Fortnightly Update #50: Let the Gardening Begin!

Due to a surplus of procrastination on my part, I've been putting off this update, though I did manage to get some books read and make progress on my minion army- I planted them two weeks ago and I now have tiny flower seedlings to show for it, along with meticulously pruned shrubs in my garden.

Recent Acquisitions (or the Piling of the-Piles):

the-pile Additions:

None!

the-invisible-pile Additions:

An Untamed State by Roxane Gay
This novel follows a woman who is kidnapped for ransom while visiting her parents' home in Haiti. I read a few chapters in and it definitely keeps your attention.

Property Of: A Novel by Alice Hoffman
This is Hoffman's first novel, and one I didn't have in my collection. As one of my favorite authors, I tend to gather all of her books.

Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder
Something about this fantasy attracted me other than its price tag at the time, though I'm not sure what. The cover does look amazing, though!

Nimisha's Ship by Anne McCaffrey
I also tend to collect all of Anne McCaffrey's work, as she was a prevalent SFF writer in her day and I have enjoyed most of the books of hers that I've read.

Strange Practice (Dr. Greta Helsing #1) by Vivian Shaw
Between the cover art and synopsis on this one, I couldn't resist buying it. We'll see if it meets my expectations.

Currently Reading:

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher

I have been pleasantly surprised at the depth of this historical fiction, which follows "Kick" or Kathleen Kennedy from her debut to her later years. Although I have read my share of Kennedy family stories (fiction and nonfiction), it's always nice to read something that seems fresh about them.

Finished These Books:

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Unfortunately, I saw the movie before I read it, so I'll never know my "true" first impression of it, but it was certainly one of the better past/present books I've read. I learned a bit more about Chinese culture too.

Chalice by Robin McKinley

Chalice is a sweet, feel good fantasy book with a simple, lightly romantic plot that likely qualifies as YA that I really enjoyed. It's also written by one of my favorite authors so it's a bit of a no-brainer that I'd like it. Though it can be a bit verbose at times, something about the story taking a bit longer to tell just added to its charm for me.

The Inimitable Jeeves (Jeeves #2) by P.G. Wodehouse

Ah, Jeeves. Wooster and he get into plenty of ridiculous situations in this edition of their adventures, but I would recommend starting with My Man Jeeves and reading from there to get the full picture. I didn't quite enjoy it as much as the first book, but I did enjoy it enough to give it four stars.

In My Life:

This is likely my busiest time of year other than high summer when I must go around and water all of my potted plants twice daily. My dog Torrie (in the lower right of the collage above) is now 11 years old, and is currently on new supplements for her creaky joints. Leia also visited her vet, who took her off of the grain free diet she's been on since we got her and recommended omega 3 supplementation instead. So far, she's still her scratchy self, but that may change.

I've also began all of my seedlings, as stated in my initial paragraph, and I'm preparing my gardens for spring. I think we have 12+ rosebushes, so it takes me a while, especially given my limitations I've put on myself to remain functional from the waist down.

It has been almost a year since I started walking canelessly, and once you go caneless, you sort of want to remain there. On some level I've been more visible to a subset of the population- I am regularly approached by men who wouldn't have bothered me in my cane days. On another level, I no longer garner the sort of sideshow aura of walking bizarrely with the cane, and thus, I have less people noticing me for my disability, than for my dress. It's refreshing, but at the same time disheartening to realize how differently people treat those who rely on mobility aids.

Happy Spring!

Fortnightly Update #49: A Brief Update

After last week's fibro flare kept me in bed and unhappy, I'm glad to be back to blogging (although not as much of it as I'd like).

Recent Acquisitions (or the Piling of the-Piles):

the-pile Additions:

None!

the-invisible-pile Additions:

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
I fell in love with the cover of this one and clicked buy before even reading much about it. This is a sci-fi about prejudice and class systems set on a spaceship.

A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival by Melissa Fleming
As per usual, I can't resist an interesting-sounding biography, and this one is about a Syrian refugee.

Currently Reading:

Skin Folk: Stories by Nalo Hopkinson

Whenever I start having trouble with reading full books, I usually start reading short stories again, and this is a very interesting collection of them. If you like modern fantasy stories, these may interest you.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

I started reading this one because it's a paperback edition, and my therapist wants me to cut out reading Kindle books around the time of night that I should be sleeping. It's an engaging read, but it does have very sad parts which has prevented me from reading it as quickly as I normally would.

Finished These Books:

None! Unfortunately, my fibro flare interrupted a productive reading streak.

In My Life:

I bought a nice yoga ball to replace my desk chair, but for some of the week, I've reverted to my previous desk chair. Fibromyalgia doesn't play well with a constantly moving chair when my balance is not the greatest to begin with. I am looking forward to milder temperatures and nicer weather (hopefully) in March.

Happy Reading!

Fortnightly Update #48: February is For Fibro

Ah, February. It seems this is the time of year that my fibromyalgia begins to rear its ugly head again, mostly due to incoming rain. That's the reason I spent most of yesterday laying in bed and emerging only to eat buttermilk pancakes. Although this past week has been dreary due to pain, I managed to read quite a few books prior, which makes this update much more literature-focused.

