tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58655528760091639192024-03-18T23:30:32.356-07:00Life, the universe and catsBooks, cats, life, studying, gaming, cross-stitch, movies, TV ... etc.
Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.comBlogger342125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-74030988894776135092024-03-18T23:30:00.000-07:002024-03-18T23:30:00.149-07:00Maree's Movie Night - Road House<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3od-ajVNCgbGxO9B-bMCnETaq_l-9noeSMA7BYHjFzl8Ovh0BlRPwoSYvA-5Cq_bxzPbAdYApzy8NDnAQi1bHgzfet_EC1_41YfOIWrxkpxJStCBJ5f8yxeUbiaXVPS9EdWPF1LqCsm21OoYA1p0tVQUxalLqSDzDAabGH9gBexl-tW2M-1lKz6jkESm/s513/1989_-_Road_House_Movie_Poster.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3od-ajVNCgbGxO9B-bMCnETaq_l-9noeSMA7BYHjFzl8Ovh0BlRPwoSYvA-5Cq_bxzPbAdYApzy8NDnAQi1bHgzfet_EC1_41YfOIWrxkpxJStCBJ5f8yxeUbiaXVPS9EdWPF1LqCsm21OoYA1p0tVQUxalLqSDzDAabGH9gBexl-tW2M-1lKz6jkESm/w136-h200/1989_-_Road_House_Movie_Poster.webp" width="136" /></a></div>Ah, 1980s Patrick Swayze. So handsome. Riding the success of Ghost and Dirty Dancing. <p></p><p>And then. Road House. Look, I know Road House isn't a good movie. You know Road House isn't a good movie. But here's the thing. As terrible as it is objectively, it's also great. It just is, and no correspondence will be entered into.</p><p>Swayze is a bouncer, or a "cooler" who's hired to clean house at the Double Deuce - the type of Road House the band plays behind chicken wire (which, side note, always reminds me of the Blues Brothers.)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xtBy8eKDrsRaOK2VHBI8LO1MVdzmBXvZkxDZW_QdfV4sqea8z-I-PsOj_t8zFSeXcZDdWFxYclRxgP6SmivgNegr2fHlAVgtgPs50MgZBXDNt-SMhQCorr_T1Fjpl5OhPdeRCLDkEi_gXu-MEWTcHB7Tdczc-kgKVMRwLno9wWtZ2H1XKygmoCTRq8zE/s640/popcorn-707364_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xtBy8eKDrsRaOK2VHBI8LO1MVdzmBXvZkxDZW_QdfV4sqea8z-I-PsOj_t8zFSeXcZDdWFxYclRxgP6SmivgNegr2fHlAVgtgPs50MgZBXDNt-SMhQCorr_T1Fjpl5OhPdeRCLDkEi_gXu-MEWTcHB7Tdczc-kgKVMRwLno9wWtZ2H1XKygmoCTRq8zE/w200-h134/popcorn-707364_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So Dalton (Swayze) rides into town ready to kick ass and take names and set the world to rights. Which, of course, he does.<p></p><p>There are some unintentionally funny moments - and some intentional ones as well - but overall it's just pure entertainment.</p><p>Do yourself a favour - if you haven't heard them before, look up the band from the movie - The Jeff Healey Band. So good. <br /></p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-58369259269787148712024-03-16T22:00:00.000-07:002024-03-16T22:00:00.331-07:00Sunday Post 49; It's Monday! What are you reading? 49<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj_pgqNcnOBhbZTZcZEfiVr8fpjhGIruCZfO5__UfP46taUF3a7Mp28kITZ948rqYfrQ-hRR990HrHfxRoUnpGEgZ3PMNrEFLgA1s51aoi8N4jkXGPBG_zALAk8KARuF_DkzpjnHjavvN9DMDfPrYbUHrQiipHHx-kU60lA9yTKgtD1aMLqip2_YcKrPw/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj_pgqNcnOBhbZTZcZEfiVr8fpjhGIruCZfO5__UfP46taUF3a7Mp28kITZ948rqYfrQ-hRR990HrHfxRoUnpGEgZ3PMNrEFLgA1s51aoi8N4jkXGPBG_zALAk8KARuF_DkzpjnHjavvN9DMDfPrYbUHrQiipHHx-kU60lA9yTKgtD1aMLqip2_YcKrPw/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTLMiw-_ZJSM5oQLD63-SULyvUJEdoxRIAWvrGMc94g0cnI3EzMnUfAEjCguCQQ75BOZNTpEG7nveRLFBdaO0fPjPxsko5-shJ-Jvlp8vKVNxLLeRiDMipF8JKXf-43yUw_4O7Vo6ZMp3NPQKjyfO7jLdrD4n3Z1BqzaT5jv-ibpKfMSzNcrA8ojdgmMz/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTLMiw-_ZJSM5oQLD63-SULyvUJEdoxRIAWvrGMc94g0cnI3EzMnUfAEjCguCQQ75BOZNTpEG7nveRLFBdaO0fPjPxsko5-shJ-Jvlp8vKVNxLLeRiDMipF8JKXf-43yUw_4O7Vo6ZMp3NPQKjyfO7jLdrD4n3Z1BqzaT5jv-ibpKfMSzNcrA8ojdgmMz/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><p>My week was fairly uneventful, except of course for the heavy chains of capitalism.</p><p>We won at quiz on Wednesday night by one point, but a win is a win, no matter how narrow the margin. </p><p>We got talking at work about some of the "reboot" movies that are coming out, and Roadhouse came up. So, of course, on Thursday night I had to dig into the vaults of TV Land and watch the original. The original Roadhouse is both great, and also terrible. This remains true. The soundtrack, however, still slaps. (Is that what the kids are saying? "Slaps"?)