tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30909081272064887082024-03-19T00:00:31.667-04:00Space Station MirLife, Books, and SFFSpace Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.comBlogger918125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-7978503343270689712024-03-19T00:00:00.053-04:002024-03-19T00:00:00.209-04:00Books On My Spring 2024 TBR<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1702205951i/203567054.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1702205951i/203567054.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>I'm on a great roll with the books I'm reading for book clubs and review--looking forward to all of these, and at least the first one feels somewhat spring-like. <a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank">Happy Top Ten Tuesday!</a><p></p><p><u> Books On My Spring 2024 TBR</u></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Elephants in Bloom by Cécile Cristofari (LibraryThing Early Reviewers)--Started this collection of SFF short stories--the first one had more of a surrealist feel, like a Karen Russell story. I know I'm going to savor these!</li><li>People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn (Book club read)--I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get through this but although the content is upsetting, it's also thoughtful and sometimes empowering, so I'm going to slowly push through.</li><li>The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (Other book club read)--One of my book clubs is reading this, so I'll finally get to see what all the hype is about!</li><li>The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise (Yet another book club read)</li><li>The Bloodstained Key by Charity Rau (LibraryThing Early Reviewers)--Bluebeard retelling!</li><li>King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo--Got it on Kindle Unlimited, and my subscription is about to run out!</li><li>The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren--Romance novella rec'd by Jana from That Artsy Reader Girl--should be a quick read, also checked out from Kindle Unlimited.</li><li>Poetry--A few collections I'm interested in include <i>unalone</i> by Jessica Jacobs, <i>And Yet</i> by Kate Baer, and <i>Homie</i> by Danez Smith</li><li>Black Sails to Sunward by Sheila Jenné--Lesbian pirate novel I bought a while ago on a Kindle sale--one of the many Kindle sales I really want to read!</li><li>Keep This Off the Record by Arden Joy--Queer Jewish <i>Much Ado About Nothing </i>retelling, so basically a fun book that was written just for me. </li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-67605241083578022732024-03-12T10:22:00.002-04:002024-03-12T10:22:50.047-04:00Books I'm Worried I Might Not Love As Much the Second Time Around<p>Usually, I don't reread a lot of books because I'm focused on what's next, or, these days, usually reading for multiple book clubs. There are some books that were very much of a place and time and I don't reread not because I'm afraid of not loving them as much but because I know I won't, because I've discovered upsetting things about the authors that damper my enjoyment of the books. I'm not going to mention those books, because that would be a different post. All of my most favorite books (<i>LOTR, Dune</i>) I've read more times than I can count, although I don't do annual rereads like I once did. So, I'd have to think of books I've both only read once and would at least theoretically be interested in reading again. However, I'll try to think of a few. <a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank"> Happy Top Ten Tuesday!</a></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377023523i/16069030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="475" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377023523i/16069030.jpg" width="317" /></a></u></div><u>Books I'm Worried I Might Not Love As Much the Second Time Around</u><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin--I remember really loving this but it has been many, many years since I first read it.</li><li>Dawn by Octavia Butler--I actually may have read this more than once? But this was a seminal book for me in my childhood, so I'd be very sad if I didn't love it as much.</li><li>The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood--Ok, I actually did read this a second time more recently, and I remember it holding up---but I'm still kinda scared whether it would hold up to another reread?</li><li>Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood--I think I only read this once and I really remember loving it, but I wonder if it would hold up now.</li><li>The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski--I remember these being very good, but I only read them once.</li></ol><div>What did everyone else think? Am I the only one who had trouble? I do think it was a great topic idea though because I've definitely had this feeling. </div><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-17630060169331628322024-03-05T00:00:00.001-05:002024-03-05T00:00:00.167-05:00Weird or Funny Things I've Googled Thanks to a Book<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Open Sans";">Oh wow, I love this week's <a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank">Top Ten Tuesday</a> topic from </span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Open Sans";">Astilbe @ <a href="http://www.longandshortreviews.com/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a12769; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.5s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Long and Short Reviews</a>. </em><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Open Sans";">This is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Open Sans";">probably a long list for me! I haven't exactly been keeping track though, so I had to check my search history to jog my memory. I also really appreciate that it's easy to look this up when you're reading an ebook--you don't even have to leave the book! I remember when my first grade teacher told me that her mother-in-law used to read with a dictionary and an atlas within convenient reach, and I always think of that when I highlight a phrase on my Kindle or reach over my paperback to grab my phone and type into Google.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Open Sans";"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Open Sans";"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCZ9GgN704Lvwe_pQUQQvszu-G0cB6uSlL-F__vdx3sHlKMMLMScWC5AvUFjLpRy66OPZdX1gMQhc1RLsqzg34TyZxtLVAZLCbWv7uF_p_B680OqN_Cwejcn1e0J3Xx0nOPiceuVJQiRsOhgULEHoH4ZhfjMnc2Zn0YzBh1eiJlu91SyrbJ_jbmzK98c/s835/Screenshot%202024-03-04%20204235.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="835" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCZ9GgN704Lvwe_pQUQQvszu-G0cB6uSlL-F__vdx3sHlKMMLMScWC5AvUFjLpRy66OPZdX1gMQhc1RLsqzg34TyZxtLVAZLCbWv7uF_p_B680OqN_Cwejcn1e0J3Xx0nOPiceuVJQiRsOhgULEHoH4ZhfjMnc2Zn0YzBh1eiJlu91SyrbJ_jbmzK98c/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-04%20204235.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Weird or Funny Things I've Googled Thanks to a Book </u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Open Sans";"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="background-color: white;">Fire Island--I was reading <i>Bad Summer People </i>which takes place on Fire Island. I thought it was in Maine, but based on events in the book, I looked up to discover is, in fact, in New York.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mulcted--Phrase Richard Burton used in one of his letters that was shared in <i>River of the Gods...</i>it means to be fined or extorted.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="background-color: white;">Italian city states/end of Roman Empire--I looked this up because the setting for Megan Van Dyke's <i>Captive of the Stolen Empire </i>reminded me of this time period.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mountain lion shifters--I looked this up because <i>The Fast and the Furies </i>by Luna Joya is the only series where I've ever heard of this, but there's a whole list on Goodreads, specifically in romance?!</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="background-color: white;">Blue People of Kentucky--looked this up because I wanted to compare the real history with what I read in <i>The Last Blue </i>and <i>The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.</i></span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="background-color: white;">Defalcations--a word I looked up from <i>Murder at the Vicarage </i>by Agatha Christie--it means embezzlements.</span></span></li></ol></div>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-75825321777857382582024-03-03T00:00:00.002-05:002024-03-03T00:00:00.191-05:00Books Read in February 2024<p>Since I was still waiting on my laptop being repaired, I did a lot of reading this month. I also finished some books that I'd been savoring since 2023, and they were worth every minute. But, I got my laptop back just in time to make this post, so I can have pictures and descriptions, whooo! That said, I hope I can hold on to making more time to read as the year goes on.</p><p><u> Books Finished This Month</u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1673265559i/60784422.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1673265559i/60784422.