Been doing some more reading toward my goal of having read the 2018 Hugo nominees (at least the novels and novellas) prior to the awards coming out in August. After this past week I've got two novels and three novellas left.

Finished since last week:

Home, by Nnedi Okorafor - the second Binti novella, and a 2018 Hugo novella nominee. Like the first one, I quite enjoyed this. And also like the first one, I was certainly left wanting more. I'll read the third one at some point.

Ninefox Gambit, by Yoon Ha Lee - The first book in this trilogy, and thus required reading before getting to The Raven Strategem, which is a nominee for novel. I really did enjoy this book. But I'll agree with the little blurb of a review I saw that said something to effect of "this book is definitely hard sci-fi, not because of technical science stuff, but because the book is hard to read". It was. At first at least. Certainly gets easier as it goes, and I'm really looking forward to the next book to see where the story and universe goes. Lee does however seemingly drop you in the universe and act like you've lived there your whole life. I did find Lee's cheat sheet helpful.

The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin - 2016 Hugo winner, 1st book in the trilogy, 2nd book was a 2017 winner, and the third is a 2018 nominee. So I was excited about this, and it lived up to my expectations quite well. The world building is great as is the character development. Starting The Obelisk Gate as soon as it comes in from being on hold (unless Raven Stratagem comes in first).

And Then There Were (N-One), by Sarah Pinsker - a novella, which can be found here, also up for the Hugo novella award. A clever and interesting story about a whole number of alternate versions of the author attending a meetup.

Every Heart A Doorway, by Seanan McGuire - 2017 novella winner, and the second one in that world is up for this year's prize. A fast read with a neat concept that explores a boarding school for children who have come back from falling into a mirror, or walking through a door into another universe, and their lives back in the 'real' world. Can't wait to read more of this.

Currently reading:

Redshirts, by John Scalzi - wanted something fun and light while waiting for holds to come through. This sounded like it was going to be both of those. The first couple of chapters have not disappointed so far.

Finished My Year of Rest and Relaxation, by Ottessa Moshfegh. Moshfegh is one of my favorite current authors, and this was my favorite of the year so far.

Also just finished Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire. A lovely and sad bit of YA fantasy.

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan Maguire totally surprised me. Was not expecting a story about kids going to parallel, magical worlds to be mysterious and also creepy. I really liked the atmosphere and the writing!

There’s one part where a character says, “Now come on. We've much to do, and time does insist on being linear here, because it's awful." I love that.

Finally finished The Troop, by Nick Cutter and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Definitely different than I expected, especially how different characters turned out, but interested to read some of his other books.

Still reading Calypso, by David Sedaris and You, by Caroline Kepnes. Also just received Every Heart A Doorway, by Seanan Mcguire which I have heard is really good so I'm excited to start it!

Finished Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire-

I loved this. I’m certain she’s a new favorite author.

Reading:

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman I’m close to finishing this one but I’m not sure if I’m ready to let go yet so I’ve been savoring it.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas I’m curious to see if I like this more than ToG.

Finished: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire. I absolutely adored this book. It's very short, somewhere between the length of a novella and a novel (I think it's about 180 pages). The prose is exquisite and it packs such a large punch for a book so small.

Started: Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire. This is the sequel to Every Heart a Doorway as mentioned above. I rarely marathon series, but I had to read more when I finished the first.

Highly recommend both.

Finished Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire. A super short read that really packed an interesting story inside its pages and I'm very excited to continue with the series.

Started A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea, by Masaji Ishikawa.

Finished:

The Good Divide, by Kali VanBaale I read this as part of my personal read a book from every state challenge. Great character study about a woman in Wisconsin, her life, her inner workings and some other drama thrown in. Trigger warning: self-harm.

Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire This may not be a popular opinion, but this book was such a tease. It could have been great if it was just fleshed out more. It felt rushed and a bit like a tween book that they added some curses and sexual references to in order for it to seem more mature. Don't know if I'll pick up the next in the series.

The Blessings, by Elise Juska This one had me feeling all the feels. Maybe because I can relate having come from a large, enmeshed family or from being married into one as well. This book follows the Blessings family over a span of 20 years, with each chapter told from the POV of a different family member. I really loved it.

Attachments, by Rainbow Rowell This was cute. Nice fluffy read about finding yourself and romance in your late twenties/early thirties. There are some things that you may not appreciate if you were not already an adult during the Y2K period.

Started:

The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris (audio narrated by Richard Armitage) This narrator is excellent. I have read a lot of WWII books, however, and am anxious to see where this is going. A love story set at Auschwitz??? Don't know if I'll be able to handle if it it's that trite.

Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler Only 30 pages in or so, and can't wait to see where it goes. I love Octavia Butler.

Slogging Through:

Becoming, by Michelle Obama (audio) Okay, so I'm enjoying the content of the book, but she talks SOOOOOO slow. Even on 1.5 I still have 15 hours to go.... ack. Looking to see if a friend has a print copy so I can just read this on my own.

Finished Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire

Started Down Among the Sticks and Bones, by Seanan McGuire

Finished: The Ark, by Patrick S Tomlinson A noirish, dystopian sci-fi romp. Some cool ideas.

Today I Am Carey, by Martin L Shoemaker An extension of the author's great short story, Today I Am Paul, about a medical android who becomes self-aware.

Sky Without Stars, by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell Sci-fi retelling.

Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire Loved this one! What happens after children come back from portal worlds. I think this is the first of a series called Wayward Children and I can't wait to get to the next one!

Started:

Mechanical Failure, by Joe Zieja Wanted something funny and this already seems to fit that bill, though I'm only a couple chapters in.

Just finished:

You, by Caroline Kepnes and Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire

Just started/Planning to start:

All the Missing Girls, by Megan Miranda. This was a suggestion from a coworker. ~30 pages in and so far so good.

Also picked up All Who Go Do Not Return, by Shulem Deen. Not sure if I will get to this before it needs to be returned, but we will see!

Finally picked up my pre-order of Dark Age, by Pierce Brown. So excited! Will probably pace myself with that book though.

I am on the struggle bus recently. Still reading You, by Caroline Kepnes which is really good, but I am just juggling it with other books. Also still reading Calypso, by David Sedaris.

Up next: Feed, by M.T. Anderson All Who Go Do Not Return, by Shulem Deen All the Missing Girls, by Megan Miranda

Finished: Every Heart A Doorway, by Seanan McGuire - this was really interesting and unique, but it felt like it jumped into talk about these different worlds with no lead up. Some parts seemed a little cheesy, but I may catch up on the rest since some of the characters were interesting.

Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire Still in the middle of it, actually, I don't get much time to read at the moment. But I'm loving it. The setting - a school for children that went to another world and really want to go back - is beautiful, imaginative and unique.

This week I completed Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire because the fourth book in the series was recently released and I wanted to refresh my memory of the character that it focuses on...Planning to read that towards the end of the month.

Currently reading Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro and Gemina, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. I am at the very beginning of both of these, but I think I will really enjoy Never Let Me Go once I get into it. I'm just not really sure what it is going to be about yet, but I have heard that is the best way to go into it.