Stephen's (Ape's) First Thread in Years! - 2026
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2026
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1Ape
Hello everyone! My name is Stephen, I was very active on Librarything throughout the 2010's, but unfortunately haven't been around much over the past decade as I almost entirely quit reading. Due to some mental health struggles I've been feeling the need to unplug and distract myself, and have found myself reading for the first time in years. I figured I'd rejoin the 75ers in case I actually finish a book, so here I am!
I'll read just about anything, but my favorite genres include post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction. Whether it's thoughtful and literary like The Handmaid's Tale or just some tacky zombie apocalypse horror, I'm all for it! In nonfiction I like everything science, particularly related to microbiology and epidemiology, whether it's present-day science like Parasite Rex or more historical such as The Ghost Map.
I don't know how much reading I'll actually get done, but if I finish anything you'll hear about it here!
Currently reading: Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
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Books read: 6
Pages read: 2,036
1. The Winter Road by Adrian Selby
2. The Keeper's Six by Kate Elliott
3. Episode Thirteen by Craig Dilouie
4. Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw
5. Spidertouch by Alex Thomson
6. The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
I'll read just about anything, but my favorite genres include post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction. Whether it's thoughtful and literary like The Handmaid's Tale or just some tacky zombie apocalypse horror, I'm all for it! In nonfiction I like everything science, particularly related to microbiology and epidemiology, whether it's present-day science like Parasite Rex or more historical such as The Ghost Map.
I don't know how much reading I'll actually get done, but if I finish anything you'll hear about it here!
Currently reading: Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
-----------------
Books read: 6
Pages read: 2,036
1. The Winter Road by Adrian Selby
2. The Keeper's Six by Kate Elliott
3. Episode Thirteen by Craig Dilouie
4. Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw
5. Spidertouch by Alex Thomson
6. The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
2norabelle414
Welcome back! We've missed you!
4PaulCranswick
What a wonderful surprise, Stephen. Welcome back!
7Ape
>2 norabelle414: Hi Nora! I missed you all too! Which probably seems disingenuous since I had the power to come back, but pay that no mind!
>3 klobrien2: Hi Karen! I hope to be seen more, but I can't make any promises. :P
>4 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul! Glad to be back!
>5 Kristelh: Hello! I've seen many new faces browsing the group, I hope to find time to properly meet some of you!
>6 alsvidur: Thanks, Emilie!
>3 klobrien2: Hi Karen! I hope to be seen more, but I can't make any promises. :P
>4 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul! Glad to be back!
>5 Kristelh: Hello! I've seen many new faces browsing the group, I hope to find time to properly meet some of you!
>6 alsvidur: Thanks, Emilie!
9elkiedee
It's hard sometimes to read but I'm happy to see people back. I am struggling at the moment but I would miss LT if I dropped out. I'm talking more about reading than actually reading this month, which is different from my 6 months during COVID. Thankfully I really started to actually finish books again from September....
New books/genres/authors, or coming back to old favourites? What's the first book that started you reading again?
New books/genres/authors, or coming back to old favourites? What's the first book that started you reading again?
11Ape
>8 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!
>9 elkiedee: Agreed, there are so many entertainment options that are a click or tap away, I've found it increasingly more difficult to shut the screen off and just read.
I'm currently reading The Winter Road, there's nothing particular about it that made me want to start reading, I just had the desire to read again and this was the first thing on my shelves that caught my eye when I went browsing.
>10 bell7: Thanks, Mary!
>9 elkiedee: Agreed, there are so many entertainment options that are a click or tap away, I've found it increasingly more difficult to shut the screen off and just read.
I'm currently reading The Winter Road, there's nothing particular about it that made me want to start reading, I just had the desire to read again and this was the first thing on my shelves that caught my eye when I went browsing.
>10 bell7: Thanks, Mary!
12Ape
1. The Winter Road by Adrian Selby
Pages: 450
Rating: 3/5
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It has been done, I have read a book!
I don't think I have the energy to write full reviews, but I'll say that I liked a lot of the worldbuilding in this one. The book cover gives no indication that the book is heavily rooted in botany, where plants are constantly harvested and brewed into potions to empower the characters. Battles are won and lost on the back of a druid's ability to make a competent Fight Brew. I wish it had been expanded upon further, at one point it is mentioned that when a plant that causes aggression blooms in the wild, the wolves get into it and start attacking the villages until the bloom is over. It would have made an excellent plot point, but instead is casually mentioned in passing.