</p><p>Friday, Spawn had a friend over for a sleepover, so I retreated to my room and told myself "I'm not going to watch the whole Eras tour movie, it's over three hours long." Reader, I watched the whole Eras tour movie. I don't consider myself a "Swiftie" as such but I do like quite a few of the songs, and I admire the work ethic. And honestly - it's a great show. One of my workmates went to see Taylor Swift in Sydney and declared it the greatest night of her life. </p><p>Saturday a friend of mine and I went to the library, and after Spawn's wee friend had gone home and he had tidied up the debris of their sleepover, we went trawling some secondhand stores. Spawn bought a couple of books, and I found a photo frame for 50cents, which I've used to frame a Monet print card. </p><p>Saturday night I went to my friend's place as usual and we stitched and watched reality TV. We're off to the movies later today to see Wicked Letters.</p><p>I finished Poirot & Me, and also You Can Trust Me, both of which I did enjoy. </p><p>Currently I'm reading The Labours of Hercules, short stories by Agatha Christie featuring the little Belgian detective, and I started The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, first book in the Order of Legends series, which is shaping up to be very promising.</p><p>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-13236425714638747332024-03-11T23:30:00.000-07:002024-03-11T23:30:00.140-07:00Maree's Movie Night - Pain Hustlers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknzdsYwMqusQV6o-KqdCRMcXidV2wH-NaS3aIWEYoz2rXaL4HjRvO9FrZE4BU8na97PNN1XBUp4bVLIq7j93D16mG4_N2H1TghIw4Pl5gc0YC6nlb1E_-_s7UaC-CMThSjuLyfGT4NjBPaIEwMODwTcUwuncXzKMmU4BymVpTV2aYAC7-dUyfJML6IZ8I/s378/Pain_hustlers_film_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="255" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknzdsYwMqusQV6o-KqdCRMcXidV2wH-NaS3aIWEYoz2rXaL4HjRvO9FrZE4BU8na97PNN1XBUp4bVLIq7j93D16mG4_N2H1TghIw4Pl5gc0YC6nlb1E_-_s7UaC-CMThSjuLyfGT4NjBPaIEwMODwTcUwuncXzKMmU4BymVpTV2aYAC7-dUyfJML6IZ8I/w135-h200/Pain_hustlers_film_poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div> I was going to watch The Bourne Supremacy on Friday night, but couldn't find it anywhere.<p></p><p>This popped up on Netflix, and I thought it looked interesting, so I dived in.</p><p>Pain Hustlers is based on a true story about a small, start-up pharmaceutical company trying to push a new painkiller for cancer patients.</p><p>Emily Blunt is down on her luck single mother Liza who talks her way into a job with the company, and Chris Evans is the slightly skeevy rep who recruits her.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mkChzwstAKA1J8pWT2qI-Gr0lKLODzRW97aUULDcckMhhXWRxrJfQmsGJOm9ex1hLHF-Uaxxd1jgPrKVrx5JTW1XdEdiHh4gnuk3qGIthKYeDsUeooGkyr0icvNEhEParoTOFdF5yfSobnSyEA8RHQbxHIaqmw7WPGWL6hyHCj4DO8csmTGU91AdPTmo/s640/popcorn-707364_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mkChzwstAKA1J8pWT2qI-Gr0lKLODzRW97aUULDcckMhhXWRxrJfQmsGJOm9ex1hLHF-Uaxxd1jgPrKVrx5JTW1XdEdiHh4gnuk3qGIthKYeDsUeooGkyr0icvNEhEParoTOFdF5yfSobnSyEA8RHQbxHIaqmw7WPGWL6hyHCj4DO8csmTGU91AdPTmo/w200-h134/popcorn-707364_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It's always fun to see Chris Evans play against the Captain America stereotype and it's the same with this movie, although the front and centre star is without a doubt Emily Blunt.<p></p><p>Her character is motivated by the right things - she's trying to make a better life for herself and her daughter who is prone to seizures due to a tangled bundle of nerves in her brain. Catherine O'Hara also shows up in a great supporting role as Emily Blunt's character's somewhat chaotic mother.</p><p>The drug starts to take off for cancer patients, and it's not long before doctors are prescribing it for all kinds of pain. The kicker is - it's fentanyl. Which I don't know a lot about, but I do know it's incredibly addictive. There's a lot of other dodgy dealings and kickbacks as well which did largely go over my head.</p><p>But the story and the acting were engaging enough to keep me invested.</p><p>When the husband of one of her friend's dies from an overdose, Liza realises she needs to do something, and turns whistleblower, which brings the company crashing down.</p><p>Pain Hustlers is definitely worth watching - great cast plus a solid story make for a good night in.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-73536405510975371502024-03-09T20:30:00.000-08:002024-03-09T20:30:00.176-08:00Sunday Post 48; It's Monday! What are you reading? 