Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Myrtle’s A/C has been operating just fine, so I am hopeful that one day of no A/C (when the temperature was in the 90s with high humidity) was a random glitch. Yes, eternal optimism is my go-to operating philosophy! LOL (Myrtle is my car!)

My heated therapy pool classes at the gym have been averaging 10-15 students, way more than in the past, so I am thrilled with that!

Question of the Week
Non-reading question:
Have you ever met someone you felt was a “soulmate”? Someone with whom you had an immediate and intense connection?

This question arose from my IRL book club discussion of Sula by Toni Morrison. If you are unfamiliar with the story, Sula and Nel are childhood friends who are constantly together and share everything with each other. As adults, however, they each go their separate ways until they are reunited ten years later. Although they resume their close relationship, an occurrence threatens to destroy that long-term intense relationship…

One of the book club members stated, “You can never have that kind of close and intense relationship unless you have met and established it as children, when both people are very young.” I didn’t say anything, but she caught my expression (I would NEVER actually play poker for money, ‘cause you rarely have to ask what I’m thinking, it just appears on my face for everyone to see! LOL) and stated she felt I disagreed, asking what I was thinking. I nodded and stated that two of the most intense relationships I have experienced in this lifetime were initiated as an adult. I met each person as a stranger and we immediately talked for 5-6 hours! One of those people is my husband! The other was my BFF for 30 years. I stated that I didn’t know what you would call that…fate? Or luck? But I did feel very fortunate to have experienced this not just once, but twice. I believe it is simply the Universe aligning to provide me with these connections. But if I wasn’t ‘open’ to meeting new people, I might have missed out!

How about you? Any similar experiences?

ADMIN STUFF
August Monthly Group Read has begun! HERE is the discussion of Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. This book can be used to fulfill prompt #30 A book that’s on a celebrity book club list. Celebrities are “august,” per the definition—respected, dignified, impressive! This book was a Reese’s Book Club selection. HERE is the posting to list any book(s) you have read that could also fulfill this prompt! I inadvertently ran across a copy of this at Half Price Books the other day and went ahead and purchased it. I’m a bit hesitant, given the synopsis just how enjoyable I may find it to be, but am ready to launch in after finishing 2 other books.

Just a reminder that the comprehensive listing of 2023 Monthly Group Reads can be found HERE

I am currently compiling a listing of possible changes to the Monthly Group Read process that have been suggested for consideration… Stay tuned… ;)

Popsugar: 43/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 52/52 DONE!
RHC: 13/24

I’ll finish these up today!
*The City Born Great (Great Cities #0.5) by N.K. Jemisin ✶✶✶ was just kinda meh for me. Maybe because I’m a US Midwestern rural gal born and bred? Never lived in a “city,” though I don’t discount doing so as I age and seemingly crave convenience! A short story as a series prequel. Not used for any challenges. Not planning to continue with the series. Just not my thing…

*Sula by Toni Morrison ✶✶✶✶ Morrison’s writing is never an easy read for me. I feel as if it is necessary for me to read her work, but it seems to always be intense and confusing, though I found this one to be less so than Beloved! This certainly prompted a lively and long discussion at book club, however! And I was able to provide some additional insights since I read an analytical text alongside the book!
POPSUGAR: #1, #6, #16, #17, #28, #29, #30-Oprah, #31, #34, #37
ATY: #2,
RHC:

*Infinite Country by Patricia Engel ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was an amazingly realistic (IMO, at least!) depiction of immigration into the US and the trials and tribulations that can result. Ultimately, though, it seems that for most people the opportunity to stay here and work is imperative so they can not only support themselves sufficiently, but also send money back to family so they can live in adequate conditions and also eat regularly. The amount of money that goes to other countries from the US (especially Central and South American locations) is mind-blowing. I can certainly empathize with the imperative to remain in the US despite risks of deportation, etc. Hint: these people are NOT all rapists and criminals. Quite the opposite, IMO!
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:

*The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley ✶✶✶✶✶
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:

*The 6th Target (Women’s Murder Club #6) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro ✶✶✶✶✶
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:

CONTINUING:
*Target: Alex Cross (Alex Cross #26) by James Patterson for a buddy read

PLANNED:
*No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai for an IRL book club
*The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah for an IRL book club
*Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister for our Monthly Group Read
*7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club #7) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro for a buddy read

Happy August! It’s been a good couple days of getting back into my regular routine now that the show is open and evenings aren’t all full of rehearsal. Opening weekend had some good audiences though! I’m excited to see how the rest of the run turns out.

At home, we hung new gutters on the garage and side of the house, and I started looking into more native plants to turn the yard into a proper garden (I’m one of those lawns-are-useless kinds of people, but my mom has always been the flower person; I think I’m ready to learn!).

Hubby and I are well into season 3 of our Yellowstone binge (view spoiler)[Jamie can get wrecked (hide spoiler)] and I’ve still been up too late the past few nights, but I’ve knocked out a few more books this week!

Finished:
The Silent Patient - 2.5 stars. This one was underwhelming and a perfect example of why I have a too-much-hype GR shelf. I saw the twist coming a mile away and never felt connected with Alicia. Audio narration was excellent, however.

The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls - 5 stars. Not much in the way of new information, but Mona delivers it in such a passionate way that I couldn’t not love this book. A book with Girl in the title

The Irish Game: A True Story of Crime and Art - set aside. It’s not boring, but I need things that move a little more quickly just now. I shall return!

Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy - 5 stars. This has been on my radar for years but after reading and watching Nimona, I knew I had to get on it ASAP and it didn’t disappoint. Chaos + a myriad of 80s/90s/00s pop culture references and just so fun and funny.

PS 34/50
ATY 41/52
Mount TBR 33/60
Summer Reading challenge 11/50 +1/3 bonus

Currently:
All the Pretty Horses - Partly because McCarthy recently passed, partly bc it’s short, and partly bc of our Yellowstone binge. It has a relaxing vibe about it and moves along smoothly. Listening to the audio read by Frank Muller.

