What a sad world for the children. Klara's perspective was interesting at first but it grew stale around the second part. I like the hints on how devastating the world has become—or remained—amidst all the progress. I'm not sure how to take in Klara's heroism.

My interest waned throughout the story. I did enjoy the glimpses of McGlue's past and his relationships. But there was this disconnect in vocabulary or word choices that dampened my enjoyment.

Anyone here affected by this change? Do you store backup copies of your ebooks in case Amazon removes them like they did with Orwell's 1984 back in 2009?

“Starting on February 26th, 2025, Amazon is removing a feature from its website allowing you to download purchased books to a computer and then copy them manually to a Kindle over USB.“

https://www.theverge.com/news/612898/amazon-removing-kindle-book-download-transf...

There‘s a drive when you write on paper, a sound to the pencil. A strange equilibrium between elbow, hand, and pencil.

Our book selections for mid-Feb to March! Join us in reading these two novellas by Latin American authors.

#bookofthemonth

The ship is leaving. I puke and hold on to the side of the stern and belch bile for a bit watching the water rush past, until land is out of sight. It‘s peaceful for a small while after. Then something inside me feels like dying. I turn my head and cough. Two teeth skip from my mouth and scatter across the deck like dice.

The totem of any midshipman‘s quarters, though, was a wooden table long enough for a body to lie on. This was for amputating limbs.

So short and beautiful. It's a slow rise to a new normal, it's a test of truth and loyalty. I like how the main character is a mess and he's aware of it. Love how as the story unfolds, the reader sees how different his life had been compared to his commanding officer's. And that makes the ending such a lovely surprise.

What's your rating system? 👀

Pick - must-read (5 stars) / would recommend (4 stars)
So-so - would still recommend depending on the person (3 stars)
Pan - wouldn't recommend (1 - 2 stars)
Bail - DNF

Enjoyable, and it did deliver on its promise—aging heroes fighting their old nemesis together once more. I'm just not that enamored or invested in the characters or their skills. I want more guilds, a bigger world, just to see more of the magic. Maybe there should be fewer pages on the ethical/moral conundrum?

So much pining in this book. I enjoyed the second volume. While I expected the romantic twist/trope, I didn't expect to be touched by Captain Wentworth's letter. That scene was so good.

I'm so happy to have read this! The writing style was a bit difficult to get into, but it fits the “theater“ aspect. Love how the fighting escalates and how the drama unfolds.

My goal is to read 100 books. But I haven't even finished one since the year started 😌 Maybe I have to stop being a mood reader and become a consistent/habitual reader?

#weekendreads

I made love smell like spilt blood.
— “The Third Day: In which we offer our finest weaves“

Let's embark to explore shipwrecks, maritime travel, or piracy from January to mid-April! Join our first themed reading at https://discord.me/wordpilgrims 💚

Books for January 2025! 🍀 I hope to finish everything

Hope we'll have a vibrant 2025! A spectacular reading journey to us all. 🥂

Let's start 2025 with high fantasy! #bookofthemonth
Join us on Discord: https://discord.me/wordpilgrims

Edit: Updated link to online book club.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

Hello!

Android user here & can't find the app on Play Store.

Did a bit of search here (#android) and found https://litsy.en.uptodown.com/android. I just want to be assured of how safe to install the apk version there...

Has anyone experienced problems from installing and using it?

Not a typical whodunnit mystery, but more philosophical (existential) and social commentary as expected of Abe. While our nameless detective and other characters are not so likeable (though their aspirations or lack of was certainly relatable), the city he unravels bit by bit—as he searches for a budding alcoholic's missing husband—felt dark and real, captivating me into completing the story.

Beautiful, devastating, and so so much more. There's a lot of trauma packed in this one. Many scenes that seemed so light—some made me think it's going for a happy or hopeful resolution—are revealed to be horrifying by a simple yet gut-punching line. Definitely not for the softhearted. I took plenty of breaks but I still couldn't stop my tears near the end.

Ou libéré?

A good break from reality's hustle and bustle. Validates anyone who just wants to *be* and not be bothered by societal expectations. This is my first Becky Chambers book so I'm positively impressed.

😍

It's short and written as simple as possible. The author was meticulous with words used to tell the story. It touched on themes of motherhood, physical bonds, healing and, of course, survival so you can expect there'll be drama. I find some parts a bit funny—just ridiculous moments that portray how human we still can be during a zombie apocalypse. Overall, it's quite the contemplative read.