abookishidentity

[abookishidentity]

Book I'm currently reading: The Guncle by Steven Rowley. I did not know until I started reading this book that I would really feel for the children as they went through something I'm currently going through.

However, my dad isn't in rehab so at least there's that. And I am so glad that I am not a small child.

[abookishidentity]

literary kinsey scale time

i’m just curious what mix of fiction and nonfiction the average tumblrina is consuming

[abookishidentity]

Murderbot: I have successfully removed a threat against my humans! I'm going to get a good grade in secuniting! Why are they screaming

[abookishidentity]

Two books I recently checked out of the library

System Collapse by Martha Wells- Needed something familiar to read. I love Murderbot. The problem is that I should have read this book sooner. I read most of them in 2023.

Elphie by Gregory Maguire- I decided to keep on reading things that were familiar to me to get me into reading again. This book is clearly a cash grab but it's entertaining.

[abookishidentity]

Why become a serial killer when you can watch movies instead?

[abookishidentity]

I haven't been able to read a book in over a week. Getting into something new at the moment feels like a lot.

I don't know. Maybe it's time to read something I'm familiar with. Like maybe it's time to read the latest murderbot book.

[abookishidentity]

Books read and finished in May 2025

-Confounding Oaths by Alexis Hall started May 1, 2025 and finished May 5, 2025- 4/5 stars. I liked this book better than the first one. The reason why things were happening didn’t piss me off like in the last book. A fairy godmother fulfilling a wish a little too well is something I can wrap my head around. My only gripe about this book is that it gets a little repetitive. Mr. Caesar’s sister disappears and or is taken away and they have to find her way too many times in this book. It makes the book feel a bit long. I am glad that we get to see Miss Bickle again. She was the best character in the previous book and I loved that she was in this book too. Just not as much. She’s hilarious. 

-When She Woke by Hillary Jordan started May 5, 2025 and finished May 7, 2025- 4/5 stars. This is The Scarlet Letter but more on the dystopian side that’s probably like The Handmaid’s Tale. So it’s a bit of a bummer to read. I like the growth of the main character in this book. She goes through so much shit. She has sex with the married reverend and then, unlike the scarlet letter, she has an abortion. She is then colored red as this is considered serious murder in this society. People are colored different colors based on their crimes which is interesting. They have to keep going in to get recolored every so often otherwise they start to mentally deteriorate and then die. In this world, there was a pandemic that made people infertile so having babies is quite a serious endeavor even after there was a cure. This book is mostly the main character trying to survive and get to a place where she could live peacefully. She is heavily encouraged to name the man who impregnated her (the reverend) and her abortionist. She doesn’t give either of them up. I highly suspect that even if she named the reverend people wouldn’t believe her. So it’s nice that at some point the reverend confesses all his sins on TV and falls from grace that way. Overall, a pretty good book.  

-When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi started May 8, 2025 and finished May 10, 2025- 4/5 stars. I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I was going to. Then again, it’s John Scalzi who is one of my favorite authors. This book is what happens when suddenly and out of nowhere the moon turns to cheese. Or a cheese-like substance. Each chapter is for each lunar cycle and we read about different characters. I thought these chapters wouldn’t connect with each other but they do. Some characters show up again and I like that. It was entertaining. John clearly did some research on certain things and I appreciate that. The characters were interesting. The ending made me question if the ending was suppose to be interpreted however you wanted. I want to interpret it in which the billionaire did really die in space when the moon cheese hit him and his ship. 

-Road to Ruin by Hana Lee started May 11, 2025 and finished May 13, 2025- 4/5 stars. Mad Max vibes with magic. I thought there were going to be more scenes of people trekking against the dusty lonely road. I’m glad it was minimal. Overall I liked this book. I guess it makes sense that if you are reading and delivering letters to two members of royalty you would fall in love with both of them. And both of them would care for you. Saving each other in various ways is always very lovely to read. A very interesting read. 

-Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo started May 14, 2025 and finished May 17, 2025- 3/5 stars. Victor’s other book, The Sleepless was a lot more interesting and I loved that book. This book was fine. I like what he was trying to do in the book.  It’s just if you advertise the book as rich bitches in space getting what they deserve then I would expect that to be the whole book. It was a lot of build up and it only happened the last 50-70 pages of the book. It didn’t feel like enough. Instead we get too much of the rich bitches fucking each other (in different ways) in the past and present. These rich bitches don’t use protection but I guess they could afford the consequences of unprotected space sex. The backgrounds of these rich bitches don’t feel like they matter if they are all simply going to die at the end. I liked Ava but she was part of the rich bitches so yeah. 

-Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa started May 18, 2025 and finished May 21, 2025- 4/5 stars. I wish the main character was able to use her magic more but she was limited and still a novice at using it. When she did, it was cool even if it was charm magic that made men stupid. Her taking out the KKK at the end was pretty damn cool. A lot of the book felt a bit repetitive. She held a nightclub/speakeasy. The night either went great or terribly wrong. I don’t know. Maybe because I’m not a drinker or a party person so I didn’t really care for those parts. I like how diverse everyone was. This book took place in the 1920s so naturally the main character and other women in this book had to deal with sexist and chauvinist bullshit. That got old after a while. It seems rather cruel that the main character had to deal with the KKK and mobsters. Her brother almost died several times so I feel bad for him. But overall it’s a good book. I just wish it focused on one antagonist. Mainly the mobsters. 

--The Best of all Possible Worlds by Karen Lord started May 22, 2025 and finished May 24, 2025- 4/5 stars. I liked this book a lot. It’s always fun to read about aliens. I like how different authors will come up with different aliens species and backgrounds. The aliens in this book have psychic powers and read minds and affect people’s perceptions of the world. Anytime I read aliens that remind me of Star Trek, I am happy. One of the aliens reminded me of Spock from Star Trek. Maybe that’s why I liked it so much. There was also some time travel in this book which was cool. Each chapter felt different from the previous. It reminded me of Becky Chamber’s first book in the Wayfarers series. I need to check out this author’s other works. I like her writing style. 

-The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki started May 24, 2025 and finished May 25, 2025- 3/5 stars. This is a translated book. I think some things get lost in translation. I wasn’t a huge fan of the book. It wasn’t for me. I thought talking cats would be interesting but they sounded preachy at times. The characters in this book needed therapy and not talking cats talking about astrology and shit. The book reminded me of What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama. 3-4 stories about different characters learning lessons about why their life sucks and what they should do about it. The books are trying too hard to be inspiring. 

-Noor by Nnedi Okorafor started May 25, 2025 and finished May 27, 2025- 4/5 stars. The main character is quite interesting with her body modifications and what not that she had to get in order to live. Of course a major evil corporation is behind it all. Interesting world. Interesting characters. It was a good book. Very realistic that taking down the major evil corporation cannot happen so easily and so soon. 

-When Among Crows by Veronica Roth started May 28, 2025 and finished May 29, 2025- 4/5 stars. This book is quite interesting as I have never read about Polish mythological creatures before. I don’t think I have read a book like this before. It was a quite short book so things moved on quite quickly. Characters sharing awkward sexual tension even though they just met is quite weird to me but oh well. It’s queer so that makes it more intriguing. I like how it ends. 

[abookishidentity]

Books I recently checked out of the library

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki- I honestly forget how I came to find this book. It sounds relaxing to read. And the fact that there are talking cats in it makes it much more imperative that I read it. It will probably remind me of the other translated books that I have read.

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor- I have read more than one book by this author now and I keep coming back because she has cool ideas for books. This book just sounds fun and interesting to read.

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth- I have read other books by Veronica Roth mainly the divergent trilogy and so it's interesting to see how YA authors write books more intended for adults.

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis- I have never read this author before. Goodreads has recommended me this book several times and I am now just getting to it. This books sounds right up my alley and I'm excited to read it.

The Sol Majestic by Ferrett Steinmetz- Never read this author before either. The first three books on this list are relatively short so I had to get a fifth book because of that. It sounds like this book will be a love letter to cooking and food as well. Pretty sure this book came to my attention because of Intersteller Megachef. The plot is different but the love for food is the same I'm pretty sure.

Money saved: $104.97

[abookishidentity]

No Snakes, Yes Snakes

[abookishidentity]

Books I recently checked out of the library

Road to Ruin by Hana Lee - I think I found this book by looking through the local library catalogue. It sounded interesting. It was interesting. I already read it. I haven't read many books in which there is a possible polyamorous relationship brewing. That was intriguing.

Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo- I have read Victor's other book called The Sleepless. That was quite good. When I was at my job weeks (months?) ago I saw this book and I thought it would be worth checking out. I am currently reading it. It's fine. I was hoping rich bitches in space getting what they rightfully deserved would be the entire book.

Bindle Punk Bruha by Desideria Mesa- The title alone is quite intriguing isn't it? I found it by looking at the new section on the library's website. If I like it, I am pretty sure there is a sequel. Flapper girl era with magic sounds entertaining to me.