Soccer in Sun and Shadow - My backstage Kindle read for downtime during Twelfth Night, and an excellent pick. This is nonfiction and a series of character study vignettes of different players and people associated with the game, like The Goalkeeper, The Fans, The Referee, The Idol, The Fanatic. I presume we’ll get to things like The Ball eventually.

Bring the Fire - Time to finish this trilogy!

Upcoming:
Beowulf - a reread, using the Seamus Heaney translation
Family Lore - new release, from the library
Abeni's Song - new release, from the library
+ a stack of plays, which I’m sure will all come in from the library at the same time

QOTW: Have you ever met someone you felt was a “soulmate”? Someone with whom you had an immediate and intense connection?
Yes! I’m firmly of the belief that everyone has multiple soulmates, not just one! My college BFF immediately springs to mind - on a creative level, we absolutely 100% just get each other, and have from day one.

I finished Brazzaville Beach as my book with alliteration in the title. I wasn't loving it when I started it, but it really grew on me by the end.

I'm reading Mayflower as my book with a map.

QOTW: I'm not really sure. I had this first date with this guy once and I just knew we were going to get married and live happily ever after. He dumped me about 6 months later because he fell in love with someone else. So, maybe yes, but I'm bad at it?

50/50 Personal Challenge

I have finished all my challenges! Now I'm doing a new one that's purely based on minutes. 259/600 minutes. I'm trying to finish it in five days.

Read: Soft Skills for Kids: In Schools, at Home, and Online This was the last book I read for my personal challenge, to fill the prompt added to my TBR list on the 23rd of the month. Its suggestions were so straight-forward that it wasn't worth reading. Want your kids to be respectful? Model it!

The Bookseller's Notebooks This reminded me of The Stranger.

How to Love Teaching Again: Work Smarter, Beat Burnout, and Watch Your Students Thrive This was pretty good, a fun, quick read.

I Wanna Be a Producer: How to Make a Killing on Broadway...or Get Killed Ok.

Started:Either/Or So good!

The Universe Speaks in Numbers: How Modern Maths Reveals Nature's Deepest Secrets

QotW: Yes, but I didn't realize it right away. I had to grow into the relationship.

Happy Thursday!

Finished:
The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik - 4 stars - for a book with a color in the title. Overall, a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I love it when an author can make me have an, "oh no," realization right along with the main character.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli - 4 stars - for banned/​challenged book. This was a really cute coming out story about a closeted gay teen. Now I want to watch the movie version.

Comics & manga:
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun Vol. 7
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun Vol. 8
Honey and Clover, Vol. 6
My Happy Marriage, Volume 2
My Happy Marriage 03

Currently reading:
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo - not currently for a prompt, but I might use it as my book that comes out in the second half of 2023 instead. So far, it's okay; I'm not very far in, but I'm not as gripped by it as I was by Acevedo's earlier books.

I am currently at 44/50 for Popsugar (37/40 and 7/10)

Upcoming/Planned:
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher - for a book that comes out in the second half of 2023

QOTW:
Yes, I have met people I've instantly bonded with. It's a little more difficult for me in real life, I think, because I'm both shy and an introvert. I have made long-standing friends where we just clicked immediately through online communities including my old WoW guild.

Happy Friday Jr lol. I can't believe it's August so quick. This year is speeding by. I have plans all weekend and then next week I'm going to visit my friend/doula sister in Richmond, VA.

I finished Another Brooklynfor prompt #21 A book set in a decade you were born. It was set in the 70's and I just made it. I was born in 1979. I gave the book 4 stars. Even though I didn't grow up in Brooklyn in the 70's, I could connect to the characters. I remember having close friendships and thinking that we would never part but life and everything else changed that.

Killadelphia, Vol. 1: Sins of the Father A new series that I started to read. I'm a huge vampire fan and an even bigger Black vampire fan. 3 and a half stars.

Reading: Ace of Spades Maybe for a prompt. Okay so far. I keep forgetting that it's a YA novel and
Bitter Root, Vol. 3: Legacy

QOTW: Have you ever met someone you felt was a “soulmate”? Someone with whom you had an immediate and intense connection?
I really don't believe in soul mates but I've had several situations where I connected with people and it was intense attraction and our energy was just right....both of my current partners and an ex that's still in my life.

Happy Thursday!

I’m having a pretty good stay-cation. I’ve got 7 boxes of Various sizes to donate to the library. I’ve watched a whole Chinese drama and started to others. They’re all ancient Chinese fantasy. I’ve also almost finish the painting I started from last week. Surprisingly, or I should say unsurprisingly, I have only read two books. I almost done with most heretical last boss, queen 3. I still haven’t touched fourth wing.

Other than that, it’s been pretty nice just lounging in jammies, I’m kind of sad. I have to go back on Monday. But I also have a feeling that I wanna go back which is weird.

Sadly, I haven’t figured out a way to share the picture I’m doing through my iPad. I can’t figure out how to get the link to put in there but that’s OK. I’ll probably edit it at work when I return on Monday and then you guys can see it.

And I Was talking to my sister on the phone and I was making a cup of coffee for myself in my little individual cup coffee maker. I put the coffee and put the cup underneath. It turned it on, and then realized I had not put water in it. I turn it off, open the top of the coffee pot, Got some water, and proceeded to pour it into the coffee pot. The only problem is: IT PLOOFED!!!

It blew coffee grounds everywhere! I squealed in fright. My sister is going, “what the fudge?” And I start cackling like I’m a crazy lady. There’s coffee grounds all over the counter, in the sink, on the floor, and I am laughing my ass off trying to explain what happened.

So I cleaned up the ginormous, coffee mess and redid the coffee. It’s perking right now.

QOTW:

Yes I’ve met soul mates. I have a sister from another mother that I visit daily. She works at the local coffee shop. We can be weird together.we get each others crazy.

This week flew by, because I’m on vacation at my mother’s, which means I’m tired all the time because my dogs wake me up before dawn so we can go for our morning walk to the bay.


I finished three books and DNFed one.

