Bookish Blerd

I'm a book buying junkie who buys books faster than I can read them. But what better way is there to live than surrounded by books?! I read as much as I can and I do my best to give coherent reviews...which doesn't always happen.  I enjoy many genres, which is likely the reason I struggle with deciding my next read.

SPOILER ALERT!

Review: World War Moo

World War Moo: An Apocalypse Cow Novel - Michael   Logan

This was...wowzers.  It was a very good sequel.  I'm not sure how I feel about that ending, but I also do not think it could have ended any other way.

 

Note To Self: Write a better review after the readathon.

 

Updated Review (too many days later):

 

So this was a bit more serious that it's wackier predecessor.  We are reunited with the survivors of Apocalypse Cow and are met with some new characters.  Now the secret is out that the British Government created a biological weapon, and that they inadvertently let out of the laboratory.  The virus, which was engineered for animals, has now mutated and made the jump to humans.  There is an entire island of infected people trying to make the best of the life they've been cursed with.  Meanwhile the rest of the world believes they have the right to make the decision about whether or not these infected people have the right to live.  The fear is that the infection will eventually escape the island and infect the rest of the world.  Both positions are understandable and even defensible.

 

Our heroes are thrust back into the thick of things.  Geldolf learns that his mother was right to hide him from his grandfather, who is a greedy old man concerned only with profits and securing his legacy.  When the man learns that his daughter is still alive on the island, he tasks his grandson with hiring a team of mercenaries to infiltrate Scotland and rescue her.  Geldolf invites himself on the mission, Both to escape his grandfather and to see his mother again--not positive that the rescue mission will work.

 

There are a lot of shenanigans by both sides, threats and posturing and both secretly plan to destroy the other.  The problem is that each side is only seeing things from their own viewpoint.  In the end members from both sides seem to see reason, but will the powers that be agree?  It's a bit of an open ending, which...meh.  Based on how the plot played out, it makes perfect sense.  It would have been hard to create a truly good ending choosing either side.  However; there is also and opening for another sequel, without the absolute necessity for one.  I enjoyed this very much, but am still not certain how I feel about the ending.  I'll go with neutral.

Reading progress update: I've read 260 out of 320 pages.

World War Moo: An Apocalypse Cow Novel - Michael   Logan

While this has gotten more serious, it still has its funny bits.

 

"...Got a comedian to tell them jokes. He swears the all laughed."

 

"What's a cow laugh sound like, the?" Tom said.

 

"I wasn't there, so I can't rightly say. A but evil, I imagine, like: Moo-ha-ha!"

Dewey's Read-a-thon [April 2020]: Mid-Event Survey

 

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? World War Moo by Michael Logan.
2. How many books have you read so far? Just one to completion.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Day By Day Armageddon: Shattered Glass
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? A few, but nothing too bad. It hasn't hampered my reading
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? That I haven't been interrupted to the point that it gets me out of the readathon mood. It's been really enjoyable.

Dewey's Read-a-thon [April 2020]: Hours 7-12

Mental/Physical Update: Still feeling good.  I will probably get up and stretch and move around after I post this.  It's also past time I got myself some dinner.  Interruptions have been minimal.  As I didn't get a great night's sleep I managed a 10-15 minute power nap which refreshed me.  We'll see how it goes into the night.  My headache has not returned, but I can sort of feel it at the edge of my consciousness.  It may come back and force me to go back to an audiobook.

Pages Read: 92

Minutes Listened: ... I'm not actually sure how many minutes I listed for after the last update

Books Completed: 1

I finished The Fireman by Joe Hill and picked up World War Moo by Michael Logan.  The Fireman was a good listen.  When the readathon is done I will do a proper review.  World War Moo has turned considerable more serious that the first book of the series.  It's kind of a downer, but not exactly.  The stakes have gotten higher, so the change in tone makes sense.  I guess the downer part is that they are fighting a virus that has mde the jump to humans so it's hitting a little too close to home right now.  I hope to finish it tonight and move on to my Day By Day Armageddon series. 

