Down the TBR Hole #133

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf is down to 1129 books. I finished and started several books over the past couple of weeks.
This week’s books:

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth – KEEP. I like that this story looks at what happens to the heroes after they’re done doing heroic things.

The Rise of Wolf 8 by Rick McIntyre – KEEP. I absolutely love wolves, and I enjoy reading about them.

I Touched a Cat and I Liked It by Anna Blandford – KEEP. I love reading about cats even more than wolves, and I especially enjoy cat humor.

Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae – KEEP. I’ve had this Scottish Cozy Mystery on my TBR for quite a while, and I’m planning to finally read it sometime this month.

Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide by J.K. Rowling – KEEP. This is the third book in the “Pottermore Presents” trilogy, of which I’ve already read books one and two.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1129 books. The next post will be mostly books I already own that I’m planning on reading this Winter and am unlikely to be getting rid of any time soon.

Down the TBR Hole #132

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf is still at 1132 books.  Though I finished a book, I also added one to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

Cursed Objects by J.W. Ocker – KEEP. I bought this after Jenny Lawson recommended it, though I can’t remember if it was a video she did about her bookshelves or if it was in one of the emails about the Fantastic Strangelings book club; maybe both?

Midnight Horr Show by Ben Lathrop – KEEP.  The synopsis is vague about the plot, but descriptive of what kind of book this is – Gothic Horror.  I’m willing to find out if it’s worth my time.

Halloween Fiend by C.V. Hunt – KEEP.  I’m willing to give this one a chance, but I’m very skeptical, mostly because how do you sacrifice a person in the town every single night and not run out of people?!  It’s only 112 pages, so I guess I’ll find out.

Hail Mary by Andy Weir – KEEP.  I’ve been putting off reading this one because I’m afraid it won’t be as good as The Martian, which I LOVED. I need to get past that and just accept that it might not be, and that’s ok.

Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin – KEEP.  I bought this because I liked The Happiness Project and my aspirational self is someone who will read self-improvement books like this and put the knowledge I get from them to use.  Sometimes, my true self and my aspirational self are the same, and since ebooks don’t take up physical shelf space, I will keep this one for now for those reasons only.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1132 books. The next post will be more of the ebooks and physical books I already own.

Down the TBR Hole #131

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf is still at 1132 books.  Though I finished a lot of books this past week, I also added a lot to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

True Grit by Charles Portis – KEEP. I don’t usually read Westerns, but this one sounds intriguing.

The Unbound by Victoria Schwab – KEEP.  This is the 2nd book in the “Archived” series, and I will probably have to reread the 1st book to jog my memory, but I’m okay with that because the 3rd book hasn’t been published yet. I’ll probably wait until there’s a release date.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King – KEEP.  I knew this was a sequel, but I couldn’t remember to which book.  It turns out it’s the sequel to The Outsider along with 3 other unrelated short stories.

Once: A Belmouth Tale by David J. Thacker – KEEP.  This one is still on my wishlist because I’m on the fence about it.  It was recommended in a podcast that I now can’t remember, but it’s also self-published.  I know that sometimes self-published books become some of the best I’ve read, but more often than not, they end up on my DNF list.  The ebook is well under $5, so I might get it at some point, but I’m not in any hurry.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry – KEEP.  This is an alternate-history fantasy story, and I think I will greatly enjoy it.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1132 books. The next post will be a mix of ebooks and physical books I already own.

Down the TBR Hole #130

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf is down to 1132 books.  I finished 4 books this week, mostly thanks to Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon.
This week’s books:

Dare to Lead by Brené Brown – KEEP. I bought the ebook when I was participating in a professional development group at my job at the time.  For one reason or another, I never finished reading it, but I would like to give it another go at some point.

High Lonesome Sound by Jaye WellsKEEP.  The synopsis makes it seem like this is just the kind of Horror I love!

How to Succeed in Evil by Patrick E. McLean – KEEP.  I will buy and read any book by McLean, even if it takes me a while to get around to it.

Seeing Things by Sonora Taylor – KEEP.  This one has been on my wishlist for a while, but I’ve never come across it in any bookstores.  I’ll probably order it at some point because it sounds like the kind of Horror I would have loved to read during the Summer when I was a teen.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert – KEEP.  I think it’s safe to say this is Dark Fantasy, and I’m all for it.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1132 books. The next post will be more Horror books I already own.

Down the TBR Hole #129

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf is back up to 1138 books.  I added a book to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow – KEEP. I want to read about an alien who loves pop music!

Bent Heavens by Daniel KrausKEEP.  I’m not sure about this one.  It’s Science Fiction, but it’s also Horror.  I’m going to try it out next year when #SciFiSummer and #RIP overlap.

The History of The Hobbit by John D. Rateliff – KEEP.  I will buy and read almost any book related to The Hobbit.

Recursion by Blake Crouch – GO.  I bought this during the pandemic when the independent bookstores in my area were starting to open back up.  I remember not wanting to leave the store without buying anything, but I couldn’t find anything I REALLY wanted to read.  There was also a bit of a line of people waiting to come into the store.  Those aren’t the best reasons to buy any book, but that’s what happened, and I can let this one go now.

