Monday, April 29, 2019

Greek Easter!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?
My youngest turned 18, so we had a nice family dinner with his favorite foods and cake. Then he immediately got a part time job and disappeared from the dinner table for the rest of the week. He did manage to mow most of the lawn this weekend.

I made a Greek dinner on Saturday (since I don't cook on Sundays) which fell a bit flat since the working boy is really the only Greek guy, but the rest of us enjoyed the tzatziki and pitas.

My currently reading inched up to 22. That's about seven books I have a bookmark in but which really are gathering dust, six books I'm deliberately reading glacially, four print books I'm actively reading (book club pick, library book, unread book I own, reread that I own), and six situational books (my car audio, my podcast serial, my KINDLE app book, my NOOK app book, my LIBBY app book, my IBOOK app book). See, that's almost normal!

The Book Date does a weekly roundup of what people are reading, want to read, or have read each week called It's Monday! What Are You Reading so I'll sign up there. There's also a version that is kidlit focussed at either Teach Mentor Texts or Unleashing Readers so I'll sign up over there as my Cybils chapter books and my picture book reading qualifies me.

Started: 

Serpentine (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #26)WalkawayBecomingThe Way Into Magic  (The Great Way #2)
Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer GirlMegabat (Megabat #1)Polly Diamond and the Magic BookOwen and Eleanor Move in

Serpentine, Laurell K Hamilton. I convinced my book club friends to try this when they wanted something different. Hope they enjoy it! It's kind of a cheat because I haven't finish my Sword and Laser book for April, but this one guarantees no deep emotional involvement.

Walkaway, Cory Doctorow. For my Tuesday book club, chosen because it was given away at Tor.com's book club. We like free books and we cannot lie!

Becoming, Michelle Obama. My sister lent me her birthday present.

The Way Into Magic, Harry Connolly. Unread book from my NOOK. This is one of my favorite authors.

Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl, Debbi Michiko Florence. Cybils chapter book.

Megabat, Anna Humphrey. Cybils chapter book.

Polly Diamond and the Magic Book, Alice Kuipers. Cybils chapter book.

Owen and Eleanor: Move In, H.M. Bouwman. Cybils chapter book.

Completed:

Terran Tomorrow (Yesterday's Kin Trilogy, #3)Serpentine (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #26)
Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer GirlMegabat (Megabat #1)Polly Diamond and the Magic BookOwen and Eleanor Move in

Terran Tomorrow, Nancy Kress. My book. I was deeply satisfied by the ending, and I'm not sure yet why. I like the echoes of Beggars in Spain, and I liked the incompleteness of the understanding of the causes of the plagues, and I liked the two son's different fates and decisions. I liked how sacrifices were made but not lingered over, and how much changed in the last few chapters.

Serpentine, Laurell K Hamilton. Fun times in the sun with my favorite snowflake, Anita. She gets to do some real executing with her besties, and that's always fun. As is her willingness to overshare with every random person she meets, and her angst about staying manly enough to work with the police. The incredibly bizarre gender politics her characters believe in so unquestionably makes me wonder where the people who talk like that really are. Sometimes they are comfortable saying things that are best left unspoken, and sometimes they are blithely sure that everyone believes things that seem utterly whack-a-doodle.

Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl, Debbi Michiko FlorenceCybils chapter book. Fun but predictable story of a girl gaining a new skill in time for a talent show. She also learns some moral lessons.

Megabat, Anna Humphrey. Cybils chapter book. Another fun book but unfortunately marred by the "girls are mysteries" thing that I (in my old age) find very annoying. If a girl does something, it's because that's how girls are, if a boy does something, it's because that's how *he* is. So the bat apparently likes girls because he likes the neighbor, but his dislike of her brother is personal.

Polly Diamond and the Magic Book, Alice Kuipers. Cybils chapter book. Another fun family book where Polly's love of words and their uses is matched by a rather literal magic book the makes the magic of words a reality. It takes some fancy talking (and writing!) to return to normal.

Owen and Eleanor: Move In, H.M. Bouwman. Cybils chapter book. I really liked the kids-eye view of the world, especially as the kids see themselves heading into trouble but can't stop themselves. The parents were really great without being unrealistic. And I'm a sucker for homeschoolers who are fine with it.

Bookmarks Moved In:

Son of the Black Sword (Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, #1)Cyteen (Cyteen, #1-3)You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
Metal Wolf (Warriors of Galatea, #1)Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2)The Fated Sky (Lady Astronaut, #2)


Son of the Black Sword, Larry Correia. 40/? Baen's podcast serial.  The super bad guy has started cackling, so his evil plan has gone into action!

