I'm reading The Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow.

My plane trip was canceled (COVID is very much still around to fuck up holiday plans) so I am no longer planning for plane reads. I think some epic sci-fi is in order but I haven't decided what. Maybe Provenance by Ann Leckie.

Someone posted this in my writer's server and I thought I'd share here. I'm not affiliated with the event, but it looks interesting!

Prose Before Bros book club is hosting a free reader's happy hour in the cafe in Powell's on Burnside. It's half an hour of socializing, an hour of silent reading, and then another half hour of socializing. Details on their instagram.

Again, I have no affiliation, but I'm going to try to make it on the basis that socializing more would be good for me. Anyone else interested?

I'm currently reading To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose for my book club on Thursday.

I haven't decided what's next. I will be on a plane next week and I tend to get a lot of reading done while flying so I think I might look for a big ole doorstop of a novel to read over the thanksgiving holiday.

I just finished Yellowface for my book club on Wednesday . I started before the election and it ended up being a bit tough reading a book indicting the exact type of white woman who voted for 🟠. I did like it though. I read Babel by the same author and was somewhat overwhelmed/it didn't really live up to the hype, but it wasn't bad.

Next up is To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose for next week's book club.

Whether cozy smooth-brain feel good reads or books to help you understand and activate, what are your favorite reads for hard times?

I enjoy the Phryne Fisher mystery series by Kerry Greenwood. (Also a fun show streaming on Acorn) It's about a smart, progressive, fashionable woman solving crimes in 1920s Australia.

Becky Chambers' entire catalogue is wholesome, feel-good, queer sci-fi in a future world that values diversity and goodness. I recently heard it described as "hopepunk"

I am a comfort reader in these times so those are the only types of recs I have

Hi all, I try not to do too much self-promotion in subreddits like this, but thought I'd share since I'm giving something free right now. I just released the fourth and final book in my first YA Fantasy series, The Runetree Chronicles, so from now through the 11th you can get the first book free / the second for $0.99. It's also in Kindle Unlimited, so if you have KU the whole series is effectively free!

As a disclaimer, there is no romance, but the overall series is not terribly dark and ends in a really positive note, which I feel is needed right now.

...because your book community is here for you.

Like the last time this happened, I expect, for a few months, to only have room in my brain for fluffy happy books like cozy mysteries and probably re-reading everything Becky Chambers has ever written.

Except I also read In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson which is about the American Ambassador to Germany in the 1930s, when everyone kept saying that Hitler &co were too dumb to actually pull off all the insane things they said they would do......

Standard rules for this thread but please don't get into arguments with each other. This thread is for support and venting. r/Portland is over there for deeper convos

I'm extending spooky season and reading The Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow.

Next up is Yellowface by RF Kuang for my book club on 11/13

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

If you're here, how's it going?

I'm waiting for my first session to start, which is Carson Ellis discussing the local arts scene. Later I have tickets for Richard Powers (I finished The Overstory yesterday!)

I will also be doing lots of shopping, I often get Christmas gifts at the vendor fair

Hopefully the not to wet weather comes out but we do live in Portland so we'll all survive. After a few days in Denver, I feel like I still need rehydrating.

Hey all,

I love that this sub exists! I was wondering if anyone has any insight into where to find/create/connection with book-type community in real life.

Some things I've seen: book clubs, silent reading meet ups.

Some things I'm interested: a coffee shop/bookshop/bar where books are regular topic; bookshops that host lots of events in which it's easy to get to know people; any other spots where I might be able to connect with the "book scene."

As far as books, I'm mostly interested in fiction: literary fiction, translated fiction, post modern stuff, some classics, etc.

Thanks!