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Promises Stronger Than Darkness (Unstoppable #3) by Charlie Jane Anders--I'd been reading this since November, putting it down and picking it back up again because I didn't want it to end. Like the rest of the trilogy and everything by Anders, it's brilliant, thoughtful, and creative. My favorite character was Wyndgonk, and I'm so glad that we got fire's point of view in this book, and I also loved the bit with translating the Grattna's language--I wish we'd gotten that for Wyndgonk's language as well. But of course my biggest complaint is that this trilogy is over, and I really, really hope I get to go back to this universe someday.</li><li>Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld--I bought a signed copy for an event when it came out, but I'd been hoarding it for a time when I needed it, and my laptopless state qualified. It did not let me down. It made me laugh, it did not make me cry, and it was altogether the softer, more mature, totally brilliant work of literature that I knew Sittenfeld had in her. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575587958i/50828305.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="531" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575587958i/50828305.jpg" width="212" /></a></div></li><li>New Mutants: Lethal Legion (comic collection) by Charlie Jane Anders--Got a special signed copy all the way from Folio Books in San Francisco, and Charlie Jane Anders drew pictures of my dogs!!! I didn't read a lot of comics growing up, but I <i>loved</i> the X-Men TV show (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv3Ss8o9gGQ" target="_blank">which, is coming back?!</a> thank goodness my husband is on top of this stuff!), and reading about a new generation of X-Men written by one of my favorite authors is so cool!</li><li>Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (Book club read)--I'd only read one Agatha Christie before this one, but I thought this one was hilarious, mostly because of the narrator's gossipy descriptions of others. </li><li>Deacon King Kong by James McBride--Somehow, every book by McBride is better than the last. I was surprised by how much this book moved me. The dialogue for all the voices is incredible and beautifully portrayed by Dominic Hoffman in the audiobook.</li><li>Chaos Terminal (Midsolar Murders #2) by Mur Lafferty--We pick back up aboard Space Station Eternity with new troubles brewing and a new group of humans soon to arrive. I again enjoyed the aliens, the mystery, and the continued evolution of Tina. </li><li>Captive of the Stolen Empire by Megan Van Dyke (LibraryThing review)--Really enjoyed this interesting fantasy based in a world that reminds me of the Italian city-states post-Roman Empire, where some individuals have magical powers. I tend to have a lot of issues with captor/captive romances due to the power differential but this story managed to sidestep that issue and create a compelling narrative in addition to the romance. I would love to read a trilogy to learn more about this world, but it's a standalone for now.</li><li>River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard (Another book club read)--Nineteenth century British men fool around in Africa and find out--hard to believe the harrowing situations they survive, and you don't have to feel too bad because they're largely terrible people, one of whom prominently backstabs the other when they get back home (metaphorically, in that case).</li><li>Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok--I'd heard of this romance about an Orthodox Jewish woman who can't have children but is looking for love in her community, and I saw it at the library, so I checked it out. It's an enjoyable, readable romance that illuminates one type of more modern Orthodox community.</li><li>The Conductors by Nicole Glover--This book was so good! I picked it up from one of the staff recommendation displays at the library when I came in to pick up holds. I would never have found it otherwise, so it really speaks to the value of staff recommendations and library browsing. A magical post-Civil War story (but with flashbacks) about two former Underground Railroad conductors who solve murder mysteries in Philadelphia.</li><li>Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum (Book club read for March)--This book is exactly as advertised! It takes place during a summer on Fire Island and follows the community of wealthy people who summer there. I usually don't like books that center "bad people" but this one was funny enough that I was engaged even though I didn't really like any of the characters--except the one that gets murdered. A fun light (I promise!) read. </li><li>Drowning by T.J. Newman (Other book club read for March)--This one is nonstop action and would probably make for a good movie a la <i>Poseidon/The Poseidon Adventure.</i> It's about an airplane that makes an emergency ocean landing near Hawaii, and it has all of those interesting details about what that would be like plus a group of stereotypical but still sympathetic characters that you're rooting for--especially the deep-sea welder mom who's determined to get her kid back. Recommended if you like thrillers, quick reads, airplanes, and/or submarines. </li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-8794710409294800362024-02-20T13:16:00.000-05:002024-02-20T13:16:25.439-05:00Top Ten Bookish Superpowers I Wish I Had<p> Writing this on my phone so bear with me. I just read Jana's list over at That Artsy Reader Girl (sorry can't link) and she had so many amazing ideas. I'll try to think of a few. </p><p>Bookish Superpowers </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Immediately pulling out all my favorite quotes from a book I've read, what character said them, the page number, etc.--Ereaders and quotable flags help with this, but it's not as good as Magic!</li><li>Producing movies or shows for any book I want--It would be so great not to have to wait or rely on certain levels of popularity! Also, they would obviously have to not have stupid differences from the book!</li><li>Being able to read any book I want when I want--i.e. not having to wait for the publisher or the library! (I would still wait for the author generally, though in certain cases, I'd accept a different author's version!)</li><li>Probably falls under 3, but specifically, be able to access any unknown, forgotten, misplaced, or unpublished manuscripts from authors I'd be interested in </li><li>Be able to read anywhere I want, like anytime I read, I could suddenly be in a tree house or on a mountain or in a cozy reading cave</li><li>My books could come alive and tell me about their specific history, like where they've been and who they've been read by</li><li>I would want to be able to visit places and/or meet characters from my books</li></ol><div>Wow, I came up with a lot more of these than I thought I could! Which one of these or any other bookish superpowers would you like? Great topic!</div><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-51215528898405506232024-02-15T21:23:00.001-05:002024-02-27T19:19:58.045-05:00Authors That Were New-to-Me in 2023<p>I wanted to post this several weeks ago, but then my laptop broke, so here goes: There were more authors than I thought that I enjoyed and were new to me in 2023, including a number of the ARCs I reviewed. It's cool to be back to a place where I'm enjoying more ARCs than not--it helps to be picky and know what I like, especially imprints as well as authors I tend to like. </p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628523857i/58386733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628523857i/58386733.jpg" width="212" /></a></u></div><u>Best New-to-Me Authors in 2023</u><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Brendan Slocumb--<i>The Violin Conspiracy </i>was fascinating and well-written, looking forward to the next one!</li><li>Nathan Harris-<i>The Sweetness of Water </i>was well-written and some of the best historical fiction I've read in a while. </li><li>Kathryn Troy-Read and loved <b>2 </b>of her ARCs in 2023; looking forward to more!</li><li>Shaunna J. Edwards/Alyson Richman-Another historical fiction duo I thought was top-notch and would read again. </li><li>Cathy Yardley-I loved the cozy romance in <i>Role Playing </i>and her snarky humor; would read more.</li><li>Renée Gendron--Read her book for review and would continue the series; so much going on with the religion/astrology there.</li><li>Saul Golubcow-Local author wrote some Jewish detective stories I enjoyed. </li><li>Katy Hays-I really enjoyed the atmospheric, artistic, and academic details in <i>The Cloisters, </i>would definitely read more books by her!</li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-44412885581476320152024-02-01T00:00:00.002-05:002024-02-15T21:03:50.808-05:00Books Read in January 2024<p>January was a great reading month, as usual! It's always good to get ahead on my goals for the year. This month, I also had time to read books for what ended up being 4 different book clubs (one of the books was the same), and I'm continuing with all of them for now since I'm interested in the next book they're reading, respectively, but it's also ok if I have to drop off one or two temporarily or permanently down the road. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591090724i/39122774.