Curioussquared takes refuge in books in 2023, part 6
This is a continuation of the topic Curioussquared takes refuge in books in 2023, part 5.
Talk75 Books Challenge for 2023
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1curioussquared
Hello everyone! I'm Natalie. I have participated in the challenge on and off over my almost 15 years (!!!) on LT, and consistently over the past several years.
I'm located in Seattle, where I live with my husband and dogs. I do most of my reading curled up on the couch with my retired racing greyhounds Otter and Kermit, or listening to audiobooks while doing chores and walking the dogs. I am lucky to work from home full-time in HR communications for a large retail corporation.
I read mostly fiction, with a heavy emphasis on fantasy and sci-fi, romance, YA fiction, general fiction/literature, a scattered mystery here and there, and the occasional non-fiction title.
I've been keeping track of my books read since 2008, and I have traditionally aimed for 100, but I think these days I'm usually hoping to hit 150. Last year I hit 200, which was an all-time high and surprising even to me.
Another typical reading goal for me is to prioritize books off my shelves. Last year I was slightly weighted toward library books and I'd like to shift that back this year. I have a separate thread I maintain in the ROOTs group, and in addition, I have a selection of books off my shelves I'd like to get to this year, which you can see in a post below.
Otter screaming into the void:
Kermit lounging:
Kermit calculating how he can fit on the bed with Otter:
I'm located in Seattle, where I live with my husband and dogs. I do most of my reading curled up on the couch with my retired racing greyhounds Otter and Kermit, or listening to audiobooks while doing chores and walking the dogs. I am lucky to work from home full-time in HR communications for a large retail corporation.
I read mostly fiction, with a heavy emphasis on fantasy and sci-fi, romance, YA fiction, general fiction/literature, a scattered mystery here and there, and the occasional non-fiction title.
I've been keeping track of my books read since 2008, and I have traditionally aimed for 100, but I think these days I'm usually hoping to hit 150. Last year I hit 200, which was an all-time high and surprising even to me.
Another typical reading goal for me is to prioritize books off my shelves. Last year I was slightly weighted toward library books and I'd like to shift that back this year. I have a separate thread I maintain in the ROOTs group, and in addition, I have a selection of books off my shelves I'd like to get to this year, which you can see in a post below.
Otter screaming into the void:
Kermit lounging:
Kermit calculating how he can fit on the bed with Otter:
2curioussquared
I had over 30 new-to-me 5-star reads in 2022. I managed to trim it down to these favorites:
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Faithful Place by Tana French
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Faithful Place by Tana French
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
3curioussquared
Books read in 2023:
January
1. You Have a Match by Emma Lord (off my shelf)
2. Heartstopper vol. 3 by Alice Oseman (library)
3. The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun (library)
4. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (off my shelf)
5. Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres (off my shelf)
6. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (off my shelf)
7. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (reread)
8. The Maid by Nita Prose (library)
9. The Jewel Thief by Jeannie Mobley (off my shelf)
10. Chaos on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer (off my shelf)
11. The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (library)
12. A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood (off my shelf)
13. Heartstopper vol. 4 by Alice Oseman (library)
14. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron (off my shelf)
15. This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron (off my shelf)
16. Possession by A. S. Byatt (off my shelf)
17. Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera (library)
18. Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher (library)
19. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (off my shelf)
20. The Wonder Engine by T. Kingfisher (library)
February
21. Enna Burning by Shannon Hale (off my shelf)
22. Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey (off my shelf)
23. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (off my shelf)
24. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers (off my shelf)
25. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (off my shelf)
26. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson (reread)
27. Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson (off my shelf)
28. To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers (library)
29. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (off my shelf)
30. Everything For You by Chloe Liese (library)
31. The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (library)
32. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (off my shelf)
33. Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper (off my shelf)
34. The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells (off my shelf)
35. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (reread)
36. The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie (off my shelf)
37. Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf (off my shelf)
38. Broken Harbor by Tana French (off my shelf)
39. Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier (library)
40. Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen (library)
March
41. The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert (off my shelf)
42. Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell (off my shelf)
43. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami (off my shelf)
44. Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman (library)
45. An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole (library)
46. In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (off my shelf)
47. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (library)
48. Othello by William Shakespeare (off my shelf)
49. All the Feels by Olivia Dade (library)
50. Healer and Witch by Nancy Werlin (library)
51. Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell (off my shelf)
52. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (off my shelf)
53. Hither, Page by Cat Sebastian (library)
54. Forest Mage by Robin Hobb (off my shelf)
55. Spare by Prince Harry (library)
January
1. You Have a Match by Emma Lord (off my shelf)
2. Heartstopper vol. 3 by Alice Oseman (library)
3. The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun (library)
4. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (off my shelf)
5. Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres (off my shelf)
6. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (off my shelf)
7. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (reread)
8. The Maid by Nita Prose (library)
9. The Jewel Thief by Jeannie Mobley (off my shelf)
10. Chaos on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer (off my shelf)
11. The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (library)
12. A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood (off my shelf)
13. Heartstopper vol. 4 by Alice Oseman (library)
14. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron (off my shelf)
15. This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron (off my shelf)
16. Possession by A. S. Byatt (off my shelf)
17. Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera (library)
18. Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher (library)
19. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (off my shelf)
20. The Wonder Engine by T. Kingfisher (library)
February
21. Enna Burning by Shannon Hale (off my shelf)
22. Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey (off my shelf)
23. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (off my shelf)
24. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers (off my shelf)
25. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (off my shelf)
26. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson (reread)
27. Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson (off my shelf)
28. To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers (library)
29. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (off my shelf)
30. Everything For You by Chloe Liese (library)
31. The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (library)
32. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (off my shelf)
33. Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper (off my shelf)
34. The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells (off my shelf)
35. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (reread)
36. The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie (off my shelf)
37. Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf (off my shelf)
38. Broken Harbor by Tana French (off my shelf)
39. Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier (library)
40. Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen (library)
March
41. The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert (off my shelf)
42. Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell (off my shelf)
43. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami (off my shelf)
44. Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman (library)
45. An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole (library)
46. In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (off my shelf)
47. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (library)
48. Othello by William Shakespeare (off my shelf)
49. All the Feels by Olivia Dade (library)
50. Healer and Witch by Nancy Werlin (library)
51. Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell (off my shelf)
52. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (off my shelf)
53. Hither, Page by Cat Sebastian (library)
54. Forest Mage by Robin Hobb (off my shelf)
55. Spare by Prince Harry (library)
4curioussquared
Books read in 2023:
April
56. On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn (library)
57. Icebreaker by A. L. Graziadei (library)
58. The Time Garden by Edward Eager (off my shelf)
59. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (off my shelf)
60. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (reread)
61. The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik (reread)
62. The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik (off my shelf)
63. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells (reread)
64. Headlong by Michael Frayn (off my shelf)
65. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (off my shelf)
66. Well Played by Jen DeLuca (library)
67. Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola (off my shelf)
68. The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin (off my shelf)
69. The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite (library)
70. The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho (off my shelf)
71. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (off my shelf)
72. Bend Sinister by Vladimir Nabokov (off my shelf)
73. The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (off my shelf)
May
74. The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang (library)
75. The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan (library)
76. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit (library)
77. The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (off my shelf)
78. What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (library)
79. Happy Place by Emily Henry (library)
80. The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold (library)
81. Jane Austen Made Me Do It edited by Laurel Ann Nattress (off my shelf)
82. Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake (library)
83. The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi (off my shelf)
84. We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds (library)
85. All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor (library)
86. A Restless Truth by Freya Marske (off my shelf)
87. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers (off my shelf)
88. Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson (off my shelf)
89. Well Matched by Jen DeLuca (library)
90. Sula by Toni Morrison (off my shelf)
June
91. Something Like Love by Beverly Jenkins (library)
92. The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde (off my shelf)
93. The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo (library)
94. Jadie in Five Dimensions by Diane K. Salerni (library)
95. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (off my shelf)
96. In an Absent Dream by Seanen McGuire (off my shelf)
97. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel (off my shelf)
98. Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez (off my shelf)
99. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (off my shelf)
100. You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi (off my shelf)
101. The Martian by Andy Weir (off my shelf)
102. Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev (off my shelf)
103. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (library)
104. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (off my shelf)
105. Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater (library)
106. Queen of Urban Prophecy by Aya de Leon (library)
107. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (library)
108. It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian (library)
109. The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber (library)
110. Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (reread)
April
56. On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn (library)
57. Icebreaker by A. L. Graziadei (library)
58. The Time Garden by Edward Eager (off my shelf)
59. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (off my shelf)
60. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (reread)
61. The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik (reread)
62. The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik (off my shelf)
63. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells (reread)
64. Headlong by Michael Frayn (off my shelf)
65. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (off my shelf)
66. Well Played by Jen DeLuca (library)
67. Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola (off my shelf)
68. The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin (off my shelf)
69. The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite (library)
70. The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho (off my shelf)
71. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (off my shelf)
72. Bend Sinister by Vladimir Nabokov (off my shelf)
73. The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (off my shelf)
May
74. The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang (library)
75. The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan (library)
76. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit (library)
77. The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (off my shelf)
78. What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (library)
79. Happy Place by Emily Henry (library)
80. The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold (library)
81. Jane Austen Made Me Do It edited by Laurel Ann Nattress (off my shelf)
82. Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake (library)
83. The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi (off my shelf)
84. We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds (library)
85. All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor (library)
86. A Restless Truth by Freya Marske (off my shelf)
87. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers (off my shelf)
88. Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson (off my shelf)
89. Well Matched by Jen DeLuca (library)
90. Sula by Toni Morrison (off my shelf)
June
91. Something Like Love by Beverly Jenkins (library)
92. The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde (off my shelf)
93. The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo (library)
94. Jadie in Five Dimensions by Diane K. Salerni (library)
95. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (off my shelf)
96. In an Absent Dream by Seanen McGuire (off my shelf)
97. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel (off my shelf)
98. Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez (off my shelf)
99. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (off my shelf)
100. You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi (off my shelf)
101. The Martian by Andy Weir (off my shelf)
102. Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev (off my shelf)
103. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (library)
104. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (off my shelf)
105. Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater (library)
106. Queen of Urban Prophecy by Aya de Leon (library)
107. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (library)
108. It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian (library)
109. The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber (library)
110. Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (reread)
5curioussquared
Books read in 2023:
July
111. Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen (library)
112. The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green (off my shelf)
113. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (off my shelf)
114. Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen (library)
115. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas (library)
116. Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese (library)
117. The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs (library)
118. The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos (off my shelf)
119. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (off my shelf)
120. Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor (off my shelf)
121. Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon (off my shelf)
122. Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay (library)
123. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (library)
124. If They Come for Us by Fatimah Asghar (library)
125. Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer (off my shelf)
126. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (off my shelf)
127. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (library)
128. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt (library)
August
129. Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor (off my shelf)
130. The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (library)
131. Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (library)
132. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (off my shelf)
133. The Children of Green Knowe by L. M. Boston (library)
134. Painted Devils by Margaret Owen (off my shelf)
135. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao (library)
136. Sherwood by Meagan Spooner (off my shelf)
137. Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy (library)
138. Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli (library)
139. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (off my shelf)
140. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (reread)
141. All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey (off my shelf)
142. A Knot in the Grain by Robin McKinley (off my shelf)
143. Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde (off my shelf)
144. The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson (library)
145. Built to Last by Erin Hahn (library)
146. The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (off my shelf)
147. The Hellion's Waltz by Olivia Waite (library)
148. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (off my shelf)
149. Love & Saffron by Kim Fay (library)
150. The Bodyguard by Katherine Center (library)
151. Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill (off my shelf)
September
152. The Dragon Republic by R. F. Kuang (off my shelf)
153. Gullstruck Island by Frances Hardinge (library)
154. Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (library)
155. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (off my shelf)
156. Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (library)
157. Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov (off my shelf)
158. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward (off my shelf)
159. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree (off my shelf)
160. Into the West by Mercedes Lackey (library)
161. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert (library)
162. Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca (library)
163. Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore (off my shelf)
164. Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland (library)
165. The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix (off my shelf)
166. Furysong by Rosaria Munda (library)
167. Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik (off my shelf)
168. The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare (off my shelf)
169. The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid (library)
170. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (off my shelf)
July
111. Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen (library)
112. The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green (off my shelf)
113. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (off my shelf)
114. Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen (library)
115. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas (library)
116. Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese (library)
117. The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs (library)
118. The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos (off my shelf)
119. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (off my shelf)
120. Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor (off my shelf)
121. Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon (off my shelf)
122. Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay (library)
123. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (library)
124. If They Come for Us by Fatimah Asghar (library)
125. Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer (off my shelf)
126. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (off my shelf)
127. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (library)
128. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt (library)
August
129. Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor (off my shelf)
130. The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (library)
131. Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (library)
132. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (off my shelf)
133. The Children of Green Knowe by L. M. Boston (library)
134. Painted Devils by Margaret Owen (off my shelf)
135. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao (library)
136. Sherwood by Meagan Spooner (off my shelf)
137. Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy (library)
138. Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli (library)
139. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (off my shelf)
140. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (reread)
141. All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey (off my shelf)
142. A Knot in the Grain by Robin McKinley (off my shelf)
143. Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde (off my shelf)
144. The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson (library)
145. Built to Last by Erin Hahn (library)
146. The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (off my shelf)
147. The Hellion's Waltz by Olivia Waite (library)
148. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (off my shelf)
149. Love & Saffron by Kim Fay (library)
150. The Bodyguard by Katherine Center (library)
151. Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill (off my shelf)
September
152. The Dragon Republic by R. F. Kuang (off my shelf)
153. Gullstruck Island by Frances Hardinge (library)
154. Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (library)
155. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (off my shelf)
156. Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (library)
157. Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov (off my shelf)
158. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward (off my shelf)
159. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree (off my shelf)
160. Into the West by Mercedes Lackey (library)
161. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert (library)
162. Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca (library)
163. Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore (off my shelf)
164. Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland (library)
165. The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix (off my shelf)
166. Furysong by Rosaria Munda (library)
167. Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik (off my shelf)
168. The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare (off my shelf)
169. The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid (library)
170. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (off my shelf)
6curioussquared
Books read in 2023:
October
171. The Witch Is Back by Sophie H. Morgan (library)
172. In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace (library)
173. Network Effect by Martha Wells (reread)
174. Hard Times by Charles Dickens (off my shelf)
175. Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi (off my shelf)
176. The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall (off my shelf)
177. Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow (library)
178. Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher (off my shelf)
November
December
October
171. The Witch Is Back by Sophie H. Morgan (library)
172. In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace (library)
173. Network Effect by Martha Wells (reread)
174. Hard Times by Charles Dickens (off my shelf)
175. Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi (off my shelf)
176. The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall (off my shelf)
177. Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow (library)
178. Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher (off my shelf)
November
December
7curioussquared
Last year, I identified a list of 61 books I own I wanted to get to in 2022, and I made it to 51 of them. This year, I'm being slightly less restrictive and still picking about ~40 books I want to read this year, but in some specific categories.
The first column on the left here is a stack of series continuations and sequels I own that I'd like to get to this year. From the top of the stack to the bottom, they are:
1. All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
2. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
3. The Time Garden by Edward Eager
4. The Dragon Republic by R. F. Kuang
5. The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos
6. The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik
7. A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
8. Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore
9. Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell
10. Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor
11. Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
12. Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi
13. Chaos on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer
14. Broken Harbor by Tana French
15. Forest Mage by Robin Hobb
16. The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
And not pictured because I have them on my Kindle or forgot to include them in the photo and am too lazy to take a new picture:
17. Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik
18. Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
19. In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
20. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
The second column on the right are books I've owned for a while (some as far back as 15 years or so!) that it's high time I get to. In order from top to bottom:
21. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
22. Headlong by Michael Frayn
23. Sula by Toni Morrison
24. Possession by A. S. Byatt
25. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
26. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
27. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
28. A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood
29. Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill
30. Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward
The final 10 books are books off my Kindle. I tend to neglect these owned digital books in favor of physical books, so I wanted to prioritize some this year.
31. Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
32. The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
33. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
34. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
35. The Martian by Andy Weir
36. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
37. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
38. Hidden Figures by Margo Lee Shetterly
39. Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez
40. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
DONE: 38/40
The first column on the left here is a stack of series continuations and sequels I own that I'd like to get to this year. From the top of the stack to the bottom, they are:
11. Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
16. The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
And not pictured because I have them on my Kindle or forgot to include them in the photo and am too lazy to take a new picture:
The second column on the right are books I've owned for a while (some as far back as 15 years or so!) that it's high time I get to. In order from top to bottom:
The final 10 books are books off my Kindle. I tend to neglect these owned digital books in favor of physical books, so I wanted to prioritize some this year.
DONE: 38/40
8curioussquared
Welcome to my thread #6! New topper photos and touchstones coming soon.
10curioussquared
>9 drneutron: Thanks Jim!
11curioussquared
Happy Wednesday! Today and tomorrow I am spending most of my day in 5 hour meetings that go from 8-1 my time. Very fun. Yesterday for dinner I made sheet pan chicken fajitas (recipe from Damn Delicious) and Spanish rice (recipe from Budget Bytes) and they were both easy and delicious -- will make again. Tim and I watched some TV before heading to bed.
Currently reading: About 20% through Cemetery Boys and enjoying it. Started The Witch Is Back on audio and am enjoying it a lot so far. As you can see I'm going spooky for October :)
Currently watching: S2E1 and E2 of Welcome to Wrexham
Currently playing: Nothing
Currently reading: About 20% through Cemetery Boys and enjoying it. Started The Witch Is Back on audio and am enjoying it a lot so far. As you can see I'm going spooky for October :)
Currently watching: S2E1 and E2 of Welcome to Wrexham
Currently playing: Nothing
12alcottacre
Happy new thread, Natalie!
13figsfromthistle
Happy new one!
14PaulCranswick
Happy Part 6, Natalie. x
15FAMeulstee
Happy new thread, Natalie!
>1 curioussquared: Always happy to see Otter and Kermit. That first Otter picture with the blanket over his head is so cute!
>1 curioussquared: Always happy to see Otter and Kermit. That first Otter picture with the blanket over his head is so cute!
17humouress
Happy new thread Natalie!
>1 curioussquared: Your boys are gorgeous, as always.
>7 curioussquared: You're doing well with your chosen books.
>1 curioussquared: Your boys are gorgeous, as always.
>7 curioussquared: You're doing well with your chosen books.
18curioussquared
Thanks Stasia, Anita, Paul, Anita, Katie, and Nina!
>15 FAMeulstee: The greyhounds love to be swaddled in fleece blankets, Anita :)
>17 humouress: Thanks Nina! Hoping to finish two more off my list in October and wrap with The Mirror and the Light in November.
>15 FAMeulstee: The greyhounds love to be swaddled in fleece blankets, Anita :)
>17 humouress: Thanks Nina! Hoping to finish two more off my list in October and wrap with The Mirror and the Light in November.
19curioussquared
168 books read: The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
Adunni is a fourteen-year-old Nigerian girl from a small village living in poverty. When her father can no longer pay the rent, he strikes a deal for Adunni to marry a rich man from the village -- a man decades older than her, who already has two wives -- despite Adunni's desperate wish to go to school and get her education. Trapped in a marriage she doesn't want, Adunni is terrified when something happens to the second wife, afraid it will be blamed on her, so she runs away from her husband, father, and village and manages to secure a job as a housemaid in Lagos. At first, Lagos is no better -- her new boss is abusive, and the boss's husband looks at her in ways she doesn't like. But Adunni's fierce determination drives her on, and as she makes a few friends, she sees a possible opportunity to escape the trappings of her life and achieve her dreams.
An inspiring and heartbreaking book -- Adunni's voice is powerful and keeps you turning the pages despite the hopelessness of her situation. 5 stars.
20curioussquared
169 books read: The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
Evike is a wolf girl, one of the pagan community who live in a small village on the edge of the forest. Among the wolf girls, she is shunned for her parentage and her lack of magic, the wolf girls' birthright. When the king's woodsmen come to the village to take a wolf girl for some nefarious purpose in the capital, and the village seer Virag has a vision that they want to take a seer, the village quickly comes together to make Evike, their most useless member, look like a seer so she will be taken. When Evike is taken by the woodsmen, she's terrified but defiant. Looming among her captors is Gaspar, the disgraced prince, and a mysterious presence. As Evike and the woodsman travel together, they begin to forge a tentative understanding of each other and their motivations. But when they finally make it to the capital, things will get even more complicated.
This book... didn't work for me. I loved it conceptually, but the comparisons I saw (The Bear and the Nightingale, Spinning Silver) I thought were much stronger novels. I listened to this on audio and I'm not sure if that was part of the problem. I don't usually have any issues following a novel on audio, but maybe as a function of the writing in this book, things kept happening that I would just totally miss were happening in the moment. It was very weird. I never really understood the characters, I didn't understand what they were trying to do, none of their growth or relationships felt earned. I thought the world was fascinating, but I just didn't understand how the characters were moving through it. I'm not going to write off this author entirely; I know many people love her other book, Juniper & Thorn, and I'm intrigued by her new release, A Study in Drowning, but if I do give her another shot, I'm definitely not going to listen to the book. 2.5 stars.
21curioussquared
Happy Thursday! I'm in another 8-1 meeting today, thrilling. I have a lot to do today because I'm out tomorrow -- Tim and I are going to a wedding on Saturday and are traveling to the location (a nearby island) tomorrow. After work today I'm going to try to pack some before I'm going to go see Bottoms with my best friend.
Currently reading: Making progress in Cemetery Boys but slower than I'd like. Ideally I want to finish it before the end of the month, but that's seeming a little unlikely. Listened to more The Witch Is Back yesterday and I'm having a lot of fun with it.
Currently watching: The latest episodes of Ahsoka and Only Murders In the Building.
Currently playing: Nothing.
Currently reading: Making progress in Cemetery Boys but slower than I'd like. Ideally I want to finish it before the end of the month, but that's seeming a little unlikely. Listened to more The Witch Is Back yesterday and I'm having a lot of fun with it.
Currently watching: The latest episodes of Ahsoka and Only Murders In the Building.
Currently playing: Nothing.
24curioussquared
>22 katiekrug: I really enjoyed Bottoms! Just so much fun. Very modern-day Heathers.
>23 MickyFine: Thanks Micky! It definitely was.
>23 MickyFine: Thanks Micky! It definitely was.
25curioussquared
Happy Monday! We had a nice weekend away.
Friday we traveled to San Juan island -- it's an hour and a half to the ferry, then an hour and a half ferry ride, so a decent trip away. We had lunch in town and then checked into the wedding location, which was a "resort" that had a mix of lodge rooms, log cabins, yurts, bunkhouses, and campsites available. The couple had rented out the whole facility and assigned lodging and we were very glad to be sharing one of the cabins with three of our friends as some of the other options (yurts, bunkhouses, etc) didn't have electricity or running water. Perks of being married to a groomsman! We settled in and waited for others to arrive before Tim and the other wedding party members had to go to the rehearsal before the evening's welcome party and bonfire.
Saturday was wedding day. Tim and the other groomsmen were mostly busy the whole day, so I went to brunch with some other wedding party partners and friends. These are mostly Tim's friends more than mine, but it was still a good time. We wandered around town a bit before heading back as the groom and groomsmen were using our cabin to get ready for the wedding, so we needed to give them ample time to vacate the premises :) Finally we made our way back and chilled for a bit before getting dressed ourselves. The wedding itself was lovely -- they got gorgeous weather for the outdoor ceremony and reception which is NOT a guarantee at the end of September in the PNW! It got a little chilly at the reception but we warmed up on the dance floor :) One hilarious aspect of the wedding was that the bride's main hobby is powerlifting, so a lot of her gym friends were there and there was a lot of flexing, posing, and pushups happening on the dance floor.
