EPBOT Readers discussion

Hi all,

Another exhausting week, I would like to be done with these. Teddy had to have another urgent vet appointment Monday, he wasn't eating and threw up, was really lethargic. I guess he picked up a little infection that the antibiotics weren't catching. So he got put on MORE antibiotics and anti-nausea, and anti-inflammatories and fluids and such. He's doing a bit better. Have a virtual vet check in tonight that will go over some next steps in his treatment plan as far as possible surgeries and what to do about managing possible cancer return and all that. And hopefully set a time to get the stitches out. So pretty anxious about that. Also feeling a vague "feel like i'm getting sick but not quite actually sick" that's lasted like 3 days so far. Vague little coughs and some light congestion and feeling run down but not actually "oh yes, this is 100% sick" where i feel justified in calling in sick. It always feels like TOMORROW i'm going to wake up feeling completely miserable.

This week I finished:

Alanna: The First Adventure - I'd heard really great things about Tamora Pierce but I never got into her when I was younger. I think i would have LOVED this when I was younger, but as is it did NOT age well. However I've heard from other Tamora Pierce fans that she's acknowledged the mistakes of her past, apologized and put in the work to educate herself and improve, so that's good to hear. Maybe in the future I'll read some of her newer work.

Siren Queen - I liked this quite a bit. It was set in 30's era Hollywood, but with magic. I'd read her The Chosen, The Beautiful and while I liked the idea, felt it got strangled by being too tightly tied to the Great Gatsby framework. This one had a similar vibe, but since it was it's own story rather than a too-tight retelling it was free to be it's own thing. I liked it much better.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow- this is my books & brew book for my irl book club for April. I was certain I was going to LOVE this since it was about playing and making video games, and it was getting rave reviews. However I only just liked it. I found both Sam and Sadie so insufferable that my dislike for them meant that a lot of scenes that I felt like should have been very moving fell pretty flat for me. I did rate it higher than most books where I didn't like the main characters though, so I guess that's a testament to the writing.

Currently reading:

The Echo Wife - part of my tbr challenge, got it in te holiday book exchange for my book club. Liking it so far.

A Holly Jolly Diwali - audio book read

Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer - comic read

QOTW:

Over in popsugar they're doing a quiz with a booksona, but it feels like just a marketing ploy to sell a handful of their current "want to sell these" authors. So my question is there a booksona YOU feel like you have? Not necessarily a specific book, but maybe a type of book that feels like embodies you? Doesn't have to be the one you read most, more like what you feel like represents you.

I know I love reading all kinds of sci fi and fantasy. But I think when it comes down to it my booksona are the cozy bookshop/teastore type fantasy sci fi books. I had my husband read the first Monk and Robot book and he said "this is you, as a book" and it felt pretty accurate, haha. I'm really excited about the Legends and Lattes prequel because I'm not really a coffee person, but that one is going to take place in a BOOK STORE.

Still keeping you and Teddy in our thoughts Sheri.

I only have starts this week, no finishes.

After my travels I'm back reading Recursion. I am about halfway through. It is very interesting, intriguing but also a little bit confusing. I haven't yet fully wrapped my head around the time movement and how it is supposed to work in the book or how it is stopped. But I'm also really into the book and story.

I started listening to the second Athena Club European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman. I enjoyed the FoE book (which I read first in 2019 and reread for the current selection) and wanted to continue their story. I have put some initial post-read thoughts in the discussion for The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter in the Final Discussion chat.

QOTW:
This is a very interesting question. It took me a few moments to even understand the word booksona. I've never thought about it much.

Although I love all things science, enjoy sci fi and sometimes romance novels and general fiction, I would probably say my basic booksona would be something like the "normal" Nora Roberts trilogy novels. (Her dark or paranormal books are too out there and I enjoy them far less.) The three elements that are usually in those books that sum up me are 1. a strong emphasis on family 2. people are good at their work and take pride in doing whatever they choose well 3. they communicate and usually speak plainly/bluntly.

Hi, everyone. Not too much to report this week for me. My thoughts are still with you and Teddy, Sheri. <3 Hope things are better soon.

Finished:
The Mimicking of Known Successes - 3.5 stars - for Popsugar book released in Spring 2023. I enjoyed it, but I also kept getting distracted from it, so that it took a long time to read a short novella.

The Unhoneymooners - 3.5 stars - for Popsugar book about a vacation. This was a cute rom-com and a fast read. Overall, I liked it, although as usual, the misunderstandings bothered me.

Comics & manga:
Honey Lemon Soda, Vol. 1
That Wolf-Boy is Mine! Vol. 2
That Wolf-Boy Is Mine! Vol. 3
That Wolf-Boy is Mine! Vol. 4
Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 3

Currently reading:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - for Popsugar book set in or about Hollywood. I'm just starting this one, but hoping it lives up to the hype. I'm really enjoying it so far, although my brain keeps wanting to call it the way-too-similarly-titled The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

The Echo Wife - I'm listening to this as an audiobook while at work. So far, it's interesting. I'm familiar with the narrator from a podcast audio-drama she was in, so I have to remind myself this is a different character speaking, but that's a 'me' problem, not a problem with the book.

Upcoming/Planned:
The Witch's Heart

QOTW:
My "booksona" would have to be a fantasy with good characters, lots of banter, and some kind of found family and/or a strong romance arc. Bonus points for involving a heist, and for the main characters being criminals or otherwise acting outside the law/norms of society. That might sound oddly specific, but I just love stories like this.

