My final #bookspin list of the year! It'll be a scramble to finish some of the challenges I've set for the year (and to be honest, challenges from previous years, too!) -- but I'm looking forward to a hopefully productive month of reading.

@thearomaofbooks

TWO whole bingos this month (and I was SOOO close to a third) for #bookspinbingo! If only I had been able to read on the long train ride to NYC -- I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open -- I might have finished even more. No complaints though!

@thearomaofbooks

I was a little worried about the Octavia Butler prompt for the #52bookclub challenge. I'd previously read Parable of the Sower, and was not a fan. But I'm so glad I chose this book! While it can obviously be difficult to read (it does address horrors of slavery, after all), it was incredibly well-written and engaging -- I didn't want to put it down. Definitely worth picking up!

When I picked this up at the library, I couldn't remember why it put it on hold (podcast rec, possibly?). The librarian mentioned that she had tried it and put it down after 20 pages, so I was worried. I didn't need to be.

If you like a darkly humorous fairy tale retelling set in modern times (and don't have too many triggers), this one might be for you too.

Plus it was my #bookspin pick this month!

@TheAromaofBooks

My #bookspin list for November!

I can't believe there are only two months left in the year, and I have so many reading goals left to finish. I know I won't get to them all, but hopefully I finish the year off strong!

@TheAromaofBooks

I've become very good at ALMOST getting a #bookspinbingo -- but not quite! Still, it was a pretty productive reading month with 17 books finished (two that aren't shown here).

@TheAromaofBooks

I had to do some serious winnowing down of my TBR for October (even though there's no way I'll get through them all!), but here's the list I came up. We'll see how much I stick to these -- or go off script!

#bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Yay for getting a #BookSpinBingo in September! It was a fairly productive reading month, but still have a lot I want to finish before the end of the year.

@TheAromaofBooks

It's been a LONG time since I've posted one of my #the52bookclub23 prompts, but I'm trying to do better!

This book was well-written and well-researched; I'd definitely recommend this to history buffs or anyone interested in learning about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, my interest was marginal -- since my grandfather was born there, I feel like I should know more about “where I came from“ -- so it started to drag near the end.

So I enjoyed this for the most part -- I didn't predict the twist, but it was definitely in the set up (if you're paying close attention). However, after having my home broken into last weekend, there was one scene in particular that made me uncomfortable. Perhaps I need to take a break from thrillers!

I heard about this on one of my favorite podcasts, and I was so excited to read it. A story about a temp whose jobs include Chairman of the Board, a murderer's assistant, and a pirate! Sounds fun!

I thought it was funny at times, and definitely a little quirky -- perhaps a little too quirky (and a little too fantastical) for me? It definitely had Piranesi vibes -- which I didn't like. If you DID, then maybe you'll enjoy this one too!

I thought this was a fun and enjoyable listen. I probably would have liked it even more if I was actually a parent!

New month, new #bookspin list! Lots of the same names, a few new ones to tackle, so we'll see what I manage in September.

On an unrelated note, using Litsy has become so much more challenging now that it's unavailable in the Google Play Store. 🙁 Still, I'm hoping to do better posting about my books throughout the month, and not just at the end!

@TheAromaofBooks

My completed #bookspinbingo board for August. No bingos, but still an okay reading month, so no complaints! Bring on September!

@TheAromaofBooks

No bingos in July, but I can't complain too much considering how much time I was spending packing and moving (now I'm just UN-packing!). Half of my books (all of the Free spots, in fact) were on audio, which is not my preferred way to read. But sometimes that's what you have to do!

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

I meant to post my August #bookspin list last night, but I fell asleep before I could. Moving is exhausting! 🤣

I'm interested to see what I manage to finish this month...I'm hoping to have more time for reading, but who knows??

@TheAromaofBooks

I had issues posting yesterday, so I'm a little late, but here's my July #bookspin list! Looking forward to seeing what I can do in the middle of a move!!

@TheAromaofBooks

I was glad this came up as my #doublespin this month, because I was super excited to listen! I know Samantha Irby is not everyone's cup of tea (she is the queen of TMI), but I always find her hilarious (and often relatable).

