Thursday, 19 December 2024

Dune by Frank Herbert


605 pages, Paperback


First published June 1, 1965


Series: Dune (#1), Dune Universe (#14)


Scifi/own





This was a tough one to rate. I read it when I was 18 and loved it. I re-read it now and was pretty meh about it.




The movies are great. Maybe I compared too much.




Maybe it was because it is written in third person. I never got under anyone´s skin, I never cared for anyone.




No one was scary, those Harkonnen´s are pretty lame.




Maybe you can only read some great books once.




This Hugo and Nebula Award winner tells the sweeping tale of a desert planet called Arrakis, the focus of an intricate power struggle in a byzantine interstellar empire. Arrakis is the sole source of Melange, the "spice of spices." Melange is necessary for interstellar travel and grants psychic powers and longevity, so whoever controls it wields great influence.



The troubles begin when stewardship of Arrakis is transferred by the Emperor from the Harkonnen Noble House to House Atreides. The Harkonnens don't want to give up their privilege, though, and through sabotage and treachery they cast young Duke Paul Atreides out into the planet's harsh environment to die. There he falls in with the Fremen, a tribe of desert dwellers who become the basis of the army with which he will reclaim what's rightfully his. Paul Atreides, though, is far more than just a usurped duke. He might be the end product of a very long-term genetic experiment designed to breed a super human; he might be a messiah. His struggle is at the center of a nexus of powerful people and events, and the repercussions will be felt throughout the Imperium.




Wednesday, 18 December 2024

2025 Romance Reading Bingo Challenge

 




Hosted by: Blodeuedd @ Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell Jen @ That's What I'm Talking About Carole @ Carole Rae's Random Ramblings



We are doing it again in 2025! It's the Romance Reading Challenge, hosted by Carole, Linda, and Jen! The challenge is to read a book and check the boxes! This year we have levels


List of Challenges (Romance books):

  • Non-US/UK setting (real country)
  • LGBTQ+
  • TBR over 1 year
  • Audiobook
  • SciFi/Fantasy Romance
  • Romantic Suspense
  • Borrowed from Library
  • “Highland” in the Title
  • Any Non-Christmas Holiday setting
  • MC over 35 years old
  • Fake Dating trope
  • Forced Proximity trope
  • Non-Romance book with Flowers on the cover
  • Pumpkins on the cover
  • MC name starts with an “M”
  • MC is a Rockstar
  • Setting is in the 1700s
  • MC works on a Farm
  • Title is only One Word
  • Sports Romance
  • Shirtless Man on the cover
  • Food on the cover
  • MC is a Royal
  • Snow/Ice on the cover
  • Non-US Author

Rules:

  • It MUST BE a romance novel (HFN/HEA), with the exception of the center square.
  • One box per book. (If your book meets a couple of these, you have to pick just one.)
  • No changing the box. Once you put a book in a box, you can't move it.
  • Books can be used in other challenges. (examples: Goodreads, Library Love, TBR, Audiobook, etc.)
  • The goal is to get at least one BINGO! (see levels below)
  • The challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
  • You may join whenever.


Bingo Levels: 

1 or 2 Bingos: Beginner 

3 Bingos: You're getting the hang of this!

4 Bings: Expert Level 

Entire Sheet: Supreme Ruler of Bingo!



If you want to add your blog or Goodreads to the list, click on the linky below. NOTE: You do not have to have a blog or URL to sign up!


 
So what level will you try in 2025?



Tuesday, 17 December 2024

TMST

 


 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.





12/17/2024 Do you enjoy reading holiday-themed books at the holidays or year-round?




I remember one year I tried xmas books around the holidays, but the thing is then I had books. Now, well I tried finding some audio ones. But I mostly do it cos it is fun. I do not really care and I can read them all year around.






12/24/2024 Taking a break (no question)


12/31/2024 How do you celebrate New Year's Eve/the new year?






Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.




If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.




Monday, 16 December 2024

Carole´s Monday: Booked for the holidays


Author: Liz Maverick

Narrator: Eva Kaminsky, Andrew Eiden
Title: Booked for the Holidays
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella
Pages: Audiobook
Published: November 14, 2024
Where I Got It: Audible



Summary: 
When mystery author D. B. Ziegler is late delivering her book, Abi Schore steps in to help. Surely she can give her favorite author moral support over the holiday break and get the manuscript to her boss at Tea & Sympathy Publishing in time for the new year.

When Abi shows up on Ms. Ziegler’s doorstep bearing holiday treats, she’s met by the author’s handsome grandson Dov, who reveals a startling plot twist. His grandmother isn’t able to finish the book and Dov promised he’d complete it so fans won’t be disappointed—a task that’s harder than he ever imagined.

As Hanukkah unfolds, Abi and Dov cozy up in his grandmother’s brownstone apartment working their way through his writer’s block and untangling plot threads. Before long, the novel starts taking shape ... and so does their simmering attraction. Will their own story end once the book is written, or is this just the first chapter?

Review: 
This popped up as a recommended listen. It's holiday-y and has a puppy on the cover. Why not?? I went into this not knowing anything which I try to do once in a while. I avoid the summary and any review. It's a gamble, but sometimes it works. 

Here we have Abi and Dov. The two are thrown together when mystery author DB Ziegler is late for delivering her much anticipated book. Abi steps in to see what is going on. She shows up on her doorstep but is not greeted by an elderly lady, but by her handsome grandson, Dov. Dov reveals that his grandmother has passed and that he is trying to finish the book for her. As Hanukkah unfolds, Abi and Dov cozy up to work through finishing the book together....and an undeniable chemistry. 

Why don't we have more Hanukkah books??? This was simply adorable and refreshing. I loved seeing these two work through the writing the book together and celebrating the holiday. It was awkward at times, but a cute awkward. These are two strangers that share a love of DB Zielger (in different ways, but they love her). And enter in a dog that needs to be watched until their owners come back home. 

Puppy! Squeeeee!

But yes. I loved watching them work together. It took a minute for love, but it was there and I feel like it was natural. 

The narrators were perfect. I've heard his voice before and he was so good still. Loveeeeeee his voice. Her voice was nice too. She sounded familiar but I don't recall her name. 

The ending...*chef kiss* adorable and perfect. 

All-in-all, I enjoyed this one so much. Books, love, puppy, and baked goods. What more can you ask for?

5 stars. 


ONE WORD SUMMARY: Charming








Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #56






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