Title: Great Medicine Author: Steve Frazee In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis) Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Westerns Dates read: 17th September 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: He looked at his medicine then, solemnly.
Little Belly thinks that the white men have great medicine. So he steals it. Things go downhill from there…
I like that this short story touches upon issues of power, medicine and mercy. How power can be a number of things. And the symbolic importance people attach to objects in order to understand the division of power.
Having said that, I really didn’t get sucked into this. I’m truly understanding the fact at this point that although I’m going to finish the The Mammoth Book of Westerns collection, I’m really not that into Western short stories. I just find them a bit “eh” to follow and sink into.
This may not be my favourite short story. But it’s also not my least favourite, and not that bad either. It was just a pleasant, albeit forgetful twenty minutes to wile away the hours.
Title: Obsidian Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout Series: Lux #1 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Aliens, Romance, Science fiction, Young adult Dates read: 28th July – 17th September 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Hodder Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: It wasn’t usually the safest way to travel.
The unputdownable first novel in the Lux series. Daemon Black will set pulses racing…
There’s an alien next door. And with his looming height and eerie green eyes, he’s hot… until he opens his mouth. He’s infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, he marks me. Turns out he has a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal his abilities and the only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.
When Katy moves to West Virginia right before her senior year, she’s anticipating a whole lot of boring. The last thing on her mind is getting involved with her sexy, exasperating neighbour – and then finding out he’s guarding a mind-blowing secret…
This was a seriously good novel. It took me a little while to read, but mostly because I kept getting distracted by other, shinier books. It was still wonderful and fun. This was a great teenage / young adult book with great world building and a lead female who I could really relate to. Definitely an enjoyable adventure. And, now that I’ve finished it… I can’t wait to read the next one and journey back into Armentrout’s world of the Lux.
This had a pretty typical level of the teen angst that I’m used to looking for in a young adult novel. But it was a little less painful than some of the other young adult books I’ve read – the angst was nicely balanced by the gumption and drive of Kat. I actually really enjoyed the angst that was a part of this story – it wasn’t over the top and painful, and honestly, if I had to deal with Daemon’s attitude like Kat does… I’d be pretty angsty and irritable myself.
I absolutely love the world building that Armentrout does in this series. I enjoyed the prequel Shadows, and that had a nice little introduction into this series. But it didn’t give me a full background into the world of the Lux. This novel most definitely did that. Although, I’m glad I know a little more about Dawson from Shadows. It’s a great world building that I can’t wait to sink my metaphorical teeth into… I just need to save up some money before I buy the next book is all…
Kat and Daemon definitely don’t have a cutesy, sweet relationship. Which I most definitely love. I get a bit fed up with relationships in books (both young adult and adult) which focus on the cutesy, love at first sight angle. That just doesn’t feel overly realistic to me. Instead, Daemon and Kat are constantly niggling at one another and making things somewhat difficult for each other. It’s a lot more similar to the healthy relationships that I see in my life (even if this one isn’t totally healthy).
I absolutely can’t wait to read Oblivion – I’m fascinated to see what all of the moments in Obsidian looked like through Daemon’s eyes. There are some wonderful and fun hints at the end of Obsidian, but I look forward to getting even more insight.
Title: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life Author: Mark Manson Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Non-fiction, Psychology, Self help Dates read: 27th August – 16th September 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: MacMillan Year: 2016 5th sentence, 74th page: Because we’re brothers; we’re supposed to have a good relationship!
EVERYTHING WE’VE BEEN TOLD ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE OUR LIVES IS WRONG. NOW SUPERSTAR BLOGGER MARK MANSON TELLS US WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET IT RIGHT.
For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. Drawing on academic research and the life experience that comes from breaking the rules, Mark Manson is ready to explode that myth. The key to a good life, according to Manson, is the understanding that ‘sometimes life is messed up and we have to live with it’.
Manson says that instead of trying to turn lemons into lemonade, we should learn to stomach lemons betters, and stop distracting ourselves from life’s inevitable disappointments chasing money, success and possessions. It’s time to re-calibrate our values and what it means to be happy: there are only so many thing we can worry about, he says, so we need to figure out which ones really matter.
From the writer whose blog draws two million readers a month and filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humour, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a **** is a welcome antidote to the ‘let’s-all-feel-good’ mindset that has infected modern society.
