2020 Reading Round up

 

This year I read 111 books which included 10 Nonfiction and 101 fiction. My intent to read from my physical shelves went by the way side and I ended up reading  38 physical, while my Ipad and I were joined at the hip and read 70 Ebooks.  I did manage to listen to 3 audiobooks. I think my son and I also listened to 2 or 3 star wars books which I forgot to list. Statwise, 53 female, 15, and 25 were new to me authors.

I made progress this year with my Wheel of Time read by Robert Jordan and finished #11, 12, and 13.  Oh my gosh, # 13 Towers of Midnight brought so many answers and so many characters back together again and I’m looking forward to reading the last book soon.  It may have taken me a few years reading only one or two books a year, but it’s been worth it.  Great series.

I really enjoyed my 10 x 10 reads immersing myself in dragons, space operas, fantasy, and science fiction, delving into romance and mysteries as well as a few historical fiction reads.   

New to me authors and stories that blew me away this year with their unique worlds, interesting characters and intriguing story lines with themes of discrimination and classism, good versus evil,  mythology, and  cultural differences were:   

Alix Harrow: Ten Thousand Doors of January

Deborah Harkness: A Discovery of Witches

Kim Michelle Richardson:  Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek

Michelle Diener: Dark Horse - #1 - 4  Class 5

Samantha Shannon:  Priory of the Orange Tree

TJ Klune:   The House in the Cerulean Sea

All were entertaining as well as heartwarming

Which one made you giggle, weep, dance, or sing?  Book Woman of Troublesome Creek as well as The House in the Cerulean Sea made me weep.  A.J Jacob's It's All Relative made me laugh.  Two space opera series had all the feels:  Michelle Diener’s Class 5 space opera as well as Becky Chambers Wayfarers.

Made you want to dive in and live in their world?   The space operas definitely.   

Which book would you like to revisit?   Too many to list as I am a fast reader so sometimes I’ll speed through a story because I want to know what happened, then immediately reread at a much slower pace to take in all the details. Every Nora Roberts book written probably.  Also  Faith Hunter is one of my favorite authors and when Junkyard Cats came out in audio, I listened to it twice and was really pleased when the ebook was released which I also read twice. 

Which book would you recommend everyone read?  I fell in love with the characters in the  House in the Cerulean Sea.

Completed Books 

Nonfiction

1. A.J. Jacobs:   It's All Relative - (352)
2. Barbara Abercrombie:  Year  of Writing Dangerously  (410)
3. Francine Prose:  Reading Like a Writer  (273)
4. Hyeonseo Lee:  Girl with Seven Names  ( 322)
5. Matthew McConaughey:  Greenlights  ( 304)
6. Michael Card:    Luke  ( 272)
7. Molly Manning:  When Books Went to War - ( 288)
8. Ray Bradbury:   Zen and the Art of Writing - ( 176)
9. Trevor Hudson:   Pauses for Lent - ( 64)
10. Madeleine L'Engle:  Walking on Water - ( 224)