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591090724i/39122774.jpg" width="212" /></a></div> <u>Books I Read This Month</u><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi-It's been a few years since I read the first book, which I enjoyed, but felt relatively YA/traditional epic fantasy except that it was African-inspired. I liked this second book much better--it's more complex and grey, and does a haunting job of portraying the dynamic between groups that have been struggling against each other for generations, with different levels of power and oppression. The third book, <i>Children of Anguish and Anarchy</i>, is coming out this year, so it was a good time to finally catch up on the series. </li><li>Out of the Corner by Jennifer Grey (Book club read)--Very interesting, very detailed/explicit about sex and drugs, favorite chapter was "The Time of My Life" about her experience on Dirty Dancing--really helps illuminate what was happening in the scenes, amazing how similar she was to Baby; also her <i>Dancing with the Stars </i>behind-the-scenes was quite poignant even though I've never seen the show, and the end presented an exciting unknown of being a woman past marriage/childbearing.</li><li>Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Other book club readx2)--I feel like this was THE book of 2023--I'm actually attending two book clubs this month for it, and a lot of other people I know have read or are reading it for book clubs or otherwise. It's very enjoyable and I read it in a day, but for me, it was an interesting premise and character but it didn't teach me anything new or have any unusual take on feminism, so it's not living up to what I expected from the hype, and I probably would have liked it more without it. Still, it's often fun to read a book in the current zeitgeist.</li><li>My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez-This was a review book from LibraryThing that I'd accepted last year, so feeling good about finishing it! Read my review <a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2024/01/book-review-my-goodbye-girl-by-anna.html">here.</a></li><li>The Last Blue by Isla Morley (Yet another book club read)--This is another one of a slew of books in the late 2010s/early 2020s (is it too soon to say that, lol?), about the Blue People of Kentucky--I thought this one was a prettily written love story that focuses a lot on the landscape and wildlife since the MP is a photographer and the FP, the "Last Blue," rehabilitates wildlife as a hobby. I'd recommend it if you are looking to get immersed in a slower historical fiction about what life might have been like as one of the last of the Blues, in the 1930s. </li></ol><b>*EDIT* I actually read more books in January, but my computer broke, and I haven't had it for the last few weeks, hence the lack of updates. Updating on my phone is slow and painful. Here goes:</b><p></p><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro (Book club read for February)--This is the first fiction I read by Shapiro, and I loved it. Just as well-written as her memoir, <i>Inheritance. </i>Beautiful commentary on the nonlinear nature of life, time, and memory.</li><li>The Fast and the Furies (Syn City Shifter Book #3)--Also a review book from LibraryThing. This romantasy was actually more interesting to me in its use of Greek mythology and shifter cultures in a possibly postapocalyptic society, including Syn City, which centers on roller derby. Would go back and read the others. </li></ol></div>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-17713903696307878552024-01-23T00:00:00.050-05:002024-01-23T00:00:00.291-05:00Books I Meant to Read in 2023 But Didn't Get To<p> When I saw this TTT topic, I wasn't sure how many of these there would be since I don't worry too much about focusing on hot new reads each year. However, if I look back at my seasonal TBR lists from 2023 (excluding winter 2023-2024, since that's technically still not over!), there are some reads I haven't gotten to yet, as well as a lot that I did, or that I've already finished in 2024, like <i>My Goodbye Girl.</i></p><p><a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank">Happy Top Ten Tuesday!</a></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81g27vjSieL._SY522_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="375" height="522" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81g27vjSieL._SY522_.jpg" width="375" /></a></u></div><u>Books I Meant to Read in 2023 But Didn't Get To</u><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama--I started it, but had to return it to the library before I finished, so waiting to get it again!</li><li>Deacon King Kong by James McBride--Still listening to the audiobook; two more discs to go!</li><li>Twelve Past Midnight by Tiffany Alexanderson (Fall 2023 TBR)-This one's a review book from LibraryThing. The premise, an ensemble timeloop in a fantasy world sounded interesting, but I didn't get pulled in right away, so I put it aside. Planning to try again. </li><li>Marry Me by Midnight by Felicia Grossman-(Summer 2023 TBR) Sounds like a fun genderbent Cinderella in 19th century London; just haven't gotten around to acquiring or reading this one.</li><li>Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater-(Summer 2023 TBR) I really want to read this last book in the trilogy and it's sitting in my Kindle for the perfect moment.</li><li>Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld-(Summer 2023 TBR) Also, sitting on my shelf for the prefect moment.</li><li>The Blue, Beautiful World by Karen Lord-(Summer 2023 TBR) -Haven't gotten this one yet, but I know I'll enjoy it when I do.</li><li>With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo-I'd almost finished listening to the digital audiobook when it automatically returned. I think I took it out twice and then had trouble getting it again.</li><li>The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré-Sitting on my shelf.</li><li>The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles-(Summer 2023 TBR) Sitting in my ebooks.</li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-5254246922886118322024-01-21T00:00:00.001-05:002024-01-21T00:00:00.334-05:00Book Review: My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/19/e5/19e51e1f77bbd8a597041313451435141514141_v5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="600" src="https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/19/e5/19e51e1f77bbd8a597041313451435141514141_v5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><u>My Goodbye Girl</u> by Anna Gomez<p></p><p>This book was a surprisingly wild ride--I was expecting a "they-meet-up-every-few-years" -type romcom like <i>One Day</i> or <i>A Lot Like Love</i>. Instead, their global meetups are relatively close in time--and then there's a huge shake-up more than 60% of the way through the book that changes everything. The first part of the book was focused on the relationship conflict--she doesn't want commitment, he does; she's a traveler/pantser, he's a planner. The author skillfully evokes each global setting (Chicago, NYC, Hong Kong, Boracay, Santorini, etc.) in a short amount of time, sending the characters to local restaurants and reminiscing about their histories with each place. However, for me, the story truly acquired depth and stakes at that 60% point, and created a need for the characters to find a poignant and nuanced way back to each other. Normally, how I feel about a book 50 pages in is how I'll feel at the end, but this one was a gamechanger where the second half's higher stakes made it more compelling. Although I wish there had been more external rising action, this is a solid internationally-set, open-door romance with some thoughtful insight into how global events affect individual lives.</p><p>Received for review from LibraryThing; all opinions are my own. </p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-10664587226281337072024-01-17T22:14:00.001-05:002024-01-17T22:14:20.781-05:00Bookish and Not So Bookish Goals for 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6f6l2jffAJKAfA33cMOtaaqQntWhGq-5YUJYhtitjEraxDqne7b9aLO4pnclPzia6gJVPdN62BADfcCtGJfsI6KJ-5mGBLXtVwKphWu266BYd6JPuiDpHkhRGZsBxUFY-powt0rhAUP5nM_SXZz9-mtDUg5mKQCoTvmuVsTUFI7fK8dl8NacsJ_IGws/s820/2017-goals-feature.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6f6l2jffAJKAfA33cMOtaaqQntWhGq-5YUJYhtitjEraxDqne7b9aLO4pnclPzia6gJVPdN62BADfcCtGJfsI6KJ-5mGBLXtVwKphWu266BYd6JPuiDpHkhRGZsBxUFY-powt0rhAUP5nM_SXZz9-mtDUg5mKQCoTvmuVsTUFI7fK8dl8NacsJ_IGws/s320/2017-goals-feature.webp" width="320" /></a></div> I'm excited about my reading and other goals for 2024. In 2023, I did a lot of set up reading-, writing-, and life-wise, and now I feel ready to keep improving and having fun with my goals. I've already made headway on some of these goals, and I can see myself making them happen! I didn't post this on Tuesday, but here's the <a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/" target="_blank">TTT link.</a><p></p><p><u>Bookish Goals for 2024</u></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Read 42 books--I again wanted to go a little easy on myself, but feeling up to this since my goal last year was 36 and I read 48.</li><li>Read 11 (25%) books by authors of color, from this specific list (below)--I haven't been doing well with this goal in the past, so instead of the more vague "25%" goal, I'm defining 25% of my reading goal and actually creating a list of books I want to read that fit this criteria to choose from. If you're interested, my list below includes books that have been on my TBR awhile, including some literally on my shelves.