These are my #roll100 picks. I decided to go for #62 because I need some fluff and cuteness in my life. The MacDonald one was a tip from a customer and I so can't wait for the last one 😍

@PuddleJumper

Happy #5JoysFriday 💛 First, I wanted to leave this over empty (you know why), but then I decided that I won't let them win. Finding joys is a tiny act of rebellion, because they want us to be afraid.

1) Tasty Italian dinner with @VaniBarelyReads and FIL
2) Stupid mental health walk with @VaniBarelyReads
3) Actually doing what's on my to do list
4) These little Dodge cars @VaniBarelyReads gave me
5) two cups of Koawach each day

@DebinHawaii

I think for now five adventures are enough. The stories all work pretty much the same way, if you know one book, you know them all. Usually, I think that's pretty fun, but right now I'm not in the state of mind to listen to Cain. Also, I got tired of the Male Gaze pretty fast. And even though I really like Jurgen, it's not enough to keep me going. This series is paused for now.

#roll100 @Puddlejumper

Another book that is so good, that it's hard to write a review about. I had a lot of thoughts and emotions while reading this, but it's a whole other thing to put these into words. It's a beautifully written story and kudos to Ki-Hyang Lee, who translated the book to German. The author works with symbolism and magical realism to create strong images and scenes. Some of them we might won't forget again.

One Piece was a huge part of my childhood and teen years. Now as a 30 something I see too many red flags in these stories and characters. But still... still... The manga made me laugh and it was just nice to spend time with those old friends again. And then sexism hits again. And then Oda reverses it. I definitely need some time between each volume. So whenever I feel like, I'm going to read vol. 62. It might take a while.

Happy #5JoysFriday ? has anyone of you lovely people seen my motivation? No? Well, then let's try focusing on the small joys in life?

1. I'm apparently the Top 3 of Switzerland's reviewers on GR
2. Going to the Ornaris in Zurich with my boss
3. Going to the thrift store with @VaniBarelyReads and finding a book about Main Coons ?
4. "Painting" with Seccos "help" ?
5. The vegan bakery in Zurich and their sign about what's not welcome in their⬇️

I almost bailed on this one. The misogyny was just too much. And every time I thought that there is domestic violence against men, Isaka just came with another another sentence that made my eyes roll really, really hard. It got better after the first half, but I wouldn't have missed anything if I had bailed. But the way Kabuto deals with his conscience and treats others was moving and made me like the character.

I know this is not an easy book. The whole series doesn't make it easy for you, but this one, narrated in second person, is quite the thing. But there's a good reason to the narration style in this book. Just one of the many surprises awaiting us. There's so much I missed or couldn't have known while reading it for the first time. So, while rereading the whole series, I decided that there will be a third reread in my future.

What a beautiful book. So much soul. It's about growing-up, coming out and about getting to know yourself. It reminded me a lot of my years as a young tween. Lo's language is so much more beautiful and moving in this one than in the Telegraph Club (but this might also be the translation). It's not needed to have read that one either, the parts with Kath and Lily are very short.

#Doublespin @TheAromaofBooks
#queerbc @Puddlejumper

Doing some of this number by number painting thingies (a Christmas gift) and listening to Harrow The Ninth. What a delight ❤️💀

Did I really, really love this book? Yes.
Did I go and buy myself a copy for my bookshelf? Also yes.
Did I wait several extra weeks to get the cover I prefer? Obviously.
Am I excited to hold the book in my hands? Littens know the answer 😸

I liked this book from the beginning, but I absolutely loved the ending. Pratchett is (was 😭) such a smart man. Writing about religion is not easy, and even though I'm judging from a priviledged, no religious point, I think he did deliver his message. And without shaming or bashing. More than once this book made me laugh out loud, but I was also moved and it made me think.

#Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks
#roll100 @Puddlejumper

Happy #5JoysFriday 💛 No pictures this week, so I decided to do it that way.

@DebinHawaii

This is a very tender, but also very sad book. In different very short texts, Han Kang talks about white things. White being the color of mourning in Korea. We learn about her older sister, who died shortly after birth. We learn how that still hunts Kang, how it affects her life. I was deeply moved by this work, by its calmness, by its insights.

My mind was telling me to get another audiobook, but my heart wanted this one. And it was a fairly good choice. Loved the twist and how they both dealed with it. It could've had a bit more atmosphere for me and a little more depth, but even without that I was engaged with Ambrose and Kodiak and am quite happy that there is a second part ❤

Not the tagged book, but by the same author featuring the same character. Translates as: The F*ck off Kitty Fights Back/Resists.

This is an angry book. It's for all of those who are angry at the cistem, at right-wing politics, at transphobes and whatever else you find out there. It's not a comic, it's not non-fiction, I can't really say what it is exactly, but it's cathartic. And sometimes you just need books like that.