Fiction

1. A Study of Silk - Emma Jane Holloway (#1 Baskerville Affair, Steampunk, e)
2. Alix Harrow: Ten Thousand Doors of January - (Historical Fantasy, e)
3. Amanda Lee:  Witchin USA - (#1 Moonstone Bay, Paranormal, e)
4. Amanda Quick:  The Girl Who Knew Too Much - (#1 Burning Cove, Mystery, e)
5. Amanda Stevens:  No Less Days - (Christian Fantasy, e)
6. Amy Meyerson: The Bookshop of Yesterday (Mystery, 384)
7. Anne Hackett:  Edge of Eon - (#1 Eon Warriors, space opera, e)
8. Anne Hackett: Touch of Eon (#2, e)
9. Anne Hackett:  Heart of Eon (#3, Sci fi Romance, e)
10. Anne Hackett:  Kiss of Eon (#4, Sci Fi Romance, e)
11. Anne Renwick:   The Silver Skull - (#2 EC, Steampunk, 492, e)
12. Anne Renwick:  A Trace of Copper - (# Elemental Steampunk, e)
13. Anne Renwick:  Golden Spider - (#1 Elemental Chronicle, Steampunk, e)
14. Anne Renwick:  Iron Fin - (#3 EC, Steampunk, e)
15. Banana Yoshimito:   Kitchen/Midnight Shadow - (LOF, Japan, e)
16. Becky Chambers:  A Closed and Common Orbit - (#2 Wayfarer, SF, e)
17. Becky Chambers:  The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet -  (#1 Wayfarers, SF, e)
18. C.J. Archer:  Watchmaker's Daughter - (#1 Glass and Steel, Historical Fantasy, e)
19. C.J. Darlington:  Thicker than Blood - (Mystery, 336)
20. Cassandra Clare:  Clockwork Angel - (#1 Infernal Devices, Steampunk, e)
21. Christine Feehan:  Judgement Road - (#1 Torpedo Ink, Thriller Romance, e)
22. Cleo Coyle:  Brewed Awakening - (#18 Coffee House, Love and Mystery, e)
23. David Baldacci:   Long Road to Mercy - (#1 Atlee Pine, Thriller, e)
24. David Baldacci: The Innocent - (Thriller, e) 
25. David Wingrove: Son of Heaven - (#1 Chung Kuo, Dystopian SF,  England/China, e) 
26. Debbie Macomber: 12 Days of Christmas (Romance, e) 
27. Deborah Crombie: A Share in Death - (#1 Kincaid/James, Mystery, LOF)
28. Deborah Harkness:  Shadow of Night - (#2 All Souls, L and M, e)
29. Deborah Harkness: A Discovery of Witches - (#1 All souls, L &M, e) 
30. Deborah Harkness: The Book of Life - (#3 All souls, L & M, e)
31. Diana Xarissa:  Aunt Bessie Assumes  (Mystery, e)
32. Elizabeth Hunter:   Suddenly Psychic - (#1 Glimmer Lake, LOF  e)
33. Faith Hunter:  Blood Cross - (Audiobook, fantasy)
34. Faith Hunter:  Junkyard Cats - (Sci fi/Fantasy, e)
35. Faith Hunter:  Spells for the Dead - (#5 Soulwood, Paranormal, 384)
36. Faith Hunter: Cat O Nine Tales - (Jane Yellowrock, audiobook, fantasy)
37. Fiona Quinn:  Survival Instinct - (#1 Cerebus Tactical, military romance, e)
38. Fiona Quinn:  Weakest Lynx to Gulf Lynx  - (Lynx series, KU, e)
39. Genevieve Cogman:  The Burning Page - (#3 Invisible Library, Dragons, 368)
40. Greg Keyes:  Godzilla - (Audiobook, Sci Fi, dragons)
41. Gwen Hunter:  Delayed Diagnosis - (#1 Rhea Lynch MD, Mystery, e)
42. Ilona Andrews:  Iron and Magic - (#1 Iron Covenant, Fantasy, e)
43. Ilona Andrews:  Silent Blade -  (World of Kinsman, Fantasy, e) 
44. J.D. Robb:  Shadows in Death - (#51 In Death series, futuristic detective, 368) 
45. J.D.Robb:  Golden in Death - (#50 In Death, futuristic suspense, 400)
46. J.R. Ward:  The Jackal (BDBrotherhood Prison Camp #1, Paranormal Romance, e)
47. J.R. Ward:  The Sinner - (#18 BDB, Fantasy, e)
48. J.R. Ward: A Warm Heart in Winter (#18.5 BDB, Fantasy, e)
49. J.R.R. Tolkien:  The Hobbit - (Dragons, 288) 
50. James Rollins:  Last Odyssey - (#15 Sigma Force, mystery, 624)
51. Jessie Mihalik: Polaris Rising  (#1 Consortium Rebellion, Space Opera, e)
52. Jessie Mihalik: Aurora Blazing -  (#2 Space Opera,  e)
53. Jessie Mihalik:  Chaos Reigning - (#3 space opera, e) 
54. Julie Ann Walker - Ride the Tide (#3 Deep Six, Romance, e)
55. Karen Robards:   The Fifth Doctrine - (#3 Guardians, thriller,  mood, 406) 
56. Keri Arthur:  Unlit - (#1 Kingdoms of Earth and Air, Fantasy,  e) 
57. Keri Arthur:  Cursed  - (#2 KoEaA, Fantasy, e)
58. Keri Arthur: Burn - (#3 KoEaA, Fantasy, e)
59. Kim Michelle Richardson: Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (Historical fiction 320) 
60. Kylie Scott:  Stage Dive series (KU Romance, e)
61. Lee Child:   Running Blind - (#4 Reacher, Thriller, 519, mood/dusty)
62. Louise Penny:  All the Devils are Here  - (# 16 Armand Gamache Detective, 443)
63. M.L. Buchman: At the Slightest Sound #1 Shadowforce psi, Military paranormal, e)
64. M.L. Buchman:  At the Quietest Word (#2 Shadowforce, e)
65. Mary Stewart:  The Crystal Cave - (# 1 Arthurian Saga, Historical Fantasy, 288)
66. Menna Van Praag:  Patron of Lost Souls - (Romantic fantasy, 352)
67. Mercedes Lackey: Arrows of the Queen (#1 Heralds of Valdemar, Fantasy, reread)
68. Michelle Diener: Dark Horse - (#1 Class 5, SF, reread, e)
69. Michelle Diener: Dark Deeds - (#2 Class 5, SF e) 
70. Michelle Diener: Dark Minds  ( #3 Class 5, SF,  e)
71. Michelle Diener: Dark Matters - (#4 Class 5, SF,  e)
72. Miranda James:  Murder Past Due - (Mystery, e)
73. Murphy Lawless:  Gladiator Cheetah - (KU, paranormal romance, e)
74. Nalini Singh:  A Madness of Sunshine - (Thriller,  e)
75. Nalini Singh: Alpha Night - (#4 Psychangeling/Trinity, Fantasy, e)
76. Nalini Singh: Archangels Sun (#13 Guild Hunter, Paranormal Romance, e)
77. Nora Roberts:   Northern Lights - (reread, Romance)
78. Nora Roberts:  Hideaway - (Thriller, 464)
79. Nora Roberts:  Night Shift to Night Shield - (Night tales romance series, e)
80. Nora Roberts: The Awakening  (#1 Dragonheart legacy, 448) 
81. Patricia Briggs:  Dead Heat (#4 Alpha and Omega, reread, fantasy,  e)
82. Patricia Briggs:  Burn Bright - (#5 A and O reread, fantasy)
83. Patricia Briggs:  Dragon Bones - (#1 Hurog Duology, Dragons, 304)
84. Patricia Briggs:  Smoke Bitten - (#12 Mercy Thompson, Fantasy, 351)
85. Rachel Hartman:  Seraphina - (#1 Dragons, e)
86. Rachel Hartman:  Shadow Scale - (#2 Dragons, e)
87. Rae Carson:  Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker - (SF, 272)
88. Robert Jordan:   Knife of Dreams - (#11 WOT, Fantasy, 880)
89. Robert Jordan / Brandon Sanderson:   Gathering Storm  (#12 WOT, 800) 
90. Robert Jordan / Brandon Sanderson:  Towers of Midnight  (#13 WOT, 1264)
91. Roxanne St. Claire:  Man's Best Friend - (Dogmother, Contemporary Romance, e)
92. Samantha Shannon:  Priory of the Orange Tree (Fantasy, Dragons, e)
93. Seanan McGuire:   A Killing Frost - (#14 October Daye, fantasy, e)
94. Seanan McGuire: Rosemary and Rue (#1 October Daye, Reread, Urban Fantasy, e)
95. Seanan McGuire:  The Unkindest Tide - (#13 October Daye, mood, e)
96. Shona Husk:  Kiss of the Goblin Prince (Paranormal romance, e)
97. Shona Husk: The Goblin King - (Paranormal romance, e)
98. Steve Berry:  Venetian Betrayal - (#3 Cotton Malone, Thriller, 576) 
99. T Hammond:   Blind Seduction (Team Red #1 - 6, e )
100. Thea Harrison:  Dragon Bound - (#1 Elder Races, Dragons, e)
101. TJ Klune:   The House in the Cerulean Sea -  (Fantasy, dragons, e) 

