Which of my lovely gifted books should I read first? Decisions are hard.
![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png){kind=icon}
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
My older kids (27m and 22f) think they are sooo funny. We'd gotten into this weird messenger chat about knots (iykyk) a while back after I (and then my daughter) read Bride. So when I opened this gift they said there was a theme. Coffee? No. Then I saw the bookmark, and the 💡came on. The Suffolking Good (so f-ing good) socks and cup were tangentially related - I live in Suffolk. Think they knocked it out of the park this year.
pickSoft pick. While for the most part the story was good, there were moments that were a little to keystone cops for me. It was just somewhat jarring in a book that seemed to be trying for depth.
Book 10 #wintergames team #xmaschacha #bookspin #adventathon #gingerbreadjourney @StayCurious @TheAromaofBooks @BookmarkTavern @Bookwormjillk
so-so(Not in the database - 7 Hours to Die by James Patterson) The best thing about this one is the full cast. The (short) story was fine, but completely unoriginal. The performance, though, was really good. Free on audible plus, so well worth the cost.
Book 9 #wintergames team #xmaschacha #bookspin #adventathon @StayCurious @BookmarkTavern @TheAromaofBooks
pick🎄🎄🎄🎄
Cute little festive romance. I would've liked if the forced proximity of this one was a little more fleshed out. Honestly, I could have done with more of all of it. A full length novel. But it was fun and sweet.
Book 8 #wintergames team #xmaschacha #bookspin #adventathon @StayCurious @BookmarkTavern @TheAromaofBooks
so-soMeh. Short and cozy, but totally predictable. I much prefer the full length novels in the series.
Book 7 for #wintergames team #xmaschacha #bookspin #adventathon @StayCurious @TheAromaofBooks @BookmarkTavern
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a hard book to review only because nothing I could say could truly convey how utterly brilliant it is. The (rightful) rage the author feels is palpable. The story, though, seems almost light-hearted and ridiculous. And somehow it works beautifully. Just a stunning book all around. And the cover, that seemed so simple when I picked it up, had me in tears towards the end of the story. Definitely the best book I've read this year.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Actual book wasn't in the database)
This was an utterly charming little story, just as you'd expect from Backman. It's amazing the depth this man can find in writing about a thrown away frying pan. Highly recommend.
Book 5 for #wintergames team #xmaschacha @StayCurious #adventathon #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks @BookmarkTavern
One of the many benefits of having a Little Free Library is occasionally going out to add a few books and finding a new to you book on the shelf. I love Stephen King, but I've never read any of his Bachman books, so I brought this one inside with me to check out.
#lfl
so-soMeh. I like Longmire in the present, sheriffing in Absaroka County. As much as I love his and Henry's relationship, I don't care as much for these reminiscences.
Book 4 #wintergames team #xmaschacha
625 points (3 hours, 4 readathons, and 45 search words)
#bookspin #firstsnow #20in4 #adventathon @StayCurious
Happy blue box day for me! My #botm package arrived, and I'm super excited about these titles. Which would you start first?
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
I sort of went into this blind, and I think it was all the better for it. The premise was really unique, and it was both fun and oddly profound. While I had some hopes for the ending that didn't pan out, I think it had a satisfying conclusion. Would recommend.
Book 3 for #wintergames team #xmaschacha
1,115 points (94 search words helped out)
#firstsnowreadathon #20in4 #adventathon #bookspin @StayCurious @BookmarkTavern @Andrew65
so-so🎄🎄🎄
Short Reacher Christmas story. Full of action but not much else.
Book 2 completed for #wintergames team #xmaschacha
(.7 hours x 10 x 4 thons) + 75 + 5 + (51 words x 10) = 618 points
#firstsnowreadathon #20in4 #adventathon #bookspin @liseworks @StayCurious @Andrew65 @BookmarkTavern @TheAromaofBooks
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lots of fun as always.
First finish for #wintergames, team #xmaschacha
(3hours x 4thons) + 50 + 5 + (52words x 10) = 695
#firstsnowreadathon #20in4 #adventathon #bookspin @StayCurious @LiseWorks @BookmarkTavern @TheAromaofBooks @Andrew65
1. Watching the Macy's parade with my middle and youngest.
2. My oldest and his partner came to visit for Thanksgiving.
3. My canine neighbor, Ghost, came home from the hospital and is doing well. (He woke me up barking at 4am yesterday, and it made me so happy).
