Book Reviews and More: JoshGriffing

Showing posts with label JoshGriffing. Show all posts

Sunday, 31 December 2023

Top Ten Fiction Books 2023

Top Ten Fiction Books 2023

It has been a very good year for reading, in fact it is my best to date, and not likely ever to be matched. I have read 455 books this year, many great reads, and a few new authors that I had not explored yet, with plans to read more from some of them. I have read just over a book and a quarter a day, in comparison with the last 7 years:

455 - 2023

438 - 2022

365 - 2021

317 - 2020

392 - 2019

359 - 2018

380 - 2017

272 - 2016

But back to this year by the numbers:

Books Read: 455

First Time Reads: 346

Fiction: 210

Non-Fiction: 246

5/5 Stars: 346

The first half of this year was exceptional. The second half work got fairly busy with a lot of overtime and weekend implementations that cut into reading time. I can state again that looking back 2016 is a bit of an outlier as late that year I switched jobs and have since had much better work – life balance. In the spring of 2016, I worked through Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now (now available on ClaitasU). The year before that I removed all games from my phone and tablet and my reading had doubled.

Top Ten Fiction Books 2023:

1. Love at First Bite - Declan Finn

Honor at Stake

Demons Are Forever

Live and Let Bite

Good to the Last Drop

2. The Rocking Chair Prophet - Matthew Kelly

3. unSPARKed Books - Corinna Turner

A Very Jurassic Lent

Three Clawsome Tales

What's Done is Done

A Truly Clawful Christmas

4 Starquest 4th Age Series - Richard Paolinelli

Galen's Way

Galen's Blade

5. Dragoneye PI Series - Karina Fabian

Siren Spell Book 6

Good Intentions Book 7

Idol Speculation Book 8

6. Phoenix - Lori Janeski - The Carter Files 01

7. The Groundskeeper Series - Cedar Sanderson

Raking Up the Dead

The Hoodoo That You Do

My Ghoul

8. Dreams of the Storyteller - Richard Paolinelli

(Note there are 14 volumes in this collection, a mix of Novellas and short stories.)

Barn Wars: The Rise Of Brooster Motherclucker

The 13th Medallion

The Enemy Of My Enemy

The Invited

Polar Shift

The Last Human

Nothing Ever Happens Here

At Homeworld's End

Icarus Falls

9. Nikolaos - Taylor Marshall - A Sword and Serpent Story

10. God Save The King - Josh Griffing

Bonus Books 2023:

A Printer’s Choice - W.L. Patenaude

The Superteacher Project - Gordon Korman

Sherlock Holmes Pastiches - Richard Paolinelli

A Lesson In Mercy

The Substitute Thief

Nevermore or, The Mystery Of The Albino Raven

The Misplaced Mystery Writer

The Assassination Of Alan Pinkerton

The Woman Returns

As can be seen by the numbers, my reading has been up over each of the last few years, thought I doubt I will ever match this years total of 455 volumes. And I thought last year would be a high watermark. But this year is proved me wrong, but I doubt I will ever match this level again. This reading success I in part attribute to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. And I was commuting to work on a bus and read on the bus every day. Working from home reading took a little more discipline, and we are now back to a hybrid model with 5 days a month in the office, so things are changing again.

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more.

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section. But if you want more options check out my favourite books year by year list. Or this year not to flood the list with one specific author.

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2020

Top Ten Fiction Books 2020

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2021

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2021

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2021

Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2021

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2021

Top Ten Fiction Books 2021

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2022

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2022

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2022

Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2022

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2022

Top Ten Fiction Books 2022

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2023

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2023

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2023

Top Ten Fiction Books Fourth Quarter 2023

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2023

Top Ten Fiction Books 2023

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2024

...