Regardless, while I liked the worldbuilding, the same can not be said for the presentation. The first 1/3rd of the book switches back and forth in time, which made it very difficult to track considering the "past" sections followed a pilgrimage that constantly introduced tons of new characters every chapter as the band entered new villages, so it was a lot to keep up with. The final 50 pages of the book are told through letters, which paid off in the end but it was a slog to get through.
Overall, it gets a medium rating, but it was nice to finally get back into the swing of things!
Pages: 450
Rating: 3/5
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It has been done, I have read a book!
I don't think I have the energy to write full reviews, but I'll say that I liked a lot of the worldbuilding in this one. The book cover gives no indication that the book is heavily rooted in botany, where plants are constantly harvested and brewed into potions to empower the characters. Battles are won and lost on the back of a druid's ability to make a competent Fight Brew. I wish it had been expanded upon further, at one point it is mentioned that when a plant that causes aggression blooms in the wild, the wolves get into it and start attacking the villages until the bloom is over. It would have made an excellent plot point, but instead is casually mentioned in passing.
Regardless, while I liked the worldbuilding, the same can not be said for the presentation. The first 1/3rd of the book switches back and forth in time, which made it very difficult to track considering the "past" sections followed a pilgrimage that constantly introduced tons of new characters every chapter as the band entered new villages, so it was a lot to keep up with. The final 50 pages of the book are told through letters, which paid off in the end but it was a slog to get through.
Overall, it gets a medium rating, but it was nice to finally get back into the swing of things!
13PaulCranswick
>12 Ape: Congratulations for getting back into the saddle, Stephen!
Not familiar with the book but I really like the cover.
Not familiar with the book but I really like the cover.
14elorin
Welcome back Stephen. I wasn't posting anything much your last time around but I am delighted you returned so I can make your acquaintance this time around. I spend more time reading and tracking my reading than keeping up with threads, but I am often lurking in the threads, too.
15Ape
>13 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! I wasn't familiar with the book either, my sister gets a lot of free books from publishers and passes some of them on to me, so I happened to own a copy!
>14 elorin: Thanks, Robyn! I'm also a lurker, I love to keep up with people but I find it difficult to actually engage in the conversation.
>14 elorin: Thanks, Robyn! I'm also a lurker, I love to keep up with people but I find it difficult to actually engage in the conversation.
16Ape
2. The Keeper's Six by Kate Elliott
Pages: 197
Rating: 4/5
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Just a quick little 200-page fantasy adventure with a lot of worldbuilding. It's actually impressive how much depth the author got out of so few pages, although the story and characters are very simplistic by comparison.
I'd say it reads like a mystery/thriller but for fans of Fantasy who like descriptions of magical worlds.
Pages: 197
Rating: 4/5
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Just a quick little 200-page fantasy adventure with a lot of worldbuilding. It's actually impressive how much depth the author got out of so few pages, although the story and characters are very simplistic by comparison.
I'd say it reads like a mystery/thriller but for fans of Fantasy who like descriptions of magical worlds.
18Ape
>17 Berly: Hi Kim!! Yes, I'm here, and I think I'm back for good! Getting back into reading has proven to be the soothing comfort I've needed recently. :)
19Berly
Awww! That's so great to hear. Soothing reading for you and another fun person here for me! Win, win. : )
20PaulCranswick
Another book done, Stephen!
Really good to see you back amongst us!
Really good to see you back amongst us!
21Ape
>19 Berly: I am here for fun! (but also too shy to post on other people's threads apparently. I'll get back into it eventually!)
>20 PaulCranswick: Good to be back! I'm already halfway through my third! I've tried to get back into reading so many times over the years, but it might be for real this time! :)
>20 PaulCranswick: Good to be back! I'm already halfway through my third! I've tried to get back into reading so many times over the years, but it might be for real this time! :)
22Ape
I suppose I should actually talk about things going on in my life besides books, and that's the fun part, there isn't anything! I have, however, been doing a major deep-clean of my shelves, removing every book, doing a full dusting of each and cleaning the backs of the shelves that get neglected with regular dusting.
