It‘s completely autumn!
This collection, as always, was hit or miss, but when it hits it hits HARD. I will totally be revisiting some of these shorts. The best completely makes up for the bad or even the not as good. So many incredible iterations of what a robot uprising would look like. 5 out of 5 on GR, despite having some truly mediocre works in it. Worth just for “We are All Misfit Toys...”

depression has hit so the windows and doors stay closed
This, though, a must read for, well, I think everyone can benefit from writing. And this book just encourages you to write. About everything. I will be rereading and recommending for years. 5 out of 5 on GR.

So inspirational. Woolf breaks down why it‘s been so difficult for women writers to thrive and dispels sexists ideas of the time period. Quick. Motivational. A must for writers and Woolf fans. 5 out of 5 on GR

“I wish you all very good lives.”
A nice little pick me up and a gift from the original roomie. But, also, the usual college graduation stuff. Not the worst, and still gave me a good pep talk. But, I dunno, go watch Tim Minchin‘s if you need to be moved to inspiration. 3 out of 5 on GR

“ ‘I should like it of all things,‘ said Henrietta.”
Absolutely masterful. Loved use of old characters. I missed Prunella so much I was worried. I wasn‘t going to have enough of the have enough of the characters from the first book, but Muna so stole my heart, I ended up having just enough of them. 5 out of 5 on GR. A perfect sequel.

It‘s. Perfect.

I love everything about this book. Had to force myself to slow down this second reading, as it only took me a day the first time. Took me two days this time. The voice is one of my absolute favorites, the protagonists are two of my favorite fictional characters. I have ridiculous high hopes for the sequel. 5 out of 5 on GR.

I so love Plath‘s voice that this was a joy for me. Not every story is brilliant. I found something to critic in each. But if you are a fan of Plath it‘s a must read. 4 out of 5 on GR.

“Sitting, finally,
sighing, saying to the dark
bittersweet self: Thank you. Oh, Thank you.

Thank you.

And Goodnight.”
I loved this collection. So many new favorites. Read it twice in a row. Just look up the summary when you buy it. An absolute must for lovers of lyricism. 5 out of 5 on GR.

Brilliant manual for metrical poetry. Learned some of this in high school, but it‘s always good to have a refresher. Plus she includes a few classics in the back for the readers perusal. 5 out of 5 on GR

“I will dig out a hammer and nails from among Eamonn‘s tools and do it.”
Excellent book and an interesting view of the politics and war in Uganda at the time. Definitely made me want to see the film. Found my heart beating fast at moments. The voice of this novel really drew me in. 4 out of 5 on GR. On loan from manager at work.

So much fun! This book brings philosophical quandaries to Science fiction themes and works. The individual essays cover their topics thoroughly and collectively show how Science Fiction often asks us to examine our humanity. 4 out 5 on GR. Particularly loved the essay on why both sides of the political spectrum enjoy Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein.

“Such questions are the stuff of which intelligence is made, for at their foundation lie the most basic questions man can ask: What is our place in the universe? For what can we hope? What must we fear? What can we do to change the world and ourselves for the better? These are the questions addressed in this book.”
-Preface

Brilliant and beautiful. The poetry spirals in to specifics and out to broad concepts, encompasses past and present, and never lags. A poetry collection worth owning. 5 out of 5 on GR.

Picked this up from The Portland Book festival.

Absolutely brilliant. Adams has always been one of my favorite voices. And this book a brilliant collection of non-fiction and fiction shorts and an unfinished novel. Highly recommend for Big Fans. 5 out of 5 on GR

“Seems a bit rough on the old rhino as well,” said Dirk. “And now here‘s another one.”

Very hit or miss. I think I prefer the concept of Flarf more than the practice. There were quite a few gems, but I didn‘t get a lot of references and some just were a bit too vague for me. 3 out of 5 on GR.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flarf_poetry

I read both these books over the weekend. Once so started Career of Evil I couldn‘t stop. They sucked me in and kept me there. Love Robin. Liking Strike more. 5 out of 5 on GR

Finished this last night and immediately started Career of Evil. Robin is my patronus. Loved the misdirects in this one. I thought I remembered this one better than I did, though. Rowling is just so good at pay off, I love them. 5 out of 5 on GR

Almost time to add to #mountTBR
“From ‘The Cape of Good Hope‘ to ‘Cape‘ Freakin‘ ‘Fear‘
even when the soundtrack‘s sad, quails like to kiss.”

Work friend. I love this series so much and can‘t wait to get through to the newest book!

“Then, with a grin and a wave, he was gone.”
#mountTBR

Beautiful snow day off. Little over halfway through and love the construction of this book. I‘m reading front to back, but each chapter is self contained and usually had a free writing exercise. I think this will be a good one to return to during bad bouts of writers‘ block.

“I tell myself, ‘Natalie, this book is done. You will write another.”

