Such a great collection! I laughed so much.
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This has made all my lists, and a lot of other people's too, I see. Well deserved.
@TheEllieMo #12Booksof2025
My recordkeeping isn't the best but I read around 40 books from my #BookSpin list this year, and DNF'd around 18. It really pushed me to finally get to books!
In some gone but not forgotten challenges, I read 16, DNF'd 2 #SeriesLove books and read 34, DNF'd 4 #BacklistAuthor books.
Altogether I'm pretty happy with my reading year, except that I've had anxiety around having too many books on my plate. Still working on strategies for that.
I'm not sure what I would have thought of this if I hadn't read The Last Unicorn many times, but for a fan it's certainly interesting. It's Beagle's original draft, which is in some ways very similar and in others very different, and though unfinished it's polished and readable. I think most will agree that its a good thing he went back to it later and found its real heart.
I got so confused, because didn't I just do this book...
@TheEllieMo
A contemporary Pride and Prejudice/Sense and Sensibility mash-up, with Bingley subbing for Edward Ferrars. I'll give this a low pick, because I did start to get invested in it towards the end... and because Gilliland's Darcy retains a bit of his charm. Also, Willoughby as a classic sensitive new age guy is a hoot. The non-linear story telling is kind of confusing and I liked the first book better.
#Pemberlittens
One of the most heartbreaking things about reading (listening) to this was knowing that so much that was already wrong would only have gotten worse since the 2024 election. But it's not just depressing -- it's a great story as well as an enlightening one.
@BookmarkTavern
I planned to reread this before decluttering it, since I didn't remember it being a favorite and it's in ebook now. A little way in, my feelings don't seem to have changed. If anyone wants an old paperback, let me know. :-)
#ReadOrDonate @julieclair
I read many 4 star books in April and I don't know that this was the best, but it is the one I've thought of most often since, and recommended to people.
#12Booksin2025 @TheEllieMo
Kind of awesome to read an incredibly popular book and discover that damn, it really is that good!
#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo
IS it a pick? It was sure fun reading along with the #HashtagBrigade but I'm not sure I would've enjoyed it on my own.
Very pretty graphic novel about a future in which body modifications are commonplace.. but not for Austen, whose immune system rejects mods. Sunati is intrigued by her difference at first, then “inspired“ by what she sees as Austen's bravery, but she'll have to learn to accept Austen as she is for their relationship to flourish. I felt a bit iffy about the disability metaphor, but it's a sweet romance.
I feel like I should've picked a new read rather than a reread? But what can I say, Going Postal was my best February book.
@TheEllieMo
So funny, and so cringey! The story of a young woman's life as told entirely in nagging letters to her from meaningful characters, including family members, her exercise machine, her snack food and her IUD. It's very funny in an over-the-top way, but kind of unsatisfying as a “novel,“ since there's not really any resolution. I highly recommend the full cast audiobook, which really brings out the humor (and the cringe!)
I found this a little harder to follow than the first book, and there's hardly any Red Ranger. Still very cute and sweet though.
This was an #AuldLangSpine book for 2024 and though I only rated it 4 stars at the time, I still have such a warm impression from it that I'm choosing it for my January book.
@TheEllieMo
The night we went out we got talking about Christmas past -- our childhoods mostly, when according to memory, our affidavit against history, Christmas was commercialised, so although no one went shopping there were always presents under the tree. Kids when sledging and came home to play board games in front of the fire. Everyone had an old dog and a grandma who played piano. We all wore hand-knitted sweaters.
My #AuldLangSpine stack! Subbing for The Last Unicorn, which I've read many times, are The Last Unicorn: The Lost Story and/or In Calabria.
Not pictured: Scythe by Neal Shusterman (saving for February, when he's the #AuthorAMonth, Wayward Children book 1 or 2, Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch, and The Bone Spindle (Libby), Interview with the Vampire (on hold) and Engagement in the Digital Era, which isn't available to borrow. :-(
Inspired by the life of folk artist Mary Ann Wilson, this is considered the first lesbian historical romance, and it's a charmer. Patience, an educated woman from a prosperous family, and Sarah, brought up to be the “boy“ of her poor father's farm, fall in love and must navigate the barriers -- both societal and psychological -- that threaten to keep them apart. They alternately narrate their story and both voices are vivid and distinctive.
I'm quite fond of these odd stories. They're full of drama, and focus more on art, music, and theatrical pursuits that most of Christie's other work. The POV character, elderly, old-fashioned Mr. Satterthwaite gives some grounding to the stories, so the woo-woo feels romantic.
#ChristieCapers @LibraryBelle
I gave up this series about 10 years ago & there are around 20 new books in it. 😳 For #AuthorAMonth I picked up where I left off. It's a good, readable story of but I can't say I can really get behind a cop heroine and billionaire hero these days. Throw in a lot of sexual violence and a nasty prison rape comment and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to catch up with the missing 20 plus however many new ones there are since I started that sentence.
