Laurel County Public Library discussion

Krystyna wrote: "283. What is your favorite Christmas song?"

Baby It’s Cold Outside

285. What was the last classic book you read? How long ago?

If Snowing Falling on Cedars doesn't count as a classic, then it's The Turn of the Screw. I read Cedars just a couple of months ago, and Turn of the Screw at the end of last year.

I read Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens last month.

286. What books are you hoping to find under your Christmas tree this year?

My family / boyfriend doesn't buy me books for Christmas. I don't ask for books, though.

287. Do you have any traditions or anything fun that you and your family do on Christmas Eve?

My parents allowed everyone to open one gift on Christmas Eve when my sister and I were kids. We don't have any traditions now.

288. Did you get any new books for Christmas?

The only books I got this Christmas were from you, Krystyna--Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, and In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren--Thank you, again!

Sadly, I did not get any new books for Christmas.

Vivian wrote: "The only books I got this Christmas were from you, Krystyna--Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, and In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren--Thank you, again!"

You're so welcome. :)

289. What was your top favorite read of the year?

Krystyna wrote: "289. What was your top favorite read of the year?"

My number one favorite this year was Big Lies in a Small Town with The House in the Cerulean Sea being a CLOSE second.

I had a hard time choosing one, so here are my top four.

-The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
- The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
- Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Krystyna wrote: "288. Did you get any new books for Christmas?"

No :(

Krystyna wrote: "289. What was your top favorite read of the year?"

Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words

290. What are some of your most anticipated book releases for 2021?

Sunkissed by Kasie West

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Isn't It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams
The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
What Could Be Saved by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz
The Bride Bet (Girl Meets Duke #4) by Tessa Dare
Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune
For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Game Changer by Neal Shusterman

HOPEFULLY, Brandon Sanderson comes out with a new one for the Skyward series.

291. What books are you planning on reading this month?

I'm focusing on The Poppy War trilogy. It would be great to finish all three books this month.

I keep track in another group, so here is my copied and pasted list for January.

TBR January

Continuing from December
- The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
- Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
✔ The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg

Planned
- A Bookshop in Berlin by Françoise Frenkel
- Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon by Robert Kurson
- Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler
- Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

Maybe
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
- The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin

I just put The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin on hold. I am number 40 on 1 copy. It doesn't look like I will get it this month.

292. What is/was your first read of the year? What are your thoughts on it?

My first read was The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. I started it in December though. If that doesn't count, then it's The Dragon Republic by the same author.

I really enjoyed The Poppy War, and I don't have any thoughts about The Dragon Republic, yet. I'm not far enough in.

My first read of the year (started in December) was The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg. My thoughts: A real nice, easygoing story. A pleasure to revisit old friends and places and meet new ones. However, I did not like it as much as Fried Green Tomatoes.

My first read (completely in January) was Horseman, Passby by Larry McMurtry. My thoughts: Excellent writing and the story blew me away. But be prepared, it is really harsh.

293. Do you have any new reading goals, plans, or challenges that you’re trying this year?

I don’t really have any new reading goals or plans. I’m still going to set my reading challenge for 50 books for 2021!

Nothing new for me. I did eliminate a few challenges that I decided not to continue.

My reading goal is to read at least 60 books, and possibly complete the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge. I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself this year.

My reading goal is 52 books.

294. What was your first read of 2021?

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Horseman, Passby by Larry McMurtry

295. How many books have you read so far this month?

5 but 4 of those were short stories.

4 books

296. Are there any books releasing this month that you’d like to read?

There were a few that were already released this month--What Could Be Saved by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz, The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins, and The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.

.
.
- The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin
and
- The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston

I am on a hold list list for both of them.

297. Have you read any new-to-you authors yet this year? Thoughts?

Yes, I've read a few (N.K. Jemisin, Amor Towles, Andy Weir, and Veronica Roth.) I enjoyed their writing for the most part. They were short stories so I need to read a full-length novel to really know if I like them or not.

Yes, I have read 2 new-to-me authors this year.

1. Robert Kurson. I read Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon. It was a nonfiction book that was both informative and entertaining. And I have already checked out a second book by this author.

2. Graham Greene. I read Our Man in Havana. It was a strange, satire, humor book that I did not like. And I will not read another book by this author.

298. Are there any authors that are new to you that you’re excited to read from this year? (This could be an anticipate author, a debut author, or a hyped author.)

Eileen Garvin has a book coming out in April called The Music of Bees. It's one of my most anticipated books of 2021.

Melanie Benjamin has a book that just came out this month called The Children's Blizzard. I have not read anything by her before, and am looking forward to it.

299. What were some of the best audiobooks that you've listened to and would recommend?

No specific recommendations. However, if I have a book with a lot of foreign names and places, it is good to read along with an audiobook. That way struggling over pronunciation does not frustrate me or slow me down.

The Dresden Files (all), the Alex Verus series (all), Uprooted, Spinning Silver. A fantastic narrator makes all the difference, and these all have that.