Half way reading wrap up

We are halfway through this crazy year so I decided to check in and see how I'm doing with my reading challenges.  Plus I'm checking out the changes Google has made to blogger to see if it is possible to post properly without entirely hating the new format.  

Here's the scoop. Ten books in ten categories and the winners so far are: 

(4) Answer me this - writing craft and other non fiction 

Girl with Seven Names - Hyeonseo Lee  ( 322e)
It's All Relative - A.J. Jacobs (352)
Reading Like a Writer - Francine Prose ( 273)
When Books Went to War - Molly Manning ( 288)

(5) Clocks and Corsets (Steampunk) 

Trace of Copper - Anne Renwick (, 202, e)
Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare (#1 Infernal Devices, 497,e)
Golden Spider - Anne Renwick (#1 Elemental Chronicle, 486, e)
Iron Fin - Anne Renwick (#3 EC, 520, e)
The Silver Skull - Anne Renwick (#2 EC, 492, e)

(7) Dragons and other fantastical Creatures 

Dragon Bones - Patricia Briggs (#1 Hurog Duology, 304)
Dragon Bound - Thea Harrison (#1 Elder Races, 338, e)
Godzilla - Greg Keyes (Audiobook)
Priory of the Orange Tree - Samatha Shannon (Fantasy, 846, e)
The Burning Page - Genevieve Cogman (#3 Invisible Library, 368)
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien (288)
The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune ( 393)

