Andrea's 2015 Challenge – BONUS ROUND – Mount TBR

Això és la continuació del tema Andrea's 2015 Challenge.

Converses2015 Category Challenge

Afegeix-te a LibraryThing per participar.

Andrea's 2015 Challenge – BONUS ROUND – Mount TBR

Aquest tema està marcat com "inactiu": L'últim missatge és de fa més de 90 dies. Podeu revifar-lo enviant una resposta.

1andreablythe
Editat: gen. 2, 2016, 12:13 pm



Since I finished my initial challenge (whoot!), I've decided that my bonus round will be a bit more free form, as I will use it to tackle Mount TBR by completing an additional 50 books, each of which should be either an ARC given to me, on my TBR list (here or Goodreads), or currently on my bookshelf.

Mount TBR – 21

TBR – Finish that Series - 3

TBR – Fiction that Stands Alone - 8

TBR – ARCs or From My Bookshelf - 3

TBR – Graphic Novels - 6

TBR – MISC - 1

Edited to add: I've removed requirements to read specific amounts due to the intensity of my schedule at the end of the year.

2andreablythe
Editat: des. 20, 2015, 12:36 am

TBR – Finish that Series
1. The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories (audio book) by Susanna Clarke (****)
2. Ancillary Sword, by Ann Leckie (*****)
3. The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin (*****)

Possibilities:
Raven Calls by C.E. Murphy and the rest of The Walker Papers
One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire and the rest of the October Daye series
Symbiont by Mira Grant and the rest of the Parasitology series
Die and Stay Dead by Nicholas Kaufmann
A Tree of Bones by Gemma Files (book three of Hexslinger series)

3andreablythe
Editat: gen. 2, 2016, 12:13 pm

TBR – Fiction that Stands Alone
1. The Martian by Andy Weir (*****)
2. Less Than Hero by S.G. Browne (***1/2)
3. All the Rage by Courtney Summers (*****)
4. Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff (****)
5. Celestial Inventories (short stories) by Steve Rasnic Tem (****)
6. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (***1/2)
7. Uprooted by Naomi Novik (*****)
8. Rough Magick, edited by Francesca Lia Block and Jessa Marie Mendez

Possibilities:
Hild by Nicola Griffith

4andreablythe
Editat: nov. 30, 2015, 11:04 pm

TBR – ARCs or From My Bookshelf
1. Divine Scream by Benjamin Kane Ethridge (***)
2. Red Equinox by Douglas Wynne (****)
3. My Life Before Me by Norah McClintock (****)

Possibilities (ARCs):
Lived Through This by Anne K. Ream
Independent Ed by Edward Burns
Chain of Evil by Dr. Michael R. Collings
Mastering Running by Cathy Utzschneider

5andreablythe
Editat: gen. 2, 2016, 11:56 am

TBR – Graphic Novels
1. Fables: Cubs in Toyland by Bill Willingham (****)
2. Fables: Snow White by Bill Willingham (***)
3. Fables: Camelot by Bill Willingham (****)
4. Fables: Happily Ever After by Bill Willingham (****)
5. Fables: Farewell by Bill Willingham (****)
6. Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened, by Allie Brosh (*****)

Possibilities:
Jane, the Fox, and Me by Fanny Britt, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
SuperMutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Adrian Alphona
The Walking Dead, Vol. 09: Here We Remain by Robert Kirkman

6andreablythe
Editat: nov. 2, 2015, 2:08 pm

TBR – MISC
1. Failure Lyric poetry by Kristina Marie Darling

Possibilities:
TBA

7lkernagh
set. 1, 2015, 8:44 pm

YAY! Bonus round! I have to admit to having not read any of your possibilities so that will make following your bonus reading all that more interesting.

8rabbitprincess
set. 1, 2015, 8:56 pm

Hurray! Enjoy your new challenge! :)

9DeltaQueen50
set. 1, 2015, 10:01 pm

Congratulations on completing your Challenge, Andrea. Here's hoping Mt. TBR get a significant shrinking. :)

10dudes22
set. 2, 2015, 7:45 am

Congratulations on finishing your challenge. I like your plan for the rest of the year and look forward to seeing your TBR pile reads.

11mamzel
set. 2, 2015, 12:52 pm

Congrats on finishing your original challenge and jumping right into another! Taking care of TBRs is always a worthy endeavor.

12mstrust
set. 2, 2015, 3:00 pm

Adding my congrats for doing so well!

13andreablythe
set. 2, 2015, 5:56 pm

>7 lkernagh:
Excellent. Hopefully I'll hit you with a few BBs! Muahaha.

>8 rabbitprincess:
Thanks, rabbit!

>9 DeltaQueen50:
Let's hope so. Last I looked it was starting to totter and I don't want to get buried alive. ;)

>10 dudes22:
Thanks, dudes!

>11 mamzel:
A worth and a never ending endeavor. But I prefer it that way. It would be so much worse to run OUT of books.

>12 mstrust:
Thank you, mstrust!

14paruline
set. 4, 2015, 11:13 am

Congratulations on finishing! Looking forward to reading about your conquest of Mount TBR!

