Recent Updates and Currently Reading | July 31

Have you seen Everything Everywhere All at Once yet? We saw it last night, and I'm obsessed. I think it may be one of my favorite movies of all time. Fair warning - it's an A24 movie so it's weird, but it's one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.

I have a serious movie hangover so please tell me something you've enjoyed watching lately - movie, series, sports, youtube...

Posted Last Week

Book Review | Upgrade by Blake Crouch ⭐⭐⭐★★

Finished Reading

Upgrade by Blake Crouch ⭐⭐⭐★★ - I enjoyed this for all of the reasons I love Blake Crouch, but it wasn't a favorite {Upgrade review}

Currently Reading

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers - I love Becky Chambers. She always makes me feel seen and so hopeful.

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky - I'm enjoying my reread of Children of Time. I have ~150 pages left. I'm excited to be able to read Children of Ruin soon.

Currently Watching

I mentioned Everything Everywhere All At Once in the beginning of my post, and I'm mentioning it again. Loved it.

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Book Review | Upgrade by Blake Crouch

The mind-blowing new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter and Recursion

“You are the next step in human evolution.”

At first, Logan Ramsay isn’t sure if anything’s different. He just feels a little . . . sharper. Better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep.

But before long, he can’t deny it: Something’s happening to his brain. To his body. He’s starting to see the world, and those around him—even those he loves most—in whole new ways.

The truth is, Logan’s genome has been hacked. And there’s a reason he’s been targeted for this upgrade. A reason that goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrific family legacy.

Worse still, what’s happening to him is just the first step in a much larger plan, one that will inflict the same changes on humanity at large—at a terrifying cost.

Because of his new abilities, Logan’s the one person in the world capable of stopping what’s been set in motion. But to have a chance at winning this war, he’ll have to become something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human.

And even as he’s fighting, he can’t help wondering: what if humanity’s only hope for a future really does lie in engineering our own evolution?

Intimate in scale yet epic in scope, Upgrade is an intricately plotted, lightning-fast tale that charts one man’s thrilling transformation, even as it asks us to ponder the limits of our humanity—and our boundless potential.

So. Much. Science. That was all I asked for, and that's what I got!

Upgrade is Blake Crouch's latest science thriller. I enjoyed Dark Matter and I loved Recursion so I was really excited to read Upgrade.

All I knew going into Upgrade was it dealt with genetic engineering. This was correct, but it was quite different than I was expecting! I loved all of the science in Upgrade. One could argue there was too much science, but I love the way Crouch introduces all of the science in his books. He makes it so accessible. He can make the most complicated science understandable.

My biggest complaint with Upgrade is I just didn't care about the characters. There were high stakes and there was a lot of action - I just didn't have that connection with anyone that would have made the action and the stakes so much more suspenseful for me. Even with the entire world at stake, I kind of feel like I've already been living that since 2020. It's not Blake Crouch's fault, but I don't even want to read about viruses or pandemics anymore. I'm over it.

Overall, I enjoyed Upgrade. I got just what I was asking for, but it's not going on my list of favorites for the year. I need more character development so I can root for someone. I will still be standing in line for the next Blake Crouch science thriller, though. The science is certainly something I will continue to want more of. 

⭐⭐⭐★★
3/5 stars

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Recent Updates and Currently Reading | July 24

Thank you so much to everyone who shared their review process with me last week. If you also need some motivation or inspiration, please feel free to read back through the comments on my post last week. I really appreciate you all sharing your process. It's going to be so helpful.

I've set a goal to write a review (or two) today. You'll know if I was successful if you see them this week!

Currently Reading

I'm still reading The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (reread) and Upgrade by Blake Crouch. It was a stressful week so I didn't have much reading time. The good news is I'm enjoying them both.

Added to the TBR

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher - I may read this next!

The Clackity by Lora Senf - This was a preorder that would never arrive!! It kept being back ordered and back ordered so finally I canceled my order and bought it from Amazon. Of course it came in two days... I'm excited to finally have it.

Currently Watching

I finished season one of Only Murders in the Building. I laughed so hard at the finale. If you aren't watching this show, do your self a favor and start watching it!

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This post is being shared as part of The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz, Book Date It's Monday! What Are You Reading?, and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | July 17

Tell me about your review process please! I'm mostly curious, but I also need some motivation right now. I've gotten back into the habit of posting, but my reviewing mojo is just not there. So! If you have the time and wouldn't mind sharing your reviewing habits, I would be so thankful. Do you write your review while you are reading, immediately after, weeks or months later? Do you take notes, annotate, have an excellent memory, skim back through? Does it vary?

Here is how my reading week went:

Finished Reading

Last One Out Shut Off the Lights by Stephanie Soileau ⭐⭐★★★ - I read this with my local book club. I used to think I disliked all slice-of-life stories, but I've come to realize I only like the feel good slice-of-life stories. Stories like the ones in Last One Out Shut Off the Lights feel so mundane and depressingly on the nose. I did enjoy the settings since I'm familiar with Louisiana.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - I enjoyed this one! I'm going to try my best to write a review this week.

Currently Reading

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien - I've read this so many times, but this is my first time listening to Andy Serkis instead of Rob Inglis.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch - I think I'm going to start this one today.