Alright, I can see why this is such a big, top selling novel / self help book. It was spot on with most of what was said, and even though I’ve already (funnily enough) started down this road of giving limited “fucks”, I also had a lot more moments that I feel like I should integrate into my daily life. It was such a fun, great and somewhat easy read. Yet, it was also kind of poignant and true. Definitely a book that I would (and have) recommend to others.
Mot of the time when there’s a lot of swearing in a story, I’m a bit “eh” about it all. It doesn’t often add anything to the writing, but just feels a little… titillating. That wasn’t the case for this. Yes, it’s more swearing than any of the books I’ve read. But it helped to make each and every point. For the first time that I can remember in my reading, I actually enjoyed the swearing and found it completely helped along not only Manson’s point, but also had me laughing frequently.
I’ve read this book at a really good point in my life. I’ve been letting go of all of my career goals (I realised that they weren’t quite what I wanted out of life) and started to redecide what I find important in life. And honestly, this novel let me know that what I’m doing and how I’m approaching my life now is actually okay. The stripping back of the bullshit is just what I needed to do, and this novel helped me to see how and understand the ways in which I can do this.
Most of the self help books I’ve read are honestly kind of wanky. There’s honestly no other word for it. But this one I actually found interesting and useful. It was full of great information. And just generally an all round enjoyable read. One that taught me a few things in the process of enjoying it.
Title: Hounded Author: Kevin Hearne Series: The Iron Druid Chronicles #1 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Celtic, Magic, Mythology, Urban fantasy Dates read: 18th August – 15th September 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Harper Voyager Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: <May I have some tea, then?>
Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona running an occult bookshop and shapeshifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbours and customers think this handsome, tattooed Irishman is about twenty-one years old when, actually, it’s twenty-one centuries. Atticus draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.
Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants the sword, and he’s been after Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down and Atticus will need all his powers – plus a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of lawyers, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good, old-fashioned Irish luck – to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.
This story was kind of fun and brilliant. It was filled with action, humour, and my favourite think of all – mythology. In particular, Celtic mythology and the practices of Druids. Don’t get me wrong, the wit and the wonder of the story are thing that I completely love. But it is just all that much better when it’s partnered with some great magic and mayhem. This is one of those books that definitely ticked all of my happy boxes.
Although I’ve always felt a little drawn to Celtic folklore and Druidry, I’ve not really had much exposure to it. So it was nice to not only experience a new folklore / mythos in a book, but to learn so many, many things along the way. I always love when a new fantasy aspect works its way into my reading list. Sadly, I don’t have any of the other books on my shelves… so now I have to wait to throw myself headfirst into this series again, much to my chagrin.
I’ve read a lot of books with great sidekicks. But, I must admit… Oberon has GOT to be my absolute favourite. He is funny, cute and has the exact voice that I imagine my big dog would have (the little one would be WAY more sassy). I love that the sidekick is a dog that can communicate, but rather than giving him a lot of human traits, he’s doglike in all of his desires and drives. I actually bought this book because of the short story The Naughtiest Cherub, which kind of features Oberon in some ways. After all, any series which features a massive dog as a cheerful and happy sidekick and companion… that’s going to make me incredibly happy.
To further enhance my love of this story – Hearne manages to take a lot of the traditional paranormal creatures I tend to come across in many of my fantasy books. But, then he’s added some more Celtic and druidic characters. Including some of the Tuatha De Danan. I love that there is such a heavy Irish tilt to this story, one that I just can’t stop thinking about and quite honestly, just can’t quite get enough of.
Title: Hell from the East Author: Hugh Howey In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Weird westerns, Westerns Dates read: 14th September 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Titan Books Year: 2014 5th sentence, 74th page: Their final resting spot was a scrabble of tents and rickety shacks ringed by a shoddy wall of pine stumps where the best that could be said was they fed you twice a day.
He’s supposed to be fighting for his people. But sometimes hell rises in the East and there is just no escaping it…
This was a nice little, short story. It was nothing intense and completely unforgettable. But it was enjoyable and memorable. It also touched on a good topic – the darkness and horror of colonisation and invasion. The damage that is done with the arrival of colonisers and all sorts of horrible people.
