Yesterday I finished "The River" by Peter Heller which was good but one thing that happened toward the end annoyed me. I want to read more physical books but it seems like I only really have the time for audio books at the moment...

That's me basically always these days, but this week being home meant I could actually read a physical book hahaha.

@Cora - that sounds like a good time! sometimes it's good to read something that just makes you laugh. the plot sounds really interesting, i like how it turns traditional plots on its head. i always really like when books follow the villain's perspective.

Originally Posted by ghostPastry

@Cora - that sounds like a good time! sometimes it's good to read something that just makes you laugh. the plot sounds really interesting, i like how it turns traditional plots on its head. i always really like when books follow the villain's perspective.

The original Protagonist is absolutely flipping adorable too. So the main character has been sucked into a webtoon and turned into the main villain. In the original plot Luo Binghe is half human and half demon and he like takes over the world and has this massive harem. He kills Shen Quenqui (the main character. The villain) pretty brutally for the shit he had pulled when the protagonist was a child. But now that the villain is being controlled by a real life person who didn't do any of that evil stuff. Luo Binghe is in love with him and totally ignores his harem. But Shen keeps expecting the original plot. It leads to all sorts of misunderstandings. There is this system warning in Shen's head too which creates more shenanigans. Its essentially a parody of the Transmigration genre.

That sounds so cool! I love that, life totally does feel like I'm controlling a character in a story that goes unexpectedly. I also love the confidence of "yeah, yeah, massive harem.... but aren't I cute, though? ;)"

What was your favorite misunderstanding they had? It sounds like there were so many juicy miscommunications.

Originally Posted by ghostPastry

That sounds so cool! I love that, life totally does feel like I'm controlling a character in a story that goes unexpectedly. I also love the confidence of "yeah, yeah, massive harem.... but aren't I cute, though? ;)"

What was your favorite misunderstanding they had? It sounds like there were so many juicy miscommunications.

Oh the best misunderstandings are definitely whenever one of the women who should have become part of the Harem are introduce. SQQ(the villain main character) will be throwing googly eyes and LBH (Protagonist) and the girl thinking he's witnessing something great but really LBH is getting hella jealous thinking that SQQ is just throwing eyes at a pretty girl so he will start talking to her to try and get in the way and draw attention to himself. Its really funny.

Aw I love that That's such a cute situation, I really like LBH's energy. Do you think they're written with good chemistry together?

So far absolutely, I'm curious to see how it'll play out later, because I have heard some things (based on the fact that its a parody) but I suppose I'll see how it goes. I need to order the next book before I can continue though, I only had the first book to start hahaha.

Originally Posted by ghostPastry

@Zephy- the grind is real ~_~ have you played any good games lately? some have such intricate stories they feel like an interactive book.

Honestly a lot of my time is spent gaming because that's kind of my "job". It's an experience and I share it with people. Makes it more emotional sometimes lol.

I just started "Beyond Galaxyland" and it's been interesting so far!

I've updated my list! I'm up to 105 books now. I'm reading a couple right now that I really like including "Starling House" and "The Memory Police".

List updated! How is everyone doing on their reading goals?

Love the new Avi, Zig!

My reading list is pretty much a lost cause this year because a lot happened. I am going to just read whatever until the end of the year and then next year focus on trying to hit 50 books.

Thanks Cora! I think it's fine not to hit your goals. It's always fun to just try and see where you get.

I'd say I definitely read over 50 graphic novels this year. So that feels good. I really want to work on reading what I personally own instead of library books though... I can't help but request new books that I can borrow for free instead of buying though. orz

Originally Posted by Kent

I'd say I definitely read over 50 graphic novels this year. So that feels good. I really want to work on reading what I personally own instead of library books though... I can't help but request new books that I can borrow for free instead of buying though. orz

I have a bad habit of buying books just to never read them hahaha.

Originally Posted by Kent

I'd say I definitely read over 50 graphic novels this year. So that feels good. I really want to work on reading what I personally own instead of library books though... I can't help but request new books that I can borrow for free instead of buying though. orz

I'm also guilty of having tons of books on my shelves that I haven't read yet. I keep meaning to work through them but more end up on the shelf faster than I can get through them.

Most often I borrow audio books and ebooks from the library but I do go to the actual library for books sometimes too. It's always to see what new things they have on the shelf. I also get some of my books from little free libraries or book swaps. When I lived in Brooklyn, one of my friends would have a regular book swap where we all brought books and exchanged them. It was so much fun! I really miss doing those events. There were also a TON of little free libraries in my neighborhood back then too. I would make circuit on my walks and check them out. I had so many books during Covid from that. Sadly where I'm at now they don't have much in the boxes near me.

Originally Posted by Cora

I have a bad habit of buying books just to never read them hahaha.