Sunday was my birthday! Tim and I said goodbye to everyone at the wedding venue and then spent the day on the island. We had brunch, stopped into a local gallery and picked out some cool prints for my birthday present, and then visited a few of the parks on the island. We saw some wildlife -- mostly harbor seals, but we were lucky enough to briefly spot a whale -- I mostly only saw the dorsal fin and the spout. I would guess it was an orca based on size, but I am not really a whale expert and we only saw one, so maybe not. We headed back into town for an early dinner (we shared steamed clams in a curry sauce as an appetizer, then Tim had a dungeness crab BLT and I had fish and chips -- sooo good) and then caught the ferry back to the mainland and drove home, stopping by my parents' house on the way to pick up the hounds.
Overall a fun but exhausting weekend -- lots of extrovert time with people I'm not super close to. But it was a good time and the island birthday day with Tim was great.
Currently reading: I did manage to wrap up Cemetery Boys before the end of the month and I read a good portion of The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic on the return ferry ride. Still listening to The Witch Is Back on audio and need to pick up the pace -- I have 30% left and it's due tomorrow!
Currently watching: Nothing
Currently playing: Nothing
Friday we traveled to San Juan island -- it's an hour and a half to the ferry, then an hour and a half ferry ride, so a decent trip away. We had lunch in town and then checked into the wedding location, which was a "resort" that had a mix of lodge rooms, log cabins, yurts, bunkhouses, and campsites available. The couple had rented out the whole facility and assigned lodging and we were very glad to be sharing one of the cabins with three of our friends as some of the other options (yurts, bunkhouses, etc) didn't have electricity or running water. Perks of being married to a groomsman! We settled in and waited for others to arrive before Tim and the other wedding party members had to go to the rehearsal before the evening's welcome party and bonfire.
Saturday was wedding day. Tim and the other groomsmen were mostly busy the whole day, so I went to brunch with some other wedding party partners and friends. These are mostly Tim's friends more than mine, but it was still a good time. We wandered around town a bit before heading back as the groom and groomsmen were using our cabin to get ready for the wedding, so we needed to give them ample time to vacate the premises :) Finally we made our way back and chilled for a bit before getting dressed ourselves. The wedding itself was lovely -- they got gorgeous weather for the outdoor ceremony and reception which is NOT a guarantee at the end of September in the PNW! It got a little chilly at the reception but we warmed up on the dance floor :) One hilarious aspect of the wedding was that the bride's main hobby is powerlifting, so a lot of her gym friends were there and there was a lot of flexing, posing, and pushups happening on the dance floor.
Sunday was my birthday! Tim and I said goodbye to everyone at the wedding venue and then spent the day on the island. We had brunch, stopped into a local gallery and picked out some cool prints for my birthday present, and then visited a few of the parks on the island. We saw some wildlife -- mostly harbor seals, but we were lucky enough to briefly spot a whale -- I mostly only saw the dorsal fin and the spout. I would guess it was an orca based on size, but I am not really a whale expert and we only saw one, so maybe not. We headed back into town for an early dinner (we shared steamed clams in a curry sauce as an appetizer, then Tim had a dungeness crab BLT and I had fish and chips -- sooo good) and then caught the ferry back to the mainland and drove home, stopping by my parents' house on the way to pick up the hounds.
Overall a fun but exhausting weekend -- lots of extrovert time with people I'm not super close to. But it was a good time and the island birthday day with Tim was great.
Currently reading: I did manage to wrap up Cemetery Boys before the end of the month and I read a good portion of The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic on the return ferry ride. Still listening to The Witch Is Back on audio and need to pick up the pace -- I have 30% left and it's due tomorrow!
Currently watching: Nothing
Currently playing: Nothing
27humouress
Happy birthday, fellow Libran! It does sound like a lovely weekend and a lovely way to spend your birthday.
28curioussquared
Thanks, Katie and Nina!
29norabelle414
>25 curioussquared: Happy birthday, Natalie! How lucky you got to see a whale! I was just reading an article about the return of humpbacks to Puget Sound but I imagine you'd know if that's what you saw
30curioussquared
>29 norabelle414: Yep, they're pretty distinctive :) I was lucky enough to see one on a random ferry ride a few years ago. Happened to be sitting on the right side of the boat when it started putting on a show so we had front row seats to the breach. So cool.
I did a little more research and I think the whale we saw was probably a Minke whale, which I had never heard of before! But the size and shape looked right and also the fact that it was alone seems to fit.
I did a little more research and I think the whale we saw was probably a Minke whale, which I had never heard of before! But the size and shape looked right and also the fact that it was alone seems to fit.
31curioussquared
Happy Tuesday! Last night I made teriyaki salmon with sesame broccoli and rice, which turned out really good for being thrown together. Plans today include a workout and takeout with my friend in the evening.
Currently reading: Sooo close to finishing The Witch Is Back and it's due in an hour so I need to listen while making myself lunch 😬 Read a few chapters of Rebel Sisters last night before bed.
Currently watching: A few episodes of season 2 of Big Little Lies.
Currently playing: Nothing.
Currently reading: Sooo close to finishing The Witch Is Back and it's due in an hour so I need to listen while making myself lunch 😬 Read a few chapters of Rebel Sisters last night before bed.
Currently watching: A few episodes of season 2 of Big Little Lies.
Currently playing: Nothing.
32curioussquared
170 books read: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Yadriel is ftm trans. For the most part, his family has been accepting, and they try to use the right pronouns, even if they don't always remember. But one place where his family won't budge is in his birthright to brujeria. Yadriel's family are brujos and brujas depending on their gender, and they have slightly different powers. Yadriel knows he is meant to be a brujo, but his family won't let him do his quinces ceremony to come into his powers because his father doesn't think their patron, Santa Muerte, will accept him as a brujo due to his transition. But Dia de Muertos is approaching quickly, and Yadriel is determined to be part of the ceremony welcoming the ghosts of their ancestors back to the living, so he and his cousin Maritza take things into their own hands and Maritza helps Yadriel perform the quinces ceremony himself. Yadriel is elated when the ceremony seems to work and he comes into his magic, but that elation is short-lived when that very same night, something happens to his cousin Miguel and he disappears, presumed dead. Yadriel and Maritza sneak off to join the hunt for Miguel in the family ceremony, but instead of Miguel, they find a strange necklace with a saint's medal that appears to be a revenant tied to a spirit who hasn't left the mortal world left. When Yadriel summons the spirit to release it to the afterlife, one of a brujo's responsibilities, he meets Julian, a boy -- or boy spirit -- his age who refuses to be released until he completes his unfinished business of making sure his family is OK. Yadriel doesn't have time for this -- he has to help find Miguel, and Dia de Muertos is coming, but Julian isn't exactly giving him a choice.
I tried to read this a few years ago and bounced off it, and I still found it difficult to get into this time around, which is why it's missing a star. But overall I really enjoyed this queer YA novel, especially the brujeria and latine cultural aspects. 4 stars.
33libraryperilous
>32 curioussquared: Yeah, I bounced off this when I tried it. Obvious villain and teen angst! I don't feel the need to try it again, but I'm glad it worked for you this time.
34curioussquared
Wednesday! Recently I've had 7am meetings scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and I am very much not a fan. Today was no exception. Last night my friend and I did a workout and then got takeout. Today's plans are just working and tidying for the cleaners coming tomorrow. Not sure what we're doing for dinner... I should take some chicken out of the freezer.
Currently reading: Finished The Witch Is Back and moved on to In the Company of Witches. I was going to take a break from witchiness and listen to Lancelot in between, but I don't think I'll have time before In the Company of Witches is due back, so more witchiness it is. Also read more Rebel Sisters before bed but I'm not very far into it at this point.
Currently watching: An episode of All Creatures Great and Small.
Currently reading: Finished The Witch Is Back and moved on to In the Company of Witches. I was going to take a break from witchiness and listen to Lancelot in between, but I don't think I'll have time before In the Company of Witches is due back, so more witchiness it is. Also read more Rebel Sisters before bed but I'm not very far into it at this point.