48<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVihs_RPGYH0yQf6wOruQEdTNU6RpYh1cTzqGS39FPuIQ_yaGkJq5c2bymDU8YlmUckKAEAMmWKersxJ0Fi05uN90-iN8MXkBMqUoL28d3RIfGmlgAYVLkGlzHKPd6wz8djN00Ihv1ohefI_kicHYXKkP09dOg0gh1OPu88U-5yPGswf56KKN4omCzaJI/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVihs_RPGYH0yQf6wOruQEdTNU6RpYh1cTzqGS39FPuIQ_yaGkJq5c2bymDU8YlmUckKAEAMmWKersxJ0Fi05uN90-iN8MXkBMqUoL28d3RIfGmlgAYVLkGlzHKPd6wz8djN00Ihv1ohefI_kicHYXKkP09dOg0gh1OPu88U-5yPGswf56KKN4omCzaJI/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoF9NdRmECd6IQqE3_2NSV2Yrp1tgVMEo52wPw_6OoiBUgz9x1NpuzGdAerQE6Ce6p3b5urbTejA6BTG8YCL6voZrDbmWnGyLksFRlx7hRO7MkxlHtw9JD8npCanwgd6a0G9r0R_mvaP873yAIp3lc0JFA_XFxlWPZcfIH-pl3WaGcE-VFbJQmWKKJfNI/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoF9NdRmECd6IQqE3_2NSV2Yrp1tgVMEo52wPw_6OoiBUgz9x1NpuzGdAerQE6Ce6p3b5urbTejA6BTG8YCL6voZrDbmWnGyLksFRlx7hRO7MkxlHtw9JD8npCanwgd6a0G9r0R_mvaP873yAIp3lc0JFA_XFxlWPZcfIH-pl3WaGcE-VFbJQmWKKJfNI/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are Your Reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><p>Why is it when you cut yourself, it's always in the most inconvenient place? I cut my finger yesterday and it's right at the tip, so when I'm typing I hit the cut every single time.</p><p>Anyway. </p><p>My week was much more uneventful. </p><p>I went to work because capitalism and I didn't marry rich when I was young and skinny. </p><p>We won at quiz on Wednesday night which is always nice.</p><p>Son of Mine had a sleepover at a friend's on Friday night. It's funny - both his dad and I are pretty introverted - his Dad moreso than me - but somehow we've created this extroverted social butterfly who can make friends with anyone. </p><p>So I parked up on the couch with some stitching and had planned to watch The Bourne Supremacy but could not find it on any of the streaming platforms we have. After a bit of browsing and false starts, I watched Pain Hustlers on Netflix, which is about a pharmaceutical start up with Emily Blunt and Chris Evans. Review to come later in the week.</p><p>Yesterday morning I arose from the depths, got myself settled for some uninterrupted TV and watched episode 2 of The Fall of the House of Usher. I'm greatly enjoying it but I can only take one episode at a time, and I need to wait until Son of Mine is out and about. </p><p>Then I went to pick him up from his friend's and took Lily to the vet for her regular blood tests. </p><p>I did some reading in the afternoon and ferried Son of Mine and another one of his friends about for a bit. He went to that friend's last night for another sleepover. He's going to come home and crash VERY hard I think. </p><p>I'm still reading Poirot and Me by David Suchet which I'm enjoying. I also rented a couple of the Poirot seasons from the library, so I've also been working my way through those. </p><p>I'm also still reading You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard which is still great.</p><p>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-81842767864910646492024-03-04T22:30:00.000-08:002024-03-04T22:30:00.133-08:00Short reviews<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UBMhcUn4WjraCmxWccTWzkWSFICZ8RtDQq9YS0utG-4eE25n-bgngdf2YOrLGI3CJZO07pihDAb0CvfZIewi_7GzUQcOiRC4jb5pp3xIxZQcUP-NIwmeY63UvrCKdlqJCwqJBaQIGUrC4ko4a4ohG-u6P7CklFWNRovvDFaeES7fvGxuQjUFEo-iwjWY/s2475/65213543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1613" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UBMhcUn4WjraCmxWccTWzkWSFICZ8RtDQq9YS0utG-4eE25n-bgngdf2YOrLGI3CJZO07pihDAb0CvfZIewi_7GzUQcOiRC4jb5pp3xIxZQcUP-NIwmeY63UvrCKdlqJCwqJBaQIGUrC4ko4a4ohG-u6P7CklFWNRovvDFaeES7fvGxuQjUFEo-iwjWY/w131-h200/65213543.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>Bookshops & Bonedust by Travls Baldree is a prequel to Legends & Lattes, which I absolutely loved. And, I have to say, this one had me grinning like an idiot as well.<p></p><p>Viv is a young, brash Orc, just starting out as a mercenary with Rackham's Ravens when she's badly injured by the minions of necromancer the crew is chasing.</p><p>She's forced to take downtime and finds herself settling into Murk - a sleepy beachside down to rest and recuperate.</p><p>Viv doesn't take the enforced rest very well to start with, and things start to stack up for her.</p><p>Luckily, she meets some friends along the way, including Fern who owns the town's only bookstore, and Maylee, the dwarf - and romantic interest for Viv - who owns a bakery.</p><p>Unfortunately, the necromancer is still out there, and she's heading for Murk...</p><p>This was just. Lovely. I don't know how else to describe it honestly. I loved it so much.