Stuff like Little Thieves, The Palace Job, Six of Crows, for example.

Thoughts for Teddy. My Sasha was at the vet's a couple of days ago because her arthritis has flared up significantly since the weekend, and she's really acting her age (11+, which is OLD old for a large breed dog). I know it's to be expected when you adopt a senior, but I still wish those painkillers and anti-inflammatories would hurry up and kick in.

Just one finish for me last week: The Last House on Needless Street - Sneak Peek. This is another one of those unreliable narrator, what-the-heck-is-actually-going-on books that only comes together at the end. Maybe that's why I just about never DNF anything - too many of the books I enjoy come with late swerves! Well written. Used for the Book Nerds "The stuff of nightmares" prompt. 18/100, definitely slipping off pace, as expected :)

Two audiobook holds came in, and I'm working through those: The Tenant and Confessions. The first I picked up because in another FB reading group I belong to, this one girl complained about not connecting with it and blaming it on the translator from the Danish. As a translator by trade, I needed to see if she had a point. Eh. It's typical Nordic Noir so far.

The other is also a translation, from the Japanese. It's not entirely what I thought it was going to be, but it's quite interesting, with each chapter presented from the POV of a different character involved in a murder. Again, I'll only really be able to form an opinion once I get through the entire story.

QOTW: Really hard to say, because I tend to pick out books that are bold and brash and funny and action-packed, so not necessarily representative of my hermit introverted WFH self XD I suppose I would be a dystopia with a sarcastic outcast protagonist and an animal companion who survives. That last bit is mandatory. Or maybe I should just write my own book ;)

Another signature for the Give Teddy a Break petition.

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures - What you should know about this book is that the author is the sort of person who volunteered for a study to see whether giving scientists LSD could help them solve difficult problems. I admire that sort of broad curiosity, but this is in some ways a book about thinking about fungi. It did sound like there are many interesting unanswered questions in the field, so maybe there will be a new book with more newly discovered facts someday.

Deadly Declarations - This is an extremely indie book by a local author and set in the city, involving the "Meck Dec", a purported declaration of independence drawn up by a county committee in 1775, the existence of which has long been controversial. It's more legal thriller than mystery, but a mystery-adjacent book this close to home is pretty much a requirement. It wasn't bad, but I'd only recommend it if you are super into legal thrillers and/or fictional history investigations (and/or you live in Mecklenburg County).

Also I did a re-skim-through of The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter and I will get myself together and post in that thread soon.

QOTW: I really liked Monk & Robot, but I am not the sort of person who would actually embark on a slightly perilous journey of self-discovery. I would be something more like Bridge to Terabithia where the woods are real but the adventures are made up. Hopefully less depressing, though.

Hugs to you and Teddy (unless he doesn't like them..)
Hey everyone-crazy busy at work but end is in sight. At least 3 DNF because didn't have sufficient brain left for any challenging reading. Decided I needed comfort reads to compensate so working on the next Rivers of London and have a St. Mary's on deck.
Enjoyed the sequel to Mickey7,Antimatter Blues. Liked it but hard act to follow. Sci fi, short length, snarky so covered a lot of things I like. Excited/dreading the movie version noted on the book jacket, called Mickey 17. It has some big names in it and author is cowriter so maybe a chance for a good adaptation.
Joining the fan club for The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Lovely romance with magic. One of the blurbs is a "warm hug of a book" and that fits well.
Wanted to give a slight warning that while I liked Legends & Lattes and Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, I didn't love them as much as a lot of people do. Sometimes I think I have high expectations when lots of FoEs recommend a book, and then I'm disappointed. I get that they are fantasies and authors can do what they want in that world, but there were a few anachronisms that bothered me. (And I did have to check that definition before posting.)

QOTW. Realizing my favorites are mysteries/fantasy/sci fi with humor that aren't too long and have good dialogue. I tend to be efficient at things, and nerdy, and like figuring things out and am funny on good days so perhaps those match me?

Oy, Teddy just can't catch a break! Poor kitty (and poor kitty mom! Hang in there!).

My reads last week:
Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton (who played Draco Malfoy in the films). It was just okay. He had some nice things to say about his fellow cast and crew, but all of his stories were just...superficial. And then in the last few chapters he got really raw and honest about his issues with mental health and substance abuse, but even then he just sort of scratched the surface instead of truly sharing the details of his experiences. I was also disappointed that he didn't address JKR's awfulness (he didn't say anything nice about her either, so at least there's that?).

Next was The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which I read in a single day - utterly delightful! Thank you to all here who recommended it, I loved it.

I'm now just starting Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky, who is a favorite author of mine. It's the third book in the series - first two are Children of Time and Children of Ruin - and they are BRILLIANT.

I started reading The Night Journey by Kathryn Lasky to my daughter this week. It was a favorite of mine as a girl and I'm having fun revisiting it.

QOTW: ooh, this is a good question. I think quirky speculative fiction books that are grounded in real science are probably most representative of me - the aforementioned Adrian Tchaikovsky is a zoologist by training and all of his SF is grounded in accurate biology that makes me happy. Another example is N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy - I was in love the minute I saw the map in at the very beginning of the first book and it showed tectonic plate boundaries and faults. It made my geology major heart swoon. See also The Martian and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.