Wednesday Reading Meme
What I Just Finished Reading: Well, this was a better reading week. Only one clunker! This week I read four books: One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly, So This is Ever After by FT Lukens, The Day The World Came to Town by Jim DeFede, and A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi. Reviews below.
What I'm Reading Right Now: I just started The Monster of Alendhaven by Jennifer Biesbrecht, which so far is very weird and creepy.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: I've got library books coming in that were both on my Want To Read list and fit a Hallowe'en challenge I'm doing, so next up will be some combination of The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth, Into Every Generation A Slayer is Born by Evan Ross Katz, and either The Collective by Alison Gaylin or The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly. I may also try to fit a couple of little less-than-100-pagers I've got on my kindle into there. :)
115. One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly
Ms. Hambly is the author of my favourite fantasy series and I looked so forward to reading her take on 1920s Hollywood. Unfortunately I found myself disappointed. This tale of an on-set murder gets bogged down in overly long descriptions of the setting, and a main character who regularly mentally quotes Latin or gets distracted by her memories. I know that Ms. Hambly is a historian and I’m sure she adored all the research she was able to do to get the setting right, but it seems she sacrificed plot and character for it. The story takes place in 1924 and there are references to Russia and revolutionary Mexico that are crucial to the plot, but not enough description for the layperson. The MC’s sister-in-law comes across as a parody of silent film stars, and there seemed to be moments missing within or between chapters to link the action. Overall I just found this a struggle to get through.
Dates Read: September 18 to 22, 2023
Page Count: 256
2 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 10 - read 10 books that take place in a city [Hollywood] (05/10)
Challenge Factory Hallowe’en Roundup - Task 2 - FRANKENSTEIN Arm 2 Prompt: CORPSE in title (02/07 creatures)
116. So This Is Ever After by FT Lukens
Now this was fun! The prophecy has been fulfilled, the evil king has been killed, and the ragtag group of friends should be able to relax now. But when the leader of their group declares himself king so that no one else can swoop in to snatch the throne before they can hand it off to the rightful ruler, he sets in motion a magical set of laws in which he must bind his soul to someone without 3 months or he will quite literally fade away.
This is a joyously fun YA tale of what happens after the happily ever after. The characters speak in modern language despite the medieval-like setting. The banter is amusing but also realistic and while the miscommunication trope got a little laboured, I was enjoying the journey too much to care. I loved the inclusiveness and diversity of the society - straight, gay and non-binary characters all just existed and are never commented upon, and King Arek searches amongst all three for his soul mate. So fun.
I also see in the author’s notes at the end that she wrote the bulk of the story during a Nanowrimo, which makes me so happy.
Dates Read: September 22 to 24, 2023
Page Count: 352
5 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 9 - read 9 books with a cover you like (09/09)
Lost Challenges Want To Read Bingo - O64 (19/25)
117. The Day The World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
When the US closed their airspace on 9/11, many planes were diverted to Canada, including a whopping 6500+ crew and passengers to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, population 10,000. In the five or six days that followed, the small town opened their lives and homes - literally - to the stranded passengers. It wasn’t until reading this story that the true magnitude of this hit me. Not only the logistics of providing not only places to stay but food, toiletries and bedding for so many, but the vast number of cultures and languages that had to be supported. The outpouring of support from the individuals and businesses was truly astounding. The writing itself is a bit stilted and newspaper-like at times.
Date Read: September 24, 2023
Page Count: 261
4 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 19 - read 19 books with an outdoor cover (06/19)
Lost Challenges Want to Read Bingo - B01 (20/25)
118. A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi
This is a brilliant memoir that manages to be frustrating, uplifting, heartbreaking and triumphant in its turns, just like author Mohsin’s life. He’s a bright Muslim boy in East End London raised by strict parents who is religiously devout, so when he realizes he’s attracted to other boys he is wracked by guilt and shame and literally begs Allah for a cure. The story follows his journey from desperation to acceptance, and then to pride. Mr. Zaidi aptly navigates all the emotions and brings a real immediacy to his story. Wonderfully done.
