All Dragons Read

After teasing us with some beautiful sunshine last week, Mother Nature brought the snow back, reminding us all there is still a few weeks of winter left.  Thankfully I don’t have to travel in it, giving me plenty of time for books and channel surfing…

–What I’ve Been Reading–

Three-Smile Mile by Chad Lutzke — 4 out of 5 stars

The latest Lutzke is in the house!  This new offering goes in a different direction from Lutzke’s usual style.  Described as a “cat-and-mouse crime thriller,” we meet Cake, a line cook at a small diner.  A snap decision has him on the road with an attractive older woman, driving a classic car filled with stolen money.  An angry husband and murderous criminals round out the characters in this fast-paced, dark, bleak story.  I kept getting True Romance vibes while reading this one.  Great way to spend an afternoon.

Full Immersion by Gemma Amor — 4 out of 5 stars

One of my February TBR selections.  Imagine finding your own dead body on a riverbank, then walking through your memories with a familiar stranger.  Is this a sort of purgatory, or something more sinister?  This latest from Amor is a real trip, and had me guessing up to the end.  There is also a heavy theme of post-partum depression, as Amor mentions in her foreward.  I’m not one to need trigger/content warnings, but I have to say, there were a couple of sentences that brought back the emotions I felt when I went through my own struggles with PPD years ago.  A wild ride, highly recommend.

No Gods For Drowning by Hailey Piper — 3 out of 5 stars

One of my February TBR selections.  Set in a sort of alternate reality, this is a tale of old gods who abandoned humankind, leaving them to become prey to ancient monsters of the sea.  Throw in a serial killer, and that pretty much sums it up.  But it’s not as simple as that.  There is A LOT to digest, and so much is just thrown at the reader quickly and early on, that I found myself wondering if I should keep going or not.  I did finish it, and yeah, in the end it was worth it.  The story itself is truly imaginative, I just had issues with the delivery.

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

Tales of Sley House 2022 —3.5 out of 5 stars

One of my February TBR selections.   A lot of new-to-me authors and a wide variety of themes, including tales of aliens, golems, ghosts, and more.  As with most anthologies, I found some stories more to my liking than others, but overall a great way to discover new authors.

Festival by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon — 3 out of 5 stars

A music festival that commemorates an ancient Viking massacre, set at the very same spot where the slaughter took place?  Gee, don’t know what could go wrong with that.   This quick read was pretty entertaining, but I just felt like something was missing, either with the characters or the origin story (maybe both?).  While not my favorite from these authors, still a pretty good way to spend a snowy day.

–What I’ve Been Watching–

Nothing beats a good sitcom to brighten up dark, cold days, so over the past couple of weeks I’ve been catching up on season two of Abbott Elementary and Ghosts.  I just love these shows, they’re light fun that always put a smile on my face!

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Stay safe, and Happy Reading!

I love a good series.  When the author is able to create a world and characters that I become wholly invested in, to the point of obsessing over the next installment, you know you have a winner.  Over the years, I’ve read my fair share.  Some I’ve finished in record time (I tore through The Hunger Games trilogy in a couple of weeks, with the only reason it took that long is that I was waiting for book three to arrive).  Other series I have been relishing, knowing that they will eventually end and I’m not quite ready to give them up (Sue Grafton’s Alphabet series, James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux, and Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole are at the top of this list).  And there are those series I enjoyed but will never get to finish (thanks a lot George RR Martin and Patrick Rothfuss!).

For the month of March, I decided to finally attempt to wrap up a couple of series that I started some time ago and just haven’t gotten around to reading the grand finales…

I started Stephen King’s Bill Hodges trilogy back in 2016, and Justin Cronin’s The Passage trilogy in 2019.  I’m thinking its way past due to finally see how these stories play out.  I can’t guarantee I will finish both these month, with both of them being pretty hefty tomes, but I am hoping to finish one and have a good start on the other (while enjoying some aptly named tea from Riddle’s Book and Tea Company called TBR Brew!).

