A Glimpse into my mind

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Many of my friends read this book in the month of October with a "one chapter a day" as it has 31 chapters. While I understand the attraction of doing that, I found it extremely difficult with my reading style. Many chapters were only a couple pages and having to stop after just 3-5 minutes of reading actually caused me to have a visceral anger reaction. That being said, if I do read this book again, it will be in "chunks" not single chapters.

As for the story - it was ok. But my reaction to the story may be colored by my reaction to the "reading challenge rules". I may try again next October and do it more in longer stretches of reading.
But I can see how others would really enjoy the book.



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You Should Smile More by Anastasia Ryan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


For several years, Vanessa has worked for a small telemarketing firm. She hates it - the guy in charge is a complete self-centered wack-a-doodle - but it lets her pay her rent and take care of her foster kittens.

Then one day she is called into the conference room where he is let go because "We don't like your face". The boss says her resting b*tch face gives off bad vibes and shows she has a dark soul not cut out for the business. Never mind that she always hits her targets and is one of the best producing people on the team. She refuses to sign the paperwork to get the laughable excuse for severance pay, and files for unemployment. Through the unemployment office, she learns that no one who has ever been terminated from that company has ever requested unemployment insurance. That is quickly followed by her old boss sabotaging future job prospects.

After a drunken night with her former work besties, they hatch a plot for revenge. And they all learn more about themselves and their old company than the ever imagined.

+++++

This book was an absolute hysterical fun ride. Was it great literature? No. But it was a book that made me laugh all the way through and live out my revenge fantasies fror a heinous toxic job that I left not too long ago. I'm pretty sure the author wrote this as a revenge fantasy/satire and that is perfectly OK.

The one thing I will say is that many classify this as a rom-com book. But the "rom" part is so minor that it almost didn't need to be there. I think this would have worked just find as a Chick-lit comedy.

I have already told MANY friends they are in the rotation for this book. Highly recommend if you want light hearted fun.



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Shine by Jessica Jung

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


3.75 stars but not enough for me to bump it up.

Rachel is an American-born Korean who was recruited when she was 11 to join DB Entertainment in Soul, South Korea. DB is an entertainment group who trains and pumps out K-Pop groups and stars. She's been working for 6 years towards the hope that she will be picked to be in the next new group. She has several things going against her:
1) she's American born
2) unlike the others in the training class, she does not live at the training compound and attend the training sessions 7 days a week. Her mother agreed to move to Korea but Rachel has to still attend regular school during the week and thus only train on weekends.
3) She gets massive stage freight when put in front of a camera.
4) Her biggest competitor, Mina, for the lead spot in the group is actively working to get her disqualified and kicked out of the program.

Enter a new complication - Jason Lee. He's the lead singer of DB's current top K-Pop Boy Band and he has the hots for Rachel. The reason for the complication is that there is a strict no dating rule for the girls as long as they are a trainee and under contract, AND she's starting to have feelings for him too.

What's a girl to do when her dreams are within reach but people keep trying to keep them just a hair's breadth away?

+++++


Disclaimers:
1. I am NOT someone who is in to K-Pop.
2. I am a 50 year old white woman.

1 + 2 = I am NOT the demographic this book is geared for.

That being said, of what i would classify as a YA (the main character is 17) book it seemed to hit it's mark for enjoyable escapist real-life fantasy.

Yes, there were some cringe worthy interactions. Yes there were parts of the story that felt a bit forced. Yes I would have liked to have seen more into the darker side of these singing group factories.

But I did like how the girls were all facing sexist, ageist, body-shaming, double standard issues. And I loved the relationship between Rachel and her younger sister.

All in all - for what it was, I liked it.



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The Truth by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


William is the black sheep of the de Worde family - meaning he has ethics and a conscious. He strikes out on his own and starts earning money by collecting information of the goings-on in the city for a newsletter that he sells to people who cannot be bothered to do it themselves.

Soon he partners with a bunch of Dwarves who have started using moveable type to quickly and cheaply mass produce things - undercutting the engravers guild with cheaper, quicker and better quality output - and The Times is born.