Currently watching: An episode of All Creatures Great and Small.
35Ravenwoodwitch
>25 curioussquared: Happy late birthday! And happy new thread! Glad the trip was so cool.
37curioussquared
171 books read: The Witch Is Back by Sophie H. Morgan
Emma was born into witch society in New Orleans, but has spent most of the past decade on her own in Chicago with her chosen friends and family, avoiding her abusive mother and the controversy that has surrounded her since her contractual fiance, Bastian, left suddenly, leaving her and their engagement behind. Now, she happily runs a bar with her best friends Tia and Leah and her familiar mutt, Chester. Everything changes, though, when Bastian returns from his far-flung adventures with a request Emma certainly wasn't expecting -- it turns out there was a curse involved in their marriage contract that will kill his mother, unless they go forward with the wedding. Suddenly re-engaged to the handsome childhood friend who left her behind, Emma isn't sure what to do next or if she can trust Bastian. Both of them will need to re-learn the other, and learn how to trust each other again, if they plan to succeed.
This was a cute romance. Not perfect, but fun to listen to. 3.5 stars.
38curioussquared
Happy Thursday! Last night was just some tidying for the cleaners, plus a little TV. We had pizza and salad for dinner. No plans today -- might play some video games or do a workout. Or both! I need to see if my chicken has defrosted yet; I'd like to make some kind of soup for dinner but not sure what.
Currently reading: Mostly the same stuff. In the Company of Witches is great. I still don't feel like I'm fully into Rebel Sisters; I hit the 50 page mark last night. I've also started a reread of Network Effect to prepare for the imminent release of System Collapse (!!!!!). No progress made in The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic but will probably read some more if I get myself on the elliptical tonight.
Currently watching: S2E3 of Welcome to Wrexham and S5E5 of Love Is Blind.
Currently reading: Mostly the same stuff. In the Company of Witches is great. I still don't feel like I'm fully into Rebel Sisters; I hit the 50 page mark last night. I've also started a reread of Network Effect to prepare for the imminent release of System Collapse (!!!!!). No progress made in The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic but will probably read some more if I get myself on the elliptical tonight.
Currently watching: S2E3 of Welcome to Wrexham and S5E5 of Love Is Blind.
40curioussquared
>39 bell7: Thanks Mary!
41curioussquared
Not a lot of updates today. It's technically busy time at work, so I worked a little later than usual, but I'm so much less busy right now working in-house for a company than I ever was doing HR communications consulting that it doesn't feel right to call it "busy season." But anyway, working cut into my evening last night and I didn't do a workout. I did make an African-inspired peanut soup, though, which was delicious. Then we watched a little TV before bed. My plans tonight do include a workout with my friend and probably some takeout and TV. Tim is hanging out with a different friend.
Currently reading: Still working through Rebel Sisters and Network Effect in print and The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic on Kindle. I finished In the Company of Witches on audio and moved on to Hard Times.
Currently watching: An episode of Ahsoka, one of Welcome to Wrexham, and one of Love Is Blind, which feels like a weird combo but probably sums me up as a person pretty well 😂
Currently reading: Still working through Rebel Sisters and Network Effect in print and The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic on Kindle. I finished In the Company of Witches on audio and moved on to Hard Times.
Currently watching: An episode of Ahsoka, one of Welcome to Wrexham, and one of Love Is Blind, which feels like a weird combo but probably sums me up as a person pretty well 😂
42MickyFine
A very belated happy birthday, Natalie. Sounds like it was a perfect day!
Wishing you a restful weekend after a full week.
Wishing you a restful weekend after a full week.
43Ravenwoodwitch
>41 curioussquared: Hope your weekend has been relaxing, Natalie :) Sounds like work is still keeping you on your toes, even if it isn't super busy.
44curioussquared
>42 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!
>43 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks, Raven! Work is busy, it's just not soul-crushingly busy like my life used to be every August-October at my old consulting job, so I can't complain :)
>43 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks, Raven! Work is busy, it's just not soul-crushingly busy like my life used to be every August-October at my old consulting job, so I can't complain :)
45curioussquared
Happy Monday! I had a nice weekend. Friday night my friend came over and we exercised, got takeout, and watched some TV. Saturday Tim and I went and got dim sum for lunch and then went and toured a house that was nice but not for us. The weather was ridiculously glorious for October (high 70s on Saturday, low 70s on Sunday) so I spent a few hours reading Network Effect outside when we got back, then made cheesy broccoli chicken rice for dinner and finished the day with TV. Sunday we headed up to my in-law's beach place to help with their annual apple cider pressing, then headed back to town for my cousin's birthday party. It was a busy day and we (including the dogs) were exhausted by the end of it!
Today is another busy day at work; benefits open enrollment starts November 1 and that's my team's superbowl every year, so things will be a little crazy probably until then, especially since we've had some turnover lately and a few people out on leave. In the evening I'm connecting with my best friend and we're thinking of planning a trip together.
Currently reading: Listened to more Hard Times; not my favorite Dickens so far. Finished Network Effect and read more The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic which feels like it's picking up a little. I think I need to make a concerted effort to get into Rebel Sisters today or put it aside for a while because it's still not grabbing me.
Currently watching: An episode of All Creatures Great and Small, an episode of Love Is Blind, the season finale of Only Murders in the Building, and an episode of season 2 of Big Little Lies.
Today is another busy day at work; benefits open enrollment starts November 1 and that's my team's superbowl every year, so things will be a little crazy probably until then, especially since we've had some turnover lately and a few people out on leave. In the evening I'm connecting with my best friend and we're thinking of planning a trip together.
Currently reading: Listened to more Hard Times; not my favorite Dickens so far. Finished Network Effect and read more The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic which feels like it's picking up a little. I think I need to make a concerted effort to get into Rebel Sisters today or put it aside for a while because it's still not grabbing me.
Currently watching: An episode of All Creatures Great and Small, an episode of Love Is Blind, the season finale of Only Murders in the Building, and an episode of season 2 of Big Little Lies.
46curioussquared
172 books read: In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace
Bree Warren lives with her aunts and reclusive uncle in Evenfall, where she helps them run the family B&B. Bree is the last in a long line of witches, and her family has kept their powers secret for hundreds of years -- although Bree's husband, Adam, knew about her powers before his death. When a B&B guest, a local woman staying with them while her house is under repair, is found dead in her room, Bree and her aunts are under suspicion. Bree's aunts want her to see if she can speak with the dead woman's spirit, since that was always Bree's specialty. But since Adam's passing, Bree hasn't been able to connect with her magic like she used to, and she struggles with their request. But as the town grows more fearful and it seems likely that her aunts will be blamed, Bree must come to terms with the magic she has been pushing away -- and her grief -- if she's going to keep her family safe.
I really enjoyed this! Major Practical Magic vibes. I liked the family dynamic and the treatment of grief. 4 stars.
47curioussquared
173 books read: Network Effect by Martha Wells
Just as good as the first time I read it. I love Murderbot and ART and all of Murderbot's humans. So excited for System Collapse!!
48libraryperilous
>46 curioussquared: This sounds like a unique spin on cozy mysteries! I have it on my TBR, and your review makes me want to read it for spooky season.
Is there a potential romance with acop on the horizon? That always makes me nope out.
Is there a potential romance with a
49curioussquared
>48 libraryperilous: It was a nice spooky season read! I have the second one on hold. I honestly went into it expecting more romance, and was kind of pleasantly surprised by the total lack of it -- not that I don't enjoy a romance, but it's nice to have a book that focuses on other types of relationships sometimes. So no cop romance to be seen at this point. I glanced at the summary of book 2 and it looks like that one might introduce a new romance for Bree, but I would be surprised if it was a cop because the police were really on the edge of the plot in this one and I don't think they were even named characters.
