Hey y’all! Hope everyone is having a good Wednesday. On Wednesdays I link up with the folks over at As Kat Knits – please head on over for lots of reading and knitting inspiration!
While I have done a lot of knitting in the past few days, nothing looks too much different since I last posted. That’s what happens when one row is 900 stitches haha! I’m plugging away and surprisingly still loving this section of the shawl!
However, on the reading front, there has been OODLES of progress. I basically did nothing during this long weekend for Thanksgiving except read and knit so….
I finished A Court of Thorns and Roses. While it wasn’t my absolute favorite (I don’t have the need for lots of romance in my fantasy) I liked it enough. I’ve heard the other books in the series get better, and I’m intrigued enough to put a hold on them in Libby but not seek them out in another way to read them right away.
I also read Gods of Jade and Shadow. I liked this one a lot! “Gods existing in the modern world and interacting with humans” is a genre I’m 100% down for so this is not very surprising lol. It also got me very intrigued about Mayan mythology in general, which I was not familiar with at all so I may do some further reading about that.
As I was reading A Court of Thorns and Roses and it was starting to get a little too romanc-y, I talked to my friend Kass and expressed my frustration with that. I just want to escape into a world of gods, monsters, fairies, whatever, and don’t need to whole relationship drama as well. She recommended this series to me. I started it and am working on it, but it’s taken a bit to grow on me. It’s a little darker and there’s a lot of storylines, but I’m getting more and more intrigued as I read on.
At one point over the weekend, I got to a part of The Fifth Season that was really heavy. I wanted something light and fun, and I saw that the first 3 Percy Jackson books were available to borrow from Hoopla, so I read the first one and I’m working on the second. I was obsessed with Greek mythology in elementary school, and especially loved the Myth-O-Mania series, so yeah this type of book is my jam and it’s a nice little mindless break. I’m excited to read some of the other series by and presented by Rick Riordan too!
Phew! That was fun š I don’t know if it’s a winter hibernation thing, but I’m really enjoying this reading kick I’m on lately. I was talking to one of my knitting friends this weekend about how for a while I was kind of sad that I didn’t read as much anymore. In elementary through high school reading was my “thing” and while I definitely found other things to be my thing (wow, such eloquent writing Kath), it was a bit sad to loose that part of me. It’s nice to feel like that’s coming back!
What are you knitting or reading this week?
I read The Fifth Season. I did find it a bit slow, but good. Right now Iām reading Young, Damned, and Fair. My knitting mojo has waned. Iām puttering on the TransPride socks but what I really want to do is cast on something new!
That book sounds interesting! Ah yeah casting on new is always a pull, especially as you near the end of a project!
I’ve been reading a lot lately. I am currently obsessed with Carry On and Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell….like I’ve been reading fan fiction….
Thank you so much for this! I have seen people fawn over Court of Thorns and Roses, but was a little sceptical after people fawned over the Maze Runner and that was … really bad. š I might give it a shot next year (thank God there are libraries). On book you might like is We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Firzal by the way!! It’s really, REALLY good, the second novel is to come out in January (at least I hope it will)
Ah yeah, itās always a disappointment when you donāt like a really hyped book, but everyone has different tastes. I wouldnāt call ACOTAR amazing but it was fine enough to set up the rest of the series.
Ooh yeah We hunt the flame looks right up my alley! Thanks for the recommendation!
Just a little warning – We Hunt the Flame DOES have a bit of romance, but I didn’t think it was overbearing or too much (and it was a LOT better written than the usual YA stuff!). Plus, romance wasn’t the focus of the story (BIG WIN)
Right Iām the most frustrated when itās the focus, I donāt mind some
That is the coziest picture EVER! I hope you never have to go back into the office (if you don’t want to) and can do that every day, lol.
I love that your reading game is so strong! I’ve added The Fifth Season to my TBR – I’m also looking for mythological creatures but minimal romance. Have you read anything by Leah Bardugo? I’ve read her one adult novel – The Ninth House – and it was amazing. I’ve also read a short story collection – The Language of Thorns – and enjoyed that, too. She has a YA (?) series that people also rave about, and I believe that it’s full of mythological creatures. I have no idea how romance-y it is though! I’m interested in finding out š
Your shawl is looking gorgeous. I can’t wait to see it finished!!
Hah! Yeah I do miss seeing people in person (thankfully having a roommate helps that) and faster internet to get things done, but Iām in no rush to get back!!
Ooh no, but Iāll have to look into her books!
What would you say the reading level is on “God’s of Jade & Shadow”? My Big is still in elementary but reading ahead of her time and it sounds like a genre she’d like. And because of her age, she has a lot of time to read! Not than I can keep up with.
My initial thought was that it was not specifically designed for YA, but that the reading level itself would be ok for an older elementary student, though there were some themes that would make me a bit wary as an elementary school parent. I looked it up on Goodreads to see if it was classified as YA, and I actually saw this note from the author which you might find interesting:
“Yes, this is an adult novel, as are all my other novels and novellas. SFF by women seems to be automatically classified as YA, which is where the error comes from.
PS: The reasons for having this out as an adult book have to do with the choices of my publisher, but also my own feeling that the omniscient tell-don’t-show bits of the novel would make it feel distancing and unappealing for teenagers (plus some other stuff, which I won’t go into right now). And sure, there’s adults who also hate omniscient POVs, but teens seems to hate them more (at least judging by the ones I know). If new adult had taken off as a category maybe that might have worked as a shelf, but it doesn’t seem to have done very well. Ultimately, I think it’s a fantasy bildungsroman, which may be very appealing to adults who like a fairy tale feel but also cross-over well to older teenagers.(less)”
900 stitches? Nine Hundred? I’m very impressed. here’s to good books and knitting.
Totally putting Jade & Shadow on my TBR list!
They sound like fun books! I have lately gone through the Vampire Knitting Club books, then found out the same author is also doing a book series with witches involved in the Great British Baking Show and also one about a vampire book club. None of them are great literature, but they are fun and kind of addictive š
Sometimes long rows on shawls can be enjoyable to knit, I’ve come across that too. I think it’s similar to the way I feel about stockinette sweaters knit in the round… I just keep knitting and don’t have to worry about what my hands are doing most of the time.
Sounds like you read some great books, too! I really enjoyed Gods of Jade and Shadow, and am hoping to get to The Fifth Season soon (though it’s not happening this year, hopefully 2021) because it sounds so good!
Oh, ouch, 900 sts? My goodness. I know his shawls tend to be very large. I loved, loved book two of COTAR; that was my fave. I have heard that Earth series is good. I loved Percy Jackson too. I took a Greek mythology class in high school and loved it. They are my favorite
Gods of Jade and Shadow was my book club’s book for November. Every single one of us loved the book! Since you’re into the Gods, have you read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller? I’m currently reading it and it’s so awesome. I’ll have to check out some of the other books/series you are reading š
Nice!! I started to read A Song of Achilles last year, but I wasnāt really in as much of a reading mood as I am now, Iāll have to give it another try.