Space Station Mir

For the first time in many years, it looks like I will not hit my annual reading goal (52)--and that's okay. It has been a rough year at times, and I've turned more to television shows and movies than to books. That's okay. Maybe next year I will turn more to books or maybe I can start writing more about the TV I've been watching (Netflix's Wednesday was everything I could have hoped for). I have still read some truly excellent books this year, which I will post about soon, and I've spent some time reading and savoring books of poetry, nonfiction, or literary magazines over longer periods of time. I'll update this list if I do manage to finish anything else before the new year. Books Read This Month Sailing Alone Around the Room by Billy Collins--I enjoy Collins' poetry, which tends to be accessible and also center on a lot of wordplay, although a few of these did not age well. Collins is an older poet whose gender essentialism makes it to the forefront ...

Since I've been teaching Hebrew school this year, I've been preparing for Hanukkah since November. That's when I learned the apparently indispensable "I Am a Latke" song (my students were shocked I never learned it), as well as helped them learn some of my more traditional favorites like Maoz Tsur and the blessings over the candles. The first night of Hanukkah is fortuitously timed for next Sunday night, so my students will showcase their songs at the Hanukkah extravaganza at Hebrew school that day and get to show off their prayer skills for their families that night. Then, one night during the week, we'll go and sing at a nearby senior center. We already sent Hanukkah cards to Jewish soldiers overseas too. So, it is looking to be a very special Hanukkah indeed, but here are a few books and other items that could make my Hanukkah even brighter. Happy Top Ten Tuesday! I'm switching up the topic today for obvious reasons.  Paper Brigade, Vol. 6 --This is th...

 I'm doing winter books this week, since I will be sharing my Hannukah wish list next week. Hannukah starts relatively late, on Dec. 18 this year, but ends on Dec. 25.  I haven't really been keeping up with my TBR list much lately, and now I have a bunch of books (ok, two) to review (whyyy do I look at all the LibraryThing and Goodreads giveaways whyyy), but here's the aspirational list. Books on My Winter TBR List I Bought My Husband's Mistress Lingerie by Stacey Freeman--I tend to find memoirs easy to read these days, and this one looked interesting despite the, er, provocative title. (LibraryThing review) Caribbean Competitors by Poppy Minnix--Childhood friends in the Caribbean--it made me click. (LibraryThing review) Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater--Saving this up for a rainy (snowy?) day. Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom by Carl Bernstein (Book club read) And, maybe I'll just stop there so I can catch up. What are you all reading?

I only read two books in October (one was a literary magazine but I still think that counts), so I decided to just put these together. Reluctant Genius  I've actually been reading with one of my students for months, and we finished the beginning of November. It was a great choice, and I would highly recommend it for anyone 12 and up interested in Alexander Graham Bell.    Books Read in October and November Wanderlost by Natalie Toon Patton--Received for LibraryThing review; the odyssey of an evangelical Christian woman from Arkansas who travels the world and learns a lot in the process. Ploughshares, Spring 2022, edited by Ilya Kaminsky--So glad I subscribed when I saw Kaminsky was editing; I loved every single poem--unfortunately, all their other issues seem to be prose, and I tend not to love the litmag short story genre :-/ Reluctant Genius: The Passionate Life and Inventive Mind of Alexander Graham Bell by Charlotte Gray Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin--Love...

I'm focusing on books that give a cozy feeling, aren't hard reads, but leave you feeling satisfied, and maybe gently challenged along the way--mostly mysteries, romance, and whatever amazing, cozy sci-fi/fantasy amalgams Becky Chambers produces. And there's something cozy about books that literally teach you how to create an atmosphere of coziness too :-)  Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Cozy Reads Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman The Latke in the Library & Other Mystery Stories for Chanukah by Libi Astaire The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin--this might not be an obvious pick, since the protagonist has dealt with a tragedy, but it's really about the life she's built for herself, and her cozy future Once and For All by Sarah Dessen--similar to above, the protagonist has dealt with tragedy, but this is about moving on and a subsequent fun romance Devotions: The Selected Poems o...

