2017

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

Wishing all my bookish friends a healthy and happy 2017!

On a programming note: I’m heading out of town on a family matter, and will be gone for pretty much all of the coming week. My posts here may be few and far between — but I’m sure I’ll be reading plenty!

Year in review:

I started working on a year-in-review post to sum up the highs and lows of my 2016 reading… and then I just ran out of steam and didn’t bother finishing it. But even without a year-end post, I’m happy to say that I read lots and lots of amazing books last year! Probably my biggest bookish achievement of 2016 was finally reading Moby Dick — but really and truly, I read a ton of books that I ended up loving.

According to Goodreads:

Granted, those 190 books includes a whole slew of graphic novels, novellas, and short stories, but still — not too shabby!

What did I read last week?

A graphic novel binge!

I read all six volumes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – season 10 and the five volumes of Angel & Faith season 10. The Buffy books are phenomenal, showing our beloved characters trying to figure their way forward in the weird dimension known as adulthood. Along with slaying and exploring magical portals… ya know, the usual. The Angel & Faith books are okay. The storyline is somewhat of a parallel to the Buffy books, so I feel like I need to read them, but they’re not nearly as good.

I also read the new YA release The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti. It was strictly a “fair” read for me. Quick moving, but the story and characters felt forced. The main character is unconvincing, and I just didn’t buy into the basic premise of the plot.

Fresh Catch:

Lovely new books!

I’m pretty sure I won The Women in the Castle in a giveaway, but I never got an email confirmation — the book just showed up in the mail! I’m thrilled of course… but just a little puzzled.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers: I’m trying to start the new year right by making a concerted effort to stay on top of my ARCs! This one sounds right up my alley — historical fiction set during the Civil War, centered around a marriage and a mystery. Really looking forward to digging in!

Now playing via audiobook:

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger: I thought I’d have time to finish E&E this past week, but life got in the way. I’ve listened to 75%, so a few more days should do it… and then I’ll probably move on to the 2nd book in the series.

Ongoing reads:

My book group is STILL reading Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon — 2 chapters per week — and will be until June 2017!

So many books, so little time…

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26Dec2016

The Monday Check-In ~ 12/26/2016

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Life.

Wishing joy to all, in all of your celebrations!

What did I read last week?

Read and reviewed — two terrific books:

A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn: Done! My review is here.

Extreme Makeover by Dan Wells: Done! My review is here.

Read but not reviewed:

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher: After reading Carrie Fisher’s newest memoir last week (The Princess Diarist, reviewed here), I felt that I just had to hear more! Carrie Fisher is a funny, frank writer who present a straightforward, humorous look at her life, despite all the very non-funny episodes she’s lived through. I read this book just days before Fisher’s current health crisis, and can only hope that we’ll hear good news about her condition shortly.

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars (“Verily, A New Hope) by Ian Doescher: Clearly, I have Star Wars on the brain right now! This Shakespearean retelling of the original Star Wars movie (you know, the first movie… which is #4… whatever) is rather brilliantly written and conceptualized. A play in five acts, this version of Star Wars is written using Shakespearean language and iambic pentameter, with bits of pieces of reworked Shakespearean quotes as well as plenty of movie lines cleverly recast into moving soliloquies and more. It’s just pure geeky fun, and it totally works. For a few samples of the wonders of this quirky book, check out my Thursday Quotables post, here. I understand that there are volumes of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars for each of the six movies in the first two trilogies, and while I loved this one, I’m not quite sure that I could stick with the concept long enough to read all of them. Still, it might not hurt to keep an eye out for The Empire Striketh Back and The Jedi Doth Return, just in case.

Pop culture goodness:

Given what I just wrote above, you may not be all that surprised to hear that I saw Rogue One this week! I’m not a huge, obsessed Star Wars fan or anything, but I did really enjoy the new movie.

In other movie-going news, my son and I went to see Passengers, which was much better than many of the reviews had led me to believe.

In TV viewing, I binge-watched season one of The Expanse, and loved it. I can’t wait for season 2 (coming in February) — and meanwhile, I may need to give in and read the book it’s based on, Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey.

And finally, it just wouldn’t be the holidays without the Doctor! My family loves to gather round for the Doctor Who Christmas special each year.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week!

What will I be reading during the coming week?