And as for the March pick for my “Unofficial NW Club”…

…as fate would have it, Malorie by Josh Malerman was chosen, another series that I started a while back and just never got around to finishing.  Sticking with the theme indeed!

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As for February, I finished a total of nine books, four of those being my monthly TBR selections.  I did start Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay, and I’m currently about 130 pages in and absolutely loving it!

What are your reading goals for March?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Do you have a favorite spot to sit and read?  My couch is my preferred spot, as it’s near a south-facing window so there’s a lot of natural light (especially this time of year).  If you’re like me, you probably have a stack of books near your favorite spot, those you’re currently reading and those books hoping to be the next in line.  Tonight, this is the view from my couch, with current reads on the left and those next in line on the right (with a new addition, Tell the Rest by Lucy Jane Bledsoe, my latest win from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer giveaways and Akashic Books).  And, of course, my ever-present cup of tea (tonight’s flavor choice being Evil Tea’s Sacred Grove, a blend of green tea with apricot and peach flavors).

-What I’ve Been Reading-

Road Seven by Keith Rosson — 4 out of 5 stars

This is one of those strange stories that really defies description without giving away major spoilers, as well as defying genre classification.  I loved the weirdness of it, even when it got to the point of ridiculousness.  And alongside the bizarre, there is a heart to the story that had me rooting for the main characters.  Great read, especially if you’re looking for something off the beaten track.

The End of Drum-Time by Hanna Pylvainen — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written historical fiction set in the Scandinavian tundra of 1851, this is the story of old traditions meeting new religion, of family, love, and betrayal.  I appreciated the research that went into creating this tale, and overall enjoyed the story.  But even with the rich descriptions and narration, I just always felt like something was missing, especially with some of the characters.  I would give this a strong recommendation to fans of literary fiction.

Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

After enjoying the first book, My Heart is a Chainsaw, I was super excited to be able to read this advanced copy of the second book through Netgalley.  I’ve been a fan of SGJ for some time, and Reaper was at the top of my most-anticipated reads.  That being said, for me, something just felt “off” with this one.  I didn’t feel the same draw to the characters, and there were several times when I felt like an outsider listening in on strangers’ conversations and not knowing what the hell they were talking about.  However, I did like the storyline, and the last 30 percent or so was the awesomeness that I had been expecting.  Even though this didn’t hit the mark for me, I am still looking forward to the final installment.

Good Time Girls by Lael Morgan — 3 out of 5 stars

Nonfiction looking at the lives of “disreputable” women of the Alaskan gold rush era (late 1800’s and into the early 1900’s).  Reading the synopsis, I thought this would be mainly about the working girls, but well over half the book focuses on the men who created the gold rush towns in the far north and their hardships.  It’s still an interesting read, just not what I was expecting.

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

Les Femmes Grotesques by Victoria Dalpe — 4 out of 5 stars

One of my February selections.  This is a great assortment of stories, ranging from creepy and disturbing to darkly humorous.  There is also an assortment of dark beings throughout the tales.  Standard vampires, witches, and ghosts are modernized, and there are some surprises along the way, including a strange moss-like being in love with a human, and one of the best haunted house short stories I’ve read in some time.  Highly recommend, especially if you’re looking for dark and atmospheric reads.

-What I’ve Been Watching-

Yellowstone (Season One, partial Season Two)

Okay, I’ve been hearing about this show since it started, so I recently set it up to record and lucked out when they had a marathon of all episodes back in early January.  It wasn’t until a few days ago I finally took the plunge and started it…and wound up watching the first seven episodes and forcing myself to stop to get some sleep!  Two days later, I finished season one and immediately started season two.  I really get what all the fuss is about, I freaking love this show!  I will say this though:  there are some scenes that are difficult to watch, and the first thirty seconds of the very first episode were especially so.  But I have quickly become so invested in the characters that I find myself talking/yelling at them…not something I normally do, by the way (and speaking of btw, Kayce, you were a complete asshole to your wife in the hospital, just saying).  I can only sum up what I’ve seen so far as if Dallas and The Sopranos had a love child, then dumped it in the middle of Montana to fend for itself, you would wind up with Yellowstone.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

Ah, February.  The days are getting a bit longer, and spring doesn’t seem so far away.  But around here, this month is traditionally the snowiest and coldest of the winter months, so there’s still plenty of days ahead that promise to be perfect “curl up under a blanket with a mug of tea and a good book” kind of days.

