Kro's List: 2024

Hello All

My name is Kro (he/they) and this will be my third year with the group as I joined LT in March of 2022. I live in Minnesota and am in school currently between working overnights at a hospital. I’m a lifelong reader, but I also enjoy writing, painting, and playing video games.
This group has been so welcoming and has made a huge impact on my reading habits (as well as my book buying habits…) and I’m happy to be back. :)

You can also find me on StoryGraph as kro_0 (I'll edit in a link later when I can) or at my cousin and I's bookcentric Instagram @kittenandkro if you so wish.

Feel free to share any thoughts or such and enjoy these pictures of my cats; Ayda (left) & Naro (right).

Currently Reading


Ordered: Bookclub - Personal - Personal Nonfiction - Library Audiobook - Ongoing Long Read

Desired Dozen to Read in 2024: (4/12)

1 – Watership Down by Richard Adams
2 – Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin *Finished*
3 – No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
4 – Smoke Gets In Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty
5 – The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan
6 – Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann *Finished*
7 – The Vegetarian by Han Kang
8 – Kalevala by Elias Lonnrot *Finished*
9 – Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
10 – The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar
11 – The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde *Finished*
12 – Heaven Official's Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu *Finished 4/8*

January – March Reads:

January – 8
#1 - I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (01/03/24) Paperback - 210pgs - 3hrs59mins
#2 - Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker (Writer) & Wendy Xu (Artist) (01/12/24) Graphic - 244pgs - 1hr30mins
#3 - Unmasking Autism by Devon Price (01/15/23) Audiobook^ - 9hrs
#4 - Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton (01/16/24) Paperback - 320pgs - 10hrs25mins
#5 - Babel by R.F. Kuang (01/19/24) Hardcover - 542pgs - 17hrs14mins
#6 - The Call of the Wild by Jack London (01/22/24) Paperback - 134pgs - 2hrs49mins
#7 - Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (01/27/24) E-book^ - 426pgs - 11hrs39mins
#8 - Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin (01/30/24) Audiobook^ - 7hrs
February – 8
#9 - Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher (02/02/24) Hardcover - 240pgs - 7hrs16mins
#10 - Heartstopper: Vol. 5 by Alice Oseman (02/02/24) Comic* - 318pgs - 1hr08mins
#11 - Husband Material by Alexis Hall (02/08/24) E-book^ - 416pgs - 10hrs12mins
#12 - Bunny by Mona Awad (02/11/24) Paperback - 305pgs - 7hrs52mins
#13 - Anti-Romance: Vol. 2 by Shoko Hidaka (02/13/24) Manga - 254pgs - 1hr11mins
#14 - Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett (02/18/24) Audiobook^ - 7hrs24mins
#15 - Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (02/20/24) Paperback - 169pgs - 4hrs46mins
#16 - Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (02/27/24) Danmei - 372pgs - 9hrs13mins
March – 11
#17 - I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (03/03/24) Audiobook^ - 6hrs
#18 - Beastars: Vol. 16 by Paru Itagaki (03/05/24) Manga - 194pgs - 1hr15mins
#19 - Hirano and Kagiura: Vol. 4 by Shou Harusono (03/06/24) Manga* - 174pgs - 1hr07mins
#20 - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (03/11/24) Paperback - 324pgs - 7hrs30mins
#21 - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (03/12/24) Paperback - 220pgs - 5hrs43mins
#22 - Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead (03/17/24) Audiobook^ - 4hrs
#23 - Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (03/18/24) Danmei - 389pgs - 9hrs08mins
#24 - Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (03/20/24) Danmei - 415pgs - 9hrs07mins
#25 - Beastars: Vol. 17 by Paru Itagaki (03/22/24) Manga - 202pgs - 1hr11mins
#26 - The Hearing Test by Eliza Barry Callahan (03/25/24) Hardcover* - 159pgs - 3hrs34mins
#27 - The Day the World Came to Town by Jim Defede (03/31/24) Audiobook^ - 4hrs

April – June Reads:

April – 10
#28 - Mother of Strangers by Suad Amiry (04/02/24) Paperback* - 272pgs - 5hrs52mins
#29 - And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman (04/02/24) Hardcover - 76pgs - 53mins
#30 - Minor Detail by Adania Shibli (04/07/24) Paperback* - 105pgs - 2hrs38mins
#31 - Kalevala by Elias Lonnrot (04/10/24) Paperback - 615pgs - 12hrs05mins
#32 - Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin (04/13/24) Paperback^ - 136pgs - 2hrs03mins
#33 - Silence is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addonia (04/16/24) Paperback - 194pgs - 5hrs27mins
#34 - Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 4 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (04/18/24) Danmei - 368pgs - 8hrs17mins
#35 - Beastars: Vol. 18 by Paru Itagaki (04/19/24) Manga - 202pgs - 1hr12mins
#36 - Foe by Iain Reid (04/26/24) Paperback* - 260pgs - 4hrs05mins
#37 - Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (04/28/24) Paperback - 428pgs - 12hrs42mins
May – 6
#38 - Sasaki and Miyano First-Years by Shou Harusono (Story & Art) & Kotoko Hachijo (Novelization) (05/01/24) Paperback - 155pgs - 2hrs48mins
#39 - Sasaki and Miyano Second Years by Shou Harusono (Story & Art) & Kotoko Hachijo (Novelization) (05/03/24) Paperback - 139pgs - 2hrs52mins (No Correct Touchstone Available)
#40 - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (05/06/24) Audiobook^ - 9hrs50mins
#41 - My Summer of You: Vol. 1 by Nagisa Furuya (05/10/24) Manga - 240pgs - 1hr24mins
#42 - Therapy Game Restart: Vol. 1 by Meguru Hinohara (05/13/24) Manga - 180pgs - 2hrs
#43 - Beastars: Vol. 19 by Paru Itagaki (05/13/24) Manga - 199pgs - 1hr12mins
#44 -
June – X
#

Reading Challenges & Goals

General 2024 Goals
- Read 75 Books
- Read 6-8 Nonfiction Books
- Start & Finish 2 Series
- Read 5 Classics
- Read a Long Form Poetry Book
- Read 40 Owned TBR Books
- Purchase 30 or Less Books
- Keep a Reading Journal

Downsizing My Physical TBR
Owned at Start of 2024 - 295
READ THIS YEAR: 26
Books Added in 2024 – 44
READ THIS YEAR: 6

Shared Reads
MARCH: The Picture of Dorian Gray with Michelle (90meesshh)

Around the World Challenge

This includes any books I've read in my lifetime, simply would take me ages if I started fresh and didn't track it across multiple years.

