Virtual Mount TBR Challenge 2022 discussion

Although I'm calling my topic a run, the hope is more along the lines of a stroll. Starting at the smallest peak so I'm not encouraged to read the new books, and instead focus on my owned mountains of books. Although the primary goal is to enjoy the books and reading.

Running List:

----------- Rum Doodle ----------------
March:
1. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates
2. Upgrade by Blake Crouch

April:
3. Sister Stardust by Jane Green

May:
4. Avidly Reads Poetry by Jacquelyn Ardam
5. The Past Is Red by Catherynne M. Valente

June:
6. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
7. The Shadow of Vesuvius: A Life of Pliny by Daisy Dunn
8. The Alarming Palsy of James Orr by Tom Lee
9. Tree Thieves: Crime and Survival in North America's Woods by Lyndsie Bourgon

July:
10. Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World by Barry Lopez

August:
11. Joan by Katherine J. Chen

September:
12. Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

Pamela wrote: "Starting at the smallest peak so I'm not encouraged to read the new books, and instead focus on my owned mountains..."

^That's my thought process as well....hope we both can keep our side-journeys into the virtual mountains down to a minimum. :-)

Starting slow...book 1 completed How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates.

3.5 stars, audio book

If you've dug into the topic a bit then much of this is repeating, but there is an optimistic tone to the book and focus is more on what solutions will help. It's written so the math is minimal and really is for the everyday person. I wish there wasn't the push towards nuclear power options, yes less people have died from accidents, but what about the waste? Less is still a huge problem.

Book 2 finished almost a week ago, forgot to post. Upgrade by Blake Crouch

4 stars, eBook

In the near future our world's climate is wreaking havoc. Scientists have become very good at gene editing and manipulating plants, animals, and humans. After a catastrophe it becomes an illegal activity, and yet. Logan is the main character who gets infected with an illegal virus that Upgrades him. Now a super-human, super smart, fast, strong, incredible memory and needs hardly any sleep. What now happens is he's kidnapped by the very federal agency he used to work for, and they want to study his new abilities. He's broken out and now on the run. Somewhat formulaic but an interesting book, heavy on the science and action. I got the book from NetGalley last month and couldn't wait until publication in May to read it.

Book 3 is Sister Stardust by Jane Green.

3 stars, audio book

Fairly mediocre book for me, there was too much focus on the drugs and sex, not enough rock-n-roll. Takes place during the 60's and young Claire from Dorchester is enthralled with the rock star lifestyle. She has an amazing few weeks as she was pulled into it with an impromptu trip to Morocco with a band she loved! Lots of drama takes place. Oddly it seemed like longer than 2 weeks while reading. Anyway, it was an okay book but I didn't care for it overall. Got the audio from the local library.

Book 4 is Avidly Reads Poetry by Jacquelyn Ardam.

3.5 stars, print book

A short book, somewhat like a college course in literary criticism in poetry. Also more autobiographical details about the author/professor than one might expect. The length was good, if it was much longer I likely wouldn't have finished. It did provide what I wanted, a little lit.crit. poetry refresher. Slightly shocked she doesn't like some of my favorite writers, but that's okay, was pleased she at least discussed that. Print book from local library.

Book 5 is The Past Is Red by Catherynne M. Valente.

3 stars, audio book

This book was fairly short, but quite odd. It's a science fiction book, where the world has become completely covered in the ocean, civilization collapsed and nearly everyone died. The only remaining survivors live on the garbage patch, they call Garbage Town. The first part of the book and second part seem like separate entities, very jarring. I liked the second part a bit better, a bit less swearing too. Some parts needs quite a lot of suspension of disbelief, as really seems an unlikely plausible future. Got the audio from Net Galley.

Book 6 is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.

4.5 stars, eBook

Fictional book about three friends that create video games and their relationships, mostly with each other. It's more complicated than that, but an engaging read. It makes me miss gaming, I now only play simple phone games not the longer involved PC or console games. I think I switched my gaming time to reading time. LOL Anyway, this was a my first for the author and a few of her previous titles got great reviews, maybe I'll look into those. Got this eBook from NetGalley.

Book 7 is The Shadow of Vesuvius: A Life of Pliny by Daisy Dunn.


4 stars, audio book

Enjoyable biography of Pliny, the younger and elder which is the uncle. The focus is more with the younger, yet both are discussed, along with the history of the era, roughly the end of the first century, 79AD is when Vesuvius erupted and killed Pliny the elder. Got the audio from the public library. Finished almost two weeks ago, catching up.

Book 8 is The Alarming Palsy of James Orr by Tom Lee.


3 stars, audio book

A short fiction book, taking place in England. James wakes up to find half of his face paralyzed, so he takes time off work for a few weeks to heal, which turns into longer time frame. With time on his hands James ends up having a personality shift too, I guess. The book was okay, but not spectacular, and glad it was short. Got the audio from the public library. I requested them to purchase years ago, they did recently, so I felt obligated but forgot why I was interested in the book initially. Well, it was on my to read list for a while, now it's done, finished on June 18.

Book 9 is Tree Thieves: Crime and Survival in North America's Woods by Lyndsie Bourgon.


4 stars, eBook

Non-fiction investigative work on tree poaching. The focus is only on a few areas, and most heavily detailed in Northern California a small town called Orick, where the tree poachers are cutting redwoods. The most common being burls that are these growths on the trees that develop to help heal, yet the residents cutting these mistakenly equate it to cancer on the tree. Anyway, very fascinating material but organized poorly. I felt a better book was in there, just not as presented. Got this from NetGalley in April.

Book 10 is Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World: Essays by Barry Lopez.

5 stars, audio book

Final essays by Lopez, a naturalist who's view towards the natural world is of observation: listening and paying attention. He talks about this in some of the early essays in the collection, and the further in the book the more autobiographical the essays become. The narrator was the perfect choice for this book. Got the eBook from NetGalley, but listened to the audio from my local public library.

Book 11 is Joan by Katherine Chen.

4 stars, audio book

A fictional book with Joan d'Arc as the main character. There's a big focus on Joan's childhood, abused by her father and that in turn made her strong and capable of being the warrior she become. There is not the visions and other saintly attributes we typically think of with Joan. It was a good story, if you set aside those ideas of the real person. The narration was wonderful. Should have finished this in July, as only has a very small amount left that was done in August, but couldn't do it.

Reached the Peak last week with book 12 as Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese.

5 stars, eBook

I really enjoyed this book, an origin story of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. The author Albanese did a great job of the setting and place for this novel, I found it believable and was so into this book I didn't want it to end. I wanted more of our heroine Isobel Gamble. I will have to settle for looking for other books by Albanese. I got this book from NetGalley earlier in the year. Since I have a few more and want to explore the Audible Plus catalog a little, I'll be moving up to the next mountain.


Onward to the next peak!

Congrats!

Thanks CinCo!