Grace > Recent Status Updates

Normally I wouldn't have two thrillers on the go at the same time, but I:

1. Desperately needed a calorie-free reread and this fit that bill to perfection.
2. Need to empty out my holds list in Libby

And so here I am, a self-proclaimed fantasy reader reading two thrillers (and a mystery) all at the same time.

-glares angrily at her library holds shelf-

I was hoping to tandem read this. But I had to start this with just the audiobook because my library copy of the ebook has been "available soon" for days now. Which sucks because my retention is much worse with audio than visual.

But alas, time waits for no one.

I was supposed to read this over the summer, but put it off because the synopsis warned of a heavy topic that I wasn't in the mood for. Plus, the school aspect made it feel very fall-coded to me.

It is heavy, but not in the way I thought it was going to be. And I don't know if I feel relief or not that it's not as bad as I feared... And what that says about me.

This has been on my hit list forever, ever since I snapped it out of a LFL. I loved the docuseries version of this book and honestly look forward to learning more.

Also, I totally hear Lucy Worsley's voice when reading.

The way the author uses words to exude an incredible amount of feeling and emotion is sublime. And I wasn't expecting the pain and isolation felt by our central characters to ooze off the page the way it is doing.

On a more personal level, I'm learning I'm not crazy about circus/carnivals as settings. There's something about it that doesn't appeal to me.

I knew this is a thriller, but I didn't realize it was of The Briar Club or Little Fires Everywhere variety where we are told the climax at the beginning before we learn about the main players and what led them to that moment.

I admit as much as I dislike Madeline the individual, she is a hoot. And a total shit-stirrer. And apparently unable to handle a pacifist.

OK. This has been genuinely interesting so far. Especially given my own experience with aging family members, it's really helpful in illustrating what they are experiencing. And it's making me want to reach out to elderly family just to spend time. Because it is precious.

And I'm only 30 percent of the way into the book.

Honestly the insight has been very valuable to me so far.

I've had this on my short-term TBR for months. But I ended up putting it on a backburner in July in order to tackle my physical books that had more of a summer vibe, thanks to me actually reading the synopsis and thinking, "this feels more like a September book."

Well it's September. And a spot opened up unexpectedly.

A few challenges led me to picking up this book now after eyeing it for a few months. It comes highly recommended by some of those who've read it that I follow so I have some expectations of a good time. We shall see if it lives up to these ideals for me.

I keep having to remind myself that this is young adult fantasy. Because when I forget, I find Harper significantly more annoying as a character. Her goodness is a bit heavy-handed, which is fine for younger readers, but I'm old and cynical and find it unrealistically optimistic.

But for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I'm enjoying it. It moves well and isn't too complicated to follow.

I had to stop after reaching the end of the introduction. The irony was brutal when it relates to my father.

Also to note to myself that my dad never made it past the introduction. This is where my dad's marginalia ended. So everything beyond this went unseen by him.

Still, will need a breather before I continue.

Reading this has been two years in the making.

I haven't had much luck with medical fictions this summer, or medical events in my fiction books. Hoping the same will not be said about medical nonfiction.

My dad tried to read this book but found the text too small for his eyes. I want to learn what drew him here.

Should I have updated this book sooner? Probably. But I blame the fact I was on vacation for my lack of feedback while reading this book.

I will say, it is a very very spicy book. Also one of those books where the spice is heavily front-loaded for story purposes which... I have thoughts on. I will at least say the spice isn't gratuitous, but there is more of it than I generally enjoy reading about.

Who only managed to finish one book while in vacation? Whoops! Granted I'm close to finishing another book, it just haven't timed out.

Reading this for a keyword challenge while waiting for GR's next slate of reading lists for the end of the year. A YouTuber I follow really likes this author so I figured why not. It fulfils a prompt.

Now. I'm not saying this isnt going well because I'm really enjoying the story so far. Schwab has a way of making the pages fly without me noticing and it's been pretty engrossing.

