January Books

[nrgburst]

So I usually get more books read per month but I was getting cluster headaches at the start of the month which put a real dent in useful waking hours, so I think I did pretty good despite that!

    The first four in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn

So obviously I watched the Netflix series at the tail end of last year and I REALLY wanted to get to Colin/Penelope's story so I got through these as fast as I could. They were... okay? The best of the lot were Anthony/Kate's story (The Viscount Who Loved me) and the aforementioned Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, but er. I don't know- maybe I have weird expectations, but I was disappointed because these were so popular. I thought a lot of the plot devices and character reactions were contrived AF and just. I have read better fanfic? I do like getting more background to the series though (and I think in some ways the series improved on the book, although I think the resolution makes more sense in the book for The Duke and I). Also extra excited that Bridgerton got renewed and I can spot foreshadowing details for Viscount in the current season, so I'm going to keep going with the series.


  Magic Stars and Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews

Sooooo good! Ahhhh! I was actually reading the serial email version of Blood Heir that they were releasing during the pandemic (I think they titled it Aurelia Ryder then) and even requested and got a Julie/Derek fic for Fandom Giftbox so I was slightly bummed when they took it down because they were going to edit and release it as a book. But it's so much better as a book! I also went back and read Magic Stars (which I somehow missed in my Ilona Andrews binge last year, as well as Iron and Magic, which would probably explain why I kept going ??? during Magic Triumphs.) I already have Iron and Magic on my Libby now, so that is on my tbr.


 Bird by bird by Anne Lamott

I heard about this book awhile ago, and I'm not sure from who, but I think it was the reading list or maybe Snowflake last year? It's a great book about writing and just getting the work done. Love her "short assignments" and "shitty first drafts" advice particularly- I'd been feeling a bit down because my WIP has been getting diminishing returns of comments with each update. Probably just fandom moving on but I needed some nice writerly advice to get back to it, and this really hit the spot.


What I'm looking forward to next month: Concrete Rose, Iron and Magic and A Court of Silver Flames if I can get a copy! Plus I'll probably finish the other Bridgerton books once I get my fics done. Chocolate Box assignment is already in (and I really like it!), but I'm hoping to get a treat in once I finish the next chap of Exchange. 

Comments

[kingstoken]

I have not read the Bridgerton series, but I have read Julia Quinn. I like her writing, but I find her novels are hit or miss, I remember reading one novel, I can't remember which one, and really liking it, but then I picked up another one of hers and I was either "meh" or "nope". Although, I do have to say I am impressed with her agent/manager that was able to get her a books adapted into a TV series, there are hundreds of writers in the regency romance sub-genre and most of them couldn't even dream of such a thing.

[nrgburst]

Oooh, that sounds like my love-meh relationship with Nora Roberts books. Sadly the best of these only rated an okay for me, which was disappointing. I thought I would be wowed!

[kingstoken]

That's funny, because I tried reading Nora Roberts years ago and didn't like it, I can't remember which novel, but I often get recced her and I just can't bring myself to read her again, once bitten and all that.

[verdande_mi]

I haven't read bird by bird, but I have heard about it and the concept of shitty first drifts. I took a course in January meant to create a writing habit, and the lady behind is planning a write a shitty first draft course. I hope she does, as that is something I would want in on.

[nrgburst]

It's quite freeing to just write a bunch of junk and know you are going to cut/reshape most of it after! :D

[tielan]

Julia Quinn has always been 'historical romance fluff' in my books. Enjoyable fluff, but fluff nevertheless.

[nrgburst]

I mean, I was expecting romance novels. I was just expecting them to be better written?