 (11) Fantasy

Alpha Night - Nalini Singh (#4 Psychangeling/Trinity, 368, e)
Blood Cross - Faith Hunter (Audiobook,)
Burn - Keri Arthur (#3 KoEaA, 350, e)
Cursed - Keri Arthur (#2 KoEaA, 413, e)
Iron and Magic - Ilona Andrews (#1 Iron Covenant, 394, e)
Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan (#11 WOT, 880)
No Less Days - Amanda Stevens (Christian Fantasy, 322, e)
Silent Blade - Illona Andrews (World of Kinsman, 64e)
Smoke Bitten - Patricia Briggs (#12 Mercy Thompson, 351, NR)
The Sinner - J.R. Ward (#18 BDB, 498, e, NR)
Unlit - Keri Arthur (#1 Kingdoms of Earth and Air, 413, e)

(5) Feed My Muse

Luke - Michael Card (NF religious commentary, 272, MS) 
Pauses for Lent - Trevor Hudson (NF, 64) 
Walking on Water - Madeliene L'Engle (NF, 224) 
Zen and the Art of Writing - Ray Bradbury (Writing, NF reread, 176) 
Year of Writing Dangerously - Barbara Abercrombie (NF, 410) 

(6) Love and Mystery

Brewed Awakening - Cleo Coyle (#18 Coffee House, e)
The Bookshop of Yesterday - Amy Meyerson (384)
A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness (#1 All souls, 594e)
Shadow of Night - Deborah Harkness (#2 All Souls, 594, e)
The Book of Life - Deborah Harkness (#3 All souls, 564, e)
Witchin USA - Amanda Lee (#1 Moonstone Bay, 274, e)

(6) Mood 

The Unkindest Tide - Seanan McGuire (#13 October Daye, 366e)
Arrows of the Queen - Mercedes Lackey (#1 Heralds of Valdemar, reread)
Rosemary and Rue - Seanan McGuire (#1 October Daye, Reread, e)
Kitchen/Midnight Shadow - Banana Yoshimito (LOF, Japan, 177e)
A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie (#1 Kincaid/James, 288, LOF)
Suddenly Psychic - Elizabeth Hunter (#1 Glimmer Lake, LOF, 324, e)

(10) Science Fiction (Mind Voyage)

Son of Heaven - David Wingrove (#1 Chung Kuo, England/China, 449e)
Dark Horse - Michelle Diener (2) (#1 Class 5, 380e)
Junkyard Cats - Faith Hunter (Audio book, futuristic) Twice
Dark Deeds - Michelle Diener (#2 Class 5, 360, e)
Dark Minds - Michelle Diener #3 Class 5, 286, e)
Dark Matters - Michelle Diener (#4 Class 5, , 321, e)
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker - Rae Carson (272)
A Closed and Common Orbit - Becky Chambers (#2 Wayfarer, 365, e)
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - Becky Chambers (#1 Wayfarers, 423 e)
Cat O Nine Tales - Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock, audiobook)

 (9) Whodunit

Golden in Death - J.D.Robb (#50 In Death, futuristic suspense, 400)
Delayed Diagnosis - Gwen Hunter (#1 Rhea Lynch MD, 381, e,)
Thicker than Blood - C.J. Darlington (Mystery)
The Innocent - David Baldacci (Thriller)
Murder Past Due - Miranda James (Mystery, 303, e)
Hideaway - Nora Roberts (Thriller, 464)
Long Road to Mercy - David Baldacci (#1 Atlee Pine, Thriller417 e)
The Fifth Doctrine - Karen Robards (#3 Guardians, thriller, 406)
Running Blind - Lee Child (#4 Reacher, Thriller, 519)

 

(2)Step into the Past (Historical Fiction)

Ten Thousand Doors of January - Alix Harrow (385, e)
The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart (# 1 Arthurian Saga, 288) 

There are a few categories I want to read but don't think I'll hit ten on. So my plan is to read three books in each category which are: Eve, Silence, Agatha Christie, as well as finish the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Mary Stewart's Arthurian Saga, and the Wheel of Time series.  Will I make it?  I have no idea as I've been dipping into and out of many books as concentration on any one thing has been hard this year. Gee I wonder why? 

PS: I still hate Googles new format. Blech! 

 

A Bookish Quest

Good Morning! 

