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 one book to 1131. I finished a book this week.
This week’s books:
The Rain Watcher by Tatiana De Rosnay – KEEP. I don’t remember where I got this book, but the story is set in Paris, and I’m pretty sure I read a review from one of the many blogs I used to read during that time and decided it was for me. I still think that, so I have no problem with keeping it.
We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory – KEEP. This sounds like it will be just as awesome as Spoonbenders.
Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne – KEEP. I tend to love comical Fantasy stories, and they usually end up on my list of all-time favorites. They’re fun, light, and don’t take themselves too seriously. I’m looking forward to reading this one, especially since it’s the first in a series.
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore – GO. This is one of those books that is probably really good, but I only got it because I felt I *should* read it, and that is never a good thing for me when it comes to books, especially if it’s a sad Non-Fiction story.
Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty – KEEP. I loved Beatty’s “Serafina” series, so I immediately bought this when it came out. Now that I’ve finished the “Serafina” series, I will probably start this one sooner rather than later.
My want-to-read shelf is down one more book to 1130 books. The next post will be a mix of physical, audio, and ebooks I already own, along with a book that has been on my wishlist for quite some time.
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 a few books to 1132. I finished a couple of books, bought a few ebooks, and then removed a few from my wishlist that I no longer want to read.
This week’s books:
Farmer Giles of Ham by J.R.R. Tolkien – KEEP. I haven’t read much of Tolkien’s other books, and I would like to change that.
The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake – KEEP. I got these 3 books after reading a review many years ago.
The Return of the Shadow, The Treason of Isengard, and The War of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – KEEP. These books are part of the “History of Middle Earth” and “History of The Lord of the Rings” series edited by Christopher Tolkien. During the pandemic, I signed up for an online college course through Signum University called “The Story of The Hobbit,” and some of the coursework involves reading parts of the series.
Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell – KEEP. I’ve greatly enjoyed Rowell’s other books, and this one is fairly short and contains two of her previously published short stories.
Unbound, Imprinted, and Revisionary by Jim C. Hines – KEEP. I love the “Magic Ex Libris” series so far, and I’m looking forward to when I finally pick the third book up. It’s been a couple of years since I finished the 2nd book. Books 4 and 4.5 are still on my wishlist because I only buy the books in a series one at a time as I finish them.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1132 books. The next post will be mostly ebooks I already own, and I’m not sure what I will decide to keep.
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 a couple of books to 1136. I finished a couple of audiobooks.
This week’s books:
The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso – KEEP. I have no idea when or where I got this ebook, and I’m not even sure if it was a freebie or if I bought it based on a recommendation or review. I’ll give it the 50-page test.
Big Damn Hero by Nancy Holder, The Magnificent Nine by James Lovegrove, and Generations by Tim Lebbon – KEEP. “Firefly” is one of my all-time favorite TV shows, and there is no way that I’ll get rid of these books.
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom – GO. While I’m sure this is an amazing story, the synopsis makes it seem like it is very heavy on religion, and I’m just not interested.
The Wisdom of Wolves by Jim and Jamie Dutcher – KEEP. The authors literally lived along side a pack of wolves for several years. There’s no way I’m not going to read this at some point.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber – KEEP. The synopsis reminds me a little of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, though the plots don’t seem similar at all. I’m willing to give it a try.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1135 books. The next post will be full of physical books I already own, and I know without a doubt that (with the exception of one book), I won’t be getting rid of them.
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 several books to 1138. I finished 5 books during the readathon on Saturday.
This week’s books:
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss – KEEP. I’ve been putting off reading this because there is still no sign of when the 3rd book in the “King Killer Chronicle” series will be published.
Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines – KEEP. I love the “Magic Ex Libris” series, and this book, the first book in the “Janitors of the Post-Apocolypse” series sounds like it will be just as fun.
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway – KEEP. This is all about the Ex-pat Writer’s experience in Paris during the 1920s, and I’m very interested in reading it.
Veins of Gold by Charlie N. Holmberg – KEEP. There isn’t a single book yet by Holmberg that I haven’t enjoyed.
