#hold digging

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Hold Digging #1

Photo by iam Se7en on Unsplash

My birthday month has arrived and with it, changes to this blog, content and how I obtain my books.

Originally I had a change of heart and entertained the idea of a kindle. I am in the midst of a job promotion that would force me to change workspaces, where I'd ultimately lose the bookcase I currently have. The e-reader was the perfect solution; I'd be able to continue to read books at a cheaper cost and save physical storage space. That was, until my father suggested a free and more simple option: the library. Shout out to the parents for having common sense when their children lack it. 

I haven't been a member of one since college when I would spend my summers back home in New England. I've been a Philadelphia resident for a year this month. It's time for a new experience.

This is also the end of my BOTM membership for the reason stated above. While I love the books I currently own, I know that there isn't much space where I stay to house over a year and a half worth of books. I'll still be using the monthly selections to help me choose my library picks; they just won't be my primary source of reading anymore.

Moving forward, what is Hold Digging? It's my monthly roundup of titles I have selected to read. (That I'm at the top of the hold list to read.)

Penance by Kanae Minato Four girls were tricked into leaving their other friend alone, who is ultimately murdered. The surviving girls are cursed by the victim's mother and are haunted by the childhood trauma once more as adults.

I chanced upon Penance a few weeks ago venturing through bookstagrams. Unfortunately I can't find the book club that was reading it, but was instantly intrigued by the story's plot. In Japan Minato is hailed as "the queen of iyamisu" (eww mystery), which focuses on grisly episodes and the dark side of human nature. Like my May read, I love a good read that relies more on the shock value of the psyche than just the dreadful descriptions of disturbing scenery. I'm also glad to continue with my pursuit of Asian female authors, so my hopes are high for this book.

Paper Ghosts: a novel of suspense by Julia Heaberlin Carl has been picked up by his daughter to take a ten-day road trip. Except she's not his daughter , but a woman hellbent on proving that the elder once murdered her sister and countless others across Texas. Is the old man lying about his failing memory or is this mystery woman the real liar?

Like a previous author from February, Heaberlin has a past with the media as an award-winning editor for several newspapers. Her interest with true-crime translates into many of the previous novels she has written. This is my first book in the serial killer genre, but it fits along with June's dark theme and looks equally as promising as the first book for the month. Not to mention it reminds me somewhat of that same February read minus the haunted school in snowy Vermont and a multiplied obsession with a siblings death. 

There may be one or two book reviews, depending on how this month's transition from an after-school program to summer camp goes. In the meantime, site changes will continue and my summer TBR post will be published this month, so there are many things to look forward to.

Let me know what you're looking forward to reading this month too!

Happy reading,

A

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Hold Digging #9

Photo by Paul Schafer on Unsplash

Yes, you are looking at a back to back installment of Hold Digging. Yes, you are going to see it in the following month. No, I am not making it a permanent fix. I just have so many titles being released during the spring that I couldn’t waste a month focusing on writing when there are too many good books to read. Actual footage of me walking to the library to collect my books for the month: 

Wrapping up the final rainy days of April, I participated in #25inFive’s readathon. I didn’t hit the goal of 25 hours of reading but I did make 10 hours! I finished two books in that time, one of them start to finish in the same day. The marathon did tire me out, so I won’t be starting another title until the weekend to dedicate some much-needed time to reviews.  

I’m not entirely sure yet how next month will compare, but I’m confident that this is the most excited I’ve been for a reading month in a while. I’ve got three titles, two of which I’ve had on hold for months and a sophomore release where I’m giving an author a second chance.  

The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor  

A man returns to teach at his former high school with questionable intentions and must confront the dark truths he left behind.

I found out randomly last month that Tudor had released her second book and immediately found myself questioning if I should read it. Her debut had a stellar plot that kept me interested but my response to it was lukewarm. I believe in second chances and therefore want to come into this with an open mind like I did the first time. I found the debut’s climax to be lackluster, but was enchanted by the gruesome and often crude scenes. I’m no masochist, but I am hoping to read and envision more scenes like it, especially when there’s a suicide, murder and missing sister all tied into one man’s story. There is hope that Tudor can convert me into a fan of her psychological puzzles.  