</li><li>Read and review all the books I've accepted for review from 2023 (and any I accept in 2024)--I have a few more books that I accepted for review in 2023 that I need to finish, and once those are done, I'm open to accepting a few more reviews for 2024.</li><li>Read 2 books by women in translation, from this specific list (below)--Again, I didn't complete this goal last year, but I did get some great recommendations in blog comments and elsewhere (one of which I started reading and then had to return to the library! 😞), so I'm using a specific list to complete the goal this year. If you're interested, I've included the list below.</li></ol><p></p><p><u>Not So Bookish Goals for 2024</u></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Finish Draft 2 of my novel--I've been working on this (the second draft) since NaNoWriMo 2023!</li><li>Get feedback and comments on my draft from early readers and editors</li><li>Write query letters (and maybe send them to agents--if I have 2 polished-enough chapters)</li><li>Keep writing poems and stories--and submit some more of them</li><li>Use fun and colorful pens, tabs, and stickers as much as possible--<a href="https://megkeene.com/" target="_blank">Meg Keene</a> reminded me that you can have fun goals too, and my husband got me a colorful set of <a href="https://mylepen.com/collections/journaling-and-planner-pen-marker/products/le-pen-10-piece-basic-set" target="_blank">Le Pens </a>for Hanukkah!</li></ol><div><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1614089954i/48691825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1614089954i/48691825.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Books I Want to Read This Year by Authors of Color</u></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Deacon King Kong by James McBride-I've been listening to the audiobook for months--it is AMAZING. It's taken me so long because the only place I can listen to it is my car, which I don't use every day. But Dominic Hoffman's narration fits McBride's pitch-perfect diction so well, I can't imagine just reading it now.</li><li>Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi-I read the first Orisha book years ago, but recently got in the mood to read this one. I actually liked it even better and already finished it!</li><li>Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi-And fortunately, Orisha Book 3 comes out this year!</li><li>To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang--This book sounds so good, although it also doesn't come out until later this year.</li><li>The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna-This one sounds up my alley and was really popular a couple years ago.</li><li>Color Me In by Natasha Diaz-Jewish/African American book that's been on my list for a while.</li><li>Ariel Samson: Freelance Rabbi by MaNishtana-Same as above and want to read more from MaNishtana.</li><li>Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen-I'll be honest--this has a really awesome cover, and you don't see a lot of books about mermaids.</li><li>Here For It by Eric R. Thomas-I've read some of his writing at Slate and other places, and I know I'm going to be laughing and crying.</li><li>The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré-I was supposed to read this for a book club a few years ago, and it's still sitting on my shelf. </li><li>Pride by Ibi Zoboi-It's a P&P retelling, and I've heard good things about Ibi Zoboi (and I like that she wrote a kids' book about Octavia Butler). </li></ol></div><div><u>Books I Want to Read This Year by Women in Translation</u></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama-So, I already started reading this in 2023, but then I had to return it to the library (!)--got myself back on the waitlist though.</li><li>Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Bo-reum Hwang--Again, stacking this with books I will probably like :-)</li></ol></div><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-85353484743169850432024-01-16T12:30:00.003-05:002024-01-23T17:17:38.975-05:00Book Review: A Vision in Crimson by Kathryn Troy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMQDpdsphEFrZlVQiBj5D3GsWUn5svXEfcw4-Fp6Z6ZD-DLxu-g-SeWs2LPrultStWNtO0ZBhD4jAdRfAEShTtuEwS056J9PAFKjW27LQkgI9gV3zDSpy9RX9v9Xhy3L09s9xDwD4STdCTVFr2JUX4_qawznSWhnIYQ7MXDTxB8pJFT1AnNx-yynjHv8/s2700/A%20Vision%20in%20Crimson%20Trope%20Map%20Homemade%202.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMQDpdsphEFrZlVQiBj5D3GsWUn5svXEfcw4-Fp6Z6ZD-DLxu-g-SeWs2LPrultStWNtO0ZBhD4jAdRfAEShTtuEwS056J9PAFKjW27LQkgI9gV3zDSpy9RX9v9Xhy3L09s9xDwD4STdCTVFr2JUX4_qawznSWhnIYQ7MXDTxB8pJFT1AnNx-yynjHv8/s320/A%20Vision%20in%20Crimson%20Trope%20Map%20Homemade%202.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><u>A Vision in Crimson</u> by Kathryn Troy<p></p><p>Release Date: January 23, 2024 (ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!)</p><p><a href="https://josnarffle.wixsite.com/kathryn-troy-author/events-1" target="_blank">Preorder Here</a></p><p>*Edited 1/23/24 to add* Now on sale <a href="https://books2read.com/Frostbite1UBL" target="_blank">here</a></p><p>I loved Kathryn's Troy's epic fantasy novel <i><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/03/book-review-shadow-of-theron-by-kathryn.html" target="_blank">The Shadow of Theron</a>, </i>which I reviewed last year, so I was thrilled to accept when she invited me to review an ARC for her upcoming novel, <i>A Vision in Crimson</i> (Frostbite #1)<i>. </i>This one has an entirely different premise: star-crossed witch and vampire lovers from opposite worlds of a portal fantasy. Troy's writing, however, is equally luscious and inventive, with literary homage spanning the gamut from Greek mythology to <i>Dracula </i>to <i>The Chronicles of Narnia.</i></p><p>The male protagonist, Luca (derivative of the Stoker novel), is a dhampir--half-vampire, half-human, although in this lore, he functions more like a vampire except he can subsist on his own blood and is universally reviled. The female protagonist, Kate, is also from Earth, but Victorian era, when she and her brothers fell into a portal, Narnia-style, and became kings and queen of the land of Icarya. Luca and Kate meet when Kate and her crew of mythological misfits (centaurs, Pegasi, etc.) portal jump to Luca's future Earth, where vampires roam free. I enjoyed this inversion of the usual portal fantasy, and it's a great way to emphasize the difference in the settings when the heroes do move to Icarya.</p><p>I know some people don't like instalove, but I personally found that with the explanation of Luca and Kate's particular kinds of lonely backgrounds, it makes sense, and it is well, albeit quickly, developed. When they first meet, Luca has to explain to her what a dhampir is--a term he's never had to explain before. While all the women he's ever met react to him with automatic fear from social indoctrination, or desire as they succumb to his vampiric allure, Kate reacts with neither. He thinks:</p><blockquote><p>It was worrying and exciting, in equal parts. She had caught his interest, this woman he still knew nothing about. But he couldn't help it. She was so pretty, and so far she hadn't run away or tried to kill him. That alone made her special.</p></blockquote><p> As we learn more about both characters' backgrounds, it's clear why they are good fits for each other--and how they will clash. Kate is a powerful witch and adventurous woman who's used to doing what she wants and answering to no one, while Luca has never had anyone to worry about before but has naturally protective instincts that now become fixated on her. I also loved the pairing of a M/F romance where both are centuries old, since I rarely see that in popular media. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzgU3QcecvD6xed5Ej3hrAte-TR7W0oEU_ue3AwK5Iw9M9rMsu8dGmJqx5SPZTVyUT-Jf_-MvVIRQH_ISCK6Td-XfdjBTIzdHwdK3rrutVO5pOcjL0N8nZ8S0YaGcm-gEgONzPqDFbOhYhjPMjT5z3KzHiFXMDARased_rE7wmthrZE_q46o47PaHBxU/s1024/Luca%20and%20Kate.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzgU3QcecvD6xed5Ej3hrAte-TR7W0oEU_ue3AwK5Iw9M9rMsu8dGmJqx5SPZTVyUT-Jf_-MvVIRQH_ISCK6Td-XfdjBTIzdHwdK3rrutVO5pOcjL0N8nZ8S0YaGcm-gEgONzPqDFbOhYhjPMjT5z3KzHiFXMDARased_rE7wmthrZE_q46o47PaHBxU/s320/Luca%20and%20Kate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>With this much more adult send-up of texts like <i>Narnia, A Vision in Crimson </i>shares much in common with more recent popular franchises like <i>The Magicians, Lost Girl, </i>and <i>A Discovery of Witches.</i> I personally love these types of fairy tales for adults, which address the kind of complex questions about the power dynamics of monarchies, sharing the throne, and negotiating love and romance with someone who can literally mesmerize you, that don't come up in the children's version. I will caution that the spice-level is high, more like open-door romance than even the texts just mentioned. That said, the excellent writing, literary allusions, depth of the worlds and magic systems, and the relationship between the protagonists heavily outweighs that for me, and I can't wait to find out what happens in the later books. If that's fine with you, I would preorder now and start reading as soon as you can!