Rated Tandenjager 6/10
book
Finished reading Son of the Storm
Rated Big Little Lies 8/10
Wants to read Warrior of the Wind
Finished reading Witchmark
Rated Hands 6/10
<a href="https://smus.com/books/john-napier-hands">Full review on smus.com</a>
Rated Parable of the Talents 10/10
If this year's election had a different outcome, this would be a much heavier read (not that it isn't heavy, regardless). Both this book and its predecessor are excellent, and I enjoyed having the different characters' points-of-view in this one. When people say "Who would write about our current time," and they neglect to mention Octavia Butler, I see a gap in their reading history. I'm glad I filled in the gap.
Finished reading Kaikeyi
Finished reading The West Passage
Finished reading Cradle and Grave
Rated How Music Works 10/10
I loved this! I've had this audiobook kicking around for ages, but for some reason, I never got around to it until recently, and I'm so glad I did. Byrne covers a lot of different subjects within music, without snobbery, and with a great way of presenting his research that never feels dry. I may pick up this book in print because there are sections I'll want to quote (particularly Chapter 8) or refer to again. Definitely recommend this, particularly to people who work within music in any way.
Rated Professor Bernice Summerfield and the Heart's Desire 4/10
<div>This was not really worth the $4 I paid for it, tbh.</div>
Finished reading Stormsong
<div>3 stars would be a bit generous, but I did learn some things. This look at Scotland's history and influence as it relates to the modern world (well, as of 2001, when this was published) is a dry read, and I didn't always agree with Herman's assessments. He takes too light a hand in matters of colonialism and capitalism, and there's barely a woman to be found. However, he does lay out a timeline well, and it's interesting to learn about the ways in which Scotland prioritized education and freedom, and I could see some through-lines when it comes to my own family's ancestry (those ex-Orkney Canadians/New Englanders and Carolina/Tennessee "rednecks" are both in my background). So, for a book I picked up because I happened to notice it at the library, it's not bad, but it definitely wasn't love.</div>
Wants to read In the Shadow of Lakecrest
Finished reading Raising Steam
Finished reading Mort
Wants to read I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf
Finished reading Guards! Guards!
Rated I Loved You More: A Novel 10/10
Briefly, I debated between <i>The Price of Salt</i> by Patricia Highsmith and this book for my favorite read this year, but what gave <i>I Loved You More</i> its edge was my visceral reaction to it. This book fucked me up in the best way, right when I needed it. While Highsmith keeps a certain amount of narrative distance from the love, lust, loneliness, and longing, Spanbauer dives right in. Mercilessly.<br><br>The Goodreads plot description doesn't really do the book justice. The friendship between these two men — Ben, more-or-less gay; Hank, more-or-less straight — is intense and beautiful. For a time, they drift apart, and their reunion is full of its own complications. Because it's partially set in 1980s New York, illness and caregiving play a central part of the story as well. <br><br>I cannot recommend this book enough.<br><br>(See the rest of my Top 10 Favorites from 2015 at <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2015/12/glorified-love-letters-top-10-favorite.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.)
Rated Jago & Litefoot: Series 5 7/10
<div>Wasn't as into this one as some of the previous offerings, but it was still good.</div>
Rated Network Effect 8/10
<div>Very much enjoyed this novel-length installment of the Murderbot series. I listened to the audiobook, which I think adds to the humor.</div>
Rated proxy 8/10
My review appears at <a href="http://therumpus.net/2013/11/proxy-by-r-erica-doyle/">The Rumpus</a>.