The Bookwyrm's Hoard – Page 16 – Book reviews, bookish news, and more

Sunday Post – 2/11/2024

What I’ve been doing, reading, watching, and listening to in the past week… on the blog and in real life. Plus the weekly book haul!

Ten Quick Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books To Read When Time Is Short

A list of adult novellas and relatively short YA or middle-grade novels, great for reading when you don’t have a lot of time but want something really good.

I had three more Zoom meetings this week for the fiber guild. (That’s unusual; I rarely have more than one or two per month.) I have another Zoom this afternoon, this time a social with some friends from college. Other than that, I’ve been trying to catch up on a lot of stuff, from email to to-do lists.

News & Notes – 2/03/2024

This week’s links include: Babel and the Hugo Awards controversy; book banning news; an author’s creepy TikTok request; ABA closing headquarters; Gen Z rediscovers public libraries; grappling with Robert Burns’s legacy; rise of romantasy; plus a wonderful free short story and several book lists

Monthly Wrap-Up – January 2024

A quick look at what I read, what I reviewed, and the current state of my challenges and resolutions.

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Discovered in 2023

I wish I had been better about reviewing last year, because I read some wonderful new-to-me authors! I hope to get around to reviewing some of them this year… which might require a reread.

Sunday Post – 1/28/2024

In real life: work and lots of meetings. I finished up some requested changes to a work project and turned it in this week. I planned to go to a book club online on Tuesday evening, but I wasn’t feeling well. On Wednesday, I had several meetings on Zoom, and another on Thursday.

The Lantern’s Dance, by Laurie R. King

I was very excited to read The Lantern’s Dance, the first new Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes mystery since 2021’s Castle Shade. Once started, I could hardly put it down, staying up until 2:30 in the morning to reach the denouement. Like The Murder of Mary Russell, the novel alternates between past and present narratives, slowly revealing hidden connections that surprised and enchanted me.

Books I Meant to Read in 2023 but Didn’t Get Around To

I hope to read most of these in 2024. Some are ARCs, but others are books I just really wanted to read, but didn’t have access to in 2023. In some cases, I’m on the hold list at the library, so it’s just a question of when my holds come in.

Gabriel’s Angel, by Nora Roberts

Gabriel’s Angel is an excellent example of just how good category romance can be when it’s done well, within the strict confines of length and style imposed by the publisher. Gabriel, a reclusive artist on the run from grief, and Laura, a woman trying desperately to protect her unborn child, are both in pain from events in their recent pasts. Each needs something the other can give: inspiration, protection, understanding, healing.