Translation State by Ann Leckie - this was great!!!

Near Changes poems by Mona van Duyn - wow I did NOT like these poems. She’s a US poet laureate AND this is a Pulitzer winner, and those two things usually guarantee that I will at least like the book, but not this time.

Witch King by Martha Wells - I just finished this morning! I really enjoyed it, but I also found it to be slow and confusing. This is my “book with a map.” … Now I need to decide which book to read next.


And I DNFed my “ancient civilization” book:

The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis - the protagonist was unlikeable, the mystery kept changing so I didn’t know what was happening, and the setting felt like 20th century London so it completely failed to give me an “ancient civ” feel. This was for the winter challenge. I’ll try about her book, maybe one of the main recent myth retellings like Ariadne or Atalanta.



QotW
No this has never happened to me. I don’t believe a “soul mate” exists. I guess I’d be agreeing with your book club friend, to me this type of intense connection could only happen when you’re young.

Happy Thursday Everyone, I read two books for the week. My goal for August is to finish the two challenges I have hanging out there.
1, The Unhoneymooners. 3 stars. PS # 3 A book about a vacation.
2. The Dead Romantics. 3 stars. Not for this challenge.
OOTW: It hasn't happened to me.

Today I am doing final packing of my office space with most of stuff going into storage - mostly files and artwork. Tomorrow marks my giving up actual outside office space completely for first time since late 1985. It feels right!

No, I am not retiring. Pandemic forced me to set up an office in my home in an afternoon, and after 4 years, I have settled in to it and prefer it to the point I am going to do some upgrades. I am a solo practitioner and pandemic changed so much about the practice of law electronic and virtual, coupled with living alone so no confidentiality issues, it makes a home office far preferable and cheaper.

Plus my practice is long hours these days. My 5 second commute makes that less problematic.

I also have news on the challenges front: I finished ATY 2023! My final book was for prompt from 2022 ATY favorite books - Winter's Orbit. It is also my only finish this week and the Feminerdy Book Club discussion book this weekend.

PS - still at 37/50

Currently reading:
Lolita
Longbourn
Les Miserables

QOTW: Oh absolutely, starting with college and continuing to today. Most recently are 2 women in a GR group.

Hi all,

Had our Summerween party, it went over well! I'm kinda bummed I was so busy getting ready/hosting, I didn't really get any pictures. Oh well, next year!

This week I finished:

Bad Feminist - for read harder's book on intersectional feminism. I really liked it, wished I'd read it sooner. I kept having it on my back burner.

Severance- my books and brew book for august. We were supposed to read this back in may 2020, but between the libraries being closed so switching all our titles to hoopla-available ones, and just generally saying "how about we DON'T read a pandemic book right now?" it got bumped. I guess the new librarian in charge decided it'd been long enough, I personally was less of a fan. Still not super cool with reading about pandemics and masking and stuff. Even aside from that I didn't love it, it was just ok for me. Kind of meandered around and I didn't really get the point, considering how open ended the ending was.

Currently reading:

Sorcerer to the Crown - I must have requested this a while back and my library just got it. I found it randomly in my "holds ready to borrow" messages. I like it pretty well, though it's a bit slow.

Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II - getting some more nonfiction in for the library's genre genius.

QOTW:

I don't really know about soul mates. I have met several people I just clicked with, but I don't think that's the term I'd use. I'd say childhood isn't necessary though. My best friend growing up, I always thought we'd be friends forever but we had a huge fight in middle school and then only tenuously reconnected over the years. I have other friends that I clicked with upon meeting but then trying to keep in contact with them is like pulling teeth so I eventually give up and assume the connection must have been one sided. THere are others that it happened with and we do keep in contact, but I still don't think i'd use the term soulmates with them. I'm married, and I love my husband a lot, but that's still not really a term I use.

Happy Thursday! I almost forgot again to check in. I've been so tired lately. Recovery is no joke.

Finished 27/50

The Magician's Assistant for "book with a rabbit on the cover". Eh, this was only ok. I thought it could've made different points than it did and been more impactful.

The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God for "shortest book on your TBR". This was pretty good. More of a beginner overview, but it's written well! Finished it in one sitting.

Currently Reading

How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self for "book with just text on the cover". I mean, there's a circle too, but it's mainly just text. A friend gave this to me awhile back, so I'm finally reading it!

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina for "#BookTok recommendation". I actually am really liking this so far! It's weird and mystical. Sucks you in.

QotW

I think we always find our "people". Instinctively, we connect with people who fill a need or follow a pattern we associate with love or resonate as being similar to us. I don't believe in "soul mates" as much as I do "subconscious instinct". Like how kids on a playground can instantly decide to be friends. They sense a "sameness" in them. We adults can do the same, although sometimes, especially if we've been conditioned to confuse love with toxic behaviours, we can be led astray by what we think is love or connection when it's not. And, of course, we can always ignore our instincts too.

Hi all - I still exist!

I've been so wrapped up in travelling and overhauling my house that I haven't checked in, but those are nice distractions at least! We've gotten rid of a ton of clutter, old broken furniture, and useless STUFF. And now I've claimed the guest room as my relaxing/reading space which is lovely!

I'm once again ahead of my target reading pace, and my current average rating for this year's books is 3.37 - not bad! (It helps that I will yeet a book with quickness if it doesn't bring me joy in some way.)

I started the longest book on my TBR (The Weird: A Compendium of Strange and Dark Stories, 1,136 pages) on 7/14, and I'm 10% done! Go me! It's actually a great book for this prompt, as it's short stories from various authors, so if something doesn't suit my tastes, it's not long before I try something else. Also, a ton of the early stories are available read aloud on YouTube, which helps my progress.

Been cat/house sitting for my brother and his wife so not a lot of reading time because he has two things I don't. Internet fast enough to stream and a pool.

I did get to finish a few for the challenge Camp Arcanum by Josef Matulich for A book with a love triangle. The book blurb calls it a love triangle, but for me that seems to exist mostly in the villains head. As far as I can tell the woman in questions was super over him.