I've also been doing a massive book purge as I go. My shelves are unfortunately filled with books I'd realistically never read. I used to be such a sucker for a good deal on cheap books that I'd buy anything remotely interesting from library bookshelves or dollar stores, but as I sift through my shelves I realize how few books I own that I actually want to read.
I've also been removing books that I read years ago, gave 2-3 stars, and held onto for some reason.
I'd like to start replacing them with books I'm more interested in, but I don't think that's an option yet. Despite purging over 100 books, I still have them double stacked and spilling out on the floor around my shelves. I swear every one I remove 2 more pop up!
I've also been doing a massive book purge as I go. My shelves are unfortunately filled with books I'd realistically never read. I used to be such a sucker for a good deal on cheap books that I'd buy anything remotely interesting from library bookshelves or dollar stores, but as I sift through my shelves I realize how few books I own that I actually want to read.
I've also been removing books that I read years ago, gave 2-3 stars, and held onto for some reason.
I'd like to start replacing them with books I'm more interested in, but I don't think that's an option yet. Despite purging over 100 books, I still have them double stacked and spilling out on the floor around my shelves. I swear every one I remove 2 more pop up!
23elkiedee
>11 Ape: I only realised I had several missed mentions. Will follow your book purge with interest. I'm trying to give books away, or even sell them if it seems worth it, but in London UK. My problem does include some free books from reviewing days. Does your sister review, or work for a publisher or in the book trade? See you later!
24Ape
>23 elkiedee: I've actually created shelf for purged books shelf for purged books, currently at 115 and I feel I could easily double it!
As for my sister, for the sake of her privacy and for digital footprint reasons I won't say exactly, but she has an internet presence and receives dozens of books per month from publishers. :)
As for my sister, for the sake of her privacy and for digital footprint reasons I won't say exactly, but she has an internet presence and receives dozens of books per month from publishers. :)
25elkiedee
>24 Ape: Maybe we should start a support thread for those trying to take action on their books. I prefer to rehome rather than purge my books, purging sounds a bit unpleasant.
Fair enough - I tend to get greedy when offered free books. I'm still on Netgalley, and try to think that any request granted is a bonus. I have an LT list with many Netgalleys I've read (and occasionally got round to reviewing) and some TBR - but brand new egalleys are quite a lot of work because I have to do more research for the first listing of a book!
Fair enough - I tend to get greedy when offered free books. I'm still on Netgalley, and try to think that any request granted is a bonus. I have an LT list with many Netgalleys I've read (and occasionally got round to reviewing) and some TBR - but brand new egalleys are quite a lot of work because I have to do more research for the first listing of a book!
26vancouverdeb
Good to see you back, Stephen!
28scaifea
>22 Ape: I'm made a similar resolution in the last few years. Why did I buy all those books just for the sake of buying them?! I'm never gonna read 'em! So I've mostly gotten rid of those kinds of purchases, and I'm slowly trying to read through the rest and purge them if I don't love them. The goal is to leave behind a collection that accurately reflects my reading tastes, and hopefully makes people think, Hey, she must have been a pretty cool lady with this kind of library.
29Ape
>25 elkiedee: They get donated so they are technically being rehomed, but I definitely purge them with a maniacal glint in my eye.
>26 vancouverdeb: Thanks, glad to be back!
>27 MickyFine: Thanks Micky! The purging will continue until morale improves! We have a long way to go. >:)
>28 scaifea: Hi Amber! This is exactly how I feel, I suppose if I had infinite space and endless bookshelves, keeping books for the sake of keeping books wouldn't be a problem. Alas, shelf space is limited, and looking through my books I feel like my selves don't reflect me at all.
>26 vancouverdeb: Thanks, glad to be back!
>27 MickyFine: Thanks Micky! The purging will continue until morale improves! We have a long way to go. >:)
>28 scaifea: Hi Amber! This is exactly how I feel, I suppose if I had infinite space and endless bookshelves, keeping books for the sake of keeping books wouldn't be a problem. Alas, shelf space is limited, and looking through my books I feel like my selves don't reflect me at all.
30Ape
3. Episode Thirteen by Craig Dilouie
Pages: 433
Rating: 4/5
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Really on the fence between giving this 4 or 5 stars, and I might change my mind. It's a "found footage" horror novel about a ghost hunting crew filming for a tv show, who disappeared after filming their 13th episode. The entire story is told through recovered video logs, journal entries, and texts/emails the crew made with friends/family.
