tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68456141399727032422024-02-20T09:45:34.753-08:00Jena's Book ReviewsI have loved to read ever since I can remember. I'm glad to have you join me on my journey!4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.comBlogger1084125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-79078690843041768532024-01-13T15:16:00.000-08:002024-01-13T15:16:36.896-08:002023 Recap and 2024 Reading Goals<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had thought my goals for 2023 were attainable but I had no idea just how tired 2022 had made me and how much rest I would need. To be fair, the only thing I didn't make was number of books read (79 out of 100 according to my list) but I did read 30 new authors and 21,071 pages which is not too shabby. Obviously, book reviews went out the window really quickly with all the school I was doing. Being realistic, this is not the year that it's going to happen either.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's right, it's 2024 which means a presidential election so work will be insane. The interesting thing for my reading is that this is the year that the youngest graduates high school. Once June hits, I'm no longer reading anything except what I choose to read for myself. I'm not quite sure what that will mean for my reading other than probably a lot of fluff for a bit while I let my brain take a break. I will miss the boosts to my pages read from textbooks though and I'll have to do more hunting for my new authors since I won't just have many of them given to me from school reading.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">With all this in mind, I'm going to try for 75 books, 15,000 pages, and 15 new authors. It at least seems possible but we'll just have to see how the year goes and how much mush my brain becomes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">With that, here's my read list for 2023:</span></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-308dbca3-7fff-b9ce-d21d-3d3f303902ae"><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter - anthology (542p/542p/390,455p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The Backbone of the World by Stephan Graham Jones - interesting (54p/596p/390,509p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire - haunting (146p/742p/390,655p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Stag by Karen Russell - who cares? (40p/782p/390,695p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Dark Witch by Nora Roberts - entertaining (352p/1,134p/391,047p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts - entertaining (339p/1,473p/391,386p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Blood Magick by Nora Roberts - entertaining (321p/1,794p/391,707p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Tricked by Kevin Hearne - better (352p/2,146p/392,059p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">A Righteous Man by Tochi Onyebuchi - ok (30p/2,176p/392,089p) *</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater - fabulous (321p/2,497p/392,410p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Dogsbody by Diana Wynn Jones - interesting (254p/2,751p/392,664p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Bloody Summer by Carmen Maria Machado - ok (28p/2,779p/392,692p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Backpacking Through Bedlam by Seanan McGuire - Alice! (340p/3,119p/393,032p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The Garden by Tomi Adyemi - lovely (44p/3,163p/393,076p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Unbreakable by Mira Grant - haunting (114p/3,277p/393,190p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The American YAWP Vol. 1 by Joseph L. Locke - informative (440p/3,717p/393,630p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">United States Government: Democracy in Action by Richard C Remy, Ph.D. - ok (898p/4,615p/394,528p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett - fabulous (412p/5,027p/394,940p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Persephone by Lev Grossman - good (31p/5,058p/394,971p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Biology 2e by OpenStax College - informative (1,427p/6,485p/396,398p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - meh (338p/6,823p/396,736p) *</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin - fabulous (320p/7,143p/397,056p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow - fabulous (30p/7,173p/397,086p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Organizational Behavior by OpenStax - informative (692p/7,865p/397,778p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Crystal Web by Yasmine Galenorn - fluffy (222p/8,087p/398,000p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Witch’s Web by Yasmine Galenorn - fluffy (221p/8,308p/398,221p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Cursed Web by Yasmine Galenorn - seriously?! (228p/8,536p/398,449p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">What the Dead Know by Nghi Vo - good (31p/8,567p/398,480p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - ok (374p/8,941p/398,854p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree - fun! (296p/9,237p/399,150p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - ok (374p/9,611p/399,524p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">How Much Harm? by Seanan McGuire - fun (20p/9,631p/399,544p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Whalefall by Seanan McGuire - interesting (20p/9,651p/399,564p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Content/Consent by Seanan McGruire - thought provoking (20p/9,671p/399,584p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost - ok (342p/10,013p/399,926p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Destined for the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - ok (385p/10,398p/400,311p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - better (357p/10,755p/400,668p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost - fun (358p/11,113p/401,026p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Up From the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - fun (372p/11,485p/401,398p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">A Grave Girl’s Getaway by Jeaniene Frost - fun (91p/11,576p/401,489p/401,886p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The Other Half of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - meh (397p/ 11,973p/402,283p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - ok (334p/12,307p/402,617p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Undercover by Tamsyn Muir - interesting (57p/12,364p/402,674p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost - Ok (373p/12,737p/403,047p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Eternal Kiss of Darkness - fine (361p/13,098p/403,408p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">American Indian Stories, Legends, and Writings by Zitkala-Sa - educational (324p/13,422p/403,732p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews - Kate’s back! (146p/13,568p/403,878p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The Candles are Burning by Veronica G. Henry - spooky (37p/13,605p/403,915p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews - fabulous (225p/13,830p/404,140p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Wench by Maxine Kaplan - fun (400p/14,230p/404,540p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir - beautiful (199p/14,429p/404,739p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Demons of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison - Kistin?! (438p/14,867p/405,177p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Out of the Mirror, Darkness by Garth Nix - interesting (38p/14,905p/405,215p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Of Claws and Fangs by Faith Hunter - Jane! (333p/15,238p/405,548p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">How It Unfolds by James S.A. Corey - interesting (38p/15,276p/405,586p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - entertaining (384p/15,660p/405,970p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros - interesting (132p/13,792p/406,102p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Sleep No More by Seanan McGuire - amazing! (368p/16,1680/406,470p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Fury Rising by Yasmine Galenorn - interesting (331p/16,491p/406,801p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Void by Veronica Roth - ok (50p/16,541p/406,851p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Falling Bodies by Rebecca Roanhorse - ok (35p/16,576p/406,886p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Fury’s Magic by Yasmine Galenorn - ok (288p/16,684p/407,174p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Veveteen vs.The Multiverse - gaining steam (312p/17,176p/407,486p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The Long Game by Ann Leckie - interesting (31p/17,207p/407,517p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">MASTAlphabet: Madonna A to Z by Mark Blankenship & Sarah D. Bunting - meh (89p/17,296p/407,606p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Just Out of Jupiter’s Reach by Nnedi Okafor - fascinating (45p/17,341p/407,651p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire - fantastic (368p/17,709p/408,019p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Fury Awakened by Yasmine Galenorn - ok (322p/18,031p/408,341p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Slow Time Between the Stars by John Scalzi - interesting (28p/18,059p/408,369)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">To Be a Slave by Julius Lester - heartbreaking (160p/18,219p/408,529p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">2043…a Merman I Should Turn to Be by Nisi Shawl - interesting (31p/18,250p/408,560p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Fury Calling by Yasmine Galenorn - ok (277p/18,527p/408,837p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Chicks Digs Time Lords by various - entertaining (186p/18,7113p/409,023p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Forensic Science for High School by Toby Barbara - informative (570p/19,283p/409,593p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Fury’s Mantle by Yasmine Galenorn - ok (285p/19,568p/409,878p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">For Hearing People Only by Matthew S. Moore & Linda Levitan (did not finish, too repetitive)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The Once and Future King by T.H. White - ok (654p/20,222p/510,532p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki - perspective (561p/20,783p/411,093p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Oak Flat: A Fight for Sacred Land in the American West by Lauren Redniss - infuriating (288p/21,071p/411,381p)*</span></p></li></span></ol></span></div>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-9254022966350297272023-01-13T10:51:00.003-08:002023-01-13T10:51:58.500-08:001:100 Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter<p>A collection of 19 stories from the Jane Yellowrock series including two never before-published novellas.</p><p>If you like the Jane Yellowrock series, this is definitely a good read. I've read some of the stories before but there were enough new ones to keep me entertained and fill in some backstory. It was also nice to get some stories that focused on Molly and her family, including some where Jane was not present or not a major part.</p><p><br /></p><p>Pages read: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">542p/542p ytd/390,455p lifetime (from when I started counting in 2012)</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-73704175196253509512023-01-02T20:14:00.000-08:002024-01-13T15:04:34.596-08:002022 Recap and 2023 Goals<p> Well, the elections this year were even crazier than usual and personal stuff also stacked up against me so mental health was not so great and reading time was hard to come by so not all goals were met. I did manage the 15 new authors and the with the help of several short stories I got 72 out of the 75 books that I was hoping for, and 18,895 pages. (As always, the "books" are a collection of books, textbooks, short stories, novellas, and children's books but since there are so many things that end up not counting and my average page count per "book" is over 200 pages, and it's my game, I think this holds up.) </p><p>There are no major elections this year at all although I will be taking 10 units at college for the spring semester but since I will hopefully be graduating after that with my two associates' degrees so that should free up some time to do other things, like read more for fun again. *fingers crossed*</p><p>With that in mind, I'm going for 100 books this year with 20 new authors and 20,000 pages. I'm also going to try to start posting my reviews again but we'll see how that goes. In the meantime, here's the list of books that I read for 2022:</p><p><br /></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1a6a5339-7fff-fc2c-7409-b1d5e2626d79"></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Long Way From Home by Seanan McGuire - trouble brewing (20p/20p/370,948p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman - eloquent (228p/248p/371,176p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Noor by Nnedi Okorafor - fabulous (214p/462p/371,390p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire - Forgetful (150p/612p/371,540p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation by John Lewis - fabulous (220p/832p/371,760p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Starlight Web by Yasmine Galenorn - interesting (262p/1,094p/372,022p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A Twist of Fate by Kelley Armstrong - meh (283p/1,377p/372,305p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sacrifice Your Tears by Seanan McGuire - Lovely (36p/1,413p/372,341p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A Separate Peace by John Knowles - thought-provoking (208p/1,621p/372,549p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Spiderman-Man Miles Morales: Wings of Fury by Brittney Morris - ok (263p/1,884p/372,812p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune - fantastic (376p/2,260p/373,188p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum - ok (338p/2,598p/373,526p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Midnight Web by Yasmine Galenorn - fun (286p/2,884p/373,812p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Conjure Web by Yasmine Galenorn - fun (262p/3,146p/374,074)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Harvest Web by Yasmine Galenorn - fun (232p/3,378p/374,306p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shadow Web by Yasmine Galenorn - fun (234p/3,612p/374,540p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - intense (444p/4,056p/ 374,984)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Volatile Bonds by Jaye Wells - entertaining (327p/4,383p/375,311)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Middlegame by Seanan McGuire - I’m not sure what I just read but I think I liked it (528p/4,911p/375,839p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Spelunking Through Hell by Seanan McGuire - Go Alice! (352p/5,263p/376,191p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ghost Lights by Seanan McGuire - patreon (20p/5,283p/376,211p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Those Three Girls from Rush’s End by Seanan McGuire - patreon (20p/5,303p/376,231p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Third for Magic by Stefon Mears - patreon (20p/5,323p/376,251p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Huck Finn by Mark Twain - again (225p/5,548p/376,476p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Blood Lite by various - mostly just ugh (359p/5,907p/376,835p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett - fabulous (375p/6,282p/377,210p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hex Appeal by various - entertaining (356p/6,638p/377,566p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">American Vision published by Glencoe - textbook (1138p/7,776p/378,704p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol - tragic (57p/7,833p/378,761p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Small Business Management by Cengage - Ok (598p/8,431p/379,359p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shadow Rites by Faith Hunter - entertaining (348p/8,779p/379,707p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict - interesting (272p/9,051p/379,979p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Cold Reign by Faith Hunter - entertaining (350p/9,401p/380,329p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Snowstorms & Sleigh Bells by Kelley Armstrong - sweet (116p/9,517p/380,445p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Empty Street Cup by Stefon Mears - patreon (20p/9,537p/380,465p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dark Queen by Faith Hunter - entertaining (414p/9,951p/380,879p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson - fn (456p/10,407p/381,335p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - interesting (289p/10,696p/381,624p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shattered Bonds by Faith Hunter - entertaining (380p/11,076p/382,004p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Naked City by various entertaining (539p/11,615p/382,543p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Weaver’s Web by Yasmine Galernon - fun (221p/11,836p/382,764p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs - Mercy!!! (389p/12,225p/383,153p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Exploring Psychology in Modules by David G. Myers - textbook (832p/13,057p/383,985p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">True Dead by Faith Hunter - entertaining (359p/13,416p/384,344p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Square^3 by Mira Grant - kaiju (144p/13,560p/384,488p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Be the Serpent by Seanan McGuire - roller coaster ride with my heart (384p/13,944p/384,872p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews - fun (393p/14,337p/385,265p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews - fun (392p/14,729p/385,657p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fundamentals of Human Resource Management by Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, & Wright - textbook (570p/15,299p/386,227p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews - fun (370p/15,559p/386,597p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Saga Vol 10 by Brian K Vaughn & Fiona Staples - goddamnit! (160p/15,829p/386,757p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Final Heir by Faith Hunter - finale (448p/16,277p/387,205p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A Turn of the Tide by Kelley Armstrong - sweet (250p/16,527p/387,455p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Trouble with the Cursed by Kim Harrison - Rachel! (464p/16,991p/387,919p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Introduction to Leadership: Concepts & Practice by Peter G. Northouse - textbook (432p/17,423p/388,351p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Heroic Hearts by various - fun (368p/17,791p/388,719p) *</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In Mercy, Rain by Seanan McGuire - lovely (36p/17,827p/388,755p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My Antonia by Willa Cataher - lovely (182p/18,009p/388,937p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hammered by Kevin Hearne - epicly stupid (312p/18,321p/389,249p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Skeleton Song by Seanan McGuire - beautiful (25p/18,346p/389,274p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ghosts & Garlands by Kelley Armstrong - sweet (98p/18,444p/389,372p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sacajewea by Joseph Bruchac - interesting (212p/18,656p/389,584p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Wildlife by Jeff Vandermeer - the ravine! (57p/18,703p/389,641p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Elfquest: Stargazer’s Hunt vol 2 by Wendy and Richard Pini - perfect (104p/18,807p/389,745p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Tiger That Came to the Mountain by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia - intense (28p/18,845p/389,773p)*</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Into the Sea by Seana McGuire (20p/18,865p/389,793p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Upon Your Honor by Seanan McGuire (20p/18,885p/389,813p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">With Sweet Peace by Seanan McGuire (20p/18,905p/389,833p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Like a Dream by Seanan McGuire (20p/18,925p/389,853p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Give Sorrow Words by Seanan McGuire (20p/18,945p/389,873p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Empty Street Corner by Stefon Mears (20p/18,965p/389,893p)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Time for Magic by Stefon Mears (20p/18,985p/389,913p)</span></p></li></ol>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-38565474691072821332022-01-21T19:42:00.014-08:002022-02-06T20:10:18.270-08:004:75 Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire<p> The 7th book in the Wayward Children series.