For A book that was self-published Malum by Stacy Bender It was a paranormal steampunk, not half bad but also it needed character development

And for the alphabet challenge I read Killer Crust by Chris Cavender

QOTW Honestly I've not felt a bond like that ever. I don't think it's in my nature. That said, I would hate to think that it could only happen in childhood (for that matter given the people I came up with I'd hate to think that's who I'd be bonded to life with). Yes we're a bit more malleable as children but there's nothing to say we become entirely insensate as we age.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

The Saga of Ridiculous Things continued at my house on Monday morning when my heating/cooling guy came out to do the annual check on my air conditioner…and found a dead snake inside of it!

It was not what either of us expected for a routine air conditioner inspection, but at least the unit itself is working fine.

I have to admit that it does make me a little apprehensive about what the next household issue will be, however… Sigh.

In other news, on Friday I had the chance to go see the new Haunted Mansion movie at my local movie theater, and I really liked it! The balance of creepy moments and humor was much better than in Disney’s previous attempt, and there were a lot of references to the theme park ride that I found very clever. I also really appreciated the fact that (view spoiler)[ the movie includes characters who are dealing with grief and loss. It made them really easy to relate to. (hide spoiler)].

If you’re a fan of the Haunted Mansion ride, then I think you’ll enjoy the movie. Hopefully we’ll see a DVD/BluRay release before Halloween, because I’m really looking forward to watching it again during the spooky season.

This ended up being a great week for reading! I was able to cross quite a few titles off of my TBR and “New Books” lists, and I’m really close to finishing several others.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 641/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)

📚Physical TBR: 267/634
📱Ebook TBR: 8/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 12/13
TBR Checklist Total: 287/883 (32.5% complete)

I did not buy any books this week!

I make no promises about the next several weeks, however, because we have officially entered my birthday month! I tend to go a little crazy on the book buying during the month of August, so there will probably be quite a few titles being added to my “New Books” list in the coming weeks.

“New” Books Bought in 2023: 359
“New” Books Read in 2023: 347/359 (96.6% complete)

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~A Stroke of Malice — This is the eighth book in the Lady Darby series. I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It’s definitely one of my favorites from this series. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to spousal abuse (both physical and verbal), as well as abortion. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Vicomte de Bragelonne — This is the sequel to Twenty Years After. While I didn’t rate this book quite as highly as the first two in the series, I did think it was a great continuation of D’Artagnan’s story, and I ended up finishing it much more quickly than I anticipated. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Final Girls — Even though this was one of the titles from my “New Books” list, Final Girls was actually a re-read for me. The last time I read this book was several years ago when I borrowed it from the library, and there was a lot about the plot that I just didn’t remember. I enjoyed the story every bit as much as I did the first time I read it. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to rape and unwanted sexual attention. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Wicked Conceit — This is the ninth book in the Lady Darby series. I really enjoyed this story! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Perilous Perspective — This is the tenth book in the Lady Darby series. I thought this was a great story! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Fatal Illusion — This is the eleventh, and most recent, book in the Lady Darby series. This book included a lot of family drama, which really made the mystery even more compelling. I really enjoyed this one. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Last Time I Lied — This was the first time I’d ever read this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I thought the twists and turns were great, and the story kept me guessing right up until the end. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~To Marry a Scottish Laird — The is the second book in the Highland Brides series. I really enjoyed this book, and liked the fact that along with the romance there was also a mystery. While this can be read as a standalone novel, it does contain spoilers for the first book in the series. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to rape, as well as some dubious consent toward the beginning of the book. This book also includes references to women dying during childbirth. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
This week I had a chance to read the Hellsing manga. I’ve been a fan of the anime ever since I saw it in college, so I was really excited to finally read the original manga. I was especially impressed with the artwork, which is amazing! Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ Because of its subject matter, this series does include a ton of graphic, bloody/gory violence. It also includes references to (and two scenes of) rape, as well as depictions of war, and religious intolerance. (hide spoiler)] The volumes I read this week include…
~Hellsing Deluxe Volume 1 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Hellsing Deluxe Volume 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Hellsing Deluxe Volume 3 — At the end of this book, there is a collection of extras from the original release of the series. While I did enjoy seeing the original cover art, I really didn’t like the rest of the extras. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic — This is definitely one of the most comprehensive books about the Titanic that I’ve read, but it’s also a pretty slow read. 📚
~The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Omnibus — This comic book collection has been a fun read so far, and I’ve made quite a bit of progress. I’ve currently read about 70% of the book, and should be finished with it by next week’s update. 📚
~Louise de la Vallière — This is the sequel to The Vicomte de Bragelonne. I am currently on chapter 24, and moving through the story much more quickly than I expected. 📚
~Jolly Foul Play — This is the fourth book in the Murder Most Unladylike series. I’m currently about two-thirds of the way through this book, which has been good so far. I’ll definitely finish it this afternoon. 📚
~Book of Night — I’m only a couple of chapters into this book, but I’m enjoying it so far. 📚

QOTW:
I’ve definitely experienced instant connections with people, but they’ve always come about because of shared interests, and for the most part they haven’t resulted in long-lasting friendships. I haven’t met anyone that I would consider a soulmate.

K.L. wrote: "Happy Thursday, everyone!

The Saga of Ridiculous Things continued at my house on Monday morning when my heating/cooling guy came out to do the annual check on my air conditioner…and found a dead s..."

Dang, girl! Your house is in the Twilight Zone! *cue theme music. Rod Sterling must be narrating. 😁

Happy Thursday! Please excuse any errors in this post... My daughter-in-law went out of town, and I'm taking care of Eli (5 years) and Ewan (9 months). Ewan wants all the cords and all the paper.

