ever has any luck with love, something particularly devastating for someone who loves Valentine‘s Day…until she doesn‘t. Is she really fated to never find true love? She wonders & it‘s a question that comes into sharper focus when she meets a pair of cute lion dancers. Family secrets, friendship, falling into love (maybe?!?) combine in a wonderful story. An entertaining read.

Yang‘s stories never disappoint so I‘m anticipating a good read. 🤞