I am shaking with laughter. Loving this book.

More a collection of linked stories than a novel but full of Ruff's trademark weirdness. Recommended.

For my #2017readharder challenge I reread to say nothing of the dog. For my money one of the best #timetravel stories and it's got a screwball romance. Love love love. This book takes me to a happy place.

When you're a kid of immigrants you're always trying to understand your parents. Literature from the homeland helps. Literature by people with similar experiences helps the most. So for all you Iraqi Jews out there--this is a nostalgic but clear eyed look at one Baghdad. #firstgenkids

Still loving the adventures of librarian Irene, dragon prince Kai, and Vale, who represents a certain Great Detective. I had somehow decided this was a trilogy but (spoiler) doesn't look like it. So now the eternal series reader issue: finished the book waiting for the sequel

My first #fivestarread of 2017. There's something so warm hearted and generous about this story that really spoke to me.

On a cold snowy day my books were delivered! Mug of tea and steampunk trilogy ended=bliss #snowday

Excellent history and memoir of activism to fights AIDS, homophobia and indifference. I watched the documentary after finishing the book--powerful and moving!!!

So in between reading depressingly depressing books about Hitler and achingly beautiful novels about being (Gilead, Home, Bring Up the Bodies) I am re-reading Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels books. I am liking them better than I did on first reading (unlike another tough woman who kills vampires--looking at you Anita Blake--Kate grows in ways that work for me) and recommend for anyone looking for kick ass heroines for winter reading.

A spare and lovely account of facing death and reckoning with life. Beautiful and evocative.

Wow. This book is still resonating with me days later. Haunting powerful sad lovely--all adjectives that apply for me but don't encompass the novel. An awesome (in the old school usage) depiction of how we fail each other and keep loving and hoping despite it. One of 2016's best reads for me.

What a fascinating book! I haven't read any philosophy since college but found this an excellent and fun reintroduction to some of the 20th centuries great thinkers. I recommend reading with the cocktail of your choosing.

Fascinating to think about how big data is coming for us all--and loved listening to math babe Cathy O'Neil read it! If you are looking for more her blog math babe and the slate money podcast are excellent as well. And I love the cover!

Stayed up too late to finish this book...it's a sliding doors vision of New York City and love and second chances. Also immigration and being first generation kids #botm #weneeddiversereads

I was up too late focused on this book-and I know how the story ends!!!! So good and such amazing language. Beautiful and tragic.

I liked the three body problem and enjoyed grace of kings but I LOVED ❤❤❤ the paper menagerie. And I say that as someone who generally does not enjoy short story collections. I definitely would highlight the Literomancer, the simulacrum, the waves and the man who ended history. But there isn't a bad story here!

Well that was terrifyingly depressingly powerful. Read but know what you're in for. Going after to read some kids books now.

Immigration policy made real--Diane Guerrero is only 14 when both her parents are deported. What she does to raise herself and find her path to adulthood in America is riveting.

What a title!!!

Loving this book and loving this reading!!!! #seasonsreading

So here's the thing about this book. It starts with the hero kid napping the heroine and tying her to him so she can't escape. And there's a lot about how he's noble and also gods but essentially he takes her and ignores her requests to go. There's like a feeling of if she'd just chill and realize the nobility and also great sex. And I like the book and I liked Cat (heroine/narrator) but the kidnap thing. Stayed up to finish it but be aware.

Depressingly familiar #trumpedupreadinglist

Harry and her children and collaborators lovers and friends come together to tell the story of her lives her art and her death. This is a howl and a yarn and a good wake up. I need to read more Siri Hustvedt.

I loved this book enough to buy it digitally and in paper, and to listen to the audio. Beautiful language for complicated characters--particularly Owen brown, son of John Brown, last of the terrorist abolitionists, in this telling, to survive the raid on Harper's Ferry that leads to America's civil war. It's not an easy read but well worth it

When fiction hits too close to home..#seasonsreading2016

Love this book--needed a dose of hope. #seasonsreading2016 thanks for the loan @rach_simone and the rec #brlive

Beautiful quote in a moving and ultimately hopeful book.

This was a novel with lots of words and some amazing quotes strung out between them.

It's possible that we are all not as accomplished as Jazz Jennings is at 15. Her poise and confidence in sharing her story are pretty cool--and I want one of the mermaid tails she makes!

The election is and was much on my mind. I read hillbilly elegy and started white trash. Nonfiction is powerful of course. But this quote and this book are reminding me that fiction is transformative #botm

Read this book!!! I was recently on a 8 hour plan ride (which should have been a 6 hour trip) and my kindle froze right before take off. Total panic until the forced reboot took me back to Becky Chambers. Owl Pepper Blue Tak and Sidra are real and make the most of their chosen family. I personally responded more to the Jane story. The Sidra lines were good but Owl and Jane were the absolute best #seasonsreadings2016

What a lovely and beautiful story. Perfect for times when you want to think about the power of community and the many types of family. Can't recommend highly enough.

Love this cover!!!! Think I need to reread the classic after I finish the homage #decembertbr

Respect for a romance novel that compares love to meat. #romantsy

I love this series. It's got a swashbuckling librarian a seductive dragon and a Sherlock Holmes homage. Irene, our fearless heroine, needs to rescue her apprentice Kai who does a male damsel in distress (male version of damsel? Gentleman doesn't really work). I stayed up late to finish and encourage anyone to check these out.

Mothers and daughters. Also thieving. "I guess I didn't know then that mothers can't save their children even when they wanted to."

kelsea glynn makes hard choices in this novel. The last 20 pages or so shake everything up--so don't expect a neat and tidy resolution.

Another necessary book. There audio is read by the author and I think adds to the experience. Thanks #brlive for another author discovery.

This audiobook is perfectly suitable for my take a break from serious things...but incarceration nation is calling!!!

Great read for insight on American origins. But now I am really truly absolutely taking a break from serious reading.

You should definitely read this book. It's horrifyingly depressing. And infuriating. But necessary. Read this book. But maybe afterwards read something fun. Any suggestions?

So we know how this ends from this end. But reading this trilogy I'm reminded of how much the people fighting didn't know but could only hope. And how much they risked. Incredibly powerful.

In between being depressed/inspired/pensive about civil rights I'm reading about evil mermaids. Because sometimes you really need heroic sharks and merman bros in your life.

MLK is a modern saint but the stories we tell tend to be simple narratives--Jim Crow needed to end, some courageous people marched and we figured it all out. The end. Reading the Taylor Branch books is a fantastic reminder of how much of the state marshaled resources opposed to civil rights (the FBI definitely terrifies), how brave activists really had to be, and how many people just watched and waited to see what would happen. Read it.

Well they was heart breaking but oh so necessary. Every American should read this book.

Two Frenchman are lost in a forest that goes on forever. Both see the woods as a source of wealth that goes on forever. One capitalizes on that, traveling throughout the 17th century world to build his fortune. The other remains in New France and learns some respect for native ways. Their descendants tell an American story. This is book on environmental impacts is well worth reading (maybe ignore some of the Indian dialect).

For when you can't read anymore about politics or history or sociology--a gentle vampire novel! With a unique magic system and gentle nods to Russian culture and the city of Toronto.

Another great read and a love letter to New York City and its diversity. Marcus Samuelsson's journey is an immigrant story and also a story about being a little bit of a jerk in service of ambition and growing up enough to change that in your life. Very enjoyable. And now I want to eat at Red Rooster.