<p></p><p>Received for review from the author; all opinions are my own. Cover and bonus art from the promotion campaign. </p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-52872371754135127972024-01-12T12:01:00.001-05:002024-01-12T12:01:59.774-05:00Favorite Books of 2023 & Most Anticipated Books of 2024<p> I missed TTT the past couple weeks, and I'm more interested in reflecting on last year's reads, since, per usual, I'm not planning to read a lot of new releases this year. I read my most favorite books of 2023 toward the beginning of the year, probably since that's also when I read my most anticipated reads for the year, but a few sleeper hits snuck in at the end. Overall, it was a good and occasionally great reading year--toward the end there were some more mediocre reads, but I still don't regret them because I learned something from them and I also enjoy the experience of reading to discuss with other people at my book clubs. </p><p>Link to<a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank"> Top Ten Tuesday!</a></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646982314i/57503085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646982314i/57503085.jpg" width="212" /></a></u></div><u>Favorite Books I Read in 2023</u><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree--I love how I had to request my library to purchase this in 2022, and it won the Nebula and the Hugo in 2023--very deservedly! I am loving the era of cozy fantasy!</li><li>S<a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/03/books-read-in-february-2023.html" target="_blank">easparrow by Kristin Cashore</a></li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/11/books-read-in-october-2023.html" target="_blank">Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak</a> by Charlie Jane Anders</li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/10/atmospheric-books.html" target="_blank">The Cloisters</a> by Katy Hays</li><li>The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb</li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/06/books-read-in-may-2023.html" target="_blank">The Sweetness of Water</a> by Nathan Harris</li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/03/book-review-shadow-of-theron-by-kathryn.html" target="_blank">The Shadow of Theron</a> by Kathryn Troy</li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/11/books-read-in-october-2023.html" target="_blank">Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced an Emergency</a> by Chen Chen</li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/10/books-read-in-september-2023.html" target="_blank">Role Playing</a> by Cathy Yardley</li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/07/book-review-half-sick-of-shadows-by.html" target="_blank">Half Sick of Shadows</a> by Laura Sebastian</li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/12/books-read-in-november-2023.html" target="_blank">We Were Dreamers</a> by Simu Liu</li><li>The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer--One of the last books I read in December, for a new book club; surprisingly poignant as well as quirky.</li><li>Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer--Also one of the last books I read in December--a romance but also very concerned with Jewish and chronic illness rep and life.</li><li>A Vision in Crimson by Kathryn Troy--ARC coming soon--I really enjoyed it, and it was just as well-written though very different in content than <i>Shadow of Theron.</i></li></ol><p><u>Most Anticipated Books Being Released in the First Half of 2024</u></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>1000 Words by Jami Attenberg</li><li>A Vision in Crimson by Kathryn Troy</li><li>Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Legacy of Orïsha #3) by Tomi Adeyemi</li><li>To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang</li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-62016866990159231112024-01-09T13:00:00.004-05:002024-01-09T13:00:00.135-05:00Coming Soon: A Vision in Crimson by Kathryn Troy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJZ6e0RUrYKgk0WUfS97pYO3t8SpmrUjFSJlhHhqpZpOur9BvJ3GqQ1keAoVa-2iXFf_ir_r6qNPWadq8dxiUfqHgkH77S64v1y4b1XmTptWi7HuVBVO6HgSycqp0Hbcs2YS02wGvOWKXl9KDthyphenhyphen0Vrx7Bwga5GOnUC84MRjxnVoRxr5yWWINZ9UWrBQ/s1112/Kate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJZ6e0RUrYKgk0WUfS97pYO3t8SpmrUjFSJlhHhqpZpOur9BvJ3GqQ1keAoVa-2iXFf_ir_r6qNPWadq8dxiUfqHgkH77S64v1y4b1XmTptWi7HuVBVO6HgSycqp0Hbcs2YS02wGvOWKXl9KDthyphenhyphen0Vrx7Bwga5GOnUC84MRjxnVoRxr5yWWINZ9UWrBQ/s320/Kate.jpg" width="311" /></a></div> I finished the ARC of <i>A Vision in Crimson </i>(Frostbite Book 1)<i> </i>in December, and spicy romantasy fans will be VERY satisfied! Please enjoy this sneak peek--my full review is coming next week!<p></p><p>Release Date: January 23, 2024 (Two Weeks from Today!)</p><p><a href="https://josnarffle.wixsite.com/kathryn-troy-author/events-1" target="_blank">Preorder Here.</a></p><p>You can find the author, Kathryn Troy, @BathorysCloset.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='558' height='463' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzpaqQ-AtYroQP6im1R_O9mF68lOs1UIE4MQZNjKxsdlINiZZdOradNuOjqmfBiWwNYsoLh_XkV6i_ZAx31-g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-17912333307113576932024-01-07T00:00:00.037-05:002024-01-07T00:00:00.290-05:00Books Read in December 2023<p> It's that time of year again--the end of the year. And with it, the dilemma--do I post this before the end of the year and risk missing something, or later and have it get caught up in all the 'best of' lists? Well, I guess I blew right past this and forgot to post it till now, so enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYt34-FpyVasRNxiMvNkWJLv-cUzNFebJTDlXvgOqAYyHCwSe44ymLEXPZrXRv2SBYKPvjaQ12lt8l7ZljRsGtWy5ANToBDnttsAIjES-8LePUbCT84NnWW4bPzpo50NoooGaGuL0R5d2rJ_SDToG7gG16J9sS4NFK1PWy_31XFeKx7NLc2cZ40qd_n4/s3264/20231205_102348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Eight Nights of Flirting: two teenagers laying in the snow, blue background, title in yellow font" border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYt34-FpyVasRNxiMvNkWJLv-cUzNFebJTDlXvgOqAYyHCwSe44ymLEXPZrXRv2SBYKPvjaQ12lt8l7ZljRsGtWy5ANToBDnttsAIjES-8LePUbCT84NnWW4bPzpo50NoooGaGuL0R5d2rJ_SDToG7gG16J9sS4NFK1PWy_31XFeKx7NLc2cZ40qd_n4/w240-h320/20231205_102348.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds--Cute Hanukkah romance with the added bonus of a unique setting--winter in Nantucket--and an archaeological/anthropological mystery. </li><li>The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman--Book club read, about two Jewish sisters who work at an armory in Boston during WWII--it's...fine, not a book I would have picked, but if you're interested in the historical setting, I'd recommend it. </li><li>The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer--Read this for a new book club (that brings me up to 3 😉)--I was apprehensive since it was compared to <i>Eleanor Oliphant, </i>a book that devastated me, but thankfully was unwarranted. It's a truly meaningful although also lighter and quirky story about a death doula and coming to terms with regrets. TL;DR recommended to people who like quirky characters and can handle some discussion of death.</li><li>Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer--Ah, so much to unpack--I got it from the library, but I think I need to buy it. Lots of Jewish and chronic illness rep (chronic pelvic pain, this time), really deep and thoughtful about what it means to live a Jewish life in contemporary America, plus cute romance and baking. </li><li>A Vision in Crimson by Kathryn Troy-ARC I am reviewing--stay tuned for more, but TL; DR--highly recommended to spicy romantasy fans!</li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-41555863640704050902023-12-23T16:07:00.000-05:002023-12-23T16:07:18.383-05:00Upcoming Release: A Vision in Crimson by Kathryn Troy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ef390_573b9702842a49608240aafd371011ee~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_590,h_891,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/A%20Vision%20in%20Crimson%20V8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5ef390_573b9702842a49608240aafd371011ee~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_590,h_891,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/A%20Vision%20in%20Crimson%20V8.jpg" width="213" /></a></div> An author whose work I really enjoy (<a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/03/book-review-shadow-of-theron-by-kathryn.html" target="_blank">Book Review: The Shadow of Theron)</a> asked me to be part of her ARC readers/blogging promotional team for her next book, <i>A Vision in Crimson, </i>which means that I (and you!) get some pretty cool previews for the book, which comes out January 23, 2024--exactly one month from today!<p></p><p><br />Today's "reveal" is the trope map, which definitely hits some of my favs: a witchy female protagonist, a secondary world, and a romance--I can go either way on vampires, but knowing how Troy writes, I'm sure I'll be interested in her take. </p><p>The cover is also gorgeous--I love the black and gold motif, and of course, with a word like crimson in the title, expectations must be met. I also like that split sword that gives me Excalibur vibes and reminds me of the sword-fighting in <i>Shadow of Theron.</i></p><p>I missed the official links, so I've just got a homemade trope map, so please don't blame the author/promotion team for my wonky photo editing but just to add a little more info and build some anticipation!