I think the shortest month of the year is the perfect time to dive into some short story collections/anthologies.  I’ve also been craving an epic fantasy, so I decided to try to fit in both of these themes.  I had my reading list all set, then some unexpected book mail on February 1 and an unplanned trip to the local library changed things up a little bit.

For my short story selection, I have been eagerly anticipating Victoria Dalpe’s Les Femmes Grotesques, where “…horror mixes with humor…and the ordinary with the macabre.”  Totally right up my alley.  My unexpected book mail on the first was an anthology that I won through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer monthly giveaway, Tales of Sley House 2022.  Glancing through this last night, I realized these are all new-to-me authors.  I love discovering new authors so this looks to be a potential treasure trove.

For me, epic fantasy and cold winter days just seem to go hand-in-hand, so I decided to finally start Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay.  This has been sitting on my shelf for way too long, and the description of “…a setting that evokes the dazzling Tang Dynasty of eighth-century China” has me intrigued.  At 567 pages, it’s a pretty big one for this month, but I’m hoping to read a majority of it by the 28th.  First up though, is my library find, Hailey Piper’s No Gods For Drowning, which sounds like a blend of fantasy and horror.  I was pleasantly surprised to find this one, and a shoutout to our local library for stocking more indie writers and publishers.

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My friend M. is also a monthly subscriber to NightWorms, and we were talking about how many of those books we haven’t read yet.  So, we decided to create our own little unofficial NW book club.  We each picked five titles and we’ll be taking turns doing random drawings for our monthly read…

…and this month will be Full Immersion by Gemma Amor!  I’m familiar with Amor’s work through her short stories so I have high hopes for this novel.

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As for January, I read a total of eleven books, including both of my January selections.  One of those picks, Garrett Cook’s Charcoal, was hands-down my favorite of the month.

What are your February reading goals?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Stay safe, and Happy Reading!

must say, January has started out with a bang in terms of reading.  Compared to last year at this time, I’m feeling motivated rather than feeling bogged down.  I hope to keep this streak going!

What I’ve Been Reading

Charcoal by Garrett Cook — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars

One of my January TBR selections.  Art student Shannon finds her life turning inside out after using drawing charcoals rumored to have been made from the ashes of sadistic artist Thomas Kemp.  Beautifully horrific are the first two words to pop into my head as I finished reading this.  The writing is mesmerizing, the characters flawed, and the ending sent shivers down my spine.  Highly recommend, especially for fans of “literary” horror.

The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick — 3 out of 5 stars

One of my January TBR selections.  The first in a series (or maybe only a duology?  Not sure), this quick YA/middle-grade read mixes fantasy, magic, and a bit of horror.  I know I’m not the target audience by a long shot, but I do think the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more as they felt flat to me.

Daphne by Josh Malerman — 2.5/3 out of 5 stars

I usually enjoy Malerman’s work, but this story was a swing and a miss for me.  I can usually get over repeated sports references, and I’m familiar with the basketball game the girls were doing (basically Magic 8 Ball questions, only the answers come from making or missing baskets).  But by the end, I just felt unsatisfied with the whole Daphne spectre, and I really didn’t care who lived or died in the final showdown.  If you’re new to Malerman’s work, I suggest starting with anything other than this one.

Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger — 2.5/3 out of 5 stars

It’s been a long time since I read the first book in this series (Iron Lake), and admittingly I haven’t read the nine books between that one and this.  That being said, I don’t remember so much religion and misogyny in the first one  that infiltrated this story.  The first half was very good (Cork and his family caught in a deadly storm, Cork’s daughter, Jenny, stumbles across a dead woman and rescues her infant son), putting this on track for a good four stars.  Then it just started to go downhill fast with the introduction of a doomsday cult and Jenny’s obsession with her instant motherhood status.  When it was suggested that to be a real mother, one has to breastfeed the baby, I just about threw this into the trash.  I did finish it, rolling my eyes the last twenty percent or so.  If this is what the series has become, then I’m bowing out and donating my other Krueger titles to my local library book sale.

What I’ve Been Watching

American Horror Story:  NYC (season 11)

I’ve been watching AHS since the beginning.  Over the years, there have been some very good seasons, some “okay until the ending” seasons, and a small percentage that just simply sucked shit (season 8 Apocalypse, I’m looking at you).  I went into season 11 not knowing what to expect, and I wound up binging all ten episodes over a two day period!  Set in 1981 New York City, someone (or something) is targeting gay men.  I can’t say much more about the plot without revealing major spoilers, but I will say this is the strongest season AHS has put out in a while.  And a first for me with this series:  I cried not only once, but twice!!  The last twenty minutes just devastated me (and that’s saying a lot!).  All the stars for this one, and here’s hoping they keep up the momentum going into season 12.

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Stay safe, and Happy Reading!

So, I decided to do a bit of renaming and rearranging for 2023.  I started out with good intentions of a weekly update, but as life happened around me, I found myself unable to keep up for a variety of reasons.  This led to frustration on my part, and the feeling of failure would sometimes creep in as well.

I still plan on sharing my latest reads with you, I’m just not making it a set schedule (I do hope to post every 7 to 10 days, depending on how many books I’ve finished).

Books are a big part of my life, but I do have other interests, believe it or not, haha!  Since our household has finally jumped into the 21st century and we now have several streaming services, I’ve been catching up on some fantastic movies and rewatching favorite television series.  Starting next time, I will be adding What I’ve Been Watching, as well as What I’ve Been Doing for the other noteworthy events that pop up during the year.

So here’s to a healthier and happier 2023!

What I’ve Been Reading

A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett — 5 out of 5 stars

In 2008, Amanda Lindhout traveled to Somalia with photographer friend, Nigel Brennan.  On day four, they were kidnapped by Islamic extremists and wound up being held captive for 460 days.  This remarkable book tells Amanda’s story, from her early years and adventures that led to this fateful trip, to the horrors and abuse she endured while in captivity.  This is, at times, an extremely difficult read, but I think it truly exemplifies the strength of the human spirit in the face of such horrendous acts.  An absolute must-read.

In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills by Jennifer Haupt — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars

This unforgettable novel set in (mainly) Rwanda tells the stories of Lillian, a woman who left Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1960’s and found her calling as a caregiver for orphans, and Rachel, who sets out to try to find her father in the late 1990’s after finding clues that lead her to Lillian’s doorstep.  With a strong cast of characters, Haupt not only tells an emotional story of family, but also of the lasting effects of the 1994 genocide, and the trails that lead to redemption and forgiveness.  Highly recommend.

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan — 4/4.5 out of 5 stars

This turned out to be one of those books I didn’t know I needed in my life, and I’m so glad I read it!  The stories of Anthony Peardew, Laura, Eunice, and all of the “lost things” combined charm and heartbreak, and I have to say, there were three simple words that at one point brought a whole lotta tears to my eyes.  Highly recommend, especially if you’re a fan of stories like A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.

Chefs, Drugs, and Rock & Roll by Andrew Friedman — 4 out of 5 stars

My first review for MrPinkInk coming at the end of the month!

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

Twilight at the Gates by Mark Allan Gunnells — 4 out of 5 stars

These 31 short tales and poems are Mark Allan Gunnells’ tributes to the iconic television series, The Twilight Zone.  As with the shows in the series, there is a wide range of weirdness to choose from.  Some stories left me scratching my head, but the vast majority I found entertaining and often creepy.  Great selection, and a good starting point for those new to Gunnells’ work.