But at the 50% mark and we still haven't really started the primary conflict for a bunch of circling... I'm getting a little concerned about what that means.

I impulsively added the ebook to my library holds in February. And then sat on it. There was a chance to read it in June but then I decided I wanted the audiobook from my library and then had to wait on that.

It being enemies-to-lovers is great. It being a Fae book... Less so. Also at over 500 pages, I wonder what I got myself into.

Somehow, this 500ish page book feels like it's going so much faster than the 700ish page book I just finished. Does 200 pages truly make that much of a difference?

Though that may just be due to it being a V.E. Schwab fantasy verses a Vergese historical literary fiction.

This book has been a bit neglected as I focus on finishing The Covenant of Water. Also have been having trouble finding time to read physical or ebooks so it's been a little bit slow going.

It's written with a very light hand with a touch of whimsy. I just wish I could get a hold of the audiobook for free.

Kind of accepting I won't finish this before the end of August.

This is mostly because it is a lot slower of a burn than I had thought it would be going in. And the character of the book is... Different than what I'm used to. Less high conflict and confrontational. More "c'est la vie" in attitude to many things.

It was finally the right time to start this book. Now that I'm past my latest Malazan and don't have another fantasy book I'm working on, it was right to continue this. And has been on my hit list since I finished A Darker Shade of Magic.

Also, I love a pirate-adjacent plot. Why don't I read more books involving pirates?

Note to self: There's a great quote in Chapter 16.

Also, there's some good food for thought about what would compel you to stand and fight instead of running? How precious life can be when there is someone to live for.

It makes me really sentimental, especially when looking at precious eyes.

I've given up going chapter by chapter reading this book to the little. They're old enough at this point where it's hard to keep them from bouncing off walls during a whole chapter during story time. So we go page by page and just find good stopping points instead.

That said, I can't believe how little has passed this far into the book. And a lot happens in this book, if I recall correctly.

Thank God for my public library releasing the Covenant of Water audiobook to me when it did. It allowed me to pick up this book (which doesn't have an audiobook on Libby) as my ebook/physical option and smack another summer book off my TBR before the season ends.

It's a beach read (duh) so I'm not about to expect anything here. Just entertainment.

The doctor from Scotland confused me. I kept waiting to see what the connection is with Parambil and haven't gotten told a reason yet. It's still early so perhaps there is a good reason to be introduced to him. For now, too many questions, and nothing close to answers to anything.

The second person perspective takes some getting used to I will admit.

The concept is really interesting and it does lend into some very poignant discussions on propaganda and the ways legends bends truths to suit the society making use of the figure. Much like how Jesus is white in so much European art.

Blowing through this courtesy of the mountain of chores at home to tackle over the next few days as I unpack, reorganize and prep a number or things.

Overall, this has been serviceable as a story, but nothing really to write home about. Kind of a beige experience actually, with a lot happening but not a lot meaning anything really. It's like a filler episode, things happen but it doesn't make an impact.

Annnnnd... I'm out of my ebook era. I may be back into it later, but for now is making due with an audiobook while doing chores to help move it along.

I'm intrigued by the premise of the book and only heard great things about the story, so fingers crossed it lives up to its lofty expectations.

Look! I'm actually finally picking up one of my physical TBR summer books! It's happening.

Got this from a Little Free Library ages ago and has long been on my hit list. The audiobook was readily available on Libby and whipped a huge chunk as I waited for my Spotify audiobook hours to reset.

It's fine so far. Not a huge proponent of this particular genre but it hits a spot of sorts.

This last update to say... You can see where certain inspirations come into play for Neely, but I don't know the inspiration behind Jennifer North and it intrigues me.

Anne I get is their moral centre of sorts, someone who manages to stay mostly steady even as you want to bash her over the head.

Another reading challenge book that also checks off a physical TBR box as well after finding it at a thrift store.

I didn't know much about the contents of the book going it other than its a pretty hefty book. So imagine my surprise that it's a historical set in India. Definitely unique for my reading list.