The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-12-25

Last week’s picture was of Hecate as the “Girl Cat with a Pearl Earring”, although I didn’t catch the resemblance to the famous painting until a few days later. This week’s cat picture is either Hecate surveying HER domain, or Hecate’s Winter Wonderland. After all, it’s always HERS, even if it’s seldom covered in snow.

We only got about 2 inches of snow here in Atlanta, but it was the heavy wet stuff and it stuck. (There’s a better picture of just how much snow and what it looked like fresh in yesterday’s Stacking the Shelves.) The whole of the ATL shut down in anticipation – which turned out to be a good thing as it doesn’t snow often enough here for there to be any plows or for people to get used to driving in it. (As I write this on Saturday the streets and driveways have already melted but the grass is still snow-covered.)

In the meantime, Hecate is keeping an eye on things just to make certain that the snow doesn’t do anything that she hasn’t given it permission for.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the New Year New You Giveaway Hop (Ends Wednesday!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Books in the Winter 2024-2025 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: Holmes is Missing by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
A- #BookReview: Blood is Blood by Will Thomas
B+ #BookReview: Rebellious Grace by Jeri Westerson
B #BookReview: See How They Hide by Allison Brennan
A- #AudioBookReview: Free as a Bird by Hailey Edwards
Stacking the Shelves (635)

Coming This Week:

The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks (#BookReview)
Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire (#BookReview)
The Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (#BookReview)
Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
The Serpent Under by Bonnie MacBird (#BlogTour #BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-5-25

I don’t know about you, but I woke up on January 2 and it felt like someone flipped a switch somewhere, because suddenly after the holiday ‘twilight zone’ life snapped right back to normal. OTOH, I stayed up New Year’s Eve playing videogames instead of partying. There’s still a bit of a hangover, but it’s not nearly as debilitating late the next morning!

Howsomever, Hecate is still looking back wondering WTF at 2024 in her little rearview. Or over her cute but not so little kitty butt. I ask you, is that a face or is that a face? (I wonder if in her little brain, she’s looking back at Tuna’s look from last week and commiserating?)

But the show must go on! After all, there are new and more books to read in 2025, which is always a YAY regardless of what else happens. Although speaking of things happening, it looks like Amazon woke up one morning, remembered that they actually OWNED Goodreads, and decided to start playing with things. I know that Amazon sees all and knows all, but if you’ve linked your Amazon account and your Goodreads account they started combining stuff regarding challenges and display of books read that tells a little too much all in ways that may or may not work for you. They certainly didn’t for me and I had to fix a couple of things to make their ‘fixes’ go away. Hopefully that’s not the shape of things to come for the coming year but I’m not holding my breath. Or as I sometimes say, I wouldn’t bet my own money.

Still and all, HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to 2025!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Books in the Winter 2024-2025 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the New Year New You Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Dashing December Giveaway Hop is Lisa B.

Blog Recap:

Grade A #BookReview: Unquiet Spirits by Bonnie MacBird
C #AudioBookReview: Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
New Year, New You Giveaway Hop
Most Anticipated Books of 2025
A- #BookReview: Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz
Stacking the Shelves (634)

Coming This Week:

Holmes is Missing by James Patterson and Brian Sitts (#BookReview)
Rebellious Grace by Jeri Westerson (#BookReview)
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (#BookReview)
Blood is Blood by Will Thomas (#BookReview)
Free as a Bird by Hailey Edwards (#AudioBookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-22-24

It’s only three more sleeps until both Christmas and Hanukkah. Are all of your presents wrapped and ready to go? This morning’s cat picture is of Hecate being oh-SO-helpful last weekend while we were wrapping presents. It took repeated applications of the Monster Vacuum to keep the cats off the dining room table long enough to get the job done. Miss Hecate kept popping back up on the table and/or getting underfoot much too quickly after each application – but it did work (mostly) and isn’t she adorable?

