Monday Malarkey

Recent arrivals (top to bottom):

• Crosstalk by Connie Willis - purchased
• Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling - from Sterling Children's Books for review
• The Road to Urbino by Roma Tearne - from Megyl Zegarek Public Relations, Inc. (unsolicited, I think?) for review
• Vox by Christina Dalcher,
• The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street by Karen White, and
• The Passengers by John Marrs - all from Berkley for review
• Tiny but Mighty by Hanna Shaw - purchased

Of the two books that I purchased, one was brought to my attention on Instagram (which, I find, is becoming very dangerous) and the other . . . well, also via Instagram but through the author's kitten rescue page. She knows how to care for the tiniest of kittens and shares her knowledge about caring for them while posting pics of her latest tiny foster babies. I don't know if I could ever care for the most fragile, young kittens if I were to ever foster (which won't happen as long as Isabel has a say in the matter) but I've really been enjoying learning from her Instagram posts and decided it would be a great idea to learn more . . . just in case I ever happened across any tiny kittens or if I'm ever free to foster, one day. Can't hurt to be educated. And, I just love Connie Willis. Here's the cover of that kitten book:

Books finished since last Malarkey:

• The Mueller Report - Washington Post edition 

Finally! Finishing up The Mueller Report meant not reading much else, last week. I had one DNF: The Escape Room by Megan Goldin. I don't often give up on books but I've given up on two, this past month! Weird. This one . . . I don't know if being in the right mood for it would have changed anything. It might have, but by the time I set it aside to finish The Mueller Report (I reached the point that I was sick of not being done with it and focused on finishing), I considered giving up on The Escape Room instead of just setting it aside and when I came back and read a handful of pages I agreed with myself. I personally thought the prologue ruined the book. In the prologue, a security guard hears gunshots and finds a bloody scene. So, you know this particular situation is coming and you quickly figure out that one of the two main happenings is going to end up in carnage. But, I absolutely did not care who lived or died. The only character I kind of liked was apparently already dead. Bummer. Anyway, it just wasn't for me. At another time, I might have finished it anyway. But, this wasn't the week for it. 

Currently reading:

• In Pain by Travis Rieder
• Normal People by Sally Rooney

In Pain is an ARC but the finished book has already been released and describes the author's experience with painkillers after a devastating and extraordinarily painful injury. I have no idea why I ordered Normal People, although it's the winner of the 2018 Costa Novel Award. It might have been an enthusiastic review. So far, if so, I share that reviewer's enthusiasm. Sally Rooney's writing is understated and yet precise and powerful. It really is amazing how beautifully the two main characters were drawn within a few short pages. I am hooked. 

Posts since last Malarkey:

• Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb (book review)
• Rosie Colored Glasses by Brianna Wolfson (book review)
• Storm Blown by Nick Courage (book review)
• Fiona Friday (cat photo) 

In other news:

Kiddo was home, this weekend, and developed an earache that escalated to the point that he didn't think he could drive himself the 2 1/2 hours to Oxford, yesterday. Since he has work and an important meeting (plus, the clinic he uses is there), I drove him up to Oxford and will have to fetch him when it's time for him to come home. It's a pleasant drive and I love Oxford but because I didn't make the decision to take him home till about 1:45 and left at 2:00 PM, I didn't have time to go to Square Books. I figured it would be a bad idea not to make a quick turnaround so I could get home before dark. No Square Books. Feel for me, people. On the plus side, we'll have to pick him up, at some point. So, maybe we'll get a nice dose of Square Books, then.


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