vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
2022-12-15 01:52 am

Book 67 of 2022

Just finished The Frangipani Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu, the first in a series of Singapore set whodunnits set in the 1930s and 1940s. This book was recommended to me by my TBR bibliologist. I'd said that I wanted to read books in or about other places and other perspectives. It was a very enjoyable Golden Age style whodunnit, in an original setting, and with a very original protagonist. Thoroughly enjoyed that and I will definitely read more in the series. My dad spent some time in Singapore in the early 1950s, so this was an especially interesting read for me.
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
2022-10-04 07:57 pm
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Latest TBR recommendations

Just a few minutes ago got my latest TBR Tailored Book Recommendations and delighted again with them! All 3 books I haven’t heard of, all look great for me. I’ve got a fantasy/folklore novel, a book of essays celebrating different gender identities, and a historical fiction whodunnit(?) set in 1930s Singapore. Fab!

I plan to start reading some of them in November. The recommendations come quarterly, and I’ve paid for a year’s worth, so am halfway through now. Sure I’ve still got to read these ones, but they look really promising. I got onto this service via a book YouTuber I watch, and I’m so far very happy to have treated myself to a year.
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
2022-07-29 08:39 pm

Reading curfew (well partial)

I’m currently reading - as well as lots of non fiction - two novels. The fourth Wheel of Time book (*so* long!) and T. Kingfisher’s The Twisted Ones. The latter is one of the first three recommendations I got from the paid TBR book recommendation service. I’d asked for something spooky but not gory/violent/body horror. And it’s certainly delivering. But it is so spooky and unnerving I am restricting myself to only reading it in the daylight. And bright daylight at that! At night / before sleep I’ll read the other novel or something non fiction. So far having read or started two of the three TBR book titles it’s been a great success so far. I have an Asian fantasy novel to read after from TBR.
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
2022-06-23 01:36 am
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Trying a book recommendation subscription service

From a book person I watch on YouTube I learned of the TBR book recommendation service. This asks you lots of questions about your reading tastes, then pairs you up with a human bibliologist to make recommendations. You get at least 3 books recommended each quarter. They can access your Goodreads profile if you have one so they don’t recommend books you’ve already read. It looks good, and gets good reviews from others too, so I’m going to give it a go. I will report back on how I get on! I am especially keen to find more books outside my usual reading. The questions you are asked about your reading tastes are very probing, and could produce good results. There is a fee.