One of the aspects of this story that I loved was that you never quite knew what side the narrator of the story was actually on. Whether they were “good” or “bad”. And really, who the “good” and “bad” were. For me, it helped to highlight the confusion that such a time in history could cause and create.
The conclusion of this story helps to highlight the fact that everything comes full circle. That everything will happen again and history constantly repeats. It might be stated in the fact that “hell comes from the east”. But it most certainly does. Actually, in some ways it reminded me very much of some parts of Terra Nullius.
Title: Moonlight Road Author: Robyn Carr Series: Virgin River #10 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Contemporary, Contemporary romance Dates read: 17th August – 11th September 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Mira Year: 2010 5th sentence, 74th page: Are you going to be a beautician when you grow up?
With her beloved younger siblings settled and happy, Erin Foley has empty-next syndrome. At age thirty-five.
So she’s hitting the pause button on her life and holing up in a secluded (but totally upgraded – she’s not into roughing it) cabin near Virgin River. Erin is planning on getting to know herself… not the shaggy-haired mountain man she meets.
In fact, beneath his faded fatigues and bushy beard, Aiden Riordan is a doctor, recharging for a summer after leaving the navy. He’s intrigued by the pretty, slightly snooty refugee from the rat race – her meditating and journaling are definitely keeping him at arm’s length. He’d love to get closer… if his scruffy exterior and crazy ex-wife don’t hold him back.
But maybe it’s something in the water – unlikely romances seem to take root in Virgin River… helped along by some well-intentioned meddling, of course.
One of my favourite things about any romance series is the way in which the characters are all intertwined in some way, shape and form. And Carris able to bring this talent to a whole new level – the further into the series of Virgin River that I go, the most intertwined everybody becomes and the more I get sucked into this amazing world. I love that it kind of reflects real life (at least in my small part of the world) in that everybody is connected in some way, shape or form.
The meet cute between Erin and Aiden is probably my favourite so far in this series… after all, he scares the crap out of her and manages to get her to knock herself unconscious. Alright, maybe not the meet cute that I would have wanted in my life. But it was still a great beginning in a romance book. The fact that they are both already connected to past characters within the series – Marcie, Sean, Shelby, etc. just made their meeting all that much cuter (see what I did there).
I love that this is a melding of two highly trained professionals – a doctor and a lawyer. It’s not something that I necessarily come across frequently in the stories that I read – generally there is one of this sort of professional, not two trying to find their new lives and their happily ever after. The fact that it kind of becomes derailed by Analee – the most terrifying derailment so far, just helps to highlight the awesomeness of this couple. They somehow seem tougher and a little scarier than some of the other couples. I’d certainly not want to mess with them anyway!
On top of the wild ride that is Erin and Aiden falling for each other, Mel and Jack continue to have their own side story. I’m at a point in my life when quite a few friends are getting pregnant or trying to. So reading about Mel’s difficulty in dealing with her hysterectomy and the residual issues that accompany such a thing… it seemed like a fantastic time to face up to and confront such a tough topic. It’s one of my favourite things about this series – that confrontation of issues that many people face, but no one really talks about…
Title: The Star of New Mexico Author: Seanan McGuire Series: InCryptid #0.14 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy Dates read: 25th September 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Free online short story Publisher: Seanan Mcguire Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: “We’re not set up for long term storage,” the funeral home director had said.
Almost twenty years ago, Jonathan Healy rode a train across the country to investigate reports that something was killing people in the wake of a small family circus. Almost twenty years ago, he brought home the woman who would be his wife, the mother of his children, and his partner in the endless quest to protect the cryptids of the world. The time has come for Fabulous Fran, the Flower of Arizona, the Star of New Mexico, to take the stage for the final time, and take her final bow.
Fran touched a lot of lives in her time in Buckley, and the people who loved her are coming to say goodbye. It’s not going to be easy. The things that are most important so very rarely are.
They say she never missed a shot; she was the darling of the west. But now she’s gone, and the ones she’s left behind must figure out what this means for them.
After reading Broken Paper Hearts, I thought McGuire was done with breaking my heart. Boy was I wrong. Oh, so damn wrong. Evil woman managed to do it again. I finished this short story with that same horrid feeling of sadness and confusion that the previous short story left. But, it was somehow even worse because this was actually saying goodbye and dashing all hopes that Fran would be coming back…
This short story most definitely asks the question – how do you say goodbye to the ones that you love? And, more importantly… what would you do if you had to say goodbye? Would you come back from the dead? Or would you stay gone and let your family move on? How do you move on? So many questions and thoughts running through my head right now!