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRRLhV3JwPu6iQGlG_XZ1i4TtZg2rqjrjckxidjFRjC89HbYSjjeg5noWeNwqc4UVEdPFeaQTM_mEwaOKFkDsYznnt5noJwobfCuWZv0PKerogBZNYY5jt0Nd6f7gmtzgca85fu7KnVnaxBvg32inxxrlsAi0yP77fMxeARrtdYt1Ci9bmvzGD5K6TDA/s2700/A%20Vision%20in%20Crimson%20V8%20Trope%20Map%20Homemade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRRLhV3JwPu6iQGlG_XZ1i4TtZg2rqjrjckxidjFRjC89HbYSjjeg5noWeNwqc4UVEdPFeaQTM_mEwaOKFkDsYznnt5noJwobfCuWZv0PKerogBZNYY5jt0Nd6f7gmtzgca85fu7KnVnaxBvg32inxxrlsAi0yP77fMxeARrtdYt1Ci9bmvzGD5K6TDA/s320/A%20Vision%20in%20Crimson%20V8%20Trope%20Map%20Homemade.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DAhGd8sAfjBx9zFiU-B2r7T9XXiapkzCc4FF25rsMoHmfWYiybF8zh3otBj00WtVVv1IxE8jGE9iwdFl9a-to1NSMBR_it6OU256AZ6oOa7u-wKvrQbNKWxGRNKh2W8C80wwkbFT3f1RQYu_MP30f0tQxghyEVwOQQxGvAbLTZL5Xf77Ttgrxwlaz8M/s2700/A%20Vision%20in%20Crimson%20V8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DAhGd8sAfjBx9zFiU-B2r7T9XXiapkzCc4FF25rsMoHmfWYiybF8zh3otBj00WtVVv1IxE8jGE9iwdFl9a-to1NSMBR_it6OU256AZ6oOa7u-wKvrQbNKWxGRNKh2W8C80wwkbFT3f1RQYu_MP30f0tQxghyEVwOQQxGvAbLTZL5Xf77Ttgrxwlaz8M/s320/A%20Vision%20in%20Crimson%20V8.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>If this looks interesting to you, you can preorder the book here: <a href="https://josnarffle.wixsite.com/kathryn-troy-author/events-1" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #338fe9; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none !important;" target="_blank">https://josnarffle.wixsite.com/kathryn-troy-author/events-1</a> Please remember that preorders do make a difference to authors' ability to get new book contracts and affect their ratings on sites like Goodreads. </p><p>Release Date: January 23, 2024</p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-6145993798239597202023-12-12T20:29:00.003-05:002023-12-12T20:29:36.944-05:00Winter 2023-2024 TBR<p><a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank"> Happy Top Ten Tuesday!</a> I have an urge to list a bunch of cute wintry reads OR list the books I actually think I will read this winter. I'll go with a mixture of both. Happy Sixth Night of Hanukkah to my fellow celebrants!</p><p><u>Books On My Winter 2023-2024 TBR</u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666679328i/60306464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="230" height="346" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666679328i/60306464.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds--Ok, I'm cheating because I just finished this, but it's such an adorable Hanukkah romance with the perfect wintry cover that I couldn't not include it.</li><li>Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus--An upcoming book club read for January--I hope there's a reason for all the hype!</li><li>Out of the Corner by Jennifer Grey--Different book club read for January--kind of interested in this one although I don't know a lot about her.</li><li>Promises Stronger Than Darkness (Unstoppable Book 3) by Charlie Jane Anders--Currently reading very slowly and the title is very appropriate for this winter.</li><li>Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree--Legends & Lattes was the ultimate cozy fantasy, and I'm sure this one will be too. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676671937i/112975658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676671937i/112975658.jpg" width="211" /></a></div></li><li>Hanukkah in America: A History by Dianne Ashton--Got this out of the library and currently reading, although I have to remember where I put it?</li><li>The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon--I didn't used to like mysteries but I've got more into the cozy or historical mystery aesthetic, and this one is set in 18th century Maine.<br /></li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-58722605767550575812023-12-05T22:34:00.001-05:002023-12-05T22:39:30.606-05:00Books I Want for Hanukkah<p><a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank">Happy Top Ten Tuesday! </a> I don't know if this was on purpose or not, but it was a good week for a freebie. </p><p>It's hard to believe, but Hanukkah starts on Thursday night! So, actually, I'm kind of late getting this out. All I really want for Hanukkah is peace and freedom for all, but books can be small lights of joy in all the darkness. Chag urim sameach to all those who celebrate!</p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXioWCmhftu31lcPK_4KuTRmDXXToUxNynOM6P1PYI0HfIZOMXH_Yc08gUbNaM_r1Jn_R7JR3KOpe6x5V0ZtzENgJfrB3TFIpKH_Lm4nnJI_LkfTE2hs2AsOvdIYhzIGBBLJx4knkM0JB7efuf0zdwwpwTKxnULrue1ktSraLPfmSmplfWOwDkFYACNE4/s373/Hanukkah%20screensaver.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="373" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXioWCmhftu31lcPK_4KuTRmDXXToUxNynOM6P1PYI0HfIZOMXH_Yc08gUbNaM_r1Jn_R7JR3KOpe6x5V0ZtzENgJfrB3TFIpKH_Lm4nnJI_LkfTE2hs2AsOvdIYhzIGBBLJx4knkM0JB7efuf0zdwwpwTKxnULrue1ktSraLPfmSmplfWOwDkFYACNE4/s320/Hanukkah%20screensaver.jpg" width="320" /></a></u></div><u>Books I Want for Hanukkah (on Kindle only since I'm trying to save space!)</u><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries)-I've been meaning to start this series forever, and it sounds like this will be a fun and quick read.</li><li>Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki-I started reading a sneak peek of this and loved it, but never ended up buying it.</li><li>Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater-It's time to finish the trilogy!</li><li>The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz-Found this when I looked up cozy fantasy, my new fav subgenre.</li><li>A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair--Cozy fantasy mystery.</li><li>Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty (Midsolar Murders #2)--Cozy scifi mystery--loved the first book!</li></ol><p></p><p><u><br /></u></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-38245508555100756162023-12-01T00:00:00.034-05:002023-12-01T10:41:02.195-05:00Books Read in November 2023<p> I spent November more focused on writing a book than reading any, but I did manage to finish reading one book (I've also been dipping in and out of a few more) as well as write over 35k words of a second draft of the novel I started in 2019. I was hoping to be a NaNoWriMo winner again this year by writing 50k words in 30 days, but I was running a bit behind and then had a cold these last few days, when I was hoping to bump it all up, which put an end to that. Still, I'm very proud of myself for getting a good start on the second draft (I'm...maybe halfway through? not entirely sure), and I'm hoping to finish the draft, which will probably be more than 50k words, in December. </p><p><b><u>Book Read in November</u></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1652709298i/52582665.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="230" height="346" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1652709298i/52582665.jpg" width="230" /></a></b></div><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu--I started watching Simu Liu on <i>Kim's Convenience </i>as the cool-guy prodigal son Jung<i> (</i>a show which, sidenote, one of my students thought they had personally discovered and thought I was extremely hip for watching!) I was so happy when he was cast as Marvel's first big-budget movie Asian superhero Shang Chi. Still, I was surprised to hear that he'd written a memoir, since he's only in his early 30s (my age too). I'd been wanting to read it, and luckily one of my book clubs picked it for December, so I had my incentive! I was truly impressed with this story, from the quality of the writing, to the sense of self-awareness and humor threaded throughout, and the brave and unflinching honesty with which he explored his relationship with his parents, as a young Chinese immigrant coming of age in Canada as opposed to his parents, who grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution. I'm not Asian-American, but many of my friends and people I grew up with had similar experiences to Liu, and I'm glad that he has shared his story and his parents' and done it without villainizing or excusing them or himself. He clearly derives a powerful sense of meaning from his Asian-American identity and explicitly states that he and his parents wanted to share their story so others can learn from their experiences. I look forward to following the future of his acting career, and, I hope, reading more of his books!</li></ol><p></p><p><b><u>Also Currently Reading</u></b></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Incarnadine: Poems by Mary Szybist--I've been reading these for a while; I like some of them a lot, but there's a lot of Christian religious imagery that's harder for me to relate to--lots of plays on the name "Mary" that I'm sure are meaningful to the author for obvious reasons!