Welcome to my first Reading Roundup! I plan on doing one of these every month. Please let me know if there’s something I could do differently with these roundups that would help you. Thank you.
In May 2022, I read five novels, one short story, and one non-fiction book (a light month for me, but I was busy getting Library Girl setup). I got these titles from three library systems & one independent book store (amongst other places).
Enjoy!
“Seasonal Fears”
- Author: Seanan McGuire
- Author URLs: https://seananmcguire.com/ and https://twitter.com/seananmcguire/
- Acquisition Type: Gift
- Acquired From: Author, at Norwescon. https://www.norwescon.org/
- Format: Paperback ARC
- Related Works: “Seasonal Fears” is the second book in SMG’s “Alchemical Journeys.” “Middlegame” is the first book. There’s also the “Up-and-Under” books, which are quoted in the “Alchemical Journeys” books. The “Up-and-Under” books (in order) are “Over the Woodward Wall,” “Along the Saltwise Sea,” & “Into the Windwracked Wilds” (SMG wrote these three under the name of “A. Deborah Baker.”)
- Notes: SMG is both talented and prolific. She’s also a good person. I hold her in my heart as one of my two favorite living writers. My favorite book by her is “Every Heart a Doorway” (the first book in the “Wayward Children” series).
“Kiss of Destiny”
- Author: Brandi Spencer
- Author URLs: https://www.brandispencer.com and https://twitter.com/Meriverian
- Acquisition Type: Purchased
- Acquired From: Purchased from publisher’s table at Norwescon. https://www.norwescon.org/
- Format: Trade Paperback
- Related To: “Kiss of Destiny” is book two of the “Healers’ Kiss Trilogy.” Book one is “Kiss of Treason.” The volume “Gifted Hearts: Short Love Stories of Carum Sound” is set in the same universe. (Book three isn’t out, yet.)
- Notes: N/A
“Nico & Tucker”
- Author: Rachel Gold
- Author URLs: https://rachelgold.com/ and http://www.twitter.com/rachelgold
- Acquisition Type: Borrowed from library.
- Acquired From: Seattle Public Library. https://www.spl.org/
- Format: Trade Paperback
- Related To: “Nico & Tucker” is in the same universe as two of RG’s three previous books; “Being Emily,” & “Just Girls.” It is a direct sequel to “Just Girls.”
- Notes: I expect that these are books that I’ll re-read (first, I need to get through the rest of RG’s books). They’re all powerful books; filled with people who are complicated, relatable, flawed, and lovable.
“Crucial Conversation”
- Author:Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory
- Author URL: https://cruciallearning.com/books/
- Acquisition Type: Purchased
- Acquired From: Eagle Harbor Book Co. https://www.eagleharborbooks.com/
- Format: Trade Paperback
- Related To: The publisher has other books under their “Crucial Learning” umbrella.
- Notes: This book was recommended by my manager. Each week in May, I read a section of the book, and then discussed it with him.
“Into the Sea”
- Author: Seanan McGuire
- Author URLs: https://seananmcguire.com/ and https://twitter.com/seananmcguire/
- Acquisition Type: Patreon benefit.
- Acquired From: https://www.patreon.com/seananmcguire/posts
- Format: Ebook.
- Related To: “Into the Sea” is a short story set in SMG’s “October Daye” universe.
- Notes: Every month, SMG has a short story for her Patreon supporters. Sometimes, they’re related to an existing universe of hers (like this one); and sometimes they’re stand-alone.
“Twilight”
- Author: Stephenie Meyer
- Author URL: https://stepheniemeyer.com/
- Acquisition Type: Borrowed from library.
- Acquired From: King County Library System. https://kcls.org/
- Format: Ebook.
- Related To: “Twilight” is book one of the “Twilight Sage.” The other books in the series are “New Moon,” “Eclipse,” “The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner,” “Breaking Dawn,” & “Midnight Sun.”
- Notes: “Twilight” is told from the perspective of the female protagonist (Bella), and “Midnight Sun” is retelling of the same events from the perspective of the male protagonist (Edward). I’d read a chapter of “Twilight” and then switch to “Midnight Sun” (to get the events from the other side), and just kept switching back & forth until I was done with both books. If anyone knows of any other author who has done this kind of companion/retelling novel, I’m curious.
“Midnight Sun”
- Author: Stephenie Meyer
- Author URL: https://stepheniemeyer.com/
- Acquisition Type: Borrowed from library.
- Acquired From: Multnomah County Library. https://multcolib.org/
- Format: Ebook.
- Related To: Please see “Twilight” section, above.
- Notes: Please see “Twilight” section, above.
And that wraps-up my Reading Roundup for May 2022. I’ll see you again for June’s!
Love,
Library Girl