@TheAromaofBooks

This month's #bookspin list! I'll be spending the next couple of months purging and packing for an upcoming move, but hopefully I'll still have some time to do some reading (and maybe get a few books off my shelves??).

@TheAromaofBooks

I'm excited to say that I got a #bookspinbingo this month (yay for generously placed Free spots!)...AND I even finished my #doublespin. Most books were pretty short, but a win is a win! 😁

In other news, I'm kind of irritated that I've been unable to log on to Litsy from the web (my preferred way to post), so I skipped some of my intended posts. Maybe I'll catch up later?

@TheAromaofBooks

Here's my May #bookspin list!

Confession: I haven't finished a #bookspin or #doublespin since February, so I'm hoping to end the drought this month! Hope I can maintain my sanity enough to do so!

@TheAromaofBooks

Definitely no #BookspinBingo this month! I actually finished 13 books, but too many were not on my TBR. Still, my reading felt a little better, maybe because I let myself go with my mood.

@TheAromaofBooks

My April #bookspin list!

The past couple months have been super slumpy for me -- several of these books I've already started, but haven't finished for one reason or another -- so I'm hoping I can knock some of these off the list this month. Fingers crossed for some outstanding reads!

@thearomaofbooks

There are probably at least 30 books I want to read this month, so I had a hard time narrowing it down to 20. Hopefully I can knock a few off this list! #bookspin

@TheAromaofBooks

February was not a great reading month for me...not because of the number (I'm okay with 10), but I just wasn't that excited to read. But I did manage a #bookspinbingo and finished my #bookspin pick, so yay!

@TheAromaofBooks

I put this list together before the #bookspin numbers came out (I swear!), but didn't have a chance to post. As usual, my goal for February is all black authors (though I'll make a single exception). Looking forward for some good reads!!

@TheAromaofBooks

I'm late posting, but I did manage TWO #bookspinbingos in January AND read both my #bookspin and #doublespin picks. I have a feeling this month may be a bit slower (I may have burned myself out!), but we'll see.

@TheAromaofBooks

A fun collection of cartoons celebrating books and authors -- definitely worth flipping through!

#the52bookclub23 #booksonthecover @Cinfhen @Deblovestoread @ashleyhoss820 @barbarabb @jenniferw88 @squirrelbrain @karenuk @leerharry @carolynm @azulaco @bookbelle84 @librarybelle @maclean4 @read4life @ravenlee @larareads @britt_brooke @smarkies @bluebird @Lizpixie @DebbieGrillo

I may have mentioned before that I've been listening to a lot of celebrity memoirs lately -- well, here's another one!

I don't know a lot of Jimmy O. Yang's work (I've never seen Silicon Valley), but I did watch his stand-up special -- and honestly, that's probably why I didn't enjoy this book more. While it was funny, several of his stories/anecdotes appeared in his special as well. I didn't dislike the book -- it just felt repetitive.

This book was really good -- and really uncomfortable. Definitely targeted towards women (though men can read it too!), it attempts to get across the point that we are all completely normal JUST AS WE ARE. I'm not gonna lie, I cried at several points in this book, because it hit on some of my personal insecurities and traumas. To me, it was about more than just sex, but also self-acceptance. Totally worth a read.

Overall, this was an entertaining read for me. I enjoyed reading the multiple perspectives, and the pace was enough to keep me turning the pages -- although some of it I found fairly predictable. I think it would be a great book for discussion, not tackling questions about whether you would want to know how long you have left to live, but also addressing the themes of discrimination woven throughout the book.

I first read this WAY back in high school (more than half a lifetime ago!), and I didn't remember much other than the fact that I liked it. I wonder now if that was in comparison to most of my required reads (I don't like a lot of classics), or if I *actually* enjoyed it. On the re-read, I was most bothered by Edna's immaturity -- which probably wouldn't have stood out as much back then. Still, I enjoyed it more than most classics!

I really liked Rachel Dratch on SNL, so I thought this would be worth a listen (I've been oddly addicted to celebrity memoirs over the past few weeks). I'd say this was good, but not great -- entertaining enough, but not super memorable. I still enjoyed it though.