</li><li>Deacon King Kong by James McBride, narrated by Dominic Hoffman--I'm listening to this on audiobook in the car, and since I don't have a daily commute, it may take a while! But the audiobook reminds me just how incredible McBride is with voice, I think this may be the best example of that yet actually, certainly his best example with names--primary characters include Sportcoat, Hot Sausage, and the Elephant, as examples. The voice actor, Dominic Hoffman, is also incredible. </li><li>Promises Stronger Than Darkness by Charlie Jane Anders--I think I've been reading this for two months now, and the the truth is, I don't want it to end. I've been lingering at the end of this third book in the trilogy for a while. I just love Charlie Jane Anders' worlds and characters so much and find her writing so comforting--and this is the last fiction book she has out that I haven't read, though I could probably dig up some short stories (which is how I found out about her in the first place). </li></ol><div>EDIT: I did finish <i>Incarnadine </i>before midnight on November 30, so that brings my total up to 2 books for the month!</div><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-31847936456156837902023-11-05T00:00:00.034-04:002024-01-06T15:24:45.400-05:00Books Read in October 2023<p></p><div>I finished a lot of the poetry books I was reading in October, plus a book club read. I also dove into the second and third books of Charlie Jane Anders' unstoppable trilogy, which I'd been saving for when I needed it, and so glad I did--her books never disappoint. I'm still savoring the final book, <i>Promises Stronger Than Darkness.</i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wVp6JlZZL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="295" height="445" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wVp6JlZZL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="295" /></a></div></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li> Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron (book club read)--Delia Ephron loses her husband and her sister, falls in love, gets cancer, and lives. It's...fine. Not a book I would have chosen. </li><li>Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak by Charlie Jane Anders--The second book in the Unstoppable trilogy, so much queer diverse space-y goodness, constantly riffing on Star Trek and other scifi institutions--highly recommend</li><li><a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet-books/reviews/158520/your-emergency-contact-has-experienced-an-emergency" target="_blank">Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced an Emergency by Chen Chen-</a>-One of my favorite poets--these poems are mostly from while he was in graduate school in Texas during the pandemic</li><li>Good Bones by Maggie Smith--Contains <a href="https://poets.org/poem/good-bones" target="_blank">her viral poem</a> and plenty of others.</li><li><a href="https://bottlecap.press/en-ca/products/panic" target="_blank">The Funny Thing About a Panic Attack</a> by Ben Kassoy--Chapbook from Bottlecap Press--randomly got recommended this chapbook on Facebook, but I really enjoyed it!</li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-84747716491922541332023-10-23T20:00:00.032-04:002023-10-23T20:00:00.144-04:00Atmospheric Books<p></p><div><a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank">Happy Top Ten Tuesday!</a> That Artsy Reader Girl/<a href="https://www.thenovelry.com/blog/atmosphere#:~:text=A%20novel%20feels%20atmospheric%20when,wraps%20itself%20around%20the%20reader." target="_blank">The Novelry</a> shared a description for atmospheric books:</div><div><br /></div><blockquote><div><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13px;">“A novel feels atmospheric when the setting and the narrative are deeply involved with one another; when characters and plot are physically embedded in their surroundings, and a near-tangible mood lifts from the pages and wraps itself around the reader.” </em></div></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646982314i/57503085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1356" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646982314i/57503085.jpg" width="212" /></a></div> I certainly feel this is true of the books listed below. Happy atmospheric reading!<p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón--This books and its sequels feel intimately entwined with the streets and surrealist architecture of Barcelona--highly recommend!</li><li>The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern--This book is practically all atmosphere.</li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-stars-are-legion.html" target="_blank">The Stars Are Legion </a>by Kameron Hurley--This book is a journey through the (literal) bowels of a living planet--the book is inextricable from the setting, often feeling claustrophobic or, once beyond the planet, exposed.</li><li>The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders--The story is intimately tied to the physical setting of the tidally locked planet, but even more so constrained by the performance of time in a place where the sun never sets (or never rises).</li><li>Seasparrow (Graceling #5) by Kristin Cashore--I love all the Graceling books, but this one is most tied to its oceanic and Arctic settings. The author based it on her own trip to the Arctic Circle as well as historical Arctic explorers, and it's reflected in every detail of the book. This really added a new element to love for me!</li><li>The Cloisters by Katy Hays--I love the Cloisters, so I was excited when I read the review for this book in <i>The Washington Post</i>--and it did not disappoint. This is the perfect detailed, modern Gothic mystery, like an adult version of <i>From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler </i>(setting-wise) mixed up with <i>The Secret History </i>(character- and plot-wise), and as someone in my book club put it "[you will feel] like [you are] clacking down the halls of the Cloisters."</li><li><a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2022/03/book-review-court-of-venom-by-kristin.html" target="_blank">Court of Venom by Kristin Burchell</a>--This one is set in an insular, sinisterly magical, desert oasis, creeping with poisonous plants--a great and unusual atmospheric read!</li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-20246323856341422672023-10-09T21:57:00.001-04:002023-10-09T21:57:54.650-04:00Bookish Jobs I Would Do For Free<p> Real talk--in the world I live in, there is no job I would do for free because I have to eat and keep a roof over my head. But if we lived in some kind of utopian Federation paradise where all our material needs were met regardless of income, these are the types of careers I would enjoy (and yes, I'm lucky that some of them have been or are similar to my actual careers!). </p><p><a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank">Happy Top Ten Tuesday!</a></p><p><u>Bookish Jobs I Would Do For Free In a Universe Where My Material Needs Were Already Met</u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiypVzFN6L7SQT1FAeo9Rn99FTBg06s9zt1Gu0vifNRnJ4AWRwpUgZ-V7kIRvOYvQehEyDegXKfqZHX9MNqnHsYTVhXd_uoWltDpj1kqJzhkmFE6e0zOHy1sqQG9OxgWbwFYFu6subYjKaaontpTQxdDxAMm9YgTxFen6DF6rzqUpQ-GNNJ8Z2dy9Lstk/s354/books%20Creative%20commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="354" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiypVzFN6L7SQT1FAeo9Rn99FTBg06s9zt1Gu0vifNRnJ4AWRwpUgZ-V7kIRvOYvQehEyDegXKfqZHX9MNqnHsYTVhXd_uoWltDpj1kqJzhkmFE6e0zOHy1sqQG9OxgWbwFYFu6subYjKaaontpTQxdDxAMm9YgTxFen6DF6rzqUpQ-GNNJ8Z2dy9Lstk/s320/books%20Creative%20commons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />1. Writer--In this universe, it wouldn't matter if I got published or not, although I'm sure I would find ways to share my writing with friends and peers. I'd spend lots of time writing, researching, taking classes, honing my craft.<p></p><p>2. Bookseller--Although maybe in this mystical place the role would be more like Bookgiver or Book advisor? I loved my job as a bookseller and only left because it was minimum wage. It's so much fun to see all the books and shelve them and help people find books and discuss favorite books...</p><p>3. Editor--I'd love to help edit other writers and teach them, maybe join some kind of editing exchange where we edit each others' writing.</p><p>4. Teacher--I loved/love teaching--helping students learn to appreciate the value of writing and the power of stories. I was so lucky to get to do this--and again, left because *low wages*.</p><p>5. Librarian--Helping people find books--and also do research. And citations. Love this.</p><p>6. Tutor--Also loved writing tutoring. Would love to be able to have just a few students that I could really help over time.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-26892717480803743322023-10-03T00:00:00.009-04:002023-10-03T00:00:00.156-04:00Reading Goals I Still Want to Accomplish in 2023<p> I am well on my way or even done with some of my <a href="https://mirisaspacestation.blogspot.com/2023/01/bookish-goals-for-2023.html" target="_blank">bookish goals for 2023</a> 😁, while having barely completed or not even started others 😧. I would still like to complete these goals this year, so this is a good reminder to ramp up my efforts in the last quarter of 2023.</p><p><a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank">Happy Top Ten Tuesday!