15-Eva-
set. 4, 2015, 10:49 pm

Mt. TBR is excellent for a bonus thread!!

16andreablythe
set. 7, 2015, 10:13 pm

Thanks, Eva!

* * *

1. The Martian by Andy Weir (*****)
Category: TBR – Fiction that Stands Alone

During a massive sandstorm and an evacuation of the mars expedition team, astronaut Mark Watney is hit by a radio dish and presumed dead. But he wakes on Mars alone, still alive in a hostile environment. The only way to survive is to use scientific knowledge and engineering skills to make an uninhabitable world inhabitable for four years when the next Mars mission is set to return.

Space and other planets are incredibly dangerous for human being. There are thousands of ways for a person to die. A small error in judgment, one tiny unconsidered element of physics (like a single flawed bolt or a piece of overstretched fabric) can mean catastrophe and death. This danger was made brutally clear in this epically fun read.

Watney is a great character, snarky and smart and capable. His humor (which helped stay alive by keeping depression from sinking in) is a large part of what kept me reading. More than once I literally laughed out loud and ended up putting the book down to just sit there and giggle to myself.

Just, so much fun. And I can't wait for the movie.

17andreablythe
set. 7, 2015, 10:19 pm

On Sunday, I journeyed up to the city to check out the SF Zine Fest. It was a free event that housed two rooms packed full of independent and small press makers and creators of zines, chapbooks, art, and comics. It's a very cool event (although there were so many people it was almost overwhelming) and I grabbed lots of goodies (spending more money than I probably should have).



I was also happy to be there to support friend and amazing human being, Allie Marini, who has two new chapbooks out from Nomadic Press. While at the Nomadic booth, checking out all the 2015 poetry chapbooks on the table, each with its own gorgeous cover, I couldn't help but swipe up the entire lot.

Cliffdiving and And When She Tasted of Knowledge by Allie Marini
On Sunday, A Finch by Cassandra Dallett
A Heart with No Scars by Brennan "B Deep" DeFrisco
Collective Regeneration and Universal Love by Dan Shurley
Nueva Cuenta by Freddy Gutierrez
We Shoot Typewriters by Paul Corman-Roberts

Other poetry chapbooks I picked up in my meandering included Caffeinated Fairy Tales by Heather Boyd and Milk & Servitude by Noelle Zappia.

Among the art and comics, I picked up were:

Raising Dion, written by Dennis Liu and illustrated by Jason Piperberg, which I grabbed because it tells a superhero story from the point of view of the mother trying to raise her powerful son to be a hero.
The Gecko and the Tree Grave Robbers (as well as some awesome notecards) by Cheez Hayama
Mythology Anthology by the Nijimafia, a group of artists including Adual, Akaibelier, Elaine Nguyen, Giselle Sarmiento, Madeline Zuluaga, Stephanie Hueden

I also learned about an documentary in progress called Secret Identities, directed by Mike Phillips. The doc is about GLBT fans and creators in the comic book community. The aim is to give voice to under represented groups, which is very cool.

18andreablythe
Editat: set. 18, 2015, 6:24 pm

2. Fables, Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland by Bill Willingham (****)
Category: TBR – Graphic Novels

The "Cubs in Toyland" story is brutal and sad, but so beautiful in its way. Touched my heart and made me cry.

3. Fables, Vol 19: Snow White by Bill Willingham (***)
Category: TBR – Graphic Novels

I didn't connect with this one as much, as it kind of felt like and in between, a set of stores forming connection between the main narratives. Still great, but not a favorite.

4. Fables, Vol 20: Camelot by Bill Willingham (****)
Category: TBR – Graphic Novels

OMG, Rose Red is one of my favorite characters in the series and I've been waiting to see her character grow. The introduction of Camelot here and the twists on the classic tales are just what this Arthurian fan loves to see.

Really great story leading into a conclusion that it scares the crap out of me to think about because I know it means really bad things are going to happen before the end and I don't know if I want to know but I want to know.

19RidgewayGirl
set. 8, 2015, 2:47 am

The SF Zine Fest just sounds like a lot of fun. I would have spent a small amount of money as well. ; )

20dudes22
set. 8, 2015, 7:41 am

>16 andreablythe: - The movie trailer was just on TV as I started to read your review. Didn't know it was based on a book. Looks interesting.

21rabbitprincess
set. 8, 2015, 5:25 pm

Yay, The Martian! I'm looking forward to the movie as well. :)

22andreablythe
set. 8, 2015, 6:33 pm

>19 RidgewayGirl:
It was great! There was a whole range of projects (from hand made to professionally produced) and prices — one book I got for $3 and another I got for $12. I saw some for a lot less and a lot more, as well.

>20 dudes22:
The movie looks fantastic and its directed by Ridley Scott; some of his best work is in the scifi genre.

>21 rabbitprincess:
Woohoo! Looks like it's going to be well done. :)

23lkernagh
set. 8, 2015, 10:36 pm

Yay for more The Martian love and great goodies bag grab from the SF Zine Fest!

24andreablythe
set. 9, 2015, 12:21 pm

>23 lkernagh:
So much Martian love. What a fun book.

