Books

What do you read, my lord?

2022 consumption: a look at some stuff I liked

Here we are again at the end of a year that feels like it only began the other week. It’s been a big one for lots of reasons, and I’ve gotten through it OK – I think? – but I have to take issue with my hopeful belief in the last one of these things that I’d somehow get more motivation in 2022.

Hahahahahahaha.

I didn’t.

In keeping with my lack of motivation, this recap may be a little shorter than previous years, but I’m hoping there’s still something in here that might pique your interest. It’s a collection of stuff that I enjoyed (or didn’t) through this year, and is one in a continuing line. Faintly ridiculous effort, but this will make it ten years of this kinda stuff, so let’s go.

Previous versions are here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here if you need an introduction.

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NINE TIMES

The end of the year is coming up fast. By which I mean to say that at time of writing it’s tomorrow.

Kill me.

So I figured I should really get off my arse and review some of the books I’ve consumed in the time since I last posted.

(Which is, as ever, far too long ago.)

They probably won’t be too long, but still… here we go.

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Book reviews: Trick Mirror and Toxic

Two reviews for the price of one! Well, I guess they’re all free, so that argument probably doesn’t hold much water. Anyway, I recently powered through two books of nonfiction about important issues, so it made sense to whack ’em both in here.

SERIOUS BUSINESS.
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Book review: Bullshit Jobs: A Theory

Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber
My rating: three stars

If ever there was a title to get me through the door, then this was it. How could I resist? The thing I didn’t know when I began Bullshit Jobs, though, was that Graeber’s position wasn’t that work as a whole was bullshit.

This I had to learn. (See, there’s also plain shit jobs, which are very different from bullshit jobs.)

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Book review: Skyward Inn

Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley
My rating: five stars

At a loose end, I figured it was time to read another of novelist/mycologist Aliya Whiteley’s books. I’ve previously read The Beauty and found myself attracted and repulsed by the mysterious tone and sometimes unexplained goings-on.

Happily, I can say that the author’s Skyward Inn provided another dose of much-needed oddity in a small package, albeit one that addresses some big ideas. This is probably not all that unusual – this is science fiction, after all – but it feels distinctly human in its scope, even as there’s world-changing events afoot.

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A shelf of books? More or less.

Well. As you, vigilant reader, might have noticed, I’ve been a bit quiet on the old typing-words-into-your-eyes front. There’s a raft of reasons – brain fog, surgery, winter, malicious elves stealing my motivation – but here’s a load of joy (potentially?) for you! I’ve been reading a bit since the last post and am going to attempt to cover the books I’ve gone through since then. (TWENTY-THREE?!)

What getting to this point has felt like, though I am not this ripped. Shocking, I know.

I won’t be offended if you need some kind of a break/fortifying drink through this thing. I probably will, too.

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Fear not!

I am still alive!

Sssssssssssssuckers.

Also, I am not one of those biblically-accurate angels, so I have not suddenly grown a couple of extra dozen eyeballs. Just so you know.

I have been pretty late on book reviews, but rest assured that I’m working on a megapost to cover what I’ve read since I last threw some words up here.

To hold you until then, however – and to make it a bit easier for myself – I’ve made a TBR? page. It contains the books I’ve put on those start-of-the-year lists of potential perusing, with links to be added when they’re knocked over.

You can check it out, should you wish, by clicking the link on the menu bar, or by clicking here.

Was this pointless busywork? Perhaps, but it at least feels like I’ve done something this Sunday.

So… hooray?

Book reviews: Mercenaries, morons, music and murder

It’s been almost another month, so it must be time for a few book reviews. I’ve been getting a little more stuff read of late (there’s been more than this read, this is just where I’m up to) so things are truckin’ along pretty well on that front.

I am about as sociable as this bird, so IT ME I guess.

The weather is getting cooler out here, so it’s prime reading (and gaming) weather. I’m looking forward to it continuing to chill, so that I’m able to continue honing my most valuable skill: ignoring the rest of the world with the help of books.

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Book reviews: ducks, decks and disturbances

Another three books (including one whopper) have passed through my eyeballs, so it’s time for another reading recap. I’m certainly finding it more enjoyable to chunk a couple of these together – I hope that’s better to read for you, too.

Nic knows the score. Three. That’s the score.

I’m feeling pretty good about how the reading has progressed so far this year. I’m making progress on my list, and haven’t really had a dud yet, so it’s a Good Year, at least as far as text goes. Sure, there’s still the 2020-2022 malaise thing happening, but turning the pages is keeping it at bay, at least so far.

So, onwards!

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Book reviews: magick, mysticism and missing legs

Well, I’ve managed to read three books since I last posted (and another couple hundred of The Anatomy of Melancholy) so I figure it’s about time for another catch-up. I’m still making my way through my list, and am about to break my way into the whopper that is Ducks, Newburyport, so it’s as good a time as any to catch up with my reviewing.

Two of the books – the latter two – came courtesy of NetGalley, and were offered in exchange for a review. I’m not sure they’ll be that impressed, but hey-ho, not everything’s a rave I guess.

Pictured: book reviewing.
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