Challenge Progress:
Popsugar: 43/50
Nadine's Mini-Challenge: 10/10
ATY: 46/52
ATY Summer Challenge: 11/12
52 Book Club: 49/52
52 Book Club Summer Challenge: 7/8

Completed:
The Starless Crown ★★★★
All the Sinners Bleed: What a great book to be reading during all the Jason Aldean controversy! S. A. Cosby is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. ★★★★★
The Magic Fish: Graphic novel. It's a blend of an LGBT coming-of-age story, a story of immigration, and fairy tale... and it's beautifully done. ★★★★★
The Second Life of Mirielle West: Historical fiction that tackles another topic in the news - leprosy! (PS 41 - a book with the main character's name in the title) ★★★★
Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving: I'm a fan of Mo Rocca. ★★★★
Eight Perfect Murders (ATY 31 - a book found by inputting a favorite author (Riley Sager) onto www.literature-map.com) ★★★
The Secret Book of Flora Lea: Oof. This was such a 5-star read - a beautiful blend of historical fiction and fairy tale - right up until the end. It went on and on. I didn't need everything so explicitly explained and tied up. Unfortunately, this book was about 20 pages too long. ★★★★
Trust: I know, it won a Pulitzer, but it just fell flat for me. ★★★
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 5: The Biggest Bad ★★★★



Currently Reading:
The Art Thief
Hello Stranger (52 BC Summer 4 - a book that is light and sweet)
Before I Let Go (PS 35 - a book about divorce)
Bunny (ATY Summer 12 - a book connected to birds, bees, or bunnies)
American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress
Time Squared (ATY 47 - a book related to a geometric shape)
Horrorstör (ATY 41 - a book related to a ghost, spirit, phantom, or specter)
The Lesson (52 BC 17 - a book by a Caribbean author)

QOTW: I don't believe in "soul mates" or a "one true love," but I do believe in intense connections. Sometimes those connections last, and sometimes they fizzle.

Theresa wrote: "Today I am doing final packing of my office space with most of stuff going into storage - mostly fikes and artwork. Tomorrow marks my giving up actual outside office space completely for first time..."



Wow Theresa that is huge!!! Enjoy your new 100% WFH status!!

Mandy wrote: "Dang, girl! Your house is in the Twilight Zone! *cue theme music. Rod Sterling must be narrating. 😁"

It is definitely starting to feel that way! 🤣

Hi all. Life has turned upside down around here since last week. Despite what my doctors say (that I'm no where near ready to return to full time work), my long term insurance company says I am, and to that end, they have cut off my income effective a week ago. I am working on an appeal.
Then we had a family emergency with my boyfriend's family. Then I found out my father has tested positive for cancer. Suffice it to say, I'm stressed.

I've read very little this week. I've finally picked back up The Ghosts of Medgar Evers: A Tale of Race, Murder, Mississippi, and Hollywood. It's turned into a really good book and I enjoy reading it.

QOTW: Yes, my BFF from college and I are weirdly connected. She's 4 days younger than me and we're both Jennifers. We finish each other's sentences and can have whole conversations with just facial expressions and gestures. I recently found her again after years of not being in touch and we picked right up again. :)

I might almost take the opposite view of the book club woman (Lynn, no worries, I don't have a poker face, either!). I think you might need to be older to find that connection. You need to know a little more about who *you* are before you can form a tight relationship with someone else.

K.L. wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Dang, girl! Your house is in the Twilight Zone! *cue theme music. Rod Sterling must be narrating. 😁"

It is definitely starting to feel that way! 🤣"

I just had a picture move by itself like a pendulum, things that disappeared, and random smells like apple pie. The best part was the when I was caressed on the cheek by something colder than ice!

Yikes, forgot it was Thursday! For a second as I looked at the dates I didn't realize this was a new thread.

I've been so busy working on a side project that I've lost track of days.

*****

As you guys know, because I take forever to read due to my annotations, I don't finish books in a week so I've got nothing to report on that front.

I did however order a lot of copies of previous books I own:

Fangirl

Speak

Girl in Pieces

Eliza and Her Monsters

Even though I already own a lot of copies of these books, I haven't read them in a while and I always get something new out of them so they're fun reads so my annotations are always different which is why I don't mind getting new copies every now and then.

Edit: Oh these books just made me think of something. Off to go write!

******

QOTW:

Have you ever met someone you felt was a “soulmate”? Someone with whom you had an immediate and intense connection?

I'm not the type of person to believe in 'soulmates'. I think they're just made up concepts to make people feel better.

Happy Thursday!

Not a lot to report this week. Mostly just gearing up for our upcoming Disney trip. Yes, that's not until September, but there's still a LOT of planning ahead to be done.

Books read this week:

Extraordinary Birds -- why are middle-grade books often more heart-wrenching than adult books? This is a sad but beautiful story about a girl in foster care, and how she copes with her traumatic past and turbulent life.

The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic -- the true story of the sled dogs and their masters who rushed vital medicine to the town of Nome, Alaska and saved it from a diphtheria epidemic. A gripping true story, and corrects a lot of misinformation spread by books and films (yes, including the animated Balto movie…)

Kidnapped -- I enjoyed Treasure Island and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"… but this one was just boring. At least it showed that even the Scottish weren’t safe from the British invading their land and trying to erase their culture… I had no idea that it was illegal to wear traditional Scottish dress at one point.

An Elephant in the Garden -- don’t be fooled by the cutesy title -- this is a gutwrenching account of the bombing of Dresden during WWII, and a story about hope in the darkest of circumstances. And yes, there’s an actual elephant in the garden, it’s not a metaphor…

Currently Reading:

How to Disappear Completely
Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic
The Wonder Engine
King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian
Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s

QOTW:

I believe there are certain people out there who are compatible enough to make an instant connection... I'm not sure if that counts as a soulmate or not.

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Life has turned upside down around here since last week. Despite what my doctors say (that I'm no where near ready to return to full time work), my long term insurance company says I am, an..."

Sorry RL is being so stressful right now

Cornerofmadness wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Life has turned upside down around here since last week. Despite what my doctors say (that I'm no where near ready to return to full time work), my long term insurance co..."

Thank you.

Happy check-in! I started my new job this week, so I've been trying get into the swing of things quickly- there's a ton to keep straight. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not supposed to know everything in three days, but I hate feeling like I don't know what I'm doing!

