Books that are better memories than reads

There are certain books I read that in the moment I struggle with. They could be slow, they could be confusing. Sometimes boring or sometimes painful. Other times the book is just a really good idea but the execution is not what I expected or wanted. Often I needed to push myself to finish and thought, never again, but days, weeks or months later would think back and go “there was something there” or “it couldn’t have been that bad, could it?“.

These books feel better in retrospect but I generally dislike the reading experience at the time. Typically, they land on my Goodreads shelf for “great concept but the book feel flat“. Here’s a list of books that were better memories that reads.

What book have you read recently that was a better memory than read?

Purple books I want to read soon

I recently ordered a random collection of books. At the time I didn’t realized that several of them were purple and noted the oddity when they arrived. Perhaps a Purple Readathon is in the future?

Despite appearances, only two of these books are Sci-Fi. Binti follows a young Himba girl who takes a risk that no one in her small, close-knit village would ever consider: goes to university in space. In Meet Me in Outer Space a girl with an auditory processing disorder tries to navigate college life. Chilling Effect has the tag line “Kidnappers. Alien emperors. Psychic cats. And she’s out of coffee” so obviously I had to buy it.

Is there a colour that unexpected adorns your shelves?

Pale blue is killing it right now

In the past few months I’m read (or am currently reading) a few books with pale blue covers that are really hitting the mark for me.

A book detailing the underbelly of the fashion industry by following a fictional model as she navigates being scouted and her new career at age 16. The cover drew me in and the words didn’t let me go and I was thinking about this book for weeks afterwards.

All I knew going is was Mariana Zapata was the Queen of Slow Burn romances and that her other book, The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, I quote,”walked so that From Lukov with Love could run”. So when the audiobook was on sale I snagged it. This book is now my favourite romance, ever, and I have been thinking of doing a re-read already. Like right after I read it. High praise considering I was really struggling with the genre but kept going back because I knew there had to be a romance for me out there. I guess it’s all downhill from here.

Currently still reading this one, however the Young Adults that are actually Young Adults (aka late teens and early 20s) training for a super secret space mission is going well for me. I’m excited to see where is goes and hop it follows the footsteps of it’s colour siblings and becomes a new favourite.

Is there a colour in your life that has made an impact on you recently?

Books I DNF’ed in 2020

Sometimes you just have to put a book down with the intention to never pick it back up. Here are the books that, unfortunately, ended up in that pile in 2020.

Let’s start with an easy one. My copy of this book had an issue and there was a whole section of the middle missing. By the time I hit that point I was skimming most of the book anyway. Yes, the beginning books are not the nest place to start, yet that’s kinda the way I like to do it. Maybe one day in the far, faaaaar distant future I will try again. For now, DNF.

The second and third books were DNF’ed for similar reasons: they were both way too repetitive. Both books are important in their own way, however I felt I understood the message of the book without needing to read it in its entirety.

These three books I knew exactly where they were going to go. In 2 of the books I didn’t care to see how they got there. In one of the books it was too immature for what they were trying to tell be happened and I couldn’t read the book.

This one was just plain boring. I feel bad saying it, but it’s true.

Do you mark your DNF’s as read and count them towards your reading goals?

Do you DNF books and what was your most recent DNF?

Almost Favourites of 2020

These were so close, but did not quite make it. I highly recommend all of them!

What was your almost favourite book of 2020?

Favourites of 2020

As always my favourites don’t count re-reads, only newly read in 2020 books. My favourites this year prove I don’t dislike small books, I just haven’t been reading the right ones. You will see a trend in my favourites that it took me a while to catch onto and will be something I focus on in 2021.

The Murderbot Dairies by Martha Wells I read all of these books. Twice. And have been craving another re-read.

Meat Market by Juno Dawson This book first caught my eye in the airport in the summer of 2019 and I could not stop thinking about it. That along with Becca at Toastie Books mentioning that this was their favourite of all time had me keen to pick it up and it did not disappoint.

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff This book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on in 2019 and then I promptly didn’t read it.  However, in the end it was a new favourite. 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy This was brought to my attention by BookTuber Murphy Napier and I decided to splurge on it at the book store before things were a mess.  Worth It!

The Disasters B by MK England I just can’t really get enough of the ragtag group of people trying to fix a mess. 

Changing Faces by Cole McCade Another BookTuber Riley Marie brought this series to my attention and of the first few that I have read, this one is my favourite – a surprise likely for those that know of the series because it’s the next one that most love. 

What were your favourites of the year?

Do you hate the new post drafter as much as I do?

Book’s I’ve read because of Booktube #6

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green     2 Stars

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan     4 Stars

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne     3 Stars

Soppy by Philippa Rice     3.5 Stars

Saga (Vol 1-7) by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples     4 Stars

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi     5 Stars

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson     4.5 Stars

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente     2 Stars

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid     4 Stars

The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend     5 Stars

 

 

Newest Additions to my Goodreads To Read List

Here are the 10 most recent books added to my Goodreads Want to Read shelf.  This covers a span of about 1.5 months. 

Cats in Space…and Other Places by Bill Fawcett (editor) – I heard there was a story about how a cat becomes the captain of a ship during an alien take over

Paradise Clash: Bounty Hunter by L.E. Price – Another of the long list of self-pubbed LitRPG I want to get to

Poo With a View: High Alpine Shitters of the Canadian Rockies by Gavin T Boutet – I actually know the author of this one and know the photographs will be fantastic

Running by Natalia Sylvester – This one popped on my feed and when I read the blurb I was sold

Fireborne by Rosaria Munda – This video review by Eliot Brooks convinced me to add this book to my list

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson – Knitting.  Romanace.  Sold.

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune – Awesome premise and awesome author.  Plus that recently released cover is a style I like to see

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin – Renowned author and interesting premise.  This is near the top of the to-read soon list (when I can get a copy of the book)

Loveless by Alice Oseman – I could say it’s due to the author having several well-loved books on BookTube, one of which I read and loved, but it’s also, mostly due to the asexual main character

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha – If memory serves, this appeared in some form on Eliot Brooks‘ BookTube channel.  It could have been from my Goodreads timeline or Jean Bookish Thoughts

What is you most recent addition to your Want to Read list – whichever form it takes!

5 Star Predictions

Something that has gone through BookTube, started by Mercy’s Bookish Musings, is 5 

Star Predictions, where you list books you think will be your newest favourites, or 5/5 stars.  Ideally you would then read them and provide a follow-up on if you were correct.  I generally struggle to actually read the books I think with my new favourites as there is so much expectation with them.  However, a recent 5 start prediction that ended up being 5 stars was House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.

So, time for some new 5 star predictions!  I’ll list whether I own the book or not for those curious. 

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid (ebook)

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (ebook)

The second Numair Chronicles by Tamora Pierce (pub date unknown)

The Hate you Give by Angie Thomas (audiobook)

Loveless by Alice Oseman (not owned)

Record of a Spaceborne Few by Becky Chambers (physical and audiobook)

 

 

Books I’ve read that are older than me #3

1908     Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

1932     Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

1988     The Yanti by Christopher Pike

1950     The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

1986     Hatchet by Gary Paulson

1964     Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

1972     The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov

1990     Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

1956     The Hundred and One Dalmations by Dotie Smith

1961     James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

What books have you read that are older then you?  What was your most recently read older-than-you book?