I was worried that 400+ page book composed entirely of documents would be dry, but that wasn't the case at all. I do think the format creates some distance between the reader and the horror happening, so I found it less scary than the average horror novel, but the concept was intriguing and I was impressed how well it all came together.
Pages: 433
Rating: 4/5
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Really on the fence between giving this 4 or 5 stars, and I might change my mind. It's a "found footage" horror novel about a ghost hunting crew filming for a tv show, who disappeared after filming their 13th episode. The entire story is told through recovered video logs, journal entries, and texts/emails the crew made with friends/family.
I was worried that 400+ page book composed entirely of documents would be dry, but that wasn't the case at all. I do think the format creates some distance between the reader and the horror happening, so I found it less scary than the average horror novel, but the concept was intriguing and I was impressed how well it all came together.
31norabelle414
Wow, you're really on a roll!
32Ape
>31 norabelle414: Yep! I haven't this many books since 2019!
33The_Hibernator
Found you! I hope you get a lot read this second half of the year!
35Ape
4. Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw
Pages: 354
Rating: 3/5
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Greta Helsing is a doctor...for the undead, tending to the vampires, ghouls, mummies, and other monsters hidden in London. The plot revolves around mysterious deaths around the city and an attack on a vampire using a supernatural weapon, Greta has to get to the bottom of these attacks to protect the unholy fiends she cares for.
I liked the book overall, a shortcoming is the characters don't have much to do for a large portion of the middle of the book, so there is a lot of time spent wondering what is happening without much progress.
There is also a budding romance that thankfully doesn't come to fruition in this book, but looks like it will be a major plot point going forward, so I don't think I'll continue with the series.
Pages: 354
Rating: 3/5
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Greta Helsing is a doctor...for the undead, tending to the vampires, ghouls, mummies, and other monsters hidden in London. The plot revolves around mysterious deaths around the city and an attack on a vampire using a supernatural weapon, Greta has to get to the bottom of these attacks to protect the unholy fiends she cares for.
I liked the book overall, a shortcoming is the characters don't have much to do for a large portion of the middle of the book, so there is a lot of time spent wondering what is happening without much progress.
There is also a budding romance that thankfully doesn't come to fruition in this book, but looks like it will be a major plot point going forward, so I don't think I'll continue with the series.
36Ape
Purge update:
The Watch by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya
Military fiction that I apparently read in 2017 and gave a 2-star rating. No reason to own this.
These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low
Fantasy romance given to me by my sister. No thanks. I knew I was never going to read it, I never even entered it into Librarything.
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan
Seems okay but it's book 1 of a series and my library is filled with incomplete series like this, so I'm just ditching it.
The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow
More romance given to me by my sister. 🤮
The Watch by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya
Military fiction that I apparently read in 2017 and gave a 2-star rating. No reason to own this.
These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low
Fantasy romance given to me by my sister. No thanks. I knew I was never going to read it, I never even entered it into Librarything.
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan
Seems okay but it's book 1 of a series and my library is filled with incomplete series like this, so I'm just ditching it.
The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow
More romance given to me by my sister. 🤮
37norabelle414
>35 Ape: I read a novella by Vivian Shaw, The Helios Syndrome, a couple years ago and I think you would love it if you can find it. It's about a guy who is a psychic that consults with the FAA to help determine the cause of plane crashes
38Ape
>37 norabelle414: Thanks Nora, that definitely sounds like something I'd like! By the way, I just noticed you have a bookshelf dedicated for recommendations, and I think that's genius! My automatic recommendations are pretty wonky considering my library is filled with books I'm not even that interested in, but I think I might have to try that when I have the time to set it up. :)
39norabelle414
>38 Ape: Unfortunately the "for recommendations" collection doesn't do anything with the new recommendations feature. I dutifully removed all picture books from that collection (and that's the only collection I have "use for recommendations" turned on for) yet I still get picture book recommendations all the time. It works great for the "classic" recommendations, though.
The new recommendations feature has decent recommendations for your catalog overall, but it doesn't have the specificity of the "classic" recommendations where you can add a new book to your recommendations collection and see recommendations related to that book
The new recommendations feature has decent recommendations for your catalog overall, but it doesn't have the specificity of the "classic" recommendations where you can add a new book to your recommendations collection and see recommendations related to that book
40Ape
>39 norabelle414: Ooooh, I didn't know there was a recommendations overhaul. The ones I see on the homepage seem pretty weird to me, but when I click the Recommendations tab they seem much more accurate to my tastes.
