Monday Malarkey

It's a holiday week in the U.S., so I'm going to do my Monday Malarkey post, as usual, and then tomorrow will be a day for children's books (mostly Christmas titles). After that, I think I'll take a few days off to enjoy family and return on Monday. So, early Thanksgiving wishes to the Americans and safe travels to those who will be flying or driving!

Recent arrivals (top to bottom):

• The Living Mountain - Nan Shepherd
• Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane
• The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane
• How to Stop Time (illustrated edition) by Matt Haig and Chris Riddell
• The Hidden Ways by Alistair Moffat
• The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris

Apart from the illustrated version of How to Stop Time (which I've already read but have been thinking I want to reread, ever since I finished it), this week's books are all by naturalists and the entire stack was purchased. I've been following Robert Macfarlane on Twitter for a while and I love his posts. It was his recommendation of The Living Mountain that set me on the path of this crazy spree and, yes, the "If you like this, try that" thing probably did me in a bit. I had planned on buying The Lost Words, anyway, so The Living Mountain and The Lost Words were the first in my cart. I'd just read there's an illustrated edition of How to Stop Time. Into the cart it went. And, so forth. I think it's partly Macfarlane's posts and partly a desire to get away from city vacations that have me craving nature, both in my reading and in real life. It'll be interesting to see where we end up traveling in 2018.


Books finished since last Malarkey:

• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
• The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris

I have thoughts about the latter two so I'd really like to get the reviews written before I shut down for the holiday but I don't know if I'll have time. Short version: I want to see the new Orient Express movie and ohmygosh, The Lost Words (a children's book) is breathtaking. The illustrations alone are worth the price (would make a great Christmas gift).


Posts since last Malarkey:

• The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor (book review)
• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (book review)
• A Bigger Table by John Pavlovitz (book review in self-interview format)
• The Underground River by Martha Conway (book review)
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: Thoughts and F2F group discussion (a bit of rambling)
• Iowa: Poems by Lucas Hunt + a Fiona Friday pic (review and cat photo) 

Most of those posts were made in a single day because I was foggy from migraine meds and decided I might as well write a few reviews if I wasn't up to much else. So many terrific reads in that bunch. 

Currently reading:

• Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich - Believe it or not, this is my first by Erdrich. I'm enjoying it, although there are things about the dystopian world that I don't understand (or, maybe don't find well enough explained). I should finish it, today. 
• Quackery by Lydia Kang - I set this aside to finish The Graveyard Book and Murder on the Orient Express but I'm pleased to report that after the first section, the quack cures described have been decidedly less disgusting than the earlier ones, which basically amounted to poisoning patients (often to death). 

In other news:

I need some local friends to dump books on. Anyone want to move near me and be my book buddy?


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