#roll100 @PuddleJumper

After finishing my last book for #BookishMonopoly it's time for the next one! I landed on Chance and just did the little paper thingy again. @VaniBarelyReads was so kind to draw the book and it is ---- The Lying Game by Ruth Ware🎉

What a great start into my reading year! I almost got late out of my lunch break because I couldn't stop reading. Sure, I might not have gotten all of the science stuff, but that doesn't really matter. The plot itself is captivating and digs into the questions of how human AI can be. Especially at the end it got some got ethical input and I also got more emotional than I thought I would.

@AkashaVampie #BookishMonopoly

Happy #5JoysFriday 💛 I did remember to go to work on Monday, but then it was weekend in the middle of the week, now it's weekend but it's Monday to me...? I'm confused 😰

My joys this week:

1) Secco cuddled up in his Christmas present
2) Coloring Pusheen
3) Winter walk with family
4) Vegan New Year's Eve dinner
5) Rossa and Secco being cuddly siblings and not scared of the fireworks at all

@DebinHawaii

I tried to do a handwritten #BookSpinBingo again/for the first time (can't remember, tbh 😅). Not sure if it's for me or if I switch back to my old one.

@TheAromaOfBooks

Soft pick. This would've needed some editing. There are too many “...“ in this text to read it fluently, too many underlines and bold sentences. But all in all it's a good, even though a bit 'esoteric', introduction on how to help the trans and non-binary people in your life. Some good ideas and since it's only 28 pages also possible to get through for non-readers.

#roll100 @PuddleJumper

This one was more or less clear, even though I've read a lot of important books in 2024. Runner Up was “Was wird es denn? Ein Kind!“ (“What will it be? A child!“).

But Unlearn Patriarchy covers so many every day things that are based on patriarchal structures, that we don't even realise how they discriminate against other people. This book made me furious, I almost broke down in tears and it really openend my eys. Volume one was the same.

My 5 star reads in 2024 with Gideon The Ninth being my book of the year ❤️ Runner up is Somewhere Beyond The Sea and it was a very hard decision.

Stats for December 2024, including my #bookofthemonth for both, fiction and non-fiction. It was a good reading month and a good way to end the year.

#botm

My last book, well, comic of the year 2024. And it makes a good ending. I love the Starros clan, but I mainly read it because I wanted more of Deva. And she delivered 💥 The story is by Justina Ireland, a name that makes my heart beat faster. I definitely need more in 2025 ❤️

The more the story continued, the more I felt like this was the original Matrix. It sure does have its Matrix vibes. Lem imagines life in 2039, so a reread is already planned 😉 Some things I can't believe will come true (disarmament), but many things are not so far off. And in a time of “Your body, my choice“, I do believe that the women's place is where Lem put it - in the back, looking nice.

Even though not my favorite book by Nothomb, it's still a typical Amelie Nothomb book and therefore worth reading (for me). Once again she digs into the topic of beauty. Epiphane is heavily deformed and therefore called ugly. But he makes it work for him. But lives a beautiful soul in an ugly body? Or is he just as superficial as we all are? A perfidious little piece written by the master herself.

Sound familiar? Everything we ruin, they have to deal with.

#StarWarsBuddyRead @BookwormAHN

Yey! I'm so excited for the first #roll100 with my newly made list. All over 2024 I randomly put books on that sounded interesting, but were of no hurry to read just yet. And now here we go!

Funny enough, all those books are rather short and I even already started reading The Heart Of Allyship 😅

@PuddleJumper

First #BookSpinBingo of 2025! It'll be a fun ride!

@TheAromaofBooks

A low Pick. It's enjoyable and can be read without knowing the first book in the series. But for me it was lacking on atmosphere and chemistry between the characters. Even though they were written quite well, I never felt close enough to really care about them or their case.

(And yes, I need to finish my reviews before 2025!)

Winner of the Swiss Book Prize 2024

The narrator is searching for the one who's responsible for her father's early death. She was only a baby back then. What did it mean to grow up without a father? Why is she now loosing her mother more and more? I'm glad I was allowed to follow her on her trip, I felt with her and even learned something new about Switzerland.

Managed one #BookSpinBingo - yey! And now on to 2025 🙌

#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

Between a So-So and a Pan. It's not the funny, cute, christmas-y RomCom the German version promised to be.
1. the translation is really bad. 2. Andrew is not the nice character he is supposed to be. He does not respect Ellies boundaries, which is a no go. 3. alcohol is portraied as a problem solver, which it clearny isn't. 4. Names and brands are mentioned that do not belong in a queer novel whithout further explanation.
Some cute scenes though.

