It’s Friday, and you know what that means. Grab a cuppa, and let’s talk about what we’re reading!
It’s been a little lean on the reading side of things this week. I have a *very* good excuse…well, maybe not a very good excuse, but an excuse. We were finishing watching Ripley, which, I must say, gets a 98% thumbs up from me. I had one little quibble about the relationship between Dickie and Tom, (I wanted to see a little more chemistry on Dickie’s part, he was a touch too laconic) but as for the rest? It was worth sacrificing my night reading time to watch. Sumptuously shot in black and white, it is one of the most beautifully realized adaptations of Highmith’s seminal work I’ve ever experienced. And it is an experience.
Oh, and I got braces on Wednesday, and my head has been throbbing since. (You folks listening might hear my brand-new lisp. Joy.) I had the full Monty of braces, headgear, and rubber bands for years as a youngster—it was quite something to be thrust back into this world again. Teeth shift and move as you age, and mine were making it impossible to close my jaw completely. Wear your retainers, kids.
OK, no real excuses. Sorry. But I have plenty to talk with you about!!!
I finished at last THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW by I.S. Berry. I have FEELINGS, people. It’s a wonderfully written book with a lead who is quite the byronic hero. I don’t know that I liked him at the end—and I think that was exactly the point.
Friend of the blog Olivia Barry has a lovely new devotional called Mornings in 50 Words: Change Your Life One Word at a Time that you should check out! I might not want to tackle traditional morning pages and write three pages of stream of consciousness, but 50 words? That’s eminently doable.
Have y’all read Leif Enger yet? He’s a favorite of
so I feel compelled to add him to my repertoire. His latest, I CHEERFULLY REFUSE, just released and looks wonderful. He is best known for PEACE LIKE A RIVER.
Alexandra Bracken is one of my favorites and when I found out she has a King Arthur themed book out I bought it right away. SILVER IN THE BONE is the title, and it is staring at me from the shelf just begging to be read. I will admit…I haven’t read a fantasy novel since IRON FLAME. Am I spoiled for fantasy forever??
Alyssa Cole’s ONE OF US KNOWS is in the running for my favorite cover of the year. I had to get it, just because it’s so beautiful. And I know the story will be stellar!
One of the nicest guys in the thriller world, Mark Edwards, has a new one out this week called THE DARKEST WATER. I’m happy to spend a few hundred pages in the Lake District, thank you very much.
I have a few books on my blurb pile, but as soon as they’re done, I am all in for the new Sandford. Reading his books reminds me of a time not so long ago (yes, it was forever) when I was just noodling the idea of writing a book and read MIND PREY and went, oh, OH! THIS IS IT! THIS is what I want to do!
And y’all asked, and I was happy to comply—this page lives on my website, but it wasn’t up to date. Here are the soundtracks for all of my primary books.
I’m reading a Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. Just finished an e- galley of A Very Bad Thing (thanks to NetGalley). Totally hooked me from page 1 and I finished it in a day and a half. Can’t wait to share it with friends when it’s published
I am currently reading Tourist Season by Brenda Novak. I send my sympathies on the braces. I had them as a kid. (Didn't everyone?!) And I have also noticed my teeth have moved in recent years. My mom would not be happy. LOL
No time for TV as I had grandkids in town last weekend but hopefully this weekend I can finish Ripley.
Reading wise...i finished ONE DARK WINDOW and followed it up immediately with the second book in the duology TWO TWISTED CROWNS by Rachel Gillig. I really enjoyed both of these books. They're fantasy with some violence and romance but not overwhelming amounts of either. The books have an interesting premise and are beautifully written.
Funny story...we had family over last Sat and I was eating nachos when I started to choke. My stepson jumped into action and gave me the Heimlich. A tiny piece of hamburger popped up. He's my hero but now I'm dealing with bruised ribs...I'll take bruised ribs any day!!
I am half way through the last book in the Grant County Series by Karin Slaughter called Beyond Reach, then I will start A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett.
Yay!!! That is me screaming in delight at winning the galley. Thank you! A funny tidbit about me is that I grew up poor and thought if I won contests, it would help out our family situation. I spent my babysitting money on a monthly contest newsletter that shared all contests, stamps, and 3X5 cards to enter. I won only once. The grand prize was a hot air balloon trip, and I won second place--a makeup book, which is funny because I'm not a big makeup person. This is my second thing to win. I'm so looking forward to reading it and consuming your playlists. As a child of the eighties, I can tell by your music choices that you're a music lover of the nineties and early two thousands.