Previously Read
AFGHANISTAN - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2022)
ARGENTINA - The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez (2022)
AUSTRALIA - The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams (2022)
CANADA - The Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2021)
FRANCE - The Stranger by Albert Camus (2022)
IRELAND - Normal People by Sally Roony (2023)
JAPAN - The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (2022)
MEXICO - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2022)
MONGOLIA - The Blue Sky by Galsan Tschinag (2022)
NIGERIA - Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta (2023)
POLAND - The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski (2019)
RUSSIA - Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (2016)
SERBIA - The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht (2022)
SOUTH AFRICA - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2023)
SOUTH KOREA - Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo (2022)
SWEDEN - Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (2022)
TURKEY - The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak (2022)
UNITED KINGDOM - Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (2014)
UNITED STATES - False Memory by Dean Koontz (2015)
VIETNAM - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (2022)

Read This Year
CHINA - Heaven Official's Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
ERITREA - Silence is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addonia
FINLAND - Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot
PALESTINE - Mother of Strangers by Suad Amiry

Kitten & Kro Bookclub

JANUARY:
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
FEBRUARY:
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
MARCH:
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
APRIL:
Mother of Strangers by Suad Amiry
MAY:
Foe by Iain Reid
JUNE:
Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
JULY:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (? - Unconfirmed)
AUGUST:
TBD
SEPTEMBER:
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper
The House With the Golden Door by Elodie Harper
The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper
OCTOBER:
TBD
NOVEMBER:
TBD
DECEMBER:
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

If you’d like to see my cousin’s reviews and thoughts on these books or other books she’s reading I’d welcome you to visit our bookcentric Instagram @kittenandkro. :)

Top 5 of 2023



Favorites Throughout 2024

Hello & Welcome! :)

Glad to see you back, Kro, happy reading in 2024!

>9 WhiteRaven.17: I have read three of your 2023 favorites, only lacking the first and the last. I see my library has a copy of the book by Julia Armfield, can't find the other.

Kittehs!

I didn't realize I'm Thinking of Ending Things was a book.

How are you getting on with House of Leaves?

Happy New Year, Kro!

>9 WhiteRaven.17: I would agree that Salt to the Sea and Song of Achilles were also amongst my top reads. Good luck with your 2024 reading!

Welcome back!

Welcome back, Kro! Of your 2023 faves, I have enjoyed 2, and have the other three on my TBR ☺️ happy reading in 2024 and hope your work situation improves!

Your cats are so PRETTY!

Happy new year, and welcome back.

>11 FAMeulstee: Thank you Anita! I had a lot of great reads last year. I hope you like Our Wives if you read it, I know it's not been everyone's favorite, but I really loved it's vibes. Also the last one is a new release from 2023, so I wouldn't be surprised if it hasn't quite made it everywhere yet.

>12 ursula: Yay cats! Lol. Yes, I can't even remember how I found out it was a book either, but I just finished it because I've been wanting to watch the movie. I haven't seen the movie quite yet, but it was an entertaining and really quick read.
I just started House of Leaves, only two chapters in, but it is very unique and interesting so far. A bit of a rabbit hole being a story within a story within a story within a story. (Goodness.) I'm intrigued though and curious to see where it goes and so far I haven't gotten to some of the weirder formatting of the book.

>13 norabelle414: Happy New Year, Nora!

>14 Tess_W: Hello & Thank you Tess! I know some people were not as impressed or fond of Our Wives so glad to see someone else who loved it.

>15 drneutron: Thank you Jim!

>16 curioussquared: Thank you Natalie! I hope you enjoy them all as much as I did when you get to them :) and thanks, work seems to be a constant conundrum lately, but just rolling with it for now.

>17 banjo123: Thank you Rhonda! I was able to snag some good photos of them this year.

Happy new year, Kro, and great to see you back in harness for another year!

Dropped my star and I shall be keeping you company for the duration.

Hi Kro! Great to see you and Happy New Year and reads ahead.

>21 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul! Glad to be back and for the great company.

>22 vancouverdeb: Hello Deb! Happy new year & reading to you as well. :)

Monthly Overview

Ready to have a fresh start to the year and my reading list and have so far been reading a minimum of an hour everyday. Plan to listen to a lot more audiobooks this year now that I have Libby and hopefully make a dent in my physical TBR instead of just adding to it - like last year. Oops. Hope everyone has a good start to 2024.

January Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
Fiction Picks
I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz
Nonfiction Picks
Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
Libby Audiobook
Unmasking Autism by Devon Price
Ongoing Long Read
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Up to Ch. 5)

Hi Kro, thanks for visiting my thread. Returning the favour and dropping my star. Looks like an interesting selection of books you are reading.

>3 WhiteRaven.17: >6 WhiteRaven.17: Some good reading there! Best of luck to you with your reading goals in 2024, Kro!

>9 WhiteRaven.17: Thanks for sharing your top reads from last year! I have read 3 of the 5, so I am going to have to see if I can find the others.

Happy New Year, Bro. What a great list of favorites from last year. I look forward to following your reading this year. I hope it's a good one for you.

Found you, Kro!! Of your 2023 faves, I loved Achilles and Ove and I see you have I'm Glad My Mom Died, which I also enjoyed, coming up. I'll be on the look out for your other suggestions!

Happy new year! It looks like you have some great reading ahead of you.

>25 sirfurboy: Thanks for the follow up Stephen. It is definitely a heavy start to the year selection wise.

>26 alcottacre: Thank you Stasia! It was hard narrowing it down to 5, hope you enjoy the other 2 if you pick them up. :)

>27 BLBera: Thank you Beth. To you as well.

>28 Berly: Yay! Good to see you here Kim. I've been looking forward to I'm Glad My Mom Died for awhile now and have heard good things.

>29 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda! I certainly hope so.

#1 - I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

Takes place as a story about a young woman in a relationship that she's considering ending as she goes out on a trip to his home town to meet his parents for the first time.
This book is layered from the start with this foreboding unease, but not from anything that might be distinctly obvious as everything is very normal and yet off. I had seen a trailer for the Netflix movie adaptation awhile ago that initially intrigued me and I'm glad I got the book first.
Personally, I picked up on the idea of the twist from the start, but that made the journey to get there no less appealing or interesting. Admittedly, I think it does get a little convoluted once in the climax of the plot, but evens out enough to wrap it up in the end. It's honestly a fast-paced read, that literally had me going back and reading the first page again as soon as I finished it and I will be looking out for other works by this author.
Recommended if you like darker, foreboding books and need something quick to get through.

Rating: ****
Finished: 01/03/2024
Stats: 210pgs - 3hrs59mins
Category: Fiction - Psychological Thriller - Dark Subject Matter

#3 - Unmasking Autism by Devon Price

A nonfiction book written by an autistic trans author about the process of coming to terms with what it means to be autistic and to be disabled as well as how self-advocacy and acceptance looks from both a personal and broader societal perspective.
Last year I received official testing and diagnosis as being autistic and while it was the outcome I was expecting it has still been a lot of info to take in and reassess into my life. It explains so much of the struggles and experiences I've had throughout my life and is super reaffirming, but it is still a learning process. This was a great book to dive more into the subject and I think does a great job of laying some groundwork in understanding autism and the importance of a subject being written by those that it is about and effects.
I listened to the audiobook version read by the author, which was well-read but I do recommend getting a physical copy as there are practices and resources that would be easier to note or follow with the material in front of you.

As an aside, if anyone has any good recommendations on autistic representative literature, both nonfiction or fiction I would love to hear it.