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4dLcVcplA00IiB-P05kI0ksuz0KCVU5vgE0b4naWgurROt3rWczPa4tvqqCRnHwMJ1uShFfUO7bg3cqecaa8ndzQ13TMciMuwuV8p7hmgfXg8mA-C3NUckK5NXz5lShhEs4pN4ptiWxZfc6f6aiLZ2Fby84k2ZWR0qEEkimVq1Lb7mF-ZqmtIVraFLOD/s475/31300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="296" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4dLcVcplA00IiB-P05kI0ksuz0KCVU5vgE0b4naWgurROt3rWczPa4tvqqCRnHwMJ1uShFfUO7bg3cqecaa8ndzQ13TMciMuwuV8p7hmgfXg8mA-C3NUckK5NXz5lShhEs4pN4ptiWxZfc6f6aiLZ2Fby84k2ZWR0qEEkimVq1Lb7mF-ZqmtIVraFLOD/w124-h200/31300.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>After the book of Miss Marple short stories by modern writers didn't work out, I decided to go back to the source material. <div><br /></div><div>I picked up A Caribbean Mystery, in which Miss Marple is on holiday in the Caribbean - slightly bored if she's honest, but overall enjoying herself - when someone is murdered.</div><div><br /></div><div>The murder - of a retired Major who's main goal seems to be boring everyone rigid with his stories - sets off an unexpected chain of events, leading to Miss Marple acting as a very unlikely Nemesis.</div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't read this one for a few years so had forgotten whodunit. So I was entertained and surprised at the same time.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTy5EW2N09_y4u72YQEHCT9xVhRdKDeNW0J52ETwK8rz-d-IVNTBs_98wM9_cEuq_lE71DoLjjD_Tx-OOSCYRmaEy8BP5inndoBnkFho_uxTA1E9NATALSzSTCSWvswF8zl_qHuuJMyDkGf_KHpClpk6WdIHQcIwKPuuAMkui5uqwq8wOVou2nEzBH_V3/s987/37173847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="650" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTy5EW2N09_y4u72YQEHCT9xVhRdKDeNW0J52ETwK8rz-d-IVNTBs_98wM9_cEuq_lE71DoLjjD_Tx-OOSCYRmaEy8BP5inndoBnkFho_uxTA1E9NATALSzSTCSWvswF8zl_qHuuJMyDkGf_KHpClpk6WdIHQcIwKPuuAMkui5uqwq8wOVou2nEzBH_V3/w132-h200/37173847.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>I had seen Foundryside at my library a few times, but - true confession - the cover put me off for some reason, so I never picked it up. I *think* I saw someone on an instagram reel mention it and I though "oh, that DOES sound lik me," so I borrowed it from the library.<div><br /></div><div>And it's SO good! Sancia is an escaped slave, living on the margins of a society with a very strong dividing line between the haves and the have-nots.</div><div><br /></div><div>She survives by stealing, and she also has a secret - Sancia has a scrived plate in her head, which means she can ... talk? to things that she touches - walls, doors, windows ... </div><div><br /></div><div>She does a job for a fence, and steals a key. What Sancia doesn't realise is how important that key really is.</div><div><br /></div><div>The worldbuilding is great, and Sancia is a truly compelling main character. Fantasy plus heist is one of my favourites, and this did not disappoint.<br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-28866925359005416202024-03-02T20:23:00.000-08:002024-03-02T20:23:16.341-08:00Sunday Post 47; It's Monday! What are you reading? 47<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCHyYIXOIJmh6jWbDINzhpFt8j3FaAa_3QzvSw4T5O1opzut5mqpOGSyYdb4Cx3sjEpUBrfdFlJNDL0hM4GEflMZ-PkZmmXUL5DVmZ5aF0ccxUjsXCKwylFrYwXHwzBKqHRnD35oF-yRz7rlSR9cnMJaPxhrYRJFPoFxk7yBxVi-9wyjxSUTfDc5Ebizu/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCHyYIXOIJmh6jWbDINzhpFt8j3FaAa_3QzvSw4T5O1opzut5mqpOGSyYdb4Cx3sjEpUBrfdFlJNDL0hM4GEflMZ-PkZmmXUL5DVmZ5aF0ccxUjsXCKwylFrYwXHwzBKqHRnD35oF-yRz7rlSR9cnMJaPxhrYRJFPoFxk7yBxVi-9wyjxSUTfDc5Ebizu/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN34pC-aQP0DW6It-WDCBs4SMhH9L2sFNLuPGVKgGln8XhMLBnAj7Fte70bA_49A6ygs5MGANrCppeVMpyYzow8fgVd6LLN-_dAsbX47JEOwo0b6SjU8sTyrtCoWwu5peojw3iGnVWWmQgsENiNoqQM06_oBqEzahPi7GBu8ropsM_WmNiG1MHMPwUgmvx/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN34pC-aQP0DW6It-WDCBs4SMhH9L2sFNLuPGVKgGln8XhMLBnAj7Fte70bA_49A6ygs5MGANrCppeVMpyYzow8fgVd6LLN-_dAsbX47JEOwo0b6SjU8sTyrtCoWwu5peojw3iGnVWWmQgsENiNoqQM06_oBqEzahPi7GBu8ropsM_WmNiG1MHMPwUgmvx/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><div>Let's see ... my week was slightly more eventful than I generally like.</div><div><br /></div><div>My sister was admitted to hospital last Monday night with pneumonia. (She's fine, and home now). So on Tuesday after work I went down to see her and take some magazines and books as she was - understandably - bored. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tuesday was also my work bestie's last day, and she has now moved to a different city. I miss her a lot - more than I thought I would, to be honest. I know we can keep in touch thanks to the magic of social media and cellphones but it's not the same as seeing someone every day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Quiz was Wednesday night, and we didn't place for the first time this year - we came fourth. Can't win them all, I guess.