Homebody

Had my penultimate elementary book club at Talbot Hill this week. The June meeting is a big party, so I just have to buy cookies and I’m ready. Still lots of kids, though!

Goodreads thinks I am reading 69 books. But I’ve been very slack about marking things done while keeping up with books I’ve started so it’s probably not much over 65. Much better, right?

Books Completed May 16 - May 22

Rissa Kerguelen, F.M Busby. Finally finished this — I didn’t not quite manage by the book club but the remit was only the first two books in this omnibus. The style was interesting in that the narrator felt like an authentic unreliable narrator but we weren’t sure that was what the author intended. Many of the things we suspected were part of the 70s zeitgeist now worked to give it an almost futuristic feel but in a “people adapt to strange circumstances” way rather than this is the natural progress of people. The sexual dynamics were often jarring. It was also fun for me to have flashes of memory, because I read some of this decades ago.

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain, Sofia Samara. Hugo finalist. Definitely in conversation with River Solomon’s generation book. I enjoyed the rich, descriptive, emphatic language and how it contrasted with the setting; I’m not sure I buy the mystical stuff that was maybe advanced use of technology. But a very satisfying and contemplative read. 

Jessie and the Superbrat, Ann Martin. The title is a bit deceiving, because Jessi and the brat get along well and even help each other a lot. Instead we see a celebrity kid who keeps getting jumped back and forth between his suburban home and Hollywood, and how the reintegration into mundane world isn’t seamless. And then as he works it out he is yanked back to stardom, but we are sure it will all be fine.

Network Effect, Martha Wells. Definitely not supposed to finish this. Oh well. I like the introduction of three and how Murderbot’s friends help it navigate its relationship with Art, and seeing what Art did and didn’t tell its crew.

Saving Verakko, Victoria Avelina. I started this for the romance club but didn’t finish in time for the alien skies discussion. I liked some of the worldbuilding; the author talks in the afterward about wanting to have two beloved tropes in the same book (alpha male and matriarchy) and I think she succeeded pretty well. Both main characters had to make some silly but unquestioned assumptions but they were in character.

I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967, Lauren Tarshis. This has the protagonist’s aunt writing the crucial National Geographic article about the grizzly situation at Glacier Park, which seems counter-factual, but probably the fatal deaths had more to do with the policy changes that discouraged rather than encouraged the eating of tourists.

Stacey’s Mistake Graphic Novel, Ellen T. Crenshaw. A good match with the text version, replacing some of Stacey’s realizations with cute pictures but keeping the core of the stories, both babysitting and girl drama. It was fun seeing the changes in a fun afternoon out for unchaperoned girls with realistic budgets.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye, John Scalzi. The many different characters kept me from caring too much about any of them, but I think that was intentional. It was an interesting angle on apocalyptic fiction, appropriate for this year when that’s a theme for one of my book clubs,

Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, David Okrent. I liked this book my brother-in-law recommended; it put many things in context and showed me how long lasting the effects of this experiment are. 

Books Started

Mallory and the Trouble With Twins Graphic Novel,  Arlen Nopla. Still on my babysitter kick.

The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories, Yu Chen (editor). Some friends have a book club that reads short stories so I checked this out to see if I should join. The club met in March and I’m just starting, so I guess I have enough book clubs.

One Jump Ahead, Mark L Von Name. Baen Podcast next book. It will probably last a bit over a year.

Stacey’s Mistake Graphic Novel, Ellen T. Crenshaw. I am enjoying grabbing these from all the libraries I visit.

Death From the Skies!, Philip Plait. For Torches and Pitforks, a nice apocalypse book.

I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster 1937, Lauren Tarshis. Just because book club is over doesn’t mean I can’t keep reading these.

Bookmarks Moved

Alibi, Sharon Shinn

Autistic Community and the Neurodiversity Movement, Steven K. Kapp (editor)

Playlist For the Apocalypse, Rita Ball

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, David Mitchell

Tomb of Dragons, Katherine Addison

Watership Down, Richard Adams

Beauty Like the Night, Joanna Bourne

Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver. River Runs Under It pick

Exadelic, Jon Evans

Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch, Julie Abe

Cracker!, Cynthia Kadohata. 2007 Cybils finalist.

Threads That Bind, Kika Hatzopoulos

Bookmarks Languished

I have not given up on these! Ignore all evidence.

 

                                                                     Poppy and Marigold, Meg Welch Dendler.  

                                                             Wow, No Thank You, Samantha Irby.                                   

                                                       Samantha Smee: A Pirate’s Life, M.C. Dingman. 

                                                   Into the Vast Nothing, J. Bruno.

                                                  Marry Me By Midnight, Felicia Grossmann. 

                                             Long Live Evil, Sarah Rees Brennan.

                                      True Colors, Abby Cooper.

                              South Riding, Winifred Holtby.                   

         Lepunia: Kingdom of the Gallopers, Kevin Ford

   Tales From Watership Down, Richard Adams

   I’m Nobody, Who Are You?, Emily Dickinson

Picture Books and Short Stories  

“Human Resource,” Adrian Tchaikovsky. Grim story about the future of H.R.

Books on Slow Mode

Home Comforts, Cheryl Mendleson. I read one section a day. Except when I’m reading a Bookworm novel.

At the Feet of the Sun, Victoria Goddard. Kip having an adventure. Into himself. 

50 Great Poets, ed. Milton Crane (no picture). Mail bribe.

The Writer's Stance: Reading and Writing in the Disciplines, Dorothy U. Seyler. (no picture). Mail bribe. I like essays.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Marlon. Mail bribe.

War Cross, Marie Lu. Mail bribe. I don’t like spectator sports much.

Teaching With Caldecott Books, Scholastic books. Mail bribe. Making reading analysis fun.

Year of Wonder, Clemency Burton-Hill. Mail bribe. Still in November.

Books Acquired

Library:

The Brides of High Hill, Nghi Vo

Alien Clay, Adrian Tchaikovsky

Navigational Entanglements, Aliette de Bodard

I Survived the Nazi Invasion 1944, Lauren Tarshis

Wow, No Thank You, Samantha Irby

Kristy and the Walking Disaster, Ann M. Martin

Dawn and the Impossible Three Graphic Novel, Gale Gallican from Ann M. Martin

The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway

Bought:

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frank Weiler, E.L. Königsberg

Future Plans

This is for the actual future, so weeks beyond the books in this post. It is also probably wrong.

I am reading: 

• Book I own: Exadelic
• Library Book: Scary Stories For Young Foxes:The City
• Ebook I own: Alibi
• Foolscap Book Club Book:  The Jewels of Aptor
• Sword and Laser Club Book:  Micky7
• Scintillation Book Club: 
• Cloudy Book Club:  A Dark and Drowning Tide
• Torches and Pitchfork Book Club:  Hell Followed With Us
• River Runs Under It Book Club: The Sun Also Rises (finish Demon Copperhead)
• Talbot Hill Book: Party Time! No Book.
• Friday Book Club: The Road to Roswell
• Romance Book Club: A vacation romance