<–The State of the Reader: 8/29/18 The State of the Reader: 9/26/18–>
A weekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list. Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me! I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.
Books Purchased: 4
- The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee – $1.99 @ Amazon
- The Wind’s Twelve Quarters by Ursula K. LeGuin – $1.99 @ Amazon
- Fortune’s Rising by Sara King – $2.49 @ Amazon
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown – $1.99 @ Amazon
Books DNF: 1
Title: The Riddle of the Wren
Author: Charles de Lint
Date Added: August 24, 2014
Date Started: August 26, 2018
Date DNF: September 5, 2018
Reading Duration: 10 days
Media: Physical (Library)
This is one of those books I would’ve devoured in high school. It’s an old school fantasy (published in 1984) by one of my favorite authors back then. This was actually his first published work…and it shows. It’s not bad, but you can see where the cracks haven’t been smoothed over. When I’m less concerned with how a story gets to where it’s going and more about how the characters resolve it, I know it’s not something I’ll enjoy reading, and I’ll usually just flip to the end to see how it all plays out. I didn’t bother doing that with this one.
Charles de Lint has a ton of books I haven’t read yet though, so I’m sure there will be others I enjoy.
Books Finished: 1
Title: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
Author: Leslye Walton
Date Added: August 2, 2016
Date Started: August 6, 2018
Date Finished: September 3, 2018
Reading Duration: 28 days
Media: Paperback
I’m glad I have time before I review this book so I can think about it. It is beautifully written, but I think I would’ve known what was going to happen had I not been warned about it (not in a spoiler way, just…warned). I like that the author put discussion questions at the end (something I’ve thought of doing myself). There’s something…off, but I can’t put my finger on it. It all depends on how the ending is supposed to be interpreted. Like most good stories it could go a number of ways.
Currently Reading
Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Date Added: June 14, 2013
Date Started: September 8, 2018
Media: Paperback
Progress: 10%
The first thing I noticed about this book was there’s something off about both Nick and Amy. Weirdness is happening the morning of her disappearance, and there’s something Nick has to tell her (maybe he wants a divorce?). The narrative foregoes their alleged confrontation though (for now), skipping ahead to Nick at the bar he co-owns with his twin sister Margo (Go). As for Amy, she’s the kind of person who would wear me out after five seconds. I can’t take that kind of intensity. I’m excited to see where this goes.
Title: The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
Author: Claire North
Date Added: September 15, 2017
Date Started: August 23, 2018
Media: eBook/Kindle
Progress: 66%
I could write a philosophical dissertation about this book if I only had the time.
Title: The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
Date Added: April 13, 2013
Date Started: August 9, 2018
Media: Paperback
Progress: 90%
One chapter left to. The Jungle Book similarities aren’t completely one off, but you can tell Gaiman used Kipling’s work as his template.
Title: Ireland’s Immortals: A History of the Gods of Irish Myth
Author: Mark Williams
Date Added: October 5, 2017
Date Started: July 6, 2018
Media: Hardback
Progress: 14%
Chapter 2 gave me cause to reflect on Milton’s Paradise Lost and that’s never a bad thing. I have lots of opinions about fallen angels…
I just picked up Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke from the library today. This will be my first Clarke book, and I’ve heard nothing but great things. Reading the blurb also reminds me I have notes for a parody about the very same, so the idea has long been in the zeitgeist. Side note, but my library generously tells you how much money you save every time you check out a book…except this time *headdesk* Well last time it was around $400 total with near $220 of that being this year.
Do you use your local library? If so what for? I once rented Rime from there and they have quite a selection of games I should peruse more often.
<–The State of the Reader: 8/29/18 The State of the Reader: 9/26/18–>
The Shameful Narcissist Speaks 
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I just pulled Childhood’s End from my TBR jar, so I’ll be curious to see what you think.
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It’s been on my TBR list for a LONG time so I’m excited!
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I borrow from the library all the time – I don’t have the funds to buy everything I want to read right now, so I’m really grateful for it (though if I like a book I certainly add it to my collection when I can).
I’m currently reading Catwoman: Soulstealer and The Raven King.
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Exactly! I was spending (and have spent) so much money on books, and I mean that’s what libraries are for. It is a great way to “test out” books, and there are a few I’m going to add to my collection due to that.
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So since I moved last year I’ve still been using my old library until the card expires because it’s SO much better than my new library. But when that does finally happen, I’ll probably start spending more money on books again. I don’t really mind though now that I have more cash flow. At the same time, I could buy nothing for a year and still have plenty to read right in my house. 😛
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You should use a false address and keep using it, but you didn’t hear that from me :p
I have Goodreads email me those deals on stuff, which is pretty convenient, but some of them are only for one day and I don’t always check my email that fast. I…actually have a spreadsheet for all of the books I’ve bought this year and how much they cost. I’m around $280 o.O BUT the average price was $5.
Yep, I put all the books I still need to read on the shelf we emptied a little while ago. It’s not like I *need* to buy more books…
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I always miss those emailed deals lol. Even sometimes the ones directly from Amazon because I only check my email every couple of days too. I was really bummed about one recently but oh well! It will probably come around again.
I need to build/buy a new bookshelf just for all my TBR books. I like staring at them all in one place and trying to decide what to read next. Currently they’re all over the house hiding in boxes and some on shelves.
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I want a Belle style library, but I should’ve married richer for that :p
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Girl, you and I both lmfao!
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I love using local libraries. 🙂 I’ve moved a bit so I’ve tried several and some are definitely better than others. I wish library cards didn’t expire. The one for the city my boyfriend used to live in before we moved into our house was fantastic and had the best selection of graphic novels/comics I’d personally encountered at any libraries.
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Mine doesn’t have an expiration date! It must depend on the location. I was in one county’s system before hand, but there isn’t much of a difference between where I am now and there, which is awesome. They all will send books from any location.
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Ooh, that’s nice. Yeah. it seems like more and more libraries make it so that there cards are only good for a couple years before you have to renew it, so you’re lucky! 🙂
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