Notes From a Young Black Chef: A Memoir by Kwame Onwuachi and Joshua David Stein  

Race, fame and food intersect as Kwame Onwuachi, a contestant on Top Chef, recounts how culinary inspired him to open –and close—his first restaurant, but most importantly helped him persevere in life, even in the darkest moments.

Last year I got into memoirs because of Phoebe Robinson. Honestly, I’ve never heard of Onwuachi before this book but in the past year I’ve invested into my Sunday meal prepping. Spending early mornings in the produce market and in front of the stove has become a form of meditation for me because I don’t have to focus on anything but the food in front of me. I want to expand my memoirs beyond just recognizable names. I look forward to learning about how Onwuachi beat the odds and still keeps his passion for food alive, in both his successes and his failures.  

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi  

Set in an American suburb in the 80s, two performing arts students fall in love and their acting teacher stands to come between them.  

Goodreads is the reason I gave this title a chance. Within the plot there are some truths and some not-so-truths. It’ll be interesting to discern between what really happened in the story and put together the puzzle. I am unsure if this categorized as a mystery or something else, but I’d like to discover it when I open it up. There is mention that the themes can incite debate on a number of topics, so I’d like to see how the messages are conveyed. Boasting a Pulitzer Finalist honor, my expectations for Choi’s work is high.  

There’s possibility for one more title this month, but it all depends on the Free Library’s quickness to get the fourth book to me. You already know how I feel that.  But anyway, I’d like to extend with my consistency of reading and writing into another month because I’ll need the discipline to get through my birthday month, which holds even more exciting titles in store! 

Again, actual future footage of me running to the library when my books for June become available: 

I hope you continue to read books you enjoy and write about the things you want!

Happy reading and writing, 

A

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Hold Digging #8

Photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash

Before I get into anything book related, I want to honor the late Nipsey Hussle. We’ve all heard social media’s take on his unfortunate and unexpected death, but please remember that he is survived by people still processing this loss. I am a black woman in a relationship with a black man and the news prompted me to remind him to always be careful when he is out. I am beyond words for Lauren London and I hope we’ve all extended support to anyone who’s in need of it at this time.  

This month I’ve made a promise to myself – I'm gonna get back on track. Big time. 

I have no plausible excuse for why it’s April and I have yet to post a book review on this site. I just finished editing my review for PTW, so I am hoping it will be posted in the coming weeks.  

I decided against a post for a writing wrap up since I didn’t do much writing. I will, however, give you a life update for why there wasn’t much activity during March. I am still in the process of job hunting. I have been fortunate enough to make it to the final interview for one that I want bad. Like real bad. Like I feel like it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’d be a damn fool to screw up. Going through the interview rounds, I was finally exposed to real editing. It’s a helluva lot more time consuming than I imagined. But you won’t hear me complain ‘cause this is what I want to do. To wrap this up, I’ve got to ace this final round and I want to remain as clear headed and confident as possible in order to get what I want.  

Somehow Goodreads says I’m still on track to complete my 30-book goal before the end of the year. 

With one-third of the year already gone, I want to hit the one-third mark of my goal. To help me do that, I picked these books this month:  

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams  

Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin

I cheated with The Kiss Quotient because I started it over the weekend when participating in #8intwo, a reading challenge to read 8 hours in two days. I only made half that at 4 hours, but I also had prior arrangements before I discovered the challenge. I have been waiting for Queenie for several months and am beyond excited to finally open its pages, which should be this weekend. Fever Dream was a random add-on because I am waiting for Schweblin’s most recent book to be in my hands, but after a conversation with a bookstagrammer who read her most recent book and offered a lukewarm review I wanted to give her a chance.  

