Books #34

[ordinaryjelly]

How about F?

Thank you. One purchased relatively recently compared to many others!

 

[LaBlonde]

january reads! a mixed bag with some frankly bad romances in there

a restless truth - freya marske
a power unbound - freya marske
the stargazers - harriet evans
at first spite - olivia dade
orbital - samantha harvey 1/2
the summer you found me - elizabeth o’roark
on the savage side - tiffany mcdaniel

 

[Booklover]

Great start to the year for me.

 

[emmer_moans]

Hello!!! New to the thread....
Anyone want to discuss signets Specifically violets 2(or 3)?!?!
I think it has something to do with reading minds...she was not only in Brennan's head for a quick min but also xadens in the throne room..
ALSO, I think she's a healer of some sort

I think she's going to have several, she has 2 dragons afterall I can't wait for Onyx Storm. My favourite part of these books though is Tairn's grumpyness when he speaks down the bond, and now Andarna's sassyness in Iron Flame.

Spoiler: Mini book culture rant:

I like this thread because we're all polite and accept differing preferences. Whereas I went down a rabbit hole on 'threads' the other day, on the bookthreads topics and people seem really scathing about certain books and their readers. So many people laying into Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J Maas, and their readers just, because they are popular. And what's upsetting to see is how some book reviewers are being really quite pompous about their dislike for Fourth Wing saying it's absolute trash. Fine, that's a valid opinion but it really does seem like pile-on's happen on 'threads' and it feels a bit insulting. I like the Fourth Wing because of the escapism and the story. Alright, it's not Shakespeare, but its fun, and some reviewers seem hell bent on belittling people who like the series. At the end of the day we all like what books we like, and whilst I might not like certain books I don't go around belittling those that do.

Thank goodness for this kind thread. I've been following it for about a year and I've read so many good books thanks to the recommendations and discussions here.

 

[AllieBee]

Hey fellow bookies I have sinned. I've just myself a new paperwhite and been influenced by you lot lol.

 

[ScoutFinch]

I’ve just finished Prima Facie. Wow, what a book! That’s my third 5* book of the year, I’m doing very well

I’m going to give Demon Copperhead another try now…

 

[Brightlycolouredbowels]

So I hit the bullet yesterday and ordered the limited edition night court (black and grey cover) versions of ACOTAR series. Had £30 Waterstones plus points and a £20 book token so plumped for first class deliver and the whole lot cost me £6.94!

Still a silly purchase really considering I’m just buying them for the bookshelf as I have them all on kindle and won’t read the actual books as I’ll want them to stay pristine. Cheaper than buying wall art though!

 

[twilightgarden]

I was all set to read loads in 2025 and it isn’t happening yet. I am reading at least a chapter of my book every day but I only have 1 book on the go, what’s going on?! I blame 3 evenings a week being taken up by The Traitors

 

[LydiaDeetzHat]

You know it;'s bad when you look on your phone at the monthly deals and see a book that looks interesting that you have never heard of before . so you go on your laptop to view a sample and you've purchased it in July 2021

 

[ordinaryjelly]

You lovelies are really doing well picking me books from my Kindle tbe.

@LydiaDeetzHat chose P which was The Pact by Sharon Bolton. This was my first book by her that I have read, which surprised me as she is an author that is right up my street. The Pact was a fab read. It was a little bit confusing towards the end when all the different characters were doing things, but itwas an absorbing read about how people deal with guilt and terrible situations. A solid 4 stars.

Then I read Ivan the Fool by Leo Tolstoy and utterly frazzled my brain with Ivan and Simon and devilkins and wheat and gold coins. I am not sure I even know what went on. 2*

Next I read Divided House by J M Dalgleish, it is the first in a series of detective/crime thrillers but I have no desire to read the rest. I don't think there was really anything wrong with the book, I have just read a lot of thrillers that are more my thing.

Onto the letter O now, picked by @AllieBee - One August Night, by Victoria Hislop, which is the sequel to The Island. I loved that book, but it came out about 8 years ago and not sure how much I can remember so I feel like I am going in blind. Fingers crossed I enjoy this one

 

[emmer_moans]

Don't watch the film, it will spoil any illusion you have. That film adaptation is the one that made me decide to never watch another adaptation ever again.

The books are beautiful, but not a quick read.

Lovelies, I am down to 79 books on my Kindle and then that is it. No more tbr. It has taken me just over two years to get to this point. I have set a finish by Easter goal but I think it will be sooner.

Then I have a book token burning a hole in my pocket. I have decided that I can never have more than 8 books on my tbr to stop it getting out of hand like it did before.

Currently reading The Woman on the Edge by Ruth Mancini. Only started it this morning, but so far so good.