 I have a lot of series I've read with books that recently came out that I want to catch up on, but frankly, feeling a little overwhelmed! With everything I have going on, I'm turning more to TV shows than books, and some of these series/trilogies, I feel like I want to reread the whole series or at least the previous book before I pick up the new ones. Anyway, I am lucky that a lot of long-awaited books have finally, finally come out and they will be there when I am ready! Happy Top Ten Tuesday over at That Artsy Rader Girl ! Top 10 Series I'd Like to Catch Up On (or Start) 1. Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak, #2 in the Unstoppable series by Charlie Jane Anders!!!!! These first two came to mind immediately because I've been thinking about reading them and love both these authors so much--but I do feel like I have to reread the previous books because I feel like there are so many intricate details, and the Unstoppable series has a huge (amazing...but...huge) cast, since, y...

 Halloween approaches, as the air gets cold, and the leaves are in full color. As I feel like I reiterate often around here, I don't really do seasonal reads, though I like the idea, and Halloween reads--does that mean a scary read? Books set during Halloween? Fall books? Books involving costumes? I'll try for a blend of the above. For a Jewish twist, I suppose the appropriate term might be Sukkot books, the Harvest holiday which recently ended. So, here are some books that remind me of Halloween, fall, October, and Sukkot. Top 10 Halloween/Fall/Sukkot Books  Happy Top Ten Tuesday! 1. The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks--This one definitely has fall and winter vibes and setting (wandering around an icy forest) as well as magic users and characters who aren't what they seem. 2. The Kings of Nowhere by C.G. Drews--This one is set during fall in Australia, and definitely has school year vibes as well as a darker tone. 3. Court of Venom by Kristin Burchell--This one is set in...

What a clever prompt! Words are my métier, but I am having some trouble because there are so many that intrigue me. I'm sure I will think of a ton after I post this.  Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten  Eight Words I Love to See in a Book Synopsis 1. Jewish--Even for someone who subscribes to the Jewish Book Council newsletters, this is rare enough that it gets a second look from me. Not necessarily a third, but I have found some great books this way. 2. Rabbi--See above. Friday the Rabbi Slept Late caught my eye at a Bookcrossing table and led to me buying and reading most of the series! 3. Wizard--I love spellcasters (and play them exclusively in D&D😛). Wizards especially, but witch, warlock, or sorcerer would also work! 4. Epic--Despite the fact that this is so overused, when it's appropriately used, especially paired with 'fantasy,' I'm often a fan. 5. Boston--Still probably the city I know best, at least at one time, and I'll always give a book that takes ...

 *Rubs hands together*. I have a lot of favorite bookstores, all over the country and the world. Here are some of my favorites, and I hope to have more someday! Happy Top Ten Tuesday ! Favorite Bookstores Daedalus Books in Charlottesville, VA--I loved the name and appropriately labyrinthine nature of this used bookstore--there are also a ton of other used bookstores in Charlottesville, but this is my fav. The Book Loft of German Village in Columbus, OH--Also a labyrinthine store, but in another way--this one has rooms and rooms of books, similar to the Strand in length, but better organized--each room has its own curated music! Plus there's a lovely outdoor area to read in the warmer months. Shakespeare & Company in Paris, France--This was on my bucket list. I'm glad I got the chance to peruse this famous English language bookstore across from Notre Dame.  The Seminary Co-Op in Chicago, IL--I got to see both the original and the new co-op space, and I love them both. The o...

I would say it's weird to not be starting the school year this September, since my new full-time job is not in education, but I am sort of starting a school year this September--my first as a Hebrew school teacher. That is not something I ever imagined saying, but my synagogue really needed teachers, and the education director heard I was one. I told him my Hebrew isn't that great and Hebrew school was often a terrible experience for me--and he said, me too! (On the latter thing--he is very good at Hebrew). We bonded over the idea of making this a better experience for these kids, so I will try. I don't know that this is going to be a regular thing, but it's a way to help my community, stay connected to education, and hopefully give these kids better memories than I have. Anyway, with one FT job and two part-time teaching gigs, I'm not sure how much time I'll have for the blog, but I'll keep chronicling whatever non-work reads I manage to finish (will probab...