</div><div><br /></div><div>Friday night was a work do at a pub that had already been cancelled twice. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was very ready for the weekend by the end of it all.</div><div><br /></div><div>I went to the library yesterday and to a secondhand store where I found a couple of art cards I'm planning on framing and hanging up. </div><div><br /></div><div>Son of Mine had a sleepover here on Friday night, and then spent Saturday night at another friend's place. So he's feeling rather tired today. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today I haven't done much at all, and it has been nice.</div><div><br /></div><div>I finished Foundryside, and very much enjoyed it. I also finished A Caribbean Mystery.</div><div>I started Wife after Wife by Olivia Hayfield and I don't know whether it's just me, but I got 3 pages in and honestly could not take the writing. But it has a bundle of 4 and 5 star ratings on goodreads. But the writing is just ... clumsy somehow? Life is too short to read books that irritate me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway. I'm reading Poirot and Me by Sir David Suchet, about his 25 years playing the great detective, and I also started You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard, which is shaping up to be very promising.</div><div><br /></div><div>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-66602183879320576912024-02-26T22:30:00.000-08:002024-02-26T22:30:00.154-08:00Maree's Movie Night - The Bourne Identity<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMgE0UpMdV58nnlJIvdLbQiYXRbmcNzBRZD5OQ11xit217pzRPVwu4ihfXWJLQ7JMsZdrxalMhSU09BKmysB2NH2P4I6266GsSgDzFXcvVUi5-QVi9ijHTFdJZ9l833YUPLyxqFJ8BvN4lKpNQRM0oZuW4VyTfHH-71Qg_v3maYTCu0AgPGSLckKsycHC/s480/sddefault1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="358" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMgE0UpMdV58nnlJIvdLbQiYXRbmcNzBRZD5OQ11xit217pzRPVwu4ihfXWJLQ7JMsZdrxalMhSU09BKmysB2NH2P4I6266GsSgDzFXcvVUi5-QVi9ijHTFdJZ9l833YUPLyxqFJ8BvN4lKpNQRM0oZuW4VyTfHH-71Qg_v3maYTCu0AgPGSLckKsycHC/w149-h200/sddefault1.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlSVytGTgaucSi5gIEd05D3o5EWO6pQNfrLabztcCXrM7udziwX_YShyphenhyphenmOIsTAysu01PIOVNxqt13peHN-3Elj7j09usqqnn3KH9YnW3eenftb5Fi5GSQrKW1I1egNl0gxUkVnNwfKrDbmr3us3F49dA3Yw45AWm7_nfrvBLBoBsV9W9WZXuZ8G6kBSr4/s640/popcorn-707364_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlSVytGTgaucSi5gIEd05D3o5EWO6pQNfrLabztcCXrM7udziwX_YShyphenhyphenmOIsTAysu01PIOVNxqt13peHN-3Elj7j09usqqnn3KH9YnW3eenftb5Fi5GSQrKW1I1egNl0gxUkVnNwfKrDbmr3us3F49dA3Yw45AWm7_nfrvBLBoBsV9W9WZXuZ8G6kBSr4/w154-h103/popcorn-707364_640.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>I mentioned in my Sunday Post that I'm trying to watch more movies this year. I've set a goal of ... 55? I think? and I've watched about 10 so far.<div><br /></div><div>So I've decided, to help me stay on track, I'll start reviewing the movies that I watch. </div><div><br /></div><div>There's no rhyme or reason to it, it's just what I'm feeling like on the night, and how good my concentration levels are. </div><div><br /></div><div>So. First up is The Bourne Identity, starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne.</div><div>I haven't read any of the books, but the movie is highly entertaining.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jason Bourne is some kind of super-spy, who has been fished out of the ocean with absolutely no memory of who he is. Then things start going REALLY bad.</div><div><br /></div><div>A friend of mine pointed out that the reason these movies are so good is that Bourne has to rely on his wits to get through, and she's right. He has amnesia, but muscle memory kicks in and he powers through. </div><div><br /></div><div>The cast is absolutely stacked to the gills with some top action talent, though Julia Stiles is criminally under-used in this one. From memory her part expands in the next movie.</div><div><br /></div><div>The perfect Friday night film.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-42005313133559485122024-02-24T20:47:00.000-08:002024-02-24T20:47:58.036-08:00Sunday Post 46; It's Monday! What are you reading? 