Hmm...I didn't like this one as much. It feels labored and with too many twists and close calls and subplots. I think I'll go with The Poet next and take a little Bosch break.

#bookspinbingo card for August. I've already finished a couple of these, and hopefully I can keep some momentum as things get crazy later in the month.
@TheAromaofBooks

Soft pick for this one. My son and I read this as part of level 7 of Build Your Library homeschool curriculum. It's a kid's-eye-view of the events leading up to the Romanian Revolution in 1989. I'll have to ask my friend who grew up in Romania during this time how accurate it is because it's a lot like the stuff us 80s kids were told about Communist countries, and I'm never sure how much of that was Cold War propaganda. Fun story, though.

We're watching one of the classic films my kids first learned about from Lindy West in the tagged book. We listened to the audiobook together about a year ago, and my kids still talk about it. My son says it's one of the greatest things he's ever heard. He's not quite 13, so he's heard a limited number of things, but it's still notable that West's book stood out to him.

I really enjoyed this novel. The first-person plural perspective gives the sense of a people trying to deserve their heroes. The thing that strikes me most is the tension between what people believe they ought to do and what they choose to do to benefit themselves. As friends and enemies change places around her, Fan is able to maintain her integrity while also looking out for herself, inspiring shame and sometimes action in those around her.

Trying #bookspin again after a break. My newish practice of combining my to-read list with a random number generator seems to be helping me clear the clutter from my TBR. I either read the books, DNF them, or discover they're so impractical to acquire there's no reason to keep them on the list. I'm under 800 titles again! Hopefully in August I can clear enough to keep up with how many I add.
@TheAromaofBooks

Oyeyemi said in an interview (linked below) that this novel was like a game, an outlet for play for her, and this definitely comes through. The imagery is wonderful and there are hints at meaning and symbolism, something about what makes a thing "real" and how real things become so, but none of it quite coalesces. If you're up for a fun, weird fairy tale excursion, you might like this one, but if you want a cohesive story, maybe look elsewhere.

I learned today that I have a hemorrhage in the back of my eye that's causing some visual distortions. The optometrist is totally perplexed because I have none of the risk factors for this. I can still see, it's just disorienting and uncomfortable, so I'm focusing (ha ha) on audiobooks until this resolves. Unfortunately this one is pretty confusing to follow on audio. I think Oyeyemi is doing things with spelling, but I can't tell for sure.

This book adeptly addresses parent-child relationships, friendships, love matches, and midlife existential crises. I read it during a 24-hour stretch that was particularly challenging for me emotionally, and it helped bring some perspective to my real-life situation, which is one of the things I like fiction to do.

Well, look at that. Turns out I bought a signed copy. Shows how well I pay attention.

I spotted this book in Malaprop's in Asheville, but since I already had two hardcovers in my luggage, I checked out the eBook instead of buying it. Right move. This novel is a hodgepodge of images held loosely together by a tenuous thread. The narrative rules shift, which doesn't work for me, nor does the number of times a character says, "Now it was clear what had to be done," when it isn't remotely clear and isn't followed up with action.

I've read other reviews suggesting that this is the book where Connelly hit his stride with this series, and I'm tempted to agree. The characters seem to be becoming more natural and Bosch is really developing into a complex person. I might recommend this series to my dad, who's a contemporary of Bosch and might appreciate the character and the stories.

At the San Diego Museum of Art today, I saw this painting and said, "Lapvona!" Maybe I can make more progress on the book this weekend while I don't have classes to teach.

Here's a bunny at the beach for you to look at while I report that I'm not sure I'm going to finish this one. I appreciate the discussions of grief, but the story just feels like any old romance to me. I just don't think it's realistic that EVERYONE is gorgeous. It's possible I'm too old and too married to relate to a 20-something's sexual exploits. I'll decide whether I want to finish it or not after I see this weekend's #camplitsy posts.

This is a tough book to rate. In parts I was quite bored, but in others, I found the storytelling gripping. There are a lot of characters, but with a couple of exceptions, they feel distinct and have their own voices. I found the shifting motivations of some of them confusing and maybe a little too convenient for the plot. The ending sets things up for a sequel (I hope that's not a spoiler), but I'm not sure I would choose to read one. Low pick.

Today was the first day of the first summer class I'm teaching, and I decided to walk the 3+ miles to and from work. On the way home, I didn't worry as much about getting dusty, so I took the dirt walking trail. It was just hot enough that I really appreciated the shade. Audiowalked with the tagged novel both directions. I'm liking the book better than I had been, but it still feels a little interminable.

