New Years resolutions have never been something I’ve really taken seriously. Over the years, I’ve started various diets and exercise regimens, made plans for visiting new places, and promised to cut back on my excessive cussing, only to have things fall apart within weeks of the new year.
But a resolution that involves more reading? Now that’s something I can do!
Since 2021 is officially past the halfway mark, I thought I’d share my progress on my personal reading challenges for the year. My 20 Plus 1 For2021 is moving right along. I’ve finished eleven of the books on that list, plus I’ve made a dent on my “Plus 1” selection, The Crimson Petal and the White. For my yearly Goodreads reading challenge, I put my goal at 150 books. So far, my total is 89, with 23,898 pages read! No wonder I’m feeling a bit tired!
One of my Goodreads groups created a scavenger hunt for 2021, with 49 prompts ranging from reading a book with a mostly white cover to name a non-book item on your bookshelf. At last check I’ve completed 23, but I haven’t updated it for a few weeks so that number will go up a bit. (And if anyone has a recommendation for an author with the initials G.M. that’s not a) a romance author or b) Graham Masterton, please let me know!!)
And as for the rest of 2021? Besides finishing these challenges, I’ll be starting my yearly 31 Books for Halloween in early September. Thanks to my NightWorms subscription and great recommendations (plus a lot of Kindle freebies!!) I have plenty of full length and short stories/novellas to choose from. Can’t wait to start this one!
What have you been reading? Did you make any bookish goals for 2021? Drop me a line and let’s talk books!
Ah, the summer road trip. With more states fully reopening (my state just did on June 30), many folks are gearing up to get out and about, making up for the lost time from the past 18 months. Personally, I have no plans other than some day hikes…as far from other people as I can get!! But I can still go on a road trip through my books! I picked this month’s TBR based solely on the titles. Let’s see what we have…
California sounds like it’s going to take me into a dystopian future, where a young couple leave the crumbling city of Los Angeles for the wilds of the Sierra Mountains. It’s tagged from science fiction to survival adventure fiction so this could be a good one.
Idaho goes a different direction, listed as literary fiction with a mystery/thriller aspect. Ann is determined to find out what happened to her husband Wade’s first wife and children, and why first wife Jenny is currently incarcerated. It sounds like this will involve the strength of family ties and love, a theme I’ve been reading a bit more of lately. Looking forward to this one.
And finally, what road trip would be complete without some Travelers Rest? I know I’ve stayed at some questionable places during my travels over the years, and it sounds like this little town of Travelers Rest may just put those creepy places to shame.
Goodreads Group Reads
If you’re looking to challenge yourself for your July reading, maybe check this one out…
Yep, that is a “normal” page from Mark Z. Danielewski’s strange and headache-inducing House of Leaves. I read it a few years ago and I remember giving it 4 stars because a:) I actually finished it; b:) I actually understood some of it; and c:) I have to give props to the sheer creativity behind it.
While I won’t be revisiting House of Leaves, I will be enjoying one of my other group reads: Fredrik Backman’s latest, Anxious People. This has been on my to-read list since it was published and, as luck would have it, my library had a copy available. I love Backman’s writing and characters (except Britt-Marie, that woman still bugs me!) so I’m putting this at the top of my July reading pile.
What are your reading plans for July? Drop me a line and let’s talk books!
Well, the week-long readathon that I’ve been participating in is just a few hours away from ending. Not a bad week with 964 pages read and three books completed (see below). I still have some time left so I’m going to try to hit the 1,000 page mark…stay tuned!
The Week in Books
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave — 5 out of 5 stars!
I absolutely loved this story, a novel based on events that happened in 1617 where a storm killed the men of a small community, leaving the women to fend for themselves, with later allegations of witchcraft surfacing. This beautifully written story tells of love, loss, friendship, and betrayal, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Vivid by Jana Jones — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars
Rounding up to 4 stars for NetGalley and Goodreads. Based on a true story, mother of three Sheri Calloway brings her young children to Baltimore looking for a better life. A chance for their own home leads to health issues, a demand for answers, and changes in the system. While the ongoing nightmare stemming from the offer of affordable housing is a main component, the real focus of this story is the importance of family and friendship. A promising debut, I look forward to reading more from Ms. Jones in the future.
Candle in the Wind by George Bernau — 2 out of 5 stars
If Sidney Sheldon and Jackie Collins had a love child, then made that love child write a cheesy soap opera, it would probably be better than Candle in theWind. The premise sounded good (especially back in the early 1990’s at the height of my Marilyn Monroe mania): what if Marilyn had survived her overdose? This novel follows “Marilyn Lane” and a variety of characters that will be familiar to anyone with the slightest knowledge of those who surrounded the real Monroe in her life, from the wealthy political Kerrigan family (Kennedys), to a Joe DiMaggio figure who is always there for Marilyn (yeah, I’ve already forgotten his name, that’s how much this book stuck with me!). The writing is dated, the plotline cliche, the sex scenes laughable. But I’ve read worse so I’ll bump this up to two stars.