Rating: ****
Finished: 01/15/2024
Stats: Audiobook - 9hrs
Category: Nonfiction - Autistic & Neurodiverse Understanding

#4 - Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton

Follows one of the earliest polar explorations to Antarctica and the first ship to ever winter that far south, stuck in a large ice flow. The Belgica was a Belgium funded and lead expedition by Commandant Adrien de Gerlache, but also closely follows the stories and lives of American explorer and doctor, Frederick Cook, and Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.
This is a very engaging story and despite me reading it in bits and pieces over the course of a year, it was because of life and timing and not because I was ever bored with the story.
The narrative is very well crafted and really brings the story alive while delivering a lot of information and background. Especially in the follow-up epilogue's and notes you can tell this author put a lot of time and effort and research into this book. This was the first ship exploration book I'd ever read and I was hooked, one of the notes of this book even mentions how one of the explorers of this book helped build a ship that was later sold and would become the Endurance, a later and also well-known ship disaster and a book I happened to pick up late last year, that I will be looking forward to reading now.
I will say fair warning to any potential readers about some the harsh and detailed descriptions of animal deaths in this book. Also, I both read the physical book and listened to the audiobook, which I felt had a very nice narrator and would recommend either format, though the physical does come with photos.

Rating: *****
Finished: 01/16/2024
Stats: 320pgs - 10hrs25mins
Category: Nonfiction - Polar Exploration - Antarctica

#5 - Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

A historical fiction with a touch of magical realism, this story takes place in a slightly alternated version of the industrial revolution and the lead up of the opium imports to China. Following a young boy taken from Canton and raised in Britain to be a translator at Oxford's Babel tower, or center for silver-working and translation, and his three classmates; a young Indian man from Calcutta, a black Haitian-French girl, and a typical young British girl.
This is a tough one to write a review for and I will try to be brief, but the short version is I would be hard-pressed to openly recommend this book. Starting with the length and pacing - this book took me 17 hours to read and nearly nothing happens or picks up until one is about 60% of the way through this 540 page book, afterwards it admittedly takes a drastic switch up in pacing, but still hits odd slow-downs. Furthermore, it is clear this book is written with a specific audience in mind with it's slightly pretentious feel and formatting, which is perfectly fine, but adding with some poor writing habits in that this author does a lot of telling over showing, often telling the reader everything but never showing it through the characters or interactions or story.
Additional concerns with the story, but involves heavy spoilers so read at your own risk. First, there seems to be some queer-baiting storyline between the characters Robin and Ramy, that is clearly underlaid and written with romantic undertones but is never expressly acknowledged. I have no problem with platonic relationships or even a lack of resolve in romantic ones, what I don't like is hinting and building what appears to be queer characters and then never directly addressing it so readers who want to ignore it or wash over it are allowed to erase that part of the story.
Secondly, the characters of color in this story that are fighting the injustices of colonialism are given nearly no voice to express their opinions and feelings through the majority of the book and then when they finally are given more story and depth and character they are quickly killed off and martyred. There's just something about the timing and "easy-out drama" writing about this that doesn't quite sit right with me.
I know this seems like I disliked the book very strongly, but I don't. I do think the world building here was excellently done and incorporated, with characters that felt very interesting, even if they were under-utilized. I also enjoyed the etymology lessons and notes and found that to be very interesting. There is importance to the story that is being told here as well and I loved some of the symbolism.
I'll wrap up my ramble here - if you even read this far at all - in the end I'm glad I finished this book and think it is a perfect book for some people, but not everyone and even then be prepared for a slow build. I probably will not read any other of Kuang's works anytime soon as she really does tell over show, but don't discourage you to read this one if it truly does sound interesting.

Rating: ***
Finished: 01/19/2024
Stats: 542pgs - 17hrs14mins
Category: Fiction - Historical - Magical Realism - Translation & Etymology - Colonialism

>32 WhiteRaven.17: I just finished What To Say Next about a high schooler with autism. It is a YA book but I enjoyed seeing the school experience through his eyes. It is fictional, with some light romance and it has a lot of humor, but there are also some stark, blunt realities explored here. Bullying, isolation, etc. I wrote more about it on my thread.

Was it reassuring to get the diagnosis confirmed for you? Did it change anything?

>35 Berly: I just went over and checked out your review of it, I'll be adding it to my tbr. Right now, I like finding different examples of how autism is portrayed through literature & media, to both see what I relate to and how it is portrayed to others.

Let me put in one way, I've been asked "What is wrong with you?" enough times in my life that I have a readied response to it. I've always had these qualities that seemed disparate and just 'odd' and struggled but not in a concrete way that I could define or understand. For me having the diagnosis also helps with my sense of imposter syndrome, it's a tangible, quantifiable thing that backs me up when I start thinking maybe I'm just overexaggerating things in my head. It's changed things in that instead of labeling myself as lazy, oversensitive, and other negative terms I'm learning my struggles are real and not just me being 'weird'.

Sorry, that was probably a longer response than you were expecting. Lol. Thanks for the rec. :)

>36 WhiteRaven.17: No! Truly, thanks for opening up and sharing. Sorry that you keep getting asked that question. "Normal" can be such a stupid word sometimes. Sounds like the official diagnosis is a very good thing for you and I hope you continue to feel validated. I'll be interested to hear what you think of the book if you ever feel the pull to read it. I'd want to know how true it feels to you. : )

>32 WhiteRaven.17: >36 WhiteRaven.17: I'm glad the diagnosis has been helping you! I don't have any recommendations for books, but I've been on TikTok for 3 or so years and one thing I've noticed on that platform is that most of Gen Z, from what I can tell, are much more open and proud of autism diagnoses, cherishing it as part of their identity and something like a superpower. I don't know if that resonates with you, but I just thought it was a really refreshing perspective on something that in older generations was looked at as a negative rather than a positive.

Hi Kro! Belatedly returning your visit to wish you happy new year, happy new thread and a wonderful year of reading.

Just popping in to say Hi!!

>37 Berly: Thank you, glad it wasn't too much. The idea of "normal" really is a bit bizarre sometimes. I have the book marked on Libby, so if it ever becomes available in my library I'll pick it up.
>40 Berly: Also, hello! I was sick for a week and then started training a new person at work and life...so I'm a bit behind. Thanks for popping by. :)

>38 curioussquared: Thanks for that note Natalie. I definitely think there is beginning to be more understanding of Autism (& neurodiverse people in general, like ADHD) that is giving a lot of people more self-acceptance. Overall there's still a lot of growth to go in being more accepting and understanding of mental health and more invisible disabilities, but I've also noticed the attitudes towards them are generally becoming more positive in the younger generations.

>39 humouress: Hi Nina, thank you!

#6 - The Call of the Wild by Jack London

This was a quick read that I had been meaning to get to for ages. A bit of a hard read if you have a soft spot towards reading about animal abuse and suffering - it's quick and I pulled through. Definitely highlights how cruel or entitled some people can be. Overall I thought it was an engaging read and glad I finally got around to it.

Rating: ***
Finished: 01/22/2024
Stats: 134pgs - 2hrs49mins
Category: Fiction - Classic - Dog POV - Dog Sled Running

>42 WhiteRaven.17: In that case I'll avoid that one. (Not that it was really on my list, anyway.)

#7 & #11 - Boyfriend Material & Husband Material by Alexis Hall

This duology follows Luc O'Donnell and his relationship with Oliver Blackwood, it's a lighthearted gay romance that was entertaining and fun to read, with characters that are easy to like. I don't read romances too often, but I was sick and had read a lot of dark or heavy books so I needed a bit of brevity, and I enjoyed the first enough that I picked up the second as well. Also, I do appreciate that this is a gay romance that is both not written by a woman or overly sexualized.

