u/Bookish_Butterfly

I read Outlander over ten years ago. I liked it well enough; I think I gave it 4 stars. I remember the writing being very good and I do enjoy time travel books. Only I clearly didn't like it enough to complete the series. However, with all the hype surrounding the finale of the TV show, which I have also not watched despite always being mildly interested, I'm curious to give the Outlander books another chance. Preferably on audiobook, since I've struggled with bigger books since the pandemic.

Although, before I did that, I figured I would do a little research first, asking other readers. Overall, are the Outlander books worth the read? And what about the audiobooks? What do you all think?

When do you think we will get hints this week? What books are you hoping to see in June? I’m stumped!

I’m on the verge of a reading slump. I’ve picked up and put books down. What I did finish were mild disappointments. These are the classics on my physical TBR that are calling to me the most. I need something that will hold my attention and make me want to sit down to read. Which of these would fit the bill?

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I'm suddenly in the mood to read classics. Thing is, I'm also feeling like I'm on the verge of a reading slump. I've started and put down books, and what I did read were disappointing. Which of these classics off my physical TBR would help me get my reading groove back?

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Carmilla by Joseph LaFanu Sheridan

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie

Hi everybody! I'm a big reader and a librarian. Since I was diagnosed with PCOS three years ago, I've done online research here and there. But I'm curious if anyone here has any books to recommend on PCOS? Or any sort of nonfiction that's helped you with the condition to some capacity? Specifically, nonfiction, but I'm open to pretty much anything.

For context, all through yesterday and well into the night, I was randomly super tired and groggy. Granted, I wake up at 4am to catch a 6:50am train. After an hour or so long train ride, I get on a subway that takes me to work by 9am. Depending on the day, I do a lot of walking on the job, which ends at 5pm. And then I do the reverse commute on the way home. So, obviously, I'm pretty wiped out by the time I get home.

But there are nights, like last night, I'm irritable, and I go off on my family. Last night, actually, was so bad, I chose to call out sick so I can have a day of rest before my weekend shift at my part-time retail job. My irritable mood carried into this morning, and I'm only now coming out of it. I happened to glance at my period tracking app and saw there are 11 days left before my period. And, thanks to PCOS, my period might start sooner.

All that said, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Is this all a PCOS a mood swing attached to my period or just a bad night?

Today, I tried to read a self-published memoir I bought last year. The author was in a YouTube video exposing an online social predator and was a force of nature. Even though I normally don’t buy nonfiction, I wanted to support them. But I just cannot with the writing. To me, it’s nails on a chalkboard. Worse, it made me feel nothing, despite everything going on. I lasted a little over 30 pages before I gave up.

I avoided marking it on Goodreads and I’m glad I did. The last thing I want is to wreck reviews on a personal memoir, especially since it’s on a very sensitive topic (CSA). I’m going to donate my copy to the local library, hopefully putting it in the hands of someone who needs this kind of book. But I always feel bad when I don’t like a memoir. It almost feels like I’m judging someone for sharing their story and I don’t like that feeling.

I’ve had the app saved on my phone for a little over a year, but I have yet to subscribe. I bounce between Libby, Hoopla, Spotify, Audible, and Everand/Scribd for audiobooks. Whichever I use depends on which one has the audiobook I’m looking for at the moment. People seem to like Libro.fm. $14.99 a month for a single credit doesn’t sound too bad, considering how much I read in a month. And the money would go towards my local indie. But what do you think of using the app in general? Easy to use? Does it have a wide selection? Let me know!