It's Monday! What are you reading? 7/9/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

This week I joined the 12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge.  We saw the new Jurassic World movie on Tuesday (I mostly liked it, but they hit quite a bit on the sad emotional stuff, and I didn't have quite enough raptor action, and I have mixed feelings about the ending).
I enjoyed the 4th of July parade Wednesday (despite the fact that it never really has floats anymore), but I did not enjoy the fireworks that have been turning the dogs into nervous and high-strung wrecks.

This week I finished reading:

Better Off Read (Bookmobile Mystery, Bk 1) by Nora Page - [My post] I had series doubts about this one for the first half.  But it looked adorable, and others seemed to enjoy it.  Thankfully, it picked up in the second half.

A is for Alibi (Kinsey Millhone, Bk 1) by Sue Grafton - [My post] Pretty enjoyable.  I look forward to continuing the series.

I'm currently reading:

In audio (on CD), I've been listening to Moby Dick by Herman Melville (read by Paul Boehmer).  Most recently, Ishmael has gone to select the vessel that he and Queequeg will be whaling on.  I actually do not not much about this story, despite it being a classic; though I'm still early on, everything in the story is new to me.

I started in print, From the Charred Remains (Lucy Campion Mystery, Bk 2) by Susanna Calkins.  I haven't gotten any further than last week because I was finishing some other books.


Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig - I've just barely started this, but the book discussion it is for is Tuesday.  Fortunately, I've taken Monday off so I should be able to focus on finishing it.

Up next:

Other books I have through the library (and may or may not get to) include:

No Cure for the Dead (Florence Nightingale Mystery, Bk 1) by Christine Trent
How to Fall in Love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson
Eye of the Shoal : a Fish-watcher's Guide to Life, the Ocean and Everything by Helen Scales
Mary Flora Bell : The Horrific True Story Behind an Innocent Girl Serial Killer by Nancy A. Veysey and Ryan Becker
The Scroll of Kings (Lost Books, Bk 1) by Sarah Prineas

 

Better Off Read

Title: Better Off Read

Author: Nora Page

Series: Bookmobile Mystery, Bk 1

Publisher: Crooked Lane

ISBN: 9781683316435

Length: 320 + Recipes

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I had some trouble really getting into this.  Something about the way the story was introduced didn't quite gel with me.  I'm not sure what, though.  I've read and enjoyed books with senior detectives (such as the Gladdy Gold Mysteries by Rita Lakin), bookmobiles (Bookmobile Cat Mysteries by Laurie Cass), librarians (I can't even start this list), cats/dogs (again, too long to list)...  Whatever the issue, by the time I was midway through I settled in and breezed through the remainder of the story.

I've said this in comments and on Goodreads, but... Rhett Butler the Persian cat, and Mr. Chaucer the pug are lovely characters.  I love the cover.  Cleo's relationship with Henry was great.  I will try the next book whenever it comes out.

It's Monday! What are you reading? 7/1/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

This week I finished reading:

Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash by Shia Su - I've posted my thoughts here (Zero Waste), but basically some was interesting and potentially useful and some is not currently likely.

The King of Bones and Ashes (Witches of New Orleans, Bk 1) by J. D. Horn - I was interested in the second book, and of course I have to read a series in order.  I suspect this is a necessity in this instance because there are a lot of characters to familiarize oneself with.  I've posted my thoughts here (King of Bones and Ashes), but I have mixed feelings.

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate (Lucy Campion Mystery, Bk 1) by Susanna Calkins - This was a re-read.  Still enjoyed, although the past 5 years have slightly changed my reaction.  My newest post is here (Murder at Rosamund's Gate Re-read) and my original is here (Murder at Rosamund's Gate).

I'm currently reading:


In ebook format, I've been reading A is for Alibi (A Kinsey Millhone Novel, Bk 1) by Sue Grafton.  I think I've made less progress this week than last.  I'm at about midway through this, and I'm going to have to just set down my print books and pick up my phone or Kindle, because otherwise this isn't happening.

In print, I've been reading Better Off Read (Bookmobile Mystery, Bk 1) by Nora Page.  I did get a little further, but then I left my book at home one workday (hence The King of Bones and Ashes) and in my car overnight another evening (hence the re-read of The Murder at Rosamund's Gate).

In audio (on CD), I've been listening to Moby Dick by Herman Melville.  Apparently I wanted to continue the sea theme that I started with Master and Commander.  Some parts are interesting or amusing, some parts I have to strain to keep focused or I miss chunks.  And some parts I think I need to pull my print copy (never read) off the shelf and check on what they actually said.  I'm currently in a sermon of "Jonah and the Great Fish" being given by some whaling sailor with a very different perspective than any I've heard before.

I started in print, From the Charred Remains (Lucy Campion Mystery, Bk 2) by Susanna Calkins.  Lucy has come across another murder (this time of a foreign man), but now she is in new circumstances, and several aspects of her life are in flux.

Up next:


It was my turn to select the book for one of my discussion groups.  After gathering the input of my fellow group members, I decided on Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig.  Now the discussion is approaching in a week and I haven't read it yet.


Other books I have through the library (and may or may not get to) include:

The Grey Bastards (Lot Lands, Bk 1) by Jonathan French
No Cure for the Dead (Florence Nightingale Mystery, Bk 1) by Christine Trent
How to Fall in Love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson

It's Monday! What are you reading? 6/25/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

This week I finished:

The Hills Have Spies (Family Spies, Bk 1) by Mercedes Lackey - I've posted about this here.  Basically, it was a quick read that I enjoyed.  I look forward to more of Valdemar, this family, and Mercedes Lackey books in general.

Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal - My post.  I enjoyed this, though I definitely enjoyed her Glamourist Histories series better.

Master and Commander (Aubrey/Maturin, Bk 1) by Patrick O'Brian and narrated by Simon Vance - I'll be posting on this later.  While there isn't much in the way of a plot (I agree, as this has been stated in several reviews I read), I enjoyed the characters and the atmosphere.  I intend to continue listening to this series.

I'm currently reading:


In ebook format, I've been reading A is for Alibi (A Kinsey Millhone Novel, Bk 1) by Sue Grafton.  This is my first time reading these, and I figure it is about time to start since the series is as done as it will be.  I'm still enjoying this one, but I haven't made much progress with it this past week.

In print, I've been reading (off and on) Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash by Shia Su. I haven't read any further this past week, as I've been focused on some of my other library books.

Also in print, I've started Better Off Read (Bookmobile Mystery, Bk 1) by Nora Page.  I've been slower about getting into it, but the mystery part has started, so hopefully it will pick up a little.

 

Up next:

In downloadable audio, I hope to get back into Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain and narrated by Käthe Mazur (which I had started some time ago and have left lingering lately).

I will be starting Moby Dick by Herman Melville and narrated by Paul Boehmer in book-on-CD format.  This is a monster of a book, but I've never read it and need to, so...