Sorry about the braces. My older sister got her first set of braces at 50. She says she looks ridiculous, but I don't think so. I had my first set at 22 and when they came off I no longer looked twelve. I wouldn't mind looking a few years younger now.
Reading this week was also light as I also cut into my reading time by watching UNDER THE BRIDGE. Pretty good so far. I like Lily Gladstone so already a good start for me. I read NIGHT WATCHING by Tracy Sierra. This book is a lesson in suspense. Oh my goodness. It starts off with a bang and ends with one. The premise--A mother wakes in the middle of the night to check on her child and finds an intruder. Currently, I'm reading AMERICAN RADICAL-Inside the world of an undercover Muslim FBI Agent. Extremely interesting.
You are the best! Thank you so much for the lovely shoutout. I very much appreciate it.❤️ ~ And, oh no, braces. I hope you'll feel better soon, and until then, lots of milkshakes and mashed potatoes. ~ My reading has been terrible lately. On my list for this weekend are Stay Awake by Megan Goldin and Chemistry by Weike Wang.
Whoo -hoo! I'm looking to get Silver in the Bone for Beloved Husband, a devoted S&S fan. Will read it myself (I'm a lifelong Prince Valiant nut...) Right now I'm reading non-fiction - Steven W. Mosher's The Devil And Communist China. It's scary...
I’m finishing up “This Here Flesh” by Cole Arthur Riley. It’s been a gorgeous, amazing read.
I’m half-way through “The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County” by Substack author @Claire Swinarski. It’s fun and well-written and I’m finding it hard to put down.
I blazed my way through “Last Girl Ghosted” by Lisa Unger and am about to start her new one (my Libby hold finally arrived—hooray!).
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler
Leap by Simina Popescu
Loteria by Cynthia Pelayo
The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni
Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition by Junji Ito
A Very Bad Thing by J T Ellison
Just got an advanced copy of Lev Rosen’s Rough Pages, the 3rd Evander Mills book. It might have to join the list. I love that series. From his website, “The Evander Mills books take place in 1950s San Francisco and follow Andy Mills, a former SFPD detective, outed and fired, as he takes on cases related to the queer community. “
I’m deciding on a new book this weekend which is not easy 😅. I finished A Very Bad Thing and absolutely loved it!! The chapters just melted into one another and I couldn’t put it down.
I hope the braces headache subsides soon. Headaches are the absolute worst. I was planning on spending my Friday afternoon and evening reading A Very Bad Thing but I’m exhausted. So Friday night is t.v. And I’ll read ALLL Saturday and Sunday. I started watching Only Murders in The Building. 2 eps in, it’s interesting..
You're right, ONE OF US KNOWS, is a gorgeous cover!
I would expect a snake out here where I live (well, not expect one, not want one!) but goodness! Hopefully it was just a snake blessing that's passed through for good.
Do I need to send applesauce or yogurt your way?
I'm finishing DEEP WORK and THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW. We shall discuss!
I'm still on a huge nonfiction kick. Read both of Omid Scobie's books about the modern royals. Both were interesting. I also loved Cal Newport 's Slow Productivity. I think you originally introduced me to his work. (Thank you!)
I’m reading a Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. Just finished an e- galley of A Very Bad Thing (thanks to NetGalley). Totally hooked me from page 1 and I finished it in a day and a half. Can’t wait to share it with friends when it’s published
I am currently reading Tourist Season by Brenda Novak. I send my sympathies on the braces. I had them as a kid. (Didn't everyone?!) And I have also noticed my teeth have moved in recent years. My mom would not be happy. LOL
No time for TV as I had grandkids in town last weekend but hopefully this weekend I can finish Ripley.
Reading wise...i finished ONE DARK WINDOW and followed it up immediately with the second book in the duology TWO TWISTED CROWNS by Rachel Gillig. I really enjoyed both of these books. They're fantasy with some violence and romance but not overwhelming amounts of either. The books have an interesting premise and are beautifully written.
Funny story...we had family over last Sat and I was eating nachos when I started to choke. My stepson jumped into action and gave me the Heimlich. A tiny piece of hamburger popped up. He's my hero but now I'm dealing with bruised ribs...I'll take bruised ribs any day!!
