Mid-year Reading Review

I watched a few videos about reading that included a "freak out" - really just a review of reading up to the middle of the year. Here is mine:

1. Best book - I think my most enjoyable book so far this year was the first one I finished - Under Currents by Nora Roberts. I was a re-read, but I enjoyed it the second time, too (or maybe the third?). Other five star reads include a few of the In Death books by J.D. Robb, a couple of the Murderbot books by Martha Wells, and the first Abby Jimenez book I've read, The Fall Risk.
2. Best sequel - Heather Fawcett's book, Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherworlds was a five star read, and I enjoyed it more than the first one.
3. New release you haven't read yet but want to - I've already read the new releases I was looking forward to!
4. Most anticipated releases for the rest of the year - I'm really looking forward to Framed in Death by J.D. Robb, The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts, and Hemlock and Silver by T Kingfisher.
5. Biggest disappointment this year - Please don't ever make me read The Wedding People again. Awful. I also didn't really enjoy Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (although I like about half of her books).
6. Biggest surprise - I was surprised how much I enjoyed reading And There was Light by Jon Meacham. It's a biography of Abraham Lincoln.
7. New favorite author - I enjoyed the Abby Jimenez books I've read. I've also liked the Raiders of Arcana books by Jacquelyn Benson.
8. Book that makes you happy - I've really enjoyed the Meet-Cute series of novellas.
9. Beautiful books you bought this year - The new hardback version of SwordHeart by T Kingfisher and The Enchanted Greenhouse hardcover by Sarah Beth Durst
10. What books do you need to get to before the end of the year - I don't really need to read anything by the end of the year, but I will probably read all of those books listed in number 4. 

July Reading Summary

 

Reading flexibility

Last year, I read the Murderbot series by Martha Wells via audiobook. I decided I wanted to re-read it this year, but chose to purchase printed books and to read it "with my eyes" instead of "with my ears."  I found that for this series, reading the printed versions meant that I took my time. The slower pace meant that I followed the plot more closely and enjoyed the books more.

Last year, I started listening to the book Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies via audiobook. I found the narrator to be monotone (to my ears) and I couldn't finish the book - and I tried twice.  I purchased the kindle book version, and it was vastly different. I sped through the book.  I bought print versions of the other two in the trilogy, and enjoyed them.

This year, I started reading the printed version (kindle) of Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare. I slogged through the first half of the book (630 pages) until I finally gave up and bought the audiobook. The print was just too slow for me; the audiobook sped it up, thank goodness.

All this to say that I think the version of a book I want to read depends on the book. I didn't really realize that earlier. I normally don't buy a lot of printed books because I don't have any more storage space for them on my bookshelves.  I make exceptions to that rule for books I need to highlight or read for spiritual or educational purposes. That said, I altered the rule lately to include a few print books - ones that are beautifully designed or that I think I would enjoy more reading as a print copy. 

Reading flexibility - it's what I want.

Reading Summary for June

 

New Camera

 Last week I purchased a new camera.  My Nikon 5100 is 14 years old - I thought there would probably be newer technology available.

After much debate (with myself) and lots of YouTube watching a review reading, I purchase a Nikon Z5 II.  This is a newly released, mirrorless camera with a full-frame sensor.  The other contenders were the Nikon Z50 II (mirrorless, cropped sensor) and the D7500 (DSLR, cropped sensor). 

I purchased two lenses with it:

• Nikkor Z 24-200 mm, f/4-6.3 VR
• Nikkor Z 24-70 mm, f/4 S

I've only been able to use it a little - I'll post some images when I've used it more. 

May Reading graphic

 

One Painting (sort of) and four cards

 I had an idea from a graphic I found online. It was mountains and trees - wide and not tall.  I thought I could paint that idea and then cut it into four panels for four cards.  That's what is above.  

I used watercolor and watercolor paper, but I had to do two panels and two panels (my paper wasn't wide enough to do them as one piece.  You can see where I measured a little wrong between panels two and three. 

Anyway, I made four cards and gave them to Steve - one a day - as we traveled over Memorial Day Weekend.