Since I seem to be more in a sipping mood lately rather than feasting on one book, I came up with a bookish quest. Find the oldest or an older book, meaning purchased more than a couple years or so ago, whether it be physical or e form and read it or at least start reading it this week. For Kindle, the oldest books in my virtual stacks are Tent Life in Siberia, a nonfiction book of essays about Siberian travel adventures and survival and David Baldacci’s The Innocent. On my nook, is K.M. Weiland’s A Man Called Outlaw. 

I already started sipping Michael Chabon’s Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay last week which has been lounging on my physical shelves for quite a while.  Think I’ll look through my bookshelves and pull another oldie but goodie out as a secondary.   I checked Audible and discovered a few started but unfinished books, so going with the oldest which is James Rollin’s Devil Colony to listen to while meandering about this week.

I finished Amanda Lee's  Witchin USA in which the lead character just seemed so very young and immature and I couldn't figure out what the romantic lead saw in her but it was a fluffy, lighthearted read nonetheless.   I also finished the latest book in J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, The Sinner.  I think I may have to read it again because the climax, the end of the war between the vampires and the lessors was very anticlimactic and maybe I missed something, but Goodreads reviews seem to agree with me.   

Besides sipping from the books above, I'm sipping from Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird which is both amusing and giving me inspiration to write. 

When she gets all angsty about writing, "I finally notice the one-inch picture frame that I put on my to remind me of short assignments.  It reminds me that all I have to do is write down as much as I can see through a one-inch picture frame....   

E.L. Doctorow once said the 'writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.' You don't have to see where you're going, you don't have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you.  This is right up there with the best advice about writing, or life, I have ever heard."

Yes it does sound like good advice. I've been a bit angsty about rewriting WIP-RT so going to imagine parts in a one inch picture frame and take it scene by scene.  The universe hit me over the head the other day when I was mulling over the story and suggested I write the story in third person omniscient.  Hmm! 

March Reading Wrap Up

Come on in, grab and seat, and join me for a margarita and let's talk books.  My reading slowed way way down during March.  I think everyone has been having a hard time concentrating on books lately.  I can't settle on any one book right now and have been dipping in and out of a few books:  Lee Child's Night School in his Jack Reacher series, Claude and Camille by Stephanie Storey, Arrows Flight by Mercedes Lackey between watching White House briefings, keeping up with our governor's latest, what's happening in our county, and general news.  I think I need to take a news break because it only creates more anxiety.  My 52 books group is diving into The Fellowship of the Ring, the first book in the Lord of the Rings series, which should serve as a great diversion. 


During the month of May I read 6 physical books and 3 ebooks.  James and I are still listening to an audiobook of Godzilla, and I've been listening to Faith Hunter's 2nd book in her Jane Yellowrock series, Blood Cross.

I finally dove into the stories of a new to me author;  Deborah Harkness's All Souls series with A Discovery of Witches,  Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life.  Intriguing story about witches and vampires and daemons, time travel and magic.  They took time to read as there were lots of details and fun reimaginings of various historical figures.  (Love and Mystery/Dragons and other Fantastical Creatures) 

For our March Ladies of Fiction bookology, I read Deborah Crombie's A Share of Death and look forward to reading more in the series.  The first book introduces Superintendent  Kincaid and Sergeant James and  Kincaid is taking a well deserved vacation at a time share and of course stumbles into a mysterious murder.  All the guests are suspect and I thought I had figured it out early on, but turned out to pleasantly surprised and wrong. (Ladies of Fiction)

I love Patricia Brigg's Mercedes Thompson series and thoroughly enjoyed the newest release, #12 Smoke Bitten in which a creature has escaped from the fae's underhill and is preying on the werewolves and vampires.  (Fantasy).   I finally jumped into Dragon Bones, the 1st book in her Hurog Duology.  The hero has pretending to be dumb for years so everyone underestimates him.  (Dragons)

I've been reading the Jack Reacher series for quite a while now, surprisingly not in any special order.  My introduction to Reacher was 61 Hours and I've been sipping from the series every since. One of these days I'll read it all in order.  Completed Running Blind, #4 in which Reacher actually has settled down with a girlfriend, inherited a house, and is drawn into a murder mystery and is coerced to help the FBI solve it. (Mood/Dusty)

Finished one of my sip reads for Lent: Luke, a religious commentary brilliantly written by Michael Card and provided an indepth look into the mind and heart of Luke.  (Nonfiction/Feed my Muse)

And just for fun, I burrowed into my boxes of fantasy and science fiction and decided to revisit the Arrows of the Queen, the first book in the Heralds of Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey.  I'd first read the books back in the late 80's and enjoyed getting to know the characters all over again.  (revisit old friends/Fantasy/mood) 




What have you been reading? 