Recent Acquisitions (or the Piling of the-Piles):

the-pile Additions:

None!

the-invisible-pile Additions:

The Edge of Physics: A Journey to Earth's Extremes to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe by Anil Ananthaswamy
This is a Kindle Daily Deal for today in the U.S.- I'm always looking to learn a bit more about everything, which would explain some of my recent nonfiction-book-buying binge.

The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
This is an alternate history novella with a rad cover that made me click 'buy'.

A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo
I've been reading a few memoirs lately, and I know little to nothing about the Vietnam war, so this seemed like a good book to pick up on it.

My Girls: A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie by Todd Fisher
When my mom and I went to the shelter and picked up Leia (who was then called Princess) it was clear she'd either be a Leia or a Carrie, as Carrie Fisher had recently passed away and my mom and I are both fans of hers. I tend to pick up books written about her or by her.

Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion by Neil Gaiman
...I am a Douglas Adams fan.

The Apprentice (Rizzoli & Isles #2) by Tess Gerritsen
I bought both this and the previous book in the series because I love the Rizzoli & Isles TV series. They are similar to the TV version in some ways so far, but definitely a bit different.

Skin Folk: Stories by Nalo Hopkinson
This has been on my Amazon wishlist for a while now, so I snagged it while it was on sale. This is a fantasy short story collection that was likely recommended to me somewhere, because I don't think I stumbled upon it organically.

Currently Reading:

Nothing. I am hoping to restart some of my physical copies of books, but with my current wreck of a fibro flare, I'm unsure that it'll happen.

Finished These Books:

Night (The Night Trilogy #1) by Elie Wiesel; Marion Wiesel (Translator)

This is a very short book to read, but an incredibly difficult one to read when you realize it's nonfiction. I had been meaning to read it for quite some time before I found it on sale and soon after set aside time for it. In a similar fashion, it's a difficult book to rate, but I ended up giving it four stars on Goodreads.

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why (Ms. Marvel (Collected Editions) #2) by G. Willow Wilson (Writer),  Artists: Adrian Alphona & Jacob Wyatt

In 2017, I began to read Ms. Marvel, and as it is 2019, I decided to continue the series. I love this series for its simplicity and optimism, and the comics themselves are beautifully rendered. If you like YA books about superheroes, this is definitely a series I'd recommend.

The Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles #1) by Tess Gerritsen

Though I generally avoid mystery series in books, I decided to give this one a try because of the television series that I love (that uses this as source material). This is different from the TV series but was worth the read, as I liked the way in which it was different- you got more inside Rizzoli's head and she's much more bitter than she is portrayed to be in the TV series. I'm not sure if it's better or worse that I did watch the TV series first, but it's still enjoyable for me (though I watched the TV series a good 2+ years ago).

All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir by Nicole Chung

Another memoir I read, this one on a less difficult topic- transracial adoption. Nicole Chung is a Korean American adoptee whose adoptive parents were both white Americans, who raised her in a largely white town in the Pacific Northwest. After becoming pregnant with her first child, she decides to try and find her birth parents, and her journey through that is basically the contents of this book, along with her own ambivalent thoughts on transracial adoption. This is definitely a book worth reading if you are interested in adoption, or, like me, have someone in the family who is adopted.

In My Life:

As I mentioned, my fibromyalgia is being mean to me, so much of my activity is limited, but I did manage to get out to Ross (a discount retailer in the U.S.) and bought a large bag full of brand new clothes for $10, which is good for me as most of my clothes run slightly large on me from losing weight last year. In addition, I recently used up a Hobby Lobby gift card I got at Christmas to make my tea "corner" of the counter look much neater. I wish I had a before pic, but basically I de-boxed most of my foil-sealed tea bags to organize them in little plastic boxes in a half crate/tray that I plan on painting later.

Preferred brand: Stash, but I also began tea-drinking with Yogi tea

As a side recommendation- if you ever get around to visiting northwestern Montana, you must stop at Butterfly Herbs in Missoula, MT. It's the best tea shop in Montana and has a delightful neo-hippie vibe.

Happy eating to those of you celebrating the Super Bowl!

"The Museum of Extraordinary Things," by Alice Hoffman

This year I decided to begin reading in earnest again, as last year I fell off the bookaholic wagon and only managed to read 31 books (if I counted right on Goodreads, because I wasn't much for social media last year). This book stood out to me on my TBR shelf because it is by one of my favorite authors, and to my knowledge I have never read halfway through an Alice Hoffman book without finishing the rest in short order.

One of the main characters in this book, Coralie, has a charismatic father who runs a "freak" show, though through her perspective at the time, it seems more like a house of dreams than a house of horrors. She has a deformity of her hands- webbing between her fingers- that her father insists she keep from the public by wearing gloves. Her caretaker, Maureen, is much more involved in her day to day life, encouraging her to think more freely than her father would like her to, which basically spurs some of the events in the book.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father's museum, alongside performers like the Wolfman and the Butterfly Girl. One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River.
'The dashing photographer is Eddie Cohen, a Russian immigrant who has run away from his community and his job as a tailor's apprentice. When Eddie photographs the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the mystery behind a young woman's disappearance. And he ignites the heart of Coralie.
'Alice Hoffman weaves her trademark magic, romance, and masterful storytelling to unite Coralie and Eddie in a tender and moving story of young love in tumultuous times.'

