Pomegranate spindrift would be amazing! Have your read END OF DRUMTIME? It was shortlisted for National Book Award last year. I saw the author on a panel and she was so charming. I am reading it slowly now. Maybe one for your list? Not that I think you need be intimidated by any of those you listed, but I know what you mean— award winners create this unique pressure, with their agreed upon specialness…
"Agreed upon specialness" ~ a perfect way of saying it! And, IMHO, sometimes a refusal to engage in critical discourse by the general public, once the literati have agreed upon them? Thank you so so much for the recommendation of The End of Drum-Time ~ it is now on my list, AND on my wintery TBR. Perfect for the coming frigid months!
I listened to “The Heaven and earth grocery store” while working (my data entry/CSR part time job at a printing company is very mundane) and while I appreciated what the book tried to do, I found it very hard to follow via audiobook and also incredibly boring. I appreciate the short story round up of Christmasy books because I can only handle so much Christmas (unfortunately, I blame it on what’s happening around us and potentially another Christmas without snow).
There was a Taylor Swift spotlight on Dance with Ben about 2 years ago on Apple Fitness and it’s still my favorite dance! He’s also my favorite instructor- it was shortly after Midnights came out in October 2022, but I’ve only had Apple Fitness since summer 2023. I thought about this workout a lot listening to The Man, You Need to Calm Down, 22 and Maroon last week at the tour. My kids also still really love to dance to Heat Waves by Glass Animals.
I’m currently reading THE WEDDING PEOPLE. I finished HOUSEMATES about 2 weeks ago too. I got The Twelve Dates of Christmas at the library- the Cruel Winter with You sounds cute and I like a few holiday themed books when I’m stressed at this time of year!
I struggled through "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" because my book club was reading it. I'm glad I did; maybe it wasn't the best thing I could have read with those hours, but it was an interesting change from my usual.
The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin, has a tough opening that I almost didn't make it through (dead kid on page one, which is almost always an impossible hurdle for me) but it quickly broadens out into a propulsive, haunting SFF epic. It's longish and the first of a trilogy, so if it works for you, you could end up living in this world for a while.
I really miss having a book club for that accountability factor! I know that H&EGS is definitely a worthy read, but just didn't have that specific purpose for reading that you did :-) I'm jealous! I'll look into The Fifth Season ~ it sounds worth giving a try, and I'll know to push through the hard beginning. I also struggle with trauma involving children.
Buy Now was CRAZY! I'm glad the conversation has shifted away from shaming the consumer to pointing the finger straight at the corporations and companies who choose profit over everything.
Pomegranate spindrift would be amazing! Have your read END OF DRUMTIME? It was shortlisted for National Book Award last year. I saw the author on a panel and she was so charming. I am reading it slowly now. Maybe one for your list? Not that I think you need be intimidated by any of those you listed, but I know what you mean— award winners create this unique pressure, with their agreed upon specialness…
"Agreed upon specialness" ~ a perfect way of saying it! And, IMHO, sometimes a refusal to engage in critical discourse by the general public, once the literati have agreed upon them? Thank you so so much for the recommendation of The End of Drum-Time ~ it is now on my list, AND on my wintery TBR. Perfect for the coming frigid months!
I listened to “The Heaven and earth grocery store” while working (my data entry/CSR part time job at a printing company is very mundane) and while I appreciated what the book tried to do, I found it very hard to follow via audiobook and also incredibly boring. I appreciate the short story round up of Christmasy books because I can only handle so much Christmas (unfortunately, I blame it on what’s happening around us and potentially another Christmas without snow).
I love this new format, Katy! It’s such a treat to see what you’ll include each week!
Thank you so much for the feedback, Sara!
There was a Taylor Swift spotlight on Dance with Ben about 2 years ago on Apple Fitness and it’s still my favorite dance! He’s also my favorite instructor- it was shortly after Midnights came out in October 2022, but I’ve only had Apple Fitness since summer 2023. I thought about this workout a lot listening to The Man, You Need to Calm Down, 22 and Maroon last week at the tour. My kids also still really love to dance to Heat Waves by Glass Animals.
I’m currently reading THE WEDDING PEOPLE. I finished HOUSEMATES about 2 weeks ago too. I got The Twelve Dates of Christmas at the library- the Cruel Winter with You sounds cute and I like a few holiday themed books when I’m stressed at this time of year!
I'll have to look for the new spindrift! Lemon is still my OG fave.
It’s nice to have an always-available flavor as a favorite, Kuleigh!
SHADES OF MAGIC trilogy and INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by VE Schwab. Amazing books!
Ooooh thank you!
I struggled through "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" because my book club was reading it. I'm glad I did; maybe it wasn't the best thing I could have read with those hours, but it was an interesting change from my usual.
The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin, has a tough opening that I almost didn't make it through (dead kid on page one, which is almost always an impossible hurdle for me) but it quickly broadens out into a propulsive, haunting SFF epic. It's longish and the first of a trilogy, so if it works for you, you could end up living in this world for a while.
I really miss having a book club for that accountability factor! I know that H&EGS is definitely a worthy read, but just didn't have that specific purpose for reading that you did :-) I'm jealous! I'll look into The Fifth Season ~ it sounds worth giving a try, and I'll know to push through the hard beginning. I also struggle with trauma involving children.
Buy Now was CRAZY! I'm glad the conversation has shifted away from shaming the consumer to pointing the finger straight at the corporations and companies who choose profit over everything.
I read all of the Under the Mistletoe Collection and only really enjoyed Cruel Winter with You!
Same! The rest were not great 😳