writerproblem193 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
writerproblem193) wrote2020-03-31 02:04 am
writerproblem193) wrote2020-03-31 02:04 am
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books 2 electric boogaloo
In a much shorter span of time than my first ten books, I've read my second set of ten books. At least a pandemic is good for something?
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
A reread! The book felt like it was paced a little fast near the end this time around, but maybe that's because I knew what was coming. I may also have read the book in physical form the first time? I can't remember at all. Anyway, I definitely enjoyed rereading it. I'm still so struck by the Underworld that Nancy came from, the land of human statues. Such a cool book.
Their Troublesome Crush by Xan West
I wanted to like this book more than I ended up liking it. Queer poly romance! Recced by a couple people that I tend to agree with! But the kink experience and autistic narration was so specific in ways I couldn't understand or identify with. Though sometimes the anxiety in the narration was too specific to me and reminded me of my worse thought spirals. Just, definitely not the book for me.
Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire
I enjoyed this book! Latest in a series I enjoy, and though the main character/story didn't get its claws in me the way some of the earlier books in the series have, it was still enjoyable. I do wish that there was just more in the book, though I understand why there wasn't. The problem is just that it's one book in a multi book plotline and I want it all immediately.
Follow the Lady by Seanan McGuire
Novella in the back of Imaginary Numbers, but I count it separately. I'm very fond of the main character, and there was some cool worldbuilding and character building stuff in it. Nice.
Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2019 edition and Some of the Best From Tor.com, 2016 edition
A lot of short stories, all varied in terms of quality. There were a few I skipped because either the writing style bothered me or I just wasn't interested, but a few really stuck with me too. As the Last I May Know by S.L. Huang is I think my fave of all of them. Seriously though, combined these two anthologies must have been over a thousand pages. Jeez.
The Future Chosen by Mina V. Esguerra
Again with the "the parts of the story that I was interested in were not what the story was interested in" though it came close sometimes. The author self-described this as a much more dramatic and over the top kind of writing than she usually did, and given that I'm still struggling to get through another book of hers because it hasn't grabbed my attention, that was good here. I don't know, I read it, I remember it vaguely, and I remember being a little frustrated at how self-defeating the characters were sometimes. Guys, if it'll ruin your lives, juts don't get married. You can just fuck without getting married. Jeez.
Play It Again by Aidan Wayne
It was fine! I read a lot of mostly just okay books this session jeez. My favourite part of the book was the disability stuff and jokes, though the main character is blind and I'm deaf. Near the end when given a green shirt Dovid quips, "I've been told it goes well with my lack of eyes" and I had to put my phone down to snicker.
Briarley by Aster Glenn Grey
Oh man I really enjoyed this one. It's been on my to-read list for quite a while but it wasn't at any libraries. Then because pandemic, the author made it free. Really fascinatingly written story, very atmospheric, very thoughtful, very queer. I really enjoyed it and I've got to go looking for other stories by the author.
Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
Now, this isn't entirely fair, but I'm pretty grumpy at this book. I really enjoyed the first book because it was a standalone that seemed like the finale of a series in a really interesting way. This one... I thought it would be the same. It was not. It had second-book-itis like WHOA. There's a lot of setup and almost zero payoff, which got more and more irritating especially as I (on ebook) suddenly hit the end and went "wait that's IT". Augh. I'll still read book three but right now? Grump grump grr.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
A reread! The book felt like it was paced a little fast near the end this time around, but maybe that's because I knew what was coming. I may also have read the book in physical form the first time? I can't remember at all. Anyway, I definitely enjoyed rereading it. I'm still so struck by the Underworld that Nancy came from, the land of human statues. Such a cool book.
Their Troublesome Crush by Xan West
I wanted to like this book more than I ended up liking it. Queer poly romance! Recced by a couple people that I tend to agree with! But the kink experience and autistic narration was so specific in ways I couldn't understand or identify with. Though sometimes the anxiety in the narration was too specific to me and reminded me of my worse thought spirals. Just, definitely not the book for me.
Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire
I enjoyed this book! Latest in a series I enjoy, and though the main character/story didn't get its claws in me the way some of the earlier books in the series have, it was still enjoyable. I do wish that there was just more in the book, though I understand why there wasn't. The problem is just that it's one book in a multi book plotline and I want it all immediately.
Follow the Lady by Seanan McGuire
Novella in the back of Imaginary Numbers, but I count it separately. I'm very fond of the main character, and there was some cool worldbuilding and character building stuff in it. Nice.
Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2019 edition and Some of the Best From Tor.com, 2016 edition
A lot of short stories, all varied in terms of quality. There were a few I skipped because either the writing style bothered me or I just wasn't interested, but a few really stuck with me too. As the Last I May Know by S.L. Huang is I think my fave of all of them. Seriously though, combined these two anthologies must have been over a thousand pages. Jeez.
The Future Chosen by Mina V. Esguerra
Again with the "the parts of the story that I was interested in were not what the story was interested in" though it came close sometimes. The author self-described this as a much more dramatic and over the top kind of writing than she usually did, and given that I'm still struggling to get through another book of hers because it hasn't grabbed my attention, that was good here. I don't know, I read it, I remember it vaguely, and I remember being a little frustrated at how self-defeating the characters were sometimes. Guys, if it'll ruin your lives, juts don't get married. You can just fuck without getting married. Jeez.
Play It Again by Aidan Wayne
It was fine! I read a lot of mostly just okay books this session jeez. My favourite part of the book was the disability stuff and jokes, though the main character is blind and I'm deaf. Near the end when given a green shirt Dovid quips, "I've been told it goes well with my lack of eyes" and I had to put my phone down to snicker.
Briarley by Aster Glenn Grey
Oh man I really enjoyed this one. It's been on my to-read list for quite a while but it wasn't at any libraries. Then because pandemic, the author made it free. Really fascinatingly written story, very atmospheric, very thoughtful, very queer. I really enjoyed it and I've got to go looking for other stories by the author.
Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
Now, this isn't entirely fair, but I'm pretty grumpy at this book. I really enjoyed the first book because it was a standalone that seemed like the finale of a series in a really interesting way. This one... I thought it would be the same. It was not. It had second-book-itis like WHOA. There's a lot of setup and almost zero payoff, which got more and more irritating especially as I (on ebook) suddenly hit the end and went "wait that's IT". Augh. I'll still read book three but right now? Grump grump grr.