Dates Read: September 25 to 26, 2023
Page Count: 288
5 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 12 - read 12 books that you choose (01/12)
Lost Challenges Want to Read Bingo - I24 (21/25)
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What I'm Reading Right Now: I just started The Monster of Alendhaven by Jennifer Biesbrecht, which so far is very weird and creepy.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: I've got library books coming in that were both on my Want To Read list and fit a Hallowe'en challenge I'm doing, so next up will be some combination of The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth, Into Every Generation A Slayer is Born by Evan Ross Katz, and either The Collective by Alison Gaylin or The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly. I may also try to fit a couple of little less-than-100-pagers I've got on my kindle into there. :)
115. One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly
Ms. Hambly is the author of my favourite fantasy series and I looked so forward to reading her take on 1920s Hollywood. Unfortunately I found myself disappointed. This tale of an on-set murder gets bogged down in overly long descriptions of the setting, and a main character who regularly mentally quotes Latin or gets distracted by her memories. I know that Ms. Hambly is a historian and I’m sure she adored all the research she was able to do to get the setting right, but it seems she sacrificed plot and character for it. The story takes place in 1924 and there are references to Russia and revolutionary Mexico that are crucial to the plot, but not enough description for the layperson. The MC’s sister-in-law comes across as a parody of silent film stars, and there seemed to be moments missing within or between chapters to link the action. Overall I just found this a struggle to get through.
Dates Read: September 18 to 22, 2023
Page Count: 256
2 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 10 - read 10 books that take place in a city [Hollywood] (05/10)
Challenge Factory Hallowe’en Roundup - Task 2 - FRANKENSTEIN Arm 2 Prompt: CORPSE in title (02/07 creatures)
116. So This Is Ever After by FT Lukens
Now this was fun! The prophecy has been fulfilled, the evil king has been killed, and the ragtag group of friends should be able to relax now. But when the leader of their group declares himself king so that no one else can swoop in to snatch the throne before they can hand it off to the rightful ruler, he sets in motion a magical set of laws in which he must bind his soul to someone without 3 months or he will quite literally fade away.
This is a joyously fun YA tale of what happens after the happily ever after. The characters speak in modern language despite the medieval-like setting. The banter is amusing but also realistic and while the miscommunication trope got a little laboured, I was enjoying the journey too much to care. I loved the inclusiveness and diversity of the society - straight, gay and non-binary characters all just existed and are never commented upon, and King Arek searches amongst all three for his soul mate. So fun.
I also see in the author’s notes at the end that she wrote the bulk of the story during a Nanowrimo, which makes me so happy.
Dates Read: September 22 to 24, 2023
Page Count: 352
5 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 9 - read 9 books with a cover you like (09/09)
Lost Challenges Want To Read Bingo - O64 (19/25)
117. The Day The World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
When the US closed their airspace on 9/11, many planes were diverted to Canada, including a whopping 6500+ crew and passengers to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, population 10,000. In the five or six days that followed, the small town opened their lives and homes - literally - to the stranded passengers. It wasn’t until reading this story that the true magnitude of this hit me. Not only the logistics of providing not only places to stay but food, toiletries and bedding for so many, but the vast number of cultures and languages that had to be supported. The outpouring of support from the individuals and businesses was truly astounding. The writing itself is a bit stilted and newspaper-like at times.
Date Read: September 24, 2023
Page Count: 261
4 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 19 - read 19 books with an outdoor cover (06/19)
Lost Challenges Want to Read Bingo - B01 (20/25)
118. A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi
This is a brilliant memoir that manages to be frustrating, uplifting, heartbreaking and triumphant in its turns, just like author Mohsin’s life. He’s a bright Muslim boy in East End London raised by strict parents who is religiously devout, so when he realizes he’s attracted to other boys he is wracked by guilt and shame and literally begs Allah for a cure. The story follows his journey from desperation to acceptance, and then to pride. Mr. Zaidi aptly navigates all the emotions and brings a real immediacy to his story. Wonderfully done.
Dates Read: September 25 to 26, 2023
Page Count: 288
5 out of 5 stars
Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 12 - read 12 books that you choose (01/12)
Lost Challenges Want to Read Bingo - I24 (21/25)
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