All Top Ten Lists on Book Reviews and More

Statistics Books Read By Year:
455 - 2023

438 - 2022

365 - 2021

317 - 2020
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017
272 - 2016
177 - 2015
130 - 2014
88 - 2013
176 - 2012
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
98 - 2008
83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
60 - 2004
52 - 2003
97 - 2002
50 - 2001
41 - 2000
71 - 1999
73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996

Friday, 29 December 2023

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Fourth Quarter 2023

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Fourth Quarter 2023

It has been a very good year for reading, in fact it is my best to date, and not likely ever to be matched. I have read 455 books this year, and 88 of them this quarter, which is right about on part for the fourth quarter. Many great reads, and a few new authors that I had not explored yet, with plans to read more from some of them. I have read just over a book and a quarter a day. I read eighty-eight books this quarter, in comparison with the last 7 years:

2023 – 88

2022 – 94

2021 – 83

2020 – 65

2019 – 95

2018 – 78

2017 – 104

2016 – 89

But back to this quarter by the numbers:

Books Read: 88

First Time Reads: 55

Fiction: 48

Non-Fiction: 39

5/5 Stars: 56

So about on par with most of the years. I can state again that looking back 2016 is a bit of an outlier as late that year I switched jobs and have since had much better work – life balance. In the spring of 2016, I worked through Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now (now available on ClaitasU). The year before that I removed all games from my phone and tablet and my reading had doubled.

Here is my top ten fiction and non-fiction books of the fourth quarter of 2023.

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

1. Clothed with Power from On High: A Short Catechesis on Charisms in the Life and Mission of the Church - Bishop Scott McCaig CC

2. Beautiful Eucharist - Edited by Matthew Kelly

3. A Year With the Bible 365 Daily Reflections - Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB - CTS Books

4. Elizabeth of the Trinity The Great Carmelite Saint - Jennifer Moorcroft - CTS Great Saints

5. The Confessions of St. Augustine - Ascension Catholic Classics

6. Stories about Purgatory & What They Reveal - TAN Books

7. Companion to the Sunday Gospels - Year B - Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB - CTS Companions

8. Praying the Nicene Creed - James Matthew Wilson - CTS Books

9. What Will Hell Be Like? - Alfonso María de Liguori

10. What is Truth?: Evangelising the Post-Modern World - Joshua Madden - CTS Explanations

Bonus Books:

Catechism of the Catholic Church Second Edition - Pope John Paul II

The Great Adventure Bible - Ascension Press

Top Ten Fiction Books:

1. unSPARKed Books - Corinna Turner

A Very Jurassic Lent

Three Clawsome Tales

What's Done is Done

2. Nikolaos - Taylor Marshall - A Sword and Serpent Story

3. Dreams of the Storyteller Series - Richard Paolinelli

CAG

Extinction Point

Barn Wars: The Rise Of Brooster Motherclucker

The 13th Medallion

The Enemy Of My Enemy

The Invited

Polar Shift

The Last Human

Nothing Ever Happens Here

4. God Save The King - Josh Griffing

5. The Groundskeeper Book 3 My Ghoul - Cedar Sanderson

6. Sherlock Holmes Pastiches - Richard Paolinelli

A Lesson In Mercy

The Substitute Thief

Nevermore or, The Mystery Of The Albino Raven

The Misplaced Mystery Writer

7. Space Traipse: Hold My Beer: Season Seven - Karina Fabian

8. Christmas Evil: A Heavy Metal Holiday Novella - N.R. LaPoint

9. Catholic Teen Books Stories

A Fowl Christmas

A Saint Nicholas Eve Carol

10. Tsalmoth - Steven Brust - Vlad Taltos Book 16

Bonus Books:

No Coins, Please - Gordon Korman

The Holiday Special - Barry J. Hutchison - Space Team Book 2.5

My reading has been up over each of the last few years, thought I doubt I will ever match this years total of 455 volumes. And I thought last year would be a high watermark. But this year is proving me wrong, which I attribute in part to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. And I was commuting to work on a bus and read on the bus every day. Working from home reading took a little more discipline, And we are now back to a hybrid model with 5 days a month in the office, so things are changing again.

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more.

