Curioussquared takes on 75+ in 2022, part 3

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Curioussquared takes on 75+ in 2022, part 3

1curioussquared
Mai 12, 2022, 1:03 pm

Hello everyone! I'm Natalie. I have participated in the challenge on and off over the years, and consistently over the past few years.

I'm located in Seattle, where I live with my husband and dogs. I do most of my reading curled up on the couch with my retired racing greyhounds, Skelly, Otter, and Kermit, or listening to audiobooks while doing chores and walking the dogs. I'm on the hunt for a new job right now, so have more free time than usual. As part of that increased free time, one of my non-reading goals for 2022 is to finish the manuscript I started writing for NaNoWriMo 2021 -- I hit 50k but the story's not over!

I read mostly fiction, with a heavy emphasis on fantasy and sci-fi, YA fiction, general fiction/literature, a scattered mystery here and there, and the occasional non-fiction title. In 2021 I read a ton of romance novels, which have not been my traditional bill of fare, but I've been enjoying easier reads (and listens) in these strange times, so I expect that trend to continue in 2022.

I've been keeping track of my books read since 2008, and I have traditionally aimed for 100, but I think these days I'm usually hoping to hit 150. I managed it in 2020, but only got to 135 in 2021, mostly because a lot of my time was spent planning my wedding to my new husband, Tim :)

Another typical reading goal for me is to prioritize books off my shelves. A little more than half of the books I read in 2021 were off my shelves, and I'd like it to keep it that way or even higher in 2022. I have a separate thread I maintain in the ROOTs group, and in addition, I have a selection of books off my shelves I'd like to get to this year, which you can see in a post below.



I'm going to keep using photos from our engagement photoshoot and wedding for as long as possible because when am I going to have such nice photos again? Also, I maintain that it's very difficult to take a good picture of all three dogs at once :) This one cracks me up because we decided to play one of Kermit's favorite songs, which started him and Skelly off howling, while Otter just looks vaguely concerned.

2curioussquared
Mai 12, 2022, 1:05 pm

Here are my top books of 2021! I didn't trim down to a nice even number or anything because I don't feel like it ;)

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope
Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
Hollow Chest by Brita Sandstrom
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia A. McKillip

3curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 14, 2022, 1:24 pm

Books read in 2022:

January
1. The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall (library)
2. The Kings of Clonmel by John Flanagan (library)
3. The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen (off my shelf)
4. Front Desk by Kelly Yang (library)
5. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins (off my shelf)
6. Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix (off my shelf)
7. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco (off my shelf)
8. You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria (off my shelf)
9. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (reread)
10. Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell (off my shelf)
11. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (off my shelf)
12. The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith (reread)
13. Kim by Rudyard Kipling (off my shelf)
14. The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen
15. Halt's Peril by John Flanagan

February
16. The Starlight Barking by Dodie Smith
17. Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon (off my shelf)
18. Fire by Kristin Cashore (reread)
19. A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper (off my shelf)
20. Shielded by KayLynn Flanders
21. Knight's Castle by Edward Eager (off my shelf)
22. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
23. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (off my shelf)
24. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (off my shelf)
25. Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (off my shelf)
26. The Excalibur Curse by Kiersten White
27. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (reread)
28. Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
29. Among the Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston (off my shelf)
30. Faithful Place by Tana French (off my shelf)
31. The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper

March
32. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
33. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)
34. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske (off my shelf)
35. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
36. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
37. The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite
38. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (off my shelf)
39. The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian
40. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas (off my shelf)
41. Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff
42. The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
43. Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)
44. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (off my shelf)
45. Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson (off my shelf)
46. Woes of the True Policeman by Roberto Bolano (off my shelf)
47. The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (off my shelf)
48. The Night Ride by J. Anderson Coats

4curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 30, 2022, 12:47 pm

Books read in 2022:

April
49. Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore
50. Major Barbara by George Bernard Shaw (off my shelf)
51. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (off my shelf)
52. Little Thieves by Margaret Owen (off my shelf)
53. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (off my shelf)
54. House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)
55. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
56. Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
57. A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger
58. The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu
59. An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
60. Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama (off my shelf)
61. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia (reread)
62. The Secret Starling by Judith Eagle (off my shelf)
63. Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
64. Stuck with You by Ali Hazelwood
65. Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard (off my shelf)

May
66. Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
67. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (off my shelf)
68. Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver (off my shelf)
69. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
70. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (off my shelf)
71. A Rush of Wings by Laura E. Weymouth
72. The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
73. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (off my shelf)
74. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart (off my shelf)
75. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (off my shelf)
76. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab (off my shelf)
77. Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood
78. Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe
79. Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian
80. Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
81. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang (off my shelf)

June
82. Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood
83. Queen of Scots by John Guy (off my shelf)
84. Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne Valente
85. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (off my shelf)
86. A Spot of Trouble by Teri Wilson
87. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
88. Cart and Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)
89. Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
90. Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel (off my shelf)
91. Lit Stitch by BookRiot
92. Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (off my shelf)
93. Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
94. A Pale Light in the Black by K. B. Wagers (off my shelf)
95. Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

5curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Aug. 2, 2022, 1:31 pm

Books read in 2022:

July
96. The Girls by Emma Cline (off my shelf)
97. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (off my shelf)
98. Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (off my shelf)
99. Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli
100. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (off my shelf)
101. By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
102. Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
103. To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn
104. Isn't It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams
105. One for All by Lillie Lainoff (off my shelf)

August

September

6curioussquared
Mai 12, 2022, 1:08 pm

Books read in 2022:

October

November

December

7curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jul. 19, 2022, 2:15 pm

As mentioned above, I have a pool of books I've pulled off my shelves that I want to try to get through this year. It's a mix of newer titles I'm excited about, stuff I've had unread on my shelf forever, and everything in between. It's really, truly random -- I just ran around pulling stuff off the shelves that caught my eye!

We're going aggressive with numbers this year, folks! Last year I chose 42 and got to 37; I'm carrying over the five I didn't get to, as I'd still like to read them soon, and added a whole bunch more:



Here's the list if you can't read them all!

Done: 33/61

1. Angel Mage by Garth Nix
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
3. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
4. Small Gods by Terry Pratchett
5. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
6. The Greenstone Grail by Amanda Hemingway
7. Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
8. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
9. Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
10. Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix
11. The White Company by Alexander Conan Doyle
12. Flight to Arras by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
13. Breathe by Cliff McNish
14. A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
15. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
16. Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende
17. Queen of Scots by John Guy
18. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
19. Beloved by Toni Morrison
20. The Girls by Emma Cline
21. Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
22. Kim by Rudyard Kipling
23. City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty
24. A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper
25. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
26. Heartstone by Elle Katharine White
27. In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
28. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
29. Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik
30. Knight's Castle by Edward Eager
31. Faithful Place by Tana French
32. Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
33. Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
34. The Jewel Thief by Jeannie Mobley
35. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
36. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
37. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
38. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
39. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
40. The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells
41. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
42. You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
43. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
44. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
45. Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
46. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
47. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
48. The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde
49. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
50. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
51. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
52. Among the Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston
53. The Secret Starling by Judith Eagle
54. Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
55. Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
56. Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon
57. Blackout by Connie Willis
58. Bend Sinister by Vladimir Nabokov
59. Saving Savannah by Tonya Bolden
60. Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
61. Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz

8curioussquared
Mai 12, 2022, 1:09 pm

OK, new thread is open for business!

9curioussquared
Mai 12, 2022, 1:12 pm

Currently reading:

- A Rush of Wings on Kindle -- I think I just need a good hour or so to finish it, but I keep falling asleep instead of reading before bed. The perils of actually having a job, I suppose.
- About halfway throughBoyfriend Material on audio, which is still very fun
- Made a little progress on Magpie Murders in print. I think I'll bring this one and Salt to the Sea to Hawaii next week as my physical books, although I might grab one or two others, too. I also got Lore Olympus from the library and got about 1/4 of the way through last night; it's entertaining if not substantial so far. I will admit that Hades' dogs are adorable.

10MickyFine
Mai 12, 2022, 1:47 pm

Happy new thread, Natalie!

I totally hear you on posting the engagement/wedding photos. I'm still using wedding photos as my wallpaper on computers at home and at work. I'm weighing the idea of doing smaller pro photo shoots on 5 year increments so that Mr. Fine and I have nice photos of us every once in a while. A year and a bit yet to go for that.

How long is your Hawaii trip? I'm assuming this is your postponed honeymoon?

11curioussquared
Mai 12, 2022, 2:01 pm

>10 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I like the idea of photos every five or so years.

No, this is actually a just-for-fun Hawaii trip that sort of came out of the blue. We were in Maui in December for the postponed honeymoon, and then our friends (Tim's best man and his wife) invited us to go again on this trip. It wasn't really our first choice for next trip since we were literally just there, but hey, we both have unlimited vacation and we're going to use it, darn it. They've also been wanting to go to Hawaii with us for a few years now so we didn't really feel like we could say no.

I sound like this is a hardship -- oh no, Hawaii AGAIN! We'll be there just for a week -- Saturday to Saturday. It'll be sort of nice to go back to Maui so soon at least because the weather on our December trip was awful and we were rained out of a lot of activities we wanted to do.

12MickyFine
Mai 12, 2022, 3:27 pm

>11 curioussquared: Oh that's right. I'd forgotten about your sadly rainy Hawaii trip. I hope the weather this time is better for you (and not TOO hot).

Now excuse me while I sigh with envy over unlimited vacation...

13aktakukac
Mai 12, 2022, 5:22 pm

Happy new thread! Congrats on the new job and hope it keeps going well as you settle in! I too am envious of your unlimited vacation and a trip to Hawaii (I've never been).

I quickly read through your last thread and then had to check which novels in verse I have read. I've read about half a dozen in the last several years, and most were aimed at middle grade readers and were historical fiction. I like them once in a while, but it's a different reading experience, for me at least.

14curioussquared
Mai 12, 2022, 5:43 pm

>12 MickyFine: We're having something like the coldest Spring in 20 years right now in Seattle so I wouldn't mind a little heat ;) The unlimited vacation was definitely the major selling point for this job. Some of the other benefits are lackluster and they don't do annual bonuses, but being able to travel more often was overall more important to me.

>13 aktakukac: Thanks, Rachel! I know we're very lucky to have unlimited vacation, though it's more common in Tim's world of tech companies. There are some studies that show that employees with unlimited vacation end up taking less than they would if they had a set amount, and maybe that's true, but I aim to prove that wrong :D And Hawaii is much more convenient to get to from the west coast, I will admit!

15FAMeulstee
Mai 12, 2022, 6:40 pm

Happy new thread, Natalie!

>1 curioussquared: What a love picture, do Kermit and Skelly always howl with certain songs?
We had only one howler through the years. Dorka (the Kuvasz) always howled when she heard a siren.

16curioussquared
Mai 12, 2022, 7:11 pm

>15 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

Skelly only howls when he hears other dogs howling. Before we got Kermit, we could only get Skelly to howl by playing videos of other greyhounds howling.

Kermit is another story! He's very musical. His favorite song is probably Piano Man by Billy Joel -- as soon as he hears the piano intro and harmonica, he is howling SO hard, and then Skelly will howl too. Kermit also likes instrumental classical music, jazz, and some other random songs, like the T-Mobile ringtone sound :) We can also make him howl if we sing to him, especially if we sing "rooooo" sounds :) Otter tries to participate in the howling but mostly he just makes sad little "oo" sounds without really getting into it.

17PaulCranswick
Mai 12, 2022, 7:18 pm

Happy new thread, Natalie.

>16 curioussquared: I am surprised that Billy Joel is able to make such an impression these days!

18figsfromthistle
Mai 12, 2022, 7:38 pm

Happy new thread!

Loving the topper photo.

19drneutron
Mai 12, 2022, 7:39 pm

Happy new one!

20curioussquared
Mai 12, 2022, 8:55 pm

>17 PaulCranswick: Me too, but everyone has their own taste!

>18 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita!

>19 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

21ArlieS
Mai 12, 2022, 9:02 pm

Happy new thread Natalie

22Ravenwoodwitch
Mai 13, 2022, 1:55 am

Echoing everyone else, Happy New Thread!
And even if you've been already do try to have fun in Hawaii ;) Soak up that precious Vitamin D.

23curioussquared
Mai 13, 2022, 11:41 am

>21 ArlieS: Thanks, Arlie!

>22 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks, Angela :D I'll definitely be able to have some fun.

24alcottacre
Mai 13, 2022, 2:41 pm

>2 curioussquared: Some really good reads there! I have already added the unread ones to the BlackHole.

>7 curioussquared: I am pretty much doing the same thing with my "Pick a Shelf" challenge. The TIOLI challenges are also helping me out in this regard immensely.

Happy new thread, Natalie!

25curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 2:56 am

>24 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! Yes, I always like to have a few little challenges, even if they're arbitrary and set by me, just to help direct my reading.

26curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 2:59 am

Well, we're back from Maui safe and sound, and the dogs are back from their vacation at grandma and grandpa's. We're all pretty tired, but the trip was good aside from a few mishaps. I managed to finish 9 books over the course of the trip (if you include the one I finished while I was packing before we left on Saturday) so I have a lot of reviews to catch up on!

27curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 2:15 pm

We had a nice, relaxing time in Maui! Lots of swimming in the ocean, beach reading, and good food with our friends. Tim ended up having to work for three of the mornings, but that just meant I had more reading time. Gorgeous blue skies and weather was in the 80s the whole time.

We finally got to do the road to Hana, which was a gorgeous drive, but I was a little disappointed that they had just implemented a new reservation policy for the state park in Hana with a black sand beach and blow hole. It went into effect less than a month ago and nobody had warned us, so we had to miss that bit. I had known about the new reservation policy for the other black sand beach and had been expecting to miss that one, but not the second one. Oh well! I totally support and respect the reasoning behind the reservation policy, but just wish we had known about it in advance.

The one downside of the trip was on Friday, when we did an unexpectedly challenging hike in the morning. The hike was gorgeous, but in the direct blazing sunlight almost the whole time. We hadn't eaten much that morning and we had a lot of water but no drinks with electrolytes, and about an hour and half after the hike I started feeling awful and spent the rest of the day in bed with what I'm pretty sure was heat exhaustion sipping gatorade and eating a few crackers. Not really how I wanted to spend the last full day of our trip, but I was at least feeling better by the time we left the next day. And at least the hike was beautiful, lol.

28curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 2:40 pm



69 books read: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Luc O'Donnell is the nobody child of pop star parents -- everyone knows him as John Fleming's son, but he hasn't even seen his father since he walked out on him and his mom. His life is a mess -- he works for a charity working to save the dung beetle, of all things, and even his job there is in jeopardy. His ex-boyfriend once sold sordid stories about him to the press, and ever since, the tabloids have loved to paint Luc as a drugged up, partying mess -- and it turns out rich people don't want to contribute to your charity when their fundraising contact is pictured facedown in the gutter in the weekend's Daily Mail. At risk of losing his job, Luc is desperate to seem more respectable, ASAP. After pleading with his friends for help, they hit on an idea -- if Luc is going to be in the papers, best to make sure he's photographed in the best light possible, with a respectable, straight-laced boyfriend. Enter Oliver, his friend Bridget's only other gay friend, a boring lawyer Luc has always assumed didn't like him. Luc doesn't think the fake relationship will work out, but it turns out that Oliver has his own reasons for wanting a fake boyfriend right now, and the two agree to give it a shot. What starts as awkward, forced hanging out quickly turns to friendship and then something more -- and Luc and Oliver must grapple with their feelings and their pasts to figure out what each of them truly wants.

I always enjoy fake dating when it's done well, and this was done well! Hall has said this book was an homage to 90s/early 2000s romcoms and I definitely see it -- lots of talking through doors and doorstep reconciliations. I appreciated that none of the conflict was based on poor communication (no moments of JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER DAMN IT!!!), and the characters, if they made bad decisions, usually rectified them really quickly. 4 stars.

29curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 3:03 pm



70 books read: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

In this book within a book, editor Susan Ryland receives the manuscript of the latest Atticus Pund mystery novel and excitedly dives in, and the first half of the book is that manuscript, detailing Pund's diagnosis of a fatal brain tumor and his final case in a British town near Bath. But just as Ryland reaches the end of the novel, she realizes that the final few chapters are missing -- and then she learns that Alan Conway, the author of the series, has been found dead in what looks to be suicide. Susan, however, is unconvinced, and following in the footsteps of her favorite literary detectives, she starts to probe further into the events surrounding Conway's death.

I feel like I had heard lots of good things about this book, and I will admit that it was very, very clever. Once I hit the second part of the book, after the manuscript, I was hooked. But the initial section of the manuscript just really, really dragged for me, and I was close to putting it down several times (and would have if I hadn't known there was going to be some kind of book within a book twist). So, 3.5 stars overall, and I don't really feel the need to pick up the others in the series unless someone tells me they get better!

30curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 4:47 pm



71 books read: A Rush of Wings by Laura E. Weymouth

Rowenna Winthrop has always known she has the craft within her, just like her mother. But while her mother promises to teach her the ways one day, she tells her each year that it's not time yet -- that Rowenna lacks the control to start learning. Then, finally, her mother agrees to start teaching her -- on the very day she is sucked into the sea by a terrible creature, taking Rowenna's only chance at learning with her. Rowenna's father and brothers don't quite believe her tale, thinking rather that their mother fell off the cliffs -- and that belief is bolstered when it seems that Rowenna's mother miraculously returns from the dead. But Rowenna knows what she saw, and she knows that whatever is in her house, wearing her mother's shape, is evil waiting to strike. When the creature curses her brothers and a strange young man Rowenna rescued to spend the day as swans, Rowenna and her swan companions flee. She knows the craft within her must hold the secret to breaking the curse -- but how is she meant to fix everything when she never learned to use her power?

I really enjoyed this YA fairy tale retelling! Weymouth writes well, with lyrical prose and a well-paced plot. It went by quickly -- never a dull moment. I enjoyed the Scottish Highlands backdrop and the details of the magic, too. 4.5 stars.

31curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 14, 2022, 1:22 pm



72 books read: The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

Valentine's Day. Three women, three no-show dates. Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane are three very different women who all think they've found the perfect man in Joseph Carter. But Joseph Carter is mysterious, and he has some secrets. As each woman learns more about the man they're dating, tangled threads unravel -- and a big reveal will change everything.

I went into this book knowing very little about it, and couldn't put it down. I recommend doing the same if you pick it up! I LOVE O'Leary's The Flatshare, and really enjoyed The Switch as well. I was very disappointed in her third novel, The Road Trip, and was hoping for a return to form with this fourth novel. I very much got it, so if you were unsure about picking this up based on the mediocrity of The Road Trip, I recommend going for it! 4 stars.

32curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 5:06 pm



73 books read: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

In 1945, thousands of refugees travelled to West Germany to board ships that would hopefully save their lives. Salt to the Sea follows four individuals -- Joana, a Lithuanian nurse; Emilia, a Polish teen; Florian, a Prussian; and Alfred, a Nazi preparing one of the ships for the incoming refugees. As the ragtag group travels together to the port, they face unspeakable tragedy along the way -- and when they get to their destination, they manage to book passage on the Wilhelm Gustaff, a repurposed cruise ship stuffed with refugees, 8000+ past the stated capacity. Finally breathing a sigh of relief, little do they know that the safety they hoped for is still far out of reach.

This is a book about the horrors of war, and also about the Wilhelm Gustaff, which is apparently the deadliest naval disaster in history -- and I, like many, I'm sure, had never heard of it before I read this book. I thought the short chapters and multiple POVs were effective, but a little jarring at times. Overall, it's an impactful, well-written book, shining a light on a chapter of history we don't much talk about. I appreciated Sepetys's decision to highlight POVs that don't get much exposure in books about this period, and plan to read more of her stuff. 4.5 stars.

33curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 5:23 pm



74 books read: Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

Hugh Bain, known as Shuggie, grows up in Glasgow with his alcoholic mother. Shuggie is a tender boy, too tender, which sets him apart from the other kids -- along with the pride and well-mannered speech his mother has instilled in him despite his situation. The severity of his mother's illness ebbs and flows throughout his childhood, but there is a constant sense of doom, as the story hurtles to an inevitable end.

This is a bleak, devastating book, but I found myself unable to put it down. It's just very readable. You know how it will end, but you read on anyway. There's maybe the faintest sense of hope at the end -- but it's just a spark, if that. My heart broke over and over for Shuggie and his family. 5 stars.

It helped that this was how I read most of the book:

34curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 5:42 pm



75 books read: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Lily has always known she was different from her friends. For one thing, she loves math and science, and wants to work on teams that send rockets into space. For another, she's never cared about boys -- but something in her made her save a newspaper clipping of Katherine Hepburn in menswear, and one of Tommy Andrews, a male impersonator act who performs near Chinatown at the Telegraph Club. But Lily is a good Chinese girl, so for the most part, she hangs out with her friend Shirley, helping at Shirley's family's restaurant and tagging along with their friend group. But it's her senior year of high school, and this year, she and a girl named Kathleen are the only two girls left in the advanced math class. They quickly become friends, and when Kathleen accidentally sees the Tommy Andrews clipping Lily has secreted in her bag, she lets it slip that she's actually been to see Tommy Andrews with her friend Jean, who was caught with another girl in the band room last year. Soon, Lily finds herself living a double life, spending most of her time as the good Chinese girl she's always been, but shocking herself by visiting the Telegraph Club and doing things with Kath she'd never before imagined. When things spiral out of control, Lily must make a choice -- to obey her parents, or to be true to herself.

This book won a bunch of awards, and I can see why. Lily is a compelling character, the self discovery and coming out stories are strong, and the book highlights some really interesting historical aspects I had no idea about. Definitely a solid YA historical fiction. 4 stars.

35curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 5:51 pm



76 books read: A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

Kell is an Antari -- one who can pass through worlds into the other Londons. A denizen of Red London, he serves the royal family there and acts as their messenger to Grey London, where there is little to no magic, and White London, where magic is fading from the world and the citizens covet any scrap of it they can get. When Kell is tricked into smuggling a highly dangerous, highly magical artifact from White London to Red London, he accidentally triggers a manhunt, as dark forces rise to hunt him down and reclaim the artifact. As Kell hops from world to world, he becomes entangled with Lila, from Grey London, who will do anything for an adventure and isn't about to let magic out of her sight now that she knows it exists. Suddenly reliant on each other, Kell and Lila must work together if they're going to succeed and stop White London from destroying both their worlds.

I've been meaning to read this forever and I'm so glad I finally got to it! A rollicking fantasy adventure with fun characters and super interesting worldbuilding. Looking forward to the rest of the series! 4 stars.

36curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 5:59 pm



77 books read: Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood

It's always been Hannah's dream to work at NASA -- and specifically, to work on the Mars Rovers. So when her friend Mara casually mentions that her cousin Ian works at NASA, on the Rover team, Hannah is ecstatic when he agrees to be interviewed for a class project. Their coffee shop meeting quickly devolves into something more. Years later, Hannah is at NASA, specifically at AMAZE, the Mars simulator station on Svalbard, when her project -- one that Ian specifically tried to get shut down -- goes horribly wrong. Trapped out in the freezing Norwegian winter, Hannah can't quite believe her ears when the person she most and least wants to see right at that moment radios to tell her he's coming to rescue her.

I'm really enjoying these romance novellas from Hazelwood. They're perfect little bite-sized love stories. I enjoy the heroines she writes, and the hunky (but ALSO nerdy) love interests aren't bad either :) Recommended if you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis or science-y romance novels! 4 stars.

37curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 6:00 pm

Phew, that was a lot of reviews! That's enough of that for today. I think this is definitely the earliest I've ever hit 75 for the year!

38Ravenwoodwitch
Bearbeitet: Mai 22, 2022, 8:08 pm

Nice work! :D
*cue the party horns and confetti*

39drneutron
Mai 22, 2022, 8:25 pm

Congrats!

40curioussquared
Mai 22, 2022, 11:17 pm

41FAMeulstee
Mai 23, 2022, 3:11 am

>37 curioussquared: Congratulations on reaching 75, Natalie!

42curioussquared
Mai 23, 2022, 11:14 am

>41 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

43curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Mai 23, 2022, 3:20 pm



78 books read: Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe

Greek gods, but give them smartphones and have them be really into clubbing. This comic takes the Greek pantheon and modernizes it for today's readers, while staying relatively true to the gods' classical personalities and riffing off of traditional tales. The main focus (in this volume, at least) is on Persephone, who is new to the divine realm, having spent most of her time in the human world under the controlling thumb of her mother Demeter. She quickly falls in with Hades, and the two of them form a tentative friendship even though most of the other gods scorn the king of the underworld. But neither Hades nor Persephone can stop thinking about the other, despite the judgment coming from other gods.

I'd seen this recommended a lot around the internet and thought I'd check out what the youths are into these days. Apparently this originated on Webtoon, which I've only heard of. I thought this was a fun story, especially if readers aren't familiar with the traditional myths, but overall it didn't grab me and I didn't love the art style. There were a few bits that made me laugh out loud (notably Hades' dogs and Eros' Instagram posts). I'm not planning to continue the series. 3 stars.

44curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 14, 2022, 1:25 pm

Currently reading:

- Started The Poppy War in print last night and am loving it so far! I've heard these books get very very dark, though, so I'm on the lookout for that.

- Listening to Unmasked by the Marquess which is pure fun so far.

- Need to start something new on Kindle! I do have Witchlings out from the library, but need to decide if I'll focus on that or on an ebook I own.

45Ravenwoodwitch
Bearbeitet: Mai 23, 2022, 5:46 pm

>43 curioussquared: I kept seeing commercials for this one. Webtoon originally I think?
Either way I'm always leery of "modern reimagining" takes on the Greek myths. Sounds like this one didn't do anything too interesting with my favorite story out of those; pity.

46curioussquared
Mai 24, 2022, 12:34 pm

>45 Ravenwoodwitch: Yeah, that's what I understand. I think this one is actually fairly well executed, it's just not really my style.

47curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Mai 24, 2022, 12:38 pm

The Seattle Public Library has posted their annual summer reading bingo challenge: https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/authors-and-books/2022-book-bingo



I'll be going for a blackout, as usual. I think I've mostly plotted out which books will go where based on what I'd like to read this year -- we'll see how it goes!

48Ravenwoodwitch
Mai 24, 2022, 9:31 pm

Finished one challenge and onto the next; I like it.
The summer reading at my library was how I "caught" up to my proper reading level when I finally got the hang of it. I do kinda wish they'd have an adult one.
Best of luck!

49ArlieS
Mai 25, 2022, 11:52 am

>47 curioussquared: That's a lovely idea. Nice execution too. Maybe I'll casually mention it next time I'm talking to one of my local librarians.

50curioussquared
Mai 25, 2022, 12:00 pm

>48 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks, Angela! I finished the blackout two years ago, but not last year when I was deep in wedding prep, so hoping to return to my winning ways now :) I never really did library summer reading as a child, but when I was in middle school I learned that my library had this "Read 3, Get 1 Free" program where all you had to do was read 3 books, write three short reviews, and turn in the reviews to receive a FREE book. Easy money, I thought! I think I got like 10 free books before the Teen Services librarian tracked me down and recruited me to join his teen advisory board with the promise of even more free books. He was on the award committee for the Printz, I think, so was getting a ton of advanced readers copies from publishers, which he would read and then pass on to us. I ended up completing pretty much all of my required high school volunteer hours through attending teen advisory board meetings, so it worked out well!

>49 ArlieS: You should do it! The SPL one has prizes (smaller drawings for completing one or more bingos, and a larger drawing for people who complete a blackout) but I think most people do it for the fun of it rather than any possibility of a prize.

51Berly
Mai 25, 2022, 12:09 pm

I found you again!! So glad you got a sunny round two of Maui. I haven't been there since I was 16! Loved it although I got the worst sunburn of my life -- snorkeling for too long and all the sun tan lotion wore off. Oops.

Glad to hear The No Show is back to O'Leary's endearing best. I loved The Flatshare.

You should read The Vanishing Half from your list of TBRs -- just read it for a class and it's so good!

I am thinking we should do a summer meetup with WA and OR people. Would you be up for a drive? : )

52curioussquared
Mai 25, 2022, 12:53 pm

>51 Berly: I definitely want to get to The Vanishing Half soon! I don't think it fits into my book bingo plan, so it might be more towards the fall. We'll see.

I'd definitely be up for a meetup!

53Berly
Mai 25, 2022, 12:55 pm

>52 curioussquared: Gotcha on the reading and I'll keep you posted on potential dates!! Yay!

54scaifea
Mai 26, 2022, 7:11 am

Oh! You've reminded me to check the website for my old library in WI to see if they have their adult bingo cards up yet! I still do the challenge years after we moved...

55curioussquared
Mai 26, 2022, 12:32 pm

>54 scaifea: Who can resist a good bingo challenge? :)

56curioussquared
Mai 26, 2022, 1:34 pm



79 books read: Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian

Charity is just a poor foundling raised as a housemaid -- but for the past several years, she has been impersonating Lord Robert Selby, in whose house she worked. She and Robbie grew up together, along with Robbie's sister Louisa, and when Robbie decided he didn't want to go to Cambridge, he hatched the plan to send Charity in his stead. When Robbie died suddenly from influenza, leaving Louisa with nothing but an entailed estate, Charity's course of action was clear: she would continue to impersonate Robbie, at least long enough to get Louisa a season and settled with a good husband, before she finally retired her deception and... disappeared, she supposed. Meanwhile, Alistair, Marquess of Pembroke, finally feels like he's on track to have his financial affairs in control, having spent the past several years settling debts and making up for the vast financial missteps of his late father. Alistair has no time for old mistresses or half siblings who want his money or influence, and he certainly doesn't have time for Robert and Louisa Selby, even if Selby is claiming Louisa was his father's goddaughter. But when he actually catches sight of Louisa, he realizes -- helping this girl, who is clearly more beautiful than the other debutantes, would be the perfect way to stick it to all his father's mistresses clamoring for his money and assistance. Pleased with his plan, Alistair thinks he has it figured out -- but he hasn't accounted for Robert Selby, whose charm and infectious cheer seem to have the most mysterious effect on him...