46<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bdrgtVdkOunaH4vYR57r7qlXnvE-RxyBruMEAH_t2dofPDyGgqvElpzXJvFRWipfYErzoDocqMn7nMjsE21wdLD1hSwkVc67FtW5umXVpYsqJpNluXg8wHD-Nt1Wn5AiPWakTdfrY_y5yZfYIzzHgShnjOMub-AyVn1Pt2tcjemhsf9teN-duGh9QtI1/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bdrgtVdkOunaH4vYR57r7qlXnvE-RxyBruMEAH_t2dofPDyGgqvElpzXJvFRWipfYErzoDocqMn7nMjsE21wdLD1hSwkVc67FtW5umXVpYsqJpNluXg8wHD-Nt1Wn5AiPWakTdfrY_y5yZfYIzzHgShnjOMub-AyVn1Pt2tcjemhsf9teN-duGh9QtI1/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk10htg5iUofEbcWzceQQs8boVd5rj9iUu87rtlPzO_rtQ_ygimAU4PKXfdF04hPQlEFjFi7p4w3nqPyg1gC75G0ifNHHJilmfngtYrFohrDaVxldnbiiAq38R8E8gVbBayrNAiCuoVDAUL_Gw9Z0W7lH0vCAgSvDcTqSsT1NT590118t99qnGRyEbXBrh/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk10htg5iUofEbcWzceQQs8boVd5rj9iUu87rtlPzO_rtQ_ygimAU4PKXfdF04hPQlEFjFi7p4w3nqPyg1gC75G0ifNHHJilmfngtYrFohrDaVxldnbiiAq38R8E8gVbBayrNAiCuoVDAUL_Gw9Z0W7lH0vCAgSvDcTqSsT1NT590118t99qnGRyEbXBrh/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><div>Son of Mine is over his bout of Covid and husband and I were lucky enough not to be infected this time around. Son's symptoms were mostly that of a bad cold or flu, and he spent a lot of time napping. He's feeling better, tested negative, and he's back to school tomorrow. Which he is VERY excited about.*</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*Not.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway. I opted not to go to quiz on Wednesday night as a couple of my team members are immuno-compromised, so I stayed home, and the team won without me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Apart from that... not a lot, really. Son of Mine and I went to the library on Saturday, and he's recently taken up drawing, so I took him to buy some colouring pencils and sketch paper. I went to my friend's as usual on Saturday, where we stitched and watched Survivor. We're only up to season 44, so no spoilers. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Today I had some sour cream and bananas that needed to be used up so I made a banana loaf, which came out pretty well. I spent the rest of the afternoon stitching and listening to You Must Remember This, a podcast about the first 100 years of Hollywood history. It's interesting stuff and podcast listening is great for stitching.</div><div><br /></div><div>Otherwise I've been watching more Star Trek: Voyager. I also started season 2 of Reacher, which for me is just pure entertainment. I've only read one of the books, and I thought it was okay, but the show is great fun. I also watched the first episode of The Fall of the House of Usher, which I really enjoyed, but I need to wait until Son of Mine isn't around. I enjoy watching things with him but he comments on everything and I feel like Usher is the kind of show I really need to concentrate on.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm trying to watch more movies as well as reading more books, and towards that goal I try to watch one movie a week. Sometimes it pans out, sometimes it doesn't. This week I watched The Bourne Identity, which I haven't seen in many years. It holds up pretty well.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still reading Foundryside, which is great. I had started Marple, an anthology of short stories featuring Miss Marple by modern day writers, but I sent it back to the library after "Miss Marple let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding" in the first story, and Miss Marple cursing ("hell" but Miss Marple would never) in the second one. So I've gone back to the source material, and I'm re-reading A Caribbean Mystery. </div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-65609121886624647562024-02-17T20:35:00.000-08:002024-02-17T20:35:22.560-08:00Sunday Post 45; It's Monday! What are you reading? 45<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIPwHNMRz6PV1UbeqzzntKges4lkzP6KbDAa_r0oiGbQalhzcTvlvC2OrZV8iJAktTaFo9zqtBmCt20KY6NWJdk90oRSdd629ro8M0ST-1DP2LsB4TUaHPv-UBGek78p3WDzvuhyGVWIhijpqKc23nbN9QvN9AsjUxLRxulUywfVwDWoZRNrO0zPwQz6R/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIPwHNMRz6PV1UbeqzzntKges4lkzP6KbDAa_r0oiGbQalhzcTvlvC2OrZV8iJAktTaFo9zqtBmCt20KY6NWJdk90oRSdd629ro8M0ST-1DP2LsB4TUaHPv-UBGek78p3WDzvuhyGVWIhijpqKc23nbN9QvN9AsjUxLRxulUywfVwDWoZRNrO0zPwQz6R/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB67cZ-6qsNRU0xpXtCNhraSrHVSL3N4K8Kn8TscKKrWfEuF6gzJupJxZR4L2YkoCe4VzYD0D5mTu8O_S9qjo2AxViwuUTsEIREJLW8nn3zGM8_l0EiAJj4mSwGuTvFhVyI-z5bNH7CUk7AWPChJTGJidjGZwEPemnRQ9LXj1ARK4NYZnlK2SPvnlqoISh/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB67cZ-6qsNRU0xpXtCNhraSrHVSL3N4K8Kn8TscKKrWfEuF6gzJupJxZR4L2YkoCe4VzYD0D5mTu8O_S9qjo2AxViwuUTsEIREJLW8nn3zGM8_l0EiAJj4mSwGuTvFhVyI-z5bNH7CUk7AWPChJTGJidjGZwEPemnRQ9LXj1ARK4NYZnlK2SPvnlqoISh/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><p>My bank account cried out to me in dark despair, so I went back to work on Monday after my break. To say I was reluctant to go back to work is an understatement. Reader, I did not want to. </p><p>Reader, I had to.