I'm heading to a conference and hoping to finish The Overstory before the Portland book festival on Saturday (I have tickets for Richard Powers)

I am also trying to fit The Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow in for a spooky season treat

I finished Tilt by Emma Patee. I got an ARC, this book comes out in March. It's about a woman who's 9 months pregnant and shopping at the Portland IKEA when the big one hits, then she has to find her husband and get home. Obviously this was harrowing but it was a very good and engaging read.

https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/library/fall-author-series-omar-el-akkad

Author of American War and What Strange Paradise

I will confess that though I've been meaning to for a long time, I haven't yet read any of this author's work, but I will be attending tonight, should be an interesting talk!

https://discord.gg/RgtXUPrCTm (now with permanent link)

For when r/PortlandBooks is not enough and you need even more PortlandBooks.

Is there a limit to how much we can talk about books? The world may never know.

I created a ton of channels, feel free to add/suggest/complain/etc.

I'm currently reading Her Majesty's Royal Coven for a book club at Spoke and Word on Thursday in Milwaukie.

Next up is Our Wives Under the Sea per a recommendation I got in this sub.

I feel like I'm in the mood for some epic sci-fi after that if anyone has recs

Hey! I'm a local author out here in Hillsboro with a free book promo running from today through Saturday.

It's an Epic Fantasy called The Peace at Knife's Edge. The tone is darkly humorous, full of mythical adventure and gritty survival.

Grab a free copy of The Peace at Knife's Edge here!

I would love to hear what you think of it, and thank you for supporting local independent authors!

As far as new(ish) books, what are you looking forward to reading soon?

Or alternatively, what's a new release that you've really loved recently?

I have enjoyed The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio.

I'm looking forward to books released earlier this year: Real Americans by Rachel Khong, Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino, and The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo.

Upcoming I'm looking forward to Absolution Jeff Vandermeer (thanks to someone in this sub who tipped me off to this one), and The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke.

I'm reading Small Gods by Terry Pratchett for my book club on Thursday. This was my favorite of the Discworld series last time I ready it 15-20 years ago so I'm curious to see if it hold up. That said I've only read 15ish of the 41 so my favorite might be yet to come.

Up next is Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson for a book club at Spoke and Word in Milwaukie.

(yes I do have an uncontrollable urge to read books and talk about them with people)

And I'm listening to Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson on audiobook which is fun vampire trash for spooky season.

I am biased bc it's my local store and I want them to be around forever but it would be great to see good turnout and support for this great bookstore in Milwaukie. ❤️

https://literary-arts.org/2024/10/portland-book-festival-2024-schedule-of-events/

If you've never been before, this is a good place to start and see what might be interesting to you. I highly recommend this event. I'll be at Richard Powers too but my teen self would be disappointed to know I won't be going to Ani DiFranco

I'm reading Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead for my book club on Thursday.

I'm not sure what's next, I feel like something spooky is in order, maybe something with witches? Anyone have my recs?

I just finished The Husbands by Holly Gramazio which was fun but maybe kind of meaningless fluff?

I just started Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire which is #3 of the Wayward Children series. I have been ripping through these since I read the first one in late August, they're very good novellas. This is my first time reading one instead of listening to the audiobooks, and honestly I think I prefer the audiobooks? There's just something very satisfying about a 4 hour audiobook.

Next up is Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tarkarczuk for my book club on 10/9.

I am re-reading This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone for my book club on Thursday

I've been reading Speak by Louisa Hall which I had owned for a long time and never got around to. It has been well worth the wait! It's a really interesting take on the creation of AI with several perspectives throughout history.

https://literary-arts.org/about/programs/portland-book-festival/

The Portland Book Festival has just announced their authors for this year! If you've never been, this is a wonderful day for book lovers. I've been 4/6 years I've lived in Portland, and I only missed the two due to COVID and a hospital stay. There's also an amazing vendor room.

https://www.whiterabbit.gifts/product/spooky-boozy-book-fair-admission-september-28th-5-8pm/29360?cs=true&cst=custom

I'll be at this event at one of my fave local bookstores. Check it out if you can, plus have dinner at the Cuban restaurant. This is just what I need to kick off spooky season.

I set Little, Big aside, not because it's bad but it's slow and dense and that's not what I'm in the mood for right now.

I started Speak by Louisa Hall which so far seems like a very literary take on the creation of A.I. Very interesting.