In order to combat this laziness I’ve had with reviews, I am challenging myself to 3 reviews this month. I’m almost certain Queenie will head over to PTW, but I’m trying to fight the selfish spirit that wants me to keep it here so I have content for this month. Either way, there will be a review for each of the books I read this month. My good sis Phoebe Robinson is waiting on the bench just in case one of the selected books just doesn’t make the cut...but even she might get read this month too.  

For now I am focusing on being consistent. I will hold myself accountable for the decisions I make this month. I have a goal in mind and I have to keep my focus in check in order to get back to how I once was. I know it won’t be easy but I held myself to a higher standard last year and accomplished so much. I can do it again.  

Happy reading,  

A

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Hold Digging #6

Eleven Hold Diggings and twelve book reviews later and we’ve reached the last month of the year. I’ve read books I’ll hail as greats for the rest of my life and questioned my own judgement with ones I couldn’t bring myself to finish. I’ve chronicled all of this year’s reading journey just to make it to December.

Before this begins to sound like a future post this month, let’s keep things on track. December has become my go big or go home month with four books. This post is three days late, but I’ll let you know one of them has already been read. 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge completed last month, I want to allow myself the chance to read just to read. First, I‘ll introduce the two books I intend to write reviews for and then I’ll mention the book I’m also reading for fun. This was a difficult choice because I saved the best for last, three books I’ve been looking forward to reading and couldn’t have picked a better time to do so.

All The Names They Used For God by Anjali Sachdeva

A collection of strange short stories that span a number of genres, centuries, continents and characters that are united with the struggle of fate. These characters look for answers from more than just divinity, but science, nature, psychology and industry included.

How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs

A debut collection of short stories revolving around Jamaican immigrants and the families they left behind. From their homeland to the streets of the U.S., it is an intimate look at a people and a nation united.

Yes, more short stories! I’ve determined it’s my new favorite genre and after hearing rave reviews about each, I can’t wait to read them. Sachdeva’s debut struck my curiosity because of the strangeness of the short stories and her ability to cross over many genres makes me in awe of her talent. Arthurs’ caught my attention because I grew up with many Dominican and Puerto Rican friends, and though not the same as Jamaicans, I have adopted a love for the Caribbean into my life even years after leaving home.

Whiskey & Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith

Another debut, the story follows the lives of Evi, a new mother, Eamon, her husband and trained police officer and his brother Dalton, who compares his life to his brother’s and makes an effort to track down his biological father. The three voices offer separate stories with Eamon’s death included in each. Grief, mother and fatherhood, brotherhood and more are examined.

This too, sat in my 2018 TBR forever and I struggled to find where to fit it in. I am using this as my book to just read because I want to have more practice writing reviews for short story collections since I’ve heralded it a newly loved genre. From a writing standpoint I am excited to take notes on Cross-Smith’s ability to change voices and stories throughout one central novel. And if it’s really good, I just might have to post up a review!

Books out of the way, let’s briefly talk other upcoming posts, yes, posts that are not reviews! I intend to get better on it next year, but two other posts will be up before the new year.

First is my book of the year. It’s been a difficult choice in the making, but I believe I’ve finally come to an unanimous decision only a week or so ago. However, I do want to give one or two of these books a chance to be contenders, so I will post my decision the second to last Saturday of the year. On the last Saturday of the year I’d like to take the time to really reflect on what the past year has brought me. The successes and the fails and what I plan to do with this blog moving forward. I don’t want to reveal anything about either of those posts yet but the closer it comes, the more you’ll know.

I know I’ve said previously other months have been the busiest, but December takes the cake. Multiple posts and books ahead, I know I’ll be looking forward to when I can take a break and just relax in bed. But it won’t last long because another post will be due come January 1st. To say this is the last Hold Digging of the year is bittersweet because I’m not sure I saw myself here almost a year ago when I wrote my first review, but it’s also the last of its kind on this page (or is it???).

I do owe a good portion of my ability to keep this page up for a year to my small, but important audience. I appreciate anyone who took the time to find out what I was reading and look back for my (sometimes delayed) thoughts of the chosen books. I hope this year was as good to you as it was for me with books and look forward to what we’ll read next year!

A