25andreablythe
set. 13, 2015, 7:47 pm

5. Divine Scream by Benjamin Kane Ethridge (***)
Category: TBR – ARCs or From My Bookshelf

The Assembly is the best part of this book. As a blood soaked group of ten functioning as a single organism, they are creepy and terrifying. I would not want to come across them in a sunny field of daisies let alone dark alley. And, yet, they were also the most sympathetic characters in the novel, because their function is vital in holding reality together and because it is their very job that has made them the disturbing creature they are. It was easy to pity them and though I couldn't quite route for them (because no person good or evil deserves to be placed at their hands), I couldn't help wanting them to receive some sort of gain out of all that happens.

The good guys on the other hand were entirely uninteresting to me. Jared Kare, who is scheduled to be granted to the Assembly as a Gift, is an anxiety ridden man in his 20s incapable of functioning on his own and apparently without any passions. The banshee, who doesn't even have a proper name, is a manic pixie dream girl in every sense, including metallic blue-purple hair and cerulean eyes, who literally drags the reluctant Jared into the unseen magic of the world in order to save him from the assembly. The banshee, a being that sings mortal souls into the light, is willing to help Jared out of all the other human's she serves because of her particular fondness for him (though it's hard to understand why, since he's as bland as white bread and is incapable of functioning as an adult in the world, with friends cooking, cleaning, and even depositing his checks for him). The banshee doesn't understand human girls who go for confident men and don't coddle all these good-hearted nice guys, like Jared, into being the greatness they secretly are (because what is the purpose of a woman, if not to make reluctant men great). For the first half of the book, she drives all of the action with Jared just dragging his feet by her side.

I probably would have not bothered finishing this one, if the Assembly didn't scare the crap out of me every time they showed up, which kept things interesting. Thankfully, the second half of the book got more interesting and wrapped up well, making it mostly enjoyable.

Note: I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program.

26DeltaQueen50
set. 14, 2015, 1:51 pm

I am getting in the mood for some books that could scare the crap out of me so I am glad that Halloween is next month and I will be able to get my fill of chills and gore! :)

27andreablythe
set. 14, 2015, 2:02 pm

>25 andreablythe:
Me, too! I wonder what I can pull from my TBR that's horror.

I wish Divine Scream was better as a whole, so that I could recommend it. However, since the best parts of the novel are the horror elements, I would consider reading some of his straightforward horror novels in the coming months.

28DeltaQueen50
set. 14, 2015, 2:09 pm

>27 andreablythe: I get to do one of my favorite things later today - paw through my TBR piles and pull out scary books for next month! :)

29mstrust
set. 14, 2015, 3:21 pm

I'm glad I'm not the only one in the mood for scary books right now. Sorry that one wasn't great though.

30andreablythe
set. 14, 2015, 6:47 pm

>28 DeltaQueen50:
Ah! Such fun!

>29 mstrust:
I read way more scary books in high school and college than I do now, but I'm starting to get that craving again. :)

31VivienneR
set. 15, 2015, 2:10 pm

Andrea, I love your idea for free reading from Mt TBR now that you have completed your challenge. I'm hoping I finish my challenge early, and with your permission, copy your idea.

32andreablythe
set. 15, 2015, 3:18 pm

>31 VivienneR:
You are more than welcome to do so! (Especially since I'm pretty sure I copied it from someone else, but I'm not entirely sure who, because it was a long while ago.)

33andreablythe
Editat: set. 18, 2015, 6:24 pm

6. Less Than Hero by S.G. Browne (***1/2)
Category: TBR – Fiction that Stands Alone

I wasn't as in to Less Than Hero as I have been with other books by S.G. Browne (and when I say that keep in mind that I LOVED Breathers and Fated). This was in part my own fault, as I went into reading this expecting more of an action-packed style superhero satire and was presented with more of a character driven pharmaceuticals satire. I should have expected this having read other books by Browne.

Lloyd Prescott is a professional guinea pig — that is, an otherwise healthy person paid to sign up for pharmaceutical trials in order to test for side effects. All this mixing of drugs, though, ends up having an unexpected consequence for Lloyd and his guinea pig buddies, when the group begins to develop the ability to project their side effects (such as narcolepsy, vomiting, seizures, rapid weight gain, etc.) on to other people — which of course leads them into trying to be superheroes. However, it there are super villains out there too, with their own abilities.

A large portion of the book deals with Lloyd's life as a guinea pig, how he feels without direction, and with his mostly happy relationship with his girlfriend. It's deep into the novel before the guys start to figure out that they have supernatural abilities and they joke around with their powers for a while before they find enough direction to become heroes. There's a pondering quality to the story and something almost, but not quite, plausible about these heroes, which makes it fun.

Although, Less Than Hero doesn't have the spectacular stunts featured in a Marvel movie, there is definitely a stand off and a "great power comes with great responsibility" feel to it. I rather liked how things wrapped up (or didn't wrap up). Plus, there was at least one cameo from a character in Fated, which was unexpected and awesome (you don't have to read Fated to get this story, but it's a fun reference for those who have).