Last week’s readings didn’t quite go according to plan. In my head, I thought that the audiobook of Blood Jade was about 10 hours, and that I’d be ready to switch to the text on Wednesday to finish the book in time for a Friday review. My head was in error on both counts. The story is awesome, the narrator is marvelous – Natalie Naudus is one of my faves, especially for stories like this one – but the audio is more like 15 hours and I wasn’t ready at all to give up the fantastic audio in order to listen to the voice in my head who sounds much more like me than a professional narrator.

Very much OTOH, I expected – and I’ve started the book so I know I’m right at least so far – that Echo would be terrific and compelling. But it’s also set in a typical February in Chicago, and I wasn’t quite prepared to face THAT. (I lived in the Chicago area for more than 20 years and February sucks. It’s too damn cold, it’s still much too dark, and spring feels like it’s eons away even if it’s (probably, hopefully) not. Now I’m into the book and I’m sure I’ll get it done if I haven’t already by the time you read this. (I’m writing on Friday.)

One final note on scheduling. Officially, the Winter 2024-2025 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop started yesterday, so if you want to get in on it immediately hop on over to Versatileer and check it out. Howsomever, I’ll be posting Reading Reality’s entry in the hop tomorrow, on Monday, December 23.

“Just one more thing,” to quote a classic TV detective of yesteryear. This is the last full week of 2024 – as difficult as THAT might be to believe. This year has gone by SO FAST. Nevertheless, 2024 is on its way out the door, which means that it’s time for Reading Reality’s Best Books of 2024 post, coming this very Friday.

There’s LOTS in store here this holiday week. I hope you’ll take a bit of time to stop by and see what’s up! Happy Holidays!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Holiday Giveaway Event!
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Fall 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop is Nancy

Blog Recap:

Dashing December Giveaway Hop
A- #BookReview: Wedgetail by M.L. Buchman
B #AudioBookReview: Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur
B #BookReview: Miss Amelia’s List by Mercedes Lackey
B #BookReview: Love in Other Worlds edited by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Stacking the Shelves (632)

Coming This Week:

Winter 2024-2025 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
Echo by Tracy Clark (#BookReview)
Xmas Day (#GuestPost by Galen)
Blood Jade by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle (#AudioBookReview)
Best Books of 2024 

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-8-24

It’s beginning to look a lot like the end of the year is coming on fast. Entirely too fast! Which means both holiday presents to wrap and New Year’s Resolutions to make.

I’m not really talking about actual New Year’s Resolutions – because those seldom work. It’s more about cogitating on what changes need to be made for Reading Reality. Last year it was the decision to start posting on Instagram, something I’d been debating for a couple of years and finally made the plunge because Twitter was getting weird and I felt the need to start posting on a different – and less weird – social media channel.

And Twitter/X got even weirder and more toxic, so I think the Insta decision was a good one. But it’s looking like it’s time to bail on the whole X thing and that’s what I’m looking at now, both at Bluesky and Threads. If you have any thoughts or experience or both on either service, I’d be VERY interested in hearing about it!

With cats in the house, wrapping presents is always a problem. They ALL want to HELP. Which means playing with the wrapping paper. After all, if it interests us, it interests them even more! And we pay SO MUCH attention to THEM when they’re playing with it. Even better – at least from their perspective.

So, we brought the vacuum cleaner into the room with the big table. We’re planning to run the “Monster Vacuum” while we wrap. Based on past performance, we think a five minute blast of Mr. Vacuum will vacate the room for at least an hour!

Because that little story absolutely BEGS for cat tax, here’s a picture of Hecate looking rather dignified. This might become her “official” portrait.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Holiday Giveaway Event!

