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random_michelle

random_michelle

Joined February 2024

“If I don‘t diminish things I have to face them at their normal size, and that‘s horrible.” --Alexis Hall
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The High Middle Ages by Teaching Company, Philip Daileader
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random_michelle
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Mehso-so

I'm willing to give most stories with an ace character a chance, so despite a bunch of other tropes I don't much like, I picked this up.

My favorite character was the grandmother, and I really want to read the mystery series Cedric wrote.

But I really don't much care of stories with super rich characters and I really disliked Cedric's brother and the way he treated Vince. so the whole thing was a bit of a wash for me.

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random_michelle
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Pickpick

Comfort read. Hot drinks, baked goods, and people becoming more than they once were.

* Viv sighed. “I‘ve lived a long time knowing I‘m a threat walking. I‘d rather that wasn‘t the shape of it for you.” *

13 likes1 stack add
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random_michelle
Do Me a Favor | Cathy Yardley
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Pickpick

Romance with middle-aged protagonists!

I enjoy these books, I just wish the boinking bits were a little easier to skip. (That is a *ME* thing, not an issue with the book. But given the option, I'll always prefer books without boinking.)

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random_michelle
Measure of Menace | Jennifer Ashley
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Pickpick

Last winter we got two Kat Holloway novellas, so I'd my fingers crossed for one this winter, and snatched up this when it came out.

This series hits the sweet spot of historical with food and a savvy and smart heroine, and the novellas are a lovely nibble to tide me over until the next book.

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random_michelle
Confounding Oaths | Alexis Hall
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Pickpick

I love the snark in this series so very much.

“And whereas in the enlightened twenty-first century the marriage of a British aristocrat to a Person of Colour is a wholly unremarkable thing that results in no hostility whatsoever, in the bad old days of the 1800s it caused quite a scandal.“

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random_michelle
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Mehso-so

There is so much I like and enjoy about this series: the characters, the mystery, the books.

But Nora does so many really stupid things, I just want to scream at her.

So: glad I borrowed it from the library.

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random_michelle
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Pickpick

For comfort, I recently reread the entire Murderbot series.

I finished the last book and wanted to immediately start the first one over.

“I closed the story by reflex, like that would make it not exist. After three seconds of shock, I made myself open it again.“

“Disinformation, which is the same as lying but for some reason has a different name, is the top tactic in corporate negotiation/warfare.“

julesG There's another novella 2w
random_michelle @julesG Yes! Read it! And also two short stories! Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory and Compulsory. 2w
See All 18 Comments
julesG If so, then you'll just have to do what I do, start over. 😁 2w
random_michelle @julesG Yeah, but I try to only tear through an entire series no more than twice a year. :)

On the other hand, I don't think I have listened to the short stories (or even if there are audio versions of them).

I also saw there is supposed to be a Murderbot TV series. Not sure how I feel about that. I mean, a LOT happens in Murderbot's head.
1w
julesG I'm not sure about the TV series either. They cast a "viking" for the role of Murderbot and I would have preferred a more female looking person. Murderbot is caring, and one of its aliases is female, so a male actor came as a surprise. 1w
julesG I can recommend both, the audiobook read by RC Bray and the full cast GraphicAudio. The GraphicAudio versions play on loop in my car. Murderbot is narrated by a male actor. Not my preference, see above, but since GraphicAudio produced the audioplay with Wells' okay, I guess she was fine with the cast. 1w
random_michelle @julesG I've thought about this a bit.

Murderbot is NB and has a dislike of all gendered body parts.

1. But Murderbot was made to be a secunit, so the company would almost certainly have based sec units on a male form, to take advantage of the fact that most men are stronger than most women. So the secunit body would likely be a muscular male with short hair.
1w
random_michelle @julesG

2. Pronouns are presented in the feed, so people don't have to change their physical appearance to be addressed in their preferred pronouns. So it shouldn't matter how someone presents--their gender is what they tell you, not their presentation.

So I think it's likely Murderbot would present masculine to those around them (and to us) but in the universe, how they present isn't important--how they self-identify is.
1w
random_michelle @julesG I was initially startled by Kevin R. Free's narration of the Murderbot series, because, to be honest, I identified so very strongly with Murderbot a male voice was weird.