34-Eva-
set. 18, 2015, 6:15 pm

>18 andreablythe:
Ooh, you're getting dangerously close to the end... :)

35andreablythe
set. 18, 2015, 6:24 pm

>34 -Eva-:
TOO CLOSE! It makes me sad to think it will all be over soon. Kind of makes me glad I mistakenly didn't get Vol. 21 from my brother, so that I could delay.

36andreablythe
set. 30, 2015, 7:01 pm

7. Red Equinox by Douglas Wynne (****)
Category: TBR – ARCs or From My Bookshelf
Note: This was an ARC provided from the publisher.

This Lovecraftian story involves the rising of ancient gods, a combination of unsettling and bloody moments and lots of tentacles. There were almost too many characters at first, with a lot of jumping around between them, but on the whole the story was interesting and fun with a little gore, but not too much to overwhelm those who might be sensitive to that.

37andreablythe
oct. 1, 2015, 1:46 pm

September Progress

Books Finished:
1. The Martian by Andy Weir (*****)
2. Fables, Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland by Bill Willingham (****)
3. Fables, Vol 19: Snow White by Bill Willingham (***)
4. Fables, Vol 20: Camelot by Bill Willingham (****)
5. Divine Scream by Benjamin Kane Ethridge (***)
6. Less Than Hero by S.G. Browne (***1/2)
7. Red Equinox by Douglas Wynne (****)

Bonus Round Total: 7/50
Total for the year (including Main Challenge): 62

Favorite Read:
The Martian is amazing fun. I can't wait to see the movie in the next week or two. :D

Worst Read:
Nothing I hated, though Divine Scream didn't grab me much.

Books Still in Progress at the End of the Month:
Celestial Inventories by Steve Rasnic Tem, which is full of strange, surreal, and creepy short stories.

Bonus Round Progress
TBR – Finish that Series (0/10)
TBR – Fiction that Stands Alone (2/10)
TBR – ARCs or From My Bookshelf (2/10)
TBR – Graphic Novels (3/10)
TBR – MISC (0/10)

Categories Completed this Month: 0
Total Categories Completed: 0

38rabbitprincess
oct. 1, 2015, 5:30 pm

Ooh, The Martian! So exciting! I watched another Matt Damon movie, The Adjustment Bureau, last night as something of a warmup.

39andreablythe
oct. 3, 2015, 2:12 pm

I can't wait to see the movie! It looks soooooooo good.

40andreablythe
oct. 3, 2015, 2:42 pm

So, life. It's really hectic at the moment, particularly in regard to the number of writing related projects I have going on.

I've signed up for an online writing workshop that has me writing 500 to 1500 word short story a week, on top of various small reading assignments.

I've agreed to read submissions for NonBinary Review.

I'm currently working on a number of collaborative poems with a fellow poet.

I'm in the middle of writing/editing two chapbooks and prepping them for submission.

A number of writing and reading events are also happening this month.

All on top of my general life things, like full time day job, commute to work, spending time with friends and family, and somewhere in there reading things.

In other words, I probably will not be completing my Bonus Round.

I'll still be around, but my reviews are probably going to be shorter than I'm now in the habit of doing and in some cases may be skipped entirely. But feel free to ask, if you want me to go into more depth about a certain book.

41DeltaQueen50
oct. 3, 2015, 5:23 pm

I'm just coming off a month of being extra busy in my RL and now I am struggling to catch up here on LT. This place does tend to move fast! Have a good month, Andrea and good luck with your writing.

42mamzel
oct. 5, 2015, 2:51 pm

>40 andreablythe: Boy! That should keep you out of trouble!
Pardon my ignorance but what is a chapbook?

43andreablythe
oct. 6, 2015, 3:21 pm

>41 DeltaQueen50:
Thanks, Judy. It's been fun so far, and even though it may be overwhelming, I predict it will be fun as the projects continue as well.

>42 mamzel:
No idle hands, indeed.

Heh, you're not the first to have asked. A chapbook is a basically a little book, ranging from about 10-40 pages of poetry or fiction. They can be either professionally printed by a small press or handmade (with sewed or folded bindings), and are usually produced in limited quantities, sometimes as small as 100 copies, though sometimes as many as 1,000 or more. They can be approached and redefined in a variety of ways, depending on who is talking.

I'm planning to submit my work to some small presses and see what happens.

44andreablythe
oct. 8, 2015, 12:42 pm

8. The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories (audio book) by Susanna Clarke (****)
Category: TBR – Finish that Series

For those who loved Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and want to spend more time in the 19th century Britain of magic and fairies, this collection of stories is a must read. Mixing historic detail with myth and magic, these stories expand upon the world she's created in wonderful witty ways. One of the things I love is how the many of the stories center around women, such as in the title story "The Ladies of Grace Adieu" which reveals another side to magic not seen in the novel. In another story in which Mary, Queen of Scots, attempts to get revenge through magical embroidery.

Even if you haven't read the novel, this small collection of bite-sized stories would make a great introduction, in order to see whether the style suits you and whetting your appetite for the main course.

