Cheri's Book Blog

I love well-written books. I even love some really poorly-written books.

 

Professional Reader2015 Challenge Participant2016 NetGalley Challenge 

It's been a while

Looks like my last post here was nearly two years ago. I pop on the site every few months just to look around and hope that the admins have come back but it still seems that they haven't.

 

Reading has been a bit tough for me over recently. Like many others, life is overwhelming me and I'm feeling too drained mentally to stay focused on much of anything. I'm trying to get my shit together though. Browsing around on the posts here might be the help I need.

 

So glad to recognize some of my favorite BL posters are still around, too!

Chipping away at the Great American Read list

Anne of Green Gables Novels #1 - L.M. Montgomery

Picked up the audible version a while ago and finally getting to it. I'm very surprised by just how much I'm enjoying this book.

Reading progress update: I've read 103 out of 350 pages.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Díaz

Working on checking books off the Great American Read list. Been wanting to read this one for a long time and finally getting to it.

A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin

Still enjoyed it loads the second time around.

Enjoyed the first half.

Life After Death - Damien Echols

I won't lie, I skimmed a good deal of the second half of the book. I found the author's discussion of his childhood and his experiences during his pre-prison life interesting but once that part was over, there was just too much rambling on about baseball and other things that didn't feel relevant.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review. Yes, this has been in my pile for a few years.

Finally finished

Missing, Presumed: A Novel - Susie Steiner

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. I liked getting to know all of the characters - even the mom of the missing woman. Manon felt like a genuine person, as did most of the POV characters and, while I wanted more of the case and less personal sometimes, I'm looking forward to the next book so I can see how everyone is doing.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the book!

Even with the BS, pretty good!

Behind Closed Doors - B.A. Paris

I had a good time reading Behind Closed Doors. Until about 80% in, that is. Then the BS factor jumped and I had a tougher time staying immersed in the story. The very ending, though, helped me feel better about the book again. I walked away feeling mostly good about the experience and still looking forward to reading the author's next book.

Reading progress update: I've read 78%.

Behind Closed Doors - B.A. Paris

Calling bullshit on what's going on now. Been enjoying it for the most part throughout. A few spots of me yelling at Grace but stayed entertained. But right now, I have a hard time believing that Jack would be so agreeable right now. Don't want to say more in case of spoiling it for anyone else.

Little ray of sunshine during a crappy couple of days.

Dear Me - Robin Alexander

Liked this one a lot. Light, easy, fun romance. I'd give it 3.5 but rounding up because of the laughs from the supporting cast.

Still smiling

Always Alex - Robin Alexander

I really enjoyed this one. There were some places where the POV switched within the same scene and I had to stop to figure out whose head I was in and there were a couple of typos which didn't bother me nearly as much as the POV things...

 

But the story and the characters were engaging and there were several aspects that reminded me of my favorite LJ Maas story, None so Blind, except with less angst and much more honest communication.

 

This one will go on my re-read list.

Classic Robin Alexander

The Summer of Our Discontent - Robin Alexander

A quick, light, funny read. Exactly what I needed today. Lots of laughs and fun.

Great addition to the series

A Quiet Death - Cari Hunter

The case was interesting and engaging. We're given a nice view of the EDSOP team in action along with being able to witness Sanne and Meg's relationship grow. I particularly enjoyed the bits dealing with Sanne's family.

 

A very good continuation of the series.

Reading progress update: I've read 70%.

A Quiet Death - Cari Hunter

Just as good as the previous books in the series. 

I'm a happy reader!

The Wrong Unit: A Novel - Rob Dircks

Sci-fi isn't really a go-to genre for me and I wasn't sure how I'd like this book. I had never heard of the author and I didn't read the blurb before I stared - I like to be surprised.

There was so much that I enjoyed while reading this book! The humor is fantastic and I laughed out loud many times. The science fiction aspects were interesting and I was immersed in the world that Heyoo and Waa lived in. Even the secondary characters were well done.

Probably the most pleasant surprise was how much I enjoyed the narration. Some authors should definitely stay away from narrating their own work but not this one. His voice is great and his sound effects definitely added to the work.

Mr. Dircks has a new fan.

I received a copy of the audio book from the author for a possible review.

Reading progress update: I've read 29%.

The Wrong Unit: A Novel - Rob Dircks

Very enjoyable! I had no idea what to expect and am happily surprised so far. And the author does a great job on the narration. 

Wanted a bit more by the time it ended.

Before the Fall - Robert Petkoff, Noah Hawley

It was a bit slow at times but, all in all, a satisfying read. The last 10 - 15 minutes or so were pretty great.

Currently reading

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Robin DiAngelo
Call Me God
Jim Clemente
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Junot Díaz
Progress: 103/350 pages
The Book of Lost Things
John Connolly
Progress: 42/339 pages
The Aeronaut's Windlass
Jim Butcher
Progress: 12 %
Dragonfly in Amber
Diana Gabaldon
The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel (The Hedge Knight Graphic Novels, #1)
George R.R. Martin, Mike S. Miller, Ben Avery
Batwoman, Vol. 1: Hydrology
W. Haden Blackman, J.H. Williams III
Geek Love
Katherine Dunn
Progress: 5 %