I generally don't care much for the royal family, but still checked this out from the library the day it came out! It was interesting to hear Harry tell his story (keeping in mind that there's more than one side to every story!), and it's obvious how much his mother's death traumatized him.

I generally don't read fiction on audio, because I have a harder time following along, but listened to this one for a library challenge. Although I would have preferred a physical read, Elizabeth Acevedo narrates her own work wonderfully and I really enjoyed the story!

Here was another really good book to start off the new year. It gave me happy vibes similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea -- although there was more magic than I would have liked. Yes, I know, I'm a little odd, but I can't help it -- I'm just not into magic (it's one reason I generally avoid fantasy). It was still pretty delightful though, so if you DO like magic, it's definitely worth a read (if you haven't already!).

This was the second book I finished this year, and the first that I locked into a #52bookclub prompt (I often wait to shift things around). I'm a pretty stingy rater, so just know that four stars means a pretty great read! I listened to this on audio -- I find Michelle Obama's voice comforting, and considering this book read like a pep talk (not just a memoir), I think that's appropriate!

Time to post my January #bookspin TBR list! I can't wait to see how my reading life starts out in 2023!

@TheAromaofBooks

My three selections for January's #Roll100:

- Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
- Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Hopefully I can knock all of these off my TBR list!

@PuddleJumper

For my final #bookspinbingo of 2022, I actually got a bingo! I also finished my #bookspin pick and caught up on a couple others (Last Summer on State Street for my October bookspin and Salvage the Bones for my November doublespin), so all in all, not a bad month!

While I didn't quite complete all of my yearly challenges, I finished 170 books for the year (WAY more than expected). I'm looking forward to a great 2023!

@TheAromaofBooks

Definitely a "don't judge a book by its cover" pick for me! Based on the title and cover alone, I never would have picked this up...but I'm so glad I did. It was a delightful read, and a needed lift from my recent run of disappointing books.

I was interested in the premise: a young woman raised in a conservative West Texas town (that values faith, football, and family above all else) grapples with how to come out without losing the community she loves. I thought the book was good (though infuriating at times), but found myself let down by the ending.

Works for the #booked2022 #comingoutstory prompt, AND my #rolldecember list!
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @alisiakae @PuddleJumper

Y'all. I have been reading this book for over a year, and FINALLY, I've finished! To put it mildly, we have been on quite the journey together! I have mixed feelings about the book. It's such a huge, sweeping story that I often had trouble keeping the characters straight (obviously, my lack of consistent reading didn't help that). There were parts of the book that kept my interest, but others were a total bore. I don't regret it though!

I don't often read middle grade books, but I thought this one was fantastic. As a former librarian, book banning/censorship is an issue close to my heart, and this book tackled the issue beautifully. Definitely recommend this one!!

This book was so, so, so good! I'm not a huge audiobook lover, but listening was a great way to take in Kiese's story. Hearing it told in his own voice (literally and figuratively) was fantastic. He tackles some pretty tough issues in his life ("heavy" topics, you could say), but the telling was almost poetic. Glad I finally read this!

Even better, it knocks off a book on my #rolldecember list (so glad I found you, @PuddleJumper !).

OK, here's my final #bookspin TBR of the year! I've already started seven (!) of these, so hopefully I can finish at least a few. 😂

@TheAromaofBooks

Well, November was my worst reading month in a while. Of course, I have so many partially read books going, I'm bound to finish a few (or several!) in December!

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

My November #bookspin list! Now the question is: how many of these will I actually read, and how many will I choose from elsewhere???

@TheAromaofBooks

I'm not sure how I managed to NOT get a bingo this month, even with such a wonderfully drawn board (those free spaces should have set me up perfectly!!). Alas, I managed it. 😁

I've also fallen woefully behind on my #bookspin and #doublespin picks, so I'll try to catch up this month. This year my reading vibe has definitely been “I do what I want!“ or “What's due at the library next??“ 😄

@TheAromaofBooks

A new month, a new #bookspin list! As usual, I'm sure I'll end up reading books that aren't on the list, but there are some good ones on here I'm really looking forward to!

@thearomaofbooks