Smoke and Summons by Charlie N. Holmberg – KEEP. See above. I haven’t read this one yet mostly because it’s the first in a trilogy, and I want to finish the “Paper Magician” series first.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1138 books. The next post will be mostly physical books I own and I highly doubt that I’ll be getting rid of any of them.
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 again to 1144. I finished a book, but I added a couple more to my wishlist.
This week’s books:
The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant – KEEP. I love darker Middle-Grade Fantasy.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins – KEEP. I think I started this book several years ago, but never finished it. I probably got distracted by other books. I will attempt to read this one again at some point.
A College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer – KEEP. I’m a little skeptical of this one, despite my love of Middle-Grade Fantasy, because the character and place names seem ridiculous and like the author is trying too hard to be original. I’m willing to give it a chance, though.
Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis – KEEP. This one looks too cute to not be worth keeping.
The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo – GO. The synopsis sounds far too depressing for this book to remain on my wishlist.
My want-to-read shelf is back down to 1143 books. The next post will be mostly ebooks I own and I don’t have a clue from first glance if I’ll want to keep them or not.
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 two books to 1144. I decided to remove a couple of books in a series from my wishlist.
This week’s books:
Chase Tinker and the House of Magic by Malia Ann Haberman – KEEP. The synopsis on Goodreads seems like it’s trying too hard, but I’m willing to give it a chance.
The Lucky Dime by Patrick E. McLean – KEEP. I have loved everything I’ve read by McLean, starting with the free “podiobook,” The Merchant Adventurer.
Walking by Henry David Thoreau – KEEP. I enjoy reading about walking, probably because I love The Hobbit so much, and this is an essay mostly about the joys of walking and Nature.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys – KEEP. This is going to be a heartbreaking novel, but I need and want to read it.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan – GO. I only bought this because I enjoyed Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore; however, after having lived in the Bay Area for several years and hating it about 75% of the time, there is no way I will want to read a story set there that isn’t even about books. It’s probably good, but no, thank you.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1143 books. The next post will be a mixture of ebooks and physical books that I own or are on my wishlist, and I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of any of them, but we’ll see!
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 two books to 1148. Though I finished several books, I also added several to my wishlist.
This week’s books:
The Broken Sword by Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy – KEEP. This is the 2nd book in the “Forever King” series, and I got it through Netgalley before I realized it was a sequel. I haven’t read the 1st book, The Forever King, yet, so I’m going to keep this one at least until I do.
Censored by Matthew Fellion and Katherine Inglis – KEEP. This is another book I got through Netgalley, and my plan is to read it at some point during a future Banned Books Week.
Of Myst and Folly by Leah Cutter – GO. I don’t remember how I got this ebook, but I suspect it was a freebie. Regardless, I have a hunch that this book is not going to be something I will enjoy.
Wrestling with Gods ed. by Liana Kerzner and Jerome Stueart – KEEP. Short-story anthologies are always hit or miss for me, but I’m willing to try this one out.
The Pearl and the Carnelian by Annabel Fielding – GO. This is another ebook that I’m not sure where I got it from, but I have a hunch it’s just not for me.
My want-to-read shelf is back down to 1146 books. The next post will be a mixture of ebooks and physical books that I own, so I’m not sure what the results will be.
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 one book to 1148.
This week’s books:
Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss – GO. This is a book of celebrity interviews, and I mistakenly thought it was all interviews of musicians when I bought it.
Power Hungry by Howard Weinstein, Masks by John Vornholt, and The Captain’s Honor by David Dvorkin and Daniel Dvorkin – KEEP. These are books 6, 7, and 8 in the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” series, and I eventually want to own and read all of them.
The Possessed by Elif Batuman – GO. I want to be the kind of reader who loves Russian novels and would love to read this book about Russian novels, but I’m not. I only got through Anna Karenina by listening to the audiobook, and I’ve put off starting War and Peace for over a decade. Russian novels are dark and depressing, and the Russian History course I took in college was so dark and depressing that I steered clear of anything having to do with Russia for months. It’s time to let this book go.