Rating: ****
Finished: 01/27/2024 & 02/08/2024
Stats: BM (426pgs - 11hrs39mins) HM (416pgs - 10hrs12mins)
Category: Fiction - Romance - LGBTQIA+

>43 humouress: Yeah, I understand why it is a classic for when Jack London wrote, but it was tough on my heart to read.

#8 - Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin

Follows twenty-something Gilda as she navigates a period of her life where her mind cannot stop ruminating on death.
I had noted this book because the title is so catching and randomly picked it up on audiobook, read by Emily Tremaine, and it was an absolute delight. There are some heavy topics discussed or hinted at, but there is no hard definition of anything. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I loved it and felt like this book was written for me, but I enjoy good dark humor and books that explore mental health. It also does not "fix" everything or tie everything up in a nice bow, it just kind of subtly closes, so if you don't like books with more ambiguous endings this one might annoy you a bit.

Rating: *****
Finished: 01/30/2024
Stats: Audiobook - 7hrs
Category: Fiction - Dark Humour - Death - LGBTQIA+

Monthly Overview

Had a very rough end to my January and was very sick for just over a week, which knocked me out for a bit, but I did get plenty of bedridden reading in, so silver linings and all that. Also started training a new person at work that has meant having less down time, but hopefully they work out, I'm apprehensive though. Life is life, but on the reading front I'm excelling.

Favorites of the Month: Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton & Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin

January Stats
Books Finished - 8
Pages Read - 1,876
Time Read - 47hrs36mins (+16 Audio)

February Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
Fiction Picks
Bunny by Mona Awad
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 1 by MXTX
Shared Reads
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Libby Audiobook
Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
Ongoing Long Read
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Up to Ch. 9)

Currently Reading


Ordered: Bookclub - Personal - Library Audiobook - Ongoing Long Read

>42 WhiteRaven.17: I read The Call of the Wild back-to-back with White Fang (I think it was a double?) and I do recommend that. Call of the Wild is a better-written story, I think, but White Fang is about a wild dog/wolf who is charmed by the comfort of humans so it's a nice palate cleanser.

Did you find Husband Material to be worth it? I read Boyfriend Material before the second one came out and never got around to HM, but wouldn't be opposed to reading it now if you thought it was worthwhile :)

Ooh, Nettle and Bone -- I hope you love it as much as I did! And Bunny -- I feel like people either love that one or hate it, so I'm interested to see where you fall :) I haven't picked it up myself, though.

Oops, looks like I interrupted your flow of reviews. Sorry to hear you've been under the weather. I hope you're fully recovered now.

Glad you are feeling better! Good luck training in the newbie. And hurray for the light reads now and then. : )

Hello. I notice that you log how long it takes you to read a book. I am curious. In what way do you find that helpful? Thank you.

>32 WhiteRaven.17: I read Strong Female Character by Fern Brady recently and it is worth a read as the first person perspective of a queer woman on the spectrum (I read the physical book but her accent is great, so the audiobook may be the better choice). Fern Brady is an autistic comedian from Scotland. I heard about her because she was on the show Taskmaster (I highly recommend Taskmaster - there are clips on YouTube like this one). It's worth watching one or two clips with her or searching her comedy before checking out the book so you have a little baseline understanding of who she is.

Her book has some jokes and is classified as humor by some, but I didn't walk away remembering it as a funny book necessarily. It's more just incredible. Because she's on the spectrum, she has a lot of history of misunderstanding others and being misunderstood, which left her in some dark, traumatic, and dangerous situations. She explains her meltdowns and how she spent so long feeling different but not knowing why. She writes about being medicated, being in a teenage mental health unit, sex work (she was a stripper for a while), abusive relationships, and the path to finally getting the right diagnosis. It is her first person account of her experience and views on life, which isn't always appropriate or professional or even kind to others. But she also doesn't seem to hold back on her history and life which can be fascinating.

>47 WhiteRaven.17: Nice review of your reading, Kro. Hope you have kicked the sickness blues fully in the meanwhile.

>49 norabelle414: Hello Nora. I had intended to read them together, but figured one emotional book about dogs was enough for me, so hearing White Fang is more on the positive side makes me feel more apt to pick it up. Thanks for the hint.

>50 curioussquared: Hiya Natalie! I did enjoy it & it was a quicker read than BM was. Mostly it's a spoof setup of Four Weddings & a Funeral and it delves more into Oliver's personal side which was nice. I think it's worth it if you enjoyed the first, but not a must.

I absolutely loved Nettle & Bone and am convinced Kingfisher can do no wrong! Lol. As for Bunny I might be the first to be middle-lined on it then, I can definitely see why it's such a divisive book though - hope to get a review up here soon.

>51 humouress: All good Nina, just glad I caught your message. Thanks. :)

>52 Berly: Thanks Kim! There's only one more week of training & it's going really well, I'm excited for things to go back to normal. Light reads are very nice. :)

>53 Pendrainllwyn: Hello. Thanks for the visit & apologies on the very late reply. I actually use an app, Bookly, that sets a timer while I read and after each reading session it updates my reading pace & gives an estimate of roughly how long it will take to finish the book. When I got back into reading a couple years ago I would often feel like I was making no headway in a book after reading for an hour each day, so being able to see the time left & say 'Oh, if I read for an hour over the next three days I'll finish this book' is motivating to me. Since I have the logged time spent reading when I finish a book I write it here, since it's kind of an interesting stat, but it's mostly useful to me only while I'm actually reading the book. Hope that makes sense.

>54 Kyler_Marie: Hello Kyler. I've never heard of her before, but this definitely sounds interesting and I am adding it to my list. My library doesn't currently have the audiobook, but I've put in a request for it. In the meantime I'll definitely have to look her up and view some clips - thanks for the link.
That's a very full life with a lot of tough experiences and I can appreciate a more forthright style when it comes to memoirs. I look forward to reading this one & appreciate the recommendation!

>55 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul. I certainly have, now if only I could get work to slow back down a bit so I could catch up on here again. Hope you are doing well.

Alrighty, I'm now going to attempt to get all my February reviews up, probably be a little shorter and more concise like my last three & my monthly overview. Hoping this next month I can keep up on here more consistently & not once very few weeks.

#9 - Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

This is a classic dark fairytale setup, something Kingfisher excels at. It follows Princess Marra, a thirty year old almost nun, as she tries to fix what should have been a "fairybook ending" for her older sisters.
I just love that Kingfisher writes fun young feeling stories that feature middle-aged female protagonists. I feel that's an age that's not usually highlighted in these type of stories. I also appreciate that every character is well-written with added depths and interests all their own, I'd read any one of the side characters stories - they feel that thought out and interesting.
Honestly just a good time, with humorous bits, like a demon chicken, and impressively all told in under 300 pages. Highly recommend.

Rating: *****
Finished: 02/02/2024
Stats: 240pgs - 7hrs16mins
Category: Fiction - Dark Fairytale - Fantasy - Light Humor

#10 - Heartstopper: Vol. 5 by Alice Oseman

I almost didn't bother writing a review for this, but figuring how different my views on it are and how popular it is I suppose I will just note my thoughts.
I appreciate the series and find the comics to have a nice lighthearted vibe that is easy to read and I enjoy my time spent doing so well enough but I just feel that for the length of these books and series there's very little that actually seems to happen or much depth. I would personally recommend the TV show over the comics because there is so much more depth and character and story in the show, it's simply better, in my opinion.
A series like this is important and it's nice that it exists and is popular, but I just find the comics very 'meh' and think your time is better spent watching the show and reading something else. I plan to read one of Oseman's novels this year to see her work in a different format, but probably won't read any other graphics by her if she ever works on others.

