Down the TBR Hole #91

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How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile went up a few books to 1101, thanks to finding a couple of books I own that somehow never got added to Goodreads.  I also added a couple of books to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

All the Other Things I Really Need to Know I Learned from Watching Star Trek: The Next Generation by Dave Marinaccio – KEEP.  This is yet another book I got from a friend who was getting rid of a bunch of books and let me dig through them.

Tompkin’s School for the Extraordinarily Talented by Tabi Slick – GO.  This book was given to me as a random gift, but I’m really not interested in reading it.

Ralph: Coffee, Jazz & Poetry by Ralph Alfonso – KEEP.  I don’t remember where I found this one, but I got it because I used to be obsessed with anything related to the Beatniks.  I’m not obsessed anymore, but I’m still interested.

To the Last Man I Slept with and All the Jerks Just Like Him by Gwendolyn Zepeda- GO. The synopsis doesn’t match up with what I thought this book was.  I was expecting Fiction, maybe short stories, and definitely humor, but it’s more like a mix of personal essays and poetry with some bits of short fiction thrown in.

Memory Mambo by Achy Obejas – GO.  I used to read anything and everything I could find about what it’s like growing up as a Cuban-American, since I’m part Cuban; however, it wasn’t long before I figured out that none of those books ever came close to my experience and just made me feel even more like an outsider than the characters often feel.
My TBR pile is down to 1098 books. The next post will be more physical books I own, and if I get rid of any of them, I’ll be surprised.

Down the TBR Hole #90

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile dropped to 1099, thanks to finsihing several books during #BoutofBooks and this past week.  I also removed a few books from my wishlist that I was no longer interested in reading.

This week’s books:

The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale – GO.  I don’t remember where or when I got this book, or even why I bought it.  Perhaps it came in one of the subscription boxes I used to get.  Regardless, I’m not interested in reading it.

Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery – KEEP.  I grouped these three together as one since they’re the remaining books in the “Anne of Green Gables” series, which I’ve been slowly re-reading over the past few years.  They will be moved into my permanent collection once I’ve finished them, along with the rest of the books in the series.

Arms from the Sea by Rich Shapero – GO.  I picked this one up for free at the Texas Book Festival so many years ago, back when I didn’t bother with reading the blurb to see if I even wanted to read it as long as it was a free book.  I’m glad I don’t do that anymore.  There’s no need to have books I never plan on reading on my shelves.

Borne by Jeff Vandermeer – KEEP. I didn’t love Annhilation, and didn’t bother getting the second book in the “Southern Reach” series for that reason, but I got this book in a book swap meetup before I had read Annhilation. Though I’m hesitant, I’m going to give this one the 50 page test.

The Metaphysics of Star Trek by Richard Hanley – KEEP.  I got this one for free from a friend who was getting rid of a bunch of books.  It’s a bit old, having been published in the late 90’s, but well after “Star Trek: The Next Generation” so I’m willing to see what the author has to say, if only for the reminisence of one of my all-time favorite Sci-Fi series.
My TBR pile is down a couple of books at 1096 books. The next few posts will be more of the physical books I own, and though I had predicted not getting rid of any of them in the last post, I’m now not so sure about that after getting rid of 2 books this week.  There just might be a few more that get tossed.

Down the TBR Hole #89

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile went up a couple of books to 1117, despite me finishing several books since my last “Down the TBR Hole” post.  Of course, I keep finding more books to add to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse – KEEP.  I came across this book in a Half Price Books store when I was still living in Austin.  I’m a sucker for stories taking place in France, especially when they involve mythology, so I bought it without any clue as to whether or not it would be any good.

Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran – KEEP.  I love Moran and everything I’ve read of hers so far, so  buying this was a no-brainer.

The Hunger Games and Philosophy ed. by George A. Dunn and Nicolas Michaud, – KEEP.  “The Hunger Games” is one of my all-time favorite trilogies, and the 3rd book, especially, helped me process a lot of my experiences in the Army.  I don’t know if this book will do the same, but I am interested to read about the books from a philosophical perspective.

The Essential World of Darkness ed. by Stewart Wieck and Anna Branscome – KEEP. I took this book out of a box of books a friend was getting rid of, but had no idea it was an anthology of stories set in the world of a popular RPG series I have never played.  The Boyfriend says I’ll probably still enjoy it, so I’m going to give it a shot.

Revenge of the Star Survivors by Michael Mershel – KEEP.  I picked this up at the Texas Book Festival several years ago after attending one of the panel events that the author was on.  It sounded like the perfect Middle-Grade-beginning-of-the-school-year book for me.
My TBR pile is holding steady at 1117 books. After scrolling down the list a bit, I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of any of my books in the next few posts, but who knows, maybe there’s a surprise waiting for all of us somewhere in there.

Down the TBR Hole #88

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile shot up to 1115 books.  I added a large series to my wishlist so that I don’t have to keep looking up what the next book is as I finish them.