Cyteen, C.J. Cherryh. Reread. Ari and her azi are super cute kids.

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, Alexie Sherman. 1-4/10 discs. My RML audio pick. I like his poems better when he reads them to me; I suspect on print I would skim them and not get it.

Metal Wolf, Lauren Esker. Kindle read. He's still hot, and her dad likes him. Communication is working, so this relationship is green lit! Of course, he is a blue shape-shifting alien, so a few cultural misunderstandings are to be expected.

Theft of Swords, Michael J Sullivan. Sword & Laser pick for April. This is two books in one; the first was fun but a bit lacking in interesting women; apparently the second gets better about this but so far I'm not seeing it. The two main women characters are treated poorly by the text; I'm not sure if one is playing dumb or just comes by it naturally. It's a shame.

The Fated Sky, Mary Robinette Kowal. It's hard to be envied for a public role as America's Favorite Astronaut when that part of the job is the worst. I also reread "The Lady Astronaut" and it was very timely as some of that is referenced in this book. And then the prequel which was a bit disturbing.


Picture Books:

Zog and the Flying DoctorsSunMimi and Shu in I'll Race You!
That Neighbor KidBe Still, Life

Zog and the Flying Doctors, Julia Donaldson. A cute story with some clunky rhymes takes a strange left turn into a hostage situation caused by a crazy sexist uncle. No hard feelings, though!

Sun, Sam Usher. The illustrations alternate between reality and imagination-enhanced until the final pages are a huge blow-out dream and then a return to home. Charming.

Mimi and Shu in I'll Race You, Christian Trimmer. A mythic retelling of the Chinese calendar with added cupcakes and two friends who can't resist their sweet lure.

That Neighbor Kid, Daniel Miyares. Lovely nearly wordless book of a new neighbor, a new treehouse, and a new friendship.

Be Still, Life, Ohara Hale. A confused book where the words and pictures don't really match up -- the bright and energetic illustrations are paired with calls for quiet mediation and stillness.

Palate Cleansers

These books I'm barely reading; I use them as palate cleansers between books I'm actually reading.

A Traitor to Memory (Inspector Lynley, #11)Sammy Keyes and the Art of DeceptionChange of Heart (Robyn Hunter, #7)The Inn of the Sixth HappinessThe Educated Child: A Parents Guide from Preschool Through Eighth GradeReading and Learning to Read

A Traitor to Memory, Elizabeth George.

Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception, Wendelin Van Draanen.

Change of Heart, Norah McClintock.

Inn of the Sixth Happiness, Alan Burgess. Our protagonist is left as the only English in the village.

The Educated Child, William Bennett. Apparently preschoolers need our time. Fair enough.

Reading and Learning to Read, Jo Anne Vaca. Summary of vocabulary boosting techniques.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

2019 KCLS Ten to Try Challenge



SUCCESS!



And the King County Library System is once again hosting their 10 To Try Reading Challenge, with a new podcast to help promote it. And since I'm all about the library, I'm signed up.

I even have a Library List chronicling my progress. Of which so far there is sadly very little, so you can't see it (lists can't be published until they hit 4 books). I think the only category I've accidentally completed this year is Children's Book. Although come to think of it, I did read a children's historical fiction book. And it was about an immigrant family.

Update -- As of mid-May I've crossed off four books and can publish my LIST! I think. Can someone let me know if that's right? It works for me.

I think I'll just declare everything read before April as off limits and start from here. So I'd better get started!

This year the Chosen Ten are:

Monday, April 22, 2019

Easter

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?
Rainy weather is sure bringing my lawn up. Which is bad because it is not inspiring my son to mow more. He has inherited my distaste for gardening and lawn maintenance so things are looking decidedly shaggy around here.

This weekend was Norwescon, which I went to mainly for manning the table promoting my favorite convention, Foolscap. I hope I enticed a few new people. Also got to wander around and see interesting people (lots of fun costumes) and listen to some interesting talks, particularly by the guest of honor Mary Robinette Kowal and Nancy Pearl. Then I stayed home for Easter for a traditional meal of ham and green stuff (asparagus, salad) with my sister and family.

My currently reading remains around 20. That's about five books I have a bookmark in but really are gathering dust, six books I'm deliberately reading glacially, four print books I'm actively reading (book club pick, library book, unread book I own, reread that I own), and five situational books (my car audio, my podcast serial, my KINDLE app book, my NOOK app book, my LIBBY app book). See, that's almost normal!

The Book Date does a weekly roundup of what people are reading, want to read, or have read each week called It's Monday! What Are You Reading so I'll sign up there. There's also a version that is kidlit focussed at either Teach Mentor Texts or Unleashing Readers so I'll sign up over there as my Cybils YA and my picture book reading qualifies me.

