I am a small few pages away from finishing Louise Erdrich's LaRose and next up is Planetfall by Emma Newman, the first in a science fiction series.
Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon. It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.
Every time I come down here I think about my mother. I don't want to; it just happens. My brain has decided it's a critical subroutine that must be executed when the correct variables are in place: (when time = predawn) + (when physical location + beneath the colony) + (when physical act = opening the door to the Masher) run "unpleasant memory of mother #345."
My hand is pushing the door open and I'm back at my old lab and she's following me in, her heels clicking on the tiled floor. I've prepped the equipment to run one hour before her arrival so there's something to show straightaway. She never was a patient woman.
Every Tuesday, Ambrosia from The Purple Booker hosts Teaser Teaser at which participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share two or more sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.
Teaser from page 12% of Planetfall:
I blink and look around Mack's living room to remind myself I'm not back in that prison again.
What do you think? Would you keep reading?
I admit the opening isn't especially grabbing me, but the random teaser sure has me curious!
What are you reading at the moment? Is it anything you would recommend?
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Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.
This week's Top Ten Tuesday is Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist---- things you want to see more of in books -- tropes, a time period, a specific type of character, an issue tackled, a certain plot, etc. All those things that make you think I WANT MORE OF THIS IN BOOKS!
1. There are a number of series or trilogies I really enjoy that I wish authors would continue with--or go the spin-off route. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter world, The Others by Anne Bishop, The Fairwick Chronicles by Juliet Dark, among others. I don't think it is too much to ask.
2. I would like to see more mysteries in which the crime does not include murder. Art theft investigations can be quite fun to read about, for example.
3. More realistic and well-written heroes and heroines who are people of color who are not defined by their ethnicity or race. Especially in the genres of crime fiction, romance, and fantasy.
4. More realistic and well-written leads who are LGBTQ who are not defined by their gender identity or sexual orientation.
5. More realistic and well-written heroes and heroines who have disabilities, including mental illness, who are not defined by their disabilities or mental illnesses.
6. Women leads in comics and graphic novels who don't fit the usual stereotypes, are more realistic, ones who can save themselves, are the main characters, aren't loud or meek or meeting one extreme or another.
7. More children's books involving only children. So many of the books featuring families I read with my daughter include siblings. It'd be nice for her to read books with functional families with only children.
8. More books written in verse. This is definitely an area I want to explore more, but I also wouldn't mind seeing more of this, especially in the fantasy genre.
9. More Choose Your Own Adventures for adults. I'm not talking about "R" rated. Just ones that are aimed at an older audience. I loved reading them as a child and do not see them as often nowadays.
10. More books about witches. I know there are a lot out there. Everywhere you look, really. But there can never be enough.
What about you? Is there anything you would like to see more of in books?
1. There are a number of series or trilogies I really enjoy that I wish authors would continue with--or go the spin-off route. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter world, The Others by Anne Bishop, The Fairwick Chronicles by Juliet Dark, among others. I don't think it is too much to ask.
2. I would like to see more mysteries in which the crime does not include murder. Art theft investigations can be quite fun to read about, for example.
3. More realistic and well-written heroes and heroines who are people of color who are not defined by their ethnicity or race. Especially in the genres of crime fiction, romance, and fantasy.
4. More realistic and well-written leads who are LGBTQ who are not defined by their gender identity or sexual orientation.
5. More realistic and well-written heroes and heroines who have disabilities, including mental illness, who are not defined by their disabilities or mental illnesses.
6. Women leads in comics and graphic novels who don't fit the usual stereotypes, are more realistic, ones who can save themselves, are the main characters, aren't loud or meek or meeting one extreme or another.
7. More children's books involving only children. So many of the books featuring families I read with my daughter include siblings. It'd be nice for her to read books with functional families with only children.
8. More books written in verse. This is definitely an area I want to explore more, but I also wouldn't mind seeing more of this, especially in the fantasy genre.
9. More Choose Your Own Adventures for adults. I'm not talking about "R" rated. Just ones that are aimed at an older audience. I loved reading them as a child and do not see them as often nowadays.
10. More books about witches. I know there are a lot out there. Everywhere you look, really. But there can never be enough.
What about you? Is there anything you would like to see more of in books?
© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
I'm with you on #4. I'd also like to see more books with characters of different religions.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Beach House for Rent by Mary Alice Monroe. It's good so far!
Kathy - Yes, that would be nice to see more of in books too.
DeleteI have heard such great things about Mary Alice Monroe. I am glad you enjoyed Beach House for Rent.
Planetfall looks really interesting and even though I'm not wowed by that opening either, I might stick with it. And I LOVE the choose Your Own adventure books and would love to see adult versions. More varied kinds of mysteries and more realistic disability stories would also be welcome.
ReplyDeleteGreg - Planetfall was interesting. Not quite what I was expecting, but still good.
DeleteI hope adult Choose Your Own Adventures catch on. I think they would be a lot of fun.
Great TTT topic! And I enjoyed reading your answers, too. I can totally relate with several of them. :)
ReplyDeleteMelody - Thank you! I hope you are well, Melody.
DeleteNot sure from that intro if this one would be for me. I hope you are enjoying it Wendy.
ReplyDeleteDiane - I enjoyed it, Diane, overall. I haven't read too much in the way of science fiction, but I hope to change that. I hope you are well and enjoying your break from blogging!
DeleteThe cover for planetfall is interesting!
ReplyDeleteHmm... I never really thought of what I want more in books. I've got such a long TBR list!
Eustacia - I think it's an interesting cover too. I have a long TBR list too--but one can dream. :-)
DeleteI've not read any science fiction but I like the start of this one and would like to read on - I might get hooked on a whole new genre!
ReplyDeleteMiss Cellany - I haven't read much of the genre either, but I am trying to change that. I liked this one, although I cannot say it will make my favorite's list.
DeleteGreat list! I've actually thought about a number of your items!
ReplyDeleteJenclair - Thank you! :-)
DeleteI don't particularly read sci-fi, but hope you enjoy the beginning of that series. I did read The Round House by Erdrich last year, as I enjoy learning more about Native Americans through realistic fiction (William Kent Krueger being another author who features plots involving Native Americans).
ReplyDeleteGreat list you made! I too wish for more diversity from the major book publishers-- whether it's about religion, gender choice, different types of families, etc. I read for pleasure, but I also choose some books to pick up new info. And by the way, I'm late to the party, but binge-read the first 3 of The Others in past couple of months that I was away. Have a good week!
Rita - I did like it, although I hear the next book is quite different and even better. I'm looking forward to reading that one. I hope to read more by Erdrich now that I have read LaRose.
DeleteYes! Exactly. I read for pleasure, but I do like to learn something too. I hope you have a great week too!
I would love to read an art theft mystery! And I'm with you on more Choose Your Own Adventure books for adults...I LOVED reading those as a kid. :D
ReplyDeleteLark - I know there are some out there (art theft mysteries, I mean), but more wouldn't hurt. :-) I love Choose Your Own Adventures.
DeleteI would love to read a choose your own adventure book for an adult audience. I loved those as a kid. I do think that Anne Bishop's series will have more books set in the same world and I am looking forward to them.
ReplyDeleteCarole - Wouldn't that be neat? I hope someone one will give it a try and write a Choose Your Own Adventure for adults. I sure hope Anne Bishop will continue with the world. It has a lot of potential.
DeletePlanetfall sounds wonderful, and I could do with some Harry Potter spin-offs, too!
ReplyDeleteLaLa - I enjoyed it! I love the Harry Potter world. :-)
DeleteI love your wish list and agree about the only child families :)
ReplyDeleteStacy - Thank you!
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