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Holiday Book Bingo Challenge Giveaway in the 2024 Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon is Kai

Blog Recap:

Holiday Amazon/PayPal Giveaway Event!
A- #BookReview: How to Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis
A- #BookReview: A Snake in the Barley by Candace Robb
C+ #AudioBookReview: Orbital by Samantha Harvey
B #BookReview: The Hero She Deserves by Anna Hackett
Stacking the Shelves (630)

Coming This Week:

Mechanize My Hands to War by Erin K. Wagner (#BookReview)
Bayou Book Thief by Ellen Byron (#BookReview)
Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood (#AudioBookReview)
Dead as a Dodo by Hailey Edwards (#AudioBookReview)
I Made It Out of Clay by Beth Kander (#BlogTour #BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 11-17-24

It’s beginning to look a lot like…it’s getting much too close to the holidays! Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, and it’s time for Caffeinated Reviewer’s annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon. Reading Reality is one of her elves this year, so my challenge post is coming up OMG THIS THURSDAY!

Speaking of the holidays, and the season, and everything, today’s cat pic is Hecate, managing to show off that she is both a bit round like a pumpkin AND has pumpkin colored patches on her underside that match the floor a whole lot more than I thought.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Fall Giveaway Event!
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop is Cindy

Blog Recap:

#GuestPost: Veterans Day 2024: Readings
A- #BookReview: The Bloodless Princes by Charlotte Bond
A+ #BookReview: The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
A- #AudioBookReview: Crazy as a Loon by Hailey Edwards
B #AudioBookReview: The President’s Brain is Missing by John Scalzi
Stacking the Shelves (627)

Coming This Week:

Feuds by Mercedes Lackey (#BookReview)
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman (#BookReview)
Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher (#BookReview)
Ho-Ho-Ho Readation 2024 Book Bingo Challenge (#2024HOHOHORAT)
The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne (#2024HOHOHORAT #BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-15-24

Hecate is often the “odd kitty out” in our cat pictures. She’s never been an only child, but it’s really clear that she’d prefer to be. She certainly is our problem child, as in the last two weeks we’ve discovered that she a)has crystals in her urine, which is a condition that mostly affects male cats. It’s also a condition which necessitates prescription food, so everyone is getting even fancier food now. And b) she has asthma. If it’s seasonal, well, that’s every spring and fall around here. Fortunately, the little witch is very food motivated, so getting her to take her meds with a treat is going well – at least for the moment. She’s a cat, we expect that to change but we’ll take the win while it lasts.

She seldom appears in pictures with the rest of the clowder, so after all of her little issues this month so far – and OMG September is only half over – she deserved a picture of her very own. We even managed to get one where she exhibits a bit of dignity along with her tortitude!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Summer 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Early Fall Giveaway Event

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: This World Is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
B #BookReview: Fury Brothers: Take by Anna Hackett
A- #BookReview: A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
B #BookReview: We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda
Grade A #BookReview: Chasing New Suns by Lance Robinson
Stacking the Shelves (618)

Coming This Week:

Falling Into Leaves Giveaway Hop
The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman (#AudioBookReview)
The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club by Susan M. Boyer (#BookReview)
The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak (#BlogTour #BookReview)
Blood and Magic by Lauren Dane (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-11-24

I’m trying to figure out what’s going on between Hecate’s ears in this picture. She’s leaning against one of the dining room chairs, looking like she’s either high as a kite on ‘nip, or just so dazed and confused in general that she can’t sit up straight. Based on the pictures the cat sitter is sending, Hecate and George are bonding and giving each other the courage to approach and be petted.

We’re still away on vacation but we’ll be heading home later this week. We miss the kitties a LOT!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Summer Giveaway Event
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A+ #BookReview: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
B+ #BookReview: Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
B #BookReview: Where is Anybody? by Simon R. Green
A #BookReview: A Vengeful King Rises by Sophie Barnes
A- #BookReview: Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
Stacking the Shelves (613)

Coming This Week:

Time’s Agent by Brenda Peynado (#BookReview)
She Who Knows: Firespitter by Nnedi Okorafor (#BookReview)
New Adventures in Space Opera edited by Jonathan Strahan (#BookReview)
Anatomy of Evil by Will Thomas (#BookReview)
Old School Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-4-24

We’re still away on vacay, as might be deduced from George’s and Hecate’s suspicious little faces as they hide under the dining room table.

You might not be able to see Hecate unless you know to look for her. That dark tortie coat of hers hides VERY WELL in the shadows.