But Murderbot wouldn't bother to change their voice to sound less masculine, they don't want to be identified as male OR female--I think their selection of “it“ as preferred pronoun is important. Murderbot isn't human (doesn't want to be human) so human genders don't fit
1w
julesG I hear you!!! I agree with all of your points. It's just, for the TV series I wanted to see a character that's more Charlize Theron (somewhere between Mad Max Fury Road and Old Guard) than Alexander Skarsgard (who'll forever be Eric the viking vampire from True Blood for me). 1w
julesG Right, it was Kevin R Free, not RC Bray. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 1w
random_michelle @julesG I get that! I just think a male actor portraying someone who refuses a gender classification feels more effective (?) in making the point of agender than a female actor. I feel like a sexist world finds someone born female not wanting to be identified as female as “sensible“ or perhaps “logical“ while not wanting to be seen as male (with all the power, real and implied that come along with being male) is more “shocking“. 1w
random_michelle @julesG I never watched True Blood. :) I think it came out after I had already gotten frustrated with the books.

Though I def. preferred Eric. Solely because of his gift to her of getting her driveway regraded. *That* was the gift someone struggling to make ends meet really needs. ;)
1w
julesG I wish I had never read the last book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. That ruined it all. 1w
julesG Yeah, not wanting to be seen as male might be shocking, especially to an audience that never read the books. The readers know MB doesn't want to be either sex and doesn't even have reproductive organs, cause it's not a sexbot. 1w
random_michelle @julesG I think not wanting to be male might be shocking to many. Period.

I've read multiple historicals recently w/ trans characters, but they're trans males, doing something women can't do (like becoming a doctor) which leaves the reader open to believe they are living as men so they can Do The Thing.

I can't think of trans female secondary characters portrayed in such a way, which is why I think having a manly man be Muderbot is good.
1w
random_michelle @julesG Yeah, I don't regret dropping out of that series early. :) 1w
6 likes18 comments
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random_michelle
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Pickpick

Audiobook narrated by Patricia Santomasso

Because I haven't been able to bear to listen to the news since last spring, I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks (ie books I've already read) this was fun, and although I wondered a bit at some of the accents, the narration was enjoyable, and I was reminded just how good these stories are.

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random_michelle
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Mehso-so

The House in the Cerulean Sea was a balm when it came out, a hug in a dark time, so I had pretty high expectations of Somewhere Beyond the Sea.
Sadly, it didn't meet those expectations.
Instead of Linus on a journey of growth & discovery, the bad guys here are flat & 1-dimensional, with no possibility of redemption.
It felt like wish fulfillment: the bad guys--standing in for 2024 bad guys--existing only to be smashed down.
I missed the growth.

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random_michelle
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Pickpick

I meant to grab this when it came out, but blanked. When I saw it recently I snatched it up & quickly read it as a antidote to my reading slump.
It was marvelous.
Gus was a delight; I liked seeing Nightingale young & carefree (even tho from more distance than usual), & queer 1920s NY was fantastic--I squeed with every every jazz musician name drop.
Even better, he's finally made it clear Nightingale is ace, which made me love him more.

random_michelle I've read multiple books set during the 20s & 30s, & love the details: esp the post Great War world, with the jazz age, prohibition, the great depression and our foreknowledge of WWII
Other stories:
Katharine Schellman's Nightingale Mysteries
Allie Therin's Magic in Manhattan and Roaring Twenties Magic series
Nekesa Afia's Harlem Renaissance series
The Boy in the Red Dress
even Ella Stainton's Kilty Pleasures (Scotland)
3w
4 likes1 comment
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random_michelle
Waiting for the Flood | Alexis J. Hall
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The first version has been a favorite reread for me. I adore everything about Edwin. But Marius, and Chasing the Light were a bit of a struggle for me. Marius lashes out at people, which is a trait I don't like to be around, and casual sex never works for me (it's a me thing) but eventually I finished it, and was glad I did. It was good to learn about Marius, but I don't think I want to spend more time with him.

