Sunday, February 4, 2024

February 2024 TBR: BusterLand, Subscriptions, and Book Clubs

The never ending TBR list. Mine is 1,200 and counting.

Some people see that number and will assume I own that many books that have not been read. No, loves. That is just the number of books I want to read, as is tracked and listed on my Goodreads Want to Read shelf. That list does not include all the books that have come across my radar, such as anticipated new releases each month and from my Indie Authors on #BookTok. It also does not include all the physical books I inherited from my grandparents and father.

I needed a way to pick books from that TBR list, because while I am a mood reader to an extent, do you realize how difficult it is to look at a list of 1,200 books and determine which one you are in the mood to read? It is the most daunting thing in the world. Just trust me on that.

TBR BusterLand

From June to October last year, I spent time perfecting a game I call TBR BusterLand, based off an old Candyland board that otherwise would have been trashed as it no longer had a box and we don't play it. In December, I painted it up with my new theme and rules.

It is the most unnecessarily complicated TBR game I have come across, but it works for me. January 2024 was pretty successful and now I bring you the results of the February 2024 rolls.

Roll 1: 3) Grey: Previous Year TBR Jar (2022)

    Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes
Borrowing eBook from Library/Libby

Roll 2: 2) GREEN FLASH: Romance/Literary & Science Fiction Jars. Pick One

    Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin
Borrowing eBook from Library/Libby

Roll 3: 4) Blue: Fantasy TBR Jar

    The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Own a paperback copy

Roll 4: 5) Grey: Previous Year TBR Jar (2022)

    Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
Borrowing Audiobook from Library/Libby

Amazon First Reads & Audible Credit

When I first saw the World War I cover in this month's First Reads, I gravitated towards it, but after the lack of interest I had in the World War II book I picked up in January, I was leery. Then I read the synopsis of Hurt Mountain by Angela Crook. A lot of my friends have been writing thriller responses to writing prompts lately and they're dragging me in.

Although I do have plenty of Audible books awaiting my ears, I like to stay on top of using my credits each month. I typically use a digital spinner wheel to select out of a Wishlist, but I recently listened to Pumpkin Spice and Pour-Overs by Elise Kennedy which was narrated by the amazing Andria Mae, so I wanted to listen to another narration by her. Pride, Pancakes, and Paris by Emmie J. Holland it is then!

Book Clubs

I follow Reese's Book Club and Read With Jenna and have found some pretty decent and enjoyable reads through them. I am also keeping track of Mindy's Book Studio releases. I rarely read them during the month the clubs read them since everyone else has them on hold through my library. I got lucky that I was able to get access to two of the books last month although I did not get through them.

As of today, Reese's Book Club has not released a February pick. That site never announces the first of the month.

Read With Jenna selected Dolly Alderton's Good Material. It feels like appropriate timing, but I will have to wait until my library has it available. Everyone has it on hold due to the book club.

Mindy did not select a book for February. As of right now, I do not believe her work is monthly, choosing to highlight the latest selection longer that 4.3 weeks at a time.

Long Haul Reads

As anyone on #BookTok who knows me knows, I am spending all year reading Bathed in the Blood of Ravens by self published author RL Parker. I got a little behind on January's portion, but that should be easy enough to catch up. They are long chapters and each month is 1-2 of them.

I have also cut PA Power's nearly 600 page debut novel The Chimera Wolf into 4 sections in order to give him personalized feedback that will not be available for public view. He received feedback and is asking for a blind and unbiased opinion to see if I agree with the previous readers. 

Note that this level of personalized feedback is not something I do for just anyone and the book has already been published for a while. I do not, as a general rule, Alpha Read, Beta Read, or ARC Read. I am also not an editor, narrator, cover artist, etc. I'm a critical reader and read for fun, not for pay. I believe this story needed a critical reader to give him true critical feedback. He knows I do not sugarcoat, I'm honest, but I'm also not cruel.

Other Hold Overs from January

I am almost finished with Dragon Forged by Dan Michaelson and DK Holmberg. I have thoughts, but will wait for the review. A part of me does not wish to continue with the series and another part of me has got to know.


It's a short month. I better get crackalackin'!

Happy Reading, Y'all!!

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