Annabel > Recent Status Updates

“Einstein noticed that the prescience of the sun warps the path of light from distant stars.” It’s fun how complicated things are resolved with simple revelations.

Terribly difficult book to read. Reminds me of “All Quiet on The Western Front” although that is more eloquently written. Both books have incredibly intense moments.

Revisiting this series years after the 2nd book. Glad I gave myself the breather. All of the characters have big emotions which are the primary plot drivers. (Seesaw). Throughout this series I have felt conflicted about their motives and relationships, still do. In the final stretch … see where it goes.

“If love was all the same water, perhaps it lapped a bit differently on each shore that it touched? Or perhaps it shaped itself differently to the depth and breadth of the vessels that contained it? Enjoy what you have, Thomas wrote.”
Books like this are meant to be read slowly. The little details interwoven and spread about, are so lovely.

“Anemones, small, tentacled predators that come in a wild and colorful assortment of species, were one of Carson’s favorite animals.”
This feels fitting of Carson. I imagine her second favorite to be squids … maybe?

Quote: “Mr. Parnassus nodded. ‘Even if you have spiders in your brain?”’

Reminded me of the grinch’s song.

“It’s the little things. Little treasures we find without knowing their origin. And they come when we least expect them. It’s beautiful, when you think about it.”

Nothing like scaring the guy besides you at the gym because of a book declaration. Knew the info would come out … not like that though. I don’t think I’ll survive the second half of this damn book.

Shouldn’t be shocked … but damn.

Listening to this one as an audiobook, so I can finish a painting & it’s honestly fantastic. It’s so intense & well read! Usually hit or miss with audiobooks.
“Gratitude is like spring blooms. Fine smelling but short lived.”

Gotta stop here … before sleep becomes a suggestion before work. The historical tidbits make me want to reread Pachinko or Dragon’s Gate. (Even though they’re completely different).

Botheration Cass. To sleep or not to sleep tonight.

“‘Fear is a poor reason to limit your options”’
The second book is just as good if not better than the first.

“‘Can we maybe give ‘shortly’ a more concrete answer.’ The smile evaporated. The receptionist stared.”

This book is brutal but Bab’s has some surprisingly funny moments. (Idk why but her straight, almost impatient way of speaking just hits).

Brutal.

“Isabel wanted to not hear the words in the same way she could sometimes blur her eyes when looking at something — decide not to see it in full focus, decide to disengage.”

Damn.
“Talia will only say you need to tell your dad. She doesn’t know what it’s like, living in a home where the only music that plays is a song of silence.”

2025 Favs

“Before We Were Yours” Broke my heart

“Those Who Wait” Laughed a lot

“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” Made me question everything b/c life is what you are dealt & what you make of it. Where does it go right & wrong? Societal pressure; cost of perception.

“Lilac Girls”

“The Incandescent” Loved the dry humor & random observations regarding possessed items

“Atmosphere” Cried

Devastating knowing how few protections there were for women. The acts which made a knight honorable or dishonorable, were closely related to the status of those they interacted with, and how they and their victims were perceived. It’s heartbreaking.

“So if in theory rape was a serious crime for which the law provided heavy penalties, in practice it often went unpunished, unprosecuted, and even unreported.”

It’s interesting how many complicated layers there were leading up to the duel itself and how the conflict ran so much deeper than one act.

“The risks of marrying a traitor’s daughter were minor compared with the damage Jean inflicted on himself by quarreling over Aunou-le-Faucon.”

I’d like to remember this part, how sad it is to know that he’s feeling this way. He’s constantly in survival mode and he’s lonely. His raw unspoken emotion.

“Hate comes along and lays out the damn doormat and there you are. But I kept my mouth shut. It’s safer knowing more about people than they know about you.”

“I wasn’t clueless to people’s thinking. But a thing grows teeth once it’s put into words.”