 It's been a crazy month, and I don't tend to be a seasonal reader but publishers tend to put out their biggest books in the fall. So, happy fall and happy Rosh Hashanah next week (I won't be participating in TTT since it falls on the second day of Rosh Hashanah). Shana tova u'metuka--a sweet new year--to anyone else celebrating or anyone who just needs a fresh start. Happy 5783! Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Books on My Fall 2022 TBR When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill--Did you see the title? Fair Play by Eve Rodsky (methods/card system fo r   chores ) The Cloisters by Katy Hays Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry--As a '90s kid, I think I'm obligated to read this. The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell--Intriguing review in WaPo on this fiction about a lesser known de Medici. Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott--I once went as Baba Yaga for Halloween. ...

 I love this topic idea! I feel like there should be plenty of mountains and forests and islands and maybe oceans. Would Howl's Moving Castle count as a geographical feature? Here are some of my favorite books, or books that sound like they could be my new favorite books, with exciting geographical terms in the title! Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Books With Geographical Terms in the Title The Farthest-Away Mountain by Lynne Reid Banks--This was one of my favorite books as a kid, it involves a journey up a mountain, and it's a one-off fairytale/fantasy. The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events #11)--I loved these and there are plenty of great geographical names throughout the series (Lake Lachrymose, Briny Beach, Swarthy Swamp!), but this one gets the whole book. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel--on my list, but I've heard good things and I like her other books The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern--same as above Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgo...

I love this idea in theory and have done it occasionally. Practically, however, I really need to downsize my personal physical library, and Kindle and public library books are cheaper and take up much less space on my shelves. Right now, I'm not buying books if I know I will always be able to get them at the library (classics or consistently bestselling authors) or if I can easily read them on Kindle (living authors I want to support). That might or might not always be the case. Hope everyone who got one had a relaxing Labor Day weekend.  Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Books I Loved So Much I Had to Get a Copy for My Physical Library Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg--A colleague originally loaned this to me, and I found it so helpful, I wanted to have my own copy. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert--I originally read a library copy, but I wanted to own it and picked it up in a used bookstore. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant--This was a formative book for me but I read my mother...

 I started a new job this month, so I've been pretty busy, but still had time for some reading! Normally, I would be coming up on a really busy time of year right now, but I'll have to see if that's true in my new non-education job. It will definitely be different--although I will still have a batch of Hebrew school kids on Sundays (which will also be new for me!).  Books Read This Month Once and For All by Sarah Dessen--This is my first Sarah Dessen book and won't be my last (I actually immediately started reading another one!). I watched the Along for the Ride movie on Netflix and had a feeling I would like the book even more, but there was of course a wait for that one, so I got this one first. I enjoyed all the wedding planning details and slow burn romance.  The Searcher by Tana French (book club read)--Definitely wouldn't have picked this one on my own, but it made for an interesting conversation about the morality Western society values in our detective ficti...

I finished up the graphic novels for superhero class as I was teaching them during the first couple weeks of July (I got assigned the class late and didn't get to pick the books--not that I've read many graphic novels before). I definitely learned a lot about graphic novels! Fortunately, I seemed to know more than most of the kids who, like me, primarily knew about superheroes via Marvel and DC movies. I saw Thor: Love and Thunder after the session wrapped, but I can picture exactly how much my students enjoyed it!  Books Read This Month 1. Herobear and the Kid, Vol. 1 The Inheritance by Mike Kunkel--graphic novel for class; the librarians had fun taking out all my notes when I returned it! It was difficult to get since it wasn't recently published, the most conventional of the books we read (which was good for teaching archetypes, tropes, and the Hero's Journey), but I would really only recommend this for kids/American Christian kids (not to spoil too much but there...

 Although I've gotten a lot better at fulfilling my reading plans, due to book clubs, having a better sense of what I like to read, and sneaking in books I've already got or already started, I still usually end up with a few leftover books on my lists--though sometimes I do catch up months or even years later. Here are the books I still haven't read from some of my more recent seasonal TBR lists--I think I have read at least as many as I haven't though! Happy Top Ten Tuesday at That Artsy Reader Girl! Ten Books from My Past Seasonal TBR Lists I Still Haven't Read In the Serpent's Wake by Rachel Hartman--I am still really looking forward to this one after Tess ! Dreams Greater Than Heartbreak by Charlie Jane Anders--I feel like I have to reread Victories Greater Than Death first. The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare--I know I bought this one--oops. Visible City by Tova Mirvis--Forgot about this one.  Ariel Samon: Freelance Rabbi by MaNishtana Through It A...