50curioussquared
Omg!! I just learned that Martha Wells is coming to my favorite bookstore during release week for System Collapse. *Cue Kermit the Frog happy flailing arms dance!!!!* Checking to see if my best friend wants to go with me (I'm sure she will, she loves Murderbot too) and then RSVPing ASAP :D
51libraryperilous
Ohmigosh!!!!!!!!!!
Have fun! Squealing like Miss Piggy for you!
Have fun! Squealing like Miss Piggy for you!
53norabelle414
>46 curioussquared: In the Company of Witches looks so cute! I'm making a list of Cozy Fantasy so I added it.
54alcottacre
>19 curioussquared: Adding that one to the BlackHole! It sounds terrific.
>46 curioussquared: That one too!
>50 curioussquared: That is soooo coooool!! I would be doing a Kermit dance too!
>46 curioussquared: That one too!
>50 curioussquared: That is soooo coooool!! I would be doing a Kermit dance too!
55ursula
Ooh that's exciting to have Martha Wells coming to your neck of the woods (and your favorite bookstore, even!).
56curioussquared
>51 libraryperilous: Thanks :D Now I need to retrieve my copy of All Systems Red from my mom so I can get it signed.
>52 drneutron: I'm pretty excited, Jim!
>53 norabelle414: Ooh, some of my favorites are on that list, Nora! I'll have to check out any others I've missed. My best friend is reading In the Company of Witches right now and she noted that it has big Stars Hollow/Gilmore Girls vibes, which is a great comparison.
>52 drneutron: I'm pretty excited, Jim!
>53 norabelle414: Ooh, some of my favorites are on that list, Nora! I'll have to check out any others I've missed. My best friend is reading In the Company of Witches right now and she noted that it has big Stars Hollow/Gilmore Girls vibes, which is a great comparison.
57norabelle414
>56 curioussquared: If you think of any others, definitely add them to the list! I haven't read most of them, I just compiled the list from a couple external sources and the cozy fantasy tag.
58curioussquared
>54 alcottacre: Glad to add to the BlackHole, Stasia! I believe Martha Wells is based in Texas so maybe she will visit somewhere near you, too :)
>55 ursula: Right? I had already preordered the book from there and everything :)
>57 norabelle414: Will do! I was trying to think of some others. Garlic and the Vampire and the sequel would fit the bill. I keep wanting to add more T. Kingfisher to the list because her books give me cozy vibes, but a lot of them are actually pretty violent/gruesome, she's just somehow good at keeping the cozy feel despite the gore.
>55 ursula: Right? I had already preordered the book from there and everything :)
>57 norabelle414: Will do! I was trying to think of some others. Garlic and the Vampire and the sequel would fit the bill. I keep wanting to add more T. Kingfisher to the list because her books give me cozy vibes, but a lot of them are actually pretty violent/gruesome, she's just somehow good at keeping the cozy feel despite the gore.
59curioussquared
Happy Tuesday! Pretty chill evening yesterday. Talked with my friend about planning a trip, ate some leftovers for dinner, and finished the day reading. Same-ish plans for today except for the leftovers; I'll either cook something or go pick up some dinner at the new bougie grocery store that opened in our neighborhood.
Currently reading: Over halfway through all my current reads: Hard Times, Rebel Sisters, The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic. Hopefully can knock some of these out in the next day or two. I have a bunch more spooky season reads I want to get to this month.
Currently watching: Nothing yesterday.
Currently reading: Over halfway through all my current reads: Hard Times, Rebel Sisters, The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic. Hopefully can knock some of these out in the next day or two. I have a bunch more spooky season reads I want to get to this month.
Currently watching: Nothing yesterday.
60katiekrug
Where are you and your friend thinking of going? I miss traveling and need to live vicariously (at least for now...)!
I miss having a bougie grocery store nearby with a giant chef's case of prepared foods.
I miss having a bougie grocery store nearby with a giant chef's case of prepared foods.
61curioussquared
>60 katiekrug: We are all over the place and still trying to decide! Possibilities we're considering are Japan, Mexico, Peru, Greece, Portugal, Spain, somewhere in the Caribbean, London/UK. So yeah, first step is narrowing it down 😂
When we lived in a different neighborhood before buying our current house and I still commuted to work via bus a few times a week, my bus stop was about five blocks away from our house and directly across the street from a bougie co-op grocery, so it was deliciously easy to get off the bus, look inward and decide if I wanted to make dinner or not, and then swing into the store to pick something up if the answer was not. It barely added five minutes to my commute. I miss that!
When we lived in a different neighborhood before buying our current house and I still commuted to work via bus a few times a week, my bus stop was about five blocks away from our house and directly across the street from a bougie co-op grocery, so it was deliciously easy to get off the bus, look inward and decide if I wanted to make dinner or not, and then swing into the store to pick something up if the answer was not. It barely added five minutes to my commute. I miss that!
62bell7
>50 curioussquared: Oh that's fantastic! I hope you have a great time and tell us all about it after :D
63katiekrug
>61 curioussquared: - Okay, well, all of those are on my list, though I've already been to the Caribbean, Mexico, and London/UK. And Japan for a very short time. The Wayne was just saying he wants to go back to the UK, but we were there last October, so that's doubtful. His work is crazy right now and for the forseeable future (it's an early stage start-up), so I don't expect any real travel in the near future. But next year will be our 15th wedding anniversary, so I'm hoping we can get somewhere interesting, even for just a short time....
Re: the Caribbean, I went to St. Lucia with a group of friends in 2019 and loved it. Beautiful scenery - not just beaches! - and the people were all lovely.
Re: the Caribbean, I went to St. Lucia with a group of friends in 2019 and loved it. Beautiful scenery - not just beaches! - and the people were all lovely.
64curioussquared
>62 bell7: I definitely will!!
>63 katiekrug: Crossing my fingers you get to travel next year, Katie! On the list, I've been to some areas of Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and brief visits to London/UK (aside from Scotland, where I spent ~10 days in 2017). I think my friend and I have settled on Japan -- so now we just need to plan! St. Lucia sounds lovely :)
>63 katiekrug: Crossing my fingers you get to travel next year, Katie! On the list, I've been to some areas of Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and brief visits to London/UK (aside from Scotland, where I spent ~10 days in 2017). I think my friend and I have settled on Japan -- so now we just need to plan! St. Lucia sounds lovely :)
65curioussquared
Busy few days! I had to do a webinar yesterday and I'll do another one today -- always my least favorite part of my job. At least I have to do fewer this year than I did last year. Otherwise, spent some time doing more trip planning with my friend (we're thinking of using a travel agent since our trip would be coming up soon and we're both really busy right now) and stopped by the bougie grocery store. Dinner was sushi from said grocery store.
Currently reading: Finally wrapped up Hard Times (definitely not my favorite Dickens) and moved on to Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year on audio. Over 2/3 done with both Rebel Sisters and The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic.
Currently watching: Episodes 8 and 9 of Love Is Blind (this season is a hot mess).
Currently reading: Finally wrapped up Hard Times (definitely not my favorite Dickens) and moved on to Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year on audio. Over 2/3 done with both Rebel Sisters and The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Heartbreak and Magic.
Currently watching: Episodes 8 and 9 of Love Is Blind (this season is a hot mess).
66MickyFine
>65 curioussquared: Travel agents can be so helpful. We used one for our honeymoon (Fiji and Hawaii) and it made the whole process much less stressful. Worth the money in that case (although I also love planning trips on my own).
67brewbooks
>47 curioussquared: Congrats on repeat reading. I remember you introduced me to the Murderbot series, a good reminder to get after the rest of the series.
68curioussquared
>66 MickyFine: Yes, we used one for Costa Rica and it was a great experience. We spoke with one agent yesterday and came away from the conversation feeling like he didn't really understand our wants. We're talking to another one today so we'll see how it goes. If necessary, I can just spend a lot of time over the next week or so working on our itinerary -- my friend is visiting home right now so she doesn't have time -- but if we can get some help, that would be best.
>67 brewbooks: Thanks John! Glad you like Murderbot -- they are some of my favorites, and so easy to reread.
>67 brewbooks: Thanks John! Glad you like Murderbot -- they are some of my favorites, and so easy to reread.