Finished:
Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me- really good essay collection about pop culture and the way it influences and reflects what's going on in society
-no prompt

Currently reading:
Technically still reading Count of Monte Cristo, but didn't read much of anything this week

QotW:
So I'm pretty cautious around new people- most of my closest friends it took me a while to get comfortable with. One of my friends still laughs about how long it took me to open up to her. In my defense I've been burned a lot in the past, so I'm just more careful these days. But I've also met people I've immediately connected to and had amazing conversations with and felt like we had known each other for years.

It's been a lovely rainy, cool day after a string of 100+ degree days. This is my type of weather.

Finished
Wool by Hugh Howey - 5 stars; PS #41 (written during NaNoWriMo)
This is my favorite book I've read this year so far. Loved the plot, the characters, the world building, everything. Dystopian sci-fi. Exceptional! This was originally five short books, 3 of which he wrote during NaNoWriMo. It was impossible to find this version that combines them into one novel in GR searches, so I've had to use the ISBN, which I now know works in the "add book/author" search.

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie - 4 stars
My monthly Christie. I'm now in the books she published in the 1960's, and she is trying different ways to tell her stories. This one was pretty interesting, including the occult and such. As usual, I was wrong about the murderer.

Currently reading
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong

Goodreads: 53/90
Popsugar: 41/50

QOTW:
"Soulmate" is not the way I have ever described my relationships because it sounds like it would be someone who is everything to you. And I don't think anyone can be that, at least in my life. Loner/introvert.

I have been incredibly lucky to have had a few exceptional friends in my life. I met my "best" friend when we were 20, and we are 63 now and are closer than ever. I met my other best friend when I was 28 and that lasted until she died 9 years ago. My friendships with both started almost immediately upon meeting. There have also been others in my life that I was very close to for a short time, but only lasted for the length of time that was needed. Situational friends.

I've never had a romantic relationship that lasted more than 3 years, because I ultimately want to be alone. Maybe I missed my soulmate by going down a different aisle of the grocery store from him. Who knows?

Alex wrote: "I think we always find our "people". Instinctively, we connect with people who fill a need or follow a pattern we associate with love or resonate as being similar to us. I don't believe in "soul mates" as much as I do "subconscious instinct". Like how kids on a playground can instantly decide to be friends. They sense a "sameness" in them. We adults can do the same, although sometimes, especially if we've been conditioned to confuse love with toxic behaviours, we can be led astray by what we think is love or connection when it's not. And, of course, we can always ignore our instincts too."

I like this explanation.

Theresa wrote: "Today I am doing final packing of my office space with most of stuff going into storage - mostly files and artwork. Tomorrow marks my giving up actual outside office space completely for first time since late 1985. It feels right!"

That's awesome! I started working from home two years ago during COVID. At first I thought I would go back to the office eventually, but as they are always desperate for extra offices they have been happy not to provide me with one (I'm the only one in my office that has a job that can be 100% done from home). I set up a makeshift office among a bunch of other items. My health has been declining and I will likely need to go on disability sometime soon. So it is still a makeshift office. It's going to be ridiculous if for some reason I continue working for another 5 years without getting an adequate desk!

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Life has turned upside down around here since last week. Despite what my doctors say (that I'm no where near ready to return to full time work), my long term insurance company says I am, and to that end, they have cut off my income effective a week ago. I am working on an appeal.
Then we had a family emergency with my boyfriend's family. Then I found out my father has tested positive for cancer. Suffice it to say, I'm stressed."

That is so much to deal with. {{hugs}}

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Life has turned upside down around here since last week. Despite what my doctors say (that I'm no where near ready to return to full time work), my long term insurance company says I am, an..."


Oh no, that’s all just crap. It’s a lot to deal with. I don’t understand how insurance companies can over rule doctor’s orders.

Kenya wrote: " Extraordinary Birds -- why are middle-grade books often more heart-wrenching than adult books? ..."


Yes, why is that??? I often wonder the same thing

Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Life has turned upside down around here since last week. Despite what my doctors say (that I'm no where near ready to return to full time work), my long term insurance co..."

Teri wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Life has turned upside down around here since last week. Despite what my doctors say (that I'm no where near ready to return to full time work), my long term insurance co..."

Thank you both. And Nadine, that's my biggest question, too!!!

It's awful. And happens in the UK with state disability benefits. A lot of rulings get overturned on appeal, so I hope the same happens for you.

Hello from Indiana! My move is complete, and I’m about as settled in as I’m going to get for awhile. I’ve done so much packing, lifting, unpacking, decorating, and organizing in the past week that I’m done for awhile. The office is a mess, and it’s going to stay that way. But I’m really happy to be close to my family and living in such a nice apartment. I haven’t done a lot of reading, but I did get to finish a book right before moving and finished an audiobook while unpacking.

Finished
An Inquiry Into Love and Death by Simone St. James (a book about a family). Yet another fantastic book by Simone St. James!

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon (a book you meant to read in 2022). I would love to tell you that I loved this book, but I think this series is boring me now. I just refuse to give up because I’ve read thousands of pages already. And it’s hard to think about giving up on Lord John.

Stargate SG-1: Permafrost by Sally Malcolm (a book that started out as fanfiction). I loved it! I think the publisher is onto something here. A novel is (usually) too long for a Stargate story and ends up rehashing trauma that other authors have already explored. The short stories and novellas have been wonderful. The author started out as a Stargate fanfiction writer before writing and editing this series so I’m using it for the fanfiction prompt.

Reading
Lady of the Lake by Andzrej Sapokowski

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

Hello!

Such an exciting week so far!

I had coffee with my neighbor and friend, Sharon, on Monday. We used to do a lot of library discussions and theater events together prior to Covid. And, for various reasons, it has been slow getting back to doing things like that. Well, Monday, we both took our calendars and made notes as to things we would do (movies, books, discussions, theater) as well as discussed the events at the Senior Life Services that interested us each. What a wonderful time of planning and sharing what was of interest to us!

