Laurel County Public Library discussion

QOTD: Where do you find your next reads—recommendations, reviews, total impulse, or something else?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Where do you find your next reads—recommendations, reviews, total impulse, or something else?"

I find my next reads from a variety of places. I'm happy I have a variety of avenues to explore books but it would be so much easier to focus on just one haha. I find my next reads from book recommendations from people I follow on social media within the book community (bookstagram, booktube, sometimes TikTok, Goodreads, etc.). I also look at ratings and reviews for books that I'm thinking of reading because if it's rated poorly then I'm less likely to give it a try. But I also love the idea of it being a total impulse while browsing the bookshelves at a book store or library and just coming across a book that catches your eye, reading the synopsis, and reading the first page to see if it's a writing style I'm okay with. I also use netgalley for digital ARCs, I get physical ARCs from publishers, and I use Kindle Unlimited too. I guess you could say I like books haha.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Where do you find your next reads—recommendations, reviews, total impulse, or something else?"

I find my next reads from Goodreads and Amazon. Mostly Goodreads.

QOTD: Which sequel surprised you by being better than book one?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Which sequel surprised you by being better than book one?"

A Court of Mist and Fury - I loved book 1 and often feel like the 2nd book in a series is usually my least favorite, but this one made me question if I even loved book 1 because this one was so much better.

Do you ever DNF (did not finish) books—or push through to the end no matter what? If you DNF, what's your reasons to call it quits?

Laurel County wrote: "Do you ever DNF (did not finish) books—or push through to the end no matter what? If you DNF, what's your reasons to call it quits?"

I used to push through until the end, but now I embrace the concept of DNF'ing books.

some reasons I may DNF a book:
• poorly edited and full of grammatical errors – it pulls me out of the story
• if I find myself dreading picking it up and not excited to read it
• if I'm not connected to the characters and could care less what happens with them
• if I don't vibe with the writing style
• if nothing is happening and i'm not invested in the story
• excessive profanity – seems lazy and in poor taste to me

Laurel County wrote: "Do you ever DNF (did not finish) books—or push through to the end no matter what? If you DNF, what's your reasons to call it quits?"

Yes, I DNF books.
Some reasons
- graphic abuse to people and/or animals (what is the author thinking here)
- gratuitous profanity (again, why)
- if I have to force myself to read the book

QOTD: Has an adaptation ever ruined a book for you?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Has an adaptation ever ruined a book for you?"

I can think of two that come to my mind instantly. I really enjoyed The Jane Austen Book Club movie but the book had such bad reviews and I tried to read it anyway because I liked the movie and I just couldn't do it. Another one is True Blood. I enjoyed the show but when I tried to read the Sookie Stackhouse books I really didn't like them.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Has an adaptation ever ruined a book for you?"

yes, I didn't like the Radium Girls adaptation on Netflix, or the Persuasion adaptation on Netflix (gag!)

QOTD: What’s a book that seemed totally outside your comfort zone but surprised you by how much you enjoyed it?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What’s a book that seemed totally outside your comfort zone but surprised you by how much you enjoyed it?"

From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home – I don't read very many memoirs and I didn't expect to love this one but I did. I read it for book club and everyone really enjoyed it.

QOTD: What section of a bookstore/library do you wander into just to look?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What section of a bookstore/library do you wander into just to look?"

I will always go browse the fantasy section, even if I don't plan on getting anything.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What section of a bookstore/library do you wander into just to look?"

in terms of book stores: comics/graphic novels. i don't tend to buy them very often because they're expensive, but i always like to look around

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What section of a bookstore/library do you wander into just to look?"

Bookstore: science fiction. My favorite genre.
Library: new release. I always have a list when I go to the library, so I rarely browse. But, sometimes, I glance at the new books.

QOTD: Have you ever changed your opinion about a book after rereading it? If you don't reread, have you ever changed your opinion after you initially read it?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Have you ever changed your opinion about a book after rereading it? If you don't reread, have you ever changed your opinion after you initially read it?"

Yes. When I was young, I absolutely loved Bloodlist by P.N. Elrod. Reread as old adult, it was just okay.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Have you ever changed your opinion about a book after rereading it? If you don't reread, have you ever changed your opinion after you initially read it?"

yeah, i liked interview with the vampire the second time i read it. i read it for the first time years ago (hated it) and my reading tastes have changed so much since then. i still have some of the problems i had with it the first time around, but i appreciate the things it does well now that i'm a lot more familiar with gothic fiction. also, i originally gave a little life like 3 stars but the more i sat and thought about it the more i realized i actually hated it and was just letting everyone else's love for it cloud my judgement.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Have you ever changed your opinion about a book after rereading it? If you don't reread, have you ever changed your opinion after you initially read it?"

I have done this a few times actually. After I read a book I rate it and after I have sat with it for a little bit, sometimes my rating is adjusted once I have had time to think about it. Sometimes, I realize my rating was too generous and it needs to be lowered, and other times I keep thinking about a book and it sticks with me and my rating is increased. I need to get better about rereading books. I'm just worried that I won't love some of them as much the second time around.

