Adding Library Books to my Handy Library App

Had to update my Handy Library app. I saw so many books at the library the other day that I was interested in checking out in the future. Many of them are mystery novels written by Black writers. So that's exciting. 

Nevertheless, I had to fight off the temptation to check them all out. Have to keep reminding myself that I can't read everything all at once. LOL. But I'm excited to explore a lot of these new books, mostly by authors I'm new to myself.

Currently Reading on this Cold Day...

I'm sure everyone is experiencing the freezing temperatures and snow and ice. I also hope everyone is bundled up, safe and warm. With, of course, a book. I decided to continue forward with my "No New Friends" TBR–as well as my initiative reading list–by knocking out the second (and perhaps final) book in M. H. Boroson's The Daoshi Chronicles series. This is an opportunity to clear a series off my list, as well as achieve my fantasy reading of the month (no pressure still).

So as I sit here and wait for my job to send out a message that we'll be closed again for another day on Wednesday (the roads are absolutely awful out here), I'm just staying warm and enjoying myself reading about a Daoist priestess in San Francisco's 1899 solving a mystical crime involving a girl who has plants growing out of her face.

Yeah... I know... crazy. But so, so intriguing.

I Think I Have a 2024 Reading "Initiative" Plan

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE EACH MONTH WHEN IT COMES TO READING IN 2024?

(USING GOOGLE DEVICE TO CHOOSE THE NUMBER IF I CAN'T MAKE A PATH.)

1. Read at least one NEW RELEASE (or NEW ARRIVAL) book from the library each month

JAN   FEB   MAR   APR   MAY   JUN   JUL   AUG   SEP   OCT   NOV   DEC

2. Read at least one book in a MYSTERY series I’m currently in the middle of (or one I’m not)

JAN   FEB   MAR   APR   MAY   JUN   JUL   AUG   SEP   OCT   NOV   DEC

3. Read at least one book in a FANTASY/SCI-FI/URBANFANTASY series I’m currently in the middle of (or one I’m not)

JAN   FEB   MAR   APR   MAY   JUN   JUL   AUG   SEP   OCT   NOV   DEC

4. Read at least one NON-FICTION book each month

JAN   FEB   MAR   APR   MAY   JUN   JUL   AUG   SEP   OCT   NOV   DEC

5. Read at least one CONTEMPORARY or ROMANCE or HORROR book each month

JAN   FEB   MAR   APR   MAY   JUN   JUL   AUG   SEP   OCT   NOV   DEC

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK SERIES I’M CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF (IN WHICH I OWN ALL THE

REMAINING BOOKS OR AM CLOSE TO AND THAT I FEEL CAN BE WRAPPED UP

BEFORE THE END OF 2024):

MYSTERY

1. P. D. James: Adam Dagliesh (5 Books Remaining)

2. Patricia Raybon: Annalee Spain Mystery (1 Book Remaining)

3. Dorothy L. Sayers: Lord Peter Wimsey (8 Books Remaining)

4. Carolyn G. Hart: Dead on Demand (Anytime Pick Up)

5. Chester Himes: Harlem Detectives (5 Books Remaining)

6. Michael Nava: Henry Rios (2 Books Remaining)

7. Peter Tremayne: Sister Fidelma (Anytime Pick Up)

8. Margaret Maron: Judge Deborah (Anytime Pick Up)

FANTASY/SCI-FI/URBAN FANTASY

1. Claire O’Dell: Janet Watson (1 Book Remaining)

2. Patricia Briggs: Mercy Thompson (Anytime Pick Up)

3. Juliet Marillier: Sevenwaters (Anytime Pick Up)

4. Max Gladstone: Craft Series (3 Books Remaining)

5. David Weber: Honor Harrington (4 Books Remaining)

6. Daniel Jose Older: Bone Street Rumba (2 Books Remaining)

7. Phillip Pullman: Dark Materials (1 Book Remaining)

8. Mercedes Lackey: Anything (Anytime Pick Up)

9. Lynn Flewelling: Nightrunner (Anytime Pick Up)

10. Ilona Andrews: Kate Daniels (Anytime Pick Up)

11. Seressia Glass: Shadowchasers (Full 3-Book Read)

12. Seanan McGuire: Rosemary & Rue (Anytime Pick Up)

13. Tanya Huff: Anything (Anytime Pick Up)

14. M. H. Boroson: Daoshi Chronicles (1 Book Remaining)

15. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings (3 Books Remaining)

16. Modesitt: Spellsong or Another (Anytime Pick Up)

17. Brandon Sanderson: Stormlight (3 Books Remaining)

18. L. A. Banks: Crimson Moon (6 Books Remaining)

19. Jennifer Fallon: Hythrun (2 Books Remaining)

Like You, I Love READING!

 

Some Kind of January 2024 Hillerman TBR...

I went through my usual waffling around regarding what I want to read next. Often I go with what I'm currently agonizing about wanting to complete. Still, there is a lot of unnecessary overthinking and consideration in all the meticulousness and thoroughness given the decision. Shoot, there are even days where I decided to read something, go to bed, and am running late to work because I've somehow changed my mind while asleep. But I must bring a book with me every time I leave the house! 

Nonetheless, after having read about five or six Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee Tony Hillerman series books back in July; reading the final five written by Hillerman, before his daughter Anne picked up the series after his death, has been heavy on my reading spirit. Thus, as of right now, I’ve decided to do this.

I’ve labeled this the “No New Friends in 2024” TBR. Honestly, all it means is that I’m going to try not to start a new series of books until I wrap up at least one that I’ve been reading for years. Last year I finished the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. I’m still hoping I can finish the Adam Dalegish series by P. D. James (only five more books to go there), and then decide what to do from there.

Anyway, I do plan on going further into Tony Hillerman’s world with the revival of the series introduced by his daughter. Just at another time (hopefully). As of right now, I want to gather up the final words Hillerman had to share about Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn.

So here we go…

As I’m writing this, I finished book #14, Hunting Badger. I’m currently 82 pages away from the end of book #15, The Wailing Wind. I might pull an all-nighter on that one. After that, only three more to go: The Sinister Pig (#16), Skeleton Man (#17), and The Shape Shifter (#18). I have to say, I’m proud of myself for not actually buying the books but checking them out from my library.

Anyway, back to crimes in the desert to launch 2024. Which, obviously, I love reading about.

CHOP IT UP: Against the Currant by Olivia Matthews

 

CHOP IT UP: Hide & Fall by Tracy Clark