I

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random_michelle
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Ridiculous!
Small Vices by Robert B. Parker: 4 read/4 listen (since 2004)
Grilled Cheese & Goblins by Nicole Kimberling: 5
Joy by C.S. Poe: 7

Series
Banquet of Lies (Recency London) by Michelle Diener: 7
Murderbot by Martha Wells: 2 read/3 listen
An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities) KJ Charles: 5

Novella
Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper: 6
And Everything Nice by Ada Maria Soto: 6
Loud & Clear by Aidan Wayne: 6

random_michelle Of course, I reread The Hobbit every year from about age 9 through college & the same for The Complete Sherlock Holmes.

& the whole Miss Marple series every couple years, the Thieves World series every other year for awhile
8mo
Deblovestoread I just reread The Hobbit and LOTR with my daughter..🤦‍♀️...how soon we forget! 8mo
dabbe WOW! That's a whole-lotta new for the TBR! Thanks for sharing. 💚💙💚 8mo
random_michelle @dabbe Everything there is a comfort read, but different things are comforting for different reasons. :)

And I'd probably reread one of those right now except I'm rereading Charlie Adhara's Wolf at the Door, so there's another series reread. :)
8mo
7 likes4 comments
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random_michelle
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Third book in the series. Lady Helena is getting ready to come out of mourning, much happens to distract her: her nephew getting into trouble, her older sister being demanding, the death of her friend's father, the visit of a cousin, and much more.
It sounds like a lot, but most characters are familiar from previous books, as are some of the threads.

Now I must wait years for the next book.

bthegood Welcome to Litsy - a good tag to follow is @LitsyEvents - then you will get posts on readathons, read-alongs and books clubs and other fun events on Litsy. Hope you are enjoying it so far 🙂 8mo
random_michelle @bthegood
I am! Although I am terrible at readathons. I want to read the book I want to read right now. Having to read something makes me want to read anything BUT that.

Stupid brain. ;)
8mo
8 likes3 comments
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random_michelle
Stiletto: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

audio book, narrated by Moira Quirk

Most of my audio listens are to books I've already read. This is a series that is perfect for an audio reread--action and adventure to keep me moving and amusement to keep me laughing.

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random_michelle
Two Feet Under | Charlie Cochrane
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Mehso-so

Another reread. This is just a nice comforting cozy series. I like both main characters, the mysteries aren't bad, and I like the perspective Adam--a teacher--brings to the series.

CarolynM I enjoy this series. I‘ve just finished no6🙂 8mo
random_michelle @CarolynM I wish there was another book in the series, but I haven't seen anything (although she's put out a couple Cambridge Fellows books since I think) 8mo
8 likes2 comments
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random_michelle
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You‘ve been gallivanting around, mixing yourself up with suicides and pox-ridden servants and adulterers and that French physician who turns out to be a duke. Your remarks about my dear boy show that this irregular life of yours is coarsening your fibers.

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random_michelle
Stiletto: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Two ladies came in, dressed very smart. They explained that the baby was not dead, that he was in the care of the government, and that there would be some more duties for me here at the hospital. If I took on those duties and kept it all secret, then I would receive a good deal of money and the gratitude of the nation. If I didn‘t—well, they never actually said what would happen. But I understood it wouldn‘t be nearly as nice.

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random_michelle
Murder in G Major | Alexia Gordon
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“I want to leave on a high, not sneak away in shame like the Colts out of Baltimore.“

Several months ago I remembered most of this quote, but could not for the life of me remember the book. I was convinced it was an early Spenser.

I am weirdly thrilled I finally figured out what the book was.

(I enjoyed this series and wish there were more books.)

random_michelle My father was from Baltimore, so the Colts were anathema to us. 8mo
kspenmoll I enjoyed this series as well. I too wish there were more. 8mo
7 likes1 stack add2 comments
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random_michelle
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To make up for bizarre cover I just shared, here is the cover of a new book I absolutely love.

The covers in this series are all distinct, yet also clearly part of a series: black silhouette in front a washed out silhouette of a building, with a single color wash for everything & a floral border.

& I believe these are self-published, so she has made an effort.

I think it's lovely & eye-catching.

Artist: Rachel Lawston

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random_michelle
Untitled | Untitled
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Often when I glance at a cover thumbnail, I see something that isn't there. Sometimes I am not sure what I am supposed to be seeing.

I think the gentleman on this cover has knees that begin immediately below his chest.

