4. Later, he used to crawl out of the great gate and come by night to Dale, and carry away people, especially maidens, to eat, until Dale was ruined, and all the people dead or gone. 5. Off they went, not waiting for trays, balancing columns of plates, each with a bottle on the top, with one hand, while the hobbit ran after them almost squeaking with fright: “please be careful!” and “please, don’t trouble! I can manage.”
23 & 24!
23. What new releases did you read this year?
Only counting 2025 releases:
Wrecks, a poetry collection by Erin L. McCoy, which is an absolutely beautiful book about extinction and grief. The Encyclopedia of Ugly Fashion by Karolina Żebrowska, which is a little work of fashion history, and you’ll never guess what it’s about. No Such Thing as duty by Lara Elena Donnelly, a vampire novella about W. Somerset Maugham.
24. What new releases are you looking forward to next year?
What We Are Seeking by Cameron Reed and The Witch of Prague by JM Sidorova. This feels like dodging the question, because I read both in ARC form, but I’m looking forward to them being out in the world for everyone else, because they’re great
2, 5, 26 for book ask game!
2) Did any book inspire you to seek out further media, such as the movie/show/fanfiction? How did you feel about that take?
Actually, this happened in reverse. I saw Foundation (the show) and sought out Foundation (the book). They are, uh, not similar (in a good way). Otherwise, no, not this year, though it’s happened in the past
5) What's a scene you read this year that sticks with you?
there’s a moment in Olga Ravn’s The Employees where she talks about an alien….thing (is it alive? Is it an artifact? Nobody knows!) that’s been taken aboard a human ship and oozes a weird resin in sunlight, which the people around it have an unexpected reaction to, and it’s so gross and so beautiful at the same time, like certain kinds of modern art
26) What are your reading goals for next year?
I always set a goal of 100 books and so far I’ve always met or exceeded that! In less uhhh numerical terms, I need to catch up with current SFF. I’ve been perpetually at least twenty years behind my entire life, so while I’ve read some of the big contemporary things (like NK Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy or Ann Leckie’s Radch books), I haven’t gotten to nearly enough of them.
NO WAIT THIS IS A LIE, after reading Second Foundation, I scuttled over to AO3 to see if there was Han Pritcher/Bail Channis fanfic, because whew, the grizzled captain/cocky upstart dynamic!!! and AO3 let me down
2, 5, 26 for book ask game!
2) Did any book inspire you to seek out further media, such as the movie/show/fanfiction? How did you feel about that take?
Actually, this happened in reverse. I saw Foundation (the show) and sought out Foundation (the book). They are, uh, not similar (in a good way). Otherwise, no, not this year, though it’s happened in the past
5) What's a scene you read this year that sticks with you?
there’s a moment in Olga Ravn’s The Employees where she talks about an alien….thing (is it alive? Is it an artifact? Nobody knows!) that’s been taken aboard a human ship and oozes a weird resin in sunlight, which the people around it have an unexpected reaction to, and it’s so gross and so beautiful at the same time, like certain kinds of modern art
26) What are your reading goals for next year?
I always set a goal of 100 books and so far I’ve always met or exceeded that! In less uhhh numerical terms, I need to catch up with current SFF. I’ve been perpetually at least twenty years behind my entire life, so while I’ve read some of the big contemporary things (like NK Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy or Ann Leckie’s Radch books), I haven’t gotten to nearly enough of them.
End of the year book-reading ask game
- Did you set a goal for yourself this year? How did you do? If not, why not?
- Did any book inspire you to seek out further media, such as the movie/show/fanfiction? How did you feel about that take?
- Did consuming any piece of media inspire you to pick up the book? How did it compare?
- If you DNF any books, what was the pettiest reason you put a book down this year?
- What's a scene you read this year that sticks with you?
- Any new favorite authors?
- Any old favorites let you down?
- If someone were to ask you what your top ten books for this year were, which would you choose?
- What book(s) had the biggest influence over your life this year?
- Any books you hate-read this year?
- Any books with large fandoms?
- Did any book inspire you to create?
- How would you summarize your reading choices for this year?
- Did you binge any series this year?
- A book you never thought you'd be into but were proven wrong
- Most read trope this year? Was this intentional or unintentional?
- A book you reread this year. Did it hold up to how you remembered it?
- Some books you bought this year
- Did you utilize your library this year? What were some library events you went to if yes? Any new library cards?
- Would you say that you had any kind of growth as a reader?
- How have you kept track of the books you read this year?
- What are some books you discovered this year that you added to your tbr?
- What new releases did you read this year?
- What new releases are you looking forward to next year?
- If you had to give a TEDTalk on a book you read this year, for better or worse, which would it be?
- What are your reading goals for next year?