So this is a case where it’s a good thing I’m a few weeks behind. The big news of the week was my Susie-cat disappeared. We don’t know how she got out, but somehow she did. As an indoor cat, her experience of the world full of cars, dogs, coyotes, and burrs is very limited, so we feared the worst.

But one week after her disappearance a vet called and said she was found and her microchip led to our phone number. So whew! Thank goodness.

Also my phone died so now I have a replacement and spend all my time making silly emojis.

Goodreads thinks I am reading 61 books. I think that is a few books high so I’m not worried. The library thinks I have 61 physical books checked out, so I should work on that.

Books Completed June 20-27

I Survived the Battle of D-Day 1944 Graphic Novel, Lauren Tarshis, Georgia Ball, Brian Churilla. I forgot to add this as finished last week. I’ve enjoyed WWII stuff since I was a kid, but I thought this was a bit diffuse for the series. The kid almost dies a few too many times, and the reunion with his pal seems unearned. But still, WWII France is always a good read for me.

Her Aussie Holiday, Stephanie London. This was a fun book that worked harder on the human stuff than the sex, although it was quite spicy, especially as the couple decided to acknowledge their attraction by having a wild fling, knowing that she’d be returning to New York. Meanwhile she was dealing with her confidence and need for outside approval, and he was dealing with his fear of rejection and any commitment that would leave an opening for that. And it wasn’t until that work was done that they could do the romance. It was definitely a good book to understand that vacation romance is a full sub genre and now I’ll go looking for it.

Watership Down:the Graphic Novel, James Sturm. I think this was a good adaptation although I wish I had either finished in time for book club or given myself a longer break. I think the rabbits were well deliniated although of course I could barely tell anyone apart. I especially liked how small Pippen and Fiver were, and the storm scenes as they escaped with the does.

Alibi, Sharon Shinn. A cute novella in the shape of a romance but really about a friendship group that helps its members be open to new interests and people. There’s a tiny mystery that doesn’t make much sense but shows how well the groups are working. And the teleport stuff is interesting.

Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch, Julie Abe. I’ve started the Juvenile Fiction section of my Renton Highlands Library Quest, where I read a book from each shelf. This is the sequel to a book I read a few years ago, so I grabbed it to see what my old friends were up to. As an adult I’m entertained by the worldbuilding, which borrows Pokémon rules by sending the young witches out and an amazing young age. In this one Eva borrows way too much responsibility so she can angst over guilt, but she also uses her friendships, her courage, and her determination to get jobs done. Her relationship with her more magically powered rival is interesting; his emotional weakness and damaged family leave him vulnerable where Eva is strong. I do wish the magic spells scanned better though.

System Collapse, Martha Wells. I finished just in time for our final meeting before we start watching the Murderbot TV series. Then I missed the meeting so I could go out to eat with my sister and her family. But it felt like the culmination of an emotional plot seeded in the first novellas. The plot itself was a bit muddled though.

The Wild Iris, Louise Glück. Poetry. This is the kind of book I was hoping for when I started reading poetry before bed. Short poems, one or two pages, that drop a perfect image into my mind complete with emotional resonance,

Someone You Can Build a Nest In, John Wiswell. Hugo novel finalist. This moved along and I really liked the voice, but I’m a troubled by the monster aspect. Like, I get people being interested in the monsters in fairy tales, especially people who feel different from all others, but I always assumed that they imagined the monsters to be actual sympathetic but misunderstood people. In this case, the monster has actually been merrily devouring people (but they were all bad, I assure myself with a quote from True Lies). But it turns out that this is OK because the monster hunters are worse. and every time the reader might balk at the protagonist’s innocent murderous ways the author has the baddies kick some puppies so we know we can sympathize with their opponent. I’m dubious.

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944, Lauren Tarshis. This worked by spending most of the book on one very bad wonderful day involving several sets of Nazis, unexpected friends, and a reunion. Then the rest of the horrid war is hurriedly passed over. Jewish kids, partisans of all flavors, even some moments of recognizing that Germans can be humans - all the hallmarks of good WWII kidlit.

Downeast Genius, Earl Smith. Fast biographies of various inventors with some connection to Maine serve as a swift overview of changing times since before statehood to almost modern days. What is needed and who can have patents are the main beats, with some fun household names spotted along the way (I had no idea L.L. Bean got it’s reputation by making terrible boots as their first offering.)

Kristy and the Walking Disaster (Graphic Novel), Ellen T Crenshaw from Ann Martin. Baby-sitter book. My favorite books are the ones with zillions of kids, so this one pleased me. I like the idea of allowing toddlers on your pee-wee team.

Books Started

Kristy and the Walking Disaster (Graphic Novel), Ellen T Crenshaw from Ann Martin. Baby-sitter book.

Someone You Can Build a Nest In, John Wiswell. Hugo novel finalist.

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Ernest J. Gaines. Next shelf pick on my library quest.

A, B, C: Three Short Novels, Samuel Delaney. The A novel is the Foolscap pick.

Downeast Genius, Earl Smith. A present from friends when I visited them.

Hell Followed With Us, Andrew Joseph White. Torches and Pitchforks pick.

I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79, Lauren Tarshis. I’m gonna get them all!

Bookmarks Moved

Hannelore’s Fifth Year at the Royal Academy, Miya Kazuki

Autistic Community and the Neurodiversity Movement, Steven K. Kapp (editor)

Lyorn, Steven Brust

The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories, Chen (editor)

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, David Mitchell

Tomb of Dragons, Katherine Addison

Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver

Alien Clay, Adrian Tchaikovsky

Threads That Bind, Kika Hatzopoulo

One Jump Ahead, Mark L Von Name

I’m Nobody, Who Are You?, Emily Dickinson

Soul Taken, Patricia Briggs (I’m moving to audio to finish this reread)

Bookmarks Languished

I have not given up on these! Ignore all evidence.

Into the Vast Nothing, J. Bruno.

Marry Me By Midnight, Felicia Grossmann.

Long Live Evil, Sarah Rees Brennan.

True Colors, Abby Cooper.

South Riding, Winifred Holtby.

Lepunia: Kingdom of the Gallopers, Kevin Ford

Picture Books and Short Stories

The Prince and the Knight, Daniel Haack. A Prince is being dragged through the marriage mart by his parents but can’t find anyone compatible. Then he rushes home to fight a dragon and finds a knight there to help. There’s his true love! It’s a big gay romance, but I’m even more modern and read it as a guy who is only attracted to fighters. It was the sword, not the beard, that hooked him.

I must say the rhyme scansion was not great. I’ve apparently already read the sequel, and my comment was about the wonky scansion, so I guess it’s a choice?

Books on Slow Mode

Home Comforts, Cheryl Mendleson. I read one section a day. I am learning about The Pantry.

At the Feet of the Sun, Victoria Goddard. Here comes the Sun.

50 Great Poets, ed. Milton Crane (no picture). Walt Whitman rolls on.

The Writer's Stance: Reading and Writing in the Disciplines, Dorothy U. Seyler. (no picture). Mail bribe.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Marlon. Mail bribe.

War Cross, Marie Lu. Mail bribe.

Teaching With Caldecott Books, Scholastic books. Mail bribe.

Year of Wonder, Clemency Burton-Hill. Mail bribe. Made it to December!