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random_michelle
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Pickpick

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random_michelle
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“That's enough.“

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random_michelle
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Pickpick

This was the 2nd Talia Hibbert book I read &, and I read it prior to my own neurodiversity diagnoses.
So. Much. Highlighted. Text.
I mean
“Now she didn‘t know if she should laugh or gasp. She compromised by choking on her own spit.“
“Being around people who were supposedly ‘normal‘ made her feel abnormal.“
“She wasn‘t graceful. She was, in fact, the opposite of graceful.“

SW-T This was my first Hibbert, but not my last. Really enjoyed it. Went back and read the rest of the series. (edited) 9mo
4 likes1 comment
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random_michelle
Paladin's Hope | T Kingfisher
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random_michelle
Paladin's Hope | T Kingfisher
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Mehso-so

I was conflicted the first time I read this. I wanted to love it, but didn't.

The 1st issue is we didn't learn anything about the Wonder Engines, so the whole underlying plot was unfulfilling. The 2nd problem is I didn't believe all Galen & Piper's actions. Galen not telling Piper about his sleep issues? No. And the resolution to their relationship problems? I felt offended on Piper's behalf.

Which is too bad, because LIKE Piper & Galen

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random_michelle
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Check, Please! series by Ngozi Ukazu: Pie, Hockey, & allowing yourself to be who you are

The Raven Boys series by Maggie Stifevater
“Ronan Lynch—dreamer of dreams, fighter of men, skipper of classes.“
“This is what you get, Maura, for using your DNA to make a baby,”
“Adam was his son‘s friend, & so he had inherent worth.“

Frontier Magic series by Patricia C. Wrede: Eff learns her own magic & her own way & she is not cursed

dabbe More for the TBR! Thanks for sharing. 💚💙💚 9mo
5 likes1 comment
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random_michelle
Half-Resurrection Blues | Daniel Jos Older
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I've been looking for quotations recently, & remembered one of my favorite passages that is really an ultra short story.

The page previous Carlos walked into a Mexican Bakery.

“At the only other table in the place, an ancient mustachioed man in a Yankees cap plays Uno against an eight-year-old girl with pigtails.“

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random_michelle
Paladin's Strength | T Kingfisher
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Pickpick

I'm trying not to reread these one right after the other.

Unfortunately, I've already almost finished “Paladin's Hope“

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random_michelle
Paladin's Strength | T Kingfisher
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“No real tradition of paladins up here. They have a lot of gods of the sea, but if one of them calls a paladin, you get a god-touched privateer.“

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random_michelle
Winter's Gifts | Ben Aaronovitch
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“So it‘s not authentic?”

“That‘s one of those loaded words,” said Boyd. “It implies there is an authentic and inauthentic Ojibwe culture that is historically fixed, rather than a living culture that is constantly evolving, just like every other culture.”

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random_michelle
Speculations in Sin | Jennifer Ashley
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Pickpick

I think I've been reading this series since it came out.

It's a nice solid historical series with a main character who is a cook who actually has the worries & concerns of a Victorian cook (lack of free time, fear of being fired).

The slow burn romance is slowly solidifying, and I really loved how this book reconfirmed Kat's character so well, with her willingness to ask for help when it is for other people.

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random_michelle
Winter's Gifts | Ben Aaronovitch
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Pickpick

Narrated by Penelope Rawlins. I actually read this in early February, but forgot to add it to my logs.

This is a Kimberly Reynolds, not a Peter Grant story, so I'm always sad not to hear Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's voice.

Penelope Rawlins does a decent job of Kimberly's accent, but less of a good job on male--especially midwestern--voices. I had a hard time telling the male characters apart.

I also laughed at the describtions of midwest snow.

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random_michelle
Jury of One | Charlie Cochrane
Mehso-so

Again, it's a perfectly adequate series--nothing really stands out--but it works very well for me as an end-of-the day wind down book.

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random_michelle
Speculations in Sin | Jennifer Ashley
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“What do they want in return?” I asked. No one in these gangs did things out of the kindness of their hearts.

“Money. Me.” Joanna‘s mouth twisted, then a fierce light entered her eyes. “My daughters. They considerately said they‘d wait until they were older.”

