#thebookcase

[kannemeinelauthor]

La Librería (Spanish for The Bookcase)

El departamento perfecto… ¿cierto? La detective Becky Bonnie sólo quiere una casa en una zona segura para ella y su familia. Es acogedor, bonito y a un precio razonable. Ella no puede creer que hayan encontrado un lugar así, pero, se dan cuenta de que hay algo raro cuando cosas misteriosas comienzan a suceder. ¿Qué pasaría si no estás solo en tu casa… nunca? Consulta todos los enlaces para…

[thebookcases]

My Rating: 2/5 Stars

I always feel bad when I dislike a book that by most metrics is perfectly fine.

Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson is a contemporary fiction book about a woman named Nora who once dreamed of working with books but is now burnt out and underappreciated in her dead-end job at a small nonfiction publisher. When her pay is cut and she's left unable to afford her bills, she decides to pick up a freelancing job to make ends meet...at a rival publisher. And to make matters worse, she's beginning to fall for Andrew Santos, an author who she must convince to sign a book deal...but which publisher should she push him towards?

Reading the description you'd be tempted to think this is a romance novel, but it's really not. While the relationship development is a major factor, the true story centers Nora as she tries (and often fails) to figure out where her life is going.

I enjoyed Shauna Robinson's sophomore book, The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks, and I empathize heavily with any book loving introverted character that finds themself stuck in their job, unsure what they're doing with their life (aka, just Me in 2022), so I was expecting to, if not love this book, then to really enjoy it.

Sadly, I just couldn't get into this one. Nora is a well written character, with very real and human struggles, but unfortunately I really didn't enjoy my time with her. I found her choices frustrating; not in a fun to watch way, but in a "cringing from second hand embarrassment/anxiety" way. The "liar revealed" plot is one that can be tricky to pull off, and it unfortunately didn't work for me here.

*The next few paragraphs contain very minor spoilers, scroll to the last paragraph to avoid*

There were also a few little story structure things that betray this as a debut novel. For instance, at roughly the fifty percent mark, the book suddenly starts discussing some serious mental health issues without mentioning at any point prior to this that Nora is dealing with anything more serious than burnout. I wouldn't say that these flaws would be enough to detract from your enjoyment if you're otherwise having a good time, but since I was already growing frustrated with the book due to personal taste reasons, they were very noticeable to me.

I was actually so frustrated by the whole "dancing around the truth and trying to avoid getting caught" portion of the book in the middle that I switched from audio to ebook so I could start skimming up until her secret is found out (which, of course, also doubles as the third act breakup) and read about how she handles that situation. I normally don't skim books, but I was at a point where I didn't want to keep reading, but also didn't want to DNF it, so I compromised by skimming *just until* I was interested again. I did find the direction that Nora went after her secret is revealed to be satisfying, though the ending did feel a bit abrupt.

*Minor Spoiler section over, you may continue here:*

Despite my low rating, I do think this is a good book for what it is, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction and contemporary romance. The 2/5 stars is much more a reflection of how much I personally did/didn't enjoy the book rather than of its quality. Still, I can't help but feel that every aspect of this book-- from feeling directionless in your life/career to the whiteness of publishing/the literary canon to the potentially unprofessional but oh-so-alluring romance-- was all executed better in The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks, so if you're looking for a relatable millennial protagonist in a story about books and booklovers, I'd recommend you read that instead.

[ironwoman359]

Taylor Reads - July WrapUp

So I have a spreadsheet where I keep track of all the books I read each year, and I also keep a scrapbook style reading journal where each month has a spread of all the books I read that month, and I'm going to start putting my wrap ups here on tumblr, because I can :3

I had a unexpectedly fruitful reading month in July; I only read three books in June, but the League of Extraordinary Gentlefolk comic here on tumblr made me want to read some classic victorian sci-fi, which pulled me out of my reading slump and got the ball rolling on some of my reading goals.

Here's everything I read in a glance, and beneath the cut is a little blurb review for each book!

The Black God's Drums by P. Djeli Clark - 4/5 Stars This is a fantasy novella set in a post Civil War alternate history steampunk New Orleans featuring street urchins and sky pirates. Need I say more? P. Djeli Clark became an auto-read author for me after I read Ring Shout, and while this didn't have quite the punch of that story, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells - 3.5/5 Stars My first classic of the month, I went back and forth on whether to rate this book 3 or 3.5 stars (I think it's rated 3 on my storygraph, actually), because while there were parts that were slow/boring to read, some of the prose was very memorable, and the ending was excellent. I find Dracula to be a bit more readable, but if you're interested in these early sci-fi classics, I still definitely recommend it.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne - 2.5/5 Stars This book, on the other hand, I found mostly frustrating. I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more in a serialized fashion similar to Dracula Daily, because the long descriptions of travel to a place where nothing much happens and lists of fish and mollusk species that our main character saw quickly became boring. These moments were interspersed with genuinely interesting character moments and scenes of adventure, but reading the whole book in one week really detracted the impact of those scenes for me. Maybe read an abridged version if you're interested in the story but have more trouble with older books.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson - 4.5/5 Stars This was by far my favorite of the classic sci-fi (or would this be classic horror?) books that I read this month. The book is presented as a mystery that, as a modern reader, it's hard not to know the twist to, but even then, the execution keeps you engaged the entire time. This is by far the most readable of the classics I read this month as well, and is also very short, so there's nothing holding you as a modern reader back from checking this one out! I dinged it half a star because I found the ending to be a bit abrupt and unsatisfying; I wish we'd gotten to see our pov character react to the final explanations and truths instead of him just vanishing from the story. But still, this was very very good!

