I wouldn’t say Priory of the Orange Tree is particularly autumnal, but the queer rep is great and it’s a fun fantasy stand-alone. The ending is a little rushed, but other than that it’s good fun. I’d love recs on booker backlist titles!
Ok so it's been ages since I went to Japan, like 2015.i think, but we did all three of those places. it's amazing, massive culture shock since I can't read kataka or kanji, only romanji. We did Tokyo, stayed in Kyoto one night then Osaka as a base as had the train pass (worth it, bullet train is amazing). Kyoto was wonderful and has tonnes to see. We were lucky as we happened to be there when the main castle/shine place was having a light festival on the night for the cherry blossom season. Best bits of the trip, studio Ghibli museum, would love to visit the new theme park. Nara and miyajima are great but watch out for the deer, will eat anything in your pockets when your not watching (a friend nearly got his passport stolen by one at Nara). Mount inari too gate was fun, we walked to the top too (in pouring rain). Getting to try okonominyaki in a proper non tourist place was great, ramen same. Hiroshima.was impactful, important but also brutal. As we went in cherry blossom season there was just lots was walking around and enjoying seeing Japan, particularly in Tokyo, like shibuya crossing, and the parks and the temples, emperors castle. If you sew and craft then the shops around big tomato in the fabric district nippori. In osaka, don ton bori or food on an evening was vibrant and fun and we also went to Osaka castle and the park around it. Depends on the type of holiday you do, we do walking around, parks, castles, museums, temples and shrines trying out food as we wanted around and crash on the night, so didn't really do any proper night life
And now for books 1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish? I am always carrying books I didn't finish in my currently.reading, my storygraph is a mess from it and I've accepted it as a way of life now 🤦 but probably 2 for this year, the mirror and the light, as I read wolf hall and bringing up the bodies this year and war and peace, started with the crawlalong but I could do two slow books at the same time and wolf hall won out as i couldn't read it quickly, so i doubt I'll manage war and peace for the end of the year but I want to try and pick it back up beginning of next year. 2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year? Nope Might try for a Victorian in victober as that feels wintery (blame dickens!) but nothing autumnal 3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for? Nope I haven't pre-ordered or anticipated new released to buy an dread immediately since the last discworld book I don't think. 4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year? Other than the two start and not finished above, either assassins apprentice or wheel of time. In the mood for epic long series fantasy and betwixtmas is that for me as before I could afford to preorder and buy the new discworld myself I would get it for Christmas and read it from opening until early hours boxing day every time. And I've been wanting to read the centre for months, but not got to it yet, same with enter ghost. 5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year? Yes because I've not read so many books I loved.or will be favourites, only liked and bests so hopefully for some more loves. 6. Have you already started making reading plans for next year? Other than war and peace, not really...well other than deciding myself that I'll stop buying more books than I read and will stop getting library books to read instead of reading the books I have bought 🤦 and if I do that then that will impact what I'm reading. I have a vague idea of maybe trying to read the women's prize winners eventually, maybe even short list and selective long lists, but that means sticking to a plan, that not me.
Looking forward to seeing your Japan adventures
Finally someone doing it at the right time 😭😭
I wouldn’t say Priory of the Orange Tree is particularly autumnal, but the queer rep is great and it’s a fun fantasy stand-alone. The ending is a little rushed, but other than that it’s good fun. I’d love recs on booker backlist titles!
@@lyllistrata3903 ok thank you this is perfect - I've bumped it to after Japan 😘
Ok so it's been ages since I went to Japan, like 2015.i think, but we did all three of those places. it's amazing, massive culture shock since I can't read kataka or kanji, only romanji. We did Tokyo, stayed in Kyoto one night then Osaka as a base as had the train pass (worth it, bullet train is amazing).
Kyoto was wonderful and has tonnes to see. We were lucky as we happened to be there when the main castle/shine place was having a light festival on the night for the cherry blossom season.
Best bits of the trip, studio Ghibli museum, would love to visit the new theme park. Nara and miyajima are great but watch out for the deer, will eat anything in your pockets when your not watching (a friend nearly got his passport stolen by one at Nara). Mount inari too gate was fun, we walked to the top too (in pouring rain). Getting to try okonominyaki in a proper non tourist place was great, ramen same.
Hiroshima.was impactful, important but also brutal.
As we went in cherry blossom season there was just lots was walking around and enjoying seeing Japan, particularly in Tokyo, like shibuya crossing, and the parks and the temples, emperors castle.
If you sew and craft then the shops around big tomato in the fabric district nippori.
In osaka, don ton bori or food on an evening was vibrant and fun and we also went to Osaka castle and the park around it.
Depends on the type of holiday you do, we do walking around, parks, castles, museums, temples and shrines trying out food as we wanted around and crash on the night, so didn't really do any proper night life
@@jillybeanh67 this is so helpful, thank you! We're a bit of both in terms of vibe - we like a walk and some culture but then a few drinks too!
And now for books
1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
I am always carrying books I didn't finish in my currently.reading, my storygraph is a mess from it and I've accepted it as a way of life now 🤦 but probably 2 for this year, the mirror and the light, as I read wolf hall and bringing up the bodies this year and war and peace, started with the crawlalong but I could do two slow books at the same time and wolf hall won out as i couldn't read it quickly, so i doubt I'll manage war and peace for the end of the year but I want to try and pick it back up beginning of next year.
2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
Nope
Might try for a Victorian in victober as that feels wintery (blame dickens!) but nothing autumnal
3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for?
Nope I haven't pre-ordered or anticipated new released to buy an dread immediately since the last discworld book I don't think.
4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?
Other than the two start and not finished above, either assassins apprentice or wheel of time. In the mood for epic long series fantasy and betwixtmas is that for me as before I could afford to preorder and buy the new discworld myself I would get it for Christmas and read it from opening until early hours boxing day every time.
And I've been wanting to read the centre for months, but not got to it yet, same with enter ghost.
5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year?
Yes because I've not read so many books I loved.or will be favourites, only liked and bests so hopefully for some more loves.
6. Have you already started making reading plans for next year?
Other than war and peace, not really...well other than deciding myself that I'll stop buying more books than I read and will stop getting library books to read instead of reading the books I have bought 🤦 and if I do that then that will impact what I'm reading. I have a vague idea of maybe trying to read the women's prize winners eventually, maybe even short list and selective long lists, but that means sticking to a plan, that not me.
@@jillybeanh67 ah yes I love a good series to get stuck into around Christmas, I'm hoping to get a few of the WoT books under my belt around then!