Lent: Writerly intentions

Courtesy of Pastel-le

Before the beginning of Lent, I decided my goal would be to write every day, limit my interactions with the web and technology, unless it had to do with business or writing.  I also decided to go on a news diet because all it entails is negative and frustrating and makes me mad.  Positiveness  and light will be on my plate for the foreseeable future. 

Day light savings clicked in early, my body clock still set to change late February instead of March. I began waking around 6:30 or so. Instead of going back to sleep, decided to take advantage of the quiet to write. I also began taking advantage of wake less hours, in order words insomnia, and instead of lying there fretting, getting up to read and/or write until I was tired enough to go back to sleep.  

During breakfast I am sipping on Michael Card's  Luke, Gospel  of Amazement which is a great way to set the tone for the day.  Two books I also picked up for Lent are:  Pauses for Lent: 40 Words for 40 Days which starts your day off with one word per day to focus on, meditate, think, and pray.The second book,  Lent in Plain Site augments Pauses  with  "ten ordinary words Jesus would have encountered on his way to Jerusalem: dust, bread, the cross, coins, shoes, oil, coats, towels, thorns, and stones."  Both books are wonderful, leaving me with much to think and write about, helping to heal old wounds and sparking epiphanies as well as spurring me on to write more poetry, flash pieces, miscellaneous scenes and ideas for my current work in progress. 

I may share some of those flash pieces and poetry along the way as we journey through Lent. 

Peace!  

January and February Reading Wrap Up!

A bookworm leads a thousand lives 

I totally forgot to do a wrap up for January so combining with February.   I've done really well with my buying ban and reading from my shelves, considering that our shop is only five minutes away from Barnes and Noble.  The temptation to go buy a latte and spend my lunch time in the bookstore has been great, but I've been good so far.  

I did buy one book but that was because the grocery store check out line was hecka long  so I went to look at the books and ended up getting Karen Robard's Fifth Doctrine.   It's all their fault *grin* 

Stats wise, I read more female authors (16) versus male authors (5) and managed to clear a few dusty books from my shelves.  I read 11 physical books versus 14 e books so my ratio of e books is still way too high.  

Audiobooks
Cat O Nine Tales - Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock)
Junkyard Cats - Faith Hunter (futuristic)

Dragons and other fantastical creatures
The Burning Page - Genevieve Cogman (#3 Invisible Library, 368, Dusty)
Dragon Bound - Thea Harrison (#1 Elder Races, 338, e)(Gift, Ntma)
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien (288, dusty)

Fantasy
Iron and Magic - Ilona Andrews (#1 Iron Covenant, 394, e, dusty)
Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan (#11 WOT, 880, dusty)
The Unkindest Tide - Seanan McGuire (#13 October Daye, 366e, ms)

Feed My Muse
Reading Like a Writer - Francine Prose (Dusty, 273)

Ladies of Fiction
Kitchen/Midnight Shadow - Banana Yoshimito (Japan, 177e)(Ntma)
The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart (# 1 Arthurian Saga, Historical Fantasy, dusty, 288)

Love and Mystery
Brewed Awakening - Cleo Coyle (#18 Coffee House, e, ms)
The Bookshop of Yesterday - Amy Meyerson (384, Dusty, Ntma)
Golden in Death - J.D.Robb (#50 In Death, 400, new release preorder)

Mood
The Fifth Doctrine - Karen Robards (#3 Guardians, thriller, 406)(New/Ntma)
Long Road to Mercy - David Baldacci (#1 Atlee Pine, Thriller, 417 e, dusty)
Silent Blade - Illona Andrews (World of Kinsman, Fantasy, 64e, dusty)

Non Fiction
Girl with Seven Names - Hyeonseo Lee (N/S Korea, 322e) (Dusty, Ntma)
When Books Went to War - Molly Manning (history, 288) (Dusty, Ntma)
It's All Relative - A.J. Jacobs (352, dusty)

Science Fiction
Dark Horse - Michelle Diener (2) (#1 Class 5, 380e) (KU - Ntma)
Dark Deeds - Michelle Diener (#2 Class 5, 360, e)
Dark Minds - Michelle Diener (#3 Class 5, 286, e)
Dark Matters - Michelle Diener (#4 Class 5, 321, e)
Son of Heaven - David Wingrove (#1 Chung Kuo, England/China, 449 e)(Dusty, Ntma)

Steampunk 

Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare (#1 Infernal Devices, Steampunk, 497,e, dusty)



MS - My shelves purchased prior to 2020
Dusty - on both virtual and physical shelves for a while
KU - Kindle unlimited freebie book
Ntma = new to me author

Book Talk: Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan

This is my year for epic fantasy series with Tolkien's Lord of the Ring, Stewart's Merlin Trilogy as well as The Wheel of Time.  I read the first book, The Eye of the World, as part of a Dare Challenge,  back in 2010 and didn't expect I'd end up reading only one book a year in the 14 book saga.  I love stories with ensemble casts and is probably why I prefer to read series books over stand alone stories.  But it's oh so hard to leave that imaginary world once it's over which is probably why I reread these books over and over again.  