Then I decided to go to the Foraging Ponds (Audobon Society) to take pictures of the birds. What a wonderful time for all the wrong things! I got there and discovered that the camera that I had brought was an old one that belonged to my Dad. It was a film camera…and probably had no film in it or very old film. Since I have not checked it out, I grabbed my water bottle and turned the picture trip into a hike trip. As I came up the small bern to the first pond, I saw a wonderful delight…the pond was drained into a mud flat and it was filled with birds! And, wood storks! My first time seeing them in real life. Also later as I hiked around the ponds, I saw a wonderful display of wheeling birds on wing over the ponds…yes, it was the wood storks again!

Then, on the way home, I visited Aiken Equine Rescue and got a tour and introduction to some of the horses and donkeys that have been rescued. Many are retired race horses. The rescue does try to find homes for them when possible. This is a possible volunteer site for me.

And, now I have tickets for the Gala of Royal Horses weekend in Conyers, GA. I am so excited. I even got a camping spot at $30/night with full hookups! It is in the reserved section for RVs for the horse show people!

Finished:
This Tender Land – ATY. The last book for Q1 challenge. 4* I had mixed feelings about this book. It described the horrible conditions of an Indian school in 1932, which was hard to read but necessary for background to the story of four young children who escape and travel south. It is a Huckleberry Finn type of story.

The Light of the Fireflies– ATY #29. Kindle. 3* I wanted to rate this book a bit higher, but it did not quite reach 4* for me. It is primarily the story of a family with a defective child and their decision to protect him and how that decision impacts all the rest of the family members. It is described as a thriller and suspense genres but it felt more like the horror genre to me, which it also carries. The ending was good for me, but the overall story was not light and fluffy at all.

The Uncommon Reader – ATY #30. What a fun read about Queen Elizabeth discovering books in her elder years! 4*

Madam Verona – 4*. ATY #27 (European author). This book completed my plan for July reads and replaced the Suite Francaise that I could not get into. A fun read about a community and dealing with the realities of death by a widow.

Tales from the Café – 4*. I read this one for one of my other groups whose monthly shelf was Japanese. This is book #2 of the series and delightful!

The Invisible Library - Other challenges. 4*. I loved this adventurous fantasy into alternate worlds (in this case, London). It had a bit of paranormal creatures as well as steampunk to it. Really fun!

Currently Reading:
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 13%. Weird book. Still on hold.

The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – PS #2. 8%.

Helen Vardon's Confession– Other challenge. Ebook. 65%

Frames – PS #11. 5%

Dumplin' – PS #10. To be started this weekend.

A Spool of Blue Thread - ATY Seasonal, other challenges. 28%. I have had this book on my TBR since 2016 and actively planned challenges since 2018!

On deck:
Bone Deep – PS #1.
Therapy – Other challenge
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal – PS #50
Uncle Tom's Cabin Or Life Among The Lowly - ATY Seasonal.

PS 28/50 (plus I have 7 waiting) and 6/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 30/52 and 12/12 for Q1 Challenge, 4/12 for Q2 Challenge, 6/12 for Summer Challenge
GR 163/200
RwS: 26/30

QotW:
I am an introvert and have a hard time making friends, but, I have had a few instances in my life where the friend and I clicked and, even though separated by years and distance, were able to pick back up the next time as if none of that had occurred. Those are truly gifts!

Heather wrote: "Hello from Indiana! My move is complete, and I’m about as settled in as I’m going to get for awhile. I’ve done so much packing, lifting, unpacking, decorating, and organizing in the past week that ..."

Congrats on the move, Heather!

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Life has turned upside down around here since last week. Despite what my doctors say (that I'm no where near ready to return to full time work), my long term insurance company says I am, an..."

Bad things always come in groups it seems. All the best, I hope things take a turn for the better soon!

We are on a short trip in the south of our region (Maastricht-Aachen). Last night we had dinner in a pop-up restaurant in a vineyard. With every course I had a matching local wine. Lovely scenery, great food, great wines.

PS: 31/50 (goal: 40/50)
Total 2023: 39/52

Finished
The Water Rituals by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi⭐⭐⭐
Not for PS

This mystery is a mix of history and crime profiling. I like that. Plus I tend to like Spanish writers, so this was a good one. Started the last part of the trilogy rightaway.

Currently reading
The World: A Family History of Humanity by Simon Sebag Montefiore (longest on TBR)
The Lords of Time by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi

QOTW
Yes, as a kid. Me and my BFF were soulmates. Unfortunately she died in a car accident, only 13 years old. And yes, this tragedy made me careful in opening up to other people. So a soulmate experience is something that wouldn't happen very soon to me.

These ADHD meds, man. I keep flying through time without realizing it's passing. I've had trouble with passage of time for ages, but this is a new peak? low?

I was at the vet for Mickey's teeth, convinced it'd been 5 weeks since we were there last.

It'd been 9 weeks.

I also have no idea how it's Thursday again. Well, Friday, half an hour away from Saturday, but you get the picture.

It's kinda scary, not gonna lie.

I am watching a lot of things though, and reading fics, and working on the Bingo. On the other hand time is faker than ever, and I either talk too much to friends (spamming about Good Omens mostly and then feeling bad for spamming because surely everyone secretly hates me and I'm bothering them) or not at all. *sigh*

In some good news though: we got Mickey a new hutch! It's one for chickens, but we're modifying it for him. He can't possibly walk those narrow, steep stairs in the regular bunny hutches, so we needed a lower one. So a chicken one it is! Hopefully we can get him adjusted to it and teach him how to use those stairs (they're wider and way less steep, and shorter!)

We've also reintroduced Zira and Crowley and so far it's... not great but also not terrible. For the most part it's calm and Zira is more and more confident downstairs (I'm so proud of her). They've been sleeping in the same cat tree (different 'floors' but still) and the first night Zira even swatted at Crowley when he came to sniff (she never would have before). But there's also been a few Moments, but it feels as if Zira is just overly defensive and a bit scared still (honestly they've been apart for MONTHS, that fear runs deep apparently) so she hisses at him very easily, while Crowley looks at her like ???? But she bounces back pretty easily and quickly as well, whereas before she'd be terrified and panicked.