</p><p>After Cora's experiences in the waters of the Moors while saving Suni, she constantly feels the call of the Drowned Gods, sees their oil-slick mark all over her skin. The water is no longer the safe haven it was and she can't stand it any more so she goes to Miss Eleanor and asks to be transferred to the other school for Wayward children, the school that will help her forget all about the doors and the Drowned Gods. She'll do anything to no longer hear their voices even if it also means losing her memories of the Trenches where she was a mermaid for a time.</p><p>What Cora can't know before she goes there is just how the school will try to go about making her conform, how miserable she'll be, or the many secrets the school hides from the outside. </p><p> Cora's journey is heartbreaking but so understandable, and I think many, including myself, will find it relatable to some degree. Ms. McGuire does yet another amazing job of bringing so many feelings out in her characters that you cannot help but connect with and with Cora's journey most of all.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">150p/612p/371,540p</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-73098254440696192952022-01-16T19:27:00.000-08:002022-02-14T11:18:31.461-08:003:75 Noor by Nnedi Okorafor<p> Anwuli Okwudili (although she prefers to be called AO for Artificial Organism) was born disabled, and only survived due to massive medical intervention. Between that and a car accident when she was 14, she has had both legs amputated and replaced, one arm, a lung, and various other enhancements. This is just who she is and since she was old enough to decide, these choices have been ones that she made. She just had no idea how others were helping to shape those choices.</p><p>Then comes the day in the market where everything goes wrong. Now she is on the run but she doesn't know what she's running to, only that she's running away from what has happened, and this running runs her into DNA, a Fulani herdsman, who is trying to figure out what is happening in his life except that for him, he is returning to his family to get guidance. His kind nature brings AO along with him but fate has determined that they are both to be outcasts, hunted together through the desert. AO is about to learn so much more about who she is and what she can do against those who sought to use and control her.</p><p>I've been enjoying Nnedi Okorafor's work and this was no exception. An indictment of oligarchies and large corporations, intolerance for differences, and our loss of privacy in society. She is succinct in her brevity but she continues to draw me into her worlds and her characters with her weaving of African lore and culture throughout her stories. </p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">214p/462p ytd/371,390p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-34162160198431412472022-01-13T11:37:00.002-08:002022-01-13T11:37:44.589-08:002:75 Call Us What We Carry by Amanda GormanFrom her bio at the back of the book, "Amanda Gorman is the youngest presidential inaugural poet in US History." She was also Urban Word's first ever National Youth Poet Laureate. I was blown away by her poem "The Hill We Climb" and it's deliverance at the inauguration but was happy to wait for her full book of poetry to come out rather than the special edition for just that poem. I'm not not normally a person who reads poetry but something about her work was so powerful and eloquent that it spoke to me on a very deep level. After reading all of the poems within this book, that one poem was in no way an aberration. She has a unique style, rich and deep and passionate that comes through her poems and these poems will be taking up space in my soul for a long time to come.<div><br /></div><div>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">228p/248p ytd/371,176p lifetime</span></div>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-63900766895097119182022-01-12T10:40:00.003-08:002022-01-13T11:37:58.528-08:001:75 Long Way From Home by Seanan McGuire<p> Patreon short story for January 2022.</p><p>Alice can't understand why her grandfather hasn't answered her letters for a month now, especially as she has asked for help with the baby hodag that is currently residing under her bed. Laura, her cousin and roommate, wants it gone so Alice finally breaks down to call and have a cryptic conversation with her grandfather. This leads to a very frank conversation between her grandfather and father which leaves her father in a very awkward and uncomfortable place. Now if only Thomas will understand what Mary is trying to tell him about why he's never received any letter from Alice...</p><p><br /></p><p>Gearing up for this years Incryptid book, <i>Spelunking Through Hell</i>, which will give Alice her turn in the spotlight as her search for her missing husband, Thomas, continues with more hope now that the crossroads are destroyed. Can't wait!</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">20p/20p ytd/370,948p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-75391322645819061112022-01-01T11:42:00.003-08:002022-01-01T12:17:03.897-08:002021 Recap and 2022 Goals<p> Not having any elections in 2021, I was hopeful about my reading and making great strides towards getting a lot of other stuff caught up. With the pandemic continuing to plague us, even with vaccines, there has still been a mental toll that is hard to shake. With all of the everything though, I did actually achieve my reading goals for 2021 although nothing like last minute finding some short stories by new authors to pull it off. </p><p><br /></p><p>So my goals for 2021 were 103 books, 25 new authors, and 20,000 pages. I managed 100 books, 26 new authors, and 23,532 pages. (As always, the "books" are a collection of books, textbooks, short stories, novellas, and children's books but since there are so many things that end up not counting and my average page count per "book" is over 200 pages, and it's my game, I think this holds up.) As can easily be seen, I was way better with the reading than the reviewing. Something else that will continue to be a project for me moving forward.</p><p><br /></p><p>2022 is going to be very hectic with 3 elections in the first 6 months plus all the semi-annual reports and other start of year projects. I'm scaling back school as I've learned that yes, I can take 2 classes during an election cycle but it's HARD and ends up meaning that I'm not homeschooling or taking care of myself well. With that in mind, I'm also scaling back my reading goals to 75 books, 15 new authors, and 15,000 pages. We'll see what happens.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you have reading goals, I'd love to hear about them!