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord - I found this book by browsing one of the library's catalogue. Aliens are involved and I like reading about aliens.

Money saved: $89.98

[abookishidentity]

> read library book

> it's good

Thank you library

[abookishidentity]

It always astounds me when people go to the library to check out books or use its resources and they don't have their library card on them.

[abookishidentity]

Yeah. Hi libraries still deserve your support. You’re paying for them.

You’re paying for databases that you can use to write your term papers: or just to read a paper

You’re paying to use a computer: even if your fines are crazy. (Most places will let you login as a “guest” rather than a patron)

You’re paying to show up to an event that the library is hosting for free. Even if you don’t live in county and especially IF YOU DO!! Go without a library card. The worst thing that’ll happen is that they’ll sign you up for one. Damn now you gotta go back and check out books and movies and shit THAT YOU ALREADY HELPED PAY FOR THE LIBRARY TO OWN?? Damn dude, what a curse.

Yeah hi. Your taxes for the library are being used by everyone who goes to the library every dimmidome day. Come chill at the library. Worst case scenario you can’t check something out, and you can just come chill with us for the day.

[abookishidentity]

ok but how do voice actors record tickle scenes

[abookishidentity]

2025 reads / storygraph

Something Extraordinary

historical platonic-romcom

an aromantic woman tired of feeling unworthy when the people closest to her leave her behind for romance, and a gay man in unrequited love who is planning on giving up and marrying a woman in misery and drunkenness

she kidnaps him the day before the marriage to stop him ruining his life, suggesting that they get platonically married instead - and on the ridiculous journey to scotland to elope, they have to convince each other if it’s what is best for them, and what they want out of life/love/and friendship

[abookishidentity]

Books read and finished in April 2025

--The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde started April 1, 2025 and finished April 3, 2025- 4/5 stars. You know, for a book called The Eyre Affair the stuff with Jane Eyre doesn’t really happen until the last fourth of the book. That was my only gripe about the book. This book was whacky in a very British way. I was into it. It was delightfully weird. I love that there are time cops and time stuff in this book. The main character’s dad popping in once in a while was quite amusing. There are quite a lot of organizations that deal with different stuff. Like vampires and werewolves. That was an interesting surprise. The villain was interesting and nearly omnipotent. Thursday Next is such an interesting name for the main character. I want to follow more of her exploits. I wish the remaining books were at my local library but there is a library nearby that has the series so thats good at least. Interesting world that I wouldn’t want to live in. 

-Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey started April 3, 2025 and finished April 4, 2025- 3.5/5 stars. This was a short book so there isn’t much I can say about it. Queer librarian spies are a pleasure to read about. I’m glad that the main character escaped her home life which seemed terribly homophobic and misogynistic. Shame that her “friend” was hanged by the main character’s dad. Wouldn’t want to live in this world. It’s wild to me how quickly the main character fell for one of the librarians she was with. 

-Early Riser by Jasper Fforde started April 4, 2025- 3/5 stars. What an interesting and yet dystopian world. Wouldn’t want to live in this world in which women are farmed. The dream aspect of this book was fascinating. The need for hibernation because of the cold ass winter was interesting. You know when books come with a glossary? That annoys me usually but for this book I would welcome it. Too many terms to keep track of. This world has corporations and of course they would construct something that would essentially make use of people who are essentially brain dead. I didn’t like that people referred to the main character as “Wonky” since he had a deformed head. This book didn’t hit as much as Jasper Fforde’s other book I read. 

-My Funny Demon Valentine by Aurora Ascher- 2/5 stars. Oh whoops I didn’t do enough research on this book. A lot more spice in a book than I was expecting. This felt like it was for certain audiences which is not me. If the couple in this book was queer then I would enjoy it more. At least they are practicing safe sex. Although, I don't know how safe or comfortable it is to have sex on a piano. Other than the sex, the plot is quite interesting. Its easy to see where its going though. Demons escaping hell is always fun to read. And at least they also like playing jazz together. At the end of the day this is a trash romantasy novel. Some lines felt like this was written over ten years ago. I stopped taking it seriously as soon as Ash said “Well…that just happened.” 

-Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett started April 9, 2025 and finished April 12, 2025- 4/5 stars. I love the Emily Wilde books. I deeply respect Emily’s dedication to research and her books. I don’t have much to say about this book as it was pretty good and entertaining. Wendel’s dedication to Emily is pretty sweet. There were moments in which I thought “Whats the rest of this book about?” I like the direction it goes. 

