Albany Public Library discussion

Week 3 - Another Civilization of the Past

We hope everyone is enjoying themselves with some amazing finds. This week is about reading the tales of past civilizations. We were thinking for this theme of looking at past civilization. Reintroduce ourselves to history if you will! Take a look at history it through a new lens

Below are our recommendations for this week:

- SPQR: A History of Ancient RomeSby Mary Beard
-1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
-The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History by Ned Blackhawk
-The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper
- Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs by Camilla Townsend
-Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction by Cathy Maries Buchanan
-Women Warriors: An Unexpected Historyedited by John Parker
-Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings by Neil S. Price
-[book:Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World|40718726 by J. McIver Weatherford

We expect you are already having a good time with the reads you have found, so please tell us more about them. Thank you and have some Historic Reading

While I have not read them yet two historical series I have enjoyed recently are Mary & George based on The King's Assassin: The Fatal Affair of George Villiers and James I about the relationship between King James VI and I and George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. And much less seriously My Lady Jane based on My Lady Jane a historical reimaging of what Lady Jane Gray's life might have been like with some magic thrown in for good measure. I hope the book is as funny as the show has been

Now I wish I had waited to comment today with my most recent read, as it (sort of) fits here (The Fox Wife)!

I’m trying to find a new book - I have a few in reserve but with vacation coming up next week and a loooooong plane ride I want a stocked Kindle!

I'm gonna be That Lady real quick and use this opportunity to plug my mom Faith L. Justice's works: she's a historical fiction writer with a specialty in Rome and Late Antiquity, as well as showcasing lesser-known but important women in history. I'm hoping to use this week's topic as the perfect opportunity to finally read her Sword of the Gladiatrix!

Not a topic I have any familiarity with in my reading!
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So far in this challenge I have read

*Happiness Falls (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
*Freckled (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
*Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
*The Collected Regrets of Clover (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
And I just finished
*28 Summers (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

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I am a teacher on summer break and all I want to do is lay in the sun and read- it’s been such a nice feeling to dive into all these reads! I plan on starting Dial A for Aunties tomorrow at the pool.

Courtney wrote: "Not a topic I have any familiarity with in my reading!
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So far in this challenge I have read

*Happiness Falls (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
*Freckled (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
*Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
*The ..."

That sounds like an excellent plan you are killing this challenge! If you really want to skew it in favor of this week's topic. Emily Wilde could be considered a historical fantasy, but the topics are just a suggestion points to jump off and build a conversion! Don't forget to email us so you get your T shirt at the end.

Currently ripping through the Poppy War trilogy by R.F. Kuang (just finished book 2!). According to Google, it is a grimdark fantasy (a subgenre term I hadn't previously heard), but it is based on historical events in China/Japan. It's an amazing series so far that I haven't been able to put down. happy reading!

Just catching up with this app. The first week I read a library recommendation, My Year of Rest and Relaxation. It was a quick read and one that I wouldn't have normally chosen, so that was nice. Last week I read a short one to keep with the music theme, My Pinup (it was about Prince) and then read Whale Fall while on vacation. The latter had a good amount of sea shanties mixed in, too! I really enjoyed both. I'm excited to get into some history this week and learn a thing or two. I just picked up The Way to the Spring: Life and Death in Palestine today.

Finished Winner of the National Book Award by Jincy Willett ,

but truthfully did not enjoy it very much

I just received the arc for Jo Harkin's forthcoming The Pretender, which is inspired by the true story of Lambert Simnel, who believed he was the heir to Richard III.

Having recently read Pachinko, I would definitely recommend that as well.

Jellisa wrote: "Currently ripping through the Poppy War trilogy by R.F. Kuang (just finished book 2!). According to Google, it is a grimdark fantasy (a subgenre term I hadn't previously heard), but it is based on ..."

Thats awesome! I really likedBabel by R.F Kuang. She's an excellent author and comes up with some really interesting magic systems. You sound like you are on track to finish this summer reading challenge real quick.

Patrick wrote: "Just catching up with this app. The first week I read a library recommendation, My Year of Rest and Relaxation. It was a quick read and one that I wouldn't have normally chosen, so ..."

Those are some really excellent recommendations. It sounds like you are having a blast.

I’m on vacation this week and have finished Circe ( was not a fan)
And have read Belladonna and foxglove by Adalyn Grace .
Loveeeddddd that series can’t wait for the 3rd book Westeria to come out !!!