41Ape
EMERGENCY PURGE!
After struggling to find a new book to read (despite owning hundreds of unread books) I decided to just buy some books I actually want to read. 8 of them, in fact. Meaning I need to make room RIGHT NOW!
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
More fantasy romance given to me by my sister. I have so much of this stuff, it almost feels like she's been taunting me, but I know it's really because she hates the stuff too and was happy to be rid of it like I am.
Dreamstrider by Linsay Smith
Same as For the Wolf. This one sounds interesting, but I'd really prefer to avoid anything with a romance tag.
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
Same as the previous 2 books.
Curve of the Earth by Simon Morden
Paid $1 for it at Dollar Tree because i liked the cover, but I didn't realize it's the 4th book in a series I'm never going to read.
Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper
7th book in a mystery series, pretty sure I paid pennies for this at a library book sale.
Voodoo Season by Jewell Parker Rhodes.
Same as Hunting Fear. 2nd book in a series I'm really not interested in.
After struggling to find a new book to read (despite owning hundreds of unread books) I decided to just buy some books I actually want to read. 8 of them, in fact. Meaning I need to make room RIGHT NOW!
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
More fantasy romance given to me by my sister. I have so much of this stuff, it almost feels like she's been taunting me, but I know it's really because she hates the stuff too and was happy to be rid of it like I am.
Dreamstrider by Linsay Smith
Same as For the Wolf. This one sounds interesting, but I'd really prefer to avoid anything with a romance tag.
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
Same as the previous 2 books.
Curve of the Earth by Simon Morden
Paid $1 for it at Dollar Tree because i liked the cover, but I didn't realize it's the 4th book in a series I'm never going to read.
Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper
7th book in a mystery series, pretty sure I paid pennies for this at a library book sale.
Voodoo Season by Jewell Parker Rhodes.
Same as Hunting Fear. 2nd book in a series I'm really not interested in.
42norabelle414
>41 Ape: That's an excellent purge and an excellent reason to do so!
When are you going to share what books you bought???
When are you going to share what books you bought???
43Ape
>42 norabelle414: I ordered them online, so probably when they get here and I'm adding them to my library! :D
45PaulCranswick
I should really do some purging too, Stephen but I wouldn't really know where to begin!
47Ape
5. Spidertouch by Alex Thomson
Pages: 279
Rating: 3/5
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Despite the 3-star rating, I really liked the plot of this book. Razvan lives in a city enslaved by a ruling class that speaks a foreign language. He's caught in a difficult position, as he's a translator for these despised tyrants and so is hated nearly as much as their captors, but he does so because his son is a slave of the mines.
Then the city is attacked by a barbarian horde, who will slaughter the entire population and burn the city down if they break through the gates. Razvan has to decide where his loyalties lie, and walks a delicate balance of political intrigue, using language and his role as a translator to manipulate forces more powerful than himself to his advantage.
All of which I enjoyed quite a bit, but the pacing felt off, and I frequently found myself bored while reading. I had a hard time finishing more than 10-15 pages per reading session and, despite liking the overall plot, I found the book to be easy to put down.
Good, but not great.
Pages: 279
Rating: 3/5
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Despite the 3-star rating, I really liked the plot of this book. Razvan lives in a city enslaved by a ruling class that speaks a foreign language. He's caught in a difficult position, as he's a translator for these despised tyrants and so is hated nearly as much as their captors, but he does so because his son is a slave of the mines.
Then the city is attacked by a barbarian horde, who will slaughter the entire population and burn the city down if they break through the gates. Razvan has to decide where his loyalties lie, and walks a delicate balance of political intrigue, using language and his role as a translator to manipulate forces more powerful than himself to his advantage.
All of which I enjoyed quite a bit, but the pacing felt off, and I frequently found myself bored while reading. I had a hard time finishing more than 10-15 pages per reading session and, despite liking the overall plot, I found the book to be easy to put down.
Good, but not great.
48norabelle414
>47 Ape: cool cover!
49Ape
>48 norabelle414: I like it too! Although the flat blue background could use some subtle texture or something, it looks incomplete in person.
