Reading Books For Pleasure

[seela]

So.

You do have a flaw.

...

Yes, just the one.

 

[FurryFury]

I was constantly annoyed at how Harry was treated throughout the books in general and by the Duresly family in particular. Also actually began to hate some of the "heroes" of the books that should have been better caregivers to him instead of putting him back year after year.

Abuse and danger to a child is something I hate. It's why, though so many loved Circe I did not.

Update on the Harry Potter project.

Two books down, still not exactly a fan. The second book was better than the first, but the baddies are still so annoyingly bad and the Dursleys are insufferable cartoon characters.

I hope the books will indeed get better now that I've made it through the first two like PLP promised.

I'm afraid this might be a year of regret for me. But I'm still keeping my mind open, and I do like the cover of the edition I got for the third book!

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan 2/5


Split Second by Douglas E. Richards 3/5

 

[clistenovena]

So.

You do have a flaw.

...

Yes, just the one.

Plot Spoiler ahead!!!



The Dursley bunch stays insufferable.


seela, as the HP characters get older, the stories get more...complex. I do hope you find the magic (couldn't resist).

 

[Bramblethorn]

Plot Spoiler ahead!!!



The Dursley bunch stays insufferable.

Not entirely, though? One of them becomes tolerable after Goblet of Fire, IIRC.

 

[clistenovena]

Not entirely, though? One of them becomes tolerable after Goblet of Fire, IIRC.

You think so? It's been a while since I've read the books, but they caused all kinds of issues about going to the Quidditch World Cup and totally ignored Harry when he said goodbye. I guess I'm not remembering something.

I grant you that in Deathly Hallows, Dudley said Harry wasn't a waste of space, and Petunia *seemed* to *almost* say something that wasn't cruel. That didn't redeem them in my reader's eyes.

 

[seela]

Okay, another HP update.

The third book was a lot more enjoyable for me than the first two! The characters are finally getting somewhere. It's still not my favorite series ever, but it was a nice read.

I took a break from Harry and read other stuff between. Today I went to the library to pick up HP#4 and now I actually feel pretty excited to continue with the story. So I'll start reading the Goblet of Fire soon!

Kind of a bummer that only yesterday there was a major plot spoiler as a clue in the NYT mini crossword of all places. Oh well.

 

[AlwaysFara]

Okay, another HP update.

The third book was a lot more enjoyable for me than the first two! The characters are finally getting somewhere. It's still not my favorite series ever, but it was a nice read.

I took a break from Harry and read other stuff between. Today I went to the library to pick up HP#4 and now I actually feel pretty excited to continue with the story. So I'll start reading the Goblet of Fire soon!

Kind of a bummer that only yesterday there was a major plot spoiler as a clue in the NYT mini crossword of all places. Oh well.

GOF is my favorite.

 

[base10]

Okay, another HP update.

The third book was a lot more enjoyable for me than the first two! The characters are finally getting somewhere. It's still not my favorite series ever, but it was a nice read.

I took a break from Harry and read other stuff between. Today I went to the library to pick up HP#4 and now I actually feel pretty excited to continue with the story. So I'll start reading the Goblet of Fire soon!

Kind of a bummer that only yesterday there was a major plot spoiler as a clue in the NYT mini crossword of all places. Oh well.

Always glad to find another person who plays the NYT mini every day

 

[seela]

Always glad to find another person who plays the NYT mini every day

NYT mini and full puzzle luvr here!

Me too! I've subscribed to the NYT crosswords for a year now and at least attempt to solve daily, succeed most days. The subscription is pretty much the best investment I've ever made. I've learned so much about Oreos and adits!

 

[FurryFury]

The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America by Jaime Hernández 4/5

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe #1) by Benjamin Alire Sáenz 4/5

The Sign of the Cat by Lynne Jonell 4/5

Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing by Melissa Mohr 1/5

Tree of Ages (Tree of Ages, #1) by Sara C. Roethle 4/5

Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection by Brandon Sanderson 5/5

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin 1/5

The Tale of the Vampire Bride (Vampire Bride, #1) by Rhiannon Frater 4/5


The Awakening: Book One in the Zombie Uprising Series by M.A. Robbins 5/5

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov 1/5

Leyla: The Black Tulip by Alev Lytle Croutier 3/5

 

[seela]

I finally finished The Organist by Erlend Loe and I still don't know what it was about. It took me two months to finish. It was pure madness from start to finish with zero breaks for the reader.

I picked up the book in the library because I wanted to learn something about Shakespeare and codes are supposed to be fun and interesting. The only thing this book gave me was an unpleasant feeling of snooping around a crazy person's head.

The book made it very clear that you see what you want to see and if you believe in something hard enough, you'll find evidence. Just keep working those letters and numbers! When in doubt, introduce rosicrucians, freemasons and tarot!

 

[FurryFury]

The Supplement Handbook: A Trusted Expert's Guide to What Works & What's Worthless for More Than 100 Conditions by Mark A. Moyad 3/5 Actually don't trust this expert. Hahaha Not sure he even remotely understands Autism for instance. Was recommended in a vegan / veggie group.

Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer by Barbara Ehrenreich 3/5 Adored her Nicked and Dimmed, loved the first part of this book. The I don't want stupid shit done to me for forms sake and it's okay if I did because everyone will part. The rested needed to be tightened and edited.

Glitter Bomb (A Scrapbooking Mystery, #15) by Laura Childs 3/5 New Orleans, Mardi Gras, non threatening, warm, mystery

In the Frame by Helen Mirren 3/5 Got to know this glorious Dame better!

Spinning Silver By Naomi Novik 4.5/5 So good! A retelling of Rumpelstiltskin but so much better.

The Jemima Code: Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin 3/5 Who knew cooking could be part of a resistance? Or all this history about African Americans and how they have influenced the cooking in America but not been acknowledged.

Zombie!: The Adventure Is Yours! by Jon Lancry 2/5 For the Ultimate Pop Sugar 2019 challenge and the damn fonts and such made the rules near impossible to read. Still a kewl idea but dayum y'all!

Fear of Dying By Erica Jong 2/5 Didn't finish. Too disappointing. Wanted something brave that provoked my response in spirit. Nope. Very me, me, me and my crazy parents . . .

The 7 and 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle By Stuart Turton 4/5 Love this one and recommend it highly.

 

[seela]

HP Update:

Done with #4, enjoying the books now. They're not my favorite ever, but I'm happy to read them and look forward to getting my hands on #5.

I still find some of the very same things annoying that I have complained about since the first book, but it's been a rough day today and I try to eschew all negativity for the rest of the evening, so I won't dwell on that.

 

[AlwaysFara]

HP Update:

Done with #4, enjoying the books now. They're not my favorite ever, but I'm happy to read them and look forward to getting my hands on #5.

I still find some of the very same things annoying that I have complained about since the first book, but it's been a rough day today and I try to eschew all negativity for the rest of the evening, so I won't dwell on that.

You’re quite the disciplined young woman.

 

[twister947]

Pondering Seela's journey, I remembered this gem from a couple of years back. It's a repeater.
100 days of solitude https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VKR7KRS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JW7UCbA2QDG9E

 

[FurryFury]

Darkbeast by Morgan Keyes 3/5 This odd juvenile novel didn't set well with me overall. It sounded like a cool premise. For each child to have a "Darkbeast" to give it's flaws to and then kill (horrible!) when they become adults. One rebels, (You go girl!) but it is not clear why this person is the one to break the rules and overcome the odds of being willing to give up everything they know. Probably won't read further in the series.

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai 2/5 This local group read dissappointed me. I wanted to like it. I wanted to love it. But it was not to be. Other people I adore did love it. I find this endlessly interesting in art and all I want to understand is why we feel so differently. Sometimes people are emotionally mature enough to share that with me. Usually they just assume an attack that I would never perpetrate. Ah. Well . . .

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 4/5 One of the Popsugar challenges is to read a book that is published posthumously. A fellow librarian clued me into this one. It was a good read.

I tried The Master and Margarita which looked and sounded interesting but didn't work for me at all. I couldn't relate to it and ended up dropping bit.

I expected When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi to be very The Last Lecture - ish but it is it's own book and well written.

I found particularly amusing the times he had to deal with stuff he had previously told his patients they just had to get through without understanding how tough it was.

Overall he was a thoughtful, caring person and physician. I found it interesting his wife came back to him for the rest of his life and they had a little girl just as he was at the end. So many levels to this book, and at times, it is profound and beautiful.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank 4/5 Okay a pet reading niche of mine is what if scenarios. So when I heard about this book over and over I finally got to reading it. Very interesting and early take on what would happen if big nukes went off, written and set in the 50s. Enjoyed it but it also made me read the second in series I've been keeping in my mind for a rainy day. Because I know I'll miss that it's still there for me read one day, that being One Year After.

The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley 3/5 I liked the beginning of this book quite a bit. The middle was just a muddle for me. The end was wonderful! It almost made up for the muddle. If only it could have been more consistent all the way through. Over all I adore the author's non fiction book, The Geek Feminist Revolution far more and I don't generally like reading essays.

One Year After (After, #2) by William R. Forstchen 5/5 This guy. I just can't stop enjoying him though he is clearly a war bird conservative who claims preppers are awesome people and for whom Newt Greenwich wrote a forward. Good is good and this hits me just right despite all.

The End We Start From by Megan Hunter 3/5 This odd format book rocked along but ultimately didn't tell me anything or make me feel much of anything. Meh.

Alabama Back Road Restaurant Recipes: A Cookbook & Restaurant Guide by Anita Musgrove 3/5

Always interesting to look at everyone's fav recipes at back road restaurants. Few of those would be in MY book but sure, kewl, fat, fun I guess.

Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates 3/5 Such a great title. Lots of plot holes. The end made little to no sense. Overall didn't work for me.