 Bird Summons by Leila Aboulela-Muslim, Scottish interest, magical realism, interesting but not my jam except for the bird king stories (liked the Bird King better) The Village Maid: A Fairy-Tale with Benefits by Emily Jane Buehler-received for review from LibraryThing, fun fantasy romance-- very open-door. The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict--did not know the story of Einstein's first wife or that he had more than one, very interesting, credits her with theory of relativity which might be true and she at least very likely assisted with calculations Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi--graphic novel for the class I'm teaching. Good for an elementary school reading level, although it does have some sad stuff (dead/incapacitated parents).

Today's TTT is bookish wishlists, but I don't need any new books right now, so I'll share my summer tbr list instead, especially since I will probably be too busy to post after I start teaching my Superheroes class next week. Some of the books are on the list for the class, which I got switched to after my original class was canceled so I didn't get to pick the books. Comics and graphic novels aren't my specialty, but I'm looking forward to learning more about them. Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Summer TBR List 1. Herobear and the Kid: The Inheritance by Mike Kunkel--graphic novel for class 2. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson--graphic novel for class, by the creator of (Netflix's) She-Ra! 3. Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour--So excited that she has a new book out! 4. The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel by Kati Marton--Book club read. I'm looking forward to learning more about Merkel! 5. Morningside Heights by Joshua Henkin--Other book club read. Hopeful...

 I feel like most of the books I read have epilogues, especially these days, but when I really love characters, I could read about them forever! I saw a couple other people wishing for "more" epilogue though, so I'll put that down too. Basically, I want whole follow-up books, but I'll take what I can get! Happy Top Ten Tuesday over at That Artsy Reader Girl! Top 10 Books I Wish Had an Epilogue (or More Epilogue) The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders--I was sad when this ended so abruptly! Luckily, Anders wrote a follow-up short story, and I'm hoping there will be even more to come.  The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers/Wayfarers series--I enjoyed checking in on some of the characters through the rest of the series, but I'd love a more direct follow-up on the main characters from this book (Rosemary, Sissix, and Jenks especially) after the end of the series--or honestly, follow-ups on any characters from any books in the s...

  Happy Top Ten Tuesday over at That Artsy Reader Girl! I can't remember having done this one before--an interesting idea! I feel like this often, although not always, implies time loop and time travel books or books limited to particular units of time, all of which I think adds to excellent dramatic tension. I've read some of the books below, but others are books I want to read! Books with a Unit of Time in the Title 1. Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie--Read this years ago--I don't remember much except that it's written in second person, references 1,001 Nights , and involves djinn.  2. The Arabian Nights: Tales from 1,001 Nights--this is a classic but I've never actually read it, although I watched the movie over and over. I'm definitely a big Scheherazade fan. 3. See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon--Haven't read it yet, but this is a time loop book that I really want to read! 3. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore b...

I couldn't believe my luck that Tor was giving away a free ebook of Becky Chambers' A Psalm for the Wild-Built , just in time for my anniversary too! I also had an ebook for review, a great book club read, and another great poetry read, so a fantastic reading month to end off the semester and some time between jobs... Books Read This Month Ashes of the Firebird by Amy Kuivalainen--I received the ebook for review from LibraryThing, and I truly enjoyed this fast-paced supernatural romp. I also enjoy jumping right in the thick of things with the second book in a trilogy. I was able to pick up fine, although there is an enormous cast including at least six viewpoints, so you might want to make notes! That said, the author does an excellent job of weaving and innovating lore to create a unique cast of supernatural beings--definitely a lot of Slavic influence but also Classical and indigenous, and an Elven race that's actually from another planet?!? Lots of romantic tension too, ...

