It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? 1-9-23

Currently Reading

The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt

A triumph—a genuinely new story, a genuinely new form.

—A. S. Byatt, The New Yorker

The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt is my “official” first book of 2023. It requires focus, so I read it in the morning, and have another one on the nightstand.

(‘m loving this book, and find something to highlight on every page, but I never want to stop reading to go get the Post-Its. It’s also appropriate because I’ll be traveling to England later this month and having a very brief time in London, where The Last Samurai is set.

Under Lock and Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian

First in a new series, Under Lock and Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian is my easy read. It was an impulse purchase a few months ago, probably because I kept meaning to try the author’s Accidental Alchemist mysteries, but then it was already up to six books, and this is only the first one so far (aside from this Christmas short story, only 99 cents right now!)

Currently Not Reading

Whenafter by Terri Bruce

The problem with reading a novel in serial form! 😉 I have to wait till Friday for the next chapter to be released on Patreon!

Recently Read

Santa Shortbread by P.D. Workman

I got Santa Shortbread as a Christmas freebie e-book, but because it’s #12 in the series, I felt a bit like a stranger in the little town of Bald Eagle Falls. I didn’t know the characters coming into it and I don’t read mysteries for the puzzle aspect, so if you’re a cozy reader, I suggest starting with book one, Gluten-Free Murder, which you can try for free if you sign up for the author’s newsletter. The author also has a great blog, with book recommendations and recipes.

Currently Listening To

The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith

More London reading! I’ve been waiting a while for The Ink Black Heart (#6 in Cormoran Strike series) to come through from the library. I’ve been listening like mad since realizing it’s 32.7 hours long! (Also, I’ve just foolishly borrowed Gideon the Ninth again at the same time, which I never got to finish before because it expired.)

Recently Listened To

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub was not what I expected, but I ended up loving it.

I somehow managed to avoid knowing anything about the book going into it. You might want to avoid any and all reviews if you’re spoiler-averse and like reading a book with as few preconceived notions as possible. (I feel that this way I am reading the book as the author intended, but some may say I take it to an extreme.)

This post is linked to “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Check out the link-up party there for more book lists!