“Ironman, but not like Ripken.“ Her eyes narrowed. “Is this porn?“
He laughed. “It isn't, no.“
“Ironman sounds suspicious to me. What are the others?“
“There's Thor, the Hulk,“ he began.
“Sounds like porn.“
This was a lovely surprise, because I haven't previously been able to get into Klune's more fantastical books. The characters were immediately engaging, which is the big difference, I think -- and also often very funny. It went a bit of the rails for me in the second half, but the thematic core of love and steadfast loyalty for found family kept me going.
#QueerBC @PuddleJumper @Read4Life
Edward has finished two days of meditation and prayer. He is here to tell my my fate. I sit with my hands folded, meekly ready to accept it, in case it is a fate I am willing to accept.
This is a story of hard hearts and second chances Of the misrule of Christmas, where ordinary laws are turned upside down, of clock-time being out-chimed by significant time (a lifetime happens in a night). And of goose, puddings, fires, candles, fearsome hot cocktails (Smoking Bishop), snow so thick the city sleeps and “a Merry Christmas to us all... God Bless us every one!“
This is a story so powerful it can survive the Muppets.
Thanks to @Andrea313 for this #BlameItOnLitsy success! I really enjoyed these deep dives into Sondheim's works, especially when I disagreed with the author. 😂 (He is just so wrong about the Baker's Wife, I mean seriously!) I'm not familiar with Sondheim's later musicals but enjoyed the chapters nonetheless. The audiobook is a pleasant listen.
(I used this pic because Nina!)
#URC bk about old hobby @Faranae
#MonthlyNonfiction2025 @julieclair
Very much a “it's not you, it's me“ situation. I always knew I didn't really want to read this and I apparently still don't. I'm glad it's around for the people who need it.
#10BeforeTheEnd @ChaoticMissadventures
I am so tired of portentous -- or at this point, pretentious -- sentence fragments and there are three hours left to read! Think I'll probably DNF. 😔
I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE
O apple of the world
we weren't married on the surface
we were married at the core
I can't take it anymore
surely there must be
a limit for the rich
and a hope unto the poor
I can't take it anymore
and the lies that they tell
about G-d
as if they owned the store
I can't take it anymore
I was surprised at what a pageturner this was, though I do tend to love epistolary novels. There's a smidge of a mystery element and a smidge of suspense, but mainly it's a portrait of a somewhat cantankerous woman nearing the end of her life, who discovers that it's not too late to create stronger relationships, help others, allow herself to receive help and resolve some of the question marks that have haunted her. Not soppy, just really moving.
@Crinoline_Laphroaig I was just wondering if you have a plan for #Pemberlittens next year? I have so many Austen-related books to read!
Started this last night and was up past 2 reading... I finally had to take a sleeping pill.
So cute I can barely stand it! An alien Supervillain committed to destroying humanity needs to de-stress, and nothing feels better than looking at Pandas. Or small, soft, pettable creatures. Or helping small humans. Or even helping his nemesis, the adorable Dawn Red Ranger. I guess there's nothing wrong with being kind to humans before you destroy them?
This is the first manga I've managed to get through and now I get it! Or some of it.
A very honest and moving graphica memoir about the death of Feder's mother when she was just 18. The format is perfect for her expression of so many hard, complicated emotions; I'm lucky enough to still have my mother, but I sobbed like a baby. There are also plenty of moments of wry humor, as Feder imagines her mother's reactions to the events after her death. A fantastic exploration of love, grief and survival.
This reminded me of a very dear friend, an excellent listener and advisor, who told me that the stages of grief aren't linear, but come and go. It helped a lot, especially when we lost him.
And another one bites the dust!
I enjoyed this and almost feel guilty for not loving it but somehow I don't. I kept thinking about other books; it's got kind of an Amelia Peabody-ish vibe, though with a more Lord Peter/Harriet relationship, and some Jonathan Strange-esque footnotes. I did really like the very gentle touch of sexiness -- Wendell's collarbone, OMG -- but perhaps it just didn't make Emily appealing enough for me.
I've been trying all sorts of “X“ books, and then I realized I had one from back in October. 🤦🏻♀️
A The Secret Adversary/Agatha Christie
B The Girl in the Blue Dress/Mary Burchell
C The Celebrants/Steven Rowley
D Legendborn/Tracy Deonn
E Miss Granby‘s Secret/Eleanor Farjeon
F From Dust to Stardust/Kathleen Roony
G Greengage Summer/Rumer Godden
H Here Comes Treble/London Price
I I Shall Never Fall in Love/Hari Connor
cont.