I'm looking forward to getting out of here--my husband and I are taking a little anniversary trip this week. The school year will wrap up next week, and then I'll be getting ready to teach summer classes. Hopefully, I can enjoy myself more this summer, which often means more reading! Books I Read This Month The Kings of Nowhere by C.G. Drews  --So glad to have the opportunity to get to read this on Patreon, and looking forward to buying the published book whenever that's possible. Drews has such a witty, whimsical way with words and her characters curl up in your heart and stay there.  The German House by Annette Hess (Book club)-Set during the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials in 1963, which I hadn't heard of before. The protagonist, Eva, is a translator in the court where SS officers are on trial. The book was translated from the German. Not a book I would have chosen, but an interesting perspective.  The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks--This pretty cover (and Spinning Sil...

Although the beginning of the semester is over, nothing is slowing down. Usually it feels like there's a moment to catch your breath before midterms, but not this year and they're already upon us. And my school is going to mask optional without a firm vaccination requirement for students, and...I have feelings. I don't necessarily think going mask optional is the wrong decision now, since rates have lowered significantly since the Omicron surge, it's just that I generally feel these decisions have been arbitrary and geared toward serving students in a customer service fashion rather than truly considering safety. I'm also not sure how comfortable I'm going to feel or when I'll feel comfortable taking my mask off, but I guess I'll have to figure that out. I want to be really clear: I'm not judging people for almost any decision in regard to masking because I don't think there *is* a right decision here (I absolutely judge people who could be vacci...

These have gotten a lot easier since joining book clubs! I still had to look up a few more though to see what else is coming out--there've been a couple of recent and upcoming new releases that I'm very excited about but waiting until I have time to read, since the book club reads have to come first. Happy Purim and happy St. Patrick's Day to those celebrating this week! Happy Top Ten Tuesday over at That Artsy Reader Girl! Books on My Spring 2022 TBR The German House by Annette Hess (Book club read for April)--I know, it made me think of The Dutch House too, but this is a totally different book, about the Frankfurt trials for SS personnel involved in Auschwitz, which took place in the 1960s. I didn't know about this, and I avoid Holocaust books these days since I've already read so many, but this sounds different, so it might be interesting. It's also originally written in German, translated to English. This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing by Jacqueline Wi...

  Court of Venom drips with atmosphere, magic, and intrigue. The Middle Eastern fantasy setting and unique magic system reminded me of Tasha Suri's Empire of Sand , however, the protagonist, Badriya, is darker than Suri's Mehr. Partially blackmailed, partially driven by her own motivations into being the queen's assassin and the court's herbalist (for a price), when Badriya says she's full of poison, she doesn't mean it figuratively. The title is absolutely apt for this royal drama set in a lush yet venomous oasis amid a treacherous desert, and the tight cast of characters each surprise you in their own way.  I would highly recommend the book to Middle-Eastern-inspired fantasy fans, and I would happily read a sequel! Received for review from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. 

The school year definitely has me back in its grip. I did a lot more Netflixing than reading this month, and when I did read, I started or continued a bunch of books that I have going, but I did manage to finish a few. Books Read This Month The Temple Scroll by Erez Hassul--Read my review here The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser--recently divorced mid-40s heroine inherits a house full of fancy books in Scotland with the requisite grumpy bookstore owner down the street.  The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate (book club)--a novel with a contemporary and historical storyline, centered around the story of a formerly enslaved woman and "The Book of Lost Friends," newspaper ads where African American people tried to find their lost friends and family members in the years after the Civil War

  Full disclosure, I'm related to the author, but I truly enjoyed this Israeli Indiana Jones-type adventure centered on a research group at Hebrew University: history grad student Yaeli, chemistry grad student Nathaniel, rappelling expert/desert guide Yoav, and Professor Reuveni, who discover a mysterious rebellion-era scroll that may lead them to the long-hidden treasures of the Second Temple. This is a Da Vinci Code with more relatable characters and more realistic history. Where it does diverge from history into action, and the requisite villainous secret society, the text remains humorously self-aware. There is a special starring role for Yaeli's Canaan dog, and this wouldn't be a book by my family if there weren't several recipes, including almost an entire chapter (two pages, to be fair) about cooking a chicken. My cousin's knowledge as a geologist and former tour guide shines brightly in a series of interspersed vignettes from various time periods detailing t...