Eddie is the other main character in this book, and I much preferred his perspective, as it was much less rosily tinted than Coralie's. Raised in the Hasidic Jewish tradition, he changes his ways after dismissing his father as weak and his traditions as restrictive to their new life in a new world. As an immigrant among many other immigrants, he sees his best path forward is to stand out rather than fit in, though he later finds his past is more useful than he thought.

Though the characters are the main focus of this book, the historical setting is always a welcome addition to books for me. The Museum of Extraordinary Things couldn't have been set during a better period, as the early 20th century was a trying time for U.S. immigrants and still supported an audience for peculiarities like Coralie's father's museum. Though I am better versed in worker's rights with regards to the mining profession, this book focuses more on textile and sewing factories, so I did learn a bit more about that.

The Museum of Extraordinary Things does have all the elements I've come to expect from Ms. Hoffman's books: magical beings, unusual experiences, and mystical coincidences. The characters were rendered realistically, though I often found myself reading for the story rather than their experience of it. In the end, I found myself slightly underwhelmed, which is why I didn't rate this book higher, even though Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite writers (and perhaps, because of it). If you love magical things happening in an immersive, historical setting, The Museum of Extraordinary Things may be the book for you.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars for my first great read of 2019!

Age Advisory: Ages 16+ for sexual assault, violent elements, and coercive sexual situations.

Page Count: 361 pages in my paperback edition

Fortnightly Update #47: Long Time, No Update!

I've been planning on publishing this update for so long, I've had to change most of the new/read/acquired books several times to keep it recent. I think most of my trepidation about getting back into the book blogging game comes from returning to my habit of preferring books to normal life activities like socializing, etc. I'm hopeful that I'm better at balancing things now that I have some of my health issues under control (I can still walk cane-less-ly), and since I'm working on my post traumatic stress disorder with a highly qualified therapist who encouraged me to re-engage with my book blogging habits.

Recent Acquisitions (or the Piling of the-Piles):

the-pile Additions:

Tidal Wave: From Leyte Gulf to Tokyo Bay by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver
Late one night, I was up ordering books for Christmas presents (as one does), and I saw an ad for this book. Two weeks later, when my Christmas books arrived in the mail, this also arrived. At the time, I thought I must've ordered it on accident, but after checking my bank records, I am convinced I must've clicked on the ad for a giveaway and won it instead. This is a nonfiction account of naval battles at the end of WWII, based on first person experiences.

the-invisible-pile Additions:

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
How could I not buy a book endorsed by Patrick Rothfuss and Rachelle at Fortified by Books, especially when it happened to be on sale? In the same manner, I cannot resist asking myself rhetorical questions...

The Gambler: How Penniless Dropout Kirk Kerkorian Became the Greatest Deal Maker in Capitalist History by William C. Rempel
I guess I must've decided I needed all the nonfiction, because I also bought this book on Kindle and I don't recall much of what convinced me to buy it other than a greed for more books.

Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction by Elizabeth Vargas
If you're an American, you'll likely recognize Elizabeth Vargas from TV as that classy looking lady who always seems so composed as she reads her lines. With that impression in mind, it was a little bit of a shock to learn she deals with anxiety and battled with alcoholism. I'm curious to learn more about her in this memoir.

Deep Dark Blue: A Memoir of Survival by Polo Tate
This has been touted as a YA memoir, and while it's true that the events that transpired in this book happened to a young adult, I'm not sure it has appeal for the typical YA audience, as I haven't read it myself. This is a memoir about a young woman facing abuse (sexual and other varieties) in the Air Force.

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
As someone who watched both of my grandparents wane at the end of their lives, end of life care with regards to medicine has always interested me. As this book covers the topic and comes very highly rated, I'm inclined to read it.

Currently Reading:

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

This is about the American immigrant experience in the early 20th century, but also includes Hoffman's signature magical realism elements, in this case having a mermaid and a wolf man. 

Finished These Books:

Phoenix Unbound (Fallen Empire #1) by Grace Draven

I think I finished this last November or early December of last year (yes, I've been in a bit of a slump) and it is a great, adult romantic fantasy, but doesn't come as highly recommended by me as her other books. I think my favorite parts of this book were the magic system and world, while the romance just wasn't my particular cup of tea.

In My Life:

I bought a new computer tower to replace one that was roughly 10 years old. To be frank, it's only a little bit faster while browsing the internet, but I did finally get around to playing the Sims 4 since my computer can now handle it. I miss the limitless options of Sims 3, but Sims 4 runs very smoothly and I've only had it crash once. I was a bit worried that my older tower might just up and quit on me someday, so buying a new one at a sale price definitely put my mind at ease.

Happy 2019!