Shireen > Recent Status Updates

I read this in 2 days, a new record since brain injury took away my reading. Getting closer to pre-brain injury rate of a mystery read in 2 hours all in one go. I think pushing myself to read my manuscript as quickly as possible and stress so high, I’m finally burying myself in a book, led to this breakthrough. Animal content helps! Still not a fan of Kai. Too stereotypical.

This suffered from the second book blues. Moss wasn’t in it much, and her relationship with him and his appearance was what made the first book memorable. And some of her predicaments seem contrived unlike in the first book. Could be because of the writing. Not a fan of Kai. He’s kind of stereotypical unlike Hugh.

The characters, the prose, the animal details, and the narrators voice hooked me. The story pulled me in and kept me glued. But really it was the main character Grace and her honest, fearless approach with her love of dogs that kept me reading. Also FIRST TIME in 26 years, 9 months, and 4 days I’ve read a novel in ONE DAY! Took me over 8 hours with many breaks but WOW! Brain injury recovery milestone!

I needed a distraction from my thoughts on a walk and this was the first available audiobook that remotely appealed to me. Chapter 1 was interesting. I liked his chocolate exercise. Mindful eating as a way to experience pleasure and glory. Anyway, listening to this did the job.

There’s too much telling instead of dialogue or action. My beta reader mentioned a couple of instances of that in my trilogy’s 3rd novel. I was tired; my creativity kaput; but the critiquing reminded me what readers want to see. Someone didn’t do that for this author, and their book isn’t long so adding words isn’t an issue. Makes me not care about the characters or narrator.

A perfect read for a cognitively demanding week. Also reading a mystery set in what’s now an historical time period is a great escape from this terrible world of terrible leaders.

I’m taking a break and trying another novel. I wanted to like this series, but I can’t get into this story. The protagonist isn’t engendering any sympathy in me, which on the surface she should. Sigh.

There’s a sequel‽ Well crafted. Well written. Dynamic characters. I began to recall reviewing the big picture part of visualizing and verbalizing when I realized the story is too long and convoluted with too many characters for basic verbalizing. Some imagery slow to return. But it did. Read a lot today because I needed reading-as-destressor with all the shit coming at me.

This is a hugely entertaining ePub ebook. The problem with ebooks is you can’t judge through sight how big it is. I have less than 10 days left in my borrow time from the Toronto Public Library. As a writer, I admire the way they’ve structured it. It’s so creative with 1st person narrative interspersed with posts, journal entries, highly realistic emails. 🤣

A lot of action. A lot of description. I should’ve been engaged not bored. Oh well. Finished it before the library took back the epub. I won’t continue with this series.

Gah. She’s so slow. I figured out who it is many chapters ago. You’d think an agent who fights magic first skill would be always question your assumptions.

Reading library ebook. I’ve not been reading daily - kind of sputtering along both because this ebook isn’t holding my attention and writing/stuff is consuming my cognitive energy. The protagonist Fatma ain’t all that bright. Thank goodness for Hadia who uses her brain.

Living in Canada means I understand all the French vocab and expressions. But I think Cambridge followed the advice of my English prof really well: when using less-known diction, ensure the context tells the reader what it means. I like reading a mystery with an intrepid woman. More and more, writers of novels and screenplays are drawing women protagonists who save themselves and sometimes the men.

Strange to think of this series as historical, but WWII and the 1950s are long ago now as to be old history. The characters are as delightful as in the first book, and the writing as engaging.

The characters are fun. The mystery light, and the cooking and food elements contrast nicely with the murder mystery and each other. True escapism.

Already enjoying this novel. I’m reading the ebook out of the library. I wasn’t sure about a book that includes a known historical figure that modern readers would’ve seen on PBS. But the characters are delightful and the writing breezy. I’m also finding myself drawn to novels set before-current-horror times.

The only thing missing is Jade’s final perspective. Unless autopsies take forever and a day longer than getting a book published- which isn’t that quick - it’s a bit weird they don’t know the how behind the murder mystery. Unique take on this genre.

It struck me as I mulled over the characters that they are all in working relationships, are vested in each other (or in competition), some have known each other a very long time, but they’re not actually connected to each other. No connecting empathy. This light mystery novel aptly depicts why loneliness is endemic.

A fun read. Cool twists. You think you know but… Heh. I like the ending.

Not all that well written but it’s an easy read. Good for escapism when your brain is being heavily taxed.

First person narration written in social media style. You know, that kind of casual way of “talking.” I vacillate between liking it and feeling it doesn’t quite fit. The narrator is slowly growing.

A fun light read without the usual ending. But somehow both realistic and uplifting.

I’m reading these novels quicker than I normally read light mysteries. Either my brain is improving or because I’d read these before my brain injury, that familiarity eases reading effort and lets me read quicker. Either way, the kind of escapism I need right now.

I’m reading these so quickly now (quickly for me post-brain injury — before my injury, I’d read a novel like this in a couple hours on one day), that I’m forgetting to enter them and update them. It’s interesting how the author inserts all sorts of political and geographical info in a totally natural way. Truly progressive politics for the time. But not preachy or judgy. It’s a treat to escape into this.

A great read. Loved going back into an era when these things were real but now I can just enjoy a good story. Reminds me that one day these current horrible times will end.

I’d forgotten how much fun Mrs Pollifax novels are. Light, fun, a different era to take out of this awful time. The books don’t strain the brain, either. So important with the cognitive heavy course I’m doing.

I’ve started an intense course on Zoroastrian customs, oral traditions, and rituals. A very light read is the only viable novel reading. This book is just the ticket. Although I have no recollection of it, I’m pretty sure I read all or most of the Mrs Pollifax books the library stocked before my brain injury. That should make it easier to visualize and verbalize.

Well, my original whodunnit and why was correct, but I thought it was so easy and I cottoned on to it so early, I dismissed it. Ah well. But what kind of doctor sees yellow skin and immediately thinks all in the head and not liver damage? Bad medicine!

I’m pretty sure I know whodunnit and now I think I’ve figured out why. One small mystery also solved, too, as part of the bigger one of whodunnit.

Toronto Library suggested this, and it dovetailed with some aspects of my third novel in The Q’Zam’Ta Trilogy which I’m currently revising. I skipped to the pest part. So disappointing with info on how to prevent mouse intrusion. It’s great if you’re a rich Californian, but the rest of us plebes get barely any suggestion. Back to chapter 3.