Started: 

Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2)The Fated Sky (Lady Astronaut, #2)The Educated Child: A Parents Guide from Preschool Through Eighth Grade

Theft of Swords, Michael J Sullivan. Sword & Laser pick for April.

The Fated Sky, Mary Robinette Kowal. From library temptations shelf. And I got to read it while she was in the same room!

The Educated Child, William Bennett. Adding this to my palate cleanser pile. This is the perfect time to read this as my youngest is about to graduate. I can see how I did!


Completed:

Feminasty: The Complicated Woman's Guide to Surviving the Patriarchy Without Drinking Herself to DeathThey Both Die at the EndThe Honor of the Queen (Honor Harrington, #2)

Feminasty, Erin Gibson. I felt very old as I read this book. I don't do the exciting bar things she describes, and I've already lived all the shocking patriarchal traps she lists.

They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera. Cybils YA. The idea is that a magical bureaucracy notifies people on the day that they die, and the world accepts this without wonder and deals with it. In specific, two young men deal with their notices by hooking up through an app and trying to make their last day count. Do not get distracted by the mechanics of the concept -- the point is just living what are the last hours of a life. In Nancy Perl's metaphor, this book is about People and Plot, with the two doomed boys and the way they spend their day (and their interactions with a few other viewpoints) drive the book.

The Honor of the Queen, David Weber. My Tuesday's book club pick. Honor pulls another successful battle or three out of her butt, and suddenly the rewards start rolling in -- she's inducted into the aristocracy! On two planets she now has titles and swank. I enjoyed it for Place and Plot -- the book is very insistent on its setting and the imaginary history and politics driving events, and then the buildups to the frantic clarity of decisive action.


Bookmarks Moved In:

Son of the Black Sword (Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, #1)Cyteen (Cyteen, #1-3)Terran Tomorrow (Yesterday's Kin Trilogy, #3)
You Don't Have to Say You Love MeMetal Wolf (Warriors of Galatea, #1)

Son of the Black Sword, Larry Correia. 39/? Baen's podcast serial. People moving around in preparation to do something. Sometimes the weekly serial part is a bit slow moving.

Cyteen, C.J. Cherryh. Reread. Justin is a very anxious guy. Poor Grant is trying to hold things together for them.

Terran Tomorrow, Nancy Kress. My book. Wow, things are not getting better for our characters. Half of them are out of commission, which makes the whole besieged thing even rougher.

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, Alexie Sherman. 1-3/10 discs. My RML audio pick. I am warming up to his narration.

Metal Wolf, Lauren Esker. Kindle read. He's hot but so far doesn't speak much English. And she doesn't speak Alien.

Patricia Briggs. Also, I kept picking up all my Patricia Briggs books and skimming through for favorite scenes. Really looking forward to the new book out in a few weeks.

Picture Books:

I Just Ate My FriendSpace DogLiang's TreasureBen's Trumpet
Sam and Dave Dig a HoleJamal's JourneyZak and His Little Lies

I Just Ate My Friend, Heidi McKinnon. Another great book for kids with a sense of humor.

Space Dog, Mini Grey. Fun words match with cheerful illustrations and a good story and message as a space dog, cat, and mouse (traditional enemies) journey together in harmony and tabletop games.

Liang's Treasure, Yeo-Rin Yum. Great ending -- girl is mean to her friend and misses the chance to say goodbye when the girl moves all the way across China. Geography and 100 Dresses in a mash-up.

Ben's Trumpet, Rachel Isadora. I really enjoyed the simple text and the lovely illustrations.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, Mac Barnett. I got a chuckle out of the many ways the boys miss the treasure, and how the ending is ambiguous and the illustrations reward close attention.

Jamal's Journey, Michael Foreman. Camels in the desert. Fun story and a peek into another continent.

Zak and His Little Lies, J. Samia Mair. This was a tedious moral story that trudged along in compliant steps to its Improving Resolution.

Palate Cleansers

These books I'm barely reading; I use them as palate cleansers between books I'm actually reading.

A Traitor to Memory (Inspector Lynley, #11)Sammy Keyes and the Art of DeceptionChange of Heart (Robyn Hunter, #7)The Inn of the Sixth HappinessReading and Learning to Read

A Traitor to Memory, Elizabeth George. Even the cops are rotten people.

Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception, Wendelin Van Draanen. Poor Sammy has to talk to the boy who is her friend. And maybe a boyfriend.

Change of Heart, Norah McClintock.

Inn of the Sixth Happiness, Alan Burgess.

Reading and Learning to Read, Jo Anne Vaca. Summary of vocabulary boosting techniques.