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2020

Top Ten Fiction Books 2020

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2021

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2021

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2021

Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2021

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2021

Top Ten Fiction Books 2021

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2022

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2022

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2022

Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2022

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2022

Top Ten Fiction Books 2022

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2023

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2023

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2023

Top Ten Fiction Books Fourth Quarter 2023

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2023

Top Ten Fiction Books 2023

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2024

...

All Top Ten Lists on Book Reviews and More

Statistics Books Read By Year:
455 - 2023

438 - 2022

365 - 2021

Saturday, 2 December 2023

God Save The King - Josh Griffing

God Save The King

Josh Griffing

Tuscany Bay Books

ASIN B0CCMC6K28

This is the fourth volume I have read from the pen of Griffing. This volume contains A story that has previously been published in the Planetary Anthropology Sol from Tuscany Bay Books. I have that volume and the other 10 in the series but have not read most of them yet. This story was one of two mentioned during the Tuscany Bay Open House on Facebook, and I picked it and another short by Griffing during the live session. The description of the story states:

“If ever you deal with the Fair Folk, mortal, these laws you must remember at your peril. Never give the Fae your word: it is your bond. Never give the Fae your name: it will be your binding. Never step over a Faërie Ring; neither eat nor drink of Faërie fare.

And whatsoever else you do, never under any conditions become intrigued in Faërie politics!

But King Oberon is missing, and James A. Dalworthy, of the Feliciana County Sheriff's Office, has been called upon to rescue him.”

I had no idea what this story was about when I picked it up. But having read a few others by Griffing I knew I was in for an entertaining story, and I was correct. This was a great little read. I enjoyed it immensely. I had not read the description prior to reading the story. I just rolled with it as it came; which is much like the main character James A. Dalworthy. On the day he is made redundant at work on his walk home from the Sheriff’s office he encounters a knight in full armour. After taking the night for tea he is translated into the world of the Fae, and as he is told all is not as it appears. He must learn not to trust his eyes, his ears, and especially what he is told.

This was an excellent read. Short form fiction is a very different art form from writing novels. The skills needed are different. From what I have read from Josh he is a master of short fiction. I look forward to rereading this volume again as I get around to reading the Anthology it was originally in. I would also have no concerns picking up the next offering from Griffing’s pen. This was a great read. I enjoyed this story tremendously. I would love to see other stories featuring James A. Dalworthy or the world of Fae as presented in this volume. I can easily recommend this volume!

Note: Click here for review of all volumes form Tuscany Bay Books.

Books by Josh Griffing:

Vessel - Declan Finn and Josh Griffing - Saint Tommy NYPD Book 12.5

The Hyperion Signals

Drawing Out the Bestiary

Pyre & Ice

The Night My Father Shot The Werewolf

God Save the King

…

Contributed to:

Earth: Planetary Anthology

Luna: Planetary Anthology

Sol: Planetary Anthology

Impossible Hope: Tales of Overcoming Odds

Futures That Never Were

…

Wednesday, 15 November 2023

The Night My Father Shot The Werewolf - Josh Griffing

The Night My Father Shot The Werewolf

Josh Griffing

Tuscany Bay Books

ASIN B0CCMFKLDM

This is the third volume I have read from the pen of Griffing. This volume contains A story that has previously been published in the Planetary Anthropology Luna from Tuscany Bay Books. I have that volume and the other 10 in the series but have not read most of them yet. This story was mentioned during the Tuscany Bay Open House on Facebook, and I picked it and another short by Griffing during the live session. The description of the story states:

“The boys in Mrs. Carroll's third-grade class learned a lot last year, about things like cursive, and multiplying, and werewolves.”

This is an intriguing story written from the first person perspective of a young boy. The story opens with these words:

“The second-most important thing Dad taught me was that my mother was the most special, and precious, and Very Important beautiful lady in the whole wide world, and I was never to forget that. The first-most important thing was that Jesus loved me more than Dad and Momma did, and they loved me a whole lot. But next to Jesus Loves Me, the most important thing was Dad loved Momma. Sometimes they fought a lot, loudly and vigorously, but if I took sides, I was in big trouble. One time I came in from school and caught them yelling in the living-room. Momma said something mean to Dad, and he shouted back, in long, sharp-sounding words. I joined in and shouted their echo back. Out of nowhere my father's hand snapped out across my mouth.”