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - 4/5 Stars Do you want a sapphic YA fairy tale retelling where our black lesbian protagonist decides to attempt to single-handedly overthrow the patriarchy? Yes, yes you do. While not a perfect five stars, this book still felt absolutely tailor made to my specific tastes, and if I had been a teen myself when it came out I probably would have been obsessed with it. Kalynn Bayron just had a snow white retelling come out last month and if it's anything like this then I need it in my hands yesterday.

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells - 3/5 Stars Reading the book that is credited for popularizing the idea of a time machine as an avid fan of time travel stories today was an interesting experience. I have a few more books of his on my tbr to go before I can make a final judgement, but I'm not sure if Wells's writing style is really connecting with me. I found this to be a little more readable line by line than The Invisible Man, but there were more striking character moments in that book than in this one. Still, seeing the arguable origin of one of my favorite sci-fi subgenres was very cool.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - 2/5 Stars I started writing a stand alone review for this book and it's already over one thousand words long. It seems I always have more to say about a book that I thought was bad than a book I thought was good. Suffice it to say, this book had a good premise (if you're into that sort of thing) but it needed several more rounds of editing. It felt like I was reading an unpolished manuscript that had been sent out on submission, not a finished product that I paid money for. Very disappointing.

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson - 4.5/5 Stars There's not much you can say about this book on its own, as it's the third book in a trilogy, but suffice it to say it was a perfect ending to said trilogy. I have so much love for these characters and this world, and I can't wait to start reading era 2!...after I start Stormlight. And Warbreaker. Why am I trying to read the entire cosmere before Wind and Truth comes out why is this my life-

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan - 4/5 Stars So this is a book that I started on audio back at the end of May, and for whatever reason I listened to the first 60% or so in a few days and then just...stopped. Had no desire to pick it back up, not because it wasn't good, it was, it was really good, I just had some kind of mental block on it for some reason. Then in a burst of inspiration after finishing the Hero of Ages a few days ago, I put the book back on and listened to another hour of it, then finished the rest on ebook during a slow couple hours at work. Again, not much to say about this if you haven't read the first book, She Who Became the Sun, but I highly recommend this duology, it's incredibly written, queer as hell, and the ending was extremely satisfying.

Abeni's Song by P. Djeli Clark - 5/5 Stars Beginning the month where we started it with P. Djeli Clark, this time with his middle grade debut! I love middle grade books, I usually read at least one per month if not more, and this was an absolutely stellar example of the genre. A great coming of age story based on West African mythology with lovable characters and the type of plot that will keep even adults hooked, I highly recommend this and can't wait to read the sequel when it comes out next year!

[ankevanzweel]

Unboxing day 🎉 . . I received my July box from @thebcase . . Theme was Anti-Fairytale . . Stepsister by @jenwritesbooks And Becoming Dinah by @kitdewaal (proof copy) . . Bookish items. Magnetic bookmark, notebooks, cards and illustrations to name a few. . . I love this box so much, it was worth the wait.... thank you book case for this 😘😘😘 . . #thebcase #thebookcase #antifairytales #unboxing #bookbox #bookworm #bookadict #bookishitem #bookaholic #booksofinstagram #sabookstagram #southafricanbookstagrammer #sabookstagram #fairytales #ilovereading #fortheloveofbooks #bookishlife #instabooks #zabookstafeatures #newrelease #bookshelf #youngadultreader #cinderella #stepsister #jenniferdonnelly #becomingdinah #kitdewaal (at Klerksdorp) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1JQncjguE4/?igshid=2rl14sfe5grn

[thebookcaseofficial-blog]

Hello this is my recent book haul video on my channel TheBookCase this is also my new tumblr book blog which i will be posting reviews and new videos so keep an eye out :)

[drmichaelmajickmikelikey]

Continuing with #FBF let's fast-forward to 1993, and my newly-renamed show, "Magic Mike & Company"! "Origami" Bob Frayer from #Winnipeg's favourite little bookstore, #TheBookcase shares an Origami-segment with me. Enjoy!

