Another slow week, partly in Pandemic mode, partly in recovery mode. So my sons are moving towards Fully Vaccinated; one has both shots and is busily growing the immune response, and the other has his Phase One test shot, and is probably doing the same, and I'm all done but old and nervous. So they don't go anywhere but I go places cautiously. I still like to order things for delivery to my car, but that's mainly because I'm lazy; if I forgot anything I'll go the next day to pick it up instead of just doing without. I wear masks when I go inside places, but it's out of a feeling of solidarity (why should the store workers assume I'm telling the truth about being vaccinated?) but I don't tighten them that much.
I walk at the gym with a flimsy paper mask and scowl at all the maskless people. Of course, most of them are working out much harder than me so this is really unfair, but I figure my scowl is hard to read since I'm WEARING A MASK so I don't bother talking myself down. I go during quiet times so there aren't many people there anyway.
I had my regular mammogram, my first one on a regular schedule since I was demoted to checks every 6 months because of shadows or blobs or something (I'm not good at medical stuff). And, I flunked it, so I have to go back next week for more scans. This is all perfectly normal, no reason for concern, so of course I'm terrified. In other health news, I jammed my toe on somehow, so I get a break from my jogging.
We had our Friday book club, and it was lovely. The book was The Blue Castle, and we skipped right past it and talked about each other and how we are doing, which was completely right since wanting that connection was precisely why we picked that book. It was on Skype, but we are thinking about maybe meeting in person as the last of us get fully vaccinated.
I have pushed all cooking off on my culinarily minded son, so he made falafels one night, and my pita bread came out really nice -- soft and puffy and perfect for putting food in. What little food we had, since I had given him the recipe and he's used to cooking for himself and I had forgotten I had adjusted the recipe downward when the teenagers went to college. Luckily my other son had made cookies. And on Friday we had homemade pizza, again from my recipe, and wow, does my son do a better job with pizza crust than I do. Yum. And on this one he just kept making pizzas until we cried enough. Wow.
I am currently reading 25 books, which seems slightly too many but I'm OK with it.It's fewer than last week somehow, probably because I'm checking earlier on Monday.
The Book Date does a weekly roundup of what people are reading, want to read, or have read each week called "It's Monday! What Are You Reading" and I'm going to go sign up. Ditto for the children's lit version at either Teach Mentor Texts or Unleashing Readers.
Started
Murder at Veronica's Diner, J.D. Griffo. My book to read at the dinner table.
Life Sucks, Jessica Abel. Cybils finalist.
Equal Rites, Terry Pratchett. A reread.
Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magial Witch, Julie Abe. Cybils finalist.
Murder Must Advertise, Dorothy L. Sayers. Read-aloud book.
The Whim of the Dragon, Pamela Dean. Read-aloud book.
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, Damien Duffy. I bought this. Also, it's nominated for a Hugo!
Crystal Singer, Anne McCaffrey. I haven't read this in over twenty years; I wonder how it holds up.
Fugitive Telemetry, Martha Wells. Got my audio from the library!
Two Times the Fun, Beverly Cleary. Because she died recently.
The Arcane Heart, Caroline Gibson. Because it is short.
The Secrets of Star Whales, Rebecca Thorne. A gift from LibraryThing, and I'm trying to actually be timely here.
Completed
The Duke of Olympia Meets His Match, Juliana Gray. I read this in preparation for my Romance Over Forty book club, but I'm not impelled to go on with the series. I didn't feel the mystery bit layered well with the romance, and the guy was still way to old for the girl (he was, I dunno, 80? And she was 40-ish). I did enjoy him being all smug before being outwitted a lot; that was handled in a funny way rather than a cringy way.
Almost American Girl, Robin Ha. 2020 Cybils YA Graphic Novel finalist. This worked really well as a memoir; the words and pictures conveyed the confused feelings and frustrated loneliness following Ha's move to the US in middle school; in Alabama she felt isolated in a blended family that didn't accept her and a school where she didn't speak English but there weren't many ESL students. It's also a good portrayal of her bond with her mother, which was very strong but twisted a bit under the strain of the move; American notions of what parents can do and how they should be treated differ from Korean expectation, and as the family negotiates which American mores to adopt there is pressure. The ending sagged a bit -- suddenly time jumped a lot and emotions made big moves, which felt jarring after the immersive days of middle school.
Nine Tailors, Dorothy Sayers. Read aloud. I liked having the fast reader for the last day, because there is a lot of action and danger so that fitted well. And I like how the mysterious death that drives the detective story is almost an afterthought, because bigger concerns sweep the community in the last chapter. And I enjoyed seeing what my eroding memory kept and what was knew -- I had remembered whodunnit (which is usually the first to go for me!), but completely forgotten the flood, despite how much foreshadowing it got. I remembered why the Thodays disappeared but not how the beer bottle got up to the bell chamber. In fact, I had forgotten the existence of the brother completely.