45lkernagh
oct. 9, 2015, 1:35 pm

Sorry to see that life is so hectic at the moment for you Andrea but hey, I am really impressed with all of your writing projects!

46-Eva-
oct. 10, 2015, 10:32 pm

>40 andreablythe:
Well, that's certainly a full schedule. Looks like a lot of fun stuff, though.

>44 andreablythe:
I've had a copy of that one since when I read Jonathan Strange, but I have a little bit of a hard time with short stories so it keeps not getting read. :) 4 stars makes for a good boost.

47andreablythe
oct. 13, 2015, 1:47 pm

>45 lkernagh:
Hectic but fun with all of the projects. I'm thoroughly enjoying myself.

>46 -Eva-:
Being short stories, they are by nature not going to be as indepth as the book. But the historical tone and the fairy fun is still there, plus Jonathan Strange and Wellington make guest appearances, which is great.

48andreablythe
nov. 3, 2015, 1:07 am

9. All the Rage by Courtney Summers (*****)
Category: Fiction That Stands Alone

This is a rough, beautiful book that explores the after math of rape and the brutal reality of rape culture. Ostracized by her community for accusing the sheriff's son of rape, Romy Grey becomes tried to find ways to escape from what happened to her while being unable to forget it because of the constant bullying from her classmates. She wears red lipstick and nails as a kind of army and takes comfort from the people she works with at a small diner outside of town. But the sense of disassociation from herself grows after a girl goes missing under potentially violent circumstances.

This is a heavy, emotionally wracking story. It is also beautifully written. Summers perfectly captures Romy's voice and inner journey. Such a powerful story, one that made me cry several times. Highly recommended.

.

10. Fiendish (audio book) by Brenna Yovanoff (****)
Category: Fiction That Stands Alone

Fiendish is a dark and modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Clementine is placed under a powerful spell as a child, one that keeps her sleeping for ten years while roots grow through the cellar where she is hidden. She ages as she sleeps. A local boy named Fisher finds her and draws her out of the dark. The town she wakes to is divided, with the crooked (a term for magical) people of the willows on uncomfortable terms with the people in town.

Although there are a number of threats to be faced, the core of this stories is Clementine's relationships with her family and with Fisher. I love the way Yovanof weaves dark and unsettling images and events with a modern southern small town. A fun read.

.

49lkernagh
nov. 3, 2015, 9:11 am

Excellent review of All the Rage! Taking a BB for that one.

50andreablythe
nov. 3, 2015, 4:00 pm

>49 lkernagh:
It's amazing, Lori, but wrenching.

*

11. Celestial Inventories (short stories) by Steve Rasnic Tem (****)
Category: Fiction That Stands Alone

This collection was a mixed bag for me, some stories blowing my mind with their beauty and lyricism and others not grabbing my attention at all. On the whole, however, I would say that those stories that were wonderful outweighed those that were not as much (for me).

My favorite story of the collection was the first, "The World Recalled," which
tells the story of a man's life backwards through a series of surreal vignettes. The man witnesses (or imagines) a tree of keys, a kitchen table that tells very odd time, a ladle for stirring better perspective into the daily news, a colander hat, and other odd objects. "He kept telling his nurse to keep the closet door closed: incremental weather was hiding among his old coats and pants, and he certainly didn't want any of that slipping unnoticed into his room" (from "Closet Weather").

This focus on ordinary objects made strange or wonderful is clear in several of his stories, including "When We Moved On," in which an elderly couple choose to leave behind their home filled with object-bound memories, and the title story, "Celstial Inventory," in which a man closes himself up in an apartment and begins to make an inventory of everything within.

Another theme I found fascinating was the exploration of art and what it means through very dark mediums. In response to world that is virtually disease free, an artist puts his body through the pain and suffering of a variety of diseases as a kind of performance art in "The Disease Artist." Meanwhile, in "Head Explosions," terrorists are causing people's heads to explode, but instead of dying, the people continue to live with grotesquely rearranged heads in floral and other graphic designs, which the narrator takes as a kind of art. And a beautifully mournful explorations of capturing a family's final moment with a lost loved one is presented in "The Bereavement Photographer."

I also enjoyed a couple of the fairy tale Tem presents. "Little Poucet" is a dark noir retelling of a classic tale and it one of the most disturbing stories I've ever read, in all the best ways. In "The Woodcarver's Son" a father's tears fill a house while his wife haunts it, forcing the son goes to a local witch seeking a cure for his father's sorrow.

*

13. Failure Lyric, poetry by Kristina Marie Darling (*****)
Category: MISC

I keep meaning to write a full review for this and submit it somewhere. The short version is it's wonderful.

In the meantime, Kristin Marie Darling talks a bit about her book of prose poetry in this interview.

51andreablythe
nov. 4, 2015, 1:48 pm

October Progress

Books Finished:
1. The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories (audio book) by Susanna Clarke (****)
2. All the Rage by Courtney Summers (*****)
3. Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff (****)
4. Celestial Inventories (short stories) by Steve Rasnic Tem (****)
5. Failure Lyric, poetry by Kristina Marie Darling (****)

Bonus Round Total: 12/50
Total for the year (including Main Challenge): 67

Favorite Read:
All of the books were good last month, but All the Rage was AMAZING.