I guess it's Friday because I got tagged by @DebinHawaii for another round of #5JoysFriday (I need to remember to go to work on the day called Monday🤔)

1. My aunt came for a visit and we spent a lovely afternoon together 🎄
2. Bookish snowhuman in our library ⛄
3. Rossa enjoying her Christmas presents 😻
4. Afternoon walk in the cold with @VaniBarelyReads ❤️
5. Having 6 (!) days off for Christmas 🙌

I made it! I made it! Not only did I finish my #BookSpin in time, I also finished another series (because I doubt I live to see the next volume being published). And I even liked it! Woohoo! Especially the amount of female characters, which was nice after the last volume. I also thought that this one was more (in)tense than the last books.

@TheAromaofBooks

Another bookish advent calender for kids and their grown-ups. There are many fun games to play during Christmas time, crafting ideas and recipes to try. Grimm and Möhrchen have a lot of adventures on each of the 24 days until Christmas arrives. Very cute, very heart-warming. For me as an adult without kids, things are starting to be a bit repetitive, but those two still grew on me.

In just love these books. They're so encouraging and touch my heart on different levels. These kids can teach me so much, I adore them. And I hope we're going to meet Churo again. The little Hutt grew dear to me and I would like to know about his further live.

#StarWarsBuddyRead @BookwormAHN

24 different crime stories to help you through Christmas time 😄 I enjoyed them all, except maybe one. The stories are set all across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and of course I had to check the map each morning before reading one of the stories. Some authors even made to my reading list.

#Roll100 @PuddleJumper

So apparently my grey-ace-self decided to like smut. Is that smut? There's a lot more spice in that than in all my other books. And I really, really enjoyed it. I am a sucker for enemies-to-lovers, so this one was perfect. The German audiobook version could do with some better readers, but I got used it eventually. And yes, I want to read more books in this series, please 🌶🌶🌶

Happy #5JoysFriday 💛

My five joys this week were

1. Tasty vegan burger for birthday lunch
2. Books as birthday gifts 🙌❤️
3. Bought tickets for the Women's Euro next summer ⚽
4. Downloaded the app Finch and enjoy it 🐦
5. Found a caterpillar in our kitchen (well, Secco did and did not understand why we took away his new toy). Guess we're caterpillar parents now 🤷🐛

@DebinHawaii

(Rossa does not approve of vacuuming her favorite blanket)

A lot of very funny and entertaining stories for kids and happy kidults. I enjoyed reading all those texts, but if I would read them to a child, there are some parts I would talk to them about, because these days some things have changed since the stories were written. But those are minor parts and do not change how much fun this book is.

@TheAromaofBooks #DoubleSpin

What a great example for what #BookSpinBingo can do. I squeezed this one in, so I could make a Bingo 😅 It was a re-read for me after three years. I still agree that it's an excellent start for people not being used to read non-fiction, but want to learn about history. But even though this edition seems to have been updated, there are still some things, that caught my eye now: women are scarce, unfitting expressions and some unfitting opinions.

My next roll in #BookishMonopoly brought me to “Free Book“, meaning I could myself a book. Since I recently bought the book a friend of mine wrote, I think I'm going with this for my next round 😄

@AkashaVampie

This series really is a lot of fun and the manga made me laugh out loud several times. Of course, I worried about the cute German Shepherd Dog, but Pooch also gets a Happy End 🐶 The bonus comic is just as cute. Can't wait for more adventures with Anya and Bond.

#BookishMonopoly @AkashaVampie

This book is the result of a 10 years research and it's so, so good! We follow the vikings from Scandinavia and England to the Ukraine and further to the Near and Middle East. We learn about trade and its impact, and also about River QUEENS. It's a well structured book and if you're familiar with reading non-fiction it's also easy to read. With the newest technologies we learn more and more about the past, but a lot we will also never know.

Happy #5JoysFriday 💛 A little later than usual because I'm working 10 hour shifts right now 🙈

1-3 - First time this year to visit a Christmas market, first mulled vine this year and first time eating churros (ever).

4 - my dad dropping random vegan foods into my mailbox because I might eat them (picture is of his doggo, Zoran)

5 - my friend drew a fox for me 💖🦊

@DebinHawaii

This is easily my favorite book of this month. You sure know the feeling when you have to put your book down and do something dull like working, always longing to dive back into the story? This was this kind of book for me. Exactly what I needed and wanted.
So, where do I drop my vote for reading the next volume in the series with #queerbc ? 😉

@Puddlejumper

This is a small, but difficult book. It remembered me a lot of Annie Ernaux. We go back to the 1960ties, a boarding school in a small Swiss village. The young narrator and her passion for the new girl at school. It's a narrow and tight world and that's how this book feels. Told in a clear voice, I couldn't help but asking myself how much of this story might be autobiographical?

Well... Why were these people friends in the first place? They all seemed to hate each other, so I didn't really care about them. Maybe the horror in this was too subtle, and I might should've tried to find a translation to get into this a bit better. Next time maybe.

#queerbc @PuddleJumper