</p><p>Anyway. We came second at quiz on Wednesday night, which is fine. Generally I'm happy if we place. </p><p>Thursday, Son of Mine had gone on a field trip to the Waimumu Field Days with his school - https://www.southernfielddays.co.nz/ It rained on Thursday and he ruined his sneakers. So after work on Thursday night the two of us had salad - I mean burgers at McDonald's and did a spot of shopping for new sneakers.</p><p>Friday night my department was supposed to go out as a group but one of our team leaders ended up going home with a stomach bug. So that event was cancelled, and some of us just ... went to the pub. It was fun, and I was home by 9 but I was definitely peopled out. </p><p>Yesterday my friend who is leaving soon came around and we watched The Emperor's New Groove, which is her favourite movie.</p><p>Today, Son of Mine woke up with a completely blocked head, and youuuu guessed it. He has COVID. </p><p>The guidelines now state you don't have to isolate, and your household doesn't but I am keeping him home from school for the week, and I picked up my hard drive from work in case I need to stay home as well. So far I've tested negative but COVID is a sneaky bastard. </p><p>Saturday night friend and I went to the library, and did a few errands, which definitely included a bakery. I restrained myself to just some lemon cupcakes so I'm proud of myself for that.</p><p>I'm still reading Foundryside, and I finished Bookshops and Bonedust, which was very cute. I also started Marple, an anthology of Miss Marple stories by modern-day writers. I'm not very far in as of yet though.</p><p>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-48514982876634214612024-02-12T22:30:00.000-08:002024-02-12T22:30:00.145-08:00Short reviews<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnc6XC_SXztkJirCfa191qXs28W1f3IDvR4yNMEuvOVPmy2tkhhUh_MnL9wLO29gyRGwf4bPiehgeRGXuBSzox2CvPrMkGZxqEJwunTDJr4s9hrdJJlgEndECqGhyphenhyphenoWV36shP9s0coma3MtDBZnui92CDb8z0VnrWC4jQoLGUqybuRDfRDAPXlrQDRSNz/s530/a-wizard-s-guide-to-defensive-baking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="353" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnc6XC_SXztkJirCfa191qXs28W1f3IDvR4yNMEuvOVPmy2tkhhUh_MnL9wLO29gyRGwf4bPiehgeRGXuBSzox2CvPrMkGZxqEJwunTDJr4s9hrdJJlgEndECqGhyphenhyphenoWV36shP9s0coma3MtDBZnui92CDb8z0VnrWC4jQoLGUqybuRDfRDAPXlrQDRSNz/w133-h200/a-wizard-s-guide-to-defensive-baking.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Fourteen year old orphan Mona works in her aunt and uncle's bakery. She bakes, she sells to customers ... she can also create magic through dough.<p></p><p>However, when Mona literally trips over a dead body in the bakery's kitchen, things start to get bad very quickly.</p><p>A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking - apart from having the greatest title - is a fun fantasy novel. The magic system is a lot of fun, and there are some truly memorable characters. Not just Mona - there's Bob, the sourdough starter, Knackering Molly and Spindle, the thief. </p><p>It's so much fun to read.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaQYBrgpAJae1imEXy1SUGlSWAb51GLPzSEWNc24rpBGlpmI_OjZ4xnG-vTpx4ZCKO48mQBQfM8jkLTknPiJOWFbkKEaHbVbhfMIIzI7YqWfXQoPu0GRixjFmhvAiv-lAKgh_SbUYYE2joLK6P367tlqiY5RUinoX4DWxVZZayMjyZJdpIXtVmmTPlhI3/s400/159328421.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="223" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaQYBrgpAJae1imEXy1SUGlSWAb51GLPzSEWNc24rpBGlpmI_OjZ4xnG-vTpx4ZCKO48mQBQfM8jkLTknPiJOWFbkKEaHbVbhfMIIzI7YqWfXQoPu0GRixjFmhvAiv-lAKgh_SbUYYE2joLK6P367tlqiY5RUinoX4DWxVZZayMjyZJdpIXtVmmTPlhI3/w111-h200/159328421.jpeg" width="111" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The Scottish Play, by way of Terry Pratchett's endlessly creative imagination. </p><p>Featuring Nanny Ogg, Granny Weatherwax, and Magrat, the newest witch, who has definite ideas about How Witching Should Be Done. Unfortunately, she's stuck with Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax, who just sort of .... get on with it.</p><p>The old king of Lancre is murdered, and a new one sits on the throne. A bad king. What are three witches to do? </p><p>Well, not <i>interfere</i>, certainly ... </p><p>Whenever I don't know what to read next, I have three go-to authors. Agatha Christie, PG Wodehouse - and Terry Pratchett. You really just can't go wrong with Discworld.