Reading and Such Like

[lydamorehouse]

I just took a bunch of books back the the library, unread. I kind of hate that? But, at the same time, I will sometimes just order whatever is on the awards lists and see what strikes my fancy. Some were obviously not what I was in the mood for at the moment.

Of the things still in my pile, I just don't know what I want. I am having a bit of reading ennui. Maybe I should poll everyone and see what you all think I should read next of the various things that I have around.

Poll #25902 What Should Lyda Read Next?

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

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What Should Lyda Read Next?

View Answers

THE DOWN DAYS by Ilze Hugo (SF)
0 (0.0%)

THE ORDER OF THE PURE MOON REFLECTED ON WATER by Zen Cho (fantasy)
6 (40.0%)

UNCONQUERABLE SUN by Kate Elliott (space opera)
6 (40.0%)

THE LEFT-HANDED BOOKSELLERS by Garth Nix (YA, urban fantasy)
4 (26.7%)

EVERYONE ON THE MOON IS ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL by Julian K Jarboe (short story collection)
1 (6.7%)

ELATSO by Darcie Little Badger (YA, urban fantasy)
6 (40.0%)

I have no idea if this will work, but I'd love some help deciding.

Otherwise, I did try to take my computer into Best Buy today, but they are mostly doing by-appointment-only still and so the guy that started to help me got interrupted by the people, who, you know, went through the right channels. So, I quietly packed my things up, bought a web cam, just to see if I couldn't get that to work in the mean time, and made plans to make an appointment to return via proper protocols.

Then, I picked up my CSA, which is in full swing now, because I got:

• Beets - 1 bunch
• Collard Greens - 1 bunch
• Red Radish - 1 bunch
• Kohlrabi - 1 count
• Pickling Cucumber - 1 lb
• Zucchini - 1 lb
• Kale - 1 bunch
• Lettuce - 1 bunch
• Scallions - 1 bunch
• Rhubarb - 1 bunch
• Basil - 1 bunch
• Parsley - 1 bunch
• Dill - 1 bunch

And I still have a bit of stuff left from last week??? Anyway, this is one of my joys of CSAs. I like trying to figure out how to use up all of this stuff in a week!

So... what are you all reading and/or consuming? Anything worth reporting?

Comments

[pameladean]

Did you want us to vote for more than one book, or should I ignore the temptation?

P.

[lydamorehouse]

You can vote for as many as you like. I don't mind if the list is only just narrowed. Any HELP will HELP.

[kore]

I was kinda punishing myself by reading Nightmare Scenario, the book that COMBINES the horrible Trump years + pandemic crisis. It wasn't that great. I read Together We Will Go by J. Michael Straczynski which was absolutely terrible, and Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews, which was fun and a good mental palate cleanser after those books, but I don't know if I want to read any more (like the heroine even if she's a bit cardboard, love the worldbuilding, hate the het love interest).

Order of the Pure Moon is the only one I've read of those, but I'd rec it anyway! I have seen exactly zero percent of any wuxia and it's apparently kind of fanfic of that, but it totally stood on its own merits and was well-written, delightful, charming, and very funny. Zen Cho's stuff in general is really good.

[lydamorehouse]

I wondered if I needed to know much wuxia to follow along, but I'm glad I don't have to! I have RESISTED the fandom SO FAR.

[kore]

I can't even keep up with the fandoms I am in! I can't handle more!

The only thing wrong with that book was it was too short, and there were no sequels. It was a real delight.

[sabotabby]

I voted for the one I've read.

[lydamorehouse]

Awesome! Thank you!

[yhlee]

I haven't yet read Order of the Pure Moon, but I adored the one Zen Cho novel I read; and I loved Unconquerable Sun enough to blurb it.

[lydamorehouse]

Well, that's a pretty decent recommendation. Thank you!

[bibliofile]

I voted for the three that I've read and can recommend. They're all very different, though, so that is a non-zero amount of hlep (yay?). They're all full of good story and plenty of diverse characters.

The Zen Cho is very short and also good. I know nothing of wuxia and liked the book anyway.

Elatsoe is great YA fantasy with ghosts and things that are Not Quite Right (and In Fact Wrong), with our heroine and friends on the job.

Unconquerable Sun is great space opera and long but engaging and fun.

(If I had to pick one of those several books, I'd have trouble too.)

[bibliofile]

Do you ever try rolling a die to decide these things?

[lydamorehouse]

I may end up having to do that anyway!

Privacy

[lsanderson]

There's a privacy setting in Windows that turns off cams. I banged my head on my desk for a week or two at the start of the pandemic when you could not buy cams, dug two out, and then gave them away because I could not get them to work -- then I found the setting after getting a new cam and it would not work.

Re: Privacy

[lydamorehouse]

Ah! I should check that! Thank you.

[offcntr]

The Left-Handed Booksellers got my vote, because it's the only one I've read.

When I struggle with reading, I go reread something. I think it's the absence of suspense. I know how the book ends, even if I don't remember how they get there.