Worst Read:
Nothing I hated.

Books Still in Progress at the End of the Month:
Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie and Attachments (audio book) by Rainbow Rowell. Both are wonderful.

Bonus Round Progress
TBR – Finish that Series (1/10)
TBR – Fiction that Stands Alone (5/10)
TBR – ARCs or From My Bookshelf (2/10)
TBR – Graphic Novels (3/10)
TBR – MISC (1/10)

Categories Completed this Month: 0
Total Categories Completed: 0

52DeltaQueen50
nov. 4, 2015, 5:35 pm

All the Rage will be the third book by Courtney Summers that I have added to my wishlist. I better get going and actually read something by this author!

53Chrischi_HH
nov. 5, 2015, 5:18 am

I was also hit by All the Rage - as well as by Fiendish. Great reviews.

54christina_reads
nov. 15, 2015, 4:15 pm

Glad to see you're enjoying Attachments -- I love that book!

55andreablythe
Editat: des. 17, 2015, 12:25 am

13. Attachments (audio book) by Rainbow Rowell (***1/2)
Category: TBR – Fiction that Stands Alone

Attachments is my least favorite of all of Rowell's books that I've read. The story is strange, told partly through emails between two friends and coworkers, Beth and Jennifer, which are read by Lincoln a lost young man who's job is to check to make sure that everyone's email's follow the company's rules for proper use. Beth and Jennifer share the deepest intimacies of their daily lives, including relationships and catastrophes and crushes. Lincoln doesn't mean to keep reading the emails, but being lonely finds himself drawn in and charmed, and after a while unable to stop. Along the way he finds himself falling in love with Beth, with no way to reach out to her due to the face that he's been reading her and her friend's secret thoughts for months.

There is a legitimate stalker, creepy factor evident in this story — enacted by the behavior of not just Lincoln, but Beth as well — and its a testament to Rowell's skill that she is able to pull this romance off and make it believable. She has an amazing way with characters, revealing flaws while also making them good people. You care about them, which is why despite the creepiness of Lincoln's behavior, the reader is able to cheer for him along the way and hope everything works out. It's amazing to me that I could actually believe this kind of romance happening to two people in the world, in one of those truth is stranger than fiction ways (although this one is actually fiction).

Still, it's such a strange story that I wasn't able to put my whole heart into it, as I did with Fangirl and Eleanor & Park.

* * *

14. Ancillary Sword, by Ann Leckie (*****)
Category: TBR – Finish that Series

The second book in the trilogy is in some ways more character focused than the first. There are secrets and threats and sudden violence and action sequences, but at the heart of the story are characters seeking their own redemption. Breq, a single ancillary AI from a destroyed ship, goes to this planet seeking to provide some kind of comfort to the sister of her beloved fallen captain.

Meanwhile, a young lieutenant must deal with her anger at being a victim of having her mind invaded, while desperately trying to prove her worth, and Seivarden is trying her best to shake off her past addition to drugs, which becomes more difficult as the situation and stress builds.

Again, Ann Leckie presents fantastic world building layers, with the plot intricately bound up in the complications of culture and politics presented in this carefully wrought universe. The sequel delves deeply into the class-based inequality and the way colonization attempts to erase other cultures through homogenization and margenization. The Radechai's believe in Justice, Propiety, Benefit are explored, leaving the questions: Who's justice? Who's benefit?

Another utterly fantastic book from Anne Leckie, and I will be immediately picking up the finale.

56andreablythe
nov. 18, 2015, 11:04 pm

So, life. It remains really hectic, although I have back off on some of my proposed projects for this time period. at the moment, particularly in regard to the number of writing related projects I have going on.

My online writing workshop has been going wonderfully. I love the challenge of writing a story each week (thought this week, I don't seem to have any ideas coming). I've been getting great feedback on each story and every single one of them seems like something that I can rework into a publishable piece of work. One in particular is *this* close to being completed and I'm hoping to finish by the end of the week, so I can edit and submit.

I'm still submissions for NonBinary Review and am still working on a number of collaborative poems with a fellow poet. Both of those are going well, although I've been slowing down on the collaborative poems the last couple of weeks.

All the rest of my writing projects I've put on hold, because my day job is being really overwhelming right now.

I've got a lot of catching up to do on everyone's friends. I'm terribly, dramatically behind.

*

In bookish things, a few of weeks ago I chanced into being at my local library during a $3/bag book sale. All considering, I was extremely conservative in my purchases, as my book shelves are already pretty much full. When considering a book, I made sure to consider whether I would read the book immediately, if I had the time available, in order to prevent adding to the number of books I've had for years and never read.

So, here's my book haul.



Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Many Waters by Madeline L'engle
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
The Intuitive Writer: Listening to Your Own Voice by Gail Sher
Superstitions and Old Wive's Tales by Hilary M. Cannock
Bartimaeus, Book One: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
Rashomon and Other Stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
City of Darkness, City of Light by Marge Piercy
The Red Tent by Anita Diamond (this is the only one I've read before)

57DeltaQueen50
nov. 18, 2015, 11:58 pm

Great to hear that things are busy but going well, Andrea. That is an impressive book haul!