I'm currently on book# 11 in the Wheel of Time -- Knife of Dreams and I'm assuming if you haven't read the books by now, you won't mind spoilers.  

"The dead are walking, men die impossible deaths, and it seems as though reality itself has become unstable: All are signs of the imminence of Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, when Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, must confront the Dark One as humanity's only hope. But Rand dares not fight until he possesses all the surviving seals on the Dark One's prison and has dealt with the Seanchan, who threaten to overrun all nations this side of the Aryth Ocean and increasingly seem too entrenched to be fought off. But his attempt to make a truce with the Seanchan is shadowed by treachery that may cost him everything. Whatever the price, though, he must have that truce. And he faces other dangers.    The winds of time have become a storm, and things that everyone believes are fixed in place forever are changing before their eyes. Even the White Tower itself is no longer a place of safety. Now Rand, Perrin and Mat, Egwene and Elayne, Nynaeve and Lan, and even Loial, must ride those storm winds, or the Dark One will triumph."


Multiple story lines are coming together, reaching a fevered pitch and the characters are finally making progress, which makes me want to dive into the next book, but I'll hold off for a while. Although  Rand is still battling for control with Lews, he's defeated the fake daughter of the nine moons.  Perrin finally rescued Faile, and Matt, bless him, has gotten the girl.  Tuon saw the man through the eyes of his faithful warriors, and pledged herself to him. He's not sure if it was a good idea or not, but the dice quite tumbling in his head for a while. We still have a lot of braid pulling with Nynaeve and she left Lan at the farthest edges of the Borderland in hopes of helping him survive.  Elayne is doing the best she can to win over the 10 houses and the aes sedai are plotting against each other and with each other.  Loial's mother finally caught up with him and Egwene is trapped in the White Tower.    There is quite a bit of gate time traveling and  I still don't see how they managed to move thousands of men so fast even with the gate.  

I'm looking forward to diving back into the Wheel of Time with all my favorite characters!

Book Talk Tuesday: Junkyard Cats by Faith Hunter

Goodreads: After the Final War, after the appearance of the Bug aliens and their enforced peace, Shining Smith is still alive, still doing business from the old scrapyard bequeathed to her by her father. But Shining is now something more than human. And the scrapyard is no longer just a scrapyard, but a place full of secrets that she has guarded for years.

This life she has built, while empty, is predictable and safe. Until the only friend left from her previous life shows up, dead, in the back of a scrapped Tesla warplane, a note to her clutched in his fingers - a note warning her of a coming attack.

Someone knows who she is. Someone knows what she is guarding. Will she be able to protect the scrapyard? Will she even survive? Or will she have to destroy everything she loves to keep her secrets out of the wrong hands? 

******

Where do I begin! I usually only listen to audiobooks in the car, but I was so enthralled with Faith Hunter's Junkyard Cats, her lead character Shining Smith and the story, I plopped down on the couch and listened while coloring and while doing the laundry. I love strong female characters and unique science fiction stories. Feisty and talkative computer personalities, alien bugs, sentient cats, secrets, and more set in a futuristic united states junkyard. Now that I've listened once, the urge to race through is satisfied, and I'm listening a bit more slowly in the car now. Just like all Faith Hunter's story, I read them once really fast to find out what's going to happen and a second time to absorb and enjoy. I love Hunter's imagination and writing style.  I'm looking forward to more stories about Shining Smith and the Junkyard Cats. 

2020 Reading Plans

I'm going back to reading whatever I'm in the mood for on any particular day. I'm also going to Feed My Muse as much as possible in order get back to writing regularly.  My physical shelves reflect my various moods over the years which have segued from science fiction and fantasy to historical fiction to mystery and romances, which means I have a wide variety to which to choose.  I'm bound and determined to read from my teetering tbr stack, both physical and ebook wise. Although I'll make room for new releases from my favorite authors of course and books that arise from the various 52 Books optional challenges. 

Since we are entering the year 2020, I going to play with several categories and mix it up a bit and do a 20/20 challenge. I plan to read 10 books in two categories and either 4 books in 5 categories or visa versa.