When my previous and most favorite wallet started disintegrating after more than a decade of faithful service, I decided to order a literary replacement. It's pretty, and we shall see if it serves me as well as my other one has.

This is the first Connelly I've read with my eyes rather than listening to the audiobook, and I was mildly surprised that the feeling of watching a movie rather than reading a book is just as strong when I read as when I listen. I'm also mildly surprised that the convolutions of the plot don't hinder my enjoyment of this novel. There's one character I kind of hope shows up again as he just kind of dropped away, and I liked him.

I like the premise of this novel, and I like Wallace's development, but overall I found the portrayal of the afterlife cliched and the book as a whole overly sentimental. My family loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and we read it together twice, but they got bored with this one, and I ended up finishing it on my own.

I enjoyed this one, despite the racism and convoluted solution and the fact that I figured out the mystery right away, which isn't usual for me. Although I guess I could say the first two about pretty much every Christie book I've read. David Suchet read this audiobook, and he did well, but I think I prefer Hugh Fraser. This got me through post-vacation laundry and post-move garage organization.

No trip to Asheville is complete without a stop at Malaprop's.

I'm currently on the last several days of three weeks of travel. I haven't gotten a lot of reading done, but I did manage to listen to some of the tagged book this morning before hiking to this waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One more state before we fly home. It's been fun, but it will feel so nice to be back home for a while (even though I have SO MUCH to do when I get back).

Splurged on some travel reading while I was out picking up some supplies. Hopefully these will help occupy me during the cross-country flight to which I am not looking forward to a destination I'm feeling grouchy about visiting.

I finished the tagged book on a somewhat gratuitous but sorely needed solo audiowalk. Although the premise---a vacation rental that goes creepily awry---is perhaps not the wisest choice a day before I check into a short-term rental, it was an enjoyable listen. It's also my June #bookspin selection.

A view from my travels this week. I wanted to post a picture of the sign I saw driving through Las Vegas for "The Library," advertised as "18+" and "now full nude," but I wasn't quick enough to get a photo (delayed because I was aghast), so you'll have to settle for the Grand Canyon. In other news, my family is not enjoying Under the Whispering Door as much as I am, so I spent much of today's drive listening to The Apartment on headphones.

Road trip listening. Getting mixed reviews from my family. I think not all of them are on board with the slow burn.

I enjoyed the latest books enough that I decided to go back to the beginning. Not bad. This is also when I found out that there's a long-running TV series about Bosch. Shows how much I pay attention to TV, I guess.

Came back to confirm that this is still my favorite library. Next time I move, I'm going to base my decision primarily on what the library is like. I hear the one in Brisbane, Queensland (Australia) is pretty awesome.

This series is starting to feel a little insubstantial. Not light, at least not in content, but it feels too intentionally and superficially tied to reality, like a checklist (LA traffic, homelessness, pandemic, insurrection: check). That said, I'm still enjoying it quite a bit. The stories and interactions between characters are engaging, and it's a welcome break to put Connelly's books in my headphones after people talking to me all day.

I enjoyed this one. There were a couple of things that were confusing to me (like how I thought Ballard and Olivas had shifted a little in their relationship with one another in the previous novel, but in this one, it's like none of that happened), but overall it was a fun ride. Bosch and Ballard are an interesting team.

So, that's how it ends? I feel like this novel never got up to speed. The narrator is the same age I am, or the same age I was at the time the narrator is that age, and I relate to her in a lot of ways, particularly in her attempts to decode the world and in her unsuccessful but persistent attempts to be straightforward. But I can't say I found the aimlessness or the hanging out in her head very enjoyable most of the time.

I'm finalizing our summer road trip audiobook list and was wondering if Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro would be a good family listen for spouse, two teens, and me. The description seems like something we'd like (fans of Neil Gaiman & The Umbrella Academy), but I nixed Lev Grossman's The Magicians because of at least one scene that I think would be...awkward to listen to as a family. Swearing is fine, but sexy stuff and gore get iffy.

Thoughts?

Jumping in on this one!

🏖️Beach (because it's right by home now!)
🧋Iced Coffee (nitro is especially yum; if only I could find it in decaf)
🗺️ Road Trip!! (with audiobooks on the speakers)
🎪 Outdoor Concerts (when my kids are playing; not a huge fan otherwise)

#thoughtfulthursday @MoonWitch94

I found this volume fatiguing. I had trouble connecting with and keeping track of the characters, and since this trilogy is a period of US history told through the lives of individual characters, not connecting with them makes it difficult to glean meaning. I did note the use of the word "privilege" and other sentiments in use today, which gives me a sense of history repeating itself. Knowing what happened after WWI, this isn't comforting.