</p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-70174540706624194052021-05-01T14:18:00.015-07:002022-01-08T14:28:57.977-08:0024:100 Belief by Seanan McGuire<p>September 2020 Patreon short story, standalone. </p><p>Mary is a little girl who has lost her parents and lives with her grandparents. She has learned early on that the world isn't fair, Santa and the Easter Bunny aren't fair, but the postman is someone who is reliable and is absolutely fair in that he shows up for everyone and the post office would be her church, if she had one. </p><p>A simple story with no gruesome monsters other than other humans and their greed, and how those of us who care might be able to save those institutions.</p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">20p/6,165p ytd/353,555p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-82361595229177488122021-04-28T11:43:00.019-07:002022-01-04T11:55:26.119-08:0023:100 Ghost*Spider, Vol. 2: Party People by Seanan McGuire<p> On Earth-65, Jonny and Sue Storm were online influencers when they suddenly disappeared and now 5 years have passed and they have mysteriously returned home claiming no memory of what happened to them during that time but now with superpowers. Meanwhile, Gwen is continuing to try and balance living and crime-fighting in her native dimension of Earth-65 while going to college on Earth-616. When Sue and Jonny offer a team-up with Ghost-Spider in Earth-65, she's happy to no longer be the only superhero in the are and hopeful that together, they can help her rep. Unfortunately, nothing is ever that easy or simple.</p><p>Fun series and I hope Seanan is able to keep writing this!</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">112p/6,145p ytd/353,535p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-56002544226225379022021-04-26T10:58:00.045-07:002021-08-02T11:12:58.462-07:0022:100 Binti Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor<p>I first read the standalone novella, Binti, back in 2018. Here are my thoughts at that time:</p><p><br /><i>The Himba people have never left their homeland, much less traveled to the stars, but Binti has been accepted to go to the Oomza University which is offworld. She knows she cannot tell her family, they will never approve, so she sneaks away one night to board the ship that will take her. <br /><br />She is other to everyone. No one is familiar with the Himba people as they remain isolated and do not travel but Binti hopes that those traveling to the University will learn to treat her as an equal. On the trip, things are going well and she is even starting to make some friends until the ship is attacked by the Meduse.<br /><br />Earth and the Meduse have been at war for a long time and this is just the latest strike. Now the Meduse have killed everyone on board except for Binti for there is something about her that is different. Now she has the chance to try and be a bridge between the Meduse and Oomza University in order to bring peace. <br /><br />This was truly a remarkably crafted tale. At less than 100p long, it was tightly woven with amazingly detailed characters and universe. Ms. Okorafor is an incredibly talented wordsmith and worldbuilder and I can't wait to read more of her work.</i></p><p>I had no idea what the rest of the series would be about but was hoping it would follow Binti at the University. It instead brings her back to her village as a broker of the peace talks between the Meduse and humans. Unfortunately there is much fear and Binti has now become too alien after her fusing with the Meduse to be easily accepted by the people she grew up with. Now she must learn her full past, the story of the stone she brought with her on the ship to Oomza University, and the history of the war with the Meduse if there is to be any hope of peace between the worlds.</p><p>I will admit to being a bit disappointed at first that this was not the story I was hoping to get (but very thankful that in the Kindle version of the trilogy there was a short story of University days). I did find it a bit harder to get into the rest of the series as a result as I also found the pacing to be a bit slower but the story did pull me in with the masterful writing and intriguing characters. I am definitely a fan of Ms. Okorafor and will be continuing to work my way through her body of work.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">368p/6,033p ytd/353,423p lifetime</span> </p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-45275474573228835142021-04-21T10:54:00.000-07:002021-08-02T10:54:38.771-07:0021:100 This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone<p> Two factions fighting across time, trying to nudge the time line this way and that in order to adjust it in their sides favor so they can win the real war. Two sides, each with their own agents that follow the orders from above to give their side the best chance. Two sides, each with an agent in possession of a secret.</p><p>The note was left on a battlefield, one of many throughout the time line, as a taunt. But it didn't stop there. One note, left to one agent of the opposing side. A response. And another. Up and down the time line, each finding new and more innovative ways to slip messages to the other. No names, never that, but knowledge of how the other thinks and moves used to ping the consciousness to the message written and wanting to be found. It started with that taunt but how can you know someone that well, for so long, without it becoming more. Respect turns to admiration turns to an intimacy. If they are discovered it would mean death, to fraternize with the enemy so, but the reward of the next missive is worth the risk.</p><p>It took me a bit to really get into this one and the writing style but once I did, I found it a fabulous read. Well constructed with beautiful prose.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">209p/5,665p ytd/353,055p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-71306019796905536442021-04-17T10:07:00.023-07:002021-08-02T10:16:22.923-07:0020:100 In the Shadow of Spindrift House by Mira Grant<p> Harlowe Upton-Jones has been living with her paternal grandparents after her parents were killed under strange circumstances. That she grew up to become part of a new "Mystery Gang" with her friends as teenage sleuths really isn't surprising. But now they have graduated high school and the rest of the gang is looking at college and careers and things are falling apart. So Harlowe finds one last case for them to go out on a bang with, that of the Spindrift House. There are many interested parties trying to figure out who legally owns the house and if they can spend a week there and figure it out, the payoff will be worth it. Unfortunately, the house has its own residents who might welcome Harlowe but not her friends.</p><p>Elder gods and haunted house and mystery gang...oh my! Fun horror story set in a Lovecraftian world but definitely not for the faint of heart.