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOdHWFn28MJLXpswDbBIRK2XregrdfMb5fSXZ9TSWPcD-du7rohsyJO2twqrc9W295VadAdQPGJxii7QRxrE4esxsCoGFdde9cNIZX_OvUU2fQP4DYAolKNwXArEgon7flFsQTvUKzVIQu7WTEGLLMxw8QlOa2Oe5JmJJuhbC0QvOXwtAS7z2iLKARiR3/s400/179172960.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOdHWFn28MJLXpswDbBIRK2XregrdfMb5fSXZ9TSWPcD-du7rohsyJO2twqrc9W295VadAdQPGJxii7QRxrE4esxsCoGFdde9cNIZX_OvUU2fQP4DYAolKNwXArEgon7flFsQTvUKzVIQu7WTEGLLMxw8QlOa2Oe5JmJJuhbC0QvOXwtAS7z2iLKARiR3/w131-h200/179172960.jpeg" width="131" /></a></div>I wanted to read this one before watching the Netflix show. I'm glad I did, but they have very little in common. That's not a bad thing, though.<div><br /></div><div>The book hints at terrible things and hauntings, but - for me - it didn't dive into them enough. I wanted ... more, if that makes sense. I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle a few years ago, and loved that one. It's creepy and tense and incredibly atmospheric.</div><div><br /></div><div>I enjoyed Hill House, and do love a spooky story, but I wanted more from it than I got. <br /><p><br /></p></div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-43218202835495092152024-02-10T21:00:00.000-08:002024-02-10T21:00:00.445-08:00The Sunday Post 44; It's Monday! What are you reading? 44<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GMN-52j1jY580sRg9QQhHlFyH0Or-40V8DVuui8HlJarsCTYZjMtvkZFG2Y_t-6urdqadq9sRY40lIKOd0i-sljDK4W1FmSPtPVevAQjS3sNOGm1zAXzBOJGroRKPxL_qqR07qGXXO1c8UvzjwQaLVTdcajtnSS2ITXfotPCb3fOhn4Wzff0wLJfT-zX/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GMN-52j1jY580sRg9QQhHlFyH0Or-40V8DVuui8HlJarsCTYZjMtvkZFG2Y_t-6urdqadq9sRY40lIKOd0i-sljDK4W1FmSPtPVevAQjS3sNOGm1zAXzBOJGroRKPxL_qqR07qGXXO1c8UvzjwQaLVTdcajtnSS2ITXfotPCb3fOhn4Wzff0wLJfT-zX/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3QhFa_X48VDuaCEQLF29JLmznOpqyFna8sNiQgjsyW170ssWrfFsSg05PX51dfsH2JOm2IWSnVklIUPenPMLvyihWyiVI9tt7ctjnxEBZcC1D9mH25I2u-03g40mfvBzltZaLQDHkQLS0y7LRFOUk9ZoZvk4xiyAhSsWfIHMQ0G5iRKB7qfmg10uY-mw/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3QhFa_X48VDuaCEQLF29JLmznOpqyFna8sNiQgjsyW170ssWrfFsSg05PX51dfsH2JOm2IWSnVklIUPenPMLvyihWyiVI9tt7ctjnxEBZcC1D9mH25I2u-03g40mfvBzltZaLQDHkQLS0y7LRFOUk9ZoZvk4xiyAhSsWfIHMQ0G5iRKB7qfmg10uY-mw/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><div>The second week of my holiday absolutely sped by, despite my most ardent wishes it would slow down. Time never listens to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I spent my second week binge-watching The Haunting of Hill House, stitching, reading and eating. The older I get, the more willing I am to embrace my inner hobbit. </div><div><br /></div><div>Son of Mine is always happy when I get time off, because it means he gets picked up from school - otherwise he walks home. There's a seconds bakery near the school and we always stop there at least once when I pick him up. They make these amazing citrus truffles around Christmas time, and then just sell them until the stock runs out. I managed to snag some, so I was happy with that. </div><div><br /></div><div>We won at quiz again on Wednesday night, which is always nice.</div><div><br /></div><div>I worked yesterday for some overtime, and it was okay, but it meant I didn't go to my friend's for our usual Saturday night, I was just too tired. So I came home, watched Drag Race and did some stitching.</div><div><br /></div><div>I read The Haunting of Hill House and thought it was all right - the series was better, which is rare. I haven't read any of Shirley Jackson's short stories, but I have read We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and that is GREAT. It's creepy and atmospheric, and what I wanted Hill House (the book) to be. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also finished Wyrd Sisters, and The Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still reading Foundryside, which I'm enjoying a lot, and Bookshops and Bonedust, by Travis Baldree, which is the prequel to Legends & Lattes. It's very enjoyable as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-13572390738929961002024-02-03T21:32:00.000-08:002024-02-03T21:32:02.363-08:00The Sunday Post 43; It's Monday! What are you reading? 43<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgls6Kq4P-tK17K5ssS7oAtHMGSRGdYz4ilyJ-laLKT_yk5wZJFpRS643nDVTHMVXqXLyzdUjitfgXpYS7lne_oDjuKkYeoSIS422jCDEROTGKwY0RRl3K62ERrