It’s time, it’s time, it’s time! Let’s talk about what we’re reading and then buy all the books!
Great plan, right? Works for me!
Sarah: Currently I’m rocking out with some epic sickness, by which I mean I’m on the couch most of the day sleeping because holy bronchitis, Batman.
So my reading is slooooow. I’m so congested and sleepy I can’t pay attention very well. The two books I’m convalescing with are The Lover’s Knot by Erin Satie, based on Jane from DearAuthor’s tweet about the book. It’s a historical, the heroine brews ink and runs her own store because her ink is terrific, and those who know her are pearl clutching in horror that after her circumstances change, she continues to be in trade when she could be not in trade. Plus she’s a suspect in what might have been a murder, and there’s old resentment and competence porn and I wish I were well enough to pay attention for more than 4 minutes.
The other book I’m reading is one I’ve read before, but it’s a frequent re-read for me: How to Talk so Your Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk ( A | K | AB | Au ).
Elyse:
Abominable by Dan Simmons ( A | K | AB | Au ) – Psychological thriller set on Everest in the 20’s with supernatural elements, yes please! I’m actually reading a chapter a night out loud to Rich who is enjoying it, too.
Midnight in Peking by Paul French ( A | K | AB | Au ). The author revisits an unsolved murder in 1937 Peking.
RedHeadedGirl:
I am still working my way through The Secret History History of Wonder Woman and contemplating which old skool to start on.
Elyse:
You should read A Rose in Winter ( A | BN | K | G | AB ). The WTFery is epic.
Carrie S:
What I’m reading – just finished Gunpowder Alchemy by Jeannie Lin ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) – so good! Starting A Line in the Ice by Jamie Craig, which is excellent so far ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ).
Amanda:
The Raven by Sylvain Reynard – Whoever wrote this jacket copy deserves an award. It’s been a long time since a description alone has made me so curious about a book:
Raven Wood spends her days at Florence’s Uffizi gallery restoring Renaissance art. But an innocent walk home after an evening with friends changes her life forever. When she intervenes in the senseless beating of a homeless man, his attackers turn on her, dragging her into an alley. Raven is only semiconscious when their assault is interrupted by a cacophony of growls followed by her attackers’ screams. Mercifully, she blacks out, but not before catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure who whispers to her . . .
Cassita vulneratus.
When Raven awakes, she is inexplicably changed. Upon returning to the Uffizi, no one recognizes her. More disturbingly, she discovers that she’s been absent an entire week. With no recollection of her disappearance, Raven learns that her absence coincides with one of the largest robberies in Uffizi history–the theft of a set of priceless Botticelli illustrations. When the police identify her as their prime suspect, Raven is desperate to clear her name. She seeks out one of Florence’s wealthiest and most elusive men in an attempt to uncover the truth. Their encounter leads Raven to a dark underworld whose inhabitants kill to keep their secrets . . .
And also The Devil in Denim by Melanie Scott ( A | K | G | AB | Au ) – Tomboy heroine and a sports romance. Check please. Seriously, I’m all about the baseball player turned billionaire in The Devil in Denim right now.
Elyse:
Did he become a billionaire by playing baseball or did he make accurate stock predictions like the dinosaurs?
Amanda:
Well, crap, my TBR just got longer. What about you? What are you reading right now? Anything you recommend, especially for those about to embark on epic holiday traveling, or those about to hide in dark closets away from epic family gatherings?
Whatcha reading?
It’s been a really good reading month for me. Where to start?
Hanukkah reads… I enjoyed Lighting the Flames a lot, admired the depiction of the main characters growing up into excellent adults, seemed like a theme that hadn’t been done too often. Found a collection of stories from NPR’s “Hanukkah Lights” program (archived here) which was quite diverse and included stories by such fine writers as Mark Helprin, Lesléa Newman and Rebecca Goldstein. Also one by Simone Zelitch which questioned who has a part in the miracle of Hanukkah, tying in with a troubling chapter in Jennifer Michael Hecht’s Doubt: A History, a reversed view of Hanukkah from the point of view of the Hellenized Jews who are depicted as the enemy in Maccabees. Still on the Jewish theme, earlier I’d read Number Our Days by Barbara Myerhoff, written in the 1970s, intimate anthropology about a community of elderly Jews who’d all immigrated to the US about 1900 (like my great-grandparents did), and their ways of asserting their liveliness and resilience against the encroaching silence of being the last of a vanished shtetl culture, isolated from their own children, and against age — really fascinating and inspiring, a shame it’s out of print.
Romances… Cecilia Grant’s A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong is top-notch like everything Grant does, particularly in getting inside the culture of its historical setting. A short historical: “The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh” by K.J. Charles, very hot but not without depth; Charles just gets better all the time. I tore joyfully through Sarina Bowen’s Ivy Years series, which admittedly (being college-set) made me feel a bit old, but was refreshing and full of a wide variety of just plain nice people. In that, it was different from a book that pleased me a lot less, Unscripted by Jayne Denker, set in Hollywood (alas) with that setting’s usual narcissistic, superficial, backstabbing cast, and too many humiliations for the heroine in the name of comedy. I was severely disappointed by Joanna Chambers’s new paranormal offering; for one thing, the writing was clunky with too many worldbuilding & backstory infodumps, but worse, it used a trope I just don’t like, a supernatural bond between the protagonists with accompanying insta-love. I won’t bother with the next in that series I think. Also tried Last Car to Annwn Station by Michael Merriam (f/f paranormal), which was frustrating because it had so very much potential it didn’t live up to, great ideas let down by limp writing.
What’s next? possibly The Glass Harmonica by Dorothee E. Kocks — about a female sensualist in 18th-century America. The author also compiled a companion book of original sources about sex in early America!
I’m reading the audiobook of “Into the Woods” by Tana French. Since I’m reading it in bed, at night, its a bit slow going.
As for book books… Well, I should be reading an arc I won or another book I’m supposed to be reviewing, but I’m probably going to reread “The Left Hand of Darkness” instead, because it is an awesome book and I ran across my copy the other day.
I’m really going to have to double down on my reading in the next week, I’m still 7 books short of my reading goal for the year. D:
I’m reading Sarah Maclean’s latest and WOW! I am astonished that she was able to keep that secret!!! So far so good.
I read Brooke Shields memoir about her mother and it was a really good read.
Reread Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas…..what a classic!
Had to give up on a really bad book (that everyone else in the galaxy just luved) so suddenly my weekend is free. I need to stop listening to Them because They wouldn’t know a good story if it bit Them on the ass.
Hope you feel better soon! It’s no fun to be sick, especially this time of year.
I’m hoping to dig into my TBR pile and read Snow like Ashes by Sara Raasch, In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins, and some other books over the holiday break … and then get more books next week for Christmas. LOL.
Happy reading and happy holidays to all!
I just finished Not Broken by Dana Marie Bell and then started Of Shadows and Ash also by Dana Marie Bell. Then I’ll read Siren’s Song by DMB and I’ll be caught up on her books.
I’m reading Christmas books right now. Finished A Kiss for Midwinter, which I loved, and currently reading Married for Christmas,which is pretty good too. I might buy Mary Balogh’s A Christmas Promise next.
@laj – I was just reading an article about Brooke Shields’ memoir. I’m glad to hear you liked it, since I was pondering reading it. Thanks!
Currently reading a Book called Maids of Misfortune book( I forget the exact title). The book I’m reading is a murder mystery set in Victorian San Francisco. Not sure what to make of it quite yet since I’m only on chapter 2
A book I’d like to recommend us Hispania by Kelly Boyd( now free along with the rest of the series on the ever after app). Our story stars Marella, a women living during Ancient Rome( interesting time period,right?). To escape an arranged marriage she took a vow of virginity in Diana’s temple only to be brutally raped by the priest there. The incident left her pregnant and her awful brother apparently dishonored, so he sends some soldiers to kill her. Thankfully, a stranger saves her just in time. He has his own enemies so they go on the run.
Fair warning,this story is not for eveyone, it deals with a lot of violence, especially violence against women. However, it deals with thauma that results from that violence really well and the characters are well-written. If you can stomach the violence this is a great story and after it all the h/h get a much deserved happily ever after. I duly intend to read the rest of the series.
I have been reading the Cormoran Strike “Silkworm” and “Cookoo’s Calling” J.K. Rowling’s new books; I liked them both. I am also re-reading an old book by Rosemary Rodgers “Love Play”. Completely crazy fun and absolutely unbelievable plot. Just the way I like a smut filled sexcapade.
I’m reading THE HOGFATHER by Terry Pratchett, after the glowing review here at SBTB. When it arrives in the mail, I’ll be reading GOTHAM CITY 14 MILES, a series of essays on the importance of the 1960s BATMAN tv series. (I’ve seen it in reruns on Retro TV, and apart from Yvonne Craig as Batgirl it’s as painful as I’d remembered.)
SB Sarah, there are few better relationship books than HOW TO TALK (and its companion SIBLINGS WITHOUT RIVALRY) and the advice works for any and all ages. I don’t have kids, but I watched friends and family struggle with communication and decided we could all use some guidance. What great ideas! With pictures! to untangle the knots that snarl any relationship. Highly recommended.
Reading Cory Doctorow’s LITTLE BROTHER, which puts me very much in mind of READY PLAYER ONE. It’s early yet, but I’m really enjoying it.
Listening to CLARIEL by Garth Nix. Since this precedes the Abhorsen trilogy, it can be read without needing to know the previous world. It is excellent.
Right now, I’m reading and enjoying Courtney Milan’s The Duchess War, that I got for free during the sales.
My favorite book of December is Jane and the 12 Clues of Christmas by Stephanie Barron. So Christmassy and funny and awesome. It’s a mystery, so there’s murder, but it was still lots of fun. As a side plot, a little girl gets an elaborate doll, and for each of the 12 days, her aunts give her a new outfit for it. I loved reading about that.
@MirandaB I have Jane and the 12 Clues of Christmas in my TBR. Bought it without having read any others in the series and was hoping I could read it out of order?
Am currently reading Evil Librarian thanks to a review here on SB and really enjoying it – it is funny and scary at the same time (my favorite combination) and I love the characters. Cynthia comes off as a very real teenager with the hormones in overdrive (her internal conversations with her body are hilarious!) but also brave and very determined to save her best friend with the help of the boy she has a crush on. And it has musical theatre!
Before that I read The Twelve Nights of Christmas by Sarah Morgan which was on sale recently. Loved the main character Evie, and the H wasn’t too bad for a work-a-holic millionaire.
Next up will be some Regency Christmas short stories which is kind of my Christmas tradition every year.
@Joanna There are references to earlier books, but you can read it as a standalone, I think. The whole series is really good, though.
I read an excerpt of “The Secret History of Wonder Woman” in The New Yorker, and it was fascinating. Lepore’s previous book about the life of Jane Franklin(Ben’s sister) also sounded interesting, I heard her talking about it on a New Yorker podcast a while back.
Help, @K. O’Rear! I searched for Hispania and got a long list of Spanish books but no books about Ancient Rome. No luck searching for Kelly Boyd either.
I’ve been on a Christmas novella binge. I read an anthology by Mary Balogh, “Under the Mistletoe” which was nice, but not earth shattering. “The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation” by Erica Ridley was sorta cute, and it’s free. Then I struck it lucky with a couple of books that hit all my pleasure points: “The Christmas Earl” by Anna Campbell, and “The Scandal Before Christmas” by Elizabeth Essex. Because of the size constraints of a novella, I assume, both of these authors made a wise choice to keep the sex but leave out the angst. Total catnip. “A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong” and Theresa Romain’s Season books are probably up next. I’m also adding “The Lover’s Knot” to my TBR list.
@Karin
Sorry, I had the wrong author. Another book I read lately was called Invitation to Scandal by Kelly Boyce.
Hispania is written by Letitia Coyne and written in English. I found it with an app called Ever After( my poor man’s kindle basically).
This week has been completely horrendous, so I haven’t done all that much reading. I put my 2 weeks notice in at work last week and as soon as they realized they couldn’t bribe me to stay they started finding ways to get retribution. Last Friday, they pulled me off the phones with 2 hours left to the day and they asked me to write up training materials for the new hires. On Monday, I was supposed to be on the phones all day since I was helping to train the new people, however, I was again pulled off the phones because I didn’t close a sale that they thought was a slam dunk–and it would have been if my trainee didn’t keep interrupting me. On Tuesday, I was taken off the phones at 10:30 AM and didn’t get back on at all. Wednesday i couldn’t deal with that place and took the day off. Thursday I managed to be on the phones all day. Yesterday, I was taken off to write more materials for the new people. The only thing I can think is that they don’t want me to bonus. I actually have 5 sales lined up for Monday, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they pull me off the phones and give it to the other sales girl, who ironically is also planning on leaving early in the new year.
I really really hate this place. It started out being a great place to work, but devolved into high school over the last several months. In Mid-October, my manager took a vacation and when she got back, she was demoted because she took a vacation she’d planned for all summer long and the only vacation she’d taken in her 2 years with the company. Her position was given to a boy (and I mean that in the true sense of the word), who was not at all qualified for it. Personally, I feel the CEO was looking for a reason to replace her as she was the only woman with any power in the place and that was something he just couldn’t have in his business. At that point, I slowly started looking for something else, but having only 5 months experience wasn’t really helping me, so I stayed there. A month later, my manager found a new job and quit on the spot (she didn’t even come in to the office to do it because she knew what would happen if she did). The CEO was pissed and ordered her personal belongings be locked up and when one of the girls found out, she argued with him over it because there were pictures of my manager’s mother, who committed suicide, on her desk. After they spoke, she went and cleared off my manager’s desk, an act that got her summarily fired. If this wasn’t enough, a week later the CEO was arrested for attempting to rape a woman. That was the last straw, so now, I will be working for one of the best companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and making nearly twice as much money at the end of the year.
rant over
Anyway, I have been trying to read Julia Quinn’s It’s in His Kiss, but it just isn’t working for me. I’m probably going to read some Christmas books and then start on a book I’m supposed to review on my blog.
Thanks, @K. O’Rear! I see Coyne’s books are all free at obooko, which I promptly joined.
I read a non romance that I enjoyed, I want to say it was called Norwegian by Night? Turns out if you search for ‘Norwegian’ as a New York library book, there are very few options. It was interesting and funny, and particularly fun to read on the plane to Oslo. It made me happy, but fair warning, it’s not a happily ever after kind of book. It’s actually been a big month for non romance for me as I also read A Secret History of Wonder Woman – and was woefully disappointed. I adored (adored!) Blindspot and was totally into New York Burning, or whatever the book about the slave rebellion was called, but Secret History had no secrets, and wasn’t much about wonder woman either, so I felt pretty cheated. Also I felt, hard to put into words…I was suspicious of her relationship to the subjects of the book, she seemed…not disparaging or disdainful or judgey exactly, but something like that, something that made me wonder why she chose to write about them.
Next up, latest Sarah Maclean. So excited. Gotta go.
As for Sarah McLean’s, yes, yes. What’s so neat is that she said in her notes that she had the ending planned from the beginning, and what a delight it is. The journey there is also satisfying, even the teenager is just annoying and awkward enough not to raise my plot moppet hackles. Your mileage may vary.
I got caught up in the Elizabeth I Spy novel series by W. W. Gortner because the first in the series was one of those books that was $.99 to suck me in. I am not a fan of first person stories, because they tend to be rather self-absorbed and character development of the protagonists and antagonists tends to be shallow. This has romantic elements but they weren’t very romantic and the hero at times was a male jerk. The spy story, especially in the first book, was convoluted and satisfying; the third book was kind of a let down because I could see the ending a mile away, but the journey was fun and the historical extrapolations are fantastical.
The rest of my reading has been pure escapism, some Christmas stories, and a couple of Blaze stories. Tawney Weber has written about five stories about SEALs, and these simple spicy romances without a lot of angst fit my holiday mood.
Carla Kelly has Season’s Regency Greetings, two novellas that were entertaining, but one has a tiny triggery scene I could have done without. Grace Burrowes has a faux engagement in What a Lady Needs for Christmas, and she gifted me with another memorable hero.
Darling Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt explored the mystery of why Apollo was locked up in Bedlam for years while developing a romance about an out of work actress with an illegitimate son. More than satisfying (why am I hooked on that word?), but not superb like a couple of the others in the series.
I bought Amy Stewart’s The Drunken Botanist and Wicked Plants while they were on sale. I’ve been reading and really enjoying The Drunken Botanist on my commute this week. I’m about to start my annual reread Connie Willis’s Miracle and All Seated on the Ground this weekend. Also, I had a s.l.o.w. day at work yesterday and read Cecelia Grant’s A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong, which was utterly delightful and completely worth the $.99 I paid for it. Y’all, if you’re looking for a charming historical Christmas novella that you can easily finish in an afternoon, check that one out. It’s pretty damn cute.
Damn it. Cecilia Grant, not Cecelia.
Rereading _Damnation_ by Jean Johnson. I snapped up the book the day it was released after waiting impatiently for it since the previous book in the series was published. _Damnation_ is an excellent book, and is the concluding volume of an excellent series. Be warned, it does NOT have a HEA, so if you want that, go for Jean’s other books (like her _Sons of Destiny_ series – fun reading!)
L. —
I totally understand. I recently read a book truly everyone has been mad about, which I will leave unnamed, and it was so-so to me, not nearly as good as several others by the same author. It was okay. I finished it, but it was a little too much of the same.
Then I read the first in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series (I know, where have I been, under a rock? Yes.) Totally glomped on and finished it in one day when I should have been working – and I was supposed to save it for Christmas break, so now I have to buy the rest of the series to fill my time. Heartbreak. Much Elizabeth Hoyt in my plans.
I also read the Christmas on Main Street anthology – very nice in the midst of cookie-making and candy-bingeing. My favorite was Alexis Morgan’s The Christmas Gift. About a pastry shop owner and wood carver – very sweet updated tale with hints of Gift of the Magi to it.
I’ve mentioned Peter Salus’ light romantic adventures that take place in Australia. He has another out. All good stuff happens; nothing bad. Love in Laverton, Along the Finke, Gone Fishin’.
I discovered a new to me author, Anna Hackett, and have really been enjoying her Phoenix Adventures series. They’re fast-paced, sexy stories of outer space treasure hunters. They’re a combination of National Treasure, Romancing the Stone and Star Wars. I highly recommend them.
I just finished the Charlotte Chronicles, which is currently on sale for 99 cents. Very good but a little too angsty for my taste. I really liked Ilona Andrews Burn for Me and Daniel O’Malley’s The Rook, which was recommended by one of the librarians on a recent DBSA podcast.
I also read Rules for a Proper Governess, the latest in the Mackenzie series by Jennifer Ashley. While I liked it, I was very conscious that the story just wasn’t very believable–an educated Cockney pickpocket marrying a barrister of gentle birth? But, it was fun and good to see so many of the characters from previous books.
I’ve had a so-so month of reading. I read Tiffany Reiz’s “The Siren”, having really looked forward to it, and being disappointed overall. It was a much more responsible take on BDSM than 50 Shades, absolutely, but it was not nearly sexy/responsible as some of the fanfic I’ve read. The entire intern subplot and the priest thing? Totally threw me off.
“The Prince Lestat” wasn’t exactly fantastic either, though I wasn’t surprised by that. “The Prince Lestat” has the same issues that Rice’s latest werewolf series has; everything is beautiful, everyone is rich, and problems can be overcome if everyone joins hands and sings songs around the campfire, basically. The darkness of earlier novels (“The Vampire Lestat,” “Queen of the Damned,” “The Witching Hour,”)which helped balance Rice’s tendency towards lavishness, is completely gone. The meta stuff is delightful, however.
On the other hand, I read and loved Lisa Kleypas’ “The Secrets of a Summer Night.” It made me cry, actually cry. And I read it because of this site, so, thanks guys!
I also really loved the latest in Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Cycle, “Blue Lily, Blue Day.” The whole series gets weirder and more mystical and a completely different beast than one would expect.
I’m reading Marisha Pessl’s “Night Film” right now and it’s really great. The mocked up webpages and notes, etc, are fun, but the story stands on its own and I really like it.
Reread A Kiss for Midwinter because it’s so delightful and how often can you work in a romantic french letter scene into a heart-warming Christmas novella?
The best book I read this month was The Rook by Daniel O’Malley. So much good book noise- there was a kick-ass heroine, a matter-of-fact paranormal world, thriller-ish/mystery plot line with political intrigue, and a terrific sense of humor throughout. Very highly recommended, though there’s no romance in this first novel (it’s heavily hinted at for the follow-up).
I’m also really enjoying Roxie Rivera’s Her Russian Protector series (all the trigger warnings on #4- I did some judicious skimming there). It’s caregiver alphas so you get all the manly stuff without any of the assholery. Also they are nearly all interracial romance handled very nicely, which I enjoy.
This month : I read Sophie Jordan’s A Good Debutante’s Guide to Ruin based on the SBTB review here. It was a really enjoyable read despite the old School crazy sauce in it. I am nearly finished with The Captive by Grace Burrowes .. This was a romantic and lush book despite the horrifying experience the hero and heroine we’re working through. Burrowes is really talented. I also finished Christmas at Tiffany’s by Karen Swan. I really liked that one as it offered a wronged wife, romance, and travel through NYC, Paris, and London. It was great and I am excited to follow Swans work. For a change of pace I am starting Betrayed by Lisa Scottoline. I am a big fan of her Rosato and Associates series. December has been a fun month of reading ….
I just started ‘Allegiant’, by Veronica Roth. Enjoying it thus far.
Yes, I (kind of) know what I’m in for. Little tip for those who haven’t read the ‘Divergent’ series yet. Don’t watch the ‘How To Avoid Spoilers’ video by Christina/polandbananasbooks on YouTube until you finish it. (My fault really.) Since then, I’ve had to keep telling myself reading is like life-it’s not about the destination, it’s the journey.
Ooops-that Sarah Morgan’s Christmas novel. There’s a lot of Sara(h) I like–authors and people.
I’ve been doing my usual December “reading whatever holiday book I can find” thing. I’m not great at getting into the holiday spirit on my own because I’m so swamped professionally this time of year so I require literary assistance to do that.
The best thing I’ve read this month is A Texas Rescue Christmas by Caro Carson. The hero has been secretly dealing with football induced brain trauma for ten years, the heroine is trying to escape her disturbingly overbearing mother, and they meet when the hero rescues the heroine out in an ice storm and has to help her not freeze to death. It was really lovely and sweet. No magic cures, promise.
Posting way late as I spent the entire day yesterday -no really, up at 7am home at 10:15 pm – out trying to finish the Christmas shopping. I am way behind because I came down with a god-awful head cold two weeks ago and it’s just now loosening it’s grip. I feel your pain Sarah. My reading has been pretty sparse as well. I re-read Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart. I wanted to refresh my memory as I’m next up on the GBPL’s reserve list for Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover and it didn’t need to hold my attention the way a new read would.