4. @Andrew65 is back with his readathon 😀
5. My mom sent me a quilt my great grandma had made for me when I was a baby, and it's brought back lovely memories.
@DebinHawaii
#5joysfriday
I've skipped a lot of months this year, but I'm pretty stoked about December's #botm selections. I think the tagged book may be my most anticipated read for #wintergames2024.
Team #xmaschacha
My #bookspin is also my December #tbr. I would LOVE to get through all of these. It's gonna be a great month! Can't wait to get started on #WinterGames2024.
Team #XmasChaCha
@StayCurious
#ThisOrThat
1. Hot Chocolate
2. The kids get a Xmas Eve gift with pj's, mugs, and a movie we all watch Xmas eve, but the rest we open Xmas day.
3. We had a tinkerbell, but our cat decapitated her.
4. Ham
5. Home
Team #XmasChaCha #WinterGames2024
@StayCurious
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not perfect, but this was a really good, compelling read. I finished it in one sitting.
OMG! I was browsing new releases on Libby, and stumbled on this. Inkheart is in my top 3 favorite ever book series. The third book, Inkdeath, was originally published in 2007, so I never imagined a 4th book would ever come out. Happy day! I'm setting aside my current book and am gonna start a reread of Inkheart to prepare for this one.
so-so⭐️⭐️⭐️
The good:
Fast pace
Hard to put down
Atmospheric
The not-so-good:
Timeline flips were disorienting
Ending was very rushed and almost felt like it was written by a different person
"Twist" was pretty obvious
It wasn't bad, especially for a debut.
I'm wanting to read James, but I haven't read Huckleberry Finn (not sure how, but I've never read any Twain). Should I read that first?
so-so⭐️⭐️⭐️
I've never read anything by Sandford, but I plucked this one from my LFL. The premise, a small town experiences a miraculous Mother Mary apparition followed by seemingly random shootings, could have been fleshed out more. Maybe I'd have enjoyed it more if I'd read earlier Virgil Flowers books, but it worked well enough as a stand alone. It was fast paced, but only so so. I'd read another, but only if it makes its way to my LFL. 🙂
My Barnes and Noble #bookhaul from yesterday. I think I'll start The Trees first.
Got about 45 minutes of sleep last night. I'm puffy from crying and feeling so blue. And I get an early morning text from my son who is sad and scared about what this means and is saying he and his partner are thinking of moving to a safer state, or out of the country if they can swing it. I want to say no don't go, but how can I? I want them to be safe. I'm just heartbroken.
I haven't read anything the past few days, and this is why. I adore this woman with my whole heart, and I got to spend the weekend with my guy in DC and cap it off with amazing seats to her farewell tour.
Will get back to my books and #hauntedshelf tomorrow.
pickInteresting take on jinn mythology. It wasn't a perfect book, but it was entertaining and kept me hooked. The podcasters monetizing aspect added to the fun as well. Between a so-so and a pick, but mostly a pick for me. It's on KU if you're interested.
#hauntedshelf
#frightclub
6.5hours(65)+tbr(25)+1= 91 points
@Jadams89
pickOverall, this was a fast-paced, creepy thriller. It was a bit chaotic at times, but that probably added to the intensity. And it was definitely intense.
#hauntedshelf
#frightclub
6hours(60)+tbr(25)+1=86 points
@Jadams89
pickWell, my beat up old copy made it through another reread. The pages are a bit looser, and there are a few more cracks here and there, but it's hanging in. And it remains one of my favorite books of all time.
#hauntedshelf
#frightclub
24.5hours(245)+tbr(25)+1+17words(255)=526 points
@Jadams89
Down to my last 3 words from the #hauntedshelf word search - thanks to The Stand, which really helped me out with 17 from the list. I'm thinking I need to find a witchy book for those last three -
Hallow, Equinox, and Cider
Any suggestions?
#frightclub
pick☄️☄️☄️☄️
This was lots of fun. Short and sweet, and almost cozy. Definitely want to read the next in the series.