10 x 2 plus 4 x 5 = 20/20

Yes, I realize for those who are mathematically minded, this doesn't compute, but reading is all about suspending disbelief, so we'll ignore that little fact for the moment.  *Grin*  

Categories

All about Eve  

Answer me this (writing craft and other non fiction)

Clocks and Corsets (Steampunk)

Dragons and other fantastical Creatures

Ladies of Fiction

Love and Mystery 

Mood
Out of this world (Fantasy/Science Fiction)

Revisit Old Friends
Step into the Past (Historical Fiction)

Listed below are just a few books on my shelves I want to read this year. 

Physical 

A Lesson in Secrets - Jacqueline Winspear (Mystery)
Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay - Michael Chabon (Historical Fiction)
Boneshaker - Cheri Priest (LOF - 1879 Seattle steampunk)
Burning Page - Genevieve Cogman (#3 Invisible Library - Fantasy)
Devlin Diary - Christie Phillips (17th/21st Century England - Historical Fiction)
Devotion of Suspect X - Keigo Higashino (#1 Galileo International, asia mystery 
Far Pavilions - M.M. Kaye  (historical india, LOF - July)
the Fifth Season - N.K. Jemison  (Fantasy, LOF - June)
The Gathering Storm - Robert Jordan (#12 WOT series - Epic Fantasy)
Green Mile - Stephen King (Thriller)
Hollow Man - Dan Simmons (dark fantasy)
Intensity - Dean Koontz  (Thriller)
the Lady of the English - Elizabeth Chadwick  (12th Century England - Historical Fiction)
Oil and Marble - Stephanie Storey (16th Century Italy  - Historical Fiction)
Queen Hereafter - Susan Fraser King (11th Century Scotland - Historical Fiction)
Running Blind - Lee Child (#4 Jack Reacher - Thriller)
Sacred Hearts - Sarah Dunant (1570 Italy,  Historical Fiction, LOF - Sept)
Snow Queen - Joan Vinge (Fantasy)
This Census Taker - China Mieville (Fantasy)
the Three Body Problem - Cixin Lui (Science Fiction Chinese - Asia)
When Christ and His Saints Slept - Sharon Kay Penman (Historical Fiction, LOF - May)


Fantasy reads and rereads

Heralds of Valdemar Series by Mercedes Lackey
Arrows of the Queen 
Arrow's Flight 
Arrow's Fall 

Arthurian Saga - Mary Stewart 
Crystal Cave 
Hollow Hills 
Last Enchantment

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - Dragonlance Chronicles
Dragons of Autumn Twilight 
Dragons of Winter Night 
Dragons of Spring 

Lord of the Rings - J.R. Tolkein
Hobbit 
Fellowship of the Ring
Two Towers
Return of the King


Non Fiction Books

52 Lists Project- Moorea Seal
Crafting the Personal Essay - Dinty Moore
Just Write- James Scott Bell
Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction - Edited by Tara Marsh
the Year of Writing Dangerously - Barbara Abercrombie


E Books

A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie (#1 Duncan Kincaid, LOF-March) 
A Madness of Sunshine - Nalini Singh (LOF - August)
A Trace of Cooper - Anne Renwick (#1 Elemental tale - Steampunk)
Atomic Sea - Jack Connor (Dragons, etc)
Boundary Born - Melissa Olson (# 3 Boundary Magic -  Paranormal)
Boundary Broken - Melissa Olson (#4 Boundary Magic
Brewed Awakening - Cleo Coyle (#18 Coffee House Mystery)
Clockwork Scarab - Colleen Gleason (#1 Stokes and Homes - Steampunk)
Devil's Advocate - Morris West (Religious Fiction)
Eve - Anna Carey (Apocalyptic - All about Eve)
Fortune's Fool - Angela Board (Historical Fantasy)
Frozen Ground - Debra Web (#1 Storm watch series - mystery)
Grit - Elizabeth Hunter (LOF - April)
In the House of Brede - Rumer Godden (LOF - December)
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimito (LOF - Jan)
Let it Shine - Alyssa Cole (Multicultural Romance)
Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon (Dragons)
Sins of the Angels - Lydia Hawke (Thriller)
Snow Angel - Jayne Fresina (Victorian or romance)
Tea with a Black Dragon - R.A. Macavoy (Dragons, etc)
Ten Thousand Doors of January - Alix Harrow (Fantasy)
The Golden Spider - Anne Renwick (#1 Elemental Chronicles - Steampunk)
The Pirate - Jayne Ann Krentz  (Romance, LOF - October)
The Unkindest Tide - Seanan McGuire (#13 October Daye - Paranormal)