Added to the TBR

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers - Yay! A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is here. I'm saving this one for a time when I'm not so busy so I don't feel like I'm rushing through it. I need the hope that Becky Chambers brings so hopefully I can read it at a time that will allow me to savor it.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch - I am so anxious to read this I preordered it twice! Ooops! Thankfully most of my preorders come from Target so I'll be returning one of them soon.

Currently Watching

I'm still watching Only Murders in the Building. It is delightful!

I watched season one of Dark Winds this week. It feels very much like a Longmire spin off. Zahn McClarnon is once again a Tribal Police Officer, but Dark Winds takes place entirely in the Navajo Nation.

I think Más negro que la noche is the only movie I watched this week. I didn't really care for it. I didn't realize it was a remake of a 1975 film. I probably should have watched the original instead. (Content warning for animal deaths.)

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This post is being shared as part of The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz; Book Date It's Monday! What Are You Reading?; and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | July 10

What is up with blog comments lately? Is everyone having trouble? I'm having trouble posting, comments are going to my spam, I can't stay logged in... It seems to be every platform.

I didn't read much this week. Part being busy, part not feeling like it, part watching way too much baseball. (Did you see the Red Sox beat the Yankees last night? Wooo. What a game!)

Finished Reading

One Piece, Volume 4: The Black Cat Pirates by Eiichiro Oda, Andy Nakatani (Translator) ⭐⭐⭐★★ - Again, still loving this series, but it bothers me that the story arcs begin at the end of the previous volume instead of being self-contained.

Currently Reading

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James - I'm still enjoying this - just haven't been reading much this week!

Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda, Sarah Booker (Goodreads Author) (Translator) - I ditched the Spanish version because I'm just not liking this book. I'm going to try to read on in English, but I feel a dnf is coming.

Last One Out Shut Off the Lights by Stephanie Soileau - Ugh. This is another book club read. I haven't enjoyed anything my local book club has been reading this year. I just power on through...

Added to the TBR

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa

First Born by Will Dean

Currently Watching

Give me your favorite romcom recommendations, please! 50 First Dates is one of my favorite movies, and it always puts me in the mood to watch Fever Pitch as well - especially during baseball season. 

Speaking of Adam Sandler - I forgot to mention Hustle last week. It was good! I recommend it. I love Adam Sandler in serious roles.

I started watching Only Murders in the Building. I can't believe I haven't been watching this. I'm fixing that now.

Offseason and The Long Night are almost the same movie. They were both OK.

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This post is being shared as part of The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz; Book Date It's Monday! What Are You Reading?; and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | July 2

Happy July, everyone! And Happy 4th of July to those of you who are celebrating and/or getting a long weekend this weekend.

In case you missed it, the 2021 Ladies of Horror Fiction Awards have been announced. Be sure to check it out because the books are incredible as always.

This month we are closing the doors on the Ladies of Horror Fiction and rebranding our team as Horror Spotlight in order to broaden our mission of spotlighting diverse voices in horror. Lots of exciting things are happening.

Posted Last Week

Books On My Summer 2022 To-Read List

On My Wishlist | Our Share of Night by by Mariana Enríquez, Megan McDowell (Translator)

Finished Reading

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - I loved Legends & Lattes. Such a cozy, wonderful read. I'll try to have a review out this week for it!

One Piece, Volume 3: Don't Get Fooled Again by Eiichiro Oda, Andy Nakatani (Translator) ⭐⭐⭐★★ - This manga continues to be so fun. The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because it can't stand alone. But if you are binging through these - it doesn't matter.

Currently Reading

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James - This is good so far.

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky - This is a reread so I'm picking it up and enjoying it as the mood strikes.

Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafón - This continues to be so wonderful. I may have to put the pause on it because of the next book below. It might be tough to focus on two books in Spanish at the same time. We'll see!

The Horror Spotlight group read for July is Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda, Sarah Booker (Translator). I realized when I started reading it yesterday that it was a translated novel. I was excited to find out my library had a copy of Mandíbula so I switched over to reading the Spanish version. I'm happy to also have the English copy from my library because the writing has a strange quality to it. I think the whole book is going to be weird, but I'm looking forward to it. If you would like to join us - you can find the link to our discord in our linktree.

Added to the TBR

The Midnighters by Hana Tooke

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert

What I've Been Watching

I meant to mention Lightyear last week! We went to see it on Father's Day, and we all loved it. Have you seen it?

I wound up enjoying Moon Knight by the end. I think I was the opposite of most people in that I didn't enjoy the beginning, but I found the ending where everying sort of, mostly came together to be the best part. You have to pay attention to this one as they do not give you the answers. You have to look for them and figure out what you think is happening on your own.

Kenobi. Oof. I love Star Wars so much, but I hate Vader and somehow I now hate Kenobi even more. This series was rough for me.

My entire family is enjoying Ms. Marvel so much! Definitely start watching this one if you haven't yet.

Yesterday was Stranger Things day! We loved the whole season. We started back over from the beginning before season 4 came out, and I hope we do it again before season 5.

Baseball. Lots and lots of baseball. My two favorite teams are the Astros and the Mets, and if they actually make it to the World Series together this year, I'm going to lose my mind.

 Have a great weekend and stay safe!

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date, Unleashing Readers, and Teach Mentor Texts It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.