Like that Buddhist teaching of there being two pains: the actual pain of an arrow striking you, and the pain that arises by your reactions to the arrow. You can’t control the first pain, but you have some control over the second.

I’ll check it out, thanks!

The headphone decibel meter on the watch doesn’t mirror the phone. I like to make sure I’m not blowing my ears out listening to music, but the watch one only ever shows if music is played directly from the watch, so if I want to know how loud my headphones are I have to pull out the phone.

For the longest time I thought it was a bug so I spent months chatting with support. Took forever to get anywhere because the support reps weren’t really familiar with the feature, lol…

Yeah my knowledge of the background lore is vague at best so it sounds like Bloodlines is my best bet. Thanks!

I gravitate toward dark and depressing media so much. I could probably stand to fit more hopeful stories into my life so I’ll check out Monk & Robot. Thanks!

Yeah, shoot me your best book for someone new to the universe!

Tangentially related, but are there books for the “end times” Warhammer universe? (I forget what it’s called. The universe that the Vermintide games take place in.) I love that setting from what little I’ve seen of it.

Oh my god, book 8 was incredible! By far my favorite of the series. And yeah even though I’ve had such a fill of The Expanse I was still hungering for more by the end of it all.

I’ll check out your suggestions, thanks! I’ve always been vaguely interested in the Warhammer universe so maybe it’s time to give it a try.

Haha, well you’re right, the setting of the Aubrey series does not sound like my cup of tea, but you’ve convinced me!

Sounds like my kind of story. Thanks!

Ahh, the Bobbieverse… for when we can’t get enough of our favorite Martian. 😉 Jokes aside, I always feel more confident jumping into books from someone who has similar tastes, so thanks for the recommendation! I know, disliking Hitchiker’s Guide is bordering on blasphemy.

I started Project Hail Mary and I think I was irked by the protagonist, if I remember right. But the book has such glowing reviews, maybe it’ll be better for me as an audiobook.

Thanks for the other recommendations as well! I am probably going to shoot for a lighter read before diving into another series. I don’t know if I can jump into an incomplete series though. I’m putting off on reading the Game of Thrones books because I’m worried I’ll get incredibly invested and then they’ll never be finished. Maybe I should just embrace the journey though. There’s still fun to be had even if everything doesn’t get tied up.

Honestly watching The Expanse was how I got into the series in the first place so I might check out the show first and if I like it, then get the books. Thanks!

Just to find some plot or writing style I thoroughly enjoy. I have a hard time getting hooked on books these days. I’m hoping I just haven’t yet found what speaks to me.