So the cats are not having a great week, and we miss them as much as they miss us.

This week’s reads were a combination of very good and very interesting – although not necessarily in the same books. And next week looks to be more of the same in that regard.

We’ll certainly see, won’t we?

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Summer Giveaway Event
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop is Angela

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: Sentinel Security: Stone by Anna Hackett
#BookReview: The Nightingale’s Castle by Sonia Velton
A- #BookReview: Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard
Apple A Day Giveaway Hop
A+ #BookReview: The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
Stacking the Shelves (612)

Coming This Week:

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher (#BookReview)
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid (#BookReview)
Where Is Anybody? by Simon R. Green (#BookReview)
A Vengeful King Rises by Sophie Barnes (#BlogTour #BookReview)
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 5-5-24

Yesterday was Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with You!) Today is Cinco de Mayo. Next Sunday is Mothers’ Day. And it’s SPRING! Really, truly spring, whatever that might mean where you specifically are. Here it also means that summer is literally just around the corner and will be springing out any day now.

Today’s picture may look a bit more like Fall – but we won’t be thinking about THAT season for a while around here. Nevertheless, there’s Hecate, definitely looking her witchy best with all of her Halloween-colored fur on display. She’s also been BEING a witch, but that’s something else altogether!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Come What May Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Spring 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Rain Drops on Roses Giveaway Hop is Viki S.

Blog Recap:

Grade A #BookReview: Lost Birds by Anne Hillerman
A- #BookReview: People in Glass Houses by Jayne Castle
Come What May Giveaway Hop
B+ #BookReview: Knightqueen by Anna Hackett
B #BookReview: My Dearest Mackenzie by Rachel Blaufeld
Stacking the Shelves (599)

Coming This Week:

Funny Story by Emily Henry (#AudioBookReview)
The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan (#BlogTour #BookReview)
Black Shield Maiden by Willow Smith and Jess Hende (#BookReview)
The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo (#BookReview)
In Our Stars by Jack Campbell (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 4-14-24

It’s time to bid this year’s Blogo-Birthday Celebration farewell. The posts have posted, the giveaways have all found winners, so it’s back to the usual here at Chez Reading Reality for another year.

Although the usual isn’t quite so usual this past week, as one of my rare ‘D’ graded reviews spewed itself over the blog earlier in the week. There have been a few books over the years that I detested every page but couldn’t put down – and then couldn’t get out of my head – and Space Holes absolutely was one of THOSE. Hence Wednesday’s rant-fest. I’ve heard that the audio makes it better, but I can’t even. I’d rather listen to something I’m actually enjoying – which I am at the moment with The Murder of Mr. Ma.

Staying with that enjoyment topic, we were treated to a rare sighting of the girl cats coexisting peacefully even as they are clearly exhibiting the traits that make that sight so very rare. Luna is looking up, all bright eyed and eager for any attention or her next adventure, while Hecate’s face is firmly fixed in a glower, declaring wordlessly but with a VERY speaking glance that she would much rather be alone – or at least alone with her humans and without any squeaky little interlopers harshing her not exactly mellow.

 

 

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop (ENDS TOMORROW!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Spring 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of ANY BOOK BY MARTY WINGATE is Betty
The winner of ANY BOOK IN THE BARKER & LLEWELYN SERIES is Leela
The winner of ANY BEST BOOKS OF 2024 SO FAR is Cali
The winners of the LUCKY 13 BLOGO BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY are Anne, Billie, Carolyn, Lisa, Shelly, and Susan

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: The House on Widows Hill by Simon R. Green
B #AudioBookReview: No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson
D #BookReview: Space Holes: First Transmission by B.R. Louis
Grade A #BookReview: A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke
A++ #BookReview: Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco
Stacking the Shelves (596)

Coming This Week:

Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton (#BookReview)
Rain Drops on Roses Giveaway Hop
The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar (#BookReview)
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark (#BookReview)
What Cannot Be Said by C.S. Harris (#BookReview)