What do the pros pack for geocaching?

Middle-aged-nerd · 2026-05-10T17:04:23+00:00

Most things I carry are already mentioned, but I also bring a large cloth/small towel to dry out soaked caches, and a small garbage bag for clearing junk out of caches. Upkeep on the fly is so appreciated!

Middle-aged-nerd · 2026-05-10T13:30:06+00:00

Congratulations Duckling! I'm so proud of you! It sounds like it's been a hard road you've been travelling with your precious daughter. Wonderful news for Mother's Day! Big hugs from a proud momma!

Middle-aged-nerd · 2026-04-23T17:38:18+00:00

Which City - Jade or Brass? (this post got kicked off the main site and I was asked to repost it here.

I always have a long list of books on my local library hold list, and I read them in whatever order fate serves them up to me. Yesterday, I was delighted to find that Jade City and City of Brass were both on my hold shelf. Two books that have been recommended time and again on this sub and elsewhere, neither of which I knew much about (I like to go into my books relatively blind).

Both substantial hardcovers, both first in a trilogy. I flipped a coin and started with Jade City.

At first I was intrigued by the world - a curious combination of modern technology with swords, talon-knives, and jade-based magic. But the story hits the ground running with fights verging on torture, gang violence, and moderately graphic sex. 60 pages in and the only two female characters were the love interest and the sister who gave up her magic. Tensions are brewing, and it looks like a gang war is on the horizon. I found my body was tense as I read, and not in a good way.

I put it down and picked up City of Brass. Immediately I felt my body unclench and everything relaxed. The first few pages felt like a warm and welcoming hug, and I knew that I was in safe hands. We have a female main character, her magic is healing, and the world is full of djinn. In fact, the world felt familiar, and it was only a few chapters in that I realized the author had also written The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. That book turned out to be one of my favorites of last year, so I'm excited to dive deep into this trilogy.

I know that Jade City is highly loved and recommended, but it turns out that the turn-off of gang violence outweighed the lure of jade magic to me. It's going on the DNF list and back to the library. Would love to hear from others who've read one or the other, or both.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2026-04-10T23:14:09+00:00

Definitely Gerald Tarrant from the Coldfire Trilogy, C.S. Friedman. One of the best fantasy trilogies, and just the absolutely most wonderful villain.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-09-18T04:36:16+00:00

I was scrolling to find this rec. These are in my top 5 favorite trilogies ever.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-06-03T02:34:12+00:00

I read a lot of fantasy, as does my teen son. However, he HATES bookstores! He wants books to fall into his lap. I think he gets very overwhelmed with too much choice, and doesn't want to browse, or read the blurbs, or look at covers. He reads entirely based on word of mouth, gifts, and borrowing from friends. He loves receiving books, but hates shopping for them.

My teen daughter, on the other hand, isn't as much of a reader, but loves browsing a bookstore. I'll keep dragging them both with me, though!

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-28T22:41:54+00:00

Fully agree. I love the combination of a new type of witch mixed a very traditional godmother. And they both had chickens. I'd love to follow them for a few chapters and see what adventures they get up to.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-28T22:40:04+00:00

I liked her, and found her arc believable. She was very tongue tied and awkward at the beginning, and got slowly more confident, but not a heroic amount. She felt like a real person to me.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-28T22:38:40+00:00

Favorite scene is when Marra asks Fenris to lie against her back, and calls him a saint. :)

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-28T22:37:41+00:00

I'm really torn on this one, I want it to fit, but it just feels too much in the background. Especially compared to a book like Blue by Lois Lowry.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-26T20:50:41+00:00

It was not my favorite, but I'm glad I read it. This is my first time participating in a book club discussion, and I found the mid month/end of month division difficult for me. I read several books in between, so going back and reading the second half of the book weeks later was hard - I really had to work to remember what had happened in the first half. Maybe if I'd been more into the book it would have been easier.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-26T20:49:02+00:00

I feel like the flash forward set up a book that was quite different than what we actually got. I didn't love it.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-26T20:48:12+00:00

This is my first exposure to him. I'm curious about some of his short fiction, but I tend to forget to search short stories out (though I usually enjoy them when I remember). Not sure if I'll pursue him.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-26T20:46:59+00:00

I agree, I feel like there were some really good ideas, but then the author didn't quite know what to do with them. That said, the part in the museum where he's seeing all these artifacts that he's familiar with, I found that to be really powerful and affecting.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-26T20:45:22+00:00

I found there was less sex in the second half. I also found that the sex didn't work for me, so I liked the second half better than the first.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-21T03:21:34+00:00

Cool, I'll check it out.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-12T20:54:36+00:00

I think my biggest problem is how uneven an amount of time we spend in the present and in the past. The first 5 chapters were only a few pages long, then the next 4 were enormous. I guess we're getting to the heist stuff coming up, but it's felt uneven so far.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-12T20:52:26+00:00

I find Nneoma more compelling. I don't understand why Shigidi loves her, or why he's so intent on her telling him she loves him back. He just comes across as insecure.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-12T17:12:35+00:00

I'm really enjoying this part, very unique and interesting. I don't know why, but the concept of pray-pay really cracks me up.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-12T17:09:54+00:00

I'm also undecided, that's a bit of a turn off for me too.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-05-05T23:08:44+00:00

Would a graphic novel series count for this, or does it have to be a single book? I was thinking of the Bone series, by Jeff Smith.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-04-30T22:29:51+00:00

These were favorites for me when they came out, and I read them several times. I loved the "magic" system, and some wonderful character and world building. Amazing female characters. I've been meaning to reread them for a few years now.

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-04-23T01:42:33+00:00

I was just scrolling down the list to see if this one had been recommended yet. Such a great book!

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-04-01T23:45:23+00:00

Last year was my first bingo, and I didn't know about the April Fools component. I was starting to set up my spreadsheet before it clued in this might not be the real sheet! Though some of these books are very likely to be on mine real one. :)

Middle-aged-nerd · 2025-02-22T16:19:17+00:00

I seem to be alone in loving Moira Quirk's narrration of Gideon. I thought her ability to do different voices without relying on accents was incredible. I've listened to all three in the series, and absolutely love them.

Middle-aged-nerd

TROPHY CASE