All right, it’s been a bit since my last post. Here’s what I have finished, book-wise, since my last “what I’m working on” post, and what I’m reading now (it’s really not much different).
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words, by Randall Munroe. Actually, I still haven’t touched it since the last update. Must finish before the end of the year!
Pardonable Lies, by Jacqueline Winspear. Finished this one! Third in the Maisie Dobbs series, I didn’t like it quite as much as the first two, and decided it’ll probably be the last one I read. There definitely are good aspects to it, just maybe not my thing. My rating: 3 out of 5 stars – I liked it. (My full review can be found here.)
The Shelf: From LEQ to LES: Adventures in Extreme Reading, by Phyllis Rose. Another one I finally finished. This was a fun look at a sort-of-random selection of books in the author’s library. More specifically, a selection of books from the LEQ – LES shelf. I flagged a number of great passages in this one, from wonderful reflections on why we read to feminist insights into classic works of literature. I may still do a full review on this one highlighting some of those passages, and I have a feeling The Shelf will be one of those books that I reread in the future. My rating: 3 out of 5 stars – I liked it.
Abhorsen, by Garth Nix. Oh my gosh. So good. This is third in the Abhorsen series, and I will highly recommend all of them to . . . well, anyone. The stakes are high in this book. I don’t want to say too much and risk giving anything away, but it’s a fitting conclusion to the series (yes, I know, there’s technically another book that came out, which I will read, but I think it takes place before the Abhorsen series), and the suspense holds all the way through. My rating: 4 out of 5 stars – I really liked it.
Ghost Story, by Jim Butcher. This one is #13 in the Dresden files series. I love these books. The characters are relatable, real and flawed, but still totally lovable (except for the bad ones, which are totally hatable). I’ve been spacing out these books with others, just so I don’t finish them too fast and have something to look forward to. This book certainly didn’t disappoint. Full of twists and turns and mystery, there’s always something lurking around the corner . . . My rating: 5 out of 5 stars – it was amazing.
The Good, the Bad, and the Furry, by Tom Cox. Started this one last night, and it’s completely charming and adorable. It’s about cats, and the human-companion animal bond. Right up my alley.
In non-book news, a lot has been happening! I attended a meeting of the Women of Words, a writing group in the Twin Cities (they have four or five different meetings a month, each located on a different side of the Cities). I hope to attend more meetings and perhaps become a member, once time (and location) allow. It was a good learning experience, and I look forward to getting to know some of the women better.
Attending those meetings and other literary events in the Twin Cities will be much easier in a couple months–we’re moving to Coon Rapids! It’s a little bittersweet for me, as I’ve built a life for myself in Sauk Rapids, but I’m excited to start this new chapter in my life with Andy, and excited for all the opportunities as I move forward with Inkstand. The move will also allow me the time and space to focus on getting this off the ground.
Finally, we’ve been looking at wedding venues this week. Still haven’t found the perfect space, but we’re getting a better idea of what we’re looking for in a venue–and what we’re not. I think we’ll need to look at a few more before we find the best fit for us. Needless to say, with the holidays, getting a business going, and planning a wedding, it’s going to be a busy couple of months.
Also, winter arrived! The cats were perplexed.