For June I wanted to find a nonfiction book that would complement Pride Month. After looking at various memoirs, essay collections, and other topics, I decided to take a closer look at the history behind the month, starting at what is considered the turning point in bringing change and acceptance.
The Stonewall Riots of 1969 are often considered the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement. What started out as a police raid at a gay bar (typical back in the day) turned into a violent clash between police, patrons, and onlookers and wound up lasting five days. According to the blurb, the author “now tells for the first time the full story of what happened at Stonewall.” Sounds pretty self-explanatory, right? Well…
Duberman does do an excellent job with his research, giving strong descriptions of the Stonewall bar and its patrons, as well as the ensuing clashes between the police and the public. But this is only about 20 pages of the 282. The bulk of the book looks at the lives of six individuals from various backgrounds and their personal struggles, accomplishments, and contributions to the LGBTQ community during the ’60’s and in the first year after the riots, up to the first Gay Rights March in 1970.
The personal stories of the six individuals take us from their childhoods through the early part of 1970 and are as varied as the people themselves. From Foster, a privileged young man unsure of himself but later becoming the archivist of the movement, to Ray (later known as Sylvia), a hustler and “street transvestite**” who would later start an organization to try to help those who had endured the same struggles trying to get off the streets. (**Please note: as this book was published in 1994, many of the references and descriptive terms used are much different from today; this was the terminology used by the author). I found myself caught up in the lives of all six people, but why only three stars? The writing. I thought it felt a bit too textbook and dry, pretty much devoid of any sort of emotion. And one of my biggest pet peeves, the info dump, started to become the norm around the 1/3 mark. I truly appreciate the author’s extensive research but the barrage of random names and organizations without adequate background or explanations quickly turned this into a bit of a confusing read.
Despite my personal peeves about Stonewall, I would still recommend giving it a try, especially if you are interested in the early politics of the Gay Rights Movement. I may not have like the writing but there are some truly interesting and inspirational stories that make it worth the read.
Summer is here, and in my little corner of the world, this weekend looks to be bringing in summer with a vengeance! Temperatures in most of western Washington are supposed to go over 100 (in my area it’s expected to get to 110 or even higher!). Around here, we’re used to rain and gloom, not frigging triple-digit temps!! So how will I be attempting to beat the heat? Why, participating in a readathon of course!! One of my Goodreads groups is having a week-long read-fest, from June 24 through June 30. I’m hoping to finish a couple of NetGalley ebooks I’ve been neglecting, and make some progress on TheCrimson Petal and the White (I started this a few months ago and am only on page 153 of 835…yikes!). With some good books and a lot of iced tea, I will make it through this upcoming mini-heatwave!
The Week in Books
The Nightly Disease by Max Booth III — 4 out of 5 stars
Isaac is the night auditor at a Texas hotel, where strange guests and even stranger occurrences are the norm. I had a lot of fun reading this mix of bizarro and horror, and anyone who has ever worked in the hospitality business and has dealt with those more challenging guests will likely enjoy it as well.
Later by Stephen King — 4 out of 5 stars
Mixing a crime thriller with some paranormal activity pretty much sums up King’s latest release. Young Jamie can see dead people, and he finds out that’s not really a good thing. As always, King does a great job with the coming of age storyline and creating memorable characters. There was one aspect I didn’t care for that kept this from being a 5 star read (I won’t give any spoilers, let’s just say I thought it could have been handled differently and still had a satisfying outcome). Great read for King fans and for those wanting to check out some of his “tamer” work.
Stonewall by Martin Duberman — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars
Look for my review here and at MrPinkInk on June 26!
Winterbourne’s Daughter by Stephanie Rabig — 3 out of 5 stars
One of my selections for Pride month. This retelling of Snow White was a bit up and down for me. I liked the overall storyline and some of the characters were well fleshed-out, but at times things felt confusing and random. While this one wasn’t a home run for me, I’m still looking forward to reading more of Rabig’s works in the future.
I was lucky to have received an early ecopy of Josh Malerman’s Goblin a few months ago, and I am happy to now have this hardback edition to add to my library! Six very different novellas set in the same strange little town with a host of strange characters and happenings. Perfect for some summertime reading.