🍻🍸🥃🛟🚢🪖🥃🍻👔👗🥃🍻🚂🍸🇺🇸
Nothing to See Here, maybe?
3.5⭐

@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Huh. This went in a different direction than I expected when I started reading it. I like the interwoven-stories format, but I'm not sure if it accomplishes all that Nagamatsu intends it to, which is a lot. It seems at the same time depressing and unrealistically optimistic. I couldn't help but think there would be some major supply chain issues that the novel doesn't address at all, but I like the sense of unity, even if I don't quite buy it.

It must be challenging to think up so many titles for so many novels. That's the only explanation I can think of for the choice of title for this one as it only barely relates to the story at all. I like the dog, but Hastings kind of gets on my nerves in this one. Poirot seems a little snippy this time, so maybe Hastings is annoying him, too. The whole novel feels a little haphazard, like Christie was feeling weary also. Or I might be projecting.

My #litsyversary came and went, and I totally forgot about it! It was May 27th (or 28th...I think time zones mess with the date). It's been three years since I joined, and what an unusual three years it's been!

This is Camille saying, "Hi!"

One of my students recommended this book to me, and I decided to surprise her and read it before our last class of the school year. It's a fun little book, with both fart jokes and emotional sensitivity. I think I'll read the second in the series, too...and maybe re-read Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics.

June #bookspinbingo card!

@TheAromaofBooks

May #bookspinbingo card. I count 4 bingos (2 vertical and 1 each diagonal and horizontal). I DNFed 2 titles and finished my #bookspin (Emma in the Night) but not my #doublespin (Beauty for Truth's Sake).
@TheAromaofBooks

I learned about DeRoche from friends who were circumnavigating with their kids several years ago. I followed her blog, so I knew the basic outline of her story and what happens after the book. She has some interesting---and some funny---adventures, but knowing how the story turns out, I couldn't help but assign greater significance to some of the events and interactions. Basically, it's a quick memoir that doesn't make me want to sail.

June #bookspin list! Some of these might not come in at my library in time, but I decided to be optimistic and include them.

I'm trying to finish one or two in the last hours of May before posting my May #bookspinbingo card.

@TheAromaofBooks

A qualified "pick" for this one. It's better than most self-helpy books, and I appreciate how much variety they offer in their examples, including examples of relationships that maybe aren't destined to become "exceptional," but the example dialogues feel somewhat contrived and biased towards a particular way of living life (full-time career, going for drinks with friends) that feels a little limiting. (Cont'd in comments)

Bailing for now, not because I'm not enjoying this one (I am!) but because I only have access to the audio right now, and the recording gives essentially no indication of whose voice is being read, something that, as I understand, is indicated by italics or non-italics in the print version. I just find it too difficult to follow without knowing who's speaking. So, I hope to pick this one up again once I get it in print or eBook.

This novel provides a look at many facets of Deaf culture, addressing schooling, trends in medical recommendations (often influenced by discrimination and bias within the hearing culture), racism, ASL and BASL, classism, and protest, all set within southwest Ohio. The characters are vivid and the story is interesting, but the ending is abrupt and I don't quite understand what point the author was trying to make ending it as she did.

I like the characters in this one a lot, but the story doesn't quite work for me. A couple of the coincidences seem a little off, and some of the smaller subplots are dropped too abruptly. Maybe this is the kind of series where these are picked up in other books?

Photo is a thistle I saw when I was walking today. I really love this purple.

Finished this one up on audio so I could get some chores done this morning. It was relatively fun, and I can see myself picking up more of the novels featuring Renée Ballard. The police protocol details are a little more nitty-gritty than I require, but I like the setting, and it tickled me a bit that, although I have only been to downtown LA once, one of the places I visited---The Last Bookstore---plays a small but significant role in this novel.

1. Somewhere without bugs, seagulls, or crowds. Maybe a beach in Acadia National Park two weeks before Memorial Day.
2. My little family (spouse, our two teens, and me).
3. Hummus, green olive and artichoke tapenade, rice crackers, sliced veggies, watermelon, chocolate tart, NiCola LaCroix.

@MoonWitch94 #thoughtfulthursday

I've never been totally clear on what people meant when they referred to a "police procedural," but now that I've read a scene in which a main character figures out what search terms to use in a case database, I think I'm starting to get the idea.