What I’m reading and some holiday laughs (Weekend Coffee Share #19, What’s On Your Bookshelf #1)
I’ve had an entirely uneventful week, so let’s talk about books for this week’s Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Since we’ll be talking about books, I’m also linking up with the What’s On Your Bookshelf link party, hosted by Retirement Reflections. Two parties, one post. Efficiency!
So… books. Some of you may know I do the Goodreads Reading Challenge every year. This year my goal was to read 90 books, and, well… that’s not going to happen. I’ve read 64 books so far this year and might be able to finish a couple more before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. I’ve been reading less than usual, and I’m not entirely sure why, but it probably has something to do with the hours I waste on social media and doomscrolling the news.
I’ll do a full 2021 reading retrospective closer to the end of the year, but for now:
Books I’ve Read Recently
- The Lily Bard series by Charlaine Harris. Lily is a kickass martial arts expert healing from a terrible trauma, a process complicated by the fact that she keeps finding murder victims and getting drawn into figuring out who killed them. The stories are set in the small, fictional town of Shakespeare, Arkansas. I blew through all 5 audiobooks in about a week, even though I just listened to them last year and read them about 10 years ago. Harris is best known for the Sookie Stackhouse series that was the basis for True Blood, but I actually like two of her other series better: Lily Bard and:
- The Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris. Thanks to a lightning strike, Harper can sense corpses and see the last moments of their lives. She tries to earn a living that way and ends up finding plenty of trouble along with the bodies. This was another reread.
- Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders. This one’s a romantic suspense about an abused wife hiding from her ex in a small town. She has an obnoxious boss, a hot neighbor, and a terrible secret. I enjoyed this one, but note that the sex is pretty explicit, and the climax (the story climax, not the sexual one) is over pretty fast. There’s a joke in there somewhere, but I’m not going to search too hard for it. (Do I get bonus points for working “sex,” “climax,” and “hard” into the same paragraph when I’m not writing a sex scene?)
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. I put off reading this one for decades because of the subject matter, but I’m so glad I finally read it. It’s beautifully written, and while the premise is upsetting (especially given what’s going on in the USA right now w/r/t reproductive rights), it isn’t graphic. I haven’t watched the TV show yet, because I suspect it will be a bit graphic. Maybe someday.
What I’m Currently Reading
- Under Currents by Nora Roberts. I almost put this one aside because of the graphic domestic violence–and my first novel deals with domestic violence. It’s… rough. I’m about a third of the way through now, and it’s shifted gears to less-disturbing subject matter, but I’m sure the bad guy (and the violence) will be back. That said, I’ve fallen in love with the characters, so I’ll keep reading.
- Murder Go Round by Agatha Christie. This one is a compilation of three of Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries: Thirteen at Dinner, The A.B.C. Murders, and Funerals are Fatal.
- The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings: How to Craft Story Openings that Sell by Paula Munier. This one is exactly what the title says it is. I’m reworking the opening to my first novel, getting ready to query again, and I want it to be as strong as it can be.
- Write Good or Die, edited by Scott Nicholson. This one’s a collection of what appear to be blog posts from various writers. Some are great, some are so-so, but it’s an interesting read.
As I look back over this list, I’m surprised at how much I comment on graphic sex and violence. I write both romance and horror, for goodness’ sake, and I used to consider slasher movies to be date movies. Yet some topics and depictions bother me, especially harm to kids or animals and some depictions of domestic or sexual abuse. Maybe my soul isn’t entirely calloused over.
OK, on to happier topics, like:
The Weekly Funnies: Christmas Edition
I’ve been hoarding Christmas memes since before Thanksgiving, just so I can share them with y’all (see how much I love you?). Because I’m lazy and want some easy blog content, I’ll parcel them out over the next couple of weeks.
Gift ideas
Seriously, folks, give blood if you can. You might be the reason someone survives till next Christmas.
Decorating ideas
And finally, holiday eating
That’s all for me this week. The Weekend Coffee Share is going on hiatus till the new year, but I’ll be around, so if anyone would like to do holiday link parties for the next 2 weekends, drop me a comment, and I’ll set it up.
Happy Holidays! May your gatherings be merry and your relatives bright.
31 Comments
Retirement Reflections
Hi, Janet – Thank you for joining us at What’s On Your Bookshelf. And thank you for the morning smile!
I’m not good with graphic violence (of any form) in books or movies. And…I’ve become more timid on this with age. When my husband learned that I once read Helter Skelter (and other such books), he stood with his mouth wide-open in utter disbeleif! 😀
Janet Alcorn
I’ve also become more timid. I was way into horror in my teens, but I don’t have the stomach for the more graphic stuff now. I think it all seems more real now that I’m older and have a greater sense of my own—and everyone else’s—mortality.
joylenebutler
That is one awesome list of books. I’m happy to say I’ve read most of them. Feliz Navidad, Janet.
Janet Alcorn
Feliz Navidad! And happy new year!
Gary A Wilson
Hiya Janet.
I have a friend who took my not-yet bride to see the new Jaws movie. He knew what was coming but she didn’t and still has scars in his arm from where her nails dug deep and drew real blood multiple times. Oddly enough that was the closest they got to dating and it’s a rare movie that we enjoy together.
Books are oh-so-much safer. . .
This will be the first coffee share that took 2 weeks off for Christmas. What will I do with myself. . .?
If you do put something together; “Wise-Guy Weekend” comes to mind, Let me know and I’ll jump in with you.
BTW – in my terms, The Last Helping of Roadhouse Stew, is getting great attention so I’m calling it a success, but I’d still love you know your reaction. I tried to do several clever things (see my coffee share) and an editor friend liked the result, but I have yet to hear from a real published, slightly out of control, unsupervised, medical librarian. . .