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">197p/5,456p ytd/352,846p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-61726394507828018802021-04-10T09:38:00.048-07:002021-08-02T09:52:59.951-07:0019:100 Last Strand by Jennifer Estep<p>Mason Mitchell is the head of the Circle, the super secret group that has been pulling the strings of Ashland's criminal underground for ages, and also Gin's uncle, the twin brother of her father. He has never let family get in his way, obviously since he had Gin's family murdered although she and her sister Bria managed to get away, has a plan to tear down the Pork Pit while making himself tons of money, and holds some serious grudges against Fletcher and Gin. With Fletcher gone, Gin is the one who must deal with his wrath but not alone as he will target her friends to get under her skin.</p><p>Gin has to stop him and keep her friends safe, as always.</p><p>I've enjoyed the series and find the world interesting with it's use of elemental magic. Never count Gin out but this feels like a good spot for things to end. We've gotten Gin's backstory, she has killed the ghosts from her past, and it's a good time for her to hopefully be able to rest. While Ms. Estep hasn't said that the series is officially over, the last few books were self-published and she has been moving forward with other series while saying that Gin's story is told "for now" but she is wanting to do the occasional short story highlighting some of the other characters which I will be looking forward to. </p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">368p/5,59p ytd/352,649p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-19045229085867207222021-04-05T21:24:00.042-07:002021-07-18T17:48:53.667-07:0018:100 Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs<p> The residents of a mountain town in the wilds of California all disappear and then the FBI come to Charles and Anna for assistance as the land is owned by the Pack. What the FBI doesn't know, Bran tells them, is that the land was purchased because that is where Leah was found and they were certain that something powerful and evil lives around there, something that knows about werewolves.</p><p>So with that warning, Anna and Charles head out West to try and discover what happened to the people and possibly figure out how to cleanse the land. Unfortunately, the big bad is awake, hungry, and searching for a mate.</p><p>We get to find out a lot more about Leah's backstory and her relationship with the Marrock which is great but it's a very dark book with a lot of awful stuff going (CW: mind-control, rape, harm to children). It gets intense but Ms. Briggs does an admirable job of handling the hard stuff while not allowing it to slide full-on into the darkness and despair and having it serve the story rather than be just for gratuitous shock value. </p><p>This book was a bit slow to start and there were some pieces that didn't quite work for me so well but it's a solid addition to the series.</p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">358p/4,891p ytd/352,281p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-8000236272549180652021-03-27T11:06:00.037-07:002021-07-17T21:23:15.124-07:0017:100 When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore<p>No one knew how Miel had come to be in the abandoned water tower but that's where she appeared one night, at about the age of 5, with roses that grew out of her wrist. The first one to run to her when she emerged was Sam, a young boy about whom not much was known of him or his mother since they recently appeared in town.</p><p>It's been years and Sam and Miel are still inseparable, she with the roses growing from her wrist and he who paints moons and hangs them all over town. They are odd and generally left alone until the Bonner girls decide that their sway over the town, the magic that has been the right of the Bonner girls for generations, has been waning and that Miel's roses are what can fix it for them. Now they will use all of Miel's secrets, including those that involve Sam, to get what they want. </p><p>This book wove such a beautiful spell that I was captivated immediately and didn't want to put it down. The imagery, the characters (even when they were being stupid teenagers), the magic all combined perfectly for me.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">288p/4,533p/351,923p</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-80515470510937180912021-03-25T11:43:00.045-07:002021-07-10T11:03:05.451-07:0016:100 Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor <p> Fatima is from a small village in Ghana where the shea trees are farmed. She loves to climb trees and especially the one in her yard. She wants nothing more than to climb to the top. Then one day, she finds a green stone nestled in the roots of her special tree. She treasurers it but one day, her father sells her stone away from her. In that next year, she starts developing an internal heat and a green glow that comes upon her sometimes and when it does, she can kill. And then came the day of the accident, when her village was wiped out but for her and she forgot her name.</p><p>Now she is known only as Sankofa, the Adopted Daughter of Death. No one remembers where she came from but all know that she travels alone with only a fox as her sometimes companion, and her touch brings death. She searches for the stone that was taken from her, the part of her past that she thinks may heal her.</p><p>While this is definitely SciFi, and specifically Africanfuturisic, the technology plays such a small part in the overall story. It's such a human tale of longing and suffering and discovery. You can't help but feel for this girl who wanders alone while everyone fears her or wants to use her in some way and it's that, the heart of the story that draws you in and doesn't let go.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">160p/4,245p ytd/351,635p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-665291090997929502021-03-22T11:31:00.035-07:002021-06-08T11:52:48.539-07:0015:100 Calculated Risks by Seanan McGuire<p>Well, shit just got really weird for Sarah, her cousins Annie and Artie, Annie's new adopted brother James, and the cuckoo Mark who had been helping them try to save Sarah from her biological family who was trying to turn her brain to mush so she would open a portal to a new world for them to devour while destroying the Earth in the process.