Tell Me Something Tuesday: Are You an Impulsive Book Buyer?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings, where the blog's owner Heidi discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

Here is what is on deck this week:

ARE YOU AN IMPULSIVE BOOK BUYER?

I'm sure that anyone who knows me a little bit can tell that I'm not 😂. I have a small budget (not only for books, really) and I can't afford buying novels that I'm not reasonably sure I will like...if I can avoid it. I read samples, I read reviews - I research each and every one I'm interested in...to death. Of course, it doesn't always work, but at least I minimise the risks. Sometimes this causes me to collide with unwanted spoilers, but hey, better safe than sorry...I need all the info that I can get before I commit to a book - even a Read Now one on NetGalley!

Taste the Books: Review Morsels #17 The Seanan McGuire Edition

Intro

Hello beauties!

Welcome again to my own brand of mini reviews! I never thought I'd do minis, until I recapped a few of my long reviews in some digest post in 2014, and then guest-posted some shorties for a blogging event in 2015. And Karen from For What It's Worth started praising my short recs/recaps 😊. Just to be clear,  I'm NOT taking a break from writing long reviews - no such luck LOL. But while I'm making up my mind about a new book I've read,  I might as well give you the short version 😉. Just be warned - this feature will be VERY random!

Note: all the mini blurbs (in italics) are of my own creation.

This time, since I bought no less than four Seanan McGuire books in my latest haul, I decided to dedicate a whole Review Morsels installment to her, with three of those books. So, here goes...

Parker Peevyhouse: "Where Futures End"

Title: Where Futures End [on Amazon | on Goodreads]
Series: None
Author: Parker Peevyhouse [Site | Goodreads]
Genres: Sci-Fi
Year: 2016
Age: 12+
Stars: 4/5
Pros: Ambitious, with a premise that - while not exactly fresh - is used to greatest effect. Paints some vivid and intriguing (if scary) scenarios, all while telling a few interesting and interconnected stories.
Cons: You get to spend too little time with the characters to really get attached to them. The sci-fi/fantasy blend may not work for everyone.
Will appeal to: Those who like short stories connected in a broader framework. Those who like speculations about the future. Those who love technology but are also aware of the risks it entails.

Blurb: One year from now, Dylan develops a sixth sense that allows him to glimpse another world. Ten years from now, Brixney must get more hits on her social media feed or risk being stuck in a debtors' colony. Thirty years from now, Epony scrubs her entire online profile from the web and goes “High Concept.” Sixty years from now, Reef struggles to survive in a city turned virtual gameboard. And more than a hundred years from now, Quinn uncovers the alarming secret that links them all.  (Goodreads excerpt)

Review: As a rule, I'm not the biggest fan of short fiction - I need to spend more time with the characters and into a world in order to feel their pull. But short stories/novellas that connect in some way and are part of a bigger picture never fail to have me intrigued. It happened with Windows into Hell, and it happened again here...
 

WORLDS APART

Peevyhouse's debut has got a premise firmly rooted in science fiction, but at the same time, manages to bring lots of fantasy elements on the table. The gist of it: another world (called the Other Place) exists, overlapping with our own - a world that resembles a fantasy realm, completed with all its usual magic and darkness. At a certain point, it becomes possible to travel between the two worlds, though none (?) of the travellers can stay long because of a different - if slightly - physiology. Also, to cross over (well...to even glimpse at the Other Place) you need a strong vorpal (Dylan, the first character to visit the alternate world, starts using the Lewis Carrol' made-up word out of context, and it becomes canon through the years), which is, roughly, something akin to charisma and strong will rolled into one. This premise will probably sound familiar, except it takes a turn towards social commentary through five stories that span more than a hundred years, addressing the rise and fall of technology and the regression of the human race (especially in terms of women's rights) on the backdrop of an irreversible climate change. [...]

Taking a Breath + Coronavirus Update

Hello sweeties,

this is an impromptu post, but also a follow up to my Adjournments and Apologies one from a few days ago. What with my week off work coming in ten days and my current level of stress/fatigue, I decided to operate some substantial changes on my schedule. All your lovely words of encouragement on the aforementioned post pushed me in that direction, but the last straw (in the best sense) was Lindsi's comment. I suddenly thought, why on earth am I doing this to myself? scheduling with a vengeance, putting too much stuff on my plate, planning to blog even on my week off work? So, I shuffled a few things around, and while you won't notice that I'll be on a hiatus because the March posts have already been written, I won't be blogging again until April.

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Do You Enjoy Anthologies?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings, where the blog's owner Heidi discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

Here is what is on deck this week:

DO YOU ENJOY ANTHOLOGIES?

I'm not sure why, but I'm not the hugest fan of anthologies. It might be because I need my stories to breath, or because I need to get really up close and personal with the characters. What I know is, it's rare that I thoroughly enjoy a short story collection. But of course...

Here goes a short list of my favourite anthologies so far, complete with (redacted) blurbs and some fangirling on my part...
(Note: these are all adult/mature teen reads. More info in the original reviews).

Adjournments and Apologies

Hello sweeties!

Just an update, while I am, as a matter of fact, enjoying a short silent hiatus. First off, I want to apologise for my poor attempt at allitteration in this post's title skipping my Tooting Your Trumpet meme on the first Sunday of this month. I made a point last year to showcase your posts and other sheaningans (mostly, but not only, book related), but February was an odd fish for several reasons...(list below).