Shakespeare Wrote for Money, The Polysyllabic Spree, and Housekeeping Vs. The Dirt by Nick Hornby- KEEP. I have greatly enjoyed most of Hornby’s novels, and I found all three of these books containing his articles from “The Believer” magazine in a used bookstore.
Touching Darkness by Scott Westerfeld – KEEP. This is the second book in the “Midnighters” series, and I loved the first book, The Secret Hour.
My want-to-read shelf is down one to 1146 books. The next post will be full of ebooks I own, which are usually hit or miss as far as what I will decide to keep. Most of my ebooks are freebies I got during times when I was on some type of book-buying ban or didn’t have money to spend on anything other than necessities.
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 one book to 1147. I finished an audiobook this week.
This week’s books:
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan – KEEP. I knew that this book wasn’t considered to be cozy or a comfort read and that it was dark, but I didn’t realize just how dark until I read the Goodreads synopsis. I still want to read it, but I won’t be picking it up when I want something light.
At the Existentialist Cafe by Sarah Bakewell – KEEP. I’ve always been interested in Existentialism, probably because of its connections to France, and I’ve wanted to read more about it for quite some time.
Get in the Van by Henry Rollins – KEEP. This is Rollins’ book about his time being the frontman of Black Flag. Punk is one of my favorite musical genres, and Rollins has been one of my favorite artists for years. I have most of his books, have been to his shows, met him twice, and even exchanged a couple of emails with him because that is the type of down-to-earth guy he is. I will read this book at some point, probably while listening to my Black Flag records.
Inner City Sound ed. by Clinton Walker- KEEP. Speaking of Punk, this book is all about the Punk and Post-Punk movements in Australia. It’s set up like a scrapbook, in the same way as The Riot Grrrl Collection, which I absolutely loved, so I’m looking forward to when I finally get around to reading this one, probably while listening to more of my records by the bands featured in the book.
A Pianist’s Landscape by Carol Montparker – KEEP. I have loved the piano since I was 12 years old. It all started with a keyboard I got as a Christmas present and teaching myself to play it using music books from my failed attempt at learning the french horn a couple of years prior. My Mom got me piano lessons, and though I had to quit those lessons and haven’t played in years, listening to piano music immediately helps calm me down when I am stressed. Reading about the piano or books by pianists has a similar effect.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1147 books. I’m going to be skipping a bunch of books in the next post because they’re all books I’ve read before, by the same author, but I want to read them again so have put them on my want-to-read shelf (I read them years before I was on Goodreads). Despite that, we’ll still be in the middle of all of the books I finally added to Goodreads in November 2017.
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 has increased to 1148. I finished a book but added several to my wishlist.
This week’s books:
American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee – KEEP. Wolves are my favorite non-domesticated animal. I will read just about any book about them, Fiction or Non-Fiction, provided they are not vilified. According to the Goodreads synopsis, this book is about a specific wolf but tells a much larger story about wolves and the controversy surrounding their conservation and protection.
Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly – KEEP. “Beauty and the Beast” has always been my favorite fairytale, and one of my favorite Disney movies, so this book was a bit of an auto-buy for me, especially since it involves books.
Killer Librarian by Mary Lou Kirwin – KEEP. This one will get the 50-page test because the synopsis isn’t too promising and there are only 2 books in the series. This first book only has an overall rating of 3.38 stars, which is another indicator that it might not be all that good.
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper- KEEP. I read this book when I was a teenager after I had seen the movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis. Scenes from both still come to mind, and I’ve always wanted to re-read the book now that I’m considerably older.
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane – KEEP. This one is a novel about the Civil War written only 30 years after the war ended. I’m sure it will be a difficult read, but I am interested to get a perspective from a time in which many of the people who lived through the war were still alive.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1148 books. The next post will start to get into the physical books about music and musicians that I own.
The Wisdom of Wolves by Jim and Jamie Dutcher – KEEP. The authors literally lived along side a pack of wolves for several years. There’s no way I’m not going to read this at some point.