A fun, gender-bending take on the regency romance. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot as various people discovered Charity's deception, and that much of the will-they-won't-they centered on the fact that Charity didn't want to stop acting and dressing as a man. Nothing too groundbreaking, but super fun. 3.5 stars.

57curioussquared
Mai 27, 2022, 2:48 pm

Happy almost long weekend! We're supposed to be going camping -- Tim's family does a big group camping trip to the same spot in Eastern WA every Memorial Day weekend... but we both have colds. I'm pretty sure it's not COVID, but we still don't feel great and don't want to get anyone else sick, so no camping for us. I'll probably spend a bunch of time catching up on chores and hopefully getting through The Poppy War, which I'm really enjoying but haven't made much progress in yet. Listening-wise I'm almost halfway through Romancing Mister Bridgerton, and on my Kindle I'm a few pages into A Pale Light in the Black.

58Ravenwoodwitch
Mai 30, 2022, 1:55 pm

>57 curioussquared: That sounds sucky. Hope the two of you feel better :)

59curioussquared
Mai 30, 2022, 9:32 pm

>58 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks, Angela! Our symptoms were minor, but we didn't want to risk getting anyone else sick (there's always a big group that comes on this trip) and it was supposed to be unusually cold for the season, so we also didn't want to turn a minor cold into something worse because we were freezing the whole time. Feeling pretty much better now!

60Ravenwoodwitch
Mai 31, 2022, 12:59 am

>59 curioussquared: Oh I feel that (I hate getting cold). And I'm glad to hear :)
I and the roommate also stayed home for memorial dat, so, yay for Staycations? XD

61curioussquared
Mai 31, 2022, 1:05 am



80 books read: Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

It's been a decade since she came out, and Penelope Featherington is now decidedly a spinster. She doesn't mind; she keeps herself busy with friends, particularly the Bridgertons. She does dread the thought of waiting on her mother hand and foot in her old age, though. But she's never had even a single proposal, and it doesn't seem likely that one will come now. Meanwhile, Colin Bridgerton is finally back from his travels in Cyprus, and for the first time, he thinks his wanderlust might be turning into a desire for something more in life. He doesn't know that Penelope has harbored a crush on him for years, and he's never thought of her as more than his little sister's best friend -- and certainly not marriage material, as he made awkwardly clear to Penelope several years ago. But when the two of them inadvertently start spending more time together, Colin starts feeling things about Penelope that he's never felt before...

Meh, not my favorite Bridgerton book. I think part of the problem was that the first half of the book was devoted to Colin/the reader finding out that Penelope is Lady Whistledown, but if you're like me and reading the books after watching the show, you already knew that. So that was half of the book just made not very interesting. Then I have a lot of problems overall with Colin and Penelope's romance; I just felt like it was very unearned. Maybe this is carrying over from the show again, but I don't think he ever made up for what he said about never marrying her, and he should have noticed her long ago (I don't buy the fact that she's suddenly twice as pretty just because she stopped wearing yellow, and I don't love the suggestion that she's way prettier and he's more into her now that she lost a little weight). I did like that he stood up to her family. Probably my least favorite of the series so far. 3 stars.

62curioussquared
Mai 31, 2022, 1:07 am

>60 Ravenwoodwitch: Definitely yay for staycations! We honestly needed it after traveling all three of the past weekends :)

63curioussquared
Mai 31, 2022, 1:15 am



81 books read: The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

Rin is a war orphan from the last Poppy War, living with her foster parents who treat her like a slave. When her parents announce that they've found her an odious husband, Rin begs for the chance to have one last year -- then she'll be 16, and eligible to take the country-wide test that determines which young people are eligible to train at one of the country's schools. They give her a year, and she starts studying like she never has before. When she tests into Sinegard, the top tier military academy, everyone is surprised. Brown-sinned orphan peasant girls from border provinces aren't supposed to test into Sinegard. But Rin is determined, and the test is only the beginning of her education. Soon she is pushed to limits she didn't even know she had, as she competes with her fellow students, chooses her path of study, and is thrown headfirst into the brutality of war.

The only thing I knew about this book going in was that it was inspired by Chinese history, and that it was supposed to be really, really dark. It definitely delivered on the dark front. This book has elements of my favorites -- a school/academy, a protagonist who works really hard to be better than everyone -- and then twists them into a much darker story than I'm used to. Kuang doesn't shy away from the horrors of war -- she has a history degree and almost all of the awful things Rin encounters actually happened at the Rape of Nanjing or in other parts of history. Kuang doesn't shy from putting Rin through the wringer, and the result was a story I couldn't look away from. I need to acquire the other books in the series soon! 4.5 stars.

64curioussquared
Mai 31, 2022, 1:21 am

Currently listening to Queen of Scots and enjoying it so far -- I think I confused a lot of what I thought I knew about Mary Stuart with things about other contemporaries, like Jane Grey, so I'm learning a lot.

Haven't made any progress on A Pale Light in the Black, but it's still my current Kindle read.

Need to find a new paper book now that I finished The Poppy War!

65aktakukac
Mai 31, 2022, 1:26 pm

Congrats on 75 and beyond, Natalie! Glad you're feeling better, too!

66curioussquared
Mai 31, 2022, 2:22 pm

>65 aktakukac: Thanks, Rachel! I'm feeling a little iffy today again -- starting to wonder if maybe it's some sort of allergies, even though I don't usually have allergies.

67curioussquared
Jun. 1, 2022, 2:47 pm

I can't believe it's already Wednesday! Thanks, short weeks :)

Not a lot of reading the past few days; listened to a bit more of Queen of Scots and started the first few pages of Raybearer yesterday. Mostly Tim and I have been watching Stranger Things (we're on episode 4 of the new season. Tonight my friend is coming over and we're doing a workout then watching the Inside outtakes Bo Burnham surprise released on YouTube.

68MickyFine
Jun. 3, 2022, 11:52 am

>61 curioussquared: Sorry that one wasn't more of a hit with you. It's one of my favourites of the series. Of course, I read them all before the Netflix series came out so there were no reverse spoilers (I'm honestly kind of annoyed the show did that reveal so early but that's a point for another time). Hopefully you enjoy the other entries in the series more.

69curioussquared
Jun. 3, 2022, 12:05 pm

>68 MickyFine: I can definitely see why they revealed it sooner in the show, but it does a really good job of ruining this book, unfortunately! Definitely still planning on continuing the series; they're really fun listening.

70bell7
Jun. 3, 2022, 2:36 pm

Finally catching up on your thread, Natalie. Lovely photo up top, and what a great story for the dogs' reactions.

Congrats on blowing past 75! I very much enjoyed the A Darker Shade of Magic trilogy and hope you continue to enjoy the story.

>63 curioussquared: I've been eyeing this series and wondering if it wouldn't be too dark for my taste, but your review makes me think I would probably like it even so.

71curioussquared
Jun. 3, 2022, 3:20 pm

>70 bell7: Thanks, Mary! Definitely planning on continuing Shades of Magic :)

I hope you like The Poppy War if you decide to go for it! There are absolutely some very dark, very graphic bits, but they didn't feel gratuitous to me -- just a horribly realistic depiction of war, especially given the author's note at the end.

72figsfromthistle
Jun. 4, 2022, 5:49 am

Just catching up with you!

>35 curioussquared: I quite enjoy that series as well. I read the second book last month.

Congrats on blowing past the 75 book mark.

73curioussquared
Jun. 6, 2022, 12:06 am

>72 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! Thanks for stopping by :) I need to get the rest of that series soon.

74curioussquared
Jun. 6, 2022, 12:15 am



82 books read: Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood

Mara is moving to DC with nothing but a dream job offer from the EPA -- and half a house, left to her by her recently deceased PHD advisor. The only problem is that the other half of the house is owned by her PHD advisor's nephew, Liam, who Mara hasn't managed to get in touch with yet. He wasn't at the funeral, and he's not answering her texts, so her plan is to show up on the doorstep and hope he doesn't kick her out while she gets settled in the city. After all, it's a very convenient location to her new job. But when Mara shows up, Liam makes it very clear that he doesn't want her there -- even offering to buy her out, in cash, with increasingly generous offers... money that would pay off all her student loans. The only problem? When Mara saw the house, she fell in love, and felt that Helena had wanted her to be there. So she decides to stay -- the house is big enough for both of them, even if Liam makes it very clear he doesn't want a roommate. As Mara and Liam grow from hostile roommates to tentative friends, Mara starts to wonder if Helena didn't know exactly what she was doing when she left her that half a house.

This is technically the first book in Hazelwood's STEMinist novellas series -- I read it last, but I don't think it really matters. It ended up being my least favorite of the three. Mara and Liam are cute, but the whole "I feel in love with this house after seeing it for one minute and will now refuse your enormous pile of cash that would solve all my problems" premise just did not make sense to me, and I never really got over it over the course of the book. Still a cute short listen for my Friday night, but I thought the other two novellas in the series were much stronger. 3 stars.

75curioussquared
Jun. 6, 2022, 12:28 am

A light reading week for me overall -- just less reading time than usual. Work is starting to heat up and I've had some early meetings which make it harder for me to do the morning dog walk, which also cuts into my listening time. Plus we had to binge the newest season (well, volume 1 of the newest season) of Stranger Things this week, which has been excellent, and I can't believe they're making us wait until JULY for new episodes. Then I needed to replace my car battery this weekend, which took longer and was more complicated than I expected. Booo, doesn't my car know I need my reading time?

It doesn't help that Queen of Scots is slow listening! Still enjoying it, though. I'm about halfway through the 25 hour audiobook, which is why I decided to take a little break with Under One Roof :)

Raybearer is also starting to get interesting, so I'm hoping it'll hold my attention before bed a little better soon.

76MickyFine
Jun. 6, 2022, 1:17 pm

Pesky work cutting into your reading time. :P

The novella has a few of my favourite tropes so I'll probably pick it up at some point.

77curioussquared
Jun. 6, 2022, 1:26 pm

>76 MickyFine: Right? What's that about?

I forgot to mention that I've been exploring the possibility of opening a print-on-demand Etsy shop featuring t-shirts/sweatshirts/other stuff printed with designs I'm creating using Canva. Some are book themed (I'm doing some Jane Austen quotes paired with graphics) and I'm having a whole lot of fun coming up with designs! So hopefully I will soon be a print-on-demand mogul and can devote all my free time to reading again 😂

78libraryperilous
Jun. 6, 2022, 3:53 pm

>77 curioussquared: I've been toying around with a similar idea for some film- and book-themed items. I hope your shop is successful!

79curioussquared
Jun. 6, 2022, 4:05 pm

>78 libraryperilous: Thanks! You too, if you decide to pursue it! Not sure if you're on TikTok, but there's a girl there who lays out the process really clearly and has lots of tips for getting started. I find her videos to be kind of annoying but also really helpful. Her username is c.u.online :)

80curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 7, 2022, 12:30 pm

Good morning! It's sunny here this morning which has not been true for a while, so morning dog walk was nice.

Normal work day today; not too many meetings so I'll probably try to squeeze in a 20-30 minute elliptical workout at some point during the day.

Still working through Queen of Scots (about 65% of the way there!) and about 80-ish pages into Raybearer, which is picking up a little. I've just only been making it through a chapter or so at night before I fall asleep.

Last night my friend and I did a dance workout and then we watched the first two episodes of Miracle Workers with Tim. It's hilarious so far -- how had I not heard about this show before? Then I worked on a t-shirt design before bed.

81curioussquared
Jun. 7, 2022, 12:30 pm

If you're into ebook deals, a few good ones today on Amazon -- Gallant is $3.99 (I snagged it) and Uprooted is $1.99 (I would have snagged it if I didn't already own it!).

82MickyFine
Jun. 7, 2022, 5:01 pm

>80 curioussquared: Wait, they let you have sunshine??? LOL

Glad to hear life is all good things right now.

83curioussquared
Jun. 7, 2022, 5:37 pm

>82 MickyFine: Oops.... I let out the Seattle secret. Shhh, our summers are nice, don't tell anyone!!

84MickyFine
Jun. 8, 2022, 1:10 pm

>83 curioussquared: Lol. Your secret is safe with me. *withdraws into plastic igloo used to convince everyone it's always snowy in Canada*

85curioussquared
Jun. 8, 2022, 5:09 pm

>84 MickyFine: Lol! Phew. I knew I could trust you.

86curioussquared
Jun. 9, 2022, 1:16 pm

No real book updates -- still working on the same stuff. About 90% of the way through Queen of Scots, which is still almost 3 hours of listening left 😂 Hoping to wrap it up by tomorrow, and to finish Raybearer over the weekend.

Last night was another workout with my friend. Today I'm headed to the vet and Costco after work (they're close to each other) to pick up more of Skelly's prescription food and then some human food :) I'll probably snag one of the Costco meal kits for dinner since I doubt I'll want to cook after that.

Tomorrow we have the first stage of our gas fireplace installation happening! They'll install the gas line to each fireplace and I believe remove the old fireplace front, at least on our upstairs fireplace. The upstairs fireplace bricks are painted, but the fireplace cover wasn't removed when the paint was applied, so I'll paint all the parts that didn't get painted originally over the weekend so all the bricks match before the fireplace installation team is back on Tuesday to actually install the fireplace units.

Gas fireplaces just in time for summer! But really, I'm excited even if it's not the best time of year. I know we'll love them as soon as it gets a little chilly. (Honestly, I don't think it's making it out of the 50s today, so...) Plus, our basement is pretty much always cold, so I'm sure we'll get some use out of that one even sooner.

87MickyFine
Jun. 9, 2022, 4:35 pm

Gotta love a good Costco meal kit.

Yay for gas fireplaces! We have one in our basement and it makes it super cozy down here in the winter. It also amps up the Christmas-y vibe during the holidays. :)

88curioussquared
Jun. 9, 2022, 7:51 pm

>87 MickyFine: I'm definitely looking forward to it for the holidays! We've lived in this house for over four years now and have never used either wood burning fireplace -- Tim is allergic to the smoke so it was just never going to happen. I know we'll get so much more use out of them this way.

89scaifea
Jun. 10, 2022, 12:47 pm

We love our gas fireplace, too! So easy and convenient, and so cozy!

90curioussquared
Jun. 10, 2022, 1:15 pm

>89 scaifea: They're installing the gas line right now :D So excited!

91curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 10, 2022, 2:26 pm



83 books read: Queen of Scots by John Guy

Guy paints a vivid picture of Mary Stuart's life, from her coronation 6 days after her birth to her execution for her implication in the Babington plot in her 40s, after several long years of imprisonment at the hands of Elizabeth I. The image Guy presents is of a vibrant, intelligent woman who sought to rule within the confines of gender norms at the time and was perhaps too trusting, which eventually led to her downfall through two unfortunate marriages.

This was an educational, easy-to-read biography. I particularly enjoyed the part where Guy analyzed the casket letters which were used to prove Mary's involvement in the death of her second husband, Lord Darnley; the letters were the deciding evidence, but Guy argues that they were either forgeries or pieced together from older letters Mary had written. There are a few moments where he throws shade on other historians for cataloguing newly discovered letters in various royal archives without realizing that the letters actually held new information pertaining to Mary's life, which I thought was hilarious. Apparently this book was used as the source for a fairly recent movie featuring Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, and David Tennant, so I'll probably seek that out at some point. 4 stars.

92alcottacre
Jun. 11, 2022, 3:31 pm

>91 curioussquared: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Natalie!

93curioussquared
Jun. 13, 2022, 1:00 pm

>92 alcottacre: Always happy to recommend, Stasia :)

94curioussquared
Jun. 13, 2022, 1:03 pm



84 books read: Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne Valente

Sophia lives a perfect life with her perfect husband. She was made for him, she knows it. But one day she finds something in her perfect home that doesn't quite fit -- and her reality starts to unravel.

This short novella works best if you know almost nothing about it going in, like I did, and spend most of it flailing around wondering what on earth is going on. It's pitch perfect unsettling. Recommended if you're looking for a quick, suspenseful read. 4 stars.

95curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 13, 2022, 1:26 pm

Happy Monday!

We had a busy weekend. Saturday I had brunch with a friend, then came home to paint the fireplace. There were bits that were unpainted because they used to be covered by the doors on our woodburning fireplace, but would potentially be exposed with the new gas insert installation, so I just needed to paint the unpainted bits so everything would match before the new insert is installed. Then my friend came over and we had dinner and started a puzzle. We decided to watch the movie of The Hating Game and it was just as bad as the book -- probably because it was very faithful to the source material, lol.

Sunday I did another coat on the fireplace. Then, we had a graduation party to go to in the afternoon for Tim's cousin. The party was nice, but unfortunately we just learned that Tim's sister's boyfriend, who was there, tested positive for COVID last night after the party. Bummer. I reached out to the fireplace guys to see if they want to delay tomorrow's installation, so we'll see. Even if we did get COVID from Andy, I'm not sure we would be contagious yet a day and a half after exposure? I'll let the fireplace guys decide -- we were all wearing KN95 masks while they were here last time and would do the same if they came tomorrow.

This morning started off fast and furious -- Tim had a doctor appointment and Skelly had a vet appointment, both at 8:45. Of course the city inspector called to say they would be there to approve our new gas line permit between 8-10 am. Luckily my mom was able to dash over to our house to meet him while Tim and I were both gone. I love living so near to family.

Reading-wise, I'm getting really close to finally finishing Raybearer. I'm about halfway through A Spot of Trouble on audio, and made it a little farther in A Pale Light in the Black. I also started reading Are You My Mother? over the weekend and imagine I'll finish it pretty soon given it's a graphic novel, and I made a little progress in Lit Stitch, which I got from the library to fulfill my Hobby or Skill category for library book bingo. Definitely planning on scanning all the patterns for future use before I give it back to the library!

96curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 14, 2022, 1:22 pm



85 books read: Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Tarisai has had a lonely upbringing in her mother's house -- the mysterious Lady. She is surrounded by tutors and servants, none of whom will touch her due to her innate gift of sensing the memories of people and objects. When she's old enough, she is sent to the capital to compete with other children to become part of the council of the heir to the empire, Ekundayo. Dayo has the power of the Ray, and the 11 children he chooses to be on his council will be intrinsically linked and able to communicate by mind. Tarisai and Dayo have an immediate connection, but Tarisai is wary -- the Lady has used a magical wish to compel Tarisai to kill Dayo if she is selected as party of the council. Torn between her desire for her mother's love, the seemingly inescapable drive to kill Dayo, and her want to be a part of a group of friends for the first time, Tarisai must look within herself for inner strength -- and as she grows, she discovers things she never would have expected, about herself and the Lady.

It took me quite a while to get into this book, and for the first 100 pages, I wasn't really into it. The worldbuilding is complex, deep and interesting, but a little clumsy, and I had trouble settling into the world. Tarisai is also an interesting character in that she doesn't really have any agency for those first 100 pages, and I had problems connecting with her story at first for that reason. But things really picked up after that, and I devoured the rest of the book in a few days. 4 stars, rounded up from a solid 3.75. This is a debut novel so I'm excited to see what Ifueko does next, and am planning to read the sequel soon -- Raybearer and Redemptor will be my First Book by an Author and Most Recent Book by an Author for my summer reading book bingo.

97curioussquared
Jun. 14, 2022, 1:15 pm



86 books read: A Spot of Trouble by Teri Wilson

Violet March has been the belle of Turtle Beach since she was a kid, and everyone knows her and her Dalmatian Sprinkles. But one morning, she's at the dog beach -- when she sees a strange man making off with Sprinkles! Only, it's not Sprinkles. It's the new fire marshall, Sam, and his fire safety dog Cinder. The dogs look so alike, even their owners can't tell them apart without their collars. Soon Violet and Sam are clashing all over town, as Sam strives to prove to her that Sprinkles could use more training, and Violet strives to prove to Sam that Cinder needs a break from her strict regimen. To make matters worse, Violet is the police chief's daughter, and it's softball season -- time for the annual Police vs. Firefighters tournament, Guns and Hoses. Their Dalmatians seem to be throwing them together... but what do dogs know?

This was fine. Very Hallmark. Small town romance plus cute Dalmatian shenanigans, and the author did NOT shy away from puns (a Dalmatian situation! a Dalmatian sensation!). Nothing special, though. Sam was an interesting character but Violet was fully flat. Good listening for painting your fireplace, lol. 3 stars.

98libraryperilous
Jun. 14, 2022, 1:26 pm

>97 curioussquared: Sprinkles, lol. I once pondered naming a fluffy white and tan kitten Cupcake, but I just couldn't do it. She went by Muffin, but I did sometimes cave and call her Muffikins.

99curioussquared
Jun. 14, 2022, 1:30 pm

>98 libraryperilous: To make matters worse, Violet owns and runs a cupcake food truck and Sprinkles has a cupcake themed collar 😂

Aww, I like the name Muffin. Cupcake is just a liiittle too saccharine.

100curioussquared
Jun. 14, 2022, 1:48 pm

Anybody see James Patterson's unfortunate comments yesterday?

I didn't enjoy what he said, but did enjoy Twitter roasting the heck out of him. Favorite tweets were "Has anyone checked to see who actually wrote the quote from James Patterson?" and the one from a librarian who noted that they could get rid of half of her library's James Patterson collection and still have more books by James Patterson than any other author.

101libraryperilous
Jun. 14, 2022, 2:28 pm

>100 curioussquared: My dude wrote a bestselling series that has a Black man as its main character, has millions in the bank, and still gets tons of speaking engagements even after coauthoring a novel with a serial sex pest. Yet he thinks he is being cancelled because someone, somewhere, someday, might ask if they should give a publishing contract to a POC. ❄

Just wild the grievance bullshit going on right now.

>99 curioussquared: I think I got a cavity just reading about Sprinkles' collar.

102curioussquared
Jun. 14, 2022, 2:43 pm

>101 libraryperilous: Right? Utterly insane that the second richest author in the world (who probably doesn't even write any of his own books at this point) is concerned that he's being pushed out of a space where he literally takes up more room than anyone else.

103libraryperilous
Jun. 14, 2022, 2:53 pm

>102 curioussquared: And the world's richest author is a rabid TERF. :(

104curioussquared
Jun. 14, 2022, 4:17 pm

>103 libraryperilous: :( Definitely depressing. I try not to think about the richest one too often and have been slowly getting rid of all the random HP stuff I've accumulated over the years.

I was looking at the list of richest authors and don't have opinions on many of them, but I do respect Nora Roberts -- I haven't read any of her stuff, but I loved when she went viral for putting a ridiculous fan in her place a few years ago. Look up "I have personally explained the process to you, Debra" if you haven't seen it before.

105curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 14, 2022, 5:49 pm

Woohoo, our new fireplaces are installed! They look great and we love them. They're a little smelly right now (they have to be on for about 4 hours after the initial installation to fully off-gas) but that should pass soon. The dogs are already fighting over who gets the bed closest to the fireplace.

I'm between print and audio books right now as I finished Raybearer last night before bed and A Spot of Trouble this morning on the dog walk. I think I'm targeting The Secret History next for print and Book Lovers next for audio, but no guarantees until I actually start!

106libraryperilous
Jun. 15, 2022, 11:15 am

>104 curioussquared: Haha, that's great. I've read a couple of Roberts' series and liked them: The Key Trilogy and the Bride Quartet.

107curioussquared
Jun. 15, 2022, 2:09 pm

>106 libraryperilous: Good to know!

108curioussquared
Jun. 16, 2022, 2:52 pm

Happy Thursday! I got to start today off with my absolute least favorite part of being a professional, public speaking. I just turn into a nervous wreck. My presentation went well, though, woohoo! Unfortunately my reward is that I get to do the same presentation again for a different group later. Boo. I'm going to reward myself with a homemade bubble tea and some dog cuddles. Oh, and taking another COVID rapid test. I am a very fun person.

I'm about halfway through Book Lovers on audio and really enjoying it -- I think Emily Henry has officially become one of my favorite romance authors. I've started The Secret History in print and it's good so far, but I'm only about 30 pages in and I think it's going to be a long one. Still working through A Pale Light in the Black on kindle which is starting to pick up.

Not sure how how much reading I'll get done this weekend -- Saturday I'm planning on doing some yard work if it's nice enough followed by dinner with a friend provided I don't have COVID (getting a PCR to confirm tomorrow). Sunday I'm going to break out our new pressure washer and wash at the very least Tim's car, which is covered with moss and other debris as we're planning on trading it in next weekend -- I've finally convinced him that it truly does not make sense for us to own a compact sedan when we have about 200 lbs worth of dog to transport. I might pressure wash our concrete steps and path, too, which also have a lot of moss. We have Monday off for Juneteenth (I love that more companies are observing this holiday!) and we'll be going to a birthday party for the June birthdays in my family in the evening.

109MickyFine
Jun. 16, 2022, 3:36 pm

>108 curioussquared: Congrats on making it through your presentation! Your rewards sound perfect.

I'm still in the holds queue for Book Lovers but I'm pleased to see all the positive comments on it around LT. It'll be my first Emily Henry although I have at least one of her other novels on The List.

110curioussquared
Jun. 16, 2022, 3:57 pm

>109 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I've enjoyed all her books and would have trouble picking a favorite (though we'll see what I think when I finish Book Lovers). This one and Beach Read especially appeal to us bookish folk, I think.

111alcottacre
Jun. 17, 2022, 4:40 pm

>94 curioussquared: I already have that one in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, Natalie!

112curioussquared
Jun. 19, 2022, 9:10 pm

>111 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. It's been pretty good so far!

113bell7
Jun. 19, 2022, 9:15 pm

>100 curioussquared: I hadn't seen the original comments before I started seeing the Twitter posts, but "Has anyone checked to see who actually" said the comment was my favorite. Others pointed out how many white males are currently on the bestseller list. He did end up apologizing but yeah, saying it at all was... something.

>108 curioussquared: I'll look forward to your thoughts on Book Lovers. I liked People We Meet on Vacation but that's the only Emily Henry I've read so far.

114curioussquared
Jun. 19, 2022, 9:23 pm



87 books read: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

You know those Hallmark movies where the big city guy goes to a small town and realizes that not only is his ice princess, business-focused girlfriend not right for him, but he's in love with the quirky, down-to-earth small town girl? That's who Nora is. Not the small-town girl, but the career woman ice princess. She's one of New York's most successful literary agents, and she's damn good at her job. On the outside? She has it all. But when it comes to her personal life, she's a mess. She gets dumped, a lot, and if it weren't for her sister's family, she'd feel very alone. With baby #3 on the way, Nora's sister Libby convinces Nora to take some time off with her and visit Sunshine Falls, the idyllic North Carolina town featured in Nora's most successful author's recent novel. When they get to Sunshine Falls, it's... less than idyllic. Nora's not sure how things can get much worse (they had lunch at a place called Papa Squat, for crying out loud)... but then she sees him. Charlie. An editor she tried to work with a few years ago only to run into his icy, rude exterior. Nora can't imagine what's he's doing in this hole of a town... but she's about to find out.

Henry's latest novel is just as good as her first two, and honestly, I'm not sure I can pick a favorite. Book Lovers is a wholly different book, but it has Henry's trademark ingredients: snappy banter combined with fully realized characters and complex relationships. This one was fun because you could tell Henry was enjoying playing with those traditional Hallmark movie tropes. 4.5 stars.

115curioussquared
Jun. 19, 2022, 9:25 pm

>113 bell7: Hi Mary! Yeah, I don't buy the apology. I don't think he's reversed the decision to print only his own books from the label that was originally supposed to highlight more diverse voices, so I'm skeptical 🤷‍♀️

Looks like you were writing your note at the same time I was writing my Book Lovers thoughts so they are now available :)

116curioussquared
Jun. 19, 2022, 9:34 pm



88 books read: Cart and Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones

Moril has spent his whole life traveling and performing around Dalemark with his family: his father Clennen the Singer, his mother Lenina, and his siblings Dagner and Brid. He loves his life and the music they all create together, and he admires his born-to-perform father and the way he can maneuver a crowd. On their way back to North Dalemark, the travelers pick up a passenger: Kialan, who comes off as very disdainful to Moril. The journey continues as normal, but when things start changing at an alarming pace, Moril, his siblings, and Kialan must act quickly their world starts crumbling beneath them.

A reread to fulfill my "Reread a childhood favorite" square for book bingo. I may have chosen badly, though, because now I want to reread the rest of the quartet! This is a short book that starts off seeming very simple but quickly reveals all of its layers. I had forgotten the bittersweet ending and it snuck up on me again and brought some tears. 5 stars (I'm not objective toward any DWJ books, lol).

117curioussquared
Jun. 19, 2022, 9:38 pm



89 books read: Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

This third book in the Bromance Book Club series follows Noah, hacktivist turned computer security engineer, and Alexis, cat mom to Beefcake and owner of the Toe Beans Cafe, who both featured in book 2. Noah and Alexis are best friends -- to the point that they've both had thoughts about taking their relationship to the next level, but neither wants to spoil the friendship. But with the help of the Bromance Book Club, they just might make things work.