Rating: **
Finished: 02/02/2024
Stats: 318pgs - 1hr08mins
Category: Graphic Novel - Queer Romance - Coming of Age

>60 WhiteRaven.17: That does look readable, Kro.

#12 - Bunny by Mona Awad

Set in a university town that follows Samantha as she works through a year of getting her Masters English degree and falls into different social atmospheres.
I really don't know how to give this a concise, spoiler free review as this whole book is a twisting whirlwind of a read. It's one of the few books I've ever read that kept catching me, just when I thought I knew the direction it was headed it would twist, and this just kept happening, all the way up to the very end. I'm still probably processing it and would be curious enough to give it a reread someday now knowing how it ends.
Honestly, I can't say much else without giving too much away, other than if you don't like books that are ambiguous or not cleanly-fed with clear guidelines this one probably isn't for you. On the other hand, if you like a book based on vibes and enjoy cultist, dark humor and don't mind being taken for a wild journey than this is worth the try. It's an experience.

Rating: ***
Finished: 02/11/2024
Stats: 305pgs - 7hrs52mins
Category: Fiction - Dark Humor - Cultish Vibes - Psychological

>62 PaulCranswick: I have yet to read a Kingfisher I didn't like Paul. It was a good quick read.

#14 - Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett

Big trigger warning on this book for graphic animal death & dismemberment as well as violent suicide description.
The story follows middle-aged Jessa-Lynn as she runs and takes care of her father's taxidermy shop after he killed himself and her tension filled relationship with her family; including a brazen artistic mother, distant brother, and Brita whose both her brother's ex-wife and her ex-lover.
This is the definition of a hot mess protagonist and domestic drama, layered with some graphic descriptions of taxidermy that was a bit much for me at times. The focus of this book is on grief and how it affects different people, the struggle that processing that comes with and how different forms of grief in a family can be counter-intuitive to those you're related to. Overall I think it was a decent book and interesting story, but it just felt a bit much at times or didn't really click with me. Probably wouldn't recommend unless anything I've described so far sounds right up your alley.

Rating: **
Finished: 02/18/2024
Stats: Audiobook - 7hrs24mins
Category: Contemporary Fiction - Grief - Domestic Drama - Taxidermy

#15 - Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

"I think now that if I had had any intimation that the self I was going to find would turn out to be only the same self from which I had spent so much time in flight, I would have stayed at home."

Taking place in 1950's Paris this book has a definite atmosphere, a classic that follows a queer man in his struggles to define love and carve out how he views himself.
One of the most beautifully written books I have read in awhile, I often found myself rerunning over lines and passages and just generally being moved and swept up into the comfortable flow of the prose. This is a dark, gritty story that is given its fated end from the beginning and is a piece that shows the devastations of desire, forbearance, and the self. It's not perfect, or a 'good time' but it is incredibly well written.

Rated: ****
Finished: 02/20/2024
Stats: 169pgs - 4hrs46mins
Category: Classic Fiction - Queer Identity - Dark - 1950's Paris

#16 - Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX)

This is the first book in a series of eight that follows the story of Xie Lian, a heavenly official that has ascended for the third time, and of Hua Cheng, a supreme lord of the ghost realms.
I've already watched the first and second seasons of the show on Crunchyroll and absolutely loved them, as well as read the first 5 volumes of the graphic version - not in print. So I already knew how the first book was going to play out, even so I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reading it and am itching to start the second. I may be a bit biased towards it thus far, but the book was very endearing and easy to follow the characters, I was concerned about that, and surprisingly way more humorous than I had been expecting.

Rating: *****
Finished: 02/27/2024
Stats: 372pgs - 9hrs13mins
Category: Danmei - Romance - Chinese Culture/Folklore

House of Leaves Update: This year, my cousin and I are reading House of Leaves together in monthly sections. I meant to write an update at the end of each month but forgot in January.
Currently at Chapter 9 (pg. 107)
All the formatting has been pretty straightforward, besides the amount of footnotes and different text styles. Even so it's still been easy to follow and is interesting thus far. Some of the aspects seem a bit silly, like the measurement of the house being off by such a tiny, nearly insignificant amount while other moments are starting to hint at an uneasy vibe, nothing scary or horror-like so far though.
Sometimes the writing veers on academic and slow and overall my cousin is annotating the book and one of her tab categories is "ick" for every time a female character is written in a misogynistic way, she is using a lot of tabs.
I'm intrigued and want to know how the story progresses, but reading it in sections over time is definitely the way to go.

Hello!! I found your thread this morning, it is 2:48 a.m. in NE Pennsylvania. I'll be sure to come back. I starred your thread. You are reading some interesting books!
I'm glad I found you!

Monthly Overview

Next weekend is finally the last week of training, it's gone well but I am looking forward to working by myself again. I've been extremely exhausted and tired due to work, so I've not had the energy to work on personal projects or keep up on here. Looking forward to things going back to normal. Hope this March goes well for everyone.

Favorite of the Month: Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

February Stats
Books Finished - 8
Pages Read - 2,074
Time Read - 41hrs38mins (+7.5 Audio)

March Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Fiction Picks
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 2 by MXTX
Nonfiction Picks
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Shared Reads
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Libby Audiobook
Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
Ongoing Long Read
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Up to Ch. 10)

Currently Reading


Ordered: Bookclub - Shared - Personal Nonfiction - Library Audiobook - Ongoing Long Read

>69 Whisper1: Hello Linda! You're about an hour ahead of me then, it's 2:15AM in Minnesota. I look forward to your return visit & I will be sure to find your thread and star it as well! :)

>63 WhiteRaven.17: I was middle-of-the-road on Bunny as well. I enjoyed it while reading but didn't care for the ending. I thought it could have been better.

>65 WhiteRaven.17: I read Mostly Dead Things last year and had the same feelings about it. Glad to hear I'm not alone in being a bit disappointed by that book.

Great reviews even if the reading was a mixed bag! I'm glad you loved Nettle & Bone :) Heaven's Official Blessing and Giovanni's Room are two very different books that I'd like to get to at some point!

>73 norabelle414: Agreed Nora. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and thought it was intriguing while I was reading, but then it started to feel a little too "loose" and wild. So an interesting experience read but maybe not the best book.

>74 Kyler_Marie: Not alone on that feeling at all Kyler. I listened to it on audio & found myself increasing the speed a bit as it went on, just wanting to be done with it. I feel like I should've liked it more, but just couldn't.

>75 curioussquared: Thanks Natalie! It definitely was all over the place this month in both ratings and types of books. They were both good for very different reasons and was quite the juxtaposition reading them back to back. Lol. Hope you like them as much I did when you get to them!

>60 WhiteRaven.17: Hmm, could be a book bullet for me - added to all the other love for this one on LT. Mind you, I already have others of hers on my shelves I haven't read yet.

>77 humouress: It's definitely a good one, though I could say that about pretty much every book I've read by Kingfisher so far. Any that you choose by her will probably be pretty good. I'm hoping to eventually read through all her work.

>71 WhiteRaven.17: Awesome reads going for March!! I gave I'm Glad My Mom Dies and Memoirs of a Geisha 4 or more stars. I have Killers of the Flower Moon in a TBR pile somewhere...