The Horror Club by Mark Morris – KEEP.  The original title of this book is Toady.  I’m not sure why it was changed; probably for marketing purposes.  I had it on my wishlist under the original title for a long time but wasn’t able to find it anywhere until I found out about the title change.
My want-to-read shelf is back down one book to 1137. The next post will be mostly Horror books I already own.

Down the TBR Hole #128

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf is down to 1138 books.  I’ve been reading a lot and not buying any books.
This week’s books:

The First City by Joe Hart – KEEP. This is the last book in “The Dominion” trilogy, and I would like to read it during next year’s #SciFiSummer.

Braving the Wilderness by Brené BrownGO.  I bought this when I was struggling greatly with my mental health and had read one of the author’s other books, which helped me quite a bit.  I’m sure it would be helpful to someone and that’s why I’m letting it go; otherwise, it will continue to sit on my shelf unread.  If I need it at some point, I can always buy another copy.

Outpost by Dan Richards – KEEP.  I don’t know when I’ll finally get around to reading this or if I’ll enjoy it, but I’m sure I’ll want to do a bit of armchair traveling at some point, maybe even this Winter.

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn – KEEP.  This book had been on my wishlist for years and I finally decided to buy the ebook.

Silence: In the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge – KEEP.  I love silence, especially after a long day at work, and I think reading this book will provide a bit of quiet hygge.
My want-to-read shelf is down one book to 1137. The next post will be more of the physical books I already own.

Down the TBR Hole #127

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf is still sitting at 1142 books.
This week’s books:

The Devil’s Bible by Dana Chamblee Carpenter – KEEP. I loved Bohemian Gospel, and I’m going to end up having to buy this book online at some point because I have never come across it in any of my bookstore hunts.

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman – KEEP.  The “Practical Magic” series is one of my favorites, and I especially enjoy reading them during Autumn.  I will probably read this one sometime this month.

 

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson – KEEP.  I think I’m going to finally read this one before the end of the year.

Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game by Chris Grabenstein – KEEP.  This is the fourth book in the “Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” series.  They’re fun and light Middle-Grade books full of book-related puzzles.

Boundary Lines by Melissa F. Olson – KEEP.  This is the second book in the “Boundary Magic” series and the only reason I haven’t read it yet is because it’s an ebook, and I’ve been focused on reading my physical books.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1142 books. The next post will be a mix of genres and formats of books I already own.

Down the TBR Hole #126

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf went back up to 1142 books. I finished a book but bought a couple of audiobooks.
This week’s books:

Disciples of Blood by Reece Bridger – KEEP. This is the second book in the “Buan” series, and it’s been so long since I read the first book that I’ll probably have to reread it before I read this one. I do remember that I enjoyed The Perfect Mortals so much I gave it 5 stars, but I don’t remember much more than that.

The Mad Apprentice by Django Wexler – KEEP.  This is the second book in “The Forbidden Library” series, and I absolutely loved the first book.

 

Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld – KEEP.  This is the third book in the “Midnighters” series.  I haven’t read the second book, yet, so I’ll keep this one on my wishlist for now.

The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley – KEEP.  This is the second book in “The Scottish” series.  As far as I can tell, the stories aren’t related beyond being set in Scotland, so I’m not sure why they’re a series. The first book, The Winter Sea, helped me get through a bit of “Droughtlander.” I’m hoping this one will be just as good.

City of Thirst by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis – KEEP.  This is the second book in the “Map to Everywhere” series and another one in which I will probably have to reread the first book to jog my memory.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1142 books. The next post will be more books from various series that I have already started.

Down the TBR Hole #125

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf is up a couple of books to 1143. I added a couple of audiobooks to my TBR.
This week’s books:

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher – KEEP. This sounds like a perfect book for #RIP.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy – KEEP.  I have no idea if I will enjoy this, but it is set during the French Revolution, so I’ll give it a chance.

Machine Learning by Hugh Howey – KEEP.  I loved Wool, so I’m interested to read this short story collection.

The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King – KEEP.  This might be the next book I read.  It’s a part of the “Dark Tower” series, which I need to continue sooner rather than later.

Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier – KEEP.  This is the fourth book in the “Sevenwaters” series, another one that I really need to pick up again before I completely forget what happened in the previous books.
My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1143 books. The next post will be a mix of physical books and ebooks I already own.

Down the TBR Hole #124

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My shelf went back up to 1141 books.  I finished a book but added a few to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams – KEEP. This is the 4th book in the “Secret, Book, and Scone Society” series, of which I’ve read the first 3 books. I will probably read this one sometime before the end of the year.

The Complete Poems of Walt Whitman by Walt Whitman – GO.  I got this book to read as part of a free class that I started during the pandemic, but never finished, and now can’t even remember what the course was called or what website it was on.  I’ve never been much of a poetry reader anyway, so I’m not likely to ever get around to reading this one.

Turtle Recall by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs – KEEP.  One of my long-term reading goals is to read every “Discworld” book that Sir Pratchett ever wrote.

All I Ever Wanted by Kathy Valentine – KEEP.  A memoir by the bassist of the Go-Go’s, one of my favorite bands.  I have the audiobook since she also narrated it, and music memoirs narrated by the musician usually end up being some of my favorite books.

Donn’s Hill by Caryn Larrinaga – KEEP.  This book sounds like perfect reading during #RIP.
My want-to-read shelf is one book to 1140. The next post will be mostly physical books I already own.