I also have that habit these days. I used to NEVER buy books except my absolute favorites but now I spend a lot more money on books. Probably because I have more pocket change these days and because I like to support the authors. I also don't keep a lot of them unless I absolutely LOVE them. I'll pass them on to friends or leave them in a little free library for someone else.

Originally Posted by zigbigadorlube

I also have that habit these days. I used to NEVER buy books except my absolute favorites but now I spend a lot more money on books. Probably because I have more pocket change these days and because I like to support the authors. I also don't keep a lot of them unless I absolutely LOVE them. I'll pass them on to friends or leave them in a little free library for someone else.

Oh but donating them to someone else when you are done is also a good idea. I really should read mine and donate the rest

I agree with Ziggie, Cora! It's just about having fun and staying motivated, not how much you read.

That's awesome, Kent! Did you end up having a favorite author/artist? I totally feel you, my library has this little thing that tells you how much money you saved by going there, which makes it even worse

Ziggie, Book swaps sound so fun! And I love those little libraries too, I had one on the corner right by my apartment, and I would always go look just to see what was new. It was great for giving away some of my nice books I didn't read anymore too. And I always liked to stand there and organize the shelves so they weren't just messy stacks hahah.

I've been doing pretty good! I've finished 20 graphic novels since I started going to my new library, a bunch of picture books, and I finally finished an actual novel too :D ~370 pages, so I'm pretty proud of myself. It was easy, because this author was really straightforward and great with cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, so now I'm feeling more motivated. I've also started trying more audiobooks while I draw, right now I'm listening to Norse Myths by Neil Gaiman, and I love how he narrates all his audiobooks himself.

I am now reading a book written by a Youtuber I watch called Bruised Sole. He trims cow hooves for a living and he often hints on his channel that he had a rather dark past so I had to buy it and find out whats up hahahaha.

@ Ghostie: Yes! Stacking the books upright is a must, haha! I've got maybe 3 boxes here within a walking radius but none of them ever really seem to have many interesting things there so I end up leaving books more often than I take but that's alright I guess.

@ Cora: Sounds mysterious... My coworker would love that channel. She got super into hoof trimming a while back.

It is not something I would have ever in a thousand years thought I'd be into on my own but it played after something else I was watching a couple times and every time I found myself enthralled so eventually I just caved in and subscribed hahaha.

Originally Posted by Cora

I have a bad habit of buying books just to never read them hahaha.

Same. orz I keep saying I'll read them eventually and get distracted by new books.

Originally Posted by zigbigadorlube

I'm also guilty of having tons of books on my shelves that I haven't read yet. I keep meaning to work through them but more end up on the shelf faster than I can get through them.

Most often I borrow audio books and ebooks from the library but I do go to the actual library for books sometimes too. It's always to see what new things they have on the shelf. I also get some of my books from little free libraries or book swaps. When I lived in Brooklyn, one of my friends would have a regular book swap where we all brought books and exchanged them. It was so much fun! I really miss doing those events. There were also a TON of little free libraries in my neighborhood back then too. I would make circuit on my walks and check them out. I had so many books during Covid from that. Sadly where I'm at now they don't have much in the boxes near me.

I also have that habit these days. I used to NEVER buy books except my absolute favorites but now I spend a lot more money on books. Probably because I have more pocket change these days and because I like to support the authors. I also don't keep a lot of them unless I absolutely LOVE them. I'll pass them on to friends or leave them in a little free library for someone else.

Exactly.

I should look for more little free libraries around me. o: I'd love to organize a book swap sometime. That sounds fun.

My sister and I have been trying to buy up like every BL/Yaoi manga we can get our hands on since like high school. I'd say we have a pretty good collection too. But books sure can be pricey!

Originally Posted by ghostPastry

That's awesome, Kent! Did you end up having a favorite author/artist? I totally feel you, my library has this little thing that tells you how much money you saved by going there, which makes it even worse

I don't know about fave creator but one series I loved reading this year was a korean series titled Prince Bari. It's a little older but I loved the illustrations and the story was super romantic. It had a really cool mystery to it too. I really enjoy stories with mystical elements like yokai, spirits, kami, etc. I also highly recommend the fantasy BL series Lullaby of the Dawn and the post-apocalyptic fantasy graphic novel series CODA. I really loved the standalone teen romance comic Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy too. Faith Erin Hicks has such a fun art style. I think I would love to read more books she illustrates.
My library has the same thing. Sometimes it feels so exaggerated.

Originally Posted by Kent

Same. orz I keep saying I'll read them eventually and get distracted by new books.

Or distracted by books I've already already read a 100 times.....

I just finished Nightwatching. I hated it, lol. On to the next!

Originally Posted by zigbigadorlube

I just finished Nightwatching. I hated it, lol. On to the next!

Oh no, what did you hate about it?