[toptenbestblogs]

Best bookcase with drawers

Best bookcase with drawers

When it comes to deciding who makes thebookcase with drawers or who the bookcase with drawers are, there are a selection of world-renowned companies that you can rely on The good news is, we’ve tested tons of these increasingly popular true bookcase with drawers, and found the best of the best. Right now, our top pick is the Convenience Concepts American Heritage Ladder Bookcase with File…

[bookcaseofwayzata-blog]

It's books like this that make me wish I had superhuman metabolism and a million friends with birthdays every day of the week. Buy it here.

[lindsaycummingsbooks]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lindsay Cummings (Price) (@authorlindsaycummings)

The Murder Complex and I made it to Minnesota! Come TONIGHT, 7pm, to The Book Case (wayzata) for a signing and chat!! :) authors: paula stokes, philip siegel, Heather Anastasiu and Dawn Klehr will be signing too! #booknerdigans #themurdercomplex #thefeartrials #booktour #mmbbyatour #minnesota #booktour #thebookcase

[kannemeinelauthor]

The BookCase on Audio

The BookCase on Audio

The perfect apartment…or is it? Detective Becky Bonnie just wants a home in a safe area for her and her family. It’s cozy, beautiful, and reasonably priced. She can’t believe they got the beautiful place…but there is a catch as mysterious things begin to happen. What if you aren’t quite alone in your apartment…ever?

  Coming soon to:

[lunaslittlelibrary]

Lovely #books from @storytellers.inc Which will always be my haven. Always #beamermaid or a #unicorn🦄 Very much looking forward to finding the time for #TheBookcase by @davidashelton which I know is a me-book. ♥️ @dfb_storyhouse

[ironwoman359]

Wait is thebookcases ur YouTube channel you mentioned? Sorry if so for my earlier ask, if I'd just scrolled another couple minutes I could'a answered my own question lol 😅

Yes, lol, TheBookCases is mine and @mug-of-beans's booktube channel! I just released a wrapup video the other day, and we have a fun video talking about Batman! check us out!

[ankevanzweel]

I recieved my April Book Case by @thebcase I'm loving everything about this box... Enchantee by Gita Trelease #thebcase #thebookcase #magic #popupbox #enchantee #gitatrelease #FANTASY #notebook #summer #darkcover #romancenovel #paperback #books #Subscriptionbookboxes #mustread #gold #byebyesummer #toberead #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookstagrammersouthafrica #bookstagrammersa #bookblogger #funkopop #starwars #heroes #harrypotter #spells #protego #funko #funkopopvinyl #funkobobblehead (at City of Matlosana) https://www.instagram.com/ankevanzweel/p/BxAJuNSAayo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=rfvqdcsr0g8z

[thebookcaseofficial-blog]

Release by Patrick Ness Book review

Adam Thorn is having what will turn out to be the most unsettling, difficult day of his life, with relationships fracturing, a harrowing incident at work, and a showdown between this gay teen and his preacher father that changes everything. It's a day of confrontation, running, sex, love, heartbreak, and maybe, just maybe, hope. He won't come out of it unchanged. And all the while, lurking at the edges of the story, something extraordinary and unsettling is on a collision course. I have just finished this book and I'm a bit baffled by it. So the book set over a day as it says above but then there is also another story line running along side it about some different characters and I have no idea why. Patrick's writing is great and it's really easy to read and get into I just don't understand the concept I did read it over a few days so maybe that's why, it was a nice story I just didn't really get it. One thing I did like about the story was Adam and his dad and the relationship they have in the book because his dad is Christian and Adam is gay so the diversity there is great and it just brings something different to a 'contemporary' as I personally have never read anything like this. I don't want to write to much without ruining the story so overall the book was good but I could probably do with rereading it. 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

[ankevanzweel]

Just received the April Pop up Box from @thebcase Theme was the End of Summer Party. Book inside Field Notes on Love by @jenniferesmith #thebcase #thebookcase #theendofsummer #popupbox #fieldnotesoflove #jenniferesmith #pinneapple #unicornpen #notebook #summer #pastelcover #romancenovel #paperback #books #Subscriptionbookboxes #muatread #gold #byebyesummer #toberead #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookstagrammersouthafrica #bookstagrammersa #bookblogger (at Klerksdorp, North-West Province) https://www.instagram.com/ankevanzweel/p/Bwo2uN2AR4_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=b5nyli4i4mz8

[ankevanzweel]

Just received the April Pop up Box from @thebcase Theme was the End of Summer Party. Book inside Field notes of love by Jennifer E Smith #thebcase #thebookcase #theendofsummer #popupbox #fieldnotesoflove #jenniferesmith #pinneapple #unicornpen #notebook #summer #pastelcover #romancenovel #paperback #books #Subscriptionbookboxes #muatread #gold #byebyesummer #toberead #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookstagrammersouthafrica #bookstagrammersa #bookblogger (at Klerksdorp, North-West Province) https://www.instagram.com/the_a.word/p/Bwo2Zs0nebo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bb2p57kt17vt