-Toto by A.J Hackwith started April 13, 2025 and finished April 15, 2025- 3.5/5 stars. Sometimes you have to read someone’s Wizard of Oz fanfiction. That’s what this felt like. Toto, being a tiny dog, can only do so much. He was given the power of speech which was helpful. It was kind of interesting that Dorothy lied about being to understand him. I guess she felt that her life was weird enough that her dog from Kansas being able to speak was just the icing on the weirdness cake. I like the additional characters. They were cool. I also like how the main group of characters were written. There was a lot of revolution and politics in this book which was deeply interesting. Although it felt like part of a book somewhat recently. I like that Elon Musk AKA The Wizard was blown up in his drone. I also like that it ends with Dorothy going on adventures with Evaline who was the wicked witch of the west. 

-An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka- 3.5/5 stars. If one likes magic systems and them being explained in many details then you would like this. I don’t really care how magic systems work. I mean it was a good book, it's just I didn’t really care all that much about the magic. The main character is quite interesting as he’s quite young (20 years old) and kind of inexperienced with the drucraft world. Which is a very depressing world as it's just like the real world in which you need money to do anything. An annoying thing about this book is that the main character has to deal with his rich bitches of relatives. Man if they just left him alone then he wouldn’t have so much grief in his life. It was interesting to read how he got better with his drucraft and his process in doing things. I don’t think I’m going to continue reading this series though. I don’t want to read about the rich bitches again. The main reason I picked this up is because I wanted to read a Benedict Jacka book. His Alex Versus series sounds more up my alley but who knows. 

-Court of Magickers by Novae Caelum started April 19, 2025 and finished April 22, 2025- 4/5 stars. This is the fourth book of the series. It’s a very interesting series. I love how complicated the characters and how diverse they are when it comes to identity and such. We follow one character who i think should have their own spin off series since what they are doing feels quite separated from the other characters. There are seven books in this series (I think) and I wonder if I will read the rest. This book was given to me by a family member who bought the books. It’s an indie author. I was told by someone online that the author has used AI in star work. It appears to be true and starself seems proud of it. Don’t like that. What a shame. Not reading further into the series.  

-The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong started April 23, 2025 and finished April 25, 2025- 4/5 stars. This book is quite cute. Sometimes a little too cute when things work out for the main characters. It’s fine though. The characters have suffered enough. I love the found family aspect of it all. Cosy fantasy is fun to read. I like fantasy elements when everyone and everything lives together. It was a fun read. 

-Interstellar Magachef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan started April 26, 2025 and finished April 30, 2025 - 4/5 stars. This book was pretty damn good. The main character deals with so much bullshit and xenophobia. It’s nice when things work out for her. The other main character was kind of insufferable. But it’s okay because a handful of people told her so and how she wasn’t that great of a person and needed to change. That was good stuff. Anyway, you could tell that the author really cares about food. I like that. Food is very much appreciated in this book. I honestly thought that the whole book was going to deal with the cooking show but the main character gets kicked off first due to xenophobia. What was interesting is when authors don’t have complete quotation marks when their characters talk. Another interesting thing were some of the character’s names. Serenity, Curiosity, Courageous, Good Nature, and etc were the first part of their names. It made things a little confusing to keep track of who was who. There was a character who was a xenophobic bully and she was quite annoying to read about. The main character and the other main character share a kiss and have feelings for each other which is weird because one of them is insufferable and I don’t understand this. Overall a pretty great book though. 

-The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn by Tri Vuong started and finished April 30, 2025- 4/5 stars. Man, graphic novels always leave you wanting more don’t they? It never feels complete. I picked this up because I finished the previous book earlier than I thought I would and I needed something to read for the rest of my work shift. Anyway, this graphic novel sounded like something I would read novels of. It sounded like urban fantasy. And I think it was? Oscar Zahn is such an interesting character. I want to read more about his background. The artwork was simply gorgeous. It was a good read.

[abookishidentity]

Something I think about

Sometimes when I look up a book, I am surprised in which genre or section its in. Like for example, I have always found it kind of weird that the Wicked Series by Gregory Maguire is found in the fiction section. Bookstores and libraries alike. Personally I would put it in the science fiction/fantasy section.

There are quite a number of books that I have pulled from the fiction section of the library I work at that I would consider to be part of the science fiction/fantasy section.

I wonder who decides where the book goes. I have looked this up before but the answer seems unsatisfying. I wonder if its different between the various libraries and bookstores.