I'm about to start Still See You Everywhere, the latest Frankie Elkin book by Lisa Gardner. Love this series.
I am half way through the last book in the Grant County Series by Karin Slaughter called Beyond Reach, then I will start A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett.
Yay!!! That is me screaming in delight at winning the galley. Thank you! A funny tidbit about me is that I grew up poor and thought if I won contests, it would help out our family situation. I spent my babysitting money on a monthly contest newsletter that shared all contests, stamps, and 3X5 cards to enter. I won only once. The grand prize was a hot air balloon trip, and I won second place--a makeup book, which is funny because I'm not a big makeup person. This is my second thing to win. I'm so looking forward to reading it and consuming your playlists. As a child of the eighties, I can tell by your music choices that you're a music lover of the nineties and early two thousands.
Sorry about the braces. My older sister got her first set of braces at 50. She says she looks ridiculous, but I don't think so. I had my first set at 22 and when they came off I no longer looked twelve. I wouldn't mind looking a few years younger now.
Reading this week was also light as I also cut into my reading time by watching UNDER THE BRIDGE. Pretty good so far. I like Lily Gladstone so already a good start for me. I read NIGHT WATCHING by Tracy Sierra. This book is a lesson in suspense. Oh my goodness. It starts off with a bang and ends with one. The premise--A mother wakes in the middle of the night to check on her child and finds an intruder. Currently, I'm reading AMERICAN RADICAL-Inside the world of an undercover Muslim FBI Agent. Extremely interesting.
You are the best! Thank you so much for the lovely shoutout. I very much appreciate it.❤️ ~ And, oh no, braces. I hope you'll feel better soon, and until then, lots of milkshakes and mashed potatoes. ~ My reading has been terrible lately. On my list for this weekend are Stay Awake by Megan Goldin and Chemistry by Weike Wang.
Having a hard time picking my next book. I want to read them all at once. It puts me in a slump.
Whoo -hoo! I'm looking to get Silver in the Bone for Beloved Husband, a devoted S&S fan. Will read it myself (I'm a lifelong Prince Valiant nut...) Right now I'm reading non-fiction - Steven W. Mosher's The Devil And Communist China. It's scary...
I’m finishing up “This Here Flesh” by Cole Arthur Riley. It’s been a gorgeous, amazing read.
I’m half-way through “The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County” by Substack author @Claire Swinarski. It’s fun and well-written and I’m finding it hard to put down.
I blazed my way through “Last Girl Ghosted” by Lisa Unger and am about to start her new one (my Libby hold finally arrived—hooray!).
So glad you loved Ripley!
Here’s my list for the week:
Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan
The Book of Thorns by Hester Fox
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler
Leap by Simina Popescu
Loteria by Cynthia Pelayo
The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni
Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition by Junji Ito
A Very Bad Thing by J T Ellison
Just got an advanced copy of Lev Rosen’s Rough Pages, the 3rd Evander Mills book. It might have to join the list. I love that series. From his website, “The Evander Mills books take place in 1950s San Francisco and follow Andy Mills, a former SFPD detective, outed and fired, as he takes on cases related to the queer community. “
I'm finding myself branching out from my usual mystery/suspense. Trying more true crime and romantasy. I still have to have action to my book!
I've been trying to test out the waters
I’m deciding on a new book this weekend which is not easy 😅. I finished A Very Bad Thing and absolutely loved it!! The chapters just melted into one another and I couldn’t put it down.
I hope the braces headache subsides soon. Headaches are the absolute worst. I was planning on spending my Friday afternoon and evening reading A Very Bad Thing but I’m exhausted. So Friday night is t.v. And I’ll read ALLL Saturday and Sunday. I started watching Only Murders in The Building. 2 eps in, it’s interesting..
You're right, ONE OF US KNOWS, is a gorgeous cover!
I would expect a snake out here where I live (well, not expect one, not want one!) but goodness! Hopefully it was just a snake blessing that's passed through for good.
Do I need to send applesauce or yogurt your way?
I'm finishing DEEP WORK and THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW. We shall discuss!
I'm still on a huge nonfiction kick. Read both of Omid Scobie's books about the modern royals. Both were interesting. I also loved Cal Newport 's Slow Productivity. I think you originally introduced me to his work. (Thank you!)
I've just started reading Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. I'm just 100 pages in, but
enjoying it so far!