Seven Books in Seven Days #6

This is the second to last entry in this series I've been running on weekends, where I talk a bit about the seven books (or series) that most influenced me growing up. See previous entries in this series here: day one, day two, day three, day four, day five. This will not be in any particular order, as it's hard to put these seven in any sort of favorite to least favorite order.

Does animals as the main characters in fiction automatically make the book middle grade? Or a younger YA? I mean, the Spirit Animals and Warriors series are vast and I think are middle grade, maybe dips into more adult ideas. I haven't read them and I think the time were I would have passed, but feel free to convince me otherwise! But then we have Animal Farm, which is decidedly not. You don't often see adult books that center around anthropomorphic animals. Is it childish to see them as such?

Top 5 Favorite Graphic Novels (that I own)

Graphic novels are sort of my fall back when I get in a reading slump as they usually fairly short and easily digestible. Plus, sometimes the artwork is just so great it's inspiring. I don't actually own a LOT of graphic novels or comics and I definitely don't own everything that I'd like, but I thought it would be cool to pull down my faves I currently own to hype.

1. Watchmen (all like, the movie and TV show)
2. The Sandman (super excited for the TV show)
3. Deadpool (Killustrated is good, but any generally)
4. Nimona (this is cute and a little queer, I actually read this recently... review)
5. Deathnote (though, it's technically a manga, stan L)

I don't own some of my absolute favorites (Giant Days, Saga, Harrow County, The Wicked + The Divine), but maybe one day. There are SO many really great graphic novels that can get just as deep than any book. It's really sad when people trying to hate on this kind of reading. I mean, really fuck off with that nonsense. It's reading!

Do you read graphic novels? What's your favorite?

Seven Books in Seven Days #5

This series will be running for the next three Saturdays, where I talk a bit about the seven books (or series) that most influenced me growing up. See previous entries in this series here: day one, day two, day three, day four. This will not be in any particular order, as it's hard to put these seven in any sort of favorite to least favorite order.

I didn't watch Veronica Mars when it first came out, I caught her once the original series was cancelled. I think, maybe, I jumped in when all the kickstarter stuff was getting the fans in a fervor. I started watching the show and couldn't stop. Watched it once through, watched the movie, got the books when they came out and read them. A year or two later, I watched/read everything again. Then it simmered for a while until I heard talk of the 4th season. It was all renewed and I watched/read everything again. The Thousand Dollar Tan Line (2014) by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham and my absolute obsession with Veronica Mars (also Logan).

I Quit My Harry Potter Reread

Harry Potter was such a big thing when I was growing up. I bought the books as they came out, went to midnight releases, made many a friends through it, wrote fanfiction, bought tons and tons of merch. I bought in to the mobile game and Pottermore. Slytherin proud and all that. But man. Man, has Rowlings ruined it for me.

The reread wasn't going well, anyhow. It was my first time picking them back up since a reread when I was a teenager (I'd reread everything up until the newest book I got every time) and I decided, I'd go audiobooks for it just to give myself something new.

And boy, are they not good. Like, nostalgic obviously, but through an adult's eye they're just so much lacking and so much conveniences in the plots that they weren't even that enjoyable of listens.

My hold for the 4th book came in and I started listening to it, and then Rowlings and her being a complete shit on Twitter about transgender people. I can't with her and that dangerous, TERFy bullshit - AGAIN. And really there's so many problematic things about the series, but I'm sure you can easily find a number of book bloggers/vloggers who can spell those out better than me.

I let the audio sit with five or ten people - I dunno - waiting until it auto-returned. I couldn't bring myself to finish and don't think I should. I unfollowed her on Twitter a while ago and I'm not interested in consuming any more of her media. I'm done. So, stan Rick Riordan (who is so much more inclusive and diverse and is great on Twitter).

'I Was Told It Would Get Easier' ARC review

I'll admit, I enjoy road trip stories. Give me any scenario and throw in a road trip and I'll likely enjoy it at least somewhat.

I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman, pictured by Dream Pop! an IPA collaboration between Breakside Brewery (Portland, OR) and Pinthouse Pizza (a brewpub in Austin, TX).

Title: I Was Told It Would Get Easier

Author: Abbi Waxman

Pages: 352
Format: ARC, paperback

Published: June 16, 2020

Rating: ★★★★ (out of five)

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is Waxman's more well known book - I've had it on my TBR for a while. It seems to have good ratings and so I went into this with pretty positive expectations.

Seven Books in Seven Days #4

This series will be running for the next five Saturdays, where I talk a bit about the seven books (or series) that most influenced me growing up. See previous entries in this series here: day one, day two, day three. This will not be in any particular order, as it's hard to put these seven in any sort of favorite to least favorite order.

Shelfie

So, the horizontal stacks are all books I'm trying to get read this year. From the upper left: mostly gifts or Goodreads wins and two recent buys, ARCs (two very old, one that's already out), and the Chunksters pile. Priory of the Orange Tree is the newest edition to that pile and I'm unsure if I'm going to try and read this year. The Institute down at the bottom I've already read, I honestly forgot I just shoved it down there. It was good, read it for a bookclub where I was like the only one who liked it haha

May Wrap-Up 2020 + June Goals

I meant to post this on Monday, but got so caught up in everything going on that I forgot. Tuesday was #blackouttuesday and I only posted links to help/donate/petitions on all my social media. Wednesday I was just drained and honestly, I still am. If you want info on the police killings and protests and resources to help out/donate, check out my pinned tweet and scroll on down. I've been retweeting like mad anything that's useful. Also, if you want to become a better ally, join me in participating in a buddy read created and led by @bookswithshae that's starting tomorrow, the 5th. She's picked for everyone to read White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo and White Rage by Carol Anderson. You can get the books free on Scribd (2 month free trial, it's her code) here. Check out Shae 🦄✨ (@bookswithshae): twitter and Youtube. There's a website set up for the buddy read here.

I ended up reading five Tor shorts this month, two graphic novels I got off Netgalley, one physical book (review here), one ebook from Netgalley, one ebook from the library, and three audiobooks. I bailed on two that just could not keep my interest (and one especially I kept trying, but would pick it up and just never actually open it to read). I feel bad about these bails as they were both in a reading swap I was doing. Slowly, I'm clawing myself out of this slump, but looking down the road... there are pitfalls, especially if things continue on in lockdown as they have. I'm hoping I'll be able to keep my spirits up and keep focused on the things I need and want to do.