I was bored by nine tenths of this hot mess of a graphic novel. But would absolutely be here for an entire book of just Nora Grey's Victorian crypto-academic research hijinks.
#creepycover #clothesnotonaperson #ISpyBingo #ISpy @TheAromaOfBooks
2nd #WickedWords @AsYouWish
I'm afraid I'm Ms Unpopular Opinion for this book too, though it's not a wall-throw like Lessons in Chemistry.
The pace was glacial. Major moments of what should be emotional or character-changing events were skipped (totally skipped, as in time-jumped). The character had zero agency and less character. She was just buffeted around by life, and learned almost nothing.
[cont in comments]
First #WickedWords for March, in this poetry collection by a Wiradjuri author
@AsYouWish
A graphic novel about Mary Shelley‘s greatx5 granddaughter. “I‘m going to my tree house!”
Finished February! #WickedWords
I quite sorta enjoyed On The Way To The Wedding, with the usual caveats about problematic dude behaviour in these books. I just have to engage older-romance-novel-brain and whimsy away that nonsense in my head.
Now stalking @AsYouWish for the March words :)
For kids interested in the arts and a bit of history, this is a DELIGHT. It's the illustrated story of Clara Driscoll, who designed Tiffany lamps and other incredible glass art, with a bit of gender & labour history thrown in. The art is gorgeous.
I thought I might not find this one, but Julie Quinn to the rescue. And that's February done!
#WickedWords @AsYouWish
I finished Imaginary Numbers! It took me a minute to get into it, but I loved it in the end. Cuckoo lore! High stakes! True love!
#WickedWords @AsYouWish
This is a good middle grade graphic novel/memoir. The central character is a parentified 12 yo girl in Indonesia, and the book tells the story of a several-week period being stuck at home while they all have chickenpox.
#WickedWords @AsYouWish
This YA novel in verse was very good, and definitely kept the pages turning. Set in a British high school, the central character is a nerdy girl who is virally shamed (combination of slut and period shaming). The shaming gets pretty intense, with a couple of rape threats, so content warning for that. The ending is perhaps implausibly happy, but for a YA audience that's to be expected.
Why did I put this McGuire series down for so long? I love it. Currently reading number 9.
#WickedWords @AsYouWish
#Bookchain2025 progress! #Bookchain @TheAromaOfBooks
@TheAromaofBooks #iSpy #ispybingo progress for January! I run all boards all year, with the aim of filling them, allowing multi-dipping. Always get off to a good start as a result.
Not quite any Bingo lines yet, but I'll get there!
I was a bit reluctant to pick this up because of the hype, but I'm really enjoying it so far. The first half had been basically a slice of life cosy with time travel, but the foreshadowing and ramp-up promises a change of pace and some higher stakes to come.
Early Connie Willis vibes.
Wrap for January #WickedWords @AsYouWish
Two romance novels, two SF, and a graphic novel. I'm not sure if my pick would be Love Laodice or This is How You Lose the Time War; they're so different that I have no way to compare them.
Last #WickedWords for January! @AsYouWish
This third book in the series was a bit of a holey hot mess, plot-wise, but still fluffy fun.
Found “survivors“! In this short, somewhat disturbingly prophetic plague novel. One to go.
#WickedWords @AsYouWish
pickBicycle, gravcycle, what's the difference? (“Bicycle“ is also in the author bio, so it's not even cheating).
#WickedWords @AsYouWish
Kate Healey has not disappointed me yet! Her Olympus, Inc series is an insta-buy for me. Greek mythology inspired modern-day romances set in and around an imaginary magazine publishing company. Love, Laodice is the second book in the second three-book arc, after Ask Cassandra and before XO, Xena (can't wait!)
It's a romantic suspense , rivals-to-lovers, fake-dating story. [...]
#WickedWords @AsYouWish
This is a good graphic memoir about a nerd in middle school. Weaver takes us through his bullying, mental health, and found-familiy journey with sensitivity and humour.
First Wicked Word of the year!
#WickedWords @AsYouWish
Now launching the #FourFours #readingchallenge for 2025! #FourFoursin25 is a flexible year-long challenge.
Easy: Pick 1 word; match theme, event, character, cover pic, or vibe. So for 'Frisco Disco, you might read a book set in SF. Picket Cricket might suit a book featuring a cricket match.
Hard: Both words. So for Yellow Cello - maybe a yellow cover with a a cello player MC.
Comment for an add to the tag list!
More in comments
@litsyevents
And here's what I'm using for #BookChain #Bookchain2025 if anyone wants it @TheAromaOfBooks
OK y'all... I'm doing more #readingchallenges next year than ever before. So this post is me officially giving myself permission to double-dip, triple-dip, even quadruple-dip in any and all challenges. Mkay?
My husband and I had to go into the city to do a thing at the Apple Store. “Let‘s just drop in and say hi to Stefen at Stefen‘s Books, we don‘t need any more books but you know we‘ll just have a look”.
#bookhaul
Today in "lauredhel is picky about gratification novel lettering again ": ok, at least they picked a typeface, but why an uneven baseline one? Gah.
I can't believe it - I finished every single prompt for I Spy for 2024, even the bonus ones. This is a colossal challenge and so much fun. Thanks @Clwojick @TheAromaofBooks. #ISpyBingo
And with a stethoscope on the cover of the Rez Doctor, that's #ISpyBingo finished for 2024!
@Clwojick @TheAromaofBooks
I am so here for this queer 1960 NYC baseball player - reporter romance.
This starts like a contemporary realistic family story about a girl who goes to stay with her Nainai who runs a boba cafe… but it quickly turns into a fantasy/monster story. Fun so far.
On my hook : Sempervivum Shawl in alpaca silk #litsycrafters
These Enola Holmes graphic novels are very cute, though I am annoyed by the tiny lettering.
And that's June finished #ISpyBingo @Clwojick @TheAromaofBooks
Just “Luck“ and Stethoscope to do for a full sweep for the entire year, including bonus cards! And I have books lined up for both of those.
And I'm done! #artgallery #WickedWords
Thanks for the challenge @AsYouWish
December is for lightweight reads! Romance and dogs, what's not to like?
On my hook : Graphite Mandala, sized up for a little floor rug. #litsycrafters
Sounds sticky.