50Ape
Book haul!
As I've been purging books I'll never read for various reasons (mostly series books and romance themes), I've felt the need to buy more books to fill the void in my self. I means shelves. Here's what I bought!
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes
Road of Bones by Christopher Golden
One of Us by Dan Chaon
The Gathering by C. J. Tudor
The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
Clear by Carys Davies
Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harken
And with a tremendous amount of irony, my box came with an extra book, and you're not going to believe it, it's a ROMANTASY!
My condolences to whoever ordered The Curse of Shadows and Ice, a beautiful sprayed-edge copy of a book that is apparently super rapey, if the reviews are any indication. 🤮
As I've been purging books I'll never read for various reasons (mostly series books and romance themes), I've felt the need to buy more books to fill the void in my self. I means shelves. Here's what I bought!
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes
Road of Bones by Christopher Golden
One of Us by Dan Chaon
The Gathering by C. J. Tudor
The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
Clear by Carys Davies
Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harken
And with a tremendous amount of irony, my box came with an extra book, and you're not going to believe it, it's a ROMANTASY!
My condolences to whoever ordered The Curse of Shadows and Ice, a beautiful sprayed-edge copy of a book that is apparently super rapey, if the reviews are any indication. 🤮
51Ape
Okay, okay I admit it, I ordered a 2nd batch of books before the first box even arrived. I bought some of these "leather bound" (imitation leather) Paper Mill Press classics.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
The Phantom of the Opera by Geston Leroux
Moby Dick Herman Melville
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
The Phantom of the Opera by Geston Leroux
Moby Dick Herman Melville
Dracula by Bram Stoker
54mahsdad
>50 Ape: Hi Ape,
Whalefall, I read it in 2024. I really "enjoyed" it. The premise is a bit intense. And if you're even a little bit claustrophobic, it might be WAY intense. I still recommend it.
Did you know they've made a movie of it? Here's the first trailer for it https://youtu.be/TBITF9HMNk4?si=gEYnOyRWVL02eQOv, but if you're a read the book first kind of a person, don't watch it until you've read the book. Better not to know. ;)
Whalefall, I read it in 2024. I really "enjoyed" it. The premise is a bit intense. And if you're even a little bit claustrophobic, it might be WAY intense. I still recommend it.
Did you know they've made a movie of it? Here's the first trailer for it https://youtu.be/TBITF9HMNk4?si=gEYnOyRWVL02eQOv, but if you're a read the book first kind of a person, don't watch it until you've read the book. Better not to know. ;)
56Ape
>52 MickyFine: Agreed! They suckered me into buying books I don't have room for, so another purge incoming I guess. :P
>53 Kristelh: Thanks! I'm enjoying seeing my shelves becoming more full of books I actually want to read, but there is still much work to be done!
>54 mahsdad: I saw that! Fortunately I have the opposite of claustrophobia - I enjoy small spaces! Squeeze me into a small reading nook and I'll fall asleep before I can read a page.
I did know it's becoming a movie! I'm definitely a read-first kind of person, so I'll be avoiding the movie in the meantime.
>55 scaifea: I'm looking forward to it! It's probably going to be the next thing I pick up after my current read.
>53 Kristelh: Thanks! I'm enjoying seeing my shelves becoming more full of books I actually want to read, but there is still much work to be done!
>54 mahsdad: I saw that! Fortunately I have the opposite of claustrophobia - I enjoy small spaces! Squeeze me into a small reading nook and I'll fall asleep before I can read a page.
I did know it's becoming a movie! I'm definitely a read-first kind of person, so I'll be avoiding the movie in the meantime.
>55 scaifea: I'm looking forward to it! It's probably going to be the next thing I pick up after my current read.
58Ape
>57 humouress: Hello and welcome! There's not much going on here, I haven't actually read in a few days, but I'm glad there is another person here to witness the purge. Speaking of which!
I have purged more books! Since I ordered the collection of classics I wasn't originally intending to buy, I had to get rid of some more books to make space.
Rage by Jonathan Maberry
I read the first book in the series, I'm morbidly curious how the series went from zombie apocalypse to some sort of military espionage technothriller-thing, but this is the 11th book in the series and I, once again, don't see myself buying the other 10. If I want to read the series I can check them out of the library, meaning I don't really need to have book 11 rotting on my shelves.