Reading progress update: I've read 100 out of 320 pages.

World War Moo: An Apocalypse Cow Novel - Michael   Logan

This book has become more serious than its predecessor.  While Apocalypse Cow did have serious bits, obviously, it was a lot more with the comedy and silliness.  This book has gotten down right serious.  As the virus has jumped now it's a fight for life on both sides of the fence.  And if faced with the choice, I have no idea which side I would chose.

Review: The Fireman

The Fireman CD: A Novel - Joe Hill

This was so good. And scary. Going through an actual pandemic at the moment has me scared that things will get as bad as they are in this book. Government could break down, people could start a revolution. You just don't know what scared people will do. Fear drives you to craziness. That being said, the characters were great. Harper was sweet and it was nice seeing her transition from the meek of a jerk to a tough independent women fighting to save her unborn child as well as the friends she made along the way. John, the Fireman was a piece of work. He was a jerk, but the kind you like. The kind who is only a jerk to keep you safe. All of the fear of the spore made everyone nuts--those infected and those not. It was well told, long but not overly so.

 

My only gripe is a reoccurring theme with Hill and his father Mr. King. Why must they always put some sort of animal death/abuse/torture in their novels. It's never necessary and it never to help the plot along. It's there for shock value and it's not an attractive trope. I hate it. I'm not sure how many more of their books I can read if this really is a common thread between them.

 

Note to self: I'll rewrite this later when there is more time to be eloquent. I just wanted  to write my initial feelings before I jump into my next read for Dewey's.

 

Note to self v2.0: I think this is as eloquent as I'm gonna get.

Reading progress update: I've read 91%.

The Fireman CD: A Novel - Joe Hill

Why the mother fucking cat?! Fucking Joe Hill and Stephen King cannot be trusted to protect animals in their novels.

Dewey's Read-a-thon [April 2020]: Hours 1-6

Mental/Physical Update:  I'm in good spirits so far.  Other than my morning starting off with fraudulent charges on my credit card, which have been taken care of, and a phone call from my manager telling me I'm due back at work on Monday because the masses cannot do without their alcohol.  I've had a few minor interruptions from hubby who wanted to tell me that there were burgers at 10:30am, my mother calling to check on me, them my husband again showing off his brunch burger (burger with fried egg on top) and then my kid just called from work and kinda ruined my sprint to the hour.  But I don't mind.  We work at the same company and have the same concerns and I always want to be there for her.  Her biggest complaint was going back to being on her feet all day after over a month off, LOL.

Pages Read:

Minutes Listened: 344

Books Completed: 0

I'm still working on The Fireman.  I was about 38% into it when I began this morning and am now at 85% on double speed that ain't too shabby.  Now I am going to put my headphones on and continue the book while I go decide it I want a burger, steak or sausage for lunch.wp-15878379170703426628301815263519.jpg

Reading progress update: I've read 78%.

The Fireman CD: A Novel - Joe Hill

Finally the assholes are getting what they deserve.  Sadly the good characters are getting caught up in it.  It's a real nail-biter wonder who's going to make it out unscathed.  Hoping to be finished by the time I do my first quarter update.  Enjoying!

Reading progress update: I've read 57%.

The Fireman CD: A Novel - Joe Hill

OMG this is so good, but some of the characters are pissing me the hell off!  Craziness.  and I'm not sure if it's the spore or the power that is making people cuckoo.

Dewey’s Read-a-thon [April 2020]: Opening Survey

I’m having a rough start to the readathon and it hasn’t even started. Sigh. Bad night of sleep due to headache. This may come into play during the readathon so I have a few more backup audiobooks queued up in my Overdrive app. All apocalypse, but what’s available is not zompoc. Sign, again. Staying positive though. Gonna post this early and then shower and get breakfast going. May or may not audiobook early.

Happy Readathon everyone!

Opening Survey!