This week’s books:

Road Trips, Head Trips, and Other Car-Crazed Writings ed. by Jean Lindamood Jennings – KEEP.  I love road trips and books about them.

An Introduction to Women’s Writing ed. by Marion Shaw – KEEP.  Goodreads doesn’t have a synopsis, there are no other editions listed, and no reviews.  However, I remember finding this at a campus booksale for a $1, and I’m still interested in reading it.

Through Time by Andrew Cartmel – KEEP.  This was another “Doctor Who” book I got in a giveaway.

Wonder Woman Psychology ed. by Travis Langley – KEEP. I usually get the “[Insert fandom here] and Philosophy” books, but I didn’t see one for “Wonder Woman.”  Instead, I found this on the shelf at the bookstore, and I’m interested to see my favorite DC comic book character through the lens of psychology.

Dinosaur Highway by Laurie E. Jasinski – KEEP.  I LOVE Dinosaurs, and one of the biggest events every semester during my time in the Texas State University Geology Club was to go to a very small Natural History museum to help clean their portion of the dinosaur tracks and the surrounding area of debris.  The tracks we worked on were only viewable to regular visitors from a boardwalk, so it felt extra special to be able to get up close and personal with the tracks without having to be someone with letters after my name.  I bought this book in the museum’s gift shop during one of those trips so that I could learn more about the tracks and the history of the area.
My TBR pile is holding steady at 1115 books. I don’t know if it’s easier to get rid of ebooks than the physical books I own or if I’m just choosier about the physical books I buy, but I don’t seem to be willing to part with my physical books like I have the ebooks in previous posts.

Down the TBR Hole #87

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile went down to 1092 books.  I noticed that my individual TBR and Wishlist shelves weren’t adding up to the total that my to-read shelf was saying, and I spent far too much of my time figuring out why.

This week’s books:

Science Fiction Short Stories ed. by Laura Bulbeck – KEEP.  This was a gift from the Boyfriend.  I’m not sure what makes these stories “Gothic,” other than the cover, which is beautifully dark in my opinion, but I’m willing to find out.

Truth or Dare by Starhawk – KEEP.  This book is technically a re-read for me since I read it when I was in high school, but that was so long ago (gasp!) that I’ve kept it on my TBR as unread.

The Magician’s Lie by Greer Macallister – KEEP.  The synopsis opens with, “Water for Elephants meets The Night Circus…”, two books I greatly enjoyed.  The story itself sounds interesting as well.

Penny Dreadfuls ed. by Stefan R. Dziemianowicz – KEEP. I have so many “Penny Dreadful” books, but, while there is some overlap, they all have different stories.

A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne – KEEP.  This book came in a book subscription box I had signed up for years ago (2017) and I remember there being quite a bit of talk about it being amazing.  It has an average of 4.05 stars on Goodreads, with well over 4 thousand reviews, which lends credence to the hype.  I’m pretty sure the only reason I haven’t read it yet is because it is HEAVY and over 600 pages.  It will definitely have to be a nightstand book.
My TBR pile is holding steady at 1092 books. The next post will be loaded with more of the physical books I own.

Down the TBR Hole #86

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile shot up to 1098 books.  I finished the first book in a series, Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor, and added the rest of the series to my wishlist. This week’s books:

Hemingway Didn’t Say That by Garson O’Toole – KEEP.  This was a freebie, as many of my ebooks are, and I’m going to keep it because it sounds interesting, though it might end up being a dud as a lot of free and/or clearance Non-Fiction books tend to be. Extracted by R.R. Haywood – GO.  Time-Travel books are usually in my wheelhouse, but I’m just not feelin’ this one. Enemy by K. Eason – GO.  I’m not feelin’ this Fantasy novel, either. Golden Age by James Maxwell – GO. The synopsis for this book sounds like this is a Fantasy world ripped off from Ancient cultures. While a lot of Fantasy borrows elements from the real world, both past and present, this one sounds wholly unoriginal. Fan Phenomena: Doctor Who ed. by Paul Booth – KEEP.  I won a physical copy of this book, along with another one I’ll be taking a look at in the next post, from a blog giveaway years ago.  I’m still very much interested in reading it, and it will probably inspire me to re-watch “Doctor Who” for the third time.
My TBR pile is down a smidge to 1095 books. In the next post, I’ll start getting into a lot of the physical books I own that I had finally added to Goodreads after several years of saying I would get around to it eventually.

