Wednesday Reading Meme
What I Just Finished Reading: Since last week I only finished two books: The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis and Half Wild by Sally Green.
This was partially because I gave Wil Wheaton's Still Just A Geek another attempt, this time in hardcover format. And I STILL CANNOT READ IT. The text is tiny, and the little asterisks and various other symbols that denote annotations are even tinier. I have a hard time even seeing where the symbols are, never mind figuring out what *type* of symbol it is to find it in the teeeensy footnote. Which I can then barely read.
I love Wil. I think he's smart and kind and funny. But I give up.
What I'm Reading Right Now: I'm centimeters away from finishing the second book in the Rot & Ruin series, Dust & Decay.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: Next up is the first book in the Call The Midwife series. I still haven't seen the TV show, but they do have most or all of the seasons at the library so I really should get on that!
83. The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
Another excellent dual timeline story from Ms. Davis. Part of the story focuses on Laura Lyons, who lives with her husband and two children in an apartment at the New York Public Library. On the surface Laura is a happy housewife, but when she decides to go to journalism school she is drawn into the bohemian and radical world of the women who are fighting for the right to be heard. Meanwhile, in 1993, her granddaughter Sadie works at the library and struggles with her own personal priorities as well. In both storylines there is a backdrop of rare books mysteriously being stolen from locked areas of the library.
Both storylines were interesting, with Laura’s definitely the stand-out. Seeing her eyes opened to what the world could offer - and what it could take away - was a treat. The resolution of the mystery was a bit predictable, but this world and the characters were so intriguing that it didn’t matter. And the library itself is practically another character as well, and beautifully drawn.
Dates Read: July 12 to 14, 2023
Page Count: 368
5 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Prompt 17 - read 17 books with an E in the title (15/17)
Challenge Factory - Dusty Bookshelf pick
CCC Aah Walkers - Prompt 37 - character finds something tangible (32/52)
ATY Summer Reading Challenge - August 3A - author’s initials in SURFBOARD (11/12)
84. Half Wild by Sally Green
Book #2 in the trilogy picks up a few weeks after the first book, with Nathan in hiding and the world of witches in disarray. And while there’s some interesting events in the book, including the formation of a rebel army of both black and white witches and half-bloods seeking to forge a new path for both classes, mostly it just frustrated me. Yes, Nathan is a 17-year-old kid who’s been mentally, physically, and emotionally tortured for years, so I get that he’s angry. He’s traumatized. Boy needs therapy. But geez, can’t one of these adults take him in hand? He’s out of control and it’s not pleasant to read, yet I somehow get the feeling we’re supposed to think of this as teen angst or something. Meanwhile, Gabriel is lovely and yet I have no idea what he sees in Nathan. I’m also leery of the implications for Nathan based on the ending to this one. Guess I’ll have to wait and see!
Dates Read: July 15 to 16, 2023
Page Count: 432
3 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenge Pyramid of Books - Task 08 - read 8 books written by a woman (04/08)
CCC Aah Walkers - Prompt 48 - character dies to save child (33/52)
.
This was partially because I gave Wil Wheaton's Still Just A Geek another attempt, this time in hardcover format. And I STILL CANNOT READ IT. The text is tiny, and the little asterisks and various other symbols that denote annotations are even tinier. I have a hard time even seeing where the symbols are, never mind figuring out what *type* of symbol it is to find it in the teeeensy footnote. Which I can then barely read.
I love Wil. I think he's smart and kind and funny. But I give up.
What I'm Reading Right Now: I'm centimeters away from finishing the second book in the Rot & Ruin series, Dust & Decay.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: Next up is the first book in the Call The Midwife series. I still haven't seen the TV show, but they do have most or all of the seasons at the library so I really should get on that!
83. The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
Another excellent dual timeline story from Ms. Davis. Part of the story focuses on Laura Lyons, who lives with her husband and two children in an apartment at the New York Public Library. On the surface Laura is a happy housewife, but when she decides to go to journalism school she is drawn into the bohemian and radical world of the women who are fighting for the right to be heard. Meanwhile, in 1993, her granddaughter Sadie works at the library and struggles with her own personal priorities as well. In both storylines there is a backdrop of rare books mysteriously being stolen from locked areas of the library.
Both storylines were interesting, with Laura’s definitely the stand-out. Seeing her eyes opened to what the world could offer - and what it could take away - was a treat. The resolution of the mystery was a bit predictable, but this world and the characters were so intriguing that it didn’t matter. And the library itself is practically another character as well, and beautifully drawn.
Dates Read: July 12 to 14, 2023
Page Count: 368
5 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Prompt 17 - read 17 books with an E in the title (15/17)
Challenge Factory - Dusty Bookshelf pick
CCC Aah Walkers - Prompt 37 - character finds something tangible (32/52)
ATY Summer Reading Challenge - August 3A - author’s initials in SURFBOARD (11/12)
84. Half Wild by Sally Green
Book #2 in the trilogy picks up a few weeks after the first book, with Nathan in hiding and the world of witches in disarray. And while there’s some interesting events in the book, including the formation of a rebel army of both black and white witches and half-bloods seeking to forge a new path for both classes, mostly it just frustrated me. Yes, Nathan is a 17-year-old kid who’s been mentally, physically, and emotionally tortured for years, so I get that he’s angry. He’s traumatized. Boy needs therapy. But geez, can’t one of these adults take him in hand? He’s out of control and it’s not pleasant to read, yet I somehow get the feeling we’re supposed to think of this as teen angst or something. Meanwhile, Gabriel is lovely and yet I have no idea what he sees in Nathan. I’m also leery of the implications for Nathan based on the ending to this one. Guess I’ll have to wait and see!
Dates Read: July 15 to 16, 2023
Page Count: 432
3 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenge Pyramid of Books - Task 08 - read 8 books written by a woman (04/08)
CCC Aah Walkers - Prompt 48 - character dies to save child (33/52)
.