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Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Happy (very belated) New Year - new year, same lazy blogger...

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!


New year - same me...still barely reading and barely posting lol

I had all these posts planned but I seem to get bogged down when it comes to actually writing them. I thought I would start off simple and show what I read last year and what I'm reading right now.  

Apparently, I read 32 books last year. That's about 30 more than it felt like I read. Far below the 200+ I used to, but anytime I finish a book these days is a win for me. My Goodreads goal for this year is 12.

2023 READS: Here's a link to my 2023 shelf in case you want to read my rating or review (if I left one)

*Partners in Crime is there twice despite me only listening to the audio..I CANNOT seem to get this duplicate off my damn shelf lol


The standouts: The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore was a sweet bookish vibes, feel good read.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, and All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Crosby were well outside my comfort zone but both surprising hits for me.

The Undertaking of Heart and Mercy by Megan Bannen and Chick Magnet byt Emma Barry were balm for my jaded romance genre soul. Once my favorite go-to reads - romance has been meh for me lately but these two were great. 

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune was a great (not a direct) follow up to The House in Cerulean Sea - much darker and not quite as good as Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door still held the same whimsy and compelling characters that I've grown to love from Klune. 

Biggest disappointments - Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - I wanted (& expected to!) love this one but it was just meh for me. Radio Silence by Alice Oseman - I buddy read this with Greg and that made it fun - but otherwise this book was nothing I was expecting. i thought it was a dystopian but it was straight up HS drama and just kind of odd. 

Everything else on there is pretty good - I did not finish Elatsoe yet. I was listening on audio and my loan expired but I will get back to it. 

CURRENTLY READING

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt ~ Goodreads

I've had this on my libro.fm app for awhile now and Jenni's review finally gave me the kick int he pants I needed to start it. 

One of the POV's is Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, living an aquarium where Tova Sullivan works. From what I gather so far, their lives intersect and, Tova heals from grief and loss.

I'm really liking the author and Marcellus's POV - (paraphrasing...) Day 145 of my captivity...lol


ONE POST FOR THE NEW YEAR DOWN!! 

I'm hoping to do a post about what I've been watching next - maybe for Monday?? Come yell at me if I don't lol

23 comments:

  1. I am crossing my fingers that you adore Creatures as much as I did. So good! I loved Gilmore's books too. Can't wait to read her next one that looks bookish

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    1. So far so good!

      I've been reading Gilmore's (under Tamara Berry) for years - back when she was indie pub'd) I like this new bookish world a lot though.

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    2. And Tamara Morgan - I forgot how many pen names she's had lol

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  2. *GIANT SQUISHY HUGS* I'm glad you enjoyed Chick Magnet - it was definitely a highlight for me last year too. I didn't make a list of my favorites really... just here is what I read and I think for one post, here are books that were highly ranked by me on Goodreads. I seem to forget a book as soon as Ii finish it these days.

    I am still reading a decent amount between audio and ebooks. But I'm finding it harder and harder to motivate to write a review. I need to think about my process and how I do it. I've tried writing shorter reviews, but I just can't seem to do it.

    Happy New Year!

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    1. Squishes back! I didn't even realized what I read last year until I pulled up the graphic lol I think I remembered about 5 of those books.

      Doing anything online related has been tough for me lately. I'm happier when I'm off doing real life stuff but hen I also miss everyone so...

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  3. Consider yourself yelled at! (says the woman who's been stuck on the same review since the beginning of time LOL).

    Happy new year again!

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  4. I'd say that was a solid year of reading (why compare to previous years - bleh). I also read The New Guy and some Heartstopper. I'm still reading but man have my reviews taken a hit. One posted today and it's the first in-depth review I've done in ages.

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    1. It's seems to be that way for a lot of us for some reason.

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  5. You did great! better than most people in the world

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    1. Yeah, it's fine...I'm just doing other things now.

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  6. I think 32 books is awesome since that's around my usual number for the year, lol. I know that for some who normally reads 200+ books, it's not much. I'm glad you read, though. And, I'm super excited that you're reading REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES and loving it. :D

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    1. It is awesome! I go months without reading anything at all so it feels like a longtime but then I'll have a strong month or so.
      I'm fine with it. I think that stage of my life has passed and I'm doing other things instead of just reading/blogging.

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  7. Yeah Radio Silence... that was a re- read for me and I think I was more impressed the first time, like we talked about. I'm reading so little YA now... Raybour's too that's good to know since I was mildy interested.

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    1. My first problem was thinking it was something it wasn't lol I'm SO glad I read it with you though!

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  8. I also read and loved love on the brain!
    Ive also read a similar book to yours, unfuck your anxiety.

    Kristina @ books-and-dachshunds.com

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    1. I read a few anti-anxiety books last year (not all lsited) but that was a good one.

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  9. Hey at least you read some. That's still a win in my book.

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  10. Happy New Year! 🎉🎉🎉

    I intend to read my Wool Kindle in Motion ebook every year for Sci-Fi month and every year I forget. 😛

    Remarkably Bright Creatures is on my TBR. I think I'll move it up a bit. 🐙

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    1. I'm enjoying it so far. I'm listening on audio though, so it will take me forever lol

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  11. Last year was the first year I read fewer than 100 books probably since I started blogging, but *shrug* At least we found some quality books, even if the quantity was lower than usual!

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    1. I used to read at least 200 - one book a day but ugh...I just can't anymore. I have been enjoying almost everything I read now though. Couldn't say that before lol

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