But the story went in a very different direction than I expected, even days later as I write this review I find myself thinking about this story. The story focuses around family dynamics and rumours of a werewolf in the neighbourhood. I was very surprised by the twists in the story.

This was a great read. Short form fiction is a very different art form from writing novels. The skills needed are different. From what I have read from Josh he is a master of short fiction. I look forward to rereading this volume as I get around to reading the Anthology it was originally in. I would also have no concerns picking up the next offering from Griffing’s pen. This was another excellent read. I really enjoyed this story. I can easily recommend this volume!

Note: Click here for review of all volumes form Tuscany Bay Books.

Books by Josh Griffing:

Vessel - Declan Finn and Josh Griffing - Saint Tommy NYPD Book 12.5

The Hyperion Signals

Drawing Out the Bestiary

Pyre & Ice

The Night My Father Shot The Werewolf

God Save the King

…

Contributed to:

Earth: Planetary Anthology

Luna: Planetary Anthology

Sol: Planetary Anthology

Impossible Hope: Tales of Overcoming Odds

Futures That Never Were

…

Wednesday, 18 October 2023

The Planetary Anthology Series An Overview

The Planetary Anthology Series

This series has a long history. It was originally planned and started by Superversive Press, but before the series was completed the publisher could not continue and offered the series up. Thankfully for us Tuscany Bay Books picked up the series and saw it through to completion. There were 11 volumes planned and a twelfth Best of was released after the whole series.

The Tuscany Bay Editions went out of print, but in October of 2023 they have brought them back in print. They are now available as paperbacks, hard covers, eBooks, and audio books. The volumes in the order they were released are:

Pluto

Luna

Uranus

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Sol

Neptune

Saturn

and

The Best of the Planetary Anthology Series

At the time of their rerelease, I had picked up all the original editions but had only read 2 of them. The original editions had 194 stories and 90 authors. Two authors decided to pull their stories for the reprint editions, and 6 stories were removed. I story was added to the Pluto edition that did not originally fit based on word count limits at the time. So the series now comprises 189 stories from 89 authors. The Best of volume contains 22 of those stories by 22 authors. There are numerous authors I love who have contributed to these books. Below is the specific information on each volume. And I will add links as I review each of them.

Pluto

ISBN 9798862319583

ISBN 9798862319651

ASIN B081S745L7

Luna

ISBN 9798862041163

ISBN 9798862041309

ASIN B08462M5W8

Uranus

ISBN 9798862318999

ISBN 9798862319040

ASIN B084GXDBJK

Mercury

ISBN 9798861823210

ISBN 9798861823340

ASIN B08563Q67G

Venus

ISBN 9798861838382

ISBN 9798861838856

ASIN B08563KNL6

Earth

ISBN 9798861944243

ISBN 9798861944397

ASIN B08563QHGZ

Mars

ISBN 9798862201680

ISBN 9798862201833

ASIN B085644DYV

Jupiter

ISBN 9798862215830

ISBN 9798862215984

ASIN B0856436B5

Sol

ISBN 9798861702836

ISBN 9798861702973

ASIN B0856PWFK6

Neptune

ISBN 9798862319385

ISBN 9798862319439

ASIN B0856TLV47

Saturn

ISBN 9798862239447

ISBN 9798862239508

ASIN B0856PM1MW

The Best of the Planetary Anthology Series

ISBN 9798378196517

ISBN 1230006167301

ASIN B0BW97M726

Many amazing authors contributed to these collections. The stories I have read have been excellent. I can easily recommend these books. And highly recommend them.

As an aside: I wrote a piece in a book column, Confessions of a Bibliophile many years ago called ‘Judge a Book by Its Cover’ I have to admit I prefer the original covers. And likely would have got around to reading them sooner if those had been the covers when I picked them up. Here are the original 5 covers from Superversive Press.