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Stay safe, and Happy Reading!

First of all, Happy New Year!!

I don’t know about you, but I am so glad the shitstorm that was 2022 is officially in the rearview window.  Time to recharge and look forward to 2023.

First up, my January theme:  New Year, New Series/New Author.  I like to start off the new year with this theme as it just seems fitting.  This month I am looking forward to these two titles…

For the new series, I picked up The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick.  This sounds right up my alley, with a mix of fantasy, mystery, and magic.  Added bonus:  it’s set between Christmas and New Year’s, a perfect fit for this time of year.  My other selection is a brand new release from new-to-me author, Garrett Cook.  Charcoal is described as “a dark allegory about the nature of art and the monsters that create it.”  I’ve been holding onto this one since it arrived a couple months ago, and I can’t wait to finally start it.

As for my 2022 goals, and my new ones for 2023…

I did complete my Goodreads challenge of 150 books (final count was 155).  However, I fell a bit short with my personal “22 books for 2022.”  Why do I always seem to put off reading the longer titles until the end of the year?!?!  I am currently reading the last two from that list, Chefs, Drugs, and Rock & Roll and Black House, and while I want to finish them up soon, I also don’t really have them on my priority list at the moment.  But I do have my must-read books set up and ready to go.  This year I’m setting that goal to twenty…

FICTION (10)—The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich

Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger

Genocide of One by Kazuaki Takano

The Bottoms by Joe Lansdale

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Road Seven by Keith Rosson

A Quiet Belief in Angels by RJ Ellory

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith

NONFICTION (3) — The Lizard King by Bryan Christy

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

American Overdose by Chris McGreal

KINDLE (5) — Children of the Dragon by Frank Robinson

City of Endless Night by MM Hastings

The Dead Girls Club by Damien Angelica Walters

The Hobgoblin of Little Minds by Mark Matthews

Whimsical Leprosy by Brandon Faircloth

CLASSIC (1) — The Island of Dr. Moreau by HG Wells

MEGA (Over 600 pages) (1) — 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

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I’ll also be making a few small changes to my Weekly Mash-Up, I should have that up in the next day or two.

What are your reading goals for 2023?  Drop me a line, let’s talk books!

Until next time, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

To say 2022 was an off year for me would be putting it mildly.  The first ten months seemed to drag on forever, and the continuous onslaught of bad/depressing news and events, both personally and globally, left me feeling drained, anxious, and, at times, defeated.  There were so many times I would sit down to write a review to share with you, only to have my mind go blank, unable to put together a thought or reaction.  Thankfully things seem to be getting better, and I have made several reading and reviewing goals for 2023.

However bad this past year seemed at times, I  must say it was a great year for reading.  Maybe I’m just getting a bit more discerning as I get older, but the number of “very good” to “great” books I read was much higher than years past.  Trying to narrow down this list to  my favorites turned out to be a bit more challenging than usual, but here they are, my favorite reads (in no particular order) of 2022!

Fiction

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills by Jennifer Haupt

The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng

The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias

Creatures of Passage by Morowa Yejide

The Devil in the Red Dirt by Michael P. Smith

Nonfiction

A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett

The Color of Water:  A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride

Code Talker by Chester Nez

The Way of the Rabbit by Mark Hawthorne

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

Beautiful Atrocities by Ross Jeffery (short story collection)

Into the Forest and All the Way Through by Cynthia Pelayo (poetry)

Spinal Remains by Chad Lutzke (short story collection)

They Were Here Before Us by Eric LaRocca (a “novella in pieces”)

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What were your favorite reads of the past year?  And what reading goals do you have for 2023?  I have my “must read” book cart set up and ready to go!

So, from my little corner of the world, I want to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year, all the best to you in 2023!