We've heard her scream once but we didn't see what happened so we can't even be for certain it was Crowley. Fingers crossed this works out, or we'll have to start all over I'm afraid.

Obviously no reading but the fics. Woops

QOTW
I very much believe so. Sometimes it just clicks rightaway, no doubt about it, whether romantic or friendship. For me it happens online, as I don't meet many new people, but it very definitely happens. At least on my side, haha!

Harmke wrote: "We are on a short trip in the south of our region (Maastricht-Aachen). Last night we had dinner in a pop-up restaurant in a vineyard. With every course I had a matching local wine. Lovely scenery, great food, great wines."

This sounds like so much fun. I'm glad you got to do this. I love the idea of wine, but wine does not like me. Terrible headaches. Makes me sad.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Kenya wrote: " Extraordinary Birds -- why are middle-grade books often more heart-wrenching than adult books? ..."


Yes, why is that??? I often wonder the same thing"

I am a doctor and even I don't understand it but they absolutely dictate what we can do, tests we can run, meds we can give with no regard to our knowledge or patient needs (basically from my pov it's decided however it works to get the CEO the most money)

LeahS wrote: "It's awful. And happens in the UK with state disability benefits. A lot of rulings get overturned on appeal, so I hope the same happens for you."

Thank you. Mine's through a private company, so I'm not sure how difficult it is to appeal (I'm thinking of getting a lawyer). I've applied for state benefits, but those could take months or even years... sigh...

Harmke wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Life has turned upside down around here since last week. Despite what my doctors say (that I'm no where near ready to return to full time work), my long term insurance co..."

Agreed! Before my dad called, I was thinking, these things usually come in threes.... Yep!!

Your trip sounds lovely!

Happy Friday! I went to my friends party for the adoption of her daughter last weekend. She has had custody of her for years but now the paperwork is official in the courts. It was very exciting! Only downside is she lives in a very wooded area. I came home covered in so many mosquito bites. It made me want to claw my skin off. I have always wished I was one of those people that mosquitos weren't attracted to. They are so lucky.

Finished:

Siren Queen (PS Hollywood) 2 stars. I was just not into this book. I like magical realism but I like the magic system to be explained to me and this never was.

Currently reading:

Cinder (PS meant to read in 2022)

Network Effect (no prompt)

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (ATY author from continental Europe)

Upcoming:

The Atlas Paradox (no prompt)

QOTW: Nope, I don't really believe in soulmates. I have had some very close friendships but they are all developed over time. I'm slow to trust. To me a relationship needs to steadily grow for it to be real and meaningful.

I was housesitting last week and moving back to my permanent home yesterday, so I'm late checking in. Not much to do at the house sit, so I spent most of the week reading.

PopSugar: 34/50

Finished
The Girl with All the Gifts I saw this on the homeowner's bookshelf and read it in a day. It was already on my TBR, but I didn't realize it was a zombie book. I really enjoyed it. (Prompt: Book with 'girl' in the title)

An Excess Male Fascinating book about the effects of China's one child policy. Women in this universe have multiple husbands and the story follows one family's decision to bring a third husband into the unit. (Prompt: Love triangle)

The Rebel and the Kingdom: The True Story of the Secret Mission to Overthrow the North Korean Regime This took me a while to finish. It was slow going and felt... unfinished? Like a let down, maybe? (Prompt: Bought from independent bookstore)

Daisy Jones & The Six Wow! How have I not read any Taylor Jenkins Reid before? Beautiful and thought-provoking. I loved every page! (Prompt: Set in the decade I was born)

Did Not Finish
Zak George's Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love It had to go back to the library. Hopefully I'll get to finish it one day, though I find his videos easier to take in than the book.

Currently Reading
Why Marx Was Right
Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence

QOTW
Yes, a woman I used to work with introduced me to her son, and I always said he was my soulmate. We dated for a while, which was a bad idea, but stayed close. Even when we didn't see each other for a while, it always felt like no time had gone past. Apparently if his mom asked each of us something, we'd give the same answer. He's been gone for almost ten years now, and I still catch myself thinking I should tell him this or ask his advice about something.

K.L. wrote: "In other news, on Friday I had the chance to go see the new Haunted Mansion movie at my local movie theater, and I really liked it! The balance of creepy moments and humor was much better than in Disney’s previous attempt, and there were a lot of references to the theme park ride that I found very clever. ..."

Well, I tried to see the new Haunted Mansion movie, but ended up watching the Muppet Haunted Mansion movie by mistake. It was all right. Probably more kid-friendly at any rate.

Woah either I have a lot to catch up on or your guys are flying in here!

I have been so busy with a side project that I have not had time to check the forums. Let alone read.

I'm hoping I'll be able to start reading by August 15th when my project is pretty much on the completion side.

This weekend the thought of kindred spirits came to my mind for some reason, so I started thinking about what that means. It occurs to me that "kindred soul" is the phrase I would use instead of soulmate.

And I've had a lot of kindred souls in my life. Kindred souls can come into your life for a short time or for a lifetime as they are needed. I consider this group to be some of my kindred souls because we all share a great love of the same things - books and reading.

I cannot put all of my hopes and dreams into one person.

Well good things are happening this week. I'll talk about them next week though. I want a friend to find out and see it first before I start making anything public and official.

*****

On another note, picked up One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General .

With everything going on right now and seeing how this man has been essential to it all, I'm curious about his book now.

*****

Also thought I'd try something different. The subject of autism has recently come up in my family. Turns out that a person in my family has it. It just went undiagnosed because that person doesn't seem like they have it. I think the term is 'high-functioning', but I'm coming to see a lot of people don't like to call it that so I'm trying to figure out what other terms are out there for it.

Anyways, because of that, I've decided to look into this aspect of neurodiversity.

May Tomorrow Be Awake: On Poetry, Autism, and Our Neurodiverse Future

In a Different Key: The Story of Autism