Glad the training is almost over and Happy St Paddy's Day. : )

>79 Berly: Thanks Kim! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you too! This is my first weekend back by myself and not having to come in early at all, so it's a good-spirited weekend. :)
I'll get my reviews up for the other two soon. As for Memoirs of a Geisha that book is plaguing me, I started it back in December and thought I'd finally finish it this month, but think I'm probably going to put it off again...

#17 - I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

A moving memoir that follows the childhood and early twenties of the child actor as she grew up, costar of the popular tv show, iCarly.
I admittedly had very little previous knowledge of Jennette McCurdy having grown up never watching preteen shows, but with a title like that how do you not get drawn in and my cousin also wanted to read it, so it was our book club pick this month. It was well-written and very fast-paced, there is nothing extra or filler in this book and it's impressive just how much is packed in here. Incredibly blunt and humorous, it was easy to get wrapped into even when some parts made me so empathetic I needed a moment to recover. High content warning for emotional abuse and eating disorders.
I listened to this on audiobook read by the author and thought it was well done, recommend if you're curious, it's well told and incredibly quick.

Rating: ****
Finished: 03/03/2024
Stats: Audiobook - 6hrs
Category: Nonfiction - Memoir - Child Star - Eating Disorders

#20 - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

A nonfiction accounting that takes place mostly around the 1920's in Osage territory in Oklahoma during parts of Prohibition and a huge oil boom on their lands, and the numerous deaths and killings of the Osage people.
I took way too long getting to this book, it was a well-researched and written accounting that gives details into the lives, times, and crimes while also being written in a compelling manner that never felt dry or inundated with data. Also taking a section to reflect on the vastness of the crimes committed that never even were legally acknowledged.
Personally, I find reading this type of true crime story so much harder than ones about solitary serial killers or organized sects, because this was more like an overall acceptance by a whole society of people to use the government and their perceived superiority to manipulate and kill others for their own personal gains. Truly a devastating account and definitely recommend getting around to this one if it's sitting on your tbr.

Rating: ****
Finished: 03/11/2024
Stats: 324pgs - 7hrs30mins
Category: Nonfiction - True Crime - 1920's History - Native American - Early FBI

#21 - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Follows a young man, Dorian Gray, as he gets his portrait painted by a dear friend and artist who introduces him to a rather strong influence who challenges his perspective on life and upon making a moved wish, twists his fate in his portrait.
This is a classic and fairly short, based on the concept I was very much looking forward to reading it and thought I'd breeze through it. I was wrong. This was a struggle for me to get through and I ended up having to listen to an audio version as I read to force my way through it. I just found a lot of the writing to be tedious and superfluous, which could be a reflection on the story itself, but just made it feel incredibly dry and like wading through mud. Admittedly, it does pick up significantly towards the end and I actually was excited to read the last few chapters, but overall an unsatisfying book.
I rather enjoyed the concept of the story and feel I could've loved it, but when a book literally puts me to sleep and I can only stand reading in half hour stints, it's clearly not working for me.

Rating: **
Finished: 03/12/2024
Stats: 220pgs - 5hrs43mins
Category: Fiction - Classic - Dark - Horror

#22 - Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead

Follows a young indigiqueer/Two-Spirit native through a series of vignettes that explore the past and present in connection to their sexuality, gender expression, and community - including family and the difference of living on and off the Rez.
I listened to this on audiobook, read by the author themselves, and it was well done but can be a bit challenging to follow as the chapters flow and switch between different points in time. The protagonist is also a cybersex worker and some of the text might be a bit graphic and blunt. Was a very interesting work, that I suggest if seeing more of a Native American voice and experience within the queer existence is of interest to you.

Rating: ***
Finished: 03/17/2024
Stats: Audiobook - 4hrs
Category: Fiction - Native American - Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer

#23 & #24 - Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 2 & Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 3 by MXTX

Continuation of the series, that covers all of Arc 2 in the series that jumps into the past and shows some of the history between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng from Xie Lian's first ascension. Volume 3 starts to get into Arc 3 of the series and picks up where Arc 1 left off.
I absolutely binged through Volume 3 in two days and it's my favorite in the series so far. I haven't felt this excited and into a series for a very long time, definitely take my love of this series with a grain of salt because I am definitely biased to it and am already planning a new tattoo for the series.

Rating: **** & *****
Finished: 03/18/2024 & 03/20/2024
Stats: 389pgs - 9hrs08mins & 415pgs - 9hrs07mins
Category: Danmei - Fantasy - Romance - Chinese Culture/Folklore

#26 - The Hearing Test by Eliza Barry Callahan

A young artist in her twenties wakes up one morning to a strange sound and is diagnosed with Sudden Deafness, the novel then follows a record of the year to follow.
This is a new release that just came out earlier this month and I was immediately intrigued. I've started learning and practicing ASL this year as it's something I've always wanted to learn and think it's a language that should be taught more commonly from a young age. This book was not what I was expecting, as it's more of a stream-of-consciousness record of random encounters or thoughts that have more to do with the artistic and philosophical understanding of what 'silence' is and means or how it is expressed and artistically interpreted. Which can be perfectly fine and had some very lyrical or pretty sentiments but is not really about a young woman navigating life with sudden hearing loss, partial or full, like I had expected.
There's a mention in the author's note that the idea for this novel was originally a long essay, and after reading it I'm inclined to say I think the idea would have been better served as an essay and not this full novel, even though it's still under 200 pages.
An interesting read if you like short, philosophical stream-of-consciousness type works, but was a little disappointing for me and seemed to be trying a little too hard to be 'artistic'.

Rating: **
Finished: 03/25/2024
Stats: 159pgs - 3hrs34mins
Category: Fiction - Artistic/Philosophical - Stream of Consciousness - Hearing Loss

>86 WhiteRaven.17: Since you mention ASL, I'm jumping in with an aside; this term our riders on the morning I volunteer (at Riding for the Disabled) have more physical disabilities including deafness. I did learn some basic BSL (British) when the kids were babies, though I've forgotten most of it now, but they 'speak' SSL (Singapore). From my googling, it seems to be based on Shanghai SL but tailored with colloquialisms. I could see (in the distance) the kids having a fluid conversation and joking around.

But I have to wonder why the international deaf associations didn't get together and make a universal language? Imagine if a Singapore native could speak to, say, a French native in sign language without translation? I get the impression (but I could be wrong) that some of the colloquialisms are based on 'this word sounds like that word' - which seems rather redundant.

Sorry. Rant over. I'll give you back your thread now :0)

>87 humouress: Rant very welcome Nina! I had very similar thoughts about sign language when I was looking for resources to learn. That even countries with the same speaking language, like English in the United Kingdom and United States, have different sign languages.
That is interesting that you mention the colloquialisms as I'd not thought about that aspect. In my very minimal understanding I had assumed some of the reason it differed between countries is because certain gestures may have negative or rude connotations in different countries and/or cultures.

Certainly would be extremely useful to have a universal sign language as it's already a limited language within each country, from what I've seen, for instance in America it is very difficult to find classes or resources to learn if you or a family member is not hearing impaired or deaf and if you do it can be quite expensive, so having it be universal might make it more accessible and certainly for those that are deaf would make international travel more accessible.

A very interesting topic and now I'm slightly curious to see if I can find lessons on other sign languages outside of ASL to see how much or in what ways they differ from each other.

#27 - The Day the World Came to Town by Jim Defede

Centers in on some of the flights and passengers that were redirected to Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11 when the US became a no fly zone and ordered all planes to land and of the welcoming nature of the local residents.
I listened to this on audiobook and it was very good, an emotional read that kept hitting me in the feels but also incredibly uplifting and hopeful in showing the lengths of kindness that can be afforded to strangers. There were also many aspects and details that I had never considered before, such as the medications or animals in transport.
This was a BB from Stasia and I'm very glad I put it on my list, was a quick but very good listen.

Rating: *****
Finished: 03/31/2024
Stats: Audiobook - 4hrs
Category: Nonfiction - 9/11 Experiences

House of Leaves Update: This year, my cousin and I are reading House of Leaves together in monthly sections.

Currently at Chapter 10 (pg. 153)
The formatting is starting to get very interesting, but the author does a very good job of keeping it easy to follow and so it flows very naturally. I will say though in my cousin and I's discussion we mentioned how this story and formatting is a bit like a double-edged sword - on one hand it's impressive how complicated and twisted the formatting becomes and the multiple stories going on that it's still easy to follow, even in skimmed over parts, but also it's so easy to follow because there is a lot of extra, often impertinent info and text.
Additionally, I've been fairly fine with Johnny's perspective and stories so far, but this chapter even I found the graphic sexual content stories and sexualization of female characters excessive and a bit ridiculous. They were randomly spliced in with no bearing on the story and feel like the author is just using Johnny as a conduit to write out random sexual fantasies.
We'll continue on, as we are genuinely interested in where the main story is going but so far we have very mixed opinions on this book.

Monthly Overview

March was a very good month for me reading wise, I feel like reading is all I've done this year. Lol. My cousin and I have a theme of Around the World April, so I've picked more translated or non-US books this month that I'm looking forward to, though they are emotional picks. I'm also hoping to finally get through Memoirs of a Geisha this month finally, but who knows anymore. Hope everyone has a lovely April.

Favorite of the Month: Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

March Stats
Books Finished - 11
Pages Read - 2,077
Time Read - 38hrs35mins (+14hrs Audio)

April Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
Mother of Strangers by Suad Amiry (Palestinian)
Translated Picks
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman (Swedish)
Kalevala by Elias Lonnrot (Finnish)
Minor Detail by Shibli Adania (Arabic)
Fiction Picks
Silence is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addonia (Sudanese)
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Ongoing Long Read
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Up to Ch. 11)

Currently Reading


Ordered: Bookclub - Tanslated - Fiction - Poetic Epic - Ongoing Long Read

Happy April, Kro!

>90 WhiteRaven.17: I think I'll give this one a miss, thanks.

My daughter took ASL in high school and my nephew is pretty fluent although neither of them is hearing impaired. I wish the book The Hearing Test had been more about a real life situation, as you said. Sigh.

Happy Monday!

>93 curioussquared: Thank you Natalie, you too!

>94 humouress: I wouldn't blame you one bit and don't think you'll be missing out on much Nina.

>95 Berly: That's really great, I wish it was more common. I tried taking it myself in high school but not enough students signed up for it so they cancelled the course. Indeed, it was okay, but definitely a let down from what I had been expecting it to be. Happy week Kim!

Apologies for the slow responses. I'm really missing checking in on everyone's threads and feel like I've missed a lot from everyone on here.
The person I spent a month training earlier this year worked for 3 weeks, one of which they were out sick for, and put in their notice. So now I'm back to being overloaded with work and covering extra hours and just the idea of having to go through another month of training someone new - if we even find anyone - makes me exhausted, I barely got through it the first time. Plus still trying to figure out my mental health and understanding of my autism and adhd. Anyway, I won't ramble on too much here, just a little update on my absenteeism since I feel bad about it.
Thanks to everyone still stopping by and sorry I haven't been repaying any. Hope you all are well! :)

>97 WhiteRaven.17: It is so annoying when something like that happens, Kro.
Take your time, take good care of yourself and remember that your pals are here for you as and when you need them.

>97 WhiteRaven.17: That's so frustrating! Definitely don't feel bad about being absent from LT, it happens to all of us.

>97 WhiteRaven.17: Oh no! How frustrating. I hope you manage to find someone suitable.

>97 WhiteRaven.17: Omg no! That is the worst. I can't imagine how demoralizing it must feel.

Training is hard enough the first time, but do have to do it twice and so close together? You have earned the right to rant. And no apologies about being in absentia. We will enjoy you when it suits you to be here. : )

>98 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul, it's appreciated. It definitely has been a frustrating situation.

>99 norabelle414: Thanks Nora! I appreciate your drop-bys.

>100 humouress: Thanks Nina, I hope so too, but I'm not holding out too much hope.

>101 curioussquared: It's definitely a blow, thank goodness I already had a vacation planned this coming weekend so I can have a brief reprieve.

>102 Berly: Thanks Kim, I could use a good rant session, lol. And who knows, it could be months before they find someone so it might not be so back to back.

Appreciate all the messages. :) I'm going to catch-up on all my April reviews here and I have some time-off planned for this coming weekend to see my cousin in Missouri that I'm very much looking forward to & will be a nice break from work for a bit.

#28 - Mother of Strangers by Suad Amiry

Takes place in Jaffa from 1947-51 and mostly follows the story of a young mechanic, Subhi, and his love interest, Saba, during the beginning of the destruction and displacement of Palestine.
This was a quick read and surprisingly easy to get into. It does a very good job of explaining the conflict between the Palestinians and would-be Israeli that was easy to digest and follow without feeling overloaded with information and keeping the story moving. There's a huge integration of Arabic phrases woven into the story that is a nice cultural touch. Also, despite the loss and destruction depicted in the book the story is written with an air of softness and uplifting. It's also based on a true story and the alignment of coincidences that aligned for this story to be told is astonishing. It was a good, quick, emotional read and definitely recommend if you're looking for Palestinian literature.

Rating: ***
Finished: 04/02/2024
Stats: 272pgs - 5hrs52mins
Category: Historical Fiction - Palestinian - Jaffa 1947-51

#29 - And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman

A very short story following Noah and his Grandpa that is quite moving as it deals with life, mourning, and Alzheimer's or the loss of memory.
Not a lot to say about this one, it is a sweetly told story and has some simple illustrations throughout that were very nice. Definitely recommend if you come across it or get a chance to read it.

Rating: ****
Finished: 04/02/2024
Stats: 76pgs - 53mins
Category: Short Story - Memory Loss - Life & Mourning

#30 - Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

Takes place over two distinct time periods. The first half from a soldiers POV in the summer of 1949 and the events surrounding the captive holding and ultimate death of a young girl. The second half takes place twenty-five years later from a young woman's POV who gets wrapped into the historic incident.
Though a short book, this was definitely a lot to get through and is a very heavy story. Both perspectives are written in the view of people who are very particular with themselves and their environment or orderly way of thinking, which makes for a sharp juxtaposition with the chaos or disruption occurring around them and in their actions. It is a compelling read and overall tragic, I'm glad I read it and thought it was good, but would hesitate to recommend it due to the content of sexual assault and an overall dark story that might be a lot for some.