 I definitely get a new rush of reading energy in with the new year. It helps that the nature of my work is often slow or nonexistent in January, so I have plenty of time for reading.  Books Read This Month The Babysitters' Coven by Kate M. Williams--extremely meta cross between The Babysitters' Club and Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a very Gen Z nonviolent code--much to love! The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer--the most amazing Jewish rep and the only chronic illness rep I've ever read wrapped up in one entertaining yet satisfyingly thoughtful Hanukkah romance story. Also, in case this is also you, even the Christmas content, which annoyed me reading the blurb and almost put me off reading it--because really, we need that even in a Hanukkah novel?--ended up making sense and not being annoying. The Leavers by Lisa Ko--very important story about children left behind when parents are deported; sensitively explores issues of ethics around adoption and immigration without being d...

  Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Last year, like this year, I wasn't concentrating too much on new releases. That said, there were a couple books coming out from favorite authors and other books I heard about that were published in 2021, but I will get to them in a later year.  2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn't Get To A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Gilded by Marissa Meyer The Rabbi Who Prayed With Fire by Rachel Sharona Lewis The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks

Some dude on Twitter recently bemoaned the "canceling" of the "best woman author in 100 years," referring to J.K. Rowling. I haven't talked much about this publicly, since this is a grief that's been hard for me to deal with--many of my friends are still Harry Potter fans and I still have a nostalgic attachment, but I can't in good conscience continue to support anything that would monetarily benefit Rowling after her hurtful and damaging comments and actions against trans women. That said, this dude's comment is objectively laughable. Harry Potter had a huge influence on my millenial generation for sure, but there are so many women authors of more acclaim in the past 100 years; many of whom are better writers than JKR. So, if you are per chance looking for a list, here you go-- and as I suspect, if many of you have some to add, please do so in the comments! 21 Woman Authors From The Past 100 Years That Are Better Than JKR Toni Morrison--Like have yo...

  Happy Top Ten Tuesday! My parents made all my Hanukkah dreams come true--plus I got some great deals from Amazon and a free ebook from Tor to round out my latest adds, which I've been tearing through with some speed!  Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer (ebook--Got a $1.99 deal on Kindle) Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey (ebook--free from Tor) The Babysitters' Coven by Kate M. Williams (ebook--also a Kindle deal, don't remember the exact amount) Dogs on the Trail: A Year in the Life by Blair Braverman and Quince Mountain (Hanukkah) The Rabbi Who Prayed With Fire by Rachel Sharona Lewis (Hanukkah) The Corgi Chronicles by Laura Madsen (Hanukkah) What to Miss When by Leigh Stein (Hanukkah) And before that, it had been a while--I've done pretty well sticking to my current collection and the library, with the occasional ebook deal, during the pandemic. I think staying at home so much makes me extra aware of how many books I alre...

Happy Top Ten Tuesday! I'm a little late on this one, and in the past few years, I've been more focused on reading or rereading what I want instead of trying to catch up with all the NEWNEW stuff, but there are a few books coming out this year that I am excited for! Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2022 The Kings of Nowhere by C.G. Drews--one of my favorite bloggers is Paper Fury (a.k.a. C.G. Drews), and I loved her book The Boy Who Steals Houses  when it came out a few years ago. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to find a traditional publisher for the sequel, The Kings of Nowhere , but she just started publishing it in January (a.k.a. now!!) on her Patreon . Super excited to read all the chapters as they unfold! Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore-I mean, honestly, I am just so smitten by the title, and also this sounds like a queer, F/F linguistically-focused Ready Player One, so I'm definitely all kinds of intrigued. The unnamed third book in the Dreamers ...

  Here we are firmly ensconced in the 2020s, and I have to say, I thought the '20s were going to be much more fun, instead of just exciting in the way that you're always on edge and not sure what to expect. One thing I've always been able to count on, however, is books, and so I will look back over my cautious goals from 2021 and proceed to continue with the hope that, whatever else, the books will go on. 2021-Bookish Goal 1. Read 52 books. As always, I'll intentionally include books by BIPOC and Jewish authors, but I want to leave room for rereads, reading lulls, and whatever happens.-- I read 57 books (59 if we count the Grishaverse trilogy as three instead of one).  2021-Non-Bookish Goal 2. Intentionally practice self-care.-- I definitely did this, but could always do more. Although I do practice self-care most days, I don't have any consistent routines. I like that for now, but may want to change or at least have a dedicated time for self-care options in future....