69libraryperilous
>68 curioussquared: I would be a terrible travel agent because I don't have a sales personality and can't wheel and deal. But I would make an excellent travel planner!
I hope the second agent is a better fit for the kind of trip you want. Japan is high on my travel list, and there's so much to do and see. :)
I hope the second agent is a better fit for the kind of trip you want. Japan is high on my travel list, and there's so much to do and see. :)
70curioussquared
Phew, very happy it's Friday. Last night I worked late again so we ordered pho and binged the last three episodes of Big Little Lies. Honestly, not a show I'd normally gravitate to at all (hence why we're watching it years later), but so well done. Meryl Streep was incredible in season 2 (and it was pretty funny to watch her in this show and Only Murders at the same time).
Currently reading: About 25% through Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year and it's fun so far. Less than 100 pages left in Rebel Sisters and it just never quite came together for me, but I'll wrap it up hopefully today. Also hoping to wrap The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic today or tomorrow.
Currently reading: About 25% through Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year and it's fun so far. Less than 100 pages left in Rebel Sisters and it just never quite came together for me, but I'll wrap it up hopefully today. Also hoping to wrap The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic today or tomorrow.
71curioussquared
>69 libraryperilous: We had such a good experience with our Costa Rica travel agent; it felt like they totally listened to the type of trip we want and were super receptive to the feedback we gave on initial itineraries, so it didn't even feel like we were working with a salesperson, just a nice guy who had really deep knowledge of the country and had a ton of ideas for awesome stuff for us to do and the best way to do it. Some of the stuff we were least excited about ended up being one of the best parts of our trip (we had a white water rafting trip that we were like, eh, could take it or leave it, and then it was amazing. Originally they had us rafting into a hotel you could only reach by raft, staying the night, then rafting out, and we made them cut it down to the one raft day, but when we passed the hotel on our rafting day it looked incredible and we regretted changing it.)
The guy we talked to yesterday was trying to pitch all these activities/excursions to us that felt just so touristy and inauthentic (a sword-making class! a meal with a geisha!) and we steered him away from stuff like that but just still not sure he understood that we're fairly independent travelers just looking for some help, not people who want to be shuttled from tourist activity to tourist activity without really seeing the real country.
The guy we talked to yesterday was trying to pitch all these activities/excursions to us that felt just so touristy and inauthentic (a sword-making class! a meal with a geisha!) and we steered him away from stuff like that but just still not sure he understood that we're fairly independent travelers just looking for some help, not people who want to be shuttled from tourist activity to tourist activity without really seeing the real country.
72humouress
>71 curioussquared: Sounds like you should go back to you Costa Rica agent and - if they can't help with this trip - ask them to recommend someone good.
73curioussquared
>72 humouress: Unfortunately they were a boutique Costa Rica firm so I doubt they'd have specific recommendations for other countries. But the good news is we talked to another agent yesterday who was MUCH more our speed so we're feeling confident now 😊
74curioussquared
It's Monday! I had a nice weekend with lots of books and now must return to work, which is much too busy for my liking right now. More webinars and lots to do in advance of open enrollment in a few weeks.
Currently reading: Finally got through a lot of my current reads over the weekend and moved on to better things! Rebel Sisters and The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic were both clunkers for me. Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year was fun if nothing too memorable. I raced through Nettle & Bone -- started Saturday night, finished Sunday morning -- and absolutely loved it. T. Kingfisher doesn't really miss. Now reading: Ninth House in print, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy on Kindle, and The Guest List on audio.
Currently watching: The Love Is Blind S5 finale and reunion -- this season is definitely the worst so far,but I did end up rooting for Lydia and Milton in the end. I was NOT expecting Chris to be the surprise villain of the reunion. Also watched a few episodes of Good Omens S2, and an episode and a half of Outlander S3. The funniest part of watching Outlander is that Tim doesn't like the show, but he literally cannot stop himself from watching during the battle scenes or war strategy bits. Men.
Currently reading: Finally got through a lot of my current reads over the weekend and moved on to better things! Rebel Sisters and The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic were both clunkers for me. Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year was fun if nothing too memorable. I raced through Nettle & Bone -- started Saturday night, finished Sunday morning -- and absolutely loved it. T. Kingfisher doesn't really miss. Now reading: Ninth House in print, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy on Kindle, and The Guest List on audio.
Currently watching: The Love Is Blind S5 finale and reunion -- this season is definitely the worst so far,
75curioussquared
174 books read: Hard Times by Charles Dickens
In a small, industrial mill town, Thomas Gradgrind, a teacher, believes in the superiority of fact above all else, driving this knowledge into his students and eschewing any notion of fancy or nonsense. He educates his children, Tom and Louisa, the same way, and is proud of how they turn out, eventually marrying Louisa to a local factory owner in what ends up being a disastrous marriage.
Meh. Not the Dickens novel for me -- almost more a philosophical/moral treatise than a novel. There were a few moments of his trademark wit and talent for description that made me laugh or smile, but nothing else super redeeming. 2.5 stars.
76curioussquared
175 books read: Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi
Following the events of War Girls, Ify is now living in space and is close to earning her medical license as a medical administrator for refugees. But when a mysterious plague coma starts affecting refugee children, Ify is nominated to return to Earth to see if she can find the cure. Along with her assistant, Grace, Ify returns to war-torn Nigeria, hesitant about what she might find or who she might see from her past. But when she gets there, things are stranger than she could have imagined, and Ify and Grace must be on their guard if they want to save the sick children.
I really liked War Girls when I read it a few years ago -- a reimagining of the Biafran war in the future with mechas and advanced technology that I thought was done well. This sequel just didn't work for me. I found Uzo's sections and the language conceits to be extremely tiresome to read and maybe I missed it, but I didn't understand the importance of those sections until the very very end of the book which made them even harder to read. Ify's bits were better, but the whole book should have been at least 100 pages shorter. The climax came quickly and was exciting, but took way too long to get there. 3 stars, most for concept and for some characters.
77MickyFine
>74 curioussquared: Your comment about Tim and Outlander made me laugh. Mr. Fine watches it with me and mostly enjoys it but he does joke about all the peril Jamie and Claire deal with on a weekly basis.
78curioussquared
>77 MickyFine: Lol. How would they keep it interesting without all the peril??
79curioussquared
176 books read: The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
Sadie Revelare has lived in Poppy Meadows her whole life -- why would she leave, when her family was one of the seven magic founding families of the town? She runs a small cafe with her grandmother, Gigi, selling her magical foods -- scones that can lighten your mood, jams that can clarify your mind, and cakes that can bring you inner peace. Sadie knows how to do some much more sinister things, too, but those stay out of the shop. While the Revelares and the other founding families are magical, most folk in Poppy Meadows have no idea of the magic around them. Sadie was cursed when she came of age to experience four heartbreaks in her life, and she already has two behind her: the first, when her first love Jake left town, and the second, when her twin brother Seth pulled a disappearing act as well. But now, Jake and Seth are both back, complicating her life immediately, and Sadie has a feeling that the next two heartbreaks will be hot on their heels.
I was so excited to win this ER book -- cozy, witchy fantasy romance novels are high on my list for autumn reading. Add food magic to the mix? The details sounded perfect. And honestly, the details were the best part of this book. The food descriptions were perfect, I really liked Gigi's character, and the start with Jake coming back was a promising beginning. Unfortunately, things went off the rails quickly and I had a lot of issues with it in the end. First, you can tell it's a debut. The plot is all over the place, and Sadie's motivations are often unclear because the author is clearly just making her do things for the plot even if it makes no sense for her character. There's a bit in the beginning where she just... steals the love interest's puppy? And I think it's supposed to be kind of cute? But it's just weird? And I couldn't stop thinking about all the stuff you have to do to take care of a puppy, which Sadie was not doing and instead she was just leaving the puppy home alone all day, so that took me out of the story immediately. Anyway, the weird actions with lack of motivations made Sadie's character pretty annoying. Second, I fully did not understand the world of this book -- how the magic/non-magic folk fitted together, the weirdness of Sadie's whole family being far away and then coming home randomly midway through the book. If it was so easy for them all to move back and they all wanted to, why did they move away? I also thought it was weird that all the witches went to church -- like, sure, I bet there's a world where this makes sense, and maybe the author is from a small southern town or something and she couldn't conceive of a world where everyone in the town doesn't go to church, but I needed more explanation there. Finally, there's a bit where Sadie and Seth are working on a spell together, and Sadie says, "Seth, go get the Thieves!" Yes, you read that right. This book features MLM essential oil product placement! This explained a lot to me about the author and why this book is the way it is right away. (If this is coming off as judgmental, it should be -- I am extremely judgmental of any and all MLM product usage and getting pitched an MLM product will turn me off immediately.) So anyway, that knocked some points off too. I'm not even going to get into the weird romance of this book; just know it was kind of deceitful and not very satisfying. So 2 stars from me -- I did finish it, and I liked the cooking. Just very confused how this is getting good ratings and also how it got to be a Book of the Month pick.