A Princess of Landover by Terry Brooks
Same logic, I'm actually interested in this series, but don't need to own book 6 out of 6 without the rest.
Anarchy and Old Dogs by Colin Cotterill
Book 4 of a mystery series I'm never going to read.
The Lost Constitution by William Martin
Book 3 of a mystery series I'm never going to read.
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
More fantasy romance given to me by my sister. The good news is, I told her I was purging all these books and she promised not to give me any more romance novels, so that's good!
I have purged more books! Since I ordered the collection of classics I wasn't originally intending to buy, I had to get rid of some more books to make space.
Rage by Jonathan Maberry
I read the first book in the series, I'm morbidly curious how the series went from zombie apocalypse to some sort of military espionage technothriller-thing, but this is the 11th book in the series and I, once again, don't see myself buying the other 10. If I want to read the series I can check them out of the library, meaning I don't really need to have book 11 rotting on my shelves.
A Princess of Landover by Terry Brooks
Same logic, I'm actually interested in this series, but don't need to own book 6 out of 6 without the rest.
Anarchy and Old Dogs by Colin Cotterill
Book 4 of a mystery series I'm never going to read.
The Lost Constitution by William Martin
Book 3 of a mystery series I'm never going to read.
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
More fantasy romance given to me by my sister. The good news is, I told her I was purging all these books and she promised not to give me any more romance novels, so that's good!
59The_Hibernator
Beautiful covers on those books! Had you already read them?
I had to purge a bunch of books when I moved to my new home a few years back. Since then, I re-purchased some of them. Oops. But mostly it was for the best.
ETA: sorry I don't get to your thread much. I am much more busy now than I used to be with an ailing dad and an autistic son. But I try to get around every 4-6 weeks. Sometimes the tie passes faster than I expect, and it's longer. I don't like doing one person at a time because then I forget who I've visited, but maybe I should start tit-for-tat visits as well!
I had to purge a bunch of books when I moved to my new home a few years back. Since then, I re-purchased some of them. Oops. But mostly it was for the best.
ETA: sorry I don't get to your thread much. I am much more busy now than I used to be with an ailing dad and an autistic son. But I try to get around every 4-6 weeks. Sometimes the tie passes faster than I expect, and it's longer. I don't like doing one person at a time because then I forget who I've visited, but maybe I should start tit-for-tat visits as well!
60Ape
>59 The_Hibernator: That's okay, I haven't been posting on people's threads at all, I guess my anti-social tendencies have become so pronounced that I'm even having a hard time engaging here on Librarything.
I've already read Dracula and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the rest are all new to me! :)
I've already read Dracula and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the rest are all new to me! :)
61Ape
6. The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
Pages: 323
Rating: 5/5
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Beautifully-written tragedy that shouldn't be passed up just because it's labeled as "young adult." The story is told from 2 perspectives, a high school ballet dancer and a juvenile detention center inmate. The book slowly unravels the calamity that connects the 2 - it's very dark and morose, and the story is told by 2 unreliable narrators, but if you don't mind those things, I highly recommend it.
Pages: 323
Rating: 5/5
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Beautifully-written tragedy that shouldn't be passed up just because it's labeled as "young adult." The story is told from 2 perspectives, a high school ballet dancer and a juvenile detention center inmate. The book slowly unravels the calamity that connects the 2 - it's very dark and morose, and the story is told by 2 unreliable narrators, but if you don't mind those things, I highly recommend it.
62thornton37814
I'm way behind on threads and just now noticing your return! Welcome back!
63humouress
>61 Ape: Woo hoo - another book.
Despite your high praise, though, tragedies are not for me so I'll pass thanks.
Despite your high praise, though, tragedies are not for me so I'll pass thanks.
64Ape
>62 thornton37814: Thanks! A lot of people probably don't know I'm back, considering I've spent most of my time lurking instead of posting on other people's threads. That's okay though, I'm glad you found me!
>63 humouress: Totally understandable! I'm not sure what it says about me that I have such an aversion to happy romance plots but feel drawn to dark, tragic and depressing topics. What can I say, I am who I am!
>63 humouress: Totally understandable! I'm not sure what it says about me that I have such an aversion to happy romance plots but feel drawn to dark, tragic and depressing topics. What can I say, I am who I am!
