Halloween Read

I don't usually do this but I thought I'd read this book now because Halloween is right around the corner. I'm not quite finish with it yet but I need to be done before Halloween.

In short, her life sucked and then she died but she sucked at dying and now she's learning how to be a ghost. Seriously, it's a fine combination of sad/funny. At first, you swear this is about to be a rom-com but I am almost halfway finished and nope. I'm good with that though because I don't need her to fall in love or whatnot. I mean, at this point, how would that work?

It's not exciting and it's not really that spooky. I guess I was hoping for fantasy with sarcasm and I got sarcasm with fantasy. I'm used to a bit more lore and just creepiness. I read Vertigo Comics. Just saying. I can feel someone about to 'son' me right now with a creepier independent company. But anyway, this does not take away from the book. It would be a quicker read if it weren't so depressing but Notaro's humor keeps the depression in check.

I definitely had flashbacks to Dead Like Me. Remember Dead Like Me? It was great. This book is not as great as Dead Like Me. I don't want to slam this book but I don't want to lie to you.

See:

I picked the Season 2 trailer for Roxy.

Impulse Buy

I  bought this on an impulse. I don't actually have a coffee table on which to display it. So pretty though. 9.98 at Barnes and Noble. Still happy.

I love the library

I love Detroit Public Library-Main Branch. I love the library in general but my day was brighten by the Main Branch. I went into check out a book that was not checked in yet. The librarian kindly retrieved the book and then proceeded to checked it in. She could have easily told me to come back. I would have come back despite having to fight after work/DIA event traffic to get there after work. I really wanted to read this book but could not justify it in my budget crammed with other unjustifiable purchases. While I was waiting on her to retrieve the book, I found three other books I've been meaning to read from GoodReads. On my way out, I passed by youth program (HYPE). It's pretty much everything I have ever loved about the library. I smiled all the way back to my car.

They also have a fantastic library used book sale twice a year. Seriously, it's multiple rooms filled with used books and a good number of them are fairly new.

Also, I am on a break from Storm of Swords because after my heart got broken I had to read about Brown Ben Plumm. Seriously, George R.R. Martin? SERIOUSLY?! It's not that I don't like the character but I feel like we could have used other words than "nappy" to describe his hair. His tone might not be all magical Negro but it's a bit close.

Books cause Feelings

I am reading George R.R. Martin's Storm of Swords and had to my version of this. I think of this clip whenever a book I love upsets me and I need to take a moment.

Thank You For Smoking

After suffering somewhat of a reading slump, I was excited to read this book. The portion of the movie I saw seemed really interesting. The book wasn't a bad read by far. The premise and satire was potent enough to carry it through and some of the jokes did land nicely. The book's pace is fast which also helped. And now for the side eye portion of the reading experience. The running gag about black women could have been left in the author's head. The lead character Naylor, while charming, was more likable in the movie than in the book. The ending itself also felt too nicely wrapped. And so 3 stars on goodreads. I am reading the second book in the Ladies Detective Agency book and after that I'm sure I'll dip my toe in Storm of Swords.

So Good but sooo long

Spending my Friday night trying to finish this epic book. It's great and interesting and a journey but damn is it long. There's adventure, religion, politics, family lines (which I have to tell you internet, is not a selling point for me in fantasy novels)and tortured romance. I am reading an electronic copy now and I feel like it's a book that readers faster in physical hard copy form.

Overcoming initial reactions

This isn't the cover of the book but I really like this picture. I didn't think I'd like this book. My first reaction was "Older white guy writing about an African woman starting a detective agency? Okay, Internets." I cringe every time I think about James Patterson describing Alex Cross (Young Muhammad Ali), I mean really. I hear the rest of that series is pretty though. However, I kept collecting the books at used book sales. Eventually, I collected his other books as well. This can be partial explained by my impulsive behavior at used book sales. I mean, where am I'm going to find these books in good condition for a dollar ever again? I know. I'm working on it. Anyway, I finally read the first book in the series and I enjoyed it. The book reads like a series of short stories (I heart short stories) that are connected. There were some bits that made me roll my eyes but I can't tell if it's from my ignorance regarding Africa and how it is referenced. This only happened a few times so for the most part, I enjoyed it.