</p><p>Instead, Sarah's friends and family helped her figure out how to turn things around and while she opened the portal and took the cuckoos through, it did not turn her into a cabbage nor did it destroy the Earth she left behind. What it did do, however, is turn the other cuckoos into mindless zombies and the friends and family she had with her into people who no longer know who she is and have lumped her in as being just another cuckoo. </p><p>Now, she has to convince Annie and the rest (please most especially Artie whom she has loved forever) that she can be trusted, that she is family, that she is not a cuckoo to be killed, all while trying to figure out how she did what she did and how she could possibly do enough of it again to get them and at least the other humans that were also accidentally dragged along back to Earth. </p><p>Sarah is not my favorite narrator for this series. She's okay but doesn't grip me as the others do. I also admit to being annoyed at constant repetition in books, even when it's totally in keeping with the story as it was in this case. And while all the Incryptid books tend to rely a bit on deus ex machina, this one went a little further down that path than I would have preferred. Again, I get why and it does work within the story so this is just my personal taste here. All that to say, it dropped this book down to a 4/5 stars for me. Still enjoyable and would still read again but not my favorite.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">433p/4,805p ytd/351,475p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-80947046556670659552021-03-18T11:45:00.029-07:002021-06-07T11:57:38.891-07:0014:100 The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry<p> Cora Seaborne is a new widow who feels that she can finally breathe and start being true to herself after all the years being ground under her husband's heel. Having a scientific bent, she is entranced by the idea of the Essex Serpent that some claim to have seen near a small village so she, her son, and her son's nanny head there to check it out. What she finds is more than a mere prehistoric creature could have dreamed up.</p><p>The book was slow and trying too hard to be too many things so it only sort of succeeded at some of them. Cora is supposed to be the main character but I found her cold and immature but somehow teeming with friends and people fawning after her which made no sense to me. The Reverend needed some good shakes and his wife and children deserved the sympathy as did Cora's other suitor. There were a few side characters that were more interesting and were given some good story lines but I just felt it wasn't enough. The author was trying too hard to draw out the suspense and make the story super complex but I think making the main character a little more likeable with a few less bad choices would have made it more enjoyable.</p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">433p/3,652p ytd/351,042p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-47924793853835092762021-03-14T17:49:00.026-07:002021-06-06T17:56:53.499-07:0013:100 Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw<p>The play based on the Greek myth of the same name and eventually turned into the musical My Fair Lady. </p><p>Eliza, a girl who sells flowers on the street, is taken in by Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering in a bet to see if Higgins can teach her how to speak and act like a lady. </p><p>I've lost track of how many times I've seen the movie with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn and since much of the dialogue in the play was used in the movie, it wasn't really a new take on what I knew until we got to the author's notes at the end where we get his impression of what would have happened with Eliza after. The movie deliberately leaves it vague after she returns to the Professor's house after their row at his mother's. I can't say that I was a fan of what the author thought would happen after, Eliza marrying Freddy and their starting a flower shop with her doing much of the work to support them both (with a lot of help from Col. Pickering) but at the same time, considering the time period that was probably the likely outcome.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">96p/ 3,219p ytd/350,609p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-20694568283087345372021-03-09T17:26:00.043-08:002021-06-06T17:47:55.540-07:0012:100 The Turn by Kim Harrison <p> The prequel to the Hollows series with Rachel Morgan, this book tells the tale of how the world got into the state it was in when we first get introduced to Rachel in Dead Witch Walking. From those books, we know that somehow tomatoes started killing humans but not Interlanders so they chose to come forward and help save the human population. Now, we know what happened....</p><p>Trisk and Kal (Trent's father) have always been in competition but she as a dark elf was always seen as lesser than to his light elf even though she is probably smarter than he is (although he is much more devious). They are both on paths to try and save the elves from their decline that has been going on ever since the demon wars but they have very different ideas on how to actually accomplish the task. Trisk ends up looking like she will be more successful after her work has proved to work well with tomatoes to create a way to help feed the world and also her way of modifying the genetic weapon being created in the same lab to make sure it does not affect Interlanders. As a result, Kal is pulled off his pet project to check on hers and then he decides that his is right so he's going to screw with hers to make sure the funding is pulled (and hopefully redirected to his).</p><p>That's when all hell literally breaks loose and the tomatoes that should have helped end world hunger instead unleash a plague that kills somewhere between one-quarter and one-half of the human population. This is now the world of the Hollows that we know.</p><p>I really liked Trisk and hated the way she got screwed over the entire book. Kal goes through the entire book manipulating everyone to make sure the blame lands on Trisk rather than himself because he's a smarmy bastard and I spent most of the book just wanting to punch him repeatedly. I get that was the point but he just was completely awful and I could not find anything to actually redeem him and that made the book harder to read for me. The characters that were good and likeable just go so completely shafted at every turn for that ass with him not having to be accountable at all and get away with everything. Sorry, I read books to escape from that kind of reality.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">441p/3,123p ytd/350,513p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-60275793487863866012021-02-15T17:18:00.029-08:002021-06-05T17:41:02.965-07:0011:100 Over the Woodward Wall by A. Deborah Baker <p>Avery was always a meticulous child who did everything that his parents and society could expect.</p><p>Zib was the opposite, the messy child who reveled in adventures and was anything but predictable. </p><p>They lived on the same street but yet had never met, until the day the detours along their paths to different schools had them both end up staring at a wall that hadn't been there before with no obvious path back home. So Zib argued that they should climb up and over the wall to see where it would lead them.</p><p>It lead them to another world with no visible way back to their own. So now these two strangers must rely upon each other to try and figure out the rules of this world and find their way home. Along the way they meet a girl made up of crows, various monarchs (none of whom seem to mean them anything good), many owls that come in many different colors, and others who help them find the Improbable Road with the hopes that their getting back home is so improbable that the road will have to help them back there.