Beneath a Pale Sky is a collection of shorts by Philip Fracassi, an author I’ve heard a lot of great things about. Described as “combining old school horror with the modern weird,” it sounds like something right up my reading alley.
Also included was a tea sampler (Sacred Grove, which combines gunpowder green tea with peaches and apricots) from Evil Tea Company…and I immediately checked out their website and ordered several more of their teas to try out!! I am happy to say they have awesome teas and great customer service and my tea-loving heart is looking forward to ordering more from them in the near future!!
Another great month, and still trying to guess what July will bring from the ‘Worms. I will say this: if one of the July books is Kristopher Triana’s Full Brutal, I’m going to be a very happy horror camper! Stay tuned!
Have you ever had those moments where you get behind on some task or chore, then another, and another…and pretty soon a couple of weeks have gone by and you realize you haven’t accomplished anything? That’s the way it’s been for me so far this month! I mean, eleven days without finishing a book??!?! What’s wrong with me??!!
On the plus side, once I got my ass in gear I was able to finish some great books! This week is short and sweet, but already planning for next week so stay tuned!
The Week in Books
Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt — 5 out of 5 stars!
One of my June Pride selections. Make sure you have some tissues on hand when you read this one! Set in 1987, this is the story of young June who loses her beloved uncle to AIDS. This book not only explores family dynamics, love, and forgiveness, but also profiles the prejudices against the gay community as the AIDS epidemic soared. Highly recommend!
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars
Seventeen-year-old Jade’s obsession with ’80’s slasher movies helps her deal with her real life horror story. But when strange things start to happen in her small town, will her encyclopedic movie knowledge save her? This is far from your standard slasher horror tale. This is not really a story about serial slashers (fair warning though, there are some pretty gruesome scenes!), but rather one of an outcast girl who finds the idea of killers running amok better than her own reality, who finds bravery behind her own fiction. I fell in love with Jade and I hope you do, too. Be sure to mark your calendar for the August 31 release date!
The Hours by Michael Cunningham — 4 out of 5 stars
One of my choices for June Pride month. I hadn’t watched the movie and had heard very little about this book before starting it, and I wound up being pleasantly surprised. While I thought the storyline itself was in the three-star range, the beautiful writing more than made up for it. This is one of those “quiet” reads perfect for a rainy afternoon.
This past weekend I participated in another readathon, this one through the 24B4Monday Goodreads group. Over the span of Friday through Monday, I was able to read a total of 796 pages, and finished 4 books! I’ve become a bit of a readathon junkie over the past year or so, and I’m already looking for the next one! If you have any suggestions for future readathons, be sure to drop me a line!
Oh, and did I mention this past week’s book mail?!?
I’m pretty sure when I log into Thriftbooks they just automatically pull up my debit card and get the packaging ready to go!! I ordered another eclectic mix, from These Women (the lives of five women connected by one event/person) to Road Seven ( a strange-sounding tale involving a man running from his past and a random unicorn sighting!). Indigenous author Carol Rose GoldenEagle’s Bone Black takes a fictional look at the underreported and unsolved crimes against Native women. The Mercies, based on true events which took place off the coast of Norway in 1617, sounds like a tale of not only survival but also of unexpected love. And as for The NightlyDisease? I just couldn’t pass up this bizarro fiction/horror novel written by someone who, like me, has worked in the hospitality business for many years and knows what it’s like to deal with those sometimes strange late night customers.
The Week in Books
New Veronia by M.S. Coe — 4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 stars, rounding up for GoodreadsI don’t know how to sum up this book in an awesome review that will make everyone want to pick it up, because I am honestly at a loss for the right words. Giving new meaning to the standard “coming of age” story, this is a mash up of dark, disturbing, and uncomfortably erotic, and I could not put it down. M.S. Coe is a voice to watch and I am already looking forward to all future works!
Matters of Doubt by Warren Easley — 3.5 out of 5 stars
The first in the Cal Claxton series, originally published in 2013 and getting a reboot May 2021 (I’m guessing there is a new one in the wings?). There was quite a bit I liked about this mystery, which starts out with a young homeless artist trying to find the truth behind his mother’s death, then goes on to include more murders, an escort service, and a wide array of intriguing supporting characters. My main problem falls with the protagonist, Cal. I can’t quite place what it is, but I could not get behind him as any sort of “hero” or as a wanna-be sleuth. His often random political observations made me believe this was setting up the series to become more political in nature and less mystery and entertaining. I am willing to read the next book in the series, if nothing else to see if my view of Cal changes in any way.