This was my least favorite of the series so far -- I think there just wasn't enough will they/won't they. Noah and Alexis were both a little boring and there wasn't any doubt that yes, they would. Which, yes, is what you expect from a romance novel, but there needs to be a little more suspense. Still pleasant enough listening while I did a bunch of yard work yesterday. 3 stars.

118curioussquared
Jun. 19, 2022, 9:42 pm



90 books read: Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel

In this graphic novel memoir, Bechdel explores her complex relationship with her mother through the lens of psychoanalysis.

I loved Fun Home when I read it in college. I didn't actually read it for a course -- it was assigned to the Freshman reading list the year I was a sophomore, and as an overachieving newly elected writing tutor, I thought I would read it to better understand the tons of Freshman essays I would need to read about it. Anyway, this one wasn't as effective for me, or at least I didn't enjoy it as much as I remember enjoying Fun Home. The psychoanalysis angle didn't really work for me, and there was a lot of it. 3.5 stars.

119curioussquared
Jun. 19, 2022, 9:45 pm



91 books read: Lit Stitch by BookRiot

A fun collection of literary themed cross-stitch patterns, along with some helpful cross-stitch info for (relative) newbies like me. These were really cute and I copied a bunch of them so I have the patterns even after I return it to the library. I did find some of the cross-stitch info confusing and I feel like that could have been presented better. Read for the "Hobby or skill" square of book bingo. 4 stars.

120curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jul. 12, 2022, 1:16 pm

As promised, this weekend has been full of a whole lot of yard work and a whole lots of pressure washing. My whole body hurts, lol.

But it's also been full of a whole lot of reading! In addition to the completed reads I posted, I'm about 40% through Daughter of Fortune and really enjoying it, and also slowly making progress in The Secret History, which I'm liking but which demands a lot of attention.

121bell7
Jun. 19, 2022, 10:30 pm

>115 curioussquared: oooh yes, good timing! Sounds good, too. And yeah, I think you're right about the imprint, which is a shame.

>116 curioussquared: that was my first DWJ. I don't remember the details now, except that I enjoyed it and didn't like the sequels quite as much. It would be interesting to reread now.

122curioussquared
Jun. 19, 2022, 11:25 pm

>121 bell7: I remember really liking book 2 (I think Moril is in that one too, but not as the protagonist). Mostly what I remember about books 3 and 4 are that they're very different -- book 3 set far in the past, and book 4 possibly in the future? Maybe I do need to reread them...

123humouress
Jun. 20, 2022, 1:09 am

Happy not so new thread, Natalie! and congratulations on 75 books.

I love your topper photo (I hadn't realised Kermit has such an unusual pattern, or I'd forgotten). Just back from our UK holiday where there were dogs in lots of the hotels we stayed in, especially in Cornwall - something I haven't seen before. And lots of dogs enjoying running on the beaches; it made me miss Jasper.

Yay for the new gas fireplaces; now you hopefully don't have to freeze in your basement.

124scaifea
Jun. 20, 2022, 8:07 am

>119 curioussquared: Ooooh, I've put a hold on this one - thanks for the tip!

125MickyFine
Jun. 20, 2022, 11:46 am

>119 curioussquared: I've made three patterns from this collection. They're hanging next to my desk at work.

126curioussquared
Jun. 20, 2022, 12:49 pm

>123 humouress: Hi Nina -- welcome home! Kermit is a brindle -- I love his tiger stripes :) his dark face is unusual for the coloring but I think it makes him look very handsome! He is lightening up a bit, but when we first got him his facial coloring reminded me of a Belgian Malinois.

Love that the UK has such a dog friendly culture. You can find pet friendly hotels here, but you definitely have to ask. Just this weekend my mom took her Irish Wolfhound to a dog show about 3 hours south of Seattle, and she planned to stay the night so she called a hotel in advance to confirm they allowed dogs. When she got there they refused to let them stay because they said Hamish was over their pet weight limit! I get it, he's huge, but you'd think they would have mentioned a weight limit when she called to confirm. Luckily they found another place to stay.

127curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 20, 2022, 12:50 pm

>124 scaifea: Enjoy, Amber!

>125 MickyFine: I love them, Micky! I think I've finished 4 cross-stitch projects now and my plan is also to hang them in my office. There's a patch of bare wall behind me where I think they'd look nice. The three you chose were some of my favorite patterns from the book, too.

128humouress
Jun. 20, 2022, 1:38 pm

>126 curioussquared: Thanks for the welcome home :0)

Aw, but I love Hamish. How odd. I'm glad they could find another place to stay.

129MickyFine
Jun. 20, 2022, 3:51 pm

>127 curioussquared: I did alter the pattern a bit for the Jane Austen quote above the stack of books. The original pattern has Moby-Dick on the spine of the bottom book and I Did Not Like that book so I did the math and was able to fit Anne of Green Gables in there instead. :)

130curioussquared
Jun. 20, 2022, 4:06 pm

>129 MickyFine: That's so funny -- I was thinking of doing something similar. I haven't read Moby Dick but don't really have any particular desire to, so....

131alcottacre
Jun. 20, 2022, 4:09 pm

>114 curioussquared: I went to add Book Lovers to the BlackHole only to discover it was already there. I need to get to it soon evidently!

>116 curioussquared: Another DWJ I have not read. There are so many!

I hope you have a wonderful week, Natalie!

132Ravenwoodwitch
Jun. 20, 2022, 7:29 pm

Heya Natalie :)

Every time you post another Jones book you've read my brain keeps doing a double-take; she's got so many. I am almost downright furious that none of my schools introduced her into our rotation of books, it feels like that glossed over a significant chunk of children's literature in doing that :/

133curioussquared
Jun. 21, 2022, 1:54 pm

>131 alcottacre: I hope you enjoy it, Stasia!

>132 Ravenwoodwitch: Hi Angela! Yep, Jones was quite the prolific lady :) I don't actually think that any of her books were assigned to me in school. I know I discovered her in our elementary school library, which had a glorious fantasy section and which I will always remember fondly, but I don't know if I just happened to pick up her books on my own (it's possible they were on a featured shelf or something) or if one of the lovely librarians pushed me toward them. I just recently ordered a few more books by her that I've read but never owned in the interest of completing my collection :)

134curioussquared
Jun. 22, 2022, 1:46 pm

Oof, today started out rough. I just slept really badly and then rolled out of bed for an 8am meeting only to find that it had been cancelled 10 minutes before it started 🤦‍♀️ Luckily I'm now done with meetings for the day, so I'm hoping to just buckle down and make some progress on some ongoing projects, and maybe sneak in a quick workout at some point.

Still reading all the same stuff. Hoping to finish Daughter of Fortune by Friday, thought it might not happen until the weekend. Starting to get really into The Secret History -- the narrative style is such that it takes me a bit to get into it every time I pick it up, but once I get used to it I don't want to put it down.

135alcottacre
Jun. 22, 2022, 3:53 pm

Sorry for the rough start to your day, Natalie, but I hope that it has improved for you!

I have not yet read Daughter of Fortune so I am looking forward to your thoughts on it.

136MickyFine
Jun. 23, 2022, 11:05 am

>134 curioussquared: Oh that is a rough start to the day. At least the meeting was cancelled. Hopefully your Thursday is off to a much better start.

137Ravenwoodwitch
Jun. 23, 2022, 11:34 am

Morning, Natalie :)
I hope you've had an easier Thursday as well. I know a bad morning can make the whole day feel off.

138curioussquared
Jun. 23, 2022, 12:07 pm

>135 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! Yesterday did get better :)

>136 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I slept much better so Thursday is already off to a promising start.

>137 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks, Angela!

139Whisper1
Jun. 23, 2022, 7:53 pm

Hi Natalie. I very much like your opening photo! Three large dogs, and you handle them seemlessly. Congratulations!

140curioussquared
Jun. 24, 2022, 1:09 pm

>139 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! They are large but very sweet and for the most part pretty docile.

141curioussquared
Jun. 24, 2022, 1:13 pm

Today is a sad day in the US, and even though the decision was expected given the leak, something in me really hoped it wouldn't come to this.

So grateful to live in a state where my rights are protected by law, but my heart hurts and I can't stop thinking about all the women who have been put in danger because of this. And I can't stop thinking about what's coming next, either, because the current SCOTUS certainly won't stop here.

And of course they released the decision today to distract from the January 6th hearings. So angry.

142ArlieS
Jun. 24, 2022, 1:44 pm

>134 curioussquared: There's a special place in hell for people who schedule early meetings, and cancel them at the last minute.

143curioussquared
Jun. 24, 2022, 1:51 pm

>142 ArlieS: Normally I would agree! I am a little more forgiving for this meeting because it's a big group who are mostly central time, and this was the only recurring time that worked, and it was cancelled because the only person available to lead this week was having tech issues and couldn't see her computer screen. So, I get it... but I don't have to like it.

144curioussquared
Jun. 24, 2022, 2:13 pm



92 books read: Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

Jeremy and Rose Sommers are English siblings living in Valparaiso, Chile, when one morning, Rose discovers a Chilean baby girl in a soap box on their doorstep. Unmarried and with no children of her own, Rose decides to treat the child as her own and, naming her Eliza, begins raising her as a proper English girl. Eliza's childhood is spent between two worlds -- that of the British expatriate community in Valparaiso, and that of her native country, which she experiences at the side of the Sommers' faithful cook and housekeeper. As Eliza grows, she learns the things Rose asks of her, but she also learns things no respectable Englishwoman would know -- like how to craft fine recipes, and the secrets of the native medical treatments. As the world is swept into the craze of the California gold rush, Eliza falls in love for the first time. Her lover, Joaquin Andieta, decides to go to California to make his fortune, and at first Eliza is content to let him go. But when she discovers she is pregnant, she makes a choice: She will go to California and find Joaquin -- and her future.

I think this is only my second Allende and I really enjoyed it. It's a sweeping story, though everything is really focused on Eliza. I particularly enjoyed the second half set in California, as Eliza's relationship with Tao Chi'en develops and grows. Read for the "Set South of the Equator" square on my book bingo -- I didn't realize when I started that it would move to California, but the first half or so is in Chile so I'm counting it. 4 stars.

145Whisper1
Jun. 24, 2022, 2:19 pm

>144 curioussquared: Your review is great! Now, I will read this book. I think I own it.

I hope your day is a good one!

146libraryperilous
Jun. 24, 2022, 5:27 pm

>141 curioussquared: This week alone: blue state gun control down the drain, abortion gone in red/gerrymandered states, Miranda rights curtailed, queer healthcare access jeopardized, labor weakened. Next week: clean air dirtied. They're coming for the Civil Rights Act once they get done gutting everything they can through the overturning of privacy rights (Obergefell, Lawrence, Griswold, Loving).

Time to pack the court!

"Rage works if reason won't. / When locked up, bear down."

(And yes, I recognize the irony in using a poem about a chick hatching from an egg.)

147curioussquared
Jun. 24, 2022, 5:48 pm

>146 libraryperilous: It's crazy to me that Thomas is the one pushing to tear down these structures that might lead to the illegality of his own marriage. What is he doing?

148Berly
Jun. 24, 2022, 10:03 pm

>141 curioussquared: We are on the same page. I have been crying and swearing on and off all day long.

>146 libraryperilous: Unbelievable.

>147 curioussquared: Good point.

149PaulCranswick
Jun. 25, 2022, 1:56 am

>144 curioussquared: I have only read one book by Allende, Natalie, but I did really enjoy it. More on the horizon for me, I guess.

Have a lovely weekend.

150curioussquared
Jun. 25, 2022, 11:55 am

>148 Berly: Yep, yesterday was rough, Kim. I will admit to being less than productive at work...

>149 PaulCranswick: I think this was only my second Allende, Paul, excluding her YA series which I read and enjoyed as a kid. I do have at least one other unread on my shelf -- The Long Petal of the Sea.

151libraryperilous
Jun. 25, 2022, 7:06 pm

>148 Berly:, >150 curioussquared: On the one hand, it's infuriating and sad. On the other hand, cops body-slamming old white people out protesting for abortion rights in conservative cities probably isn't the wisest course of action for the police state to take.

Anyway, Sherrilyn Ifill said it best: Tweet.

152curioussquared
Jun. 26, 2022, 11:29 pm

>151 libraryperilous: I can only hope that this truly gets people voting.

153curioussquared
Jun. 26, 2022, 11:56 pm



93 books read: Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

Hanna is half-Chinese, half white, living with her father in Dakota territory in 1880. She wants nothing more than to graduate school, gain her diploma, and sew dresses as part of her father's dress goods venture. But while folks in their new town welcome Hanna's white father, they are much less welcoming toward Hanna. As Hanna fights for her place in school, she also fights for her rights -- and those of the Native Americans coexisting in the Dakota territory.

I really enjoyed this middle grade novel! The author's note at the end explains how it's a direct response to the Little House boos -- how the author, as a child, used to insert herself into that universe, but always felt in her heart that it was a world she wouldn't be welcome in due to the color of her skin. The Little House books weren't my favorite as a kid, but I did enjoy them, and really appreciated this modern update to the genre. 4 stars.

154curioussquared
Jun. 27, 2022, 1:24 pm



94 books read: A Pale Light in the Black by K. B. Wagers

Max Carmichael is new to the NeoG -- essentially the space coast guard. She wants nothing more than to fit in with her new unit, and it doesn't seem like that will be too hard. Most of her teammates are welcoming, and the biggest challenge will be participating with her team in the Boarding Games -- the annual space sports competition between the NeoG, Army, Navy, and Marines. But as Max starts making friends and her team prepares for the games, they become aware of a sinister plot brewing, and it looks like it might be connected to LifeEx, the life-extending compound that Max's family got rich with.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I settled into the story I couldn't put it down. I actually thought this was a debut novel because the intro and worldbuilding felt a little clumsy and info dump-y (turns out it's actually the beginning of Wagers' third series). You're introduced to a complex world and a large cast of characters really quickly, and honestly, I wasn't 100% sure two of the characters were different people for a while. (Ma sounds like it could be short for Tamago!) I think this is probably more on me for reading in the middle of the night than anything else, but I thought I would mention it. Anyway! I really don't want to sound like I'm hating on this book, because I actually loved it; I just wanted to let anyone who picks it up know that you might need to give it 20% or so before it gets really engaging. Once I hit my stride I was totally caught up, and I loved the little family of Zuma's Ghost. Very Becky Chambers feeling. I'll be keeping a look out for other books in the series. 4.5 stars.

155curioussquared
Jun. 27, 2022, 1:39 pm

Finally getting some heat in Seattle! My friend and I walked to the beach to lizard in the sun a bit on Saturday. Sunday we didn't enjoy the weather much as Tim and I spent most of the day negotiating for our new car. (Let's be real, Tim was mostly the one negotiating.) Felt like we were able to get a decent deal on the trade-in for Tim's car and subsequently a good deal on the new one. Our dogs should now be able to fit comfortably in one of our vehicles!

It's supposed to hit 90 degrees here today, so it'll be the hottest day of the year so far. I'll mostly be in our cool basement, at least, and it's supposed to cool down tomorrow.