Rating: ***
Finished: 04/07/2024
Stats: 105pgs - 2hrs38mins
Category: Fiction - Crime - Palestinian

#31 - Kalevala by Elias Lonnrot - Translated by Eino Friberg

A long poetic epic on the creation story and early cultural stories and myths of Finland.
This is very much what you'd expect of early mythic stories with larger than life heroes and characters on wild quests and journeys. It is an entertaining read and surprisingly fast-paced and easy to follow and get through. I was concerned about that being a poetic epic, which has also been an eye-opener to me in how hard it must be to translate poems in a way that keeps the original tone and meaning, as well as a certain cadence and flow befitting the format. I had a good time with this one and enjoyed it, though I know I did not fully recognize or understand all the metaphors or meanings as I am not super versed in the history of Finland and am sure someone who is would find a lot more to appreciate about the stories. My one caveat is I could have gone without the very last chapter or runo, as it was very blatantly a Christian story that felt at odds. I understand this might have historical context and reasoning, but still seemed like a sharp juxtaposition and foreign to the rest of the book.

Rating: ****
Finished: 04/10/2024
Stats: 615pgs - 12hrs05mins
Category: Poetic Epic - Finnish History & Mythos

#32 - Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin

A story told through the perspective of Amanda as she lays in a rural hospital and her conversation with David, a young child, whose recounting events with her.
I had a coworker lend me this book after I mentioned I was reading a lot of translated books this month. It is a quick little read with no chapters and mostly dialogue. I imagine as a refection of the title the story is also told in this sort of loose and mysterious way that leaves explanations and situations slightly blurry or odd. It is still pretty easy to gleam this story is about the dangers of pesticides and agricultural chemical runoff into the water, but there is still a lot left open to interpretation. It was definitely a strange little read and intriguing, but not overly worth it, I feel. Perhaps Argentinian lit is not my thing as this is the second book I've read from there and I really disliked the first one I read.

Rating: **
Finished: 04/13/2024
Stats: 136pgs - 2hrs03mins
Category: Fiction - Mystery - Argentina

#33 - Silence is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addonia

Set in a refugee camp in Sudan that follows the story of two siblings, Saba, and her mute brother, Hagos.
This was an incredibly brutal yet uplifting book, almost opposing of itself as it deals with the very hard scenarios of fallout from war and displacement as well as life in a refugee camp. There are depictions of brutish behaviors of assault and belittling that are traumatic, while somehow aligning these events with the soft exploration of gender and sexuality and friendship. The camp has this feel of an isolated society that makes the setting feel removed from the outside world. I personally wasn't a huge fan of how the book begins or ends, but everything in between is quite compelling and I'm glad I stumbled upon it. I find it hard to outright recommend because of the pain inflicted within it, but it also has a story of queerness that is captivating.

Rating: ***
Finished: 04/16/2024
Stats: 194pgs - 5hrs27mins
Category: Historical Fiction - Refugee Camp - Queer

#34 - Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 4 by MXTX

I am officially halfway through this series and enjoying every single moment of it, this particular volume is a lot and I burned through it in practically a single day! I am not saying too much as we are now deep in the plot and this is more just as a personal marker to reflect back and keep each book separate as the overall story melds together.
This was the most emotional and disturbing story plot so far and I'm still recovering as it effectively goes very bad for who was one of my favorite side characters, but it is also the most groundbreaking in the relationship between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng, which made this book an emotional tug-of-war. As always, impressed with this author for making a story that is simultaneously action-packed, dark, romantic, and funny.

Rating: *****
Finished: 04/18/2024
Stats: 368pgs - 8hrs17mins
Category: Danmei - Dark Fantasy - Romance - Chinese Culture/Folklore

#36 - Foe by Iain Reid

Takes place on a remote little farm of Junior and Hen as they receive news from a company called OuterMore that Junior has been selected for a space program and that Hen will be provided familiar company while he is away.
This is the second Iain Reid book I've read this year and I enjoyed this one just as much, if not more. He writes stories that feel like the book versions of Black Mirror episodes, which I find very intriguing. They are quick paced and are great at evoking feelings of unease, a real unsettled emotion that makes the story feel engaging and compelling. Both of his books are written as mystery's, but it is pretty easy to tell early on, if not immediately, what the "twist" is, even so I've not found the experience any less satisfying or engaging to read even knowing what was happening. Easy recommend if you like fast-paced horror/mystery or are a fan of Black Mirror.

Rating: ****
Finished: 04/26/2024
Stats: 260pgs - 4hrs05mins
Category: Fiction - Mystery - Sci-fi

#37 - Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Follows a young girl from a rural fishing village in Japan and the series of paths that unfold in her life of becoming a geisha.
This one took me forever to get through having stared it back in December of last year and I did end up listening to most of it on audiobook (btw, why is it so difficult to get the unabridged audiobook), but I finally finished it. I'm glad I can mark it off and I can acknowledge the writing and the appeal of this book, but I just don't think it was for me. It lingers way too long on her early childhood and the petty nuisances of Hatsumoto that I got very tired of and the overarching romance plotline just pays off way too late and am personally uncomfortable with the ages. There's also just generally some disturbing scenes throughout (ie the Doctor and the blood) that makes this a hard book for me to like. So I appreciate it and it has it's moments, but not a winner for me.

Rating: **
Finished: 04/28/2024
Stats: 428pgs - 12hrs42mins
Category: Historical Fiction - 1940's Japan - Geishas

House of Leaves Update: This year, my cousin and I are reading House of Leaves together in monthly sections.

Currently at Chapter 11 (pg. 246)
This was probably the most enjoyable section of the book so far as the formatting is interesting and engaging while being straightforward and easy to navigate. This past chapter also focused almost entirely on the actual story unfolding within the house, which is the most engaging storyline within this book. It was a fast-paced little action sequence and a nice follow-up to Chapter 9, which was an absolute pain.

Monthly Overview

I feel very accomplished after my April reads, I've been really good this year about getting to the books I've planned on while still leaving room for spontaneous picks. I need a stress free month, so most of my planned picks for May are short or easy reads and manga. Hope everyone's year is going alright, I can't believe it's already May.

Favorite of the Month: Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 4 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

April Stats
Books Finished - 10
Pages Read - 2,656
Time Read - 55hrs14mins

May Plans
Kitten & Kro Bookclub
Foe by Iain Reid (Read at the end of April)
Fiction Picks
Dragon Palace by Hiromi Kawakami
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Nonfiction Pick
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
Audiobook Pick
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Ongoing Long Read
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Up to Ch. 12)

Currently Reading


Ordered: Short Stories - Nonfiction - Audiobook - Ongoing Long Read

(*There's a definite theme happening here...lol)

>115 WhiteRaven.17: Did you choose those on purpose?!

That's a lot of octopuses!

>116 ursula: Haha! One would think, but surprisingly no, it's a coincidence. The short stories I randomly picked up as a way to kill time waiting for a friend at a bookstore. The nonfiction I've owned for ages & decided it was time. The audiobook I put on hold back in November of last year & just happened to finally become available now. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something...

>117 norabelle414: It certainly is! Apparently my reading has aligned with a theme this month, not that I'm complaining. They are interesting creatures.

Love your accidental octopus theme!

>112 WhiteRaven.17: This has been on my shelf for a long time and I think it's going to be one of my next reads. I hope I like it more than you do!

Wait, does Richard know you are reading all the octopi books?? He is such a fan!! LOL (I have read two of them!)