80libraryperilous
>79 curioussquared: How did that get past an editor?!!?!? That's truly awful. MLMs ruin peoples' lives.
This book sounds like an overall mess, lol.
Hope your next reads are fabulous and offset the recent duds!
This book sounds like an overall mess, lol.
Hope your next reads are fabulous and offset the recent duds!
81curioussquared
>80 libraryperilous: Right? Maybe it got taken out in the final version (I can hope?? My copy was definitely an advance proof and I caught some errors while reading). I'm so confused at the overall good reception. I guess people are just really desperate for Practical Magic dupes.
I still need to write reviews, but I also finished Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year, which I liked, and Nettle and Bone, which I loved, so the reading is definitely picking up :) That was a rough streak, though!
I still need to write reviews, but I also finished Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year, which I liked, and Nettle and Bone, which I loved, so the reading is definitely picking up :) That was a rough streak, though!
82libraryperilous
>81 curioussquared: I was curious, so I searched inside through Google Books. It's a different line, but it's still selling Thieves :(
LOL, this is from a Goodreads review: "This book has a super weird, conservative energy for being marketed as a Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic cozy read.
I, for one, would rather my cozy magic NOT be saddled with Christian ideology, and conservative small town firefighter hero energy."
LOL, this is from a Goodreads review: "This book has a super weird, conservative energy for being marketed as a Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic cozy read.
I, for one, would rather my cozy magic NOT be saddled with Christian ideology, and conservative small town firefighter hero energy."
83curioussquared
>82 libraryperilous: Yep. I was describing it to my best friend as "It's like it was written by someone from a small southern town who is unable to distinguish between the charming and not-so-charming aspects of small-town life." I don't have anything against a firefighter romance but had issues with the romance in this one for other reasons. I couldn't believe my review was the only negative one on LT, lol.
84curioussquared
177 books read: Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow
Fed up with work and life in New York, Ruby Spencer quits her journalist job with plans to spend a year in Scotland writing a cookbook. At first, a year seems like an impossibly long time. Ruby is charmed with the quaint village of Thistlecross and the characters who live there. But time flies when you're finding yourself, and soon Ruby starts wondering how she's ever going to leave Thistlecross -- and a particular attractive Scottish man -- behind.
Competent, cute, and fun, if not particularly inspiring. Ruby was boring but the rest of characters made up for it. 3.5 stars.
85ursula
>74 curioussquared: I saw some murmurings about this season of Love Is Blind and decided to skip it - sounds like I made the right choice!
86AMQS
>50 curioussquared: OMG! You'll have to report back. How exciting!
>64 curioussquared: That sounds amazing! I love the idea of a friend trip. I have been to Japan once with the Chorale on tour and would love to go back with my husband. Maybe if you love your itinerary you'll share it??
Love your boys up top. Kermit looks so much like Whistler.
>64 curioussquared: That sounds amazing! I love the idea of a friend trip. I have been to Japan once with the Chorale on tour and would love to go back with my husband. Maybe if you love your itinerary you'll share it??
Love your boys up top. Kermit looks so much like Whistler.
87Ravenwoodwitch
>79 curioussquared: Oh, I do love a good bad book rant.
But, ouch. As much as I try to have a "live and let live/ don't yuck someone's yum" approach to romance books, I don't think this one could get a pass. It sounds unorganized and predetory.
But, ouch. As much as I try to have a "live and let live/ don't yuck someone's yum" approach to romance books, I don't think this one could get a pass. It sounds unorganized and predetory.
88curioussquared
>85 ursula: I still enjoyed it overall, but yeah, it was a lackluster season. Nobody to really root for and it sounds like there was some sketchy stuff happening behind the scenes. I'd wait for the next one!
>86 AMQS: Will do, Anne! My best friend and I have been on a few trips together and we're good travel partners since we move generally at the same speed. Would be happy to share our itinerary -- we should be getting an initial one to review from the travel agent today. Gotta love those brindle boys ❤
>87 Ravenwoodwitch: Yeah, I don't recommend it Angela!
>86 AMQS: Will do, Anne! My best friend and I have been on a few trips together and we're good travel partners since we move generally at the same speed. Would be happy to share our itinerary -- we should be getting an initial one to review from the travel agent today. Gotta love those brindle boys ❤
>87 Ravenwoodwitch: Yeah, I don't recommend it Angela!
89curioussquared
Forgot to mention that I went to my county library branch's Friends of the Library sale on Saturday! It was fine; smaller than in previous years, but I still managed to pick up a stack:
Tim and I own at least two other copies of LOTR between us, but this specific movie tie-in omnibus edition is the one I first read as a kid, that my brother then stole and lost, so it was a nostalgia buy :) I've also already read Rich People Problems and Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, but couldn't pass up my own copies for a dollar each.
Tim and I own at least two other copies of LOTR between us, but this specific movie tie-in omnibus edition is the one I first read as a kid, that my brother then stole and lost, so it was a nostalgia buy :) I've also already read Rich People Problems and Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, but couldn't pass up my own copies for a dollar each.
90curioussquared
Happy Wednesday! This week is crazy at work. I worked twelve hours the last two days. Today started with my normal Wednesday meeting I lead, followed by the all-Company town all that I had a slide on, followed by another webinar I had to present on. I am now a wet noodle. One more webinar this week tomorrow morning.
Currently reading: Finished The Guest List on audio this morning and moved on to Enchanted to Meet You. Have made a little progress in Ninth House over the past few days but have mostly been too tired to read much.
Currently watching: Some Outlander S3 on Monday night and some Welcome to Wrexham on Tuesday night.
Currently reading: Finished The Guest List on audio this morning and moved on to Enchanted to Meet You. Have made a little progress in Ninth House over the past few days but have mostly been too tired to read much.
Currently watching: Some Outlander S3 on Monday night and some Welcome to Wrexham on Tuesday night.
91katiekrug
>90 curioussquared: - Work sounds grueling. I hope you can rest and re-charge over the weekend, at least!
92curioussquared
>91 katiekrug: Thanks! Add on top of work that Otter wasn't feeling well the past few nights and woke me up multiple times in the night to go out... I'm stretched a little thin :)
93katiekrug
>92 curioussquared: - Poor Otter. And poor you!
94MickyFine
Oof I'm sorry to hear life is stressful on the work and home fronts at the moment. Sending hugs and wishes for a restful weekend.
95Whisper1
Congratulations on reading so many books thus far this year! Incredible!!!
So sorry to hear that Otter wasn't feeling well. And, lack of sleep certainly does create feeling you described so well.
Take care of yourself. You are stressed in so many levels, work, Otter...and simple everyday life occurences.
But, the good news is the great books you were able to purchase at the Friends of the library sale!
Hopefully you are able to slow down and read some of the great books you just purchased.
Sending all good wishes to you!
So sorry to hear that Otter wasn't feeling well. And, lack of sleep certainly does create feeling you described so well.
Take care of yourself. You are stressed in so many levels, work, Otter...and simple everyday life occurences.
But, the good news is the great books you were able to purchase at the Friends of the library sale!
Hopefully you are able to slow down and read some of the great books you just purchased.
Sending all good wishes to you!