Happy Reading!  Glenda

Our snow is gone (for now) and has been replaced with nonstop rain.  The days are shorter and darker…and I, for one, am totally fine with that.  This is the time of year I go into my hibernation mode, pulling out the warm blankets and curling up on the couch with big mugs of tea (or hot chocolate, especially my favorite, which blends powdered cocoa with ginger and turmeric.  So yummy!).

I’ve also been catching up on my 2022 reading lists as well as binging some television shows and movies I’ve been meaning to get to but kept pushing aside.  This week promises to be relatively quiet, with next week getting a bit busier with last-minute holiday baking and preparations (thankfully with only the three of us, there’s not a lot to prep).  After the flurry of Christmas and New Year’s, it will be back to hibernation mode for me, until I start complaining about the dark and dreary days in late January, haha!

The Week in Books

The Guardian’s Christmas Confession by P.L. Klein — 4 out of 5 stars

One of my December selections.  On D-Day, a medic named Gabriel is mortally wounded, dying alone on Omaha Beach.  In the afterlife, he becomes a Guardian, helping the dying to transition to their afterlives, ensuring they don’t die alone.  After seventy-five years, an encounter with a dying priest will completely change everything.     If you like heart-warming holiday stories like It’s a Wonderful Life, then be sure to check this novella out.  Some of the subject matter is a bit depressing, but overall I liked it and would recommend it for a more serious holiday read (and the ending even made my little dark heart open up a little bit).

Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

Juni and her two sisters are all set to open their new shop, Sip and Spin Records, when a local is found murdered in their storage room.  Their uncle is the prime suspect.  But in a small town like Cedar River, where everybody knows everybody, how long can the real killer stay hidden?    What a fun start to a new series!  I really enjoyed this one, from the cast of characters to the mystery itself.  Hits all the “cozy checkpoints” without being overly obvious.  I’m looking forward to the next installment.

Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane — 3 out of 5 stars

Former journalist Rachel has become a shut-in, almost a shell of her former self.  But with a seemingly perfect husband, she begins to overcome her fears, only to discover secrets that have her questioning her own sanity.  Not one of my favorite stories from Lehane, but had some decent thriller elements.  I do agree with other reviewers that this seemed like two or three different story ideas that the author mashed together to make one novel.  If you’re new to Lehane’s work, I suggest starting with Mystic River or Shutter Island.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

It’s December first, and this is what I woke up to…

…winter is here!

December is not only a big holiday month, but it’s also my birthday month!  While I have no big plans at the moment (and if this snow keeps coming, it will definitely be a stay-at-home kind of day), I am looking forward to ordering some book mail from some of my favorite indie publishers.  I’ll keep you posted on that one!

This month, I’m also feeling the crunch of trying to finish my personal 22 Books for 2022 after having an unprecedented reading slump for most of the year.  I have six titles left, but I have started three of them so there is still hope!  I also wanted to keep with the holiday spirit so I picked a couple of novellas on my kindle for my December theme.

Merry Little Mystic Murder by Patti Larsen  (Synopsis from Goodreads)  Phoebe Monday’s unusual birth into a triunity of wonderworkers always left her feeling a bit like an outsider. At least the unusual power she (sort of!) controls makes working as a sketch artist for the police department the perfect fit. Still, diving into memories of victims while altering the luck of those around her seems trivial in comparison to what her Maiden, Mother and Crone family are capable of. But when homeless victims come under attack and a normal human’s murder puts the Monday magic at risk, it’s up to Phoebe and her odd talents to save the day.

The Guardian’s Christmas Confession by P.L. Klein (Synopsis from Goodreads)  After dying on Omaha Beach on D-Day, Gabriel Canfield believes no one should be alone when they die, so he becomes a Guardian of Transitions in the afterlife. For seventy-five years as a Guardian Spirit, Gabriel remains frustrated and embittered until he is called upon to help an old priest crossover on Christmas Eve.In the hours spent reminiscing with Father Drew, Gabriel finds a new appreciation for his own life. A heartwarming story about a restless spirit who discovers the meaning of life … in the Afterlife.

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What will you be reading this month?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!