I didn't get to read as much as I would have liked this past week and I am trying to read too many books at once! I am part way through The Music Shop (audiobook) and am reading A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia. I'm really liking A Hundred Other Girls - its super cute and smart so far, which I think is just what I need to get the pages turning :)

I read _The Ministry of Time_ by Kaliane Bradley Very good

Finished Redbone this weekend (a great musical history lesson, but definitely tricky to read visually for a while due to the odd page layouts and lack of panels), and then my theme this week turned out to be "LGBTQ+ Asian-American protags with a side of magic." Finally got around to reading Mooncakes which, despite the title and the cover, actually had nothing to do with baking. It was still a cute story though, and I couldn't help thinking of it as "cozy-fantasy The Deep Dark" due to their many story beats in common (although since Mooncakes came out years earlier, I guess it's technically "The Deep Dark is like dark-magical-realism Mooncakes"? They're both about sapphic girls who live with a grandmother, reconnect with a suddenly-reappearing non-cis childhood friend whom she later starts a romance with, one of them is dealing with a secret monster that's bound to them in some way, and the climax involves the friend being taken away by someone with harmful motives, followed by a decision that it's time to finally leave home). I also read The Magic Fish, which I had as a face-out title at the library during both AAPI Heritage Month and Pride Month, and it was a lovely story too. Serious props to Trung Le Nguyen for having the patience to draw all that princess hair!!

Today I completed The Black Kids , a YA novel set in the 1990s, during and in the aftermath of the Rodney King beating in Los Angeles.

I love seeing what everyone else is reading!

I just finished The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary and wow was that an annoying book. I wouldn’t have finished it but it’s for one of my book clubs.

I’m still reading Southern Man, but have put it on hold because I’m reading it on my phone since it wasn’t available to me to read on my Kindle. A hard copy is on its way to me at the library and I can’t wait because I’m halfway through and it’s so good.

I’m also reading Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox and so far it is very compelling. It could go either way at this point, but so far so good.





either

It's not old ancient civilizations, however I just finished the audiobook of Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes this morning and I will literally shout this from the rooftops that everyone needs to read this book. It moved me in ways I don't think I could have been moved.

Plus I read the second volume (because I loved the first one) of The Night Eaters, Vol. 2: Her Little Reapers which I didn't love as much but it pulls in Asian mythology.

And one unrelated but fantastic middle grade graphic novel from last night: Pizza Face: A Graphic Novel- part of Rex Ogle's middle grade memoirs.

I love reading about what everyone is reading! I can’t figure out how to like or comment in the app version 😂 .

I just finished Free Food for Millionaires this morning. I loved it! I just love Min Jin Lee’s writing and her characters, and look forward to the next book, no matter what it’s about.

Before that, I finished The Running Grave in the Cormoran Strike series, which I hadn’t been caught up on. I will now buy its next installment right upon release and may need to take personal time from work to get through it right away. I miss the characters already.

I’m going to start Project Hail Mary. I also got Beartown from the library and I may stick with that one too.

I realized I've forgotten to update my progress so far.

I finished In&Out, a memoir I got an ARC for.

The Cabin at the End of the World

The Hamilton Scheme

Green Fuse Burning

The Locked Door

The Inmate

We Need to Do Something

I finished Spells for Forgetting last week and am reading The Violin Conspiracy right now which was recommended last week and I had been wanting to check out! So far I’m enjoying it!

Grace wrote: "While I have not read them yet two historical series I have enjoyed recently are Mary & George based on The King's Assassin: The Fatal Affair of George Villiers and James I about th..." Oh wow, your mom's books look interesting and fun. Thanks for the heads up!

Jessica wrote: "I didn't get to read as much as I would have liked this past week and I am trying to read too many books at once! I am part way through The Music Shop (audiobook) and am reading A Hundred Other Gir..."
I know what you mean about reading too many books at once. I have several going, including a mystery, but then a brand new mystery/thriller with a very long waiting list came in for me at the library, so I am reading that, but don't want to get the plots confused!

I have lots of books on my table, but I started The God of the Woods this weekend because I know the library waiting list is over 100 people. It is a long book, but such a page turner that I finished it this weekend. It takes place in the Adirondacks, and there are some funny lines about Albany. Lots of unlikeable characters, though, so I don't recommend if that bothers you.

Yesterday I finished Bitter House .

I finished three books this week. Getting Real by Emma Chase, Going Down Easy by Carly Phillips and The Accidental Dating Experiment by Lauren Blakely. All were fun reads.

I have been sick and have had some good reading time. This week I finished Southern Man and How to Age Disgracefully. I enjoyed both very much. I’m currently reading Bright and Tender Dark and The God of the Woods.

Currently listening to My Dear Hamilton and reading She's Gone Gone Gone

For Week 3 I finished The Farthest Shore by Ursula Le Guin.

Just finished - A Shocking Assassination_ by Cora Harrison.
The second in a very good mystery series set in 1920's Ireland.