Know anyone who can link me up?
Bobbiem91
This was definitely my laugh for the day. You can send me that hit man– I have a one or tow people I can think of that deserve it. And then the tree–that was a good one along with the Ditto–that would be me this year since I live in the middle of nowhere there is no real reason to put up lights.
As to horror, I avoided most of the slasher things due to nightmares but I’ve read your work and enjoys them. Still like that house that eats people.
Janet Alcorn
We’ve put up a few lights, but I don’t have the time or energy to do anything too elaborate.
Glad you liked my horror stories! I wish the podcast had a comment option—I’d love to see what people think of the man-eating house.
Ally Bean
I read The Handmaid’s Tale in college and it freaked me out then. I couldn’t deal with it now. I like the Ditto lights. So simple and to the point!
Janet Alcorn
Yeah, the ditto thing was great. Too bad my next door neighbors don’t have good displays.
Sue from Women Living Well After 50
Hello Janet! Thanks so much for linking up with our first What’s On Your Bookshelf? Link Party and sharing your recommendations. I love crime and pyschological thrillers but equally I’ve been reading Christmas themed books which are pretty light and easy to read. I definitely will not make my Goodreads target as I was very optimistic and totally over-estimated. I will be more cautious in my 2022 goal LOL 🙂 Thanks for the Weekly Funnies as well! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and happy reading in 2022. Sue L.xx
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! And sorry for the delayed response. WordPress flagged your comment as spam for some bizarre reason. Happy New Year!
rawsonjl
I read Under Currents while on a plane (on a family vacation) and I completely agree that the content was disturbing but oh it was such a good book!
Janet Alcorn
It really is good. Looking forward to
Janet Alcorn
Let’s try that again. I’m looking forward to seeing how she brings the threads together.
Jo
Firstly, yes, you do get points for using all those words together outside of a sex scene. Secondly, thanks for the laugh with the funnies and finally, thanks for linking up with us!
Janet Alcorn
Thanks for stopping by! I’ve been meaning to link up with your group for awhile, but I keep forgetting to plan ahead (I work during the week, so getting a post up on Thursday is challenging. Fridays are a bit more manageable.)
Jo
It’s why we decided to keep the link open for a few days – to give those of us with day jobs the opportunity to write and post something over the weekend. Thanks for linking.
Deborah
Oh yes I really like that tree with the toilet paper. That’d be the extent of my decorating – well, if I WAS decorating this year, which I’m not.
I read a lot of thrillers and crime fiction so accustomed to psychopaths but I’m not really a fan of horror. I don’t really read romance either, though like romantic suspense (eg. Nora Roberts and have read Undercurrents.
Janet Alcorn
We have a tree up and a few lights but nothing too fancy.
I’ll read in pretty much any genre, and I like stories that cross genres or push the boundaries of genre tropes. Mostly, though, I want characters that come to feel like friends and a compelling story with good writing. I’ve found all of those many times in many genres.
Thanks for stopping by!
Natalie
I haven’t read horror novels lately. Thank you for the laugh, Janet, and thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. Happy Christmas to you and your family.
Janet Alcorn
Happy Christmas to you too!
Tiarella
Your archivist will appreciate that you’ve numbered your serials. 😉
Scribble and Scran
64 Books! That is some achievement. I love the gift of a hit man and the Christmas lights next door. Have a great Christmas and hopefully you get some time to finish those current books.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas too!
Debbie
Fabulous post Janet, your reviews and memes made for great reading! I did appreciate your efforts into ‘that’ paragraph and applaud you 🙂
Thanks for joining in with us for our ‘What’s on Your Bookshelf Challenge – hope you get to enjoy some reading over the holidays.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! I hope so, too. Some of my favorite Winter Break memories involve being snuggled under a blanket with a good book.
Rowena
Janet, you sound like a voracious reader. I am too but it’s mostly online newspaper for my WWI research. However, that hasn’t stopped me from buying and stockpiling books. In the last week, I bought “The Labyrinth” by Australian poet Amanda Lohrey whicfh won a few major awards. I as given: “Choose Joy” by Kay Warren which I’ve needed in even the most subtle of ways. So easy to drift into grumbling, especially with htis @#$% covid around and numbers skyrocketing everywhere. Then there was the Tasmanian tragedy.
We we’ll be going away off the grid for two weeks in January so I’ll expecting to catch up with some fiction reading then.
Wishng you and yours a Merry and blessed Christmas and to be perfectly honest, I don’t know what to say about the new year other than to request a change in the weather please!
Best wishes,
Rowena
Janet Alcorn
I gather lots of books, then when I move, I cull my collection, because books are heavy, especially in boxes. Then the cycle begins again.
Is your WW1 research for school, a book, or something else?
Merry Christmas to you, too! Let’s hope 2022 is a major upgrade over the last 2 years.
Rowena
Janet, I did honours in history when I did my undergraduate degree and had wanted to become an academic at the time, but didn’t do well enough to go straight onto my PhD at the time, and I went backpacking for a year and then went into marketing. I started the WWI research because my son was going on a school history tour of Europe, which included the battle fields of France and I wanted him to know what members of our family had experienced over there. Due to the lockdowns, and my obsessive personality and fascinating subject matter, it’s become bigger than ben hur and I’m going to apply for research grants etc. Where this takes me, I don’t know. The universities are in a bad way, but hopefully something will come out of it to relaunch my career or something. It’s all a bit of a risk but with covid around, not much I can easily do for work so it’s no loss.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Janet Alcorn
Sounds like an interesting project. Good luck!
Rowena
Thanks, Janet.