me: “I'll finish this up and then try to get some other books read.“
me: *has a book hangover that might last days*
Faranae ...I immediately re-read it twice and nothing else in November so I can relate. 2h
me: “I'll finish this up and then try to get some other books read.“
me: *has a book hangover that might last days*
A very personal collection of Cohen's writings -- perhaps too personal in some cases. I skipped most of his journal entries because I really didn't feel comfortable reading them. But there are some excellent poems, and songs I could absolutely *hear* as I read them. It's illustrated largely with moody self-portraits.
(I did finish this before the end, but haven't felt up to writing about it.) #10BeforeTheEnd @ChaoticMissAdventures
“When I was in high school, there was an article in this paper about how this area was filled with undesirables, and I knew what that mean“--he points both thumbs at himself--“so I got on the train as soon as school let out.“
“The article went on and on about men in tight pants and makeup and I swear to god, no travel agency has ever done a better job of selling a place.
DNF at 53%. Pissed me off so much, I don't know if I'm ever going to want to read Reid again. 😡
“Is this going to be a problem? Me being gay?“
Nathaniel's eyebrows shoot up. “No? Is this supposed to be brand new information? I've known since before I came here.“
Patrick imagines that there's something so powerfully gay about his presence that you can see it from a cab several blocks away....
My vibe this month is giving myself space to figure out what my vibe is, because I've been too overloaded. New books by favorite authors seems to be the way to go.
#IHaveQuestions
(And long may we.)
The follow-up to The Genius Under the Table is far bleaker and intended for an older audience. Yvgeny is doing well with his art, and he loves Leningrad... the restrictive way of life is just how things are. But then the “liberation“ of Afghanistan threatens him with the draft and he winds up on harsh roads he never expected.
Definitely messages here for us in the U.S.
This book hits especially hard right now.
I tried to read this for #WithTheBanned -- I feel sure it's an excellent book, but I'm just not in the right head space. Has she written anything... gentler, I could try?
I finally got After Hours at Dooryard Books from the library and I can't quite bring myself to start it. I'm so afraid I'll be in the wrong frame of mind or something and won't appreciate it.
Oh dear, Amazon has actually figured out my tastes.
After publishing 84 Charing Cross Rd, Hanff finally got to visit London, meet many of her pen pals in person, and geek out about being in the same places Shakespeare and other beloved writers had been.
This brought back fond memories of my week in London. So much history, everywhere! Written in diary format, this takes you right there, into her silliest encounters and deepest awe.
#BookSpinBingo
Any Canva experts out there? I copied the #ISpyBingo boards from @TheAromaOfBooks but I'm having a problem with the words showing through when I put an image over them, as see above.
I asked if he could point me toward Bloomsbury, I wanted to walk home. He said: “Go on up to O-Burn Street and follow the bus.“
Looked for O-Burn Street, looked for Auburn Street and finally stumbled on the street he meant: High Holborn. And that's what they mean by a cockney accent.
My goal was to see how close I could get to 2026 pages and I made it to 1060, which I'm pretty pleased with. Oh wait, I just remembered I've also been listening to an audiobook, so maybe I even made it!
Read: The Genius Under the Table, Silver and Hemlock, The Lost Book of the White
Read some of: Shirley, Miracles on Maple Hill, Maybe in Another Life
@BookwormJillK
Much better cover!
I enjoyed this more than the first book. The presence of other characters from the series brought some humor and heart, as did Magnus and Alec's new status as parents. Something still felt a little off though... the plot kind of went in fits and starts rather than being propulsive. Oh we're in trouble... oh, it's stopped for no apparent reason... oh we're in trouble again.
#StorySpins Gods and Monsters #AllTheStoriesAreTrue
Very loosely linked to “Snow White,“ but I was reminded more of the show “House.“ Anja is a problem solver more than a healer, awkward and blunt, but deeply committed to saving people with her knowledge of poisons and antidotes. When she's asked to discover what's ailing the King's daughter, she discover a bizarre, often horrifying world far beyond her rational, scientific knowledge.
cont.
Does anyone *not* have this on their #12BooksOf2025? I did ponder awhile because I read some fantastic books in December -- Gilead, Dancing at the Pity Party, In the Lives of Puppets. But this one I thought was the perfect blend of literary quality and great readability. I recommended it to so many people and gave it to my stepmother for Christmas.
@TheEllieMo
It'll probably be another horrible cliffhanger, because Johnson loves to torture us, but I can't wait for April!
My second Pratchett of the year and honestly it could've been the third or fourth. Such wonderful character growth and powerful themes along with the usual hilarity.
#12Booksof2025 @TheEllie Mo
Check out this very cool website that gives you a literary quote for whatever time it is!
https://literature-clock.jenevoldsen.com/
I never do “brackets“ because it feels impossible to me to measure books that way... but this might be my favorite fiction of the year.
#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo
My choice for the “dedication you loved“ #ISpyBingo square.
A rather harrowing middle-grade memoir about growing up Jewish in the Soviet Union, which honestly sounds as awful as any Western propaganda portrayed it. His family has secrets it's dangerous to ask about, and they worry he won't be “useful“ to the state--until they discover the drawings he made while sleeping under a table. The whimsical pictures break up the trauma somewhat. cont.
I really hoped I might be able to pull off one more bingo and did try some Christmas romances based on cover, but in truth they're just not my thing. No worries.
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.
![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png){kind=icon}