Life Sucks, Jessica Abel. 2008 Cybils YA Graphic Novel finalist. This book does what it tries to do very well -- it's funny, it's emotionally tight, and it works. But I am old and don't want to be cynical, so I didn't enjoy it that much. I know young adults who are good people, not sexists jerks. Nice guys who aren't "nice guys" which is what the good guy in this book kinda strives to be. And the ending was grim, with nobody within a shouting distance of happy, although I guess they aren't buried in the deepest possible misery. So I know people I'd recommend this to, but I'm not one of them.
All Systems Red, Martha Wells. It was fun reading this aloud. I had some technical difficulties, and I'm definitely not as good at this as the people who are professional authors, but they were encouraging and we all had a good time, and it gave the person reading the Pamela Dean trilogy time to take her trip before starting the last book. Now I'll go back to waiting for the library to deliver the 5th Murderbot novella on audiobook.
Equal Rites, Terry Pratchett. A reread. I like the humor and the balance between almost slapstick visual humor and more subtle satire, along with a careful line between fantasy trappings and deeper character or philosophical insights. I'm not as interested in exploring the innate differences between male and female approaches to magic; in my experience both men and women might be attracted to either approach, and labeling them just makes some people smug and other people vaguely uncomfortable. It was fun seeing the University again, and the introduction of Weatherwax.
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, Damien Duffy. This is a fairly straight adaptation, which helped me a lot. I reread the book only a few months ago, so despite my occasional difficulty telling people apart (which is all me, not the art, as I have trouble differentiating different humans by their looks) I knew who would say what. The art did a great job of highlighting emotional scenes as well as giving strength to the problems of sharing, where the transmitted emotions are shown in the art. A powerful story told with strong pictures makes for a good book. This will be a tough Hugo contender, especially as it is a complete story and many of the other entries are one volume of many.
Two Times the Fun, Beverly Cleary. It's the summer, so I'm trying to finish a #bookaday, but sometimes it's hard. Luckily I have many tiny books on my to-read bookcases, so when it looks like I won't finish something weighty I grab something smaller. This is a book aimed at young readers; the protagonists are four so it's either a read-aloud or a good book for an early reader. The kids aren't quite as much fun as Ramona, but still enjoyable.
The Arcane Heart, Caroline Gibson. Another book chosen so I can keep up with #bookaday. This is the third book in a series that started out as fanfiction but diverged enough that the author filed off the serial numbers and is writing her own thing. It ends with a lot of dangling plot threads, although the emotional work is mostly done. I am looking forward to how she completes the series.
Bookmarks Moved (Or Languished) In:
Uncompromising Honor 69/??, David Weber. Baen Free Radio Hour's serial. Honor is pretty scary shen she's mad.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Marlon James. Ancient Sword and Laser pick. I'm picking this up again!
The Pleasant Profession of Robert A Heinlein, Farah Mendelson. Hugo finalist. Started a chapter!
The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton. Read some pages. It's my book to read while walking on a treadmill.
The Bourne Supremacy, Robert Ludlum. Didn't touch it.
The Wine-Dark Sea, Patrick O'Brien. Didn't touch it.
An Extraordinary Union, Alyssa Cole. Progress!
Seven Sisters, Lucinda Riley. Didn't touch it.
Sharks in the Time of Saviors, Kawai Strong Washburn. Didn't touch it.
The Lost Orphan, Stacey Halls. Read a few pages.
Murderbot Diaries, Martha Wells. I think I'll listen to the audios. So far I've heard all the novellas and I'm waiting on the novel.
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold. Continuing my audio reread of the World of the Five Gods series. I got distracted by Fugitive Telemetry but I'm back now.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Malinda Lo. Well, the book club happened and I'm only 1/3 of the way through, but I do plan to finish.
The Last Emperox, John Scalzi. For Tuesday book club, and Hugo reading. Finished the first part, and ready to start the second.
Picture Books / Short Stories:
Dennis Banks and Russell Means: Native American Activists, Duchess Harris & A.R. Carser. I know very little about this topic, so I enjoyed reading about these two prominent men in the movement. It's a good introduction to the topic, aimed at kids directed to read it rather than as a book they'd pick up on their own. I wanted a bit more information about their families, but then I'm nosy.
I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher.
Japanese American Imprisonment During World War II, Duchess Harris & Marne Ventura. This is a topic I know more about, but I liked the emphasis on what actually happened and why, and how imprisonment is the correct term. Again, I don't think kids would read this for fun, but it would be a worthwhile resource in a classroom. I was cranky that a few photographs showed up twice.
I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher.
Palate Cleansers
These books I'm barely reading; lately I use them bribes to get me to deal with the mail. Hmm. I should get back to that.
