November was a lot. I think most everyone I know would agree. Added to that for me was the last few weeks of a kitchen remodel, moving back into the kitchen, and sundry other house-related things. So only six books this month. (I’m not counting the relisten to all the Murderbot Diaries books.)
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, by T. Kingfisher
I love this book. It is so imaginative and funny. This was a reread, first-time listen and I enjoyed every second of it. Mona’s ability to give life to her baked goods is so much fun and her creative use of giant gingerbread men and tons of seething, sentient sourdough starter to defend her city from the baddies is awesome.
Feet of Clay, by Terry Pratchett
I’m doing a slow reread of The Watch subseries of Discworld. In this one, it appears that free golems are murdering people. But that’s not all! We meet Cheery Littlebottom in this book—a proto-trans dwarf who is discovering her feminine side and we get a lot of Angua, Carrot, and Vimes. Always a comfort, and I always learn more about the world around me through this made-up world.
The Rehearsals, by Annette Christie
A cute rom com about a couple about to get married who have to reevaluate their relationship as the day of their wedding rehearsal keeps repeating. Charming, nice, with low stakes, but real character development.
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret, by Benjamin Stevenson
The third installment of the Ernest Cunningham series, where our hero Ern is called in to help his ex-wife beat a murder wrap. The victim, her current boyfriend, billionaire philanthropist. The suspects, the people who are running or appearing in a Christmas extravaganza charity event. This is a novella, but we still get humble Ern cleverly solving the crime.
Pride and Prejudice in Space, by Alexis Lampley
This was my book club pick for November. We were all really looking forward to it and we were all seriously disappointed. The premise: take the original text and change it to be in space, with some cool art added in for funsies. What I liked: the art, the way that the author created conversations over communicators, the chummy relationship of all the sisters. What I didn’t like: it was the same story set in space without updating the story to fit into its new milieu. It took me a long time to read it because I kept getting frustrated that it wasn’t my favorite book, nor was it something new.
The House on the Borderland, by William Hope Hodgson
Hodgson, and this book in particular, is supposed to have been a huge influence on Lovecraft. And I can see why. It’s a weird story that is mostly made up of a diary written by a man living in a remote, castle-like house that experiences a lot of weirdness—including out of body travels to distant worlds and pig-like men intent on breaking into his house. I don’t know that I can say it was good. It is definitely memorable.
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, by T. Kingfisher
I love this book. It is so imaginative and funny. This was a reread, first-time listen and I enjoyed every second of it. Mona’s ability to give life to her baked goods is so much fun and her creative use of giant gingerbread men and tons of seething, sentient sourdough starter to defend her city from the baddies is awesome.
Feet of Clay, by Terry Pratchett
I’m doing a slow reread of The Watch subseries of Discworld. In this one, it appears that free golems are murdering people. But that’s not all! We meet Cheery Littlebottom in this book—a proto-trans dwarf who is discovering her feminine side and we get a lot of Angua, Carrot, and Vimes. Always a comfort, and I always learn more about the world around me through this made-up world.
The Rehearsals, by Annette Christie
A cute rom com about a couple about to get married who have to reevaluate their relationship as the day of their wedding rehearsal keeps repeating. Charming, nice, with low stakes, but real character development.
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret, by Benjamin Stevenson
The third installment of the Ernest Cunningham series, where our hero Ern is called in to help his ex-wife beat a murder wrap. The victim, her current boyfriend, billionaire philanthropist. The suspects, the people who are running or appearing in a Christmas extravaganza charity event. This is a novella, but we still get humble Ern cleverly solving the crime.
Pride and Prejudice in Space, by Alexis Lampley
This was my book club pick for November. We were all really looking forward to it and we were all seriously disappointed. The premise: take the original text and change it to be in space, with some cool art added in for funsies. What I liked: the art, the way that the author created conversations over communicators, the chummy relationship of all the sisters. What I didn’t like: it was the same story set in space without updating the story to fit into its new milieu. It took me a long time to read it because I kept getting frustrated that it wasn’t my favorite book, nor was it something new.
The House on the Borderland, by William Hope Hodgson
Hodgson, and this book in particular, is supposed to have been a huge influence on Lovecraft. And I can see why. It’s a weird story that is mostly made up of a diary written by a man living in a remote, castle-like house that experiences a lot of weirdness—including out of body travels to distant worlds and pig-like men intent on breaking into his house. I don’t know that I can say it was good. It is definitely memorable.