156humouress
Jun. 27, 2022, 2:36 pm

>154 curioussquared: I read her Indranan Wars series last year which was fun.

Yay for the dogs fitting into the car. Jasper loves car rides; but he sheds like nobody's business and loves to explore the whole car so it needs a good wipe down afterwards. My husband lets him sit up on the car seat with his head out of the window but I prefer to have him buckled in when I drive him, so I've been thinking about a cage to go in my boot. We don't take him out much in the car so it might not be worth it - but if I got it, we might take him out more. Chicken and egg situation :0)

Enjoy your cool basement.

157curioussquared
Jun. 27, 2022, 6:15 pm

>156 humouress: Ooh, I'll have to look out for that series! Yeah, my car could use a good wipe down, too 😂 lots of slobber and hair!

158Whisper1
Jun. 27, 2022, 8:25 pm

Natalie, Congratulations on reading 94 books! Amazing!!!

159curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jun. 28, 2022, 1:27 pm

>158 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! Not having a job for the first four months of the year certainly helped :)

160curioussquared
Jun. 28, 2022, 1:44 pm

Happy Tuesday! Work is definitely heating up and I'm expecting to see my reading numbers slide next month.

Expecting to get a call from my local indie today that my preordered copy of The Dead Romantics is ready for pickup. Not sure if I'll head over to get it today or later this week.

On the reading front, I'm about 3/4 done with Redemptor on audio. I'm still slowly going through The Secret History (about 100 pages in now), and I got about 10% through Witchlings on Kindle last night, which is super cute so far.

I was hoping to finish another book off my list to read this month, but I don't think I will unless I suddenly start devouring The Secret History. I do expect to listen to The Girls next, but I doubt I'll finish it by Thursday.

161curioussquared
Jun. 30, 2022, 12:46 pm



95 books read: Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

Now co-empress with Dayo, Tarisai must assemble her own Raybearer's council within 2 years before the evil spirits of the underworld begin attacking all of Arit. The catch: her council must be made up the 12 rulers of Arit. Tarisai is ready to take on the impossible task of convincing all the rulers to join, but she didn't expect the undead children who've started showing up and undermining her wherever she goes...

I wanted to like this more than I did. I'm going to partially blame the audiobook; the reader didn't really work for me, for some reason. Another issue I had here (which was also part of the first book to some extent) is that the 12 council members on both Dayo's council and the other 12 on Tarisai's council are all supposed to be a big part of the story and everyone is supposed to be mind-linked, but we don't get much exploration of those characters just by virtue of the fact that 24 characters is a lot of characters. Tarisai is the main focus of the story, but I didn't feel like we saw much of her motivations, and much of the time she seemed to just be reacting to things. Anyway, it was fine, and maybe I would have enjoyed it more had I read it in print. 3 stars.

162curioussquared
Jun. 30, 2022, 12:57 pm

Happy Thursday!

Yesterday was work, then a trip to the bookstore to pick up The Dead Romantics, and a stop at Marshall's and then HomeGoods to find some new dog beds for the new car. The hounds have to travel in style! I finished Redemptor while walking the dogs and started The Girls in the car on my errands. Tim cooked some steak and we watched the first episode of Ms. Marvel, which I think might be more to my taste than his (rare for a Marvel show!).

We've also been watching the first few episodes of Season 2 of Only Murders in the Building (so good!) and are eagerly awaiting the release of the rest of Stranger Things S4 and the new season of What We Do in the Shadows -- just so much good TV coming out right now!

Today I think my friend is coming over and we'll do a workout and probably get some takeout and watch some TV, so I doubt I'll finish another book today -- but if I do, it would probably be Flight to Arras, since it's short. Otherwise, I'm still reading the same stuff; I only make it through about 20 pages of The Secret History every night before falling asleep, and it's about 550 pages, so it's taking a while. Hopefully I can make a bigger dent this weekend.

163MickyFine
Jun. 30, 2022, 1:54 pm

>162 curioussquared: Ms. Marvel has been a hit in our house (pretty equally for both Mr. Fine and I).

164ocgreg34
Jun. 30, 2022, 2:10 pm

>4 curioussquared: Nice selection of books read!

165curioussquared
Jun. 30, 2022, 4:54 pm

>163 MickyFine: I'm definitely more of the teen drama fan and Tim is definitely more of the Marvel fan, so it's an interesting dynamic :)

>164 ocgreg34: Hi Greg! Thanks :) I try to be somewhat eclectic!

166aktakukac
Jun. 30, 2022, 6:14 pm

Good luck making progress with The Secret History! A friend of mine really wanted me to read it ages ago because he really liked it, but I've always put it off because of the length.

167curioussquared
Jul. 1, 2022, 12:28 pm

>166 aktakukac: It's good! Just slow going. Yesterday I meant to read more but ended up just scrolling on my phone before bed. Oops.

168alcottacre
Jul. 1, 2022, 12:55 pm

>144 curioussquared: That one has been in the BlackHole far too long. I really must get to it!

>153 curioussquared: Dodging that BB as I have already read it. Whew!

>154 curioussquared: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thank you for the recommendation, Natalie!

Have a wonderful weekend!

169curioussquared
Jul. 3, 2022, 6:21 pm

>168 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! Hope you are enjoying your weekend away with your mom.

170curioussquared
Jul. 3, 2022, 6:36 pm



96 books read: The Girls by Emma Cline

In 1969, 14-year-old Evie is drawn in to the orbit of a group of older girls who live on the edge of town in a broken-down ranch house. There, she meets the alluring Russell, the leader of their group. The girls and other house inhabitants worship him, and their awe and respect rubs off on Evie, too. Evie gets more and more involved, lying to her parents and spending more time at the house... until it might be too late for her to get out.

This is essentially a fictionalized account of the Manson cult and murders from the point of view of a fictional marginal member. I was very drawn in and I think it helped that I didn't know much about the cult or murders going in; many of the less favorable reviews were upset that the book didn't do much more than that. What can I say, it worked for me. 4 stars.

171curioussquared
Jul. 5, 2022, 1:05 pm

Happy Tuesday! 4th of July is one of my least favorite holidays, mostly because the fireworks turn Skelly into a nervous wreck, and Tim and I both weren't feeling particularly patriotic this year, so our weekend was quiet. Nice to have a relaxing three days, though!

I finished The Girls while getting some stuff done on Saturday, and made significant progress in The Secret History on Sunday and Monday (though I still have about 150 pages or so to go). I also read a little bit of Witchlings and started listening to Lilac Girls.

It's back to work today; I got surprised with an invite halfway through a meeting at 9am so I jumped on to listen to that, but the rest of the day should be fairly quiet until a meeting this afternoon.

Here's Skelly modeling his anti-firework snood. This is the first year we've had it for 4th of July and I actually think it made a huge difference. It definitely didn't block out all the big booms, but it blocked a lot of the smaller ones, so he was able to relax more in between the big ones. He was still unhappy and shaky, but he was at least lying down near us for most of the night instead of pacing, panting, and drooling and trying to hide places he would never otherwise go.

172Ravenwoodwitch
Jul. 5, 2022, 2:03 pm

>171 curioussquared: Poor Skelly :( I'm glad the hood made a small difference, really. My cat, Salem, HATES loud noises and spent part of last night under my bed. I always wish our pets could learn English for one night only just so we can tell them it's gonna be okay on nights like that.

173humouress
Jul. 5, 2022, 2:11 pm

>171 curioussquared: Poor baby.

Jasper has the same issue with the pressure that comes with a thunderstorm (not necessarily the noise, I've discovered; there have been occasions when he didn't twitch even with thunder breaking almost over our heads). But really, sometimes I think he just takes advantage. I sometimes used to go down, when he was a puppy, and sit with him at the bottom of the stairs when there were thunderstorms at night and then the staircase became his go-to safe place but he'd end up higher and higher, gradually over time (even, on occasions, if we're all downstairs). Now he comes up, especially if the boys are upstairs but I suspect it's because they'll let him into the bedrooms (even though they know he's not supposed to be in there) - and they did that while we were away.

Jasper has tried to sneak upstairs a couple of times since we've been back but I think he's twigged that we're back to the old regime because the other day he came up to the stair gate to call me down to sit with him as the sky was darkening. I didn't appreciate it when he tried to follow one of the boys back upstairs when I was still sitting there, though.

174curioussquared
Jul. 5, 2022, 2:25 pm

>172 Ravenwoodwitch: Right? Otter and Kermit are okay with the noises, and I reinforce that every year by giving them treats as soon as there are booms so they know to think of it as a good thing. But Skelly has always reacted this way and there was never even a chance to try the reinforcement training with him; as soon as the fireworks start, he's a wreck and won't accept any food or treats. I so wish they could understand that everything will be okay and the world is not ending!

>173 humouress: Oh, that's interesting that he can sense the pressure. Thunderstorms aren't super common here (we get maybe one or two a year, generally), but with Skelly it's definitely about the noise. The pressure might put him on edge, but he doesn't go into shaky mess territory until the booms start.

175FAMeulstee
Jul. 6, 2022, 4:35 am

>171 curioussquared: Poor Skelly, glad the anti-firework snood helped a bit. Everything that lessens the panick is good.
Back in the days I have used thunder-shirts, that also helped a bit. Have you ever tryed that with Skelly?

176curioussquared
Jul. 6, 2022, 3:00 pm

>175 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! We have tried a thunder shirt and still have one, but it never seemed to help him much. However, next time there are fireworks I might try it again combined with the snood. I think the snood both helps block out the noise and also provide that calming compression pressure, so I wonder if the thunder shirt would work better in conjunction with it. Lots of things to try!

177figsfromthistle
Jul. 6, 2022, 8:21 pm

Dropping in to say hello

>154 curioussquared: You hit me with a BB!

178ArlieS
Jul. 7, 2022, 1:50 pm

>171 curioussquared: Poor Skelly. I'm glad the snood helped. Angie isn't *quite* as freaked out by the fireworks as Skelly, but it's a bad day for her and her human family.

179curioussquared
Jul. 7, 2022, 4:29 pm

>177 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! Hope you like the Wagers :)

>178 ArlieS: Hi Arlie! Yeah, I definitely stopped enjoying the 4th as much when I got a dog who was made miserable by fireworks.

180curioussquared
Jul. 7, 2022, 4:34 pm

Happy Thursday! Not much to report on the reading front here -- still working on all the same stuff. Really hope to wrap up The Secret History and Lilac Girls this week, but we'll see as I have a busy weekend ahead. My next paper book will be Homegoing for the book club I'm hosting on Saturday the 16th, so I need to get moving on it!

I probably should have read last night, but after a long workday and cooking dinner I just wanted to veg and watch TV. I started Starstruck on HBO, which I'm LOVING -- so funny.

181curioussquared
Jul. 11, 2022, 1:39 pm



97 books read: The Secret History by Donna Tartt

When Richard arrives at Hampden College, he decides to pursue a major in Greek -- he had already been studying it in community college, and it just made sense to him to continue. But his desire to study Greek leads him to discover and befriend some decidedly strange people, for all the other Classics students are part of an insular, mysterious group, led by Julian, the selective, exclusionary professor. As Richard finds himself slowly accepted into the group, he begins to find out more about their lifestyle and extracurricular activities -- and soon finds himself wondering what exactly he's gotten involved with.

This is one of those books where you don't really like any of the characters, but you can't put it down, either. It sort of reminded me at times of The Magicians minus the magic and Tam Lin if it were darker, but it's really a story all its own. Brilliantly done, especially for a first novel, but I can see why the reviews are polarized. I see this recommended a lot for people looking for "dark academia" reads and while I think it fits the bill, it's very different from a lot of the fantasy-style dark academia -- much more literary. It's long, but I felt it was worth the page count. Recommended; 4.5 stars.

182curioussquared
Jul. 11, 2022, 2:09 pm



98 books read: Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Lilac Girls follows three women before, during, and after World War II: Caroline, New York socialite and philanthropist; Kasia, a Polish girl who is sent to Ravensbruck for passing information on the Polish Underground; and Herta, a German doctor who is pleased to have secured a position at the camp that will support her family. As each woman grapples with her own war experience and post-war reality, their lives touch in different ways.

I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I appreciated that it was based on real women, and that Caroline and Herta were both real people that Kelly brought to life with her words. On the other hand, I think Kasia's story was my favorite aspect of the book. At first I didn't feel like Lilac Girls was doing much that other WWII historical fiction hadn't already covered. I know this is an ever popular genre, and I understand why -- I don't think humans will ever tire of looking and wondering how we allowed these things to happen. But I felt like I had to wait until the last third of the book for Lilac Girls to tread any new ground. At first I was confused that the story continued for so long after the war ended, but I soon came to appreciate the way Kelly wrote about and fully brought to light the stories of the Polish Rabbits -- I knew such experiments happened, but had never read about them in such detail. So overall, this was a fine read, with some interesting aspects, but not something I can see myself reading again. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.

183curioussquared
Jul. 11, 2022, 2:20 pm

Officially over halfway through my books to read this year list! Feeling pretty good about progress made and hoping I can keep up the pace. Homegoing is next -- I started it on Saturday and am really enjoying it so far.

184curioussquared
Jul. 12, 2022, 12:27 pm

Good morning! Normal workday today, then my friend is coming over in the evening.

Currently about 1/3 of the way through Homegoing in print; I need to finish it before book club on Saturday (I'm hosting).

Started Finding Her Edge on audio and am enjoying it so far! Pretty typical contemporary YA romance fare with a skating focus. You'll like this if you like YA and ice skating.

Witchlings is still my current Kindle read but I've been ignoring it. Once I finish Homegoing I'll focus on this one for a bit.

185Berly
Jul. 12, 2022, 4:23 pm

Hopelessly behind but wanted to reciprocate the visit. : ) Also dropping a note because The_Hibernator is coming out to Oregon the last week in August. Are you interested at all in venturing down here to meet some people? There are about 5 or 6 of us. Let me know!

186curioussquared
Jul. 12, 2022, 6:00 pm

>185 Berly: Hi Kim! I think I have to be TBD for an Oregon trip. Work will be heating up and I have 2.5 weeks in Europe in mid-September, so probably can't do any weekday time off, and then the last weekend in August will be our first anniversary so Tim and I are planning to do something that weekend. So I'd say things probably won't work out this time but you never know, it's possible it'll come together and I'll keep it in mind!

187Berly
Jul. 12, 2022, 6:03 pm

I started up our Oregon Visitor Thread so keep us posted there. I totally understand, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. : )

https://www.librarything.com/topic/332414#n7882176

Where are you going in Europe? Fun!

188curioussquared
Jul. 12, 2022, 6:12 pm

>187 Berly: We're going to Croatia and Italy! Probably mostly the area around Split and then a few days in Dubrovnik in Croatia, then to Rome. We'll probably do some side trips from Rome but haven't decided where yet. We have the big flights booked but nothing else, lol.

