DreamWeaver's Escape From Reality

Greetings all!

So, the last few years have been…interesting. Yeah, we'll go with that.

But 2022 is going to be different. I'm starting out the year moving into a new house. In a new state. Which means - New Libraries!

I'm very hopeful that my new routine (as soon as I get one), will support me in getting back to my old reading habits. In the Before Time, I was reading multiple books a week. Now…well, now I'm looking after my two kiddos by myself while packing up my house to move across the continent. Let's just say it's been a while since I popped in my headphones and lost myself in a good story.

So to start out the year, I'm going to set myself a goal of 75 books.


Below I the books I've read each month. Click on the image to go to the relevant post. I'll put a list of the titles etc. behind a spoiler tag to minimize scrolling.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
(1. Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas) (2. Undeath & Taxes by Drew Hayes) (3. Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask by Anton Treuer) (4. What's Your Pronoun?: Beyond He and She by Dennis Baron) (5. Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary)

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
(6. Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb) (7. The Wide-Awake Princess by E. D. Baker) (8. James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot) (9. Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings) (10. Tempest In The Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend)

3. Feb

4. Mar

5. Apr

6. May

7. Jun

8. Jul

9. Aug

10. Sep

11. Oct

12. Nov

13. Dec

Celebrating the little wins
The First 5 done, and all in the first week of the year!

15. Celebrating the Big wins

DNF
This year I'm promising myself I won't keep reading any book I don't like. Here be the Hall of Shame

1. The End of Gender by Debra Soh - Ug, this one was bad. While the first couple of chapters had a few good points, the misinformation and obvious bias, not to mention the damage done by both, was too much for me.

Cover Image Key

This year, I've decided to make my posted covers uniform and a little more informative. Here is how to read them:

Book Source:
Book Genre:
Book Format Consumed:
Book Length:
Book Rating: I think you can figure the stars out

Notes

Hiyah Dream! Glad you're joining us for 2022.

ed!!

Welcome back to the PNW! I'm based in Portland, which isn't that far from Tacoma. Happy reading!

This group always helps me to read; welcome back, Amanda.

Happy reading in 2022, Amanda!

Have a great year exploring new libraries and reading new books!

>20 Berly: I love Portland! It has such great energy and food! I am so glad Seattle has a few Salt & Straws. Now I only have to go down for Pine State Biskets, Byway's Cafe, and all the great food trucks!

And let's not talk about Powell's Books.

>19 drneutron: Thanks, I'm really hoping I can stick with it this year.

>21 PaulCranswick: Here's for hoping ;) I already have received a few BBs, even before the year started.

>22 FAMeulstee: Thanks, same to you

>23 thornton37814: Thanks, it's surprised me how much bigger the digital collection is in my new home library has. I have to wait till next weekend to get a physical card, as I only just physically got here last night (Hubby's been here for a few months for his new job), just in time to see some fireworks on the drive home.

>24 dreamweaver529: Oh no, lets do talk about Powell's!! LOL. Hoping sometime this summer COVID will be behaving and maybe we can have an LT get together. Crossing fingers.

>25 dreamweaver529: You really did just get here. A firework welcome and all!

>26 Berly: I'm not allowed within a 5 block radius of Powell's with anything more than my wallet. No backpack, no purse, nothing that will let me carry more books than my hands.

And a meet-up sounds great. Let's hope things all trend in the right direction to make traveling safe again.

Hi Amanda! Your new PNW home caught my eye in the intros thread -- I'm up in Seattle :) Happy reading this year!

>26 Berly: I would definitely try to make it for a Powell's meet-up, COVID permitting!

>27 dreamweaver529: I hate to break it to you... but they offer shopping baskets in-store. I learned this during my last trip in October, when my delicately balanced pile took a few tumbles and I succumbed to the basket.

>27 dreamweaver529: LOL. That's very funny. I usually have a reusable bag in my purse I could slip you....

>27 dreamweaver529: >28 curioussquared: Perfect! We'll see how things go. : )

>27 dreamweaver529: I'm sure Powell's can help you find a box! ;-)

>30 thornton37814: Shhhh. Don't tell my husband.

