How has your week been? What have you been reading? I read That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human, Kimberly Lemming. I needed a “funny” book for the June 2024 Motif Reading Challenge prompt and this was the hardest month for me because I just don’t care for books that are written to be funny (also don’t like sad books). But this was a good read – and there be dragons, and steamy scenes. Now, on to the 10+ things I bookmarked this week.
one+ The New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century … so far? As voted on by 503 novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics and other book lovers — with a little help from the staff of The New York Times Book Review. How many of these have you read? Any book you would add? Any you can’t believe made the list? Here’s a “behind the scenes” look from one of the novelists that participated – On the Making of That New York Times Best Books of the Century List. Then the NY Times followed up with Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. What do you think? It’s a Yes for me with The Goldfinch, Donna Tart, moving into the Top 5.
two+ From Remember when I used to do link round-ups? I came across this in depth summary of the Neil Gaiman sexual assault allegations. Lawdamercy. And 20 Canadian authors have withdrawn from the Scotiabank Giller Prize “until it severs its ties to companies “complicit in Israel’s ongoing occupation, displacement and murder of Palestinians.”
three+ Book Riot’s Best Books of 2024 (So Far) came out recently, and oh all the books I want to read!
four+ Fans of the Bridgerton books are not happy with the Netflix Season 3 adaptation’s gender-swap of Michael’s character (This character was introduced at the end of the last episode of S3 and didn’t play an important part in the show – but did in the books). This is a good summary along with a link to the author’s response to defend this choice. And as usual, the trolls are trolling the actors with nasty comments on their socials.
five+ Every summer, 20 bloggers collab and share their ONE must-read book of the summer. And The Book Jotter also does an annual “Six in Six” where every July book bloggers summarize the first six months of reading by sorting the books into six categories.
six+ While traveling, it might be the perfect time to try an audiobook, maybe something from AudioFile Editors Pick 8 Big Audiobooks for July. Also here’s 10 Tips for Reading Audiobooks and Standout audiobooks for summer listening.
seven+ Do you listen to podcasts? I still haven’t really gotten into them (I’m also barely into YouTube), but I know there’s some good stuff out there. Book Riot shared The Top 10 Book Podcasts to Tune Into In 2024. Do you listen to any of these? Also Spotify is now allowing comments on Podcasts. Creators will (also) be able to like and respond to listeners’ comments, while still having control over which comments appear on their page.
eight+ I love that there’s more “adult” summer reading challenges at libraries in recent years. Are you participating in one with your local library. Is it as cool as (Lili Lost in a Book) 2024 Summer Library Book Bingo?
nine+ The Shirley Jackson Awards were recently announced. These awards honor for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic. The Reformatory, Tananarive Due, won for Best Novel and To the Woman in the Pink Hat by LaToya Jordan, won for Best Novella.
ten+ In case you missed it, last week I shared my favorite books so far in Mid Year Book Freak Out [The 2024 Edition] and this week Kim shared 6 Books in Which Weather, Nature, or the Elements Play a Big Role.
—- Cheers to the weekend and week ahead!