The Educated Child, William Bennett.
Wool, Hugh Howey. They are all trying very hard!
Sorcerer to the Crown, Zen Cho.
Under the Eye of the Storm, John Hersey.
Dates From Hell, Kim Harrison & others. This date is going entertainingly badly.
Reading and Learning to Read, Jo Anne Vaca. Time to put it all together.
Reading Challenges
- Cybils 2020. Finished Almost American Girl. Started Eva, the Semi-Magical Witch. Also another 2020 nominee.
- Early Cybils: Read Life Sucks..
- KCLS 10 To Try: 8/10. I did get a recommendation from a librarian, but I'll probably read that with a book club this summer. Epistolary will be hard.
- Tacoma Extreme Reading Challenge. 39/55. But I think I miscounted and it's better than that. I picked up Afro-Futurism.
- Reading My Library. Reading Veronica.
- Where Am I Reading 2021: 23/51 states -- picked up Alabama. 11 Countries.
Future Plans
I'm putting this at the end because I suspect it's complete fiction, but I feel I should attempt some structure.I am reading:
- Book I own: Last Night at the Telegraph Club. Next: Piranesi
- Library Book: The Lost Orphan Next: something really short. I'm more likely to read the short one.
- Ebook I own: Extraordinary Union Up Next: Paladin's Strength
- Library Ebook: Life of Addie LaRue Next: Luminaries
- Book Club Book: The Girl Who Drank the Moon Up Next: Addie Larue
- Tuesday Book Club Book: The Last Emperox. Next: I need to finish The Wind Dark Sea
- Review Book: Secrets of Star Whales Next: Back Home
- Hugo Book: The Pleasant Profession of Robert A Heinlein. Next: Joanna Russ.
- Rereading: Crystal Singer
- Meal Companion: Murder at Veronica's Diner
- Audio: Paladin of Souls Next: Murderbot?
6 comments:
I've never visited your blog before, and I have to say you have a wonderful voice. And I may have to borrow your layout for this post, though I'm not in the middle of quite SO many books at once.
All the best as you move forward, and happy reading!
I completely understand about the masks! As someone with an immune disorder who only just recently got the Ok from my doctor for my son and I to get vaccinated, I heartily believe we should all be doing our part to protect the vulnerable. But going to the grocery store last week was a stunning change from one week earlier! We went from about 80% wearing masks to less than 20%. I still wear mine. I get my second shot this week.
My neighborhood book group just met for the first time since the pandemic in person!! We've been doing Zoom meetings, so it was so exciting to be together again (outdoors on someone's very large patio) - just a regular book group meeting, but it felt like a celebration!!
I'm always impressed that you can juggle so many books at once - enjoy them this week!
Sue
2021 Big Book Summer Challenge
I love your sense of humor about your recent life events—I'm really sorry about the extra post-mammogram scans, and I think your masked scowls are both reasonable and worth continuing! I'm glad you enjoyed Almost American Girl—it was a great read! And I'm sorry you missed your book club discussion of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, but I'm glad it is good enough that you'll keep going—I'm hoping to get to it soon. And good luck with the #bookaday challenge—that is tough! Thanks so much for the great post!
I hope your medical scans go well. I need to schedule a mammogram at some point this summer. I hope your toe is feeling better.
My state is one of the last to lift the mask mandate for the unvaccinated--and it happens tomorrow. My fear is that people will take that to mean the pandemic is over. My family will still be wearing masks as my daughter is unvaccinated.
I love Beverly Cleary books. She's long been a favorite of mine since childhood and I'm glad my daughter enjoys her books too. I really want to try Martha Wells. Soon, hopefully. Black Leopard, Red Wolf is sitting on my TBR shelf. I hope you are enjoying it.
I hope you have a great week, Beth!
I’m glad that flunking the mammogram is no reason for concern. The very first time I found a lump, I panicked. Turns out breasts are sometimes just lumpy and that I needed to play with them more do I know my lumps better than my doc.
Masks are such a confusing thing around here - incredibly politically driven. I’m fully vaccinated as of the first week of April. But yeah, I still sometimes carry my mask with me and “read the room” before I decide whether to wear it or not. Why can't this be easier?
Oh my, as I read your thoughts on Almost American Girl, I realized I never finished writing my review of this one. But I recall being struck by her relationship with her mom and how much alienation she felt for so long. :( Thanks for the shares, Beth!
I work at a used bookstore & we just changed our mask policies, only those vaccinated may go without. It really is a matter of trust, isn't it? It's such a mixed up time. Best wishes for that 2nd mammogram. I've been through that, too, & it is only a check, but still, we worry, I know. Lots of books on your list are some I know & some I put on the list, so thanks for them. Enjoy your week & hopefully some more good cooking from those sons!
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