Plath will always have a place in my heart for how brilliantly she uses words. She is able to create descriptions I could never have come up with. Her work gives me a place to be comfortable with my sadness. 4 out of 5 on GR.

My litsy went on the fritz! I‘m back now and I‘ve missed you.
I love Plath, I love how she uses language, I love how she turns the ordinary into something strange and beautiful. I love how she expresses her own humanity.

The steady climb up #mountTBR.
“It is so beautiful, to have no attachments!
I am solitary as grass. What is it I miss?
Shall I ever find it, whatever it is?”

I love this book so much. I forgot that Comoran is a little much for me in this first one, but will strengthen the way Robin has changed him as I do my reread.
The prose is this book is so carefully chosen, the description of setting marvelously used to strengthen the mystery. 5 out of 5 on GR.

Continuing #mountTBR
“I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lees; all times I have enjoy‘d
Greatly, have suffer‘d greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone; on shore and when
Thro‘ scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vext the dim sea: I am become a name...”

An excellent collection. The titular novella and a short, “Our Fair City” stood out the most to me as thoroughly solid. A mix of science fiction and urban fantasy. 4 out of 5 on GR. I love diving into Heinlein‘s works.
also featured: the decapitated dinosaur I found outside my work.

Updated TBR stack. I‘m a little more than half way with “The Unpleasant Profession...” but I‘m going to be rereading a few before I move on to my next book. Heinlein at his finest.
#tbr #stack #mountTBR

“When they go to bed at night, before he turns out the light, he handcuffs one of his wrists to one of hers.”

Picked up the new issue of Paris Review. This issue has been hit or miss for me thus far, but one of the short stories and the memoir piece make it worth the purchase :)

Absolutely epic novel. Rich, detailed setting. Strong, flawed, lovable characters. The narrator is so brilliant and has such a distinct voice. Plot of the main character follows the rise and fall of the Aztec Empire. TW: rape, gore, mutilation. 5 out of 5 on GR. Highly, highly recommend. Will be reading more from this author.

Quick, inspirational, simply lovely. Reynolds is a master wordsmith and it was a joy to hear that craft applied in this. 4 out of 5 on GR.

I‘m a sucker for letters, so naturally this was a pick for me. Rilke has some good advice on poetry, love, relationships, loneliness...but mostly encouraged his addressee to embrace the difficulty and pain of solitude. Beautiful and thoughtful, and a very quick read. 5 out of 5 on GR.

Rilke is so sweet with Kappus. And has a truly beautiful mind. So much inspiration.

“But in these weeks of the awakening Spring
Something within me has been freed- something
That in the past dark years unconscious lay,
Which rises now within me and commands
And gives my poor warm life into your hands
Who know not what I was that Yesterday.”

OMW to NYC for HPatCC!

I have read more this year than I have for several years by about 20 books. My@goal next year is to read more short stories and poetry and to read 6 books on writing poetry to try to improve my own work.

“Dreams don‘t have timelines, deadlines, and aren‘t always in straight lines.”
Next on the audio list.

Brilliant story. Surreal and heart wrenching. The characters were distinct and full, the setting sparse yet clear, fit well with this story. The voice! Absolutely stunning. Clever and interesting plot. I‘m loving these poetic novels, or novel poems or what have you. Will be looking for more, especially from this poet.

So incredibly epic. The story of the life of one man growing up in the Aztec Empire, starting in the middle class and through intelligence and luck making his fate. Beautiful prose. Wonderful characters. Surprising twists. Can‘t wait to finish!

Next Audio on deck
“ANOTHER THING ABOUT RULES
They weren‘t meant to be broken.
They were meant for the broken
to follow.”

“Only that is great in literature, which, according to Professor William P. Trent, ‘has produced large, important, influential, permanent, original, and unique results both in ourselves and in a majority of readers and critics, past and present.‘”

If you have any basic understanding of rape culture, you can already guess that this would be a rough one. An amazing of array of personal essays, some exceptionally poetic, from diverse pov on the many varied negative impacts of rape culture. An important read for anyone who feels we can use more empathy, and awareness of the way our culture views consent and sex, which I think is all of us. 5 out of 5 on GR

Next audio
“Anger is the privilege of the truly broken, and yet, I‘ve never met a woman who was broken enough that she allowed herself to be angry.”

So fun. Loved how she tore up the fairytale and manipulated the plot points for purpose. Brilliantly fun characters. Overly descriptive at times and contradictory at points, but so delightful otherwise it‘s easy to forgive. 4 out of 5 on GR

“In otin ihuan in tonáltin nican tzonquíca
Here end the road and the days”
A borrow from the Roomie.

Adam‘s has one of my favorite conversational voices. Especially made entertaining by the fact every time I read “Thor” I see Chris Hemsworth. Adam‘s ability to convey the setting in quick, precise, character influenced sentences has always been perfect. I especially loved the addition of the female protagonist in this novel. 5 out of 5 on GR. I wish there had been more Dirk Gently.