Down the TBR Hole #85

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile went up again to 1070 books. This week’s books:

Lost in Arcadia by Sean Gandert – GO.  This story seems to be an exaggeration of current events set in the near future, and I’m tired of the real world as it is.  I’ll pass on this one. The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King – GO.  An orphan who is constantly ill is picked by a tyrant to be one of his courtesans or wives if she wins in battle against his current courtesans and wives?!  Is it just me, or does that not make any sense at all?! Hannah: The Ugly Teapot by Fred Holmes – KEEP.  I’m skeptical, but it is a Middle-Grade Fantasy, and I LOVE a good Middle-Grade Fantasy.  I’ll give it a shot. Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan – KEEP. I’ve never read a WWII story from the perspective of an Italian. This one also happens to be based on a true story and isn’t just Historical Fiction. Scar Tissue by Scott Wiener – GO.  This literally has one review on Goodreads, and it’s only a star rating at that.  It is also self-published.  I’m not going to waste my time with a book that has been out in the world since 2017 and no one has been willing to review it.
My TBR pile is down to 1067 books. The next post will be made up of more Science Fiction and Fantasy ebooks that I got for free.

Down the TBR Hole #84

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile went up one from last week to 1065 books thanks to a new addition to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

A Beautiful Work in Progress by Mirna Valerio – KEEP.  I don’t remember where I got this ebook from, but I do remember that I got it because it’s a memoir about an overweight woman who runs, and not only am I overweight, but I wanted to get back into running.  Now that I’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition and am under doctor’s orders to not doing anything strenuous, I considered ditching this book.  Why get inspired to be a runner when I’m not able to run?!  However, I’m going to keep it on my TBR for a while longer.  I’m hoping that running is not something that I will have to put aside for the rest of my life. Song of Edmon by Adam Burch – GO.  The planet in this story is called Tao and is split between Daysiders and Nightsiders.  I’m assuming the author got this idea from the Taoist symbol and concept of Yin and Yang, and that’s just a little too on the nose for my tastes. Secondborn by Amy A. Bartol – KEEP.  I have a sneaking feeling this book is going to turn out to be a disappointment, but the first part of the synopsis sounds amazing.  I can’t pass up the possibility that it won’t end up as just another DNF, especially since I already own the ebook. Woodwalker by Emily B. Martin – KEEP. I have no idea if this will be worth reading, but I like the cover, the title, and the synopsis, so I’m keeping it. The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte by Ruth Hull Chatlien – KEEP.  I only got this because it’s about a real woman in history, who while perhaps didn’t do much that was historically significant, still led an interesting life worth reading about.  And, really, we need more books about history from the perspective of women.  Hopefully, this one will be good.
My TBR pile is back down to last week’s number of 1064 books. The next post will be made up entirely of Science Fiction and Fantasy ebooks that I got for free.

Down the TBR Hole #83

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile went up a couple more to 1066 books thanks to some more great books that I added to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

The Silver Music Box by Mina Baites – KEEP.  I’m getting a little bit tired of Historical Fiction about WWII, but this one looks like it might be different, so I’ll give it a try. The Vampyre ed. by John William Polidori – KEEP.  The page for this book on Goodreads has no synopsis, but I think this is a short story anthology.  I’m pretty sure I got this ebook for free years before I finally got around to adding it to my TBR on Goodreads, so I’ll give it a chance. Nightmare Abbey by Thomas Love Peacock – GO.  It turns out this is a satire and critique of my favorite Romance Era authors, so no, thank you, but I’ll pass. Mark of Fire by Richard Phillips – GO. I’m really getting tired of the “Girl with magical powers that she must master to save her world” trope.  Goodbye! Collected Works by Algernon Blackwood – KEEP.  This huge collection contains more than 80 short stories and 10 novels by Algernon Blackwood, famous for his ghost stories.  I’ve had the ebook for years and never seem to get around to it, but I know I will at some point.  I’ll keep it for now.
My TBR pile is down two to 1064 books. Over the next few weeks, the books will be mostly Science Fiction and Fantasy ebooks that have been in my collection for far longer than they’ve been on Goodreads.

Down the TBR Hole #82

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads 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 TBR pile went up again to 1064 books thanks to some really great books that I added to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

Lemprière’s Dictionary by Lawrence Norfolk – KEEP.  Years ago, I read and fell in love with John Saturnall’s Feast.  This is Norfolk’s debut novel, so while I’m not expecting it to be as great as John Saturnall’s Feast, I’m hoping it’s at least close. The Weight of Sound by Peter McDade – GO.  This is not quite what I thought it was when I added it to my wishlist back in 2017.  I’m also skeptical of a book that has nearly all 5-star reviews, but only 40 of them; it looks a little too much like the author got all of his friends and family to talk up his book. The Moral Animal by Robert Wright – KEEP.  A book about the science of morality (or the lack thereof) sounds fascinating, and I’ve read another book by Wright, The Evolution of God, that was excellent. Nonzero by Robin Wright – KEEP. Another book by Wright about Evolution and Humanity that sounds extremely interesting. Sorry Please Thank You by Charles Yu – KEEP.  This one is a collection of Science Fiction short stories all by one author, which I usually prefer to short story anthologies.  The three stories mentioned in the synopsis sound like the whole book is probably good.
My TBR pile is down one to 1063 books. Next week, most of the books are Horror ebooks I bought and haven’t looked at since adding them to my Kindle.