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Philadelphia, PA, USA
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? All 3 Day By Day Armageddon books. I’ve started the series and am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? Pringles. It’s the last can in the house and they have become like currency in my house during the quarantine and no one is sure how.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I’m about to be forced back to work, because somehow liqor is more important than lives, and I’m very nervous about travelling on public transportation (as I don’t drive). This readathon means a lot to me right now.
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? Enjoy myself. I let things/people bother me last time and I did not enjoy myself. If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-Thon [April 2020]: Prep

My prep for the upcoming readathon.

SPOILER ALERT!

Review: Finding Finn

Finding Finn: Wolf Shifter Mpreg Romance (Wolf's Mate Book 1) - Kiki Burrelli

This was what it was, a short shifter romance novella. The story was interesting, but the writing seemed rushed in places, which is why I only gave it three stars. The transitions from one scene to another were nonexistent. They were doing one thing, the chapter would end abruptly, and then they were doing something completely different in the new chapter. It wasn't a bad read, I'd consider reading the rest of the series.

 

Finn is a mentally fragile young man who goes to stay with his favorite sibling, Frannie. What Frannie didn't tell him was that she was going to be away for a week and that her handsome friend Luke would be staying at the house as well. Luke is a wolf shifter, who recognizes Finn as his mate the first moment he saw him. Luke never thought it was possible because he is gay. He spent the last 20 years of his life as a lone wolf because of his sexual preference, as his father kicked him out and then blacklisted him from other packs. Now somehow Luke has found his mate and ended up in an area run by and eccentric alpha that's more on the crazier side of eccentric, and his father is part of the pack

 

Things get weird quickly. Mating with Finn as thrown him into heat at the shock of everyone as Finn is human. And now the creepy alpha of the territory wants Finn for himself, even though he mated to Luke. Luke somehow makes up with his father, and the take in three random stray lone wolves and create a makeshift pack. Finn gets preggers, the alpha strikes and Luke kills him easily(almost too easily.) Finn gives birth to a baby girl, and at the end his sort-of friend Christian shows up out of nowhere after having disappeared midway through the novella. As I said, the quickness of everything would have been better suited with proper transitions, but this was exactly what I expect it to be when I picked it. And I am interested in seeing where Christian disappeared to and what he knows because in this reality, shifters are unknown.

Quarantine Day #39

The Negative: I have still yet to get myself together.  My reading has been crap, my cleaning has been crap, my laundry is still only about half done.  I've broken three nails in the last two days--like waaay down. And some days I just find my self irritated with everything for no real reason.  I am surrounded by my family 24/7.

 

Two (extended) family members have contracted COVID-19.  Both are a little past middle age, and one has underlying conditions that could make it really bad.  But I have hope that they will be all right.  That's all any of us can do.

 

The Positive: I have not yet killed anyone.  I have not yet spiraled into a deep depression.  And I am still making an effort, however minimal, to get myself together.  And I am surrounded by my family 24/7.  We have plenty of food, snacks, toilet paper and activities.  My Leeloo, after being a cuddly, lovey kitten, turned into a standoffish, wouldn't sit on your lap if it was the last safe place on earth--especially if you're on the couch-- adult cat, is now starting to sit on my lap...on the couch!

 

I'm prepping for the upcoming Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon.  And because we're all on "lock-down" I don't have to worry about coordinating my work schedule with the readathon.  I'm planning to just enjoy myself.  We'll see how it goes.

 

I hope everyone is doing well!

Conundrum...

...My Book Outlet box arrived.  My kiddo sprayed the outside of the box with lysol and now I'm gonna let it sit untouched for a day or two to be cautious...which is torture! Will see how long my will power holds.  Who can sit with a box of books in their midst and not open it?!

 

Review: Savage Tears

Savage Tears (Savage (Leisure Paperback)) - Cassie Edwards

This wasn't completely terrible, but this wasn't up to par with what I'm used to reading from Ms. Edwards. I listened to this because I was looking for an old school historical romance with damsel in distress and all the tropes. This was just meh. I know it was a short novel, but you can get plenty across in a small amount of words, which was not done here. It was an okay enough story, but it was lacking.

 

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