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random_michelle
Stiletto: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley

“If I took on those duties and kept it all secret, then I would receive a good deal of money and the gratitude of the nation. If I didn‘t—well, they never actually said what would happen. But I understood it wouldn‘t be nearly as nice.“

“So you agreed,” said Felicity, fascinated. “And you… never talked to the parents about it?”

“No, that would have led to the ingratitude of the nation,” said the nurse flatly.

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random_michelle
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Three great non-fiction books?

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe (of xkcd)

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage

“coffeehouses were hotbeds of gossip, rumor, political debate, & satirical discussion. They were also popular venues for chess & backgammon, which were regarded as morally dubious.“

No Man's Land by Wendy Moore

#tlt #ThreeListThursday

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random_michelle
Mirror Lake | Juneau Black
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Pickpick

I am now forcing myself to step back from this series, both so I don't get burned out and so I have books to look forward to when life is too much and I need a cozy mystery to take my out of my own brain.
But really, this series is a delight.

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random_michelle
Cold Clay | Juneau Black
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Pickpick

This is another pretty much perfect cozy read.
And as much as talking animals living in a small town are fantasy, that bit remains incidental to the mystery.
And there are so many sly bits that made me giggle.

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random_michelle
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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(T)he most effective psychics are the ones who never realize they‘re psychic and instead manage to live excellent lives by consistently making the right decisions. Their powers effectively guide them through the shoals of life without their knowing.

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random_michelle
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

Audio narrated by Susan Duerden. Reread/listen.

I love this book so much. And the pace / action is perfect to keep me doing chores / exercising.

I can't read the first line without hearing Susan Duerden saying, “Dear you“ and it's just perfect.

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random_michelle
Honey Mead Murder | Dahlia Donovan
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Mehso-so

I adored the Grasmere Cottage series, but haven't her more recent mysteries to be as good. The romance felt as if it were added because it was required, and (a problem for many first books in a cozy series) the characters involvement in the mystery seemed forced / unrealistic.
As much as I appreciate the rep she puts into her stories, her ASD characters are starting to feel all alike.

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random_michelle
The Best Corpse for the Job | Charlie Cochrane
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Mehso-so

Reread. Queer cozy mystery.

As much as I give this book/series an average rating, it ends up being good for rereading when I need something cozy and reassuring.

Both characters are competent and kind, and neither gets in their own way as far as a developing relationship. Although the characters weren't all vibrant, the story--and mystery--held together, and the whole thing is a nice escape from reality.

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random_michelle
The Early Middle Ages | Philip Daileader
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Pickpick

I listen to non-fiction to put me to sleep (I used to read, this is nicer.) But 1) It takes months to finish a book 2) there are sections I miss, regardless of “rewinding“

I recognized names & places, but had never really put things together. Listening to this gave me context and the ability to tie it all together for the first time.

One note: he has a verbal tick of drawing out “aaaaaand“ which can get annoying. But not a huge deal.

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random_michelle

It was strange to speak of ‘gaps‘ in one‘s memory, because surely one‘s memory was mostly gaps: one forgot almost everything one experienced, unless one made an effort to remember. That was why police officers kept records.

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random_michelle
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Pickpick

This finished my relisten of the Shadow Police series. I love Damian Lynch's narration (he's right up there with Kobna Holdbrook Smith) and the story was perfect to keep me cleaning and exercising.
The series is really dark, and tons of TW, but doesn't revel in the horrible things, (I can't read horror and glorified violence).
I just wish we'd gotten more books in the series,

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random_michelle
Shady Hollow | Juneau Black
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Pickpick

I picked this up and then promptly lost it in my TBR. A recent comment about this being a perfect cozy reminded me I already owned it and I should pick it up.

It was precisely the comfort read I needed.

Although the main characters are talking animals, it isn't a kid's story (although I just order a copy for a friend for reading aloud with her daughter). It reminds me of Looney Tunes--amusing for kids but even funnier for adults.

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random_michelle
Paladin's Grace | T Kingfisher
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Beartongue eventually told them that if they didn‘t stop trying to make her laugh in front of the Motherhood priest, she‘d throw them in the stockade.

“You don‘t have a stockade,” said Stephen.

“You will get to build one so that I can throw you in it!”

“Well, that does seem practical.”

“That‘s the Rat‘s priests for you,” said Istvhan. “Always very practical.”