When investigating a potential news story, it's learned that Lord Vetinari is suspected of murder. Not believing what he hears, William and the rest of The Times crew work to bring the truth to the people.

++++

What I love about the Discworld books is that you can pretty much pick up a book anywhere in the series and not have to worry too much about what you've missed. This one does have some references to past books but it's not a detriment if you have not read them.

I also love how all of the books are Satirical stories about real world issues - this one deals with the truth in journalism.

All in all a good solid book for the series.




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Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


4.5 stars

Eight years ago, after killing her abusive step father, Callie uttered the words "Bargainer, I would like to make a deal". This started a pattern of asking for favors from the King of the Night. This pattern went on for a year, and then he suddenly disappeared - breaking her heard in the process.

But Callie moved on, she was part Siren after all. But then just as suddenly as he vanished from her life, he reappeared calling in the favors that she owed him. Now she finds herself embroiled in a mystery that is terrorizing the Fae and may cause ripples into the human world as well.

++++++

This suspenseful Romantasy was an engrossing read and I very much will be continuing once I can get my hands on the next book.



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Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


at the closing of World War I, Macon, Georgia has seen a rise in the activities of the Klu Klux Klan. What most people don't know is that this is because the book, and the subsequent movie, The Birth of a Nation, is a conduit for bringing demons into our word. These demons have a developed a taste for human meat - specifically African American.

Mayrse and her friends hold the ability to see the demon behind the human mask and she and others fight to keep the demons at bay and save humanity.

++++++

This was an interesting book, just not my preferred genre. I think what worked best for me was the reader. She really brought the characters to life.



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Argylle by Elly Conway

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


2.5 stars (I'm being generous)

While I have not yet seen the movie, I have heard wonderful things about it. So when I saw the book was available I grabbed it. Little did I know that this was the book IN the movie - not what the movie was based on or was based on the movie.

That said, I read it as I like a good spy adventure. I really can't say it was good. Half the time I found myself drifting and not paying much attention to the story.

Can't say I'd recommend it.



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His to Teach by Violet James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Harper is about to start her Masters Degree in the study of Human Sexuality. But the shortly before the term starts she finds herself with a special pass to an exclusive club that caters to the kinkier side of life. As not only a scholar, but one who has a genuine interest in the lifestyle, she goes in and finds herself introduced to the club and some of the wonders by a handsome older man named Nate.

Thinking she will never see Nate again, she partakes and goes on with her life... until she has lunch with her older brother who introduces her to his best friend Chase... the man from the club. Worse yet, he's Dr. Chase - famous author in her field of study and one of the professors at her college.

Now she needs to figure out how to give into her new desires, keep her brother from finding out what happened AND not fail her classes.

++++++

very nice and steamy spice. I liked how it actually showed a caring D/s relationship that did not have the Dom being someone who could not control himself and manipulated the sub to bend to his will. The two actually have conversations (what a concept)

What I did not like was that at some point, the degree that Harper was super focused on just kinda got thrown to the side as some sort of macguffin just to keep the two main characters interacting.

I probably will read others in this series as it was enjoyable enough.



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The LoveLock by Eichin Chang-Lim

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This claims to be a "romantic suspense novel". One of the words in the description was true. It was a novel.

There was no suspense. The "romance" was lacking.

I frankly couldn't tell you what this book overall story was. But OMG the DRAH-MAH was just over the top. I found my eyes rolling and just total disgust with the characters.

Add to that, this book needed the assistance of a good copy editor. Grammar, spelling, sentence structure all needed eyes that were not the author.

Would not recommend




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The Perfect Fit by Sadie Kincaid

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


4.5

She's a bike courier with a dark past, just trying to get her big break in the publishing world.

They are three best friends who have worked hard to build a media empire and a lift together, but the want more.

Enter an indecent proposal at the next level.

+++

TL:DR opinion - I'll be in my bunk.

I think the author note says it best "And if that includes wanting to be railed by three insanely hot men who know how to use all of their appendages, then you’re definitely in the right place."

Actual plot. Spice level of a ghost pepper - BUT read the trigger warnings.




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