58lkernagh
nov. 19, 2015, 11:25 pm

I keep stumbling into all this Ann Leckie book love as I cruise through various threads. Must think about adding her Ancillery books to my future reading list.

Looks like you are managing your busy life pretty well, Andrea. Book hauls are always wonderful to see. ;-)

59paruline
nov. 20, 2015, 11:32 am

Wonderful book haul. Those on your pile that I've read, I've enjoyed tremendously and some others are on my wishlist. I knew there was a reason I starred your thread :)

60andreablythe
Editat: des. 17, 2015, 12:25 am

>57 DeltaQueen50:
Thanks, Judy!

>58 lkernagh:
You definitely need to jump on the Leckie train. It's a fabulous place to be.

>59 paruline:
Yay! I'm glad to hear that I have chosen well. :)

* * *

15. Uprooted by Naomi Novik (*****)
Category: Books That Stand Alone

From page one, I loved Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Every ten years a Dragon chooses a young maiden, but this is not the kind of dragon with scales or the kind who would eat her. He's an ageless wizard in a tower, who keeps the darkness and malevolence of the Wood at bay in exchange for the service of a girl, whom he releases at the end of ten years (although none of the girls chose to return home after). Every one expects him to take Kasia, the most beautiful and brave and capable girl in the town, so when the time of the choosing comes and he chooses Agnieszka instead, it's a great surprise to everyone, most especially Agnieszka herself.

It's difficult to describe the plot of this book, because so much unfolds is packed away and then unfolded again over the course of the story. The experience is riveting.

Although the story features sex and something like romance, the friendship between Agnieszka and Kasia is the true heart of this story. Having known each other all their lives, their friendship begins sweet, but delves into a deeper trust as all their petty jealousies and hidden anger laid bare over the course of the story. But throughout, they stay true to each other and they stay true to themselves, able to have their own emotional arcs, face their own inner demons, and realize their own strength and confidence.

There are so many other things I could say about this book, about how it plays with story telling and myth, how it focused more on the local village community than on royalty, how it relates a story of nature versus civilization, or maybe how explores the differences between linear versus organic styles of magic. This book is just so wonderfully layered and I'm sure there will be more to think about and reconsider when I come around to reading it again, but for the moment I just want to say that I love Novik's writing style, how she manages to maker her lines seem at once so beautiful and at the same time so effortless. I melted into this story and I will be looking forward to exploring more of Novik's work.

61-Eva-
nov. 23, 2015, 10:32 pm

>56 andreablythe:
That's great that the workshop is working well - you never know about those.
And, great haul - such restraint... :)

62christina_reads
des. 8, 2015, 2:46 pm

>60 andreablythe: So glad you liked Uprooted, as it's a 5-star read for me too! I liked Rainbow Rowell's Attachments more than you did (it's actually my favorite of Rowell's books), but I definitely understand your point about the stalker-ish aspects of the plot.

63andreablythe
des. 17, 2015, 12:46 am

Hey, all! I've been busy and occasionally sick, but all's well. :)

>61 -Eva-:
Thanks! The workshop is awesome. I would heartily recommend it to another.

>63 andreablythe:
Regardless of my own reservations, Rowell is amazing. I seriously believe on ly she could have pulled that book off with that level of grace and humanity.

* * *


16. My Life Before Me by Norah McClintock (****)
Category: TBR – ARCs or From My Bookshelf
Note: This was an ARC provided from the publisher aspart of the early reviewer program.

When the orphanage Cady grew up in burns down, she travels to Toronto to work and achieve her dream of becoming a reporter like her hero Nelly Bly. But being 1964, the gritty newspaper world is not hospitable for plucky young women and she sets on a plan to dig up a great story to get a toe in to the field.

She begins with her own mysterious past, the only clue being a torn newspaper clipping with the photo of a desecrated grave. Her search leads her to a small town in Indiana, where she discovers a secret murder with hints of KKK involvement. A fun YA mystery that handles the race issues of the time period fairly well.

64lkernagh
des. 21, 2015, 8:21 am

Sorry to read you have been sick! Hope you feel better real soon!

65lkernagh
des. 24, 2015, 5:02 pm

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, Andrea!

66rabbitprincess
des. 24, 2015, 6:12 pm

Merry Christmas, Andrea! Hoping you are feeling better. Wishing you many good books and creative moments in 2016.

67-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 7:17 pm

Hope the germs are gone and that you had a lovely holiday!

68LauraBrook
des. 28, 2015, 10:32 pm

Hi Andrea! Happy Holidays to you!!!!

69andreablythe
des. 29, 2015, 8:58 pm

Thanks for all the holiday wishes! I am on my way to feeling better. Thank you!

My workshop ended with two finished stories that were submitted for publication and two fully drafted stories that need more work, along with five more story starts that look promising. It was a grand success and I talk a little bit about what I learned on my blog, for those interested.

I've several completed books that I need to post on and am scrambling to get the book reviews finished, followed by my end of year review.