In the Still of the Night: The Strange Death of Ronda Reynolds and Her Mother’s Unceasing Quest for the Truth by Ann Rule — 2.5/3 out of 5 stars
I’ve read many of Rule’s true crime books over the years, and this is definitely not one of her best. This particular book interested me as the events happened not far from my home in Lewis County, Washington. I was hoping Rule could maybe cut through some of the bullshit that went on with the investigation like she’s been known to do with past cases. Sadly, for me, this was just a rehash of all the rumors I’d already heard that had been circulating in this area for years. While I applaud Ronda’s mother, Barb Thompson, for her tenacity and her fight against the “good ol’ boy” system that makes up our local sheriff’s department, this is one book that really shouldn’t have been written without more concrete proof and with less conjecture and rumors (Quick note: As of June 2021, there is still nothing new in the case, at least nothing that has been shared with the local media. I’m not sure it’s even still considered active).
The Dinner by Herman Koch — 1 out of 5 stars
One of my May selections. This started out as a pretty solid 3 star read, but by the halfway point I was beginning to lower my opinion. By the end, I just wanted to chuck this book against the wall. I find it entertaining that so many reviewers are labeling this the “Dutch version/answer to Gone Girl.” Let me tell you….It. Is. Not.
Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies
Dimentia by Russell Coy — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars
This was one of the weirdest things I’ve read in a while…and you know that says a lot!! I can’t even begin to describe it, but if you like alternate realities filled with strange creatures and some fast-paced storytelling, then be sure to check this one out!
June is Pride Month, and to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, I wanted to pick some books either featuring characters or written by an author representing the community. My first thought was to go back to where the movement began.
The Stonewall Riots of 1969 was considered the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement. Stonewall is not only about the riots and the aftermath, but about the people who took part ( Quick note: I started this on June 1; Duberman is featuring the stories of six individuals from various backgrounds, telling their early stories and later their involvement at Stonewall). Be sure to look for my full review here and at MrPinkInk on June 26!
When it comes to fiction, there are so many talented authors and wonderful books now available that it’s difficult to choose. From my unread shelves, there were a few titles that popped out, including The Hours by Michael Cunningham, The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, and Stephanie Rabig’s ebook, Winterbourne’s Daughter. I’m sure I’ll find other great titles when I go to the library next week so I’m going to keep my fiction options open for now.
Goodreads Group Reads
All of my Goodreads groups have selected some amazing reading material for June. Here are three that I’ve read and highly recommend.
The Joy Luck Club is a true classic, and if you haven’t had a chance to read it you need to fix that! The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a quiet little novel with Neil Gaiman’s trademark strange twists. There have been skeptics over the years who have argued that When Rabbit Howls is more fiction than not. However, I believe this memoir (of sorts) from a woman who developed 90+ distinct personalities to help deal with the extreme torture and abuse she suffered as a child is true, which makes it all the more heartbreaking.
What are your June reading goals? Drop me a line, let’s talk books!
Do Something for Nothing: Seeing Beneath the Surface of Homelessness, Through the Simple Act of a Haircut
By Joshua Coombes
Published May 18, 2021 by Akashic Books
5 out of 5 stars!
Joshua Coombes never planned on becoming a hairdresser. Through a chance opportunity in his mid-twenties, he landed a job cutting hair, which would ultimately lead to even bigger, life-changing opportunities.
“I learned how to talk less and listen more.”
In 2015 he would start down a path that would soon lead to a worldwide movement, Do Something For Nothing, aimed at spreading kindness and compassion. While talking with a homeless man who he frequently saw on his way home, Coombes offered the man a haircut. While listening to the man’s story while he cut, Coombes felt a sense of connection with the man, which led to the formation of a friendship. After meeting some of the homeless man’s friends, Coombes soon found himself taking his supply kit around London, offering free haircuts to men and women living on the streets and, most importantly, listening to their stories.
Coombes set out to spread these simple acts of compassion throughout communities abroad, and this book takes us on his journeys around the world. We meet a family in Los Angeles living in a tent under an overpass while trying to maintain some structure for their young son; Zero in Denver asking for birthday wishes; young children in Mumbai with heartwarming smiles; the charismatic Eelco in Amsterdam who was optimistic about his future; and many others. Before and after pictures accompany each story, and you can almost feel the emotional changes through the after photos that a simple haircut can bring. And as for the man on the cover?
Monty, from Sydney, Australia, who shared snippets from his past and a coffee with the author.
I’ll admit that I’ve become rather cynical as I’ve grown older, but Coombes portraits of real people and the effects of a simple kindness at turns broke my heart and gave me hope for humanity.
Highly recommend.
Thank you to Akashic Books for sending me this copy for review!
I hope everyone is staying safe and sane out there. Feel free to drop me a line anytime, let’s talk books! Until next time, Happy Reading!
All Dragons Read 