#1
Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas
The Ravenels Book 6


I do enjoy a historical romance where the relationship isn't toxic. Lisa Keypas does a good job with that. This book, like the rest in the series, does suffer from the love/lust-at-first-sight issue, especially on the guys side, but the relationship that evolves is healthy.

I will be reading more of her books.

#2
Undeath & Taxes by Drew Hayes
Fred, the Vampire Accountant Book 2


As an Accountant, I do loves these books. My husband read me the beginning of the first book in the series while I was in labor with our daughter. They are dry and witty, and a good change from "Alpha Male" heroes. I already have the next one from the library.

#3
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask by Anton Treuer


Wow. Just wow.

I can't recommend this book enough. Not only was it well written and organized, making it very easy to follow, it didn't sigh away from hard topics.

#4
What's Your Pronoun?: Beyond He and She by Dennis Baron


There is a lot of good information in this book. It takes seriously the lack in English of a gender-neutral singular pronoun and the history of how it has been addressed.

Another must recommend.

Okay, first of all, four books already!!

Second, how do you make your book illustrations? I love them!!

>36 Berly: My job means I can listen while I work, and I've been doing this long enough that I can listen and 2x speed. It means I can get through them quickly.

As for the illustrations, I'm a visual person. Too much text makes my eyes glaze over.

I use GIMP, a free software program. I created a single file with many layers, one for each element. I turn them on and off as I need them. For example, I have a layer for the star, then a layer for each 1/2 star increment. To do 4.5, I have that one visible and make the rest invisible. Same with the other symbols.

Then I just add the cover (I try for audio covers, as they are square).

Now that I have the pieces all in place, creating one is really easy.

#5
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Ramona Quimby Book 1


My mom loves these books, and I can see why, as she was the older sister to a bunch of crazy little ones. I was the older crazy sister. It was still a fun book to listen to. And a nice break from some of my deeper stuff.

Wow, I didn't think I'd get my first 5 books done in the first week of the year. Granted my next book is nearly 30 hours, so it might take me a bit.

#6
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
Realm of the Elderlings Book 2


There is a reason I stopped reading "A Song Of Ice And Fire" and never watched "Game of Thrones". Books without happy endings leave me feeling unsettled.

This book is very well written, and the characters are engaging. And I will continue with the series. But I need a pallet cleanser first. Maybe some refreshing true crime.

>40 dreamweaver529: I read this series as an angsty teenager and loved them, but have never gone back to reread... Hobb definitely loves putting her characters through the ringer!

>41 curioussquared: I can see this hitting a chord with me in my melodramatic teenagedom. Though, whether that's because Fitz is in a lot of ways a melodramatic teen himself, or because, as a mother, near the end there was a scene with Molly that just wanted to make me shake him (something I probably won't have picked up in my younger days).

#7
The Wide-Awake Princess by E. D. Baker
Tales of the Wide-Awake Princess Book 1


I can't remember why, exactly, I picked up this book, but it was a fun read. I think my daughter, E (6), would enjoy having this read to her. Maybe when the moving truck shows up and we have a sofa that isn't inflated.

#8
James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot


Just the uplift I needed. I've loved James Herriot's stories since I was little. And the narrator does such a good job. I'll have to listen to it with the kids the next time we drive up to visit my parents.

#9
Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings
The Belgariad Book 4


I know I read these in high school, but have no real memory of the plot and only vague ideas of the characters. They are entertaining and very enjoyable. And it's so nice to have them available from the library.

#10
Tempest In The Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend
Fortune Teller Mystery Book 1


The first Meh of the year. I didn't really care about the main character or the romance that was supposedly happening. I didn't really care about the side characters or the mystery.

This one just wasn't for me.

Hope all is well, Amanda and that you are having a great weekend.

>37 dreamweaver529: Nope. Can't listen on the job. But do when I am exercising and going to bed (I set a timer). I can read most books at about 1.4 speed, except if they have an accent.

Hope all is well. : )

Thank you as always for books, thank you for this group and thanks for you. Have a lovely day, Amanda.