Are you keeping a tracker or similar to help you to decide which ones to read next? Well done on working on the TBR, it's easier said than done, mine is growing our of control.
---

the way “people” (using in a general term) completely revised their feelings about harry potter based purely on dislike of jkr is so disingenuous to me. i get feeling disappointed by an author you once loved but it’s so performative how everyone is reversing their original opinions and being like well actually i never liked the books anyway here is a really reaching list as to why

i suppose that one is maybe a wider discussion on separating the product from the creator but i do agree that people apply some level of huge literary criticism to something that isn’t meant to be critiqued on that level. i’m guilty of literary snobbery myself sometimes but if i don’t like something then i simply won’t read it and maybe might write a snarky goodreads review. i hate this thing of dragging people who did like it.

I think what's hit me is there seems to be a lot of people on bookthreads who sound like they are God's gift to reading and post things designed to really sink teeth into other readers and I'm like OUCH, calm down. Plus they seem to love tearing strips out authors. I'll stick to reading my really random mix of genres. Fourth Wing one day, Shakespeare the next, and a lot of murder mysteries I will try to avoid bookthreads but I keep getting previews of 'threads' in between pictures on instagram and it's annoying. I

 

[Elizaaaaa]

Think this is my first post here but after reading over the last couple of threads I need to thank you all for making me feel better about the ridiculous number of books I buy while having so many unread! I can't help myself (especially since reading your recommendations!!)

Also fascinated by how so many of you read 100+ books last year, but realise if I spent last time reading Tattle threads on celebs I don't even care about (whyyyy am I so nosey?!), I could definitely have read more!

My 2024 goal was 36 books and the idea was 1 self-help/wellness, 1 from my '100 books to read before you die' challenge and 1 for fun/entertainment. Didn't quite stick to that plan, but did manage 45 books on total so was happy with that in my first year of properly tracking! Going to use the same approach this year, but also ridiculously I want to read Shakespeare in a year... (Which will count as 1 challenge book!)

Does anyone here use Insta to track their reads? I was but overwhelmed myself trying to make it look pretty/questioning whether my reviews were good enough and only got to April Debating spending tomorrow catching up or just giving up!

Current reads are:
* How soon is now? - Paul Carnahan (kindle unlimited) - Time travel/sci-fi
* The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin - self-improvement

I spent years thinking I could only read one thing at a time, but now I have different purposes it works quite well. Self-help/wellness books are for mornings with a cup of tea (desperately trying to get a better morning routine and realised I need slowwww!), travel/rest of day is for others.

Also seen lots of comments about Goodreads and Storygraph, I've started using Fable this year and quite like it, but do keep meaning to try Storygraph too!

 

[twilightgarden]

After all the Strike chat lately I’ve been inspired to do a re-read of the series. Then I realised Im 2 books behind. 🫣 I’ve just pre-ordered the new one with 50% off, it’s coming in September.

 

[ordinaryjelly]

How about J for Jelly?

Fun way of picking. Jar of Hearts, which was a 99p purchase in September 2021 🫣

 

[SaintLeo]

My January books. My favourite was Go As A River, closely followed by Homecoming - 4.5 and 4 stars respectively.

I’m still trying to decide what I made of All Fours. Still feeling “WTF did I read” about it at the moment, and not in a good way!

Currently halfway through Before I Go To Sleep which I have read before but so long ago that I don’t remember the twist!

 

[HoGi]

I wonder - do you find it easier to use Kindle, or read the physical book? Reason being I find reading a bit hard when in the evenings when dark (a book light might suffice!) But I have a few books on hand I have to get through also! Decisions, decisions

I definitely find it easier (and quicker) to read one my kindle.

I read while cleaning my teeth, whole cooking, laying down in bed etc. I need one hand to tap that's it. A book a need 2 hands.

 

[anniemouse]

Spoiler: Mini book culture rant:

I like this thread because we're all polite and accept differing preferences. Whereas I went down a rabbit hole on 'threads' the other day, on the bookthreads topics and people seem really scathing about certain books and their readers. So many people laying into Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J Maas, and their readers just, because they are popular. And what's upsetting to see is how some book reviewers are being really quite pompous about their dislike for Fourth Wing saying it's absolute trash. Fine, that's a valid opinion but it really does seem like pile-on's happen on 'threads' and it feels a bit insulting. I like the Fourth Wing because of the escapism and the story. Alright, it's not Shakespeare, but its fun, and some reviewers seem hell bent on belittling people who like the series. At the end of the day we all like what books we like, and whilst I might not like certain books I don't go around belittling those that do.

Thank goodness for this kind thread. I've been following it for about a year and I've read so many good books thanks to the recommendations and discussions here.

[/QUOTE]
I agree 100% and have seen similar snobbery on some Reddit threads. I read to unwind, I don’t want to have to think too hard or then it’s a chore. I’m here for the story not a literary prize winner.

 

[daisynoon]

I'm a third of the way through Anna Karenina, and I was not expecting so much farming in a book about adultery! I do just want Levin to be happy on a farm, but I am very aware that this is extremely unlikely.

 

[SaintLeo]

I have a physical book for my morning coffee, lunch and after work. My kindle is for bedtime as I won’t lose my place when I drop it on my face. I have an audiobook for work/walking the dog.

As a one book at a time person, this book multitasking blows my mind! Full of admiration for all of you who manage it.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

This is me in a nutshell