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| January's best! |
Of the 8, Penance blew me away - ticking every box with McFetridge's Black Rock a close second. Interesting that they were both set in a similar period....Montreal, 1970 and Chicago, 1971.
Most of the rest were really good, with one book a so-so read and another which I might have been better flushing down the toilet for all the enjoyment I derived from it!
A few more stats...............
USA - 7, Canada - 1, (I do love America),
Males - 7, Females - 1 (no change there),
USA State Reading Challenge - 2, other challenges - NIL,
New to me authors - 5
Net Galley books - 6, Own books - 2,
I think the last statistic sums up my mini-slump. I went a bit cray cray on Net Galley biting off more than I can chew. My reading seems pressured to meet deadlines and gives me less choice in what I want to pick-up next. Oh well, only about another 10 to go, then the vice-like grip will slacken.
Book of the month - Dan O'Shea - Penance!
The full January bunch below,
Collin Wilcox - Bernhardt's Edge (4)
David Putnam - The Disposables (4)
Stephen Graham Jones - Flushboy (2)
Dan O'Shea - Penance (5)
John McFetridge - Black Rock (4)
Adam Sternbergh - Shovel Ready (3)
Annette Dashofy - Circle of Influence (4)
Jake Hinkson - Saint Homicide (4)
I don't think I could handle the temptation of NetGalley -- especially as it doesn't seem easy to get a handle on what might be a good read as opposed to a knock-out-great read.
ReplyDeleteVicki - I think I will get the back-log cleared and then read some of my own books. I'm very un-disciplined and my head get turned by the sound of this and the premise of that.......and I end up biting off too much!
DeleteI do like discovering new authors though. Maybe the answer is for some responsible adult to confiscate my laptop?
Col, you did well last month. I have slack periods in my reading and sometimes it's difficult to get right back into reading mode. I read only four books in January and some dozen short stories.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I will snap out of it soon. Maybe some short stories would help me! Hopefully February will be fruitful for us both.
ReplyDeleteCol - I couldn't agree more that quality trumps quantity every time when it comes to reading. It's good to see that you had more good 'uns than duds. And I'm glad you enjoyed Penance as much as you did.
ReplyDeleteMargot - definitely quality needs to prevail. Yep - more good than bad - so overall - a decent month.
DeleteThat's an OK month, don't beat yourself up. Unfortunately for me, I took another look at your Penance review and I may have to get hold of it. I don't need any more books! You are to blame!
ReplyDeleteHaha.....I'm glad. I think the way the author weaved the narrative between the two time frames was one of the highlights for me. One of my Goodreads friends who liked the first, has just read the second Greed - which is something I have at the minute from Net Galley - unsurprisingly! We don't always agree on books, but I think you'd like it.
DeleteI meant to say - that he thought the follow on was even better!
DeleteGreat reading month for you. Your pace is off? Really? I don't think so. Reading 8 books seems like a lot to me for one month gone by already. Unlike you, I've only read two books so far this year. Pathetic I know. Finding time to actually read is getting to be more challenging everyday. I hope to pick it up. Aside: As I was looking at my stats my output each year keeps going down *yikes* so you're doing fine. Really, you are. The books you are highlighting are interesting as well and I will make sure to get Penance.
ReplyDeleteAs for Netgalley, I deleted my account there years ago. It's easy to go cray cray there and yes, that pressured feeling to review all of them is not very fun. It makes reading a chore and I dislike that a lot as do many readers. I have about 4 books I'm *obligated* to read as well but I'm looking forward to those since they are authors I read already except one. I just hope they're good. *fingers crossed* Good job, Col.
Keishon cheers - I suppose in my head I have a mental target of 10, which kind of bums me out if I don't hit it. (Saddo, or what?) I think I'm fortunate that I'm probably at a stage of my life when I don't feel like I'm constantly rushing around chasing my tail. Work is settled, kids don't need an awful lot of attention, as they are nearly all adults. We're not always out socialising as we are mostly home-birds, so time is available - and I do like my books! I think it's kind of cyclical - 15 years ago I didn't have time to read full-stop. Fast forward a few and if we have grandkids (not for a long while yet - I hope) I guess I'll have less time.
DeleteI can see why you did that with Net Galley, and it has crossed my mind, but I probably won't I just need to get caught up and then act like a grown-up with my account! You hit the nail on the head, it can seem like your reading as homework. I also kind of think having stating challenges also restricts and inhibits my reading even though I haven't defined a lot of the books I will undertake.
I ought to employ a proof reader when I go on a ramble....... you're not your.....stated - not stating!
DeleteCol, I had a similar problem except that I only had three NetGalley books in one month. Even that is too much. Yet for me it helped as far as totals go, because I chose really short books between them.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I agree that 8 books is good for a month, and I expect to read on the average closer to six a month. And good variety in your reading too.
Tracy, I think I need to go on a 1 at a time basis, and only if it really intrigues me, rather than speculative reading all the while. I might read less new stuff and more of my own.
DeleteFebruary has started well, so I'm nearly back on form! Cheers.