I'll keep an eye on the Oregon Visitor Thread!!

189Berly
Jul. 13, 2022, 2:07 am

I have never been to Croatia (I await your thoughts!) but I loved Italy, even though the gypsie kids stole my wallet!! Rome, Venice and Murano were awesome. : )

190curioussquared
Jul. 13, 2022, 11:24 am

>189 Berly: I really wanted to do Venice, Florence, and Cinque Terre this trip, but it just didn't make sense with our Croatia itinerary. We're visiting Croatia with some friends so we didn't have much flexibility with dates or destinations there, and then I was surprised that the only direct flight from Dubrovnik to Italy is to Rome, and Rome is a little farther from all those more northern Italy destinations I wanted to hit, and we only have a week or so. So I think we'll just have to do another Italy trip later :D

191libraryperilous
Jul. 13, 2022, 1:30 pm

So I think we'll just have to do another Italy trip later

Oh, that's a real shame. ;)

192curioussquared
Jul. 13, 2022, 1:55 pm

>191 libraryperilous: Exactly :) Woe is me!

193curioussquared
Jul. 14, 2022, 9:56 am

I'm in a meeting today 6:30 am to 2 pm and as decidedly NOT a morning person, I'm not happy about it :( At least I didn't have to travel to attend it in person!

194aktakukac
Jul. 14, 2022, 1:35 pm

Hope you get lots of breaks during your meeting!

195MickyFine
Jul. 14, 2022, 1:35 pm

>193 curioussquared: Oof, I'm assuming multiple time zones are involved? I often start work at 7:30 and am a morning person but 6:30 is gross even for me.

196curioussquared
Jul. 14, 2022, 2:06 pm

>194 aktakukac: Not good news on the breaks front so far, Rachel. We had one break and then a lunch break, but they used 10 minutes of our lunch time and didn't give it back 🙄

>195 MickyFine: Yeah, most of my team is central time and the in-person meeting is in Texas. I was at least allowed to join at 6:30 instead of 6, which was when the meeting actually started with breakfast and introductions.

197curioussquared
Jul. 15, 2022, 11:52 am



99 books read: Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli

Adrianna Russo is part of a figure skating dynasty, and her family owns one of the largest ice complexes in the country. For a long time, Adrianna has been the backup dancer to her sister Elisa's star performer -- after all, Elisa is perfect and tiny enough to be a solo figure skater, and she's headed to Beijing to compete in the Olympics. Adrianna, on the other hand, had an early growth spurt that condemned her to a future as an ice dancer rather than a figure skater -- and her dad has always made it clear that he considers ice dancing a second-tier sport. Of course, Adrianna has always been skeptical of trusting her dad's judgment since their mom's death and her dad's total mismanagement of their household finances; often, Adrianna finds herself the only voice of financial reason in the family, and as the Olympic frenzy continues, Adrianna worries that eventually they'll have to mortgage the house. But then, Elisa heads off to the Olympics, and Adrianna's fellow junior skaters convene at her family's complex to train before Junior Worlds, and suddenly... Adrianna starts to stand on her own. As she navigates the road to Junior Worlds and a complicated fake relationship with her partner, Adrianna's future -- and what she actually wants -- becomes clearer.

This is a pretty run-of-the-mill YA romance, but fun if you enjoy watching figure skating or like to get caught up in competition stories. I thought it wasn't quite as good as Iacopelli's gymnastics book, Break the Fall, but still really enjoyed listening. 4 stars.

198curioussquared
Jul. 15, 2022, 12:02 pm

Well, I survived my meeting yesterday. Back to normal schedule today, though I had to get up slightly earlier than usual to walk the dogs before my 8am meeting this morning -- Tim usually walks them if I have an early meeting, but he's out of town for a bachelor party this weekend.

Tomorrow I'm hosting book club, so after work and taking Skelly to a vet checkup this afternoon, I'll try to clean up my house and patio before people come over tomorrow. I also need to finish the book still -- I have about 70 pages so should be able to wrap up tonight. Then we're celebrating my grandpa's 80th birthday tomorrow night, so I'll head over to my grandparents' house in the evening.

199curioussquared
Jul. 15, 2022, 12:04 pm

On the reading front:

- Like I said in the previous post, planning on finishing up Homegoing in print tonight before book club tomorrow.
- Just finished Finding Her Edge on audio this morning. I think my next listen will be By The Book by Jasmine Guillory.
- Coming back to Witchlings on Kindle once I wrap up Homegoing.

200Berly
Jul. 16, 2022, 3:06 am

Glad the ungodly, early, long meeting is over with. Have fun at bookclub!

201curioussquared
Jul. 18, 2022, 1:12 pm

>200 Berly: Thanks, Kim! We had a nice time at book club. Just four of us -- my best friend I see all the time, another friend I've seen occasionally and whose wedding I'll be attending in a few weeks, and another friend I've only seen once since the pandemic at my own wedding, so we didn't have a lot of time to chat 😂 So it was nice to get together, eat some snacks, and talk about a book for a while!

202curioussquared
Jul. 18, 2022, 1:24 pm



100 books read: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

In 18th century Ghana, two half sisters are born -- one will marry a white Englishman there to work in the slave trade, and the other will become a slave herself. The novel follows their descendants for generations, through the years of slavery and oppression in the US and the changes and hardships in Ghana, until nearly the present day.

This is an incredible book. I didn't realize going into it quite how challenging the content would be going in (that's what happens when you try not to know too much about a book before reading!) but I found that the way it was written, devoting one chapter to each descendant, made it easier to get through. While each character had their own challenges and trauma, at least you could sort of move on from chapter to chapter. I thought that the ending was super well done -- it could have been trite or saccharine, but it was beautiful instead. 5 stars.

203curioussquared
Jul. 18, 2022, 2:16 pm



101 books read: By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

When Isabelle started her Editorial Assistant job at Tale As Old As Time Books two years ago, she couldn't have been more excited. Fast forward two years, and she feels stuck in a dead-end job, with a boss who doesn't like or trust her -- and she's not convinced she'll ever have a chance to get an actual editing role. To show her gumption, while at a conference in California, Isabelle offers to go find beastly celebrity Beau Towers, whose memoir manuscript is beyond overdue, and see if she can get anything out of him. Instead, she ends up offering to stay and help Beau through his writing, and the two slowly but surely begin to get along.

I'm a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I thought this was a cute spin on things if not particularly remarkable. Not my favorite Guillory book -- I missed her established universe, but also thought the peek into publishing was fun. 3.5 stars.

204curioussquared
Jul. 18, 2022, 2:57 pm



102 books read: Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega

Seven had it all planned out: at their Black Moon Ceremony, she and her best friend Poppy would both be selected to be part of Hyacinth coven, and they'd continue to pursue their journalistic dreams together. But then, the worst happens: Seven isn't sorted into ANY coven. She's a spare, along with nasty Valley Pepperhorn and Thorn Laroux, the timid new kid. When the three spares try to seal their coven, they fail: probably because none of them like each other much. As a last ditch effort to avoid the three spares becoming forever Witchlings and shunned by society, Seven invokes the clause of the impossible task. If they can complete the task within three weeks, they'll have another chance to seal their coven. If not... they'll be turned into toads. The only problem? Their task is to defeat a horrible monstruo...

A sweet, middle grade, latine-inspired fantasy with hints of Harry Potter and Nevermoor. I liked a lot of the sillier aspects of the book (toad racing! super strong baby brother Beefy!), but there were a lot of really important messages, too, like what to do if someone you know is being abused, and how to speak up against injustice. Seven is headstrong but emotionally grounded, and an excellent protagonist. Recommended; 4 stars.

205curioussquared
Jul. 18, 2022, 5:27 pm

Ooh, if anyone else has been wanting to try The Kaiju Preservation Society, it's on sale on Kindle for $2.99 today!

206curioussquared
Jul. 19, 2022, 2:41 pm

Good morning! I have already completed a big scary presentation today and would like to celebrate by melting into a puddle for the rest of it, but unfortunately I don't think that's an option, so I guess I'll keep working.

Non-puddle and non-work plans for today include hopefully fitting in a workout this evening, picking up Otter from his dental cleaning procedure this afternoon, and possibly finishing up To Sir Phillip, With Love on audio -- I have about 3.5 hours left and I listen on 1.6 speed, so I'll at least get a chunk listened in the car to get Otter and while walking the dogs this evening. No idea what's for dinner tonight; I pulled some chicken out of the freezer last night to cook chicken burrito bowls but I'm not sure it'll be defrosted in time so we might order in instead.

In print I've started One for All for Disability Pride month -- it's billed as a genderbent Three Musketeers retelling with a protagonist with POTS (and has a blurb from the queen herself, Tamora Pierce), so I'm excited. Need to start something new on Kindle -- I forgot I read a little bit of Poison Study on my phone the other day, so I might see if I get further into that.

I have five more categories to fill on my Summer Book Bingo card, and am planning on filling them with Beloved, Blazewrath Games, Voyager, The Vanishing Half, and possibly either The White Company or The Constant Rabbit. I think I'm going to tackle Voyager next, but I was worried if I started it before One for All it wouldn't be Disability Pride month by the time I finished, lol.

207MickyFine
Jul. 19, 2022, 5:33 pm

>206 curioussquared: The Constant Rabbit is pretty fun. Also, yay for Voyager. It's probably my favourite in the series (which is not to say I don't love the later books, there's just good stuff that's hard to compete with in book 3).

208curioussquared
Jul. 19, 2022, 6:42 pm

>207 MickyFine: Ooh, good to know! It takes me a bit to sink into the Outlander books (at least it did for the first two) but once I'm in, I'm in.

209Ravenwoodwitch
Jul. 19, 2022, 7:08 pm

Hey Natalie :)
Fell off social media for awhile but wanted to see what you were up to. I'm impressed you cracked a 100, well done :)

210curioussquared
Jul. 19, 2022, 7:56 pm

>209 Ravenwoodwitch: Nice to see you, Angela! 100 has traditionally been my goal, ever since I started tracking my reading as a high schooler, but there were definitely a few years in there I didn't make it. I think it's still my technical goal, but in reality I'd feel disappointed if I didn't get to 130 in a year, which is about what I've been trending at ever since I started adding audiobooks to my reading rotation. This is definitely the earliest in a year I've ever hit 100 -- not having a job for four months certainly helped!

211curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jul. 19, 2022, 7:56 pm

Oh, I forgot: My best friend and I decided to hit up the bookstore on Sunday and I picked up a few new additions, just in time to totally wipe out the progress I've made on my physical TBR. I got:

Sweet and Bitter Magic
The Trespasser
The Island of Missing Trees
Bonds of Brass
Girl, Woman, Other

212figsfromthistle
Jul. 19, 2022, 9:41 pm

>202 curioussquared: This one has been on my shelf for a while. You are the second person recently that enjoyed the read. I will move it up on my reading pile.

213Whisper1
Jul. 19, 2022, 11:16 pm

>182 curioussquared: Hi Natalie. I own a copy of The Lilac Girls. After reading your review, I will move this up further on the to be read list. Right now, I have nine books from the library. I've been working in the gardens and haven't read in a few days. I really need to make a dent in the library books.

214curioussquared
Jul. 20, 2022, 10:19 am

>212 figsfromthistle: I hope you enjoy it, Anita! It was on my shelf for a while, too.

>213 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! I have the same problem with library books. I have so many books to get through that I already own that I try to limit my library book checkouts, except for audiobooks.

215curioussquared
Jul. 20, 2022, 10:59 am

Good morning! My day started out with a 7am meeting and now I will shortly have an 8am meeting, neither of which is something I enjoy. I didn't get around to the workout last night -- picking up Otter took longer than I thought I would, then I was just super drained from my presentation yesterday and we needed some essentials (we were running out of coffee!! say it isn't so), so I went to the store instead and then chilled and played some Stardew Valley. (I recently discovered that there are some side quests I haven't gotten around to yet so my interest in the game has been piqued once more.)

Made a little progress in To Sir Phillip With Love, but still plugging away at the same books otherwise. I took a melatonin and went to bed early last night in order to be conscious for my 7am meeting today, so no progress made in One for All before bed.

216Ravenwoodwitch
Jul. 20, 2022, 1:54 pm

>215 curioussquared: Not the coffee :OO
My sympathies, I had early morning training today. What's your favorite character in Stardew Valley? I'm a big fan of both Elliot and Abigale.

217Berly
Jul. 20, 2022, 2:14 pm

>206 curioussquared: I really enjoyed The Vanishing Half and the Outlander books. I didn't finish the O series, but read about 5 or 6 of them. Just yesterday I started watching it on TV! LOL.

218curioussquared
Jul. 20, 2022, 2:49 pm

>216 Ravenwoodwitch: Right? No coffee would be a red alert emergency around here.

Well, I married Harvey, so I guess he has to be one of my favorites 😂 I also like Leah, Robin, Sebastian, and Linus, and I am steadily trying to get to best friends status with Krobus.

219curioussquared
Jul. 20, 2022, 2:51 pm

>217 Berly: I've heard only good things about both so I'm looking forward to getting to them! I started watching Outlander before I read any of the books, but only got through season 1. I think I'll go back to the show after I get further in the books.

220curioussquared
Jul. 21, 2022, 3:28 pm



103 books read: To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

This fifth book in the Bridgerton series follows Eloise as she takes the leap and runs away into the arms of a man she's never met in person but knows intimately through letters. It's a risk... but it might just work out. That is, if her brothers don't figure out where she is too soon....

I enjoyed this next installment in the Bridgerton series! I appreciate that in these last few books, the story hasn't ended with a wedding -- in this one, Eloise and Phillip still had to figure out their relationship and it wasn't just a straightforward church to happily ever after. Definitely makes these characters feel more real. 4 stars.

221curioussquared
Jul. 22, 2022, 11:50 am

Busy workday yesterday with another presentation (blergh) and then a lot of things my boss needed by end of day. After work my friend and I went to Costco to stock up on food for the weekend -- we're going up to Tim's family's cabin tonight through Sunday with Tim, the dogs, and another friend.

Not a lot of reading done -- I keep tumbling into bed exhausted and only making it a few pages in One for All. I'm planning to bring that one and Flight to Arras on our weekend trip. I'm about 25% through Isn't It Bromantic? and really enjoying it so far, though.

222aktakukac
Jul. 22, 2022, 12:51 pm

Sounds like you've had a busy week with the meetings and presentations. Hopefully the time at the cabin will be enjoyable and you can get some reading done. I totally understand the falling into bed exhausted and reading only a few pages before falling asleep! Enjoy your weekend!

223libraryperilous
Jul. 22, 2022, 4:39 pm

OMG.

Need TikTok to get on this for an epic mashup.

224curioussquared
Jul. 22, 2022, 6:28 pm

>222 aktakukac: Thanks Rachel! It should be a good weekend. My in-laws will be around too and have volunteered as dogsitters whenever we need, so should be nice and laid-back.

>223 libraryperilous: Lollll. I've been enjoying all the Twitter takes on this one.