</p><p>A. Deborah Baker is a pen name of Seanan McGuire, and apparently a character in another McGuire book, Middlegame (still need to read that one). I liked the characters and found the story interesting but a bit disjointed (on purpose but still) and the ending, while I get that it's leading into the next book, just felt rushed and jarring. I love her work though so will likely pick up the second book and give that a try to see if my opinion of this series improves.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">204p/2,682p ytd/350,072p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-50694557448542472702021-02-13T11:29:00.009-08:002021-06-02T11:31:25.528-07:0010:100 Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer<p> From my reading in 2018:<br /><br /></p><p>In April 1992, Chris McCandless walked into the Alaskan wilderness as the culmination of several years of soul searching. His body was found in September of that same year. This book focuses on Chris's life leading up to his decision to make that trek and the author's trying to piece together his final months. By all accounts, Chris was intelligent and charismatic who was able to induce a parental protectiveness in several of the people he met as he was hitchhiking and wandering the country. His relationship with his parents is said to have been rocky but they were not abusive or ill-meaning. There is nothing to suggest that when he embarked on this journey that his aim was death, in fact most of the evidence points in the opposite direction and that this was more about pulling a Thoreau than anything else.<br /><br />This was part of the Hero's Journey literature unit we are doing for high school this year. I think by the measure they are using, this does qualify. Chris was definitely trying to be true to himself and was ready to face daunting challenges in this quest. My biggest issue with this book was not in the story of Chris himself but the fact that the last 1/3 of the book the author inserted himself into the story in what I felt was an extreme amount. We were regaled with stories of his climbing mountains and his father issues. I get that he was trying to build more sympathy or understanding for Chris but for me, it failed and took away from Chris's story by making it more about the author. The fact that the last chapter and the entire afterword were all about the author's trying to discover what exactly killed Chris and the lengths he went to again just seemed to be about inserting himself further into this story. I get that there is mystery and he was trying to solve it and maybe it's just the way he was telling it but it did not strike a good note with me. I do think Chris's story was interesting and I enjoyed it, I just wish the author had done a better job of playing biographer.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">215p/2,478p ytd/349,868p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-86484083699800678842021-02-10T12:38:00.026-08:002021-03-29T12:51:36.511-07:009:100 Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews<p>Kate's adopted daughter, Julie, left Atlanta eight years ago to find out more about her powers and herself. She ended up with Kate's aunt Erra, whom Julie refers to as Grandma. During her time away, Julie has been told of a prophecy regarding an ancient power, Molach, who is gunning for Kate. Julie has continued to work to thwart his plans without involving Kate since all prophecies state that if she learns about him, she and her family will die. Now the prophecy has Julie in Atlanta trying to stop it without calling on her old friends (and Kate's allies). She has a new face and a new name, Aurelia Ryder, and a tough road ahead to save her mother without letting Kate know she's even in danger.</p><p><br /></p><p>So glad to have new stories in this world as it's one of my favorites. So glad that it was set in Atlanta so we could get updates on many of the characters there that I've grown attached to. It will be interesting to see if the Atlanta setting continues or if this was just to help ease the introduction into this series and give the fans the update or if Atlanta will continue to be a focal point for future books.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">354p/2,263p ytd/349,653p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845614139972703242.post-47823986863821695202021-02-07T14:05:00.006-08:002021-02-28T14:07:35.670-08:008:100 In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan<p>My Review from 2014:</p><p>"Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants." </p><p>There you go, the secret of this book and he lays it out right in the first chapter. So why read on? Because what Mr. Pollan goes to do is lay out the problem with the Western Diet and how it's killing us. We have become a slave to Nutritionism and not food. Science keeps telling us to eat more of this miracle nutrient and less of this one over here and we will be healthy and all will be good. But it doesn't work and then next week or year or decade, they realize that what they first told us was absolutely wrong and they reverse it. The Low-Fat Diet is a beautiful example of this. We were told to eat less fat because consuming fat was making us fat and leading to heart disease. So industry came to the rescue and took the fat out of everything replacing it with sugar and sodium and things we can't pronounce. And that made us fatter than ever. Heart disease didn't go down and now we are told that carbs are the problem. Eat more fish! Omega 3s! Paleo! Atkins! The list goes on and all it does is leave those who need to eat more confused then ever. There are now organic toaster pastries with Omega 3s. Are those healthy? The obvious answer is no but since Fritos can now put on their packages that they are a "heart healthy" food, who knows any more, right?! </p><p>This is the point of Mr. Pollan's book, helping to decipher what we have been being told for the past 40+ years (longer than my lifetime). He breaks down the studies and tries to help the typical person understand what is being studied and how and what the results most likely mean. How studies are flawed and how that tweaks the results. He has his own rules for eating that he lays out in the last section but really, what it boils down to is the words at the top. I had already started doing this after some less than stellar lab work at the doctor's and while it will be a few months before I know conclusively if it is helping in that department, my body is already showing positive changes to the new way of eating. I highly recommend this book and I'm so glad that my son's high school health course uses it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Page count: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">244p/1,918p ytd/349,299p lifetime</span></p>4boyz4mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617300974000656276noreply@blogger.com0