QOTD: Do you like reading multiple books from the same author in a row?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Do you like reading multiple books from the same author in a row?"

i've done it before, but i think my limit is two in a row before i have to move on to something/someone else for a while.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Do you like reading multiple books from the same author in a row?"

I typically don't read multiple books by the same author in a row, even if it's a favorite. Actually, if it's a favorite author I like to space them out so I have more of their work to savor. The only time I'll read an author back-to-back is if I'm working through backlist and it's a sequel of a book that I just finished and I need to know what happens next. Even still, I usually put a book or a few in between those.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: Do you like reading multiple books from the same author in a row?"

I can go either way on this. I have just read two William Kent Krueger books in a row and can't wait to start the third one. On the other hand, I space out the Michael J. Sullivan books.

QOTD: What’s your ratio of library books to owned books?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What’s your ratio of library books to owned books?"

In my current possession, I have way more owned books than library books. However, for reading, my ratio used to be in favor of library books, but I'm really trying to tackle my owned physical TBR. So, I'd say it's a good balance now. Also, reader hack: I'll check out audiobooks (sometimes ebooks) via Libby or Hoopla of physical books on my shelves, so that I can get through my TBR quicker. I don't always do this, but it helps.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What’s your ratio of library books to owned books?"

in terms of what i pick up i tend to read way more library books than books i own, but i'd like to change that. i wanna get down to a certain number of unread books by the end the year.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What’s your ratio of library books to owned books?"

I own more books than library books.
I read more library books than I own.

QOTD: What’s your “book buying weakness” (e.g., sprayed edges, foil covers, signed by author, etc.)?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What’s your “book buying weakness” (e.g., sprayed edges, foil covers, signed by author, etc.)?"

i don't think i have one. i buy a lot of books used so i just kinda grab what's available to me

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What’s your “book buying weakness” (e.g., sprayed edges, foil covers, signed by author, etc.)?"

If it's a special limited edition, from like a book box. I actually canceled my book subscriptions, which was kind of difficult, but I was collecting them faster than I was reading them. So, now, if there's an edition of one that I want I'll try to buy it third-party or do a book swap for it. I also love getting signed copies from my favorite authors. I also really like the limited deluxe edition of some books.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What’s your “book buying weakness” (e.g., sprayed edges, foil covers, signed by author, etc.)?"

I have a weakness for book subscription boxes, especially if they come with little curated gifts that correlate to the book. (The Literary BookClub box is to DIE for!)

QOTD: What fictional pet would you absolutely adopt?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What fictional pet would you absolutely adopt?"

Hmm...probably a tea dragon from The Tea Dragon Society.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What fictional pet would you absolutely adopt?"

A dragon is what popped into my mind too. I don't have a particular one in mind.

QOTD: What book do you think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What book do you think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime?"

I'm lumping these together because I have to, but I think everyone should read The Hobbit, or There and Back Again and The Lord of the Rings at least once in their lifetime.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What book do you think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime?"

Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor

QOTD: If you could recommend one book you read this month, which would it be?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: If you could recommend one book you read this month, which would it be?"

Out of the books that I read this month, I'd recommend A River Enchanted.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What fictional pet would you absolutely adopt?"

A golden retriever named Tilly from the Tess and Tilly series by Kathi Daley.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: If you could recommend one book you read this month, which would it be?"

i only read two books this month and loved them both but i'd recommend one day, everyone will have always been against this by omar el akkad because i think it's a really important read

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: If you could recommend one book you read this month, which would it be?"

The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

QOTD: What's on your May TBR?

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What's on your May TBR?"

I downloaded some of the bonus borrow e-books from Hoopla, so after i'm done with Sunrise on The Reaping I think i'll try The Girls in The Stilt House, then maybe one of the physical books I hane checked out like Miss Austen or The Secret History.

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What's on your May TBR?"

TBR - May

Continuing from April
- The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell
- The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams
- All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

Planned
- In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
- Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
- Death Comes Calling by Audrine Wilson Tucker
- The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
- And I Darken by Kiersten White
- A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power
- Wanting by Richard Flanagan
- Playground by Richard Powers
- Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson

Maybe
- Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
- Face Down in the Marrow-Bone Pie by Kathy Lynn Emerson
- The Illusionist's Apprentice by Kristy Cambron
- Mister Slaughter by Robert McCammon

...

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What's on your May TBR?"

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose
Ward D by Freida McFadden
Better Than Revenge by Kasie West

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: If you could recommend one book you read this month, which would it be?"

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Laurel County wrote: "QOTD: What's on your May TBR?"

Carrying over some reads from April:
One of the Girls
Hunting Adeline

I may actually put a May TBR together this month and try my best to stick to it. I'm still trying to finalize my TBR but a couple that I'd like to prioritize are:
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
The Knight and the Moth
Great Big Beautiful Life
Say You'll Remember Me
Lessons in Chemistry