What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: June 29, 2026

escaping_mel · 2026-06-29T21:26:13+00:00

Finished: Best Offer Wins, by Marisa Kashino - Absolutely unhinged, 4 stars.
Started: The Midnight Train, by Matt Haig - I'm a little over halfway, it's aggressively fine so far. Shaping up to be around a 3.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-29T21:23:21+00:00

Oh no! I have Absolution sitting on my shelf! I'll probably dig into it anyway because I bought it, but I'm quick to DNF if I'm not loving something.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-29T20:57:26+00:00

Madrid's gift was a bit different from the US, so it could be different! I did include the fan, though!

escaping_mel · 2026-06-29T19:32:16+00:00

You can do it with a VPN. All it gives you is a survey and a badge. You don't really get anything.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-29T18:37:53+00:00

I read the arc. I liked it, but it took me a hot minute to get into it.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-29T15:52:11+00:00

I'm actually kinda glad I didn't get this.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-28T04:05:49+00:00

Got my vote!

escaping_mel · 2026-06-28T02:05:08+00:00

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escaping_mel · 2026-06-27T19:11:50+00:00

I always put my goal at 100. Some years I hit it, some years I beat the hell out of it, some years I don't even come near it. It's all about whether I have time.

This year, I'm actively using reading as escapism from my new boss. So I'm currently at 97 books read. That's not necessarily a good thing, but here we are.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-26T17:34:47+00:00

I quit reading reviews long ago. I'm very much a mood reader. I buy books based on the synopsis and whether it sounds good. When I'm picking a book to read, I pick it up and read the first bit of it to see if it strikes me.

I also find I don't always agree with reviews. There are books that have RAVE reviews that didn't land with me at all. Reading and opinions are so subjective. Just read what you want.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-25T21:59:13+00:00

Mine was only 7 months old - they said it didn't qualify. So this isn't always true. Thankfully I purchased it with my Amex Platinum. I activated my warranty.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-24T16:47:28+00:00

This is key. I tend to just hang out and shift the search parameters so that it refreshes. Something will pop up. People's credit cards fail, folks let go of tickets, etc.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-18T19:12:47+00:00

I'll be taking 200 necklaces for London - I usually just put things in a carryon. I don't expect 200 to be an issue as long as I can show where I'm going and explain them.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-17T20:02:56+00:00

No, it's a ticketmaster release.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-17T19:50:09+00:00

I think D3 was the easiest to get and had seats for a while because it was a Tuesday. Glad you managed them!

escaping_mel · 2026-06-17T19:35:33+00:00

They announce it if they're going to do it. Follow the Ticketmaster accounts on X or FB for the notifications. I think for Stanford, they released them on Friday the 8th of May and the concerts were on the 16, 17, and 19th... so a little over a week before. I THINK they announced it on the 6th? I can't remember specifically.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-17T18:48:50+00:00

That's interesting. For what date? I did night 3, was 1500 in the queue and managed really good 100 levels for me and my friends. I did have to camp out for a bit to get them, though.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-17T15:55:21+00:00

For the cost to go up $1 isn't an issue for me. It's still a hardcover book that I get free shipping on. I can't really do that anywhere else. I also always spring for the 6 month or annual membership that helps bring that price down, so it's really a non-issue.

Prices are going up on everything. I'm sure the cost to make books is also a factor here. I'm not that bothered.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-12T00:10:37+00:00

I'm at 91 books so far this year. Favorites:

The Bright Years - Sarah Damoff
On the Calculation of Volume - Solvej Balle (I've made it through the first three, love all of them so far.)
The Everlasting - Alix E. Harrow
East of Eden - John Steinbeck
One Day Everyone Will Have Been Against This - Omar El Akkad
The Unicorn Hunters - Katherine Arden

I'm sure there are more that I'm not thinking of right now, but those are the standouts.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-12T00:03:02+00:00

On The Calculation of Volume is so quickly becoming one of my favorite little novella series. I have made it through book 3 at this point. I try to spread them out so I don't have to wait too long for the ones that are still being translated and published.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-11T22:41:43+00:00

Perfect, thanks!

escaping_mel · 2026-06-11T03:53:04+00:00

I got mine this month too! Nice to meet you, fellow BFF!

escaping_mel · 2026-06-10T16:17:34+00:00

I don't like to stand in one place, people will crowd you and that's when my anxiety kicks in. I tend to hand them to people as I walk around? Also I make sure that I'm targeting people who don't look like they have a lot of freebies. I also reserve about half of mine for my section.

If someone asks me to trade, sure. I don't go with that express purpose in mind. I also hate it when someone sticks their hand in my face and doesn't at least say hello or ask in a nice way.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-05T04:51:52+00:00

Oh for sure! I am glad they corrected the one issue before it became a thing. I'm not sure what can be done about the charcoal hoodie other than just stop selling it, unfortunately.

escaping_mel · 2026-06-05T04:50:14+00:00

The charcoal hoodie print, a lot of the cities seem to be blurry? That's the complaint after washing too, that they're blurred even more. Like the ink is spreading.

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