</a></p><p><b><u><br />Reading Goals I Still Want to Accomplish in 2023</u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gnoCWezLdE2ivzoFSQjOawW_PbNZ6WChZvZhMDNHMvAo1_PObEbi1OZW_gw08AjTTdbTjBmCsid-v9SGGKAhb1sAHM_1y3uRCjJfGSPV6Jh5vLpvY5z9hhvEcfUn-u1OBj2ygVT6agl-mzHEkruoToBJsyUqmu-uXv5ZuHVenI3F2w8aiIqycC6tW-Q/s3264/20230627_123036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gnoCWezLdE2ivzoFSQjOawW_PbNZ6WChZvZhMDNHMvAo1_PObEbi1OZW_gw08AjTTdbTjBmCsid-v9SGGKAhb1sAHM_1y3uRCjJfGSPV6Jh5vLpvY5z9hhvEcfUn-u1OBj2ygVT6agl-mzHEkruoToBJsyUqmu-uXv5ZuHVenI3F2w8aiIqycC6tW-Q/s320/20230627_123036.jpg" width="180" /></a></u></b></div><p></p><ol style="background-color: white; color: #292929;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read at least 36 books--<b>I've done this already! I just completed 36 books at the end of September. This is way less than I've read in previous years, but I wanted to go easy on myself since I started a new job in the past year and change. </b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read books I already own, library, or Kindle books.--<b>Yup! I've gotten very good at this--I've read a lot of library books (ex. left), a few books I owned, and the only books I've bought were Kindle deals. </b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read at least two books by women in translation.--<b>Pretty sure I did not do this at all yet...</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read at least 25% books by authors of color.--<b>I have read some books by authors of color this year but I'm sure it's less than 25%. I need to work on this. </b></span></li></ol><div><span style="color: #292929;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #292929;"><b>Does anyone have any recommendations to get me to my still unfinished goals by 2024?</b></span></div>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-83216046103622529412023-10-01T00:00:00.059-04:002023-10-01T00:00:00.143-04:00Books Read in September 2023<p>September was a fairly good month for reads, especially since I had some opportunities to listen to an audiobook, which I don't often get anymore. I also finished the fourth book on September 30th, bumping up my stats for the month! As I have the past few months, I still have a few books that I'm reading simultaneously and partly through, including a couple of poetry books, which I find read better that way. </p><p><u><b>Books Finished This Month</b></u></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41BeqC5+71L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="296" height="445" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41BeqC5+71L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="296" /></a></u></div><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith--It takes a lot longer to finish audiobooks (which I pretty much only listen to in the car) than when I used to commute but I got this because I had a couple trips this summer. I finished it up on the way home from the last one on Labor Day weekend. This is a memoir on Smith's marriage and divorce but it also reads like a manual on how to write (or not write) a memoir. She has repeating refrains about "the question at the center of this book" and the scenes that she is deciding to keep private, just for her family. She is also very much in conversation with other poets, authors, and musicians, mostly living ones like (but not limited to) the Mountain Goats and Naomi Shihab Nye. She includes some of her poetry and reads in her own voice. Highly recommended to fellow aspiring poets, writers, and memoirists. I also subscribe to her newsletter on writing craft, <a href="https://maggiesmith.substack.com/" target="_blank">"For Dear Life with Maggie Smith," </a>where she breaks down how she writes her poems, among other things. </li><li>Role Playing by Cathy Yardley--I was interested in this romance novel both because it features a romance that starts in an online roleplaying game and because the main characters are 48 and 50, respectively. This is an easy, quiet read that kind of feels like one of those social learning games or books, but for adults. I think we all need this more than we think, because it's comforting, and also because, what we think of us as normal isn't necessarily--in particular, one of these characters learns more about their own identity and relationships, and it really changes their life for the better. If you're looking for a cozy, mostly positive read--this is it.</li><li>The Thread Collectors by Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman--This was a book club read, so sometimes harder to make myself read something I'm not necessarily feeling, but I don't regret it. This was a truly thoughtful and unique perspective on the Civil War from the points-of-view of a Jewish soldier and an African-American soldier in the Union Army and their respective Jewish and African-American sweethearts at home. If you like historical fiction, I highly recommend it.</li><li>Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde--Another book club read. This was an easy read; I finished it in a day. This would be a good read for middle or high school students, especially in a class where they could discuss the central issues of valuing human life and human connections. It reminded me a lot of the author's earlier book, <i>Pay it Forward</i>. As an adult, it was a little one-dimensional.</li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-35933312631156208892023-09-19T00:00:00.041-04:002023-09-19T00:00:00.148-04:00Books On My Fall 2023 To-Read List<p> It's funny--I like making these seasonal TBR lists and thinking about books for each season--especially fall, since that's when the biggest books of the year tend to come out, but I am well aware that I'm a mood reader and don't tend to actually read by season. I have gotten better at "gaming" these lists with books I've just started or already have though, so I do tend to read at least a few on each list at the promised time.</p><p><b><u>Books On My Fall 2023 To-Read List</u></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/66/ad/66ada7a73f33f475973724c3451435141514141_v5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/66/ad/66ada7a73f33f475973724c3451435141514141_v5.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><p></p><p>1. Celebrating the Jewish Year: The Fall Holidays by Rabbi Paul Steinberg, edited by Janet Greenstein Potter--I actually put this on hold at the library shortly after the High Holidays last year, to be activated about a month beforehand this year, and I'm so glad I did. It's helpful to get in the mood both for teaching Hebrew school and for my own reflections around the holidays. I love how there is always more to learn! </p><p>2. Twelve Past Midnight by Tiffany Alexanderson--LibraryThing review book--it's a timeloop book set in a fantasy world with a magic system that reminds me of alchemy and definitely has some steampunk flavor although it's not a steampunk world. Just getting into it.</p><p>3. My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez--another LibraryThing review book. I haven't started this one yet, but it's about a romance author in one of those relationships where they run into each other/meet up every few years and they're just together when they're together, which is one of my favorite tropes.</p><p>4. Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced an Emergency by Chen Chen--Chen Chen is one of my favorite poets, but I've only read his poems on the internet or in journals/anthologies before. I finally got this one from interlibrary loan, and I'm absolutely savoring it.</p><p>5. The Rabbi Who Prayed for the City by Rachel Sharona Lewis--I just found out that a sequel to <i>The Rabbi Who Prayed With Fire</i> came out this year. I am here for it!</p><p>6. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld--This one is sitting on my shelf, and the time is coming to crack it open. I already know it will be great.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090908127206488708.post-39802835182162516912023-09-01T00:00:00.041-04:002023-09-01T16:48:58.788-04:00Books Finished in August 2023<p></p><div>August was a decent reading month, although it felt like I was dragging along and not finishing much. I ended up enjoying all of my reads decently and finishing a review book, which is always an accomplishment.</div><div><br /></div><div><u><b>Books Read in August</b></u></div><div><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51RMkQTdSiL._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_FMwebp_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="184" height="293" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51RMkQTdSiL._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_FMwebp_.jpg" width="184" /></a></div></u></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz--One of my book clubs chose this one--it's an authorized Sherlock Holmes by a different author. Horowitz did a fantastic job of recreating the style, tone, and atmosphere of the original Holmes books--sometimes a little too good in terms of casual racism imo although the point of this book is a class takedown and a bit of gendered poetic justice. There's also a pretty upsetting plot point that might trigger some. </li><li>Learning to Fly Alien Spacecraft by Fay Abernethy--Review book from LibraryThing that took me forever to get through--I enjoyed the detailed depictions of mostly utopian alien societies but I was not in the mood for three mostly separate plotlines. </li><li>Study for the World's Body by David St. John--Book of poems I've been reading for a while but I finished it in August. It was a National Book Award finalist in 1994. He has some pretty ambitious modern-style poems, a lot of them set in Italy where he lived for a while, although he's American. </li></ol><p></p>Space Station Mirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091908248048157507noreply@blogger.com0