#hauntedshelf
#frightclub
Points: 5hours(50)+tbr(25)+1=76
@Jadams89
pick👻👻👻👻👻
Woo, what a roller coaster. I've read all three of Newman's plane-themed novels, and this is definitely my favorite. It reads like a disaster movie, and had me sobbing by the end. My kid and my dog were pretty worried about mom this morning as I turned the last few pages. I need to find something upbeat next.
Third finish for #hauntedshelf
#frightclub
6hours(60)+tbr(25)+1+9words(135)=221
@Jadams89
pick👻👻👻.5
If you go into books like this expecting greatness, you'll end up disappointed. But if you just need a fun diversion, this one works. A bit predictable, but fast paced and good if you enjoyed the show.
#hauntedshelf
#frightclub
4 hours (40) + tbr (25) + 4 words (60) +1 = 126
@Jadams89
Little late with my #bookspin list, but here it is. 21-25 will be impulse reads. I've been in a slump for a few months it seems, so I'm hoping this and #hauntedshelf will help get my mojo back.
pick👻👻👻👻
I really enjoyed this latest installment in the Temperance Brennan series. Perhaps because I usually listen to them and tend to drift, I felt more focused with this one and it helped keep me tied to the story. It was a good one.
First finish for #hauntedshelf
46 pts (25 tbr + 20 two hours + 1 post)
Team #FrightClub
@Jadams89
Sorry I'm late with my planned #tbr for #hauntedshelf. I know I'll read more than these 4, but they are my for sure picks for this month (should finish Bones today and am about 350 pages into The Stand already). Happy Spooky Season! 👻
#frightclub
@Jadams89
I reread The Stand every couple of years. Sometimes I listen to the audio, sometimes I do the ebook, but this time I was feeling nostalgic and pulled out my 1991 copy that was my first ever King experience. It's falling apart a bit (30+ years and multiple reads will do that), so I'm just hoping it'll hold together for this read.
Do you have any old books that you still pull out and read even though their condition is questionable?
So excited that my signed copy finally arrived. 😁
Thirteen pages in, and I've already had to look up 3 words. Kinda missing my kindle and the ability to just click for a definition. By the way, moeity? Doesn't mean a measure of the level of one's Moe-ness. Go figure. 🤷♀️
Ok, so this is probably going to be just awful, but I will be first in line to buy it. Comes out next April.
"When Dorothy‘s obnoxious date is found dead in a hotel freezer, it not only ruins a gorgeous cheesecake but threatens the elaborate St. Olaf–themed wedding Rose is hosting."
ETA - just realized that I tagged the wrong book. Oops. I don't think it's in the system yet.
so-so⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was really enjoying this one to begin with, but it just stretched on too long. The story was cute, and the audio was well done. But I'd have liked it more if it were shorter.
so-so⭐️⭐️⭐️
I kept thinking all along that this could have been a fabulous book if Crichton had been writing it. Patterson is great at fast-paced thrill rides, but he doesn't have M.C.'s depth. Then that ending. Ugh. It left me as ticked as Andromeda Strain did. If you like b movie like disaster stories, you'll probably enjoy this one. I did enjoy it. But I was supremely disappointed in the end.
1. Got to spend last Saturday out with my oldest (26) and youngest (9) and see the oldest's new apartment.
2. Part of that visit included a trip to Barnes and Noble.
3. Had a good dr visit with my middle yesterday, and her doc is so kind and understanding.
4. There's a dog in my lap. 😊
5. The coffee has been especially good this week.
#5JoysFriday
@DebinHawaii
so-soNot bad but not great. I don't think I'll be continuing with this series.
Book 1 finished for #20in4 readathon.
I just pre-ordered my signed copy of this one, and I can only remember one time (20ish years ago) being close to this excited about a book release (the 6th book in a series which I loved but the author has become a big disappointment). But THIS BOOK! I have an Expanse shaped hole in my heart, and I'm hoping Mercy will fill it. August 6th cannot come fast enough.
Well, the cozy Christmas book wasn't working for me, so I went in a...different direction. It's definitely weird. But at 200 pages, I think I can get through this one and hopefully get my mojo back.