225Ravenwoodwitch
Jul. 23, 2022, 7:39 pm

Happy Weekend, Natalie :)
Hoping the cabin trip goes well. Sounds exciting to me; my retirement plan involves a cabin, semi-secluded in the woods.
How do the dogs handle dog-sitters?

226curioussquared
Jul. 25, 2022, 12:48 pm

>225 Ravenwoodwitch: Thanks, Angela! The trip was lovely. My in-laws love hosting and the cabin is idyllic. I'm not saying I married Tim for the gorgeous waterfront cabin with beach access... but it didn't hurt 😂 Tim's parents still have a house in Seattle about 5 minutes from us, but since COVID hit and they both retired, they've pretty much moved to the beach full-time.

The dogs got to come on the trip and they had a great time! They can't go to the beach because it's a very rocky, barnacle-y shoreline and their paws get cut up, but they love just hanging out at the cabin and soaking up the sun. Re: dogsitters, they're OK with them but we're lucky to have a very robust support system in Seattle so they've never had to stay with a dogsitter they don't know. Typically they either stay at my parents' house and get spoiled by grandma, or my best friend stays with them at our house and they get spoiled by auntie :)

227curioussquared
Jul. 25, 2022, 1:11 pm

Happy Monday! It's the start of another busy workweek.

I made good progress in One for All over the weekend, but am still only about halfway through. Hoping to finish that one up over the next few days.

Finished Isn't it Bromantic on my dog walk this morning, so review coming soon for that one.

Didn't read a word on my Kindle over the weekend; still reading Poison Study in name but haven't made any progress since I started, really.

228curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Jul. 25, 2022, 1:51 pm



104 books read: Isn't It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

Vlad, often known to his book club friends as "The Russian," is used to being the butt of the joke. His intestinal problems gave him a reputation for destroying bathrooms and for a long time, that was just his defining trait in the friend group. But newly armed with a diagnosis (a gluten intolerance plus IBS!), Vlad is setting out to redefine himself, and his friends are supportive. But he's not sure how to tell them that while he's been married to his wife Elena for years, it's always been a marriage just in name -- the two of them have never shared a bed, and she left him soon after coming to the US to go to journalism school in Chicago. Now she's done with school and back in Nashville, just in time to nurse Vlad back to health from the broken tibia that will keep him from playing in the Stanley Cup. But she's still determined to go back to Russia once he doesn't need her anymore to finish her journalist father's story -- the story that got him disappeared. But Vlad is determined to convince her to stay and give their relationship another chance...

This 4th book in the Bromance Book Club series might be my favorite so far; I thought book 3 was forgettable but book 4 made up for all of it. I absolutely love that Adams took a character who has basically been an extended poop joke for the past three books and turned him into a real, relatable, vulnerable character with one of the best backstories of the whole series. I thought Elena was complex and interesting, and the new characters in the book were fun as well. I particularly enjoyed the black market cheese club and Vlad's forays into writing. 4.5 stars.

229MickyFine
Jul. 25, 2022, 3:52 pm

>228 curioussquared: Skipping reading your review because I still haven't read past the first book in this series (I'll get there eventually) but I'm pleased to see you rating it so highly. :)

230curioussquared
Jul. 26, 2022, 12:18 am

>229 MickyFine: It's definitely a fun series!! I just love the premise and they're light and easy reads that also tackle some heavier issues. Hope you can get to the rest soon!

231alcottacre
Jul. 26, 2022, 4:53 am

>202 curioussquared: I absolutely loved that one when I read it a couple of years ago. I am so glad you did too, Natalie!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

232figsfromthistle
Jul. 26, 2022, 5:41 am

>226 curioussquared: Oooh! A waterfront house sounds amazing!! Good thing you get along with your in laws ;)

Happy Tuesday!

233curioussquared
Jul. 26, 2022, 12:03 pm

>231 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! Homegoing really was excellent. I need to check out Gyasi's other book, too.

>232 figsfromthistle: Happy Tuesday, Anita! I really lucked out in the in-laws department. Tim's parents and sister are all lovely.

234curioussquared
Jul. 26, 2022, 12:08 pm

Happy Tuesday! Last night I finished up work, walked the dogs, then did a short workout before dinner. We ended up ordering in Vietnamese food because our fridge was empty after a weekend away. I also read a little more in One for All, and started Angel Mage on audio. I kept bouncing off it in print but am a couple hours in now and listening is really working for me. It just had a very slow start combined with a prologue that begins many many years in the past, and those never really work for me, but two hours in I'm hooked.

Today is more work. We have a grocery delivery coming (we get every-other-week deliveries from Imperfect Foods, a company that works to prevent food waste) so we should have more options for dinner tonight :) Imperfect delivery days are usually salmon for dinner since that's the protein that needs to be used first when it arrives.

235Ravenwoodwitch
Jul. 26, 2022, 8:25 pm

OH! I love these services that work with the lumpy, less attractive veggies. How's your service been with them? I'm thinking about signing up but I'm looking between them and Misfits Market

236curioussquared
Jul. 26, 2022, 9:19 pm

>235 Ravenwoodwitch: It's been really great for the most part. Had a few dodgy deliveries with not great produce when I first signed up several years ago but they were still a fairly new company at that point and they've come leaps and bounds since then. I love that I can get other grocery staples delivered as well (I have eggs and milk added to each order, for example). It was a godsend at the beginning of covid when we were all trying to isolate at home and a lot of grocery delivery services were super backed up -- we could still rely on the Imperfect deliveries!

Some items aren't as cheap as you might think they would be for a company promoting ugly produce, but the other half of their mission is sustainability so there are some pricier items that play into that as well (for example, the milk I get is from a carbon-neutral company). Whenever I've had an issue with an order, like an item is missing, they refund it as soon as I raise the issue. Not that it happens that often, but it has happened probably 10-15 times over 4+ years.

237curioussquared
Jul. 28, 2022, 7:53 pm

Happy Thursday! We're having a minor heatwave in WA right now; 90 degrees isn't too bad, but AC is rare here. Luckily our basement stays cool pretty much no matter the temp, so the dogs and I have been hanging out down there during the day.

This weekend we're going to a wedding in a town about 2.5 hours away where it will unfortunately be even hotter -- temps are expected to hit 105 🥵 I think we're going to pack tonight and try to head out right after work tomorrow, after dropping the dogs at my parents' house, then we'll head back on Sunday.

Given said wedding, I'm not sure how much more I'll get read in July! One for All has really been taking longer than I expected, and I still have 10 hours left in Angel Mage. It doesn't help that I just haven't been reading as much before bed. I guess we'll see!

238AMQS
Jul. 28, 2022, 8:03 pm

Happy Thursday! I don't envy you your heatwave - we've had very hot weather here also, and we also don't have AC. It used to be there were only a handful of days a year we felt were miserable, but there are more and more. Not good AC options, as we're finding out.

LOVE Skelly in his snood! Poor pup. Callia and I were goo-gooing over him and Callia said he looks ready to rob a bank:) Whistler was a world class thief...

239curioussquared
Jul. 28, 2022, 8:56 pm

Thanks, Anne! For the most part it's still just a few days a year for us that are miserable, but last year's heat dome was unbearable. We do have a small portable AC unit now that Tim uses during the day in his home office and that we can wheel into the bedroom at night if we need to, but it really can only do one small room at a time.

Lol! Skelly is not a thief.... But over the weekend Otter pulled off his greatest heist yet and stole and ate an entire stick of butter 🤦‍♀️ he doesn't seem to have suffered any ill effects and I swear his coat is a little glossier.... And he was very pleased with himself.

240AMQS
Jul. 28, 2022, 9:00 pm

Whistler was a terrible thief, but sneaked everything over to his bed, so the evidence of his crimes was often very visible. We had a dog many years ago who positively inhaled a stick of butter. I don't think her tongue even touched it, and like Otter, no ill effects. Dogs...

241humouress
Jul. 29, 2022, 2:12 am

On the subject of things dogs steal and eat, Jasper once ran off with a golf ball, chewed it up ... and ate it! No ill effects, as you say but a few hours later, there was a shiny white ... er ... poop on the lawn.

242alcottacre
Jul. 29, 2022, 8:15 am

I hope that the wedding goes well and the temperature does not impact you too much over the weekend, Natalie!

243curioussquared
Jul. 29, 2022, 12:47 pm

>240 AMQS: Whistler! Didn't even bother to conceal the evidence 😂 My parents' last Irish Wolfhound, Finn, was also a terrible thief and he had a few tricks up his sleeve. Occasionally he would get his paws on a whole slice of pizza or a bagel and they would fit in his large mouth but would get stuck while he was chewing them so we could easily pull them out, lol. His favorite trick was to bark at the door to go out while you were sitting on the couch with a snack and then when you got up to let him out, he would sprint back to the couch to eat your snack 😂

>241 humouress: Jasper!!! I feel very lucky that none of my dogs really try to eat anything that's not edible.

>242 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia!! I will report back on Monday on whether or not I melted.

244Whisper1
Jul. 29, 2022, 10:44 pm

Hi Natalie. It sounds like your trip to the cabin was delightful! Every summer, Will and I rented a cabin in Northern Maine (Princeton.) We grew to love Maine. But agreed it would be way to cold in the winter. Interestingly, Will's friend Jerry and his wife introduced us to this area in Maine, and we had great fun in the evening watching the stars that looked so close we thought we could touch them. Now, Will passed away three years ago, and his friend died a year later. Claire and I talked about making the trek to Maine, but I think for now it would be too sad.

I am so very grateful for the happy memories. I love children's illustrated books. I can imagine an illustrated book titled Otter and the Great Butter Heist.

245humouress
Jul. 30, 2022, 1:01 am

>243 curioussquared: He grabbed the golf ball and ran off with it. When I tried to get it back, he guarded it but I probably didn't try very hard because I didn't think he'd eat it.

>244 Whisper1: 😂

246curioussquared
Jul. 30, 2022, 11:39 am

>244 Whisper1: I hope someday you are ready to revisit Maine, Linda. It sounds like you had some lovely times there. Oh, now I want to write that Otter picture book!

>245 humouress: Jasper is just trying to keep you on your toes!

247curioussquared
Aug. 1, 2022, 1:12 pm



105 books read: One for All by Lillie Lainoff

Tania has always dreamed of being a musketeer, like her father -- but not only is she disqualified by her gender, but she has been plagued since she was a child by spells of dizziness and weakness that no doctor has been able to explain. She trains in fencing with her father, learning to work through her blackened vision and racing pulse, but her mother's focus is still on hiding her illness so she can be safely married to a man who will take care of her. But when her father is violently murdered, Tania's mother lets her know that his last request was that she attend a finishing school. Tania can't believe that her father, who has always seen her as his strong, brave mousquetaire, would really want her to go to a finishing school, but she's not about to disobey his last wishes. But when she arrives at the school, she discovers it's actually a secret academy for young women to become... not exactly musketeers, but highly trained spies masquerading as eligible young women. Tania can't believe her luck -- but can she really do everything she'll need to with her dizziness in the way?

I loved the concept of this book -- genderbent three musketeers with a disabled protagonist? Sign me up! And much of the book delivered on that promise. I will say that some of the writing came off a little flat for me; there were some odd turns of phrase and awkward transitions that meant I was sometimes doubling back to figure out what I had missed in the narrative because the way the action had been described was said so obliquely that I, reading quickly, hadn't understood what was going on. I also felt that the middle of the book dragged; there was a long stretch of not much action that got a little bit boring. But I absolutely loved the disability representation (the author has POTS and while it was not diagnosed/identified until 1993, Tania's symptoms are consistent with it). The four main girls were fun to get to know, and I loved Henri as well. I guessed the main twist, but still enjoyed the ride. A solid debut novel -- I'm not sure if I'll seek out more by the author, but I'd definitely pick up another of her books if somebody recommended it to me. 3.75 stars.

248curioussquared
Bearbeitet: Aug. 1, 2022, 2:37 pm

Back after a quick wedding weekend away! Happy to report that we survived -- the ceremony was outside in 106 degree heat. Luckily it was in the shade and they provided fans, but I was very, very happy to move to the air conditioned reception space. We had a good time dancing though I may have hurt my knee somehow -- guess I'm officially old now! There was also no cake, which I'm not sure about, but they did have ice cream and a s'mores bar, so I guess I can get past it. We also walked around the town on Saturday for about an hour or so before we got too hot, including a stop at their cute indie bookstore that had a nice little used section. I picked up Outcast of Redwall (I'm trying to amass the whole series used), a paper copy of The Penderwicks, Permanent Record (I really enjoyed the author's Emergency Contact), and The Fiery Cross.

Back to work this week, but I'm taking Friday off so it'll be a short one. It's been a little more than three months at the new job and I definitely feel like I'm fully in the thick of things now. It's starting to get more stressful because I feel like I'm now in the space where people expect me to know what I'm doing but there are still some places where I don't know what I'm doing, so hopefully that eases soon. Tonight I'm going to Costco to pick up some meds for Skelly and I'll probably buy a few other things including a meal kit for dinner tonight. Our heatwave is finally breaking and I'm looking forward to not waiting for hours to walk the dogs each evening!

Currently reading:

-- Finished up One for All in print (review above), so am moving on to Flight to Arras, which I've been halfway through for a month and need to wrap. After that I think will be Voyager.

-- A little over halfway through Angel Mage on audio -- hoping to finish it up in the next few days but I may be doing less dog walking if my knee doesn't feel better soon.

-- Still working through Poison Study on Kindle; I got a little more read over the weekend and it's getting more exciting!

249libraryperilous
Aug. 1, 2022, 1:52 pm

>248 curioussquared: Lol, your touchstone goes to the Snowden book, not Choi's. Poison Study sounds fun.

>247 curioussquared: I tanked on this one a few months ago, so I'm glad you enjoyed it.

250curioussquared
Aug. 1, 2022, 2:38 pm

>249 libraryperilous: LOL. Fixed now.

Yeah, One for All wasn't quite what I wanted it to be, but there was enough potential and the disability aspect was so well done that I still enjoyed it.

251Ravenwoodwitch
Aug. 1, 2022, 7:44 pm

>248 curioussquared: The baker in me is disappointed at lack of cake, as wedding cakes are beautiful and delicious.
The worker in me sympathizes with the new job. It's so hard to feel like an expert when you've been there for less than a year. I blanched the first time I got called a professional at my current job.

252curioussquared
Aug. 2, 2022, 1:10 pm

>251 Ravenwoodwitch: Yeah, I like ice cream a lot but if I'm eating plain vanilla ice cream I want it alongside cake or something else. Our cake at our wedding wasn't the prettiest as we prioritized taste over looks. The bakery we used makes the most delicious cakes but doesn't do traditional wedding cakes, so we just had a bunch of sheet cakes. Multiple people told us it was the best cake they ever had so I feel vindicated in our decision :) We did also get a tiny white round cake and stuck some decorations on it to serve as our aesthetic cake for the cutting :)
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