Not to mention the fact that I'm not caught up on anyone's threads and I still need to track down next year's group. I haven't even planned out what reading challenge I want to do for next year, so.... yeah.

Things to do, but life is good.

70andreablythe
des. 29, 2015, 9:36 pm

17. The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin (*****)
Category: TBR – Finish that Series

On the same day Essun comes home to find that her husband has murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter, a volcanic rift is torn across the center of the continent throwing the Sanze empire into chaos. A great earthquake rolls over the land, crushing cities and villages, and ash begins to cloud the sky. Essun leaves behind the illusion of normalcy she had shaped for so many years and journeys into a wilds of the collapsing world in order to pursue her husband and save her daughter.

Essun is a woman with secrets and many names. I don't really know how to talk about her without giving something away. There were aspects of her personality and her story that were only revealed (to me, at least) deep into the novel, her individuality, her self having many aspects, all naturally fitting in to the whole of her story. She's complicated and calm and full of rage. One phrase she repeats again and again throughout the story as she faces prejudice and oppression in many forms is, "It's not right." She sees that society is violently broken and is powerless to stop it. And already, I feel as though I've said too much, so let's move on.

The worldbuilding in The Fifth Season is exceptional. It's a world built on continual catastrophe, a continent continually beset by earthquakes and the threat of apocalypse. The stability of the empire is built on survival through past destruction, surviving many apocalyptic seasons (known as fifth seasons, seasons of death) in which earthquakes, volcanoes, or other natural disasters have created months, years, or decades of light-less winter and famine. As such, the culture is focused on survival, with their scripture, known as Stone Lore, primarily presenting knowledge on how to prepare for and survive the next apocalyptic season that is sure to come.

The Fifth Season is the first book in the Broken Earth trilogy. I hadn't intended to get started on another series this year, but here I am and I don't at all mind. Jemisin's story is fantastic on many levels and I can't wait for next books to be released.

71andreablythe
Editat: gen. 2, 2016, 12:15 pm

18. Fables: Happily Ever After by Bill Willingham (****)
Category: TBR – Graphic Novels

Tells of the building conflict between Snow White and Rose Red. A good solid segment of the story.

...

19. Fables: Farewell by Bill Willingham (****)
Category: TBR – Graphic Novels

The ending of it all. My one disappointment was that Rose Red never really gets to come into her own as a person and I really wanted that for her. But otherwise it was a good conclusion.

The series also concludes with a bunch of 1-3 page stories, providing a small summing up for a number of characters and clarifying what happened or what direction their live will be taking, which was far more satisfying than I thought it would be. All in all, I'm pretty happy with how this series ended up.

...

20. Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened, by Allie Brosh (*****)

Allie Brosh is amazing. Her art is playful and fun and her stories are unflinchingly. She delves into stories about her own life, about her dogs and family and self identity, in each case revealing the flaws and joys with a sense of self mocking humor and honesty. This was an absolutely delightful collection.

...

21. Rough Magick, edited by Francesca Lia Block and Jessa Marie Mendez

The short stories and poems in Rough Magick, edited by Francesca Lia Block and Jessa Marie Mendez, explore the darker side of love and sex with a mixture of haunting, romantic, and horrifying tales. The anthology is split into two parts with the first half being lyrical stories based in realism, while the second half presents fantastical tales. This choice to split the collection was my biggest annoyance. I would have preferred to have read alternating tales of realism and fantasy, which would have provided an interesting juxtaposition. On the whole, though, Rough Magick is a strong collection with the majority of the stories being rather good and some being utterly fantastic.

...

And that wraps up my 2015 reading. I'll have some stats and stuff up soon.

72rabbitprincess
gen. 2, 2016, 12:19 pm

>71 andreablythe: Yay, I have Hyperbole and a Half in my 2016 pool! I love the blog and am looking forward to the book.

And today I was in the calendar store and saw a Hyperbole and a Half wall calendar! It would certainly make a colourful addition to one's walls :)

73andreablythe
gen. 5, 2016, 12:36 am

End of the Year Roundup

TOTAL: 76 (the smallest amount I've read in years)

Fiction: 58
Nonfiction: 2
Poetry: 10
Graphic Novels: 6

Audio Books: 11

Instead of doing a top ten, here are my favorites by category.

Best Science Fiction Novel
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie and the entire trilogy (I'm currently finishing up Ancillary Mercy, the last book.

Runner-up: The Martian by Andy Weir

Best Fantasy Novel
A tie between Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold and Uprooted by Naomi Novik.

Best Apocalyptic Fantasy Novel
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Best Steampunk Novel
Rupetta by Nike Sulway

Best YA Novel
A tie between All the Rage by Courtney Summers and The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

Best Western Novel
Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

Best Short Story Collection
Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree, Jr.

Best Graphic Book
More like an illustrated collection of essays, Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

Best Poetry Book
Drink by Laura Madeline Wiseman

Runner-up: Everyone I Love is a Stranger to Someone by Annelyse Gelman

Best Nonfiction Book
Slavery by Another Name by Douglas A. Blackmon

***

Alrighty, now on to 2016!

Here's my new thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/211457