 

[FurryFury]

My Love Story by Tina Turner 4/5 I would recommend this to anyone. Tina Turner's story of overcoming adversity from poverty and abandonment to abuse and control is amazing. Then to go on to make an even bigger career and love, overcoming ageism, sexism and health adversity. Inspiring!

Eragon (Inheritance, #1) by Christopher Paolini 4/5 It took me a long time to read this one. I didn't trust that it could possibly be as good as everyone was saying since it was written by an adolescent. I also didn't want to start a trilogy until it was all written and didn't trust such a young author to finish the series. But I was sick yet still able to read (win!) over a recent long weekend. I was too sick to go to the library but was able to check out this ebook. Enjoyed it more than I ever expected. Will now "sit with it" before deciding if I want to read book 2. I only have nearly 500 books in my TBR Goodreads list so, yes, I do have to think about it.

Emily of New Moon (Emily, #1) by L.M. Montgomery 4/5 I'm doing the popsugar ultimate 2019 reading challenge. This book fulfills the category of reading a book a tv or movie character is reading. I saw it in Russian Doll which was a very interesting Netflix binge. Though it's a juvenile novel and absolutely of it's time, I enjoyed it. May read more in the series but haven't decided on that yet. I generally wait to crave it. Then go for it.

The Price of Three Stories: Rare Folktales from Japan by Fran Stallings 3/5 Every other one of these books was the best to me but this one is just okay. Not sorry I read it but a little disappointing.

 

[FurryFury]

Some of my fav bloggers had things to say about fat shamming and self acceptance because of this book / show. Good stuff. Haven't read the book but I might look into it.

Just finished Shrill by Lindy West (there is a Hulu show based on her memoir)

I've never been much for body positivity or self acceptance (my own anyway) but her points were so clear and succinct and relatable.

10/10 did cry at work

 

[FurryFury]

Yikes! Not my kind of book either.

*HUGS*

I finally finished The Organist by Erlend Loe and I still don't know what it was about. It took me two months to finish. It was pure madness from start to finish with zero breaks for the reader.

I picked up the book in the library because I wanted to learn something about Shakespeare and codes are supposed to be fun and interesting. The only thing this book gave me was an unpleasant feeling of snooping around a crazy person's head.

The book made it very clear that you see what you want to see and if you believe in something hard enough, you'll find evidence. Just keep working those letters and numbers! When in doubt, introduce rosicrucians, freemasons and tarot!

 

[FurryFury]

That first one sounds really good! I'm going to look into it! Thanks!

A couple of my pleasure books were Danger Close by Amber Smith (autobiography about one of the few female combat helicopter pilots), Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, and A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux (surprisingly interesting).

 

[FurryFury]

The Immortalists by*Kyle Mills* 4/5 A nice taunt thriller except the end where they wrapped it up too quickly.

Will Supervillains Be on the Final? (Liberty Vocational #1) by*Naomi Novik 2/5 Too far out of my comfort zone. Too little story.

Year Zero: A Post Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Jack Archer Post Apocalyptic Survival Series Book 3) by*Keith Taylor 2/5 Free book. TANSTAAFL

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by*Maria Semple 2/5 Entitled assholes you could never like and that is not a win for my reading.

 

[seela]

I'm starting Harry #5.

I've been reading another completely bizarre book about Shakespeare. It has pretty good reviews on Amazon but it's pretty out there.

But if you're into reading speculations about William Shakespeare's erotic experiences in school plays, relationship with gloves, and close encounters with a porcupine, Stephen Greenblatt Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare might be for you.

 

[FurryFury]

Sounds interesting.

I'm starting Harry #5.

I've been reading another completely bizarre book about Shakespeare. It has pretty good reviews on Amazon but it's pretty out there.

But if you're into reading speculations about William Shakespeare's erotic experiences in school plays, relationship with gloves, and close encounters with a porcupine, Stephen Greenblatt Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare might be for you.

 

[AlwaysFara]

The Immortalists by*Kyle Mills* 4/5 A nice taunt thriller except the end where they wrapped it up too quickly.

Will Supervillains Be on the Final? (Liberty Vocational #1) by*Naomi Novik 2/5 Too far out of my comfort zone. Too little story.

Year Zero: A Post Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Jack Archer Post Apocalyptic Survival Series Book 3) by*Keith Taylor 2/5 Free book. TANSTAAFL

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by*Maria Semple 2/5 Entitled assholes you could never like and that is not a win for my reading.

That last one? They picked for one of the book clubs. They pick books like that often.
I’ve started to skip that book club.

 

[Blase]

I've been reading another completely bizarre book about Shakespeare. It has pretty good reviews on Amazon but it's pretty out there.

But if you're into reading speculations about William Shakespeare's erotic experiences in school plays, relationship with gloves, and close encounters with a porcupine, Stephen Greenblatt Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare might be for you.

Sounds interesting.

I'm still waiting for William Shakespeare: Vampire Hunter.