I finished Five Days Left this morning. I started it just as I was getting sick, realized it would be a big ugly cry book and set it aside until my sinuses cleared. I was right, big ugly cry. Not a romance, but certainly about love and hard choices.
Next up is Cecilia Grant’s A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong, but only if I finish the shopping today and get everything wrapped. No rewards for unfinished work. I also have I Know I’ve Seen That Face Before at the top of the pile. It’s the biography of Mary Witty, one of my favorite character actresses, which I believe I mentioned the last time we had a Whatcha Reading post, but again, unforeseen illness.
ScifiGirl, I feel your pain. Congrats on the new job. My psycho-bitch manager got canned before I found a new job. After the CSI people finished investigating, it turns out my fingerprints were on the water bucket. Go Me!! So, sigh of relief as the new manager is both competent, professional and reasonable. I may still look for something new, but it’s not my life’s imperative at the moment.
Thanks for the heads up on the new Stephanie Barron! I have read and enjoyed all the Jane books. Might be time for a reread. Also Sarah I have enjoyed both of the Satie books and look forward to the next one. Just reread the three Grace Burrows Windham sisters Christmas stories. I am a huge Grace Burrows fan. Also just read the three Sheri Cobb South John Pickett mysteries. What would I do without DA and SBTB recs? Happy Hannukah and Merry Christmas to one and all and a happy and healthy 2015.
I picked up two books mentioned here: Texts from Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg and Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes (loved both). Monsters lead me to two of Beukes’s other novels – The Shining Girls and Zoo City (also loved both) – and eventually to a Rapunzel comic she wrote, part of a spinoff of the Fables series, which is currently what I’m reading.
Around Thanksgiving, I started browsing “best of 2014” lists and saw A Darkling Sea by James Cambias mentioned on two and gave it a try. It was wonderful. It’s hard sci-fi but also down-to-earth, and it has a nice romance thread, though some of the minor characters do not get a happy ending. I loved its overall nerdiness and its sense of humor. It was one of those books where the book copy was intriguing enough in itself for me to check out, specifically at the point when an intelligent crustacean race was mentioned as part of the plot.
Lastly, I really enjoyed a short nonfiction called How to Grow Fresh Air by B. C. Wolverton. It goes into the science of how plants reduce indoor air pollution, including details about a NASA experiment with different plants in the ’80s, and identifies the top 50 best plants for the home, all with beautiful pictures and care instructions.
I’m about halfway through Darling Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt. I think things are about to pick up somewhat now that it’s become really urgent that Apollo figure out what the hell happened to him. I’m also reading the Bone series by Jeff Smith with my baby geek girl (she’s 8, and has recently developed a strong interest in graphic novels, and we’ve both decided we love Bone). She has also specifically requested Wonder Woman reading material, so we picked up a Wonder Woman book at the library. I also came across the entire Runaways series, and have always been interested in reading it, so rather than do one at a time and take the chance that one of them is gone when I need it, I snagged the lot. Because I don’t play.
I recommend The Christmas Bargain by Shanna Hatfield if anyone is looking for a sweet clean Christmas read to read or give. I read one debut author Conviently Wed by Angel Moore (a he has loved her forever/MOC theme (clean also). I read the oldie The Gentling by Ginna Gray, Falling for the Millionaire Playboy by Kate Hardy as well as several others I can’t remember but were worth my time.
This my first time commenting on a blog. My daughter comes here daily and showed me the ropes (I’m 85) on how to do it!
I received “Lighting the Flames” by Sarah Wendell as a gift and it was a lovely story. Very enjoyable.
Happy Holidays!
I’ve just read Maggie O’Farrell’s The Hand That First Held Mine for my book club and I still can’t figure out if I liked the book. Does anybody have that problem? I like her style and the story, but I really don’t like the characters. I wanted to yell at them all the time.
I got really disappointed by the last Sarah MacLean. The beginnig was so promising but as the story developed it all got a little “meh”for me. Duncan is a douchebag. My favorite book is with Pippa and Cross.