One of the things I love about this is that Alice is obviously a little butt-kicker and I can’t wait to see how she’s going to kick butt into the future. I think the next few InCryptidshort stories are all about her… so I look forward to finding out just how tough a woman she is going to become!
Title: A Man Called Horse Author: Dorothy M. Johnson In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Westerns Dates read: 10th September 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: She complained loudly that her daughter had let herself go too cheap.
He wanted to become a man. But, instead, he became a horse.
I actually wouldn’t mind seeing the film that apparently exists because of this short story. It’s a nice, interesting and pleasant journey. Nothing that would completely change my world. But definitely enjoyable and probably worth seeing. In fact, I think that this is probably my favourite short story in the The Mammoth Book of Westerns collection so far. There was just something intriguing and fun about it.
I’m not really sure why I find this such a cheerful easy read – it’s a little dark considering the man called horse is kidnapped and there’s death and murder. And just all sorts of nonsense. But something about it just felt easy and comfortable. Definitely the kind of story that isn’t overly cheerful, but I still felt was weirdly comfortable (we just won’t read too much into that).
The part of the story that I think stuck with me most in this short story was the way in which Horse is able to grow. This is a pretty unique and intriguing coming of age story at its roots are in an experience that is not at all expected or typical. But it was most definitely enjoyable. I love how Horse grows from a boy who wants to be a man to a man who is just comfortable with who he is.
Title: Broken Paper Hearts Author: Seanan McGuire Series: InCryptid #0.13 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy Dates read: 10th September 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Free online short story Publisher: Seanan McGuire Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: We have to take her home now.
Valentine’s Day has come to Buckley Township. For Alice, that means cupcakes and paper hearts. For Jonathan, it means sleepless nights and fear, because Fran hasn’t come home.
Everything ends eventually. No matter how much you hope that it won’t.
Everything ends.
This is. My heart. My heart. My heart.
That’s pretty much the entirety of this review – this tiny little, short as, almost non existent short story just completely tore my heart out and then stomped on it. Just for a bit of good measure.
I’ve actually never had a short story make me cry. That was a very new experience… I think this was about seven pages – and they made me weep. Again. My heart.
I get that everything ends, and this had to too. But, without giving anything away. Seriously McGuire! WHY? Did THIS have to end now?
Title: Snakes and Ladders Author: Seanan McGuire Series: InCryptid #0.12 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy Dates read: 7th September 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Free online short story Publisher: Seanan McGuire Year: 2014 5th sentence, 74th page: “Damn mice.”
There’s nothing that little girls love more on Halloween than going trick or treating with their mother, a sackful of talking pantheistic mice, and their dead babysitter. All right, maybe there are a lot of things that little girls love more, but for Alice Healy, a nice out with her beloved mama and her favorite ghost is just about perfect.
Right up until someone snatches her off of a porch, that is.
For Alice, this is the most terrifying thing that has ever happened. For Fran, this is the end of the world, and something she may not survive; if she doesn’t get her little girl back, she may be joining Mary in the grave. And for the snake cult that grabbed Alice, this may be the chance that they’ve been waiting for…
It’s tricks and treats on a Buckley Halloween, and this time, there are more than just the usual masked monsters roaming the streets.
Alice is just the cutest character I’ve read in a long time. Alright, she’s going to grow up into a pretty kick ass woman by the time the full-length novels roll around. But in this short story? Yeah. She’s damn cute. And adorable. And just so funny. I love how she pretty much takes everything in her stride and just rolls with all of the insanity which is happening in her life.
Being an Aussie, I’ve never been too involved in the whole Trick or Treating thing… but this short story definitely gave me a whole new dimension of understanding. Alright, I get that this isn’t what is normally meant by trick or treating. But I still loved that the Halloween spirit was bought into this story in the typical, slightly insane InCryptid manner.
In Discount Armageddon, snake cults are mentioned a few times. This was a much better introduction to the cults – so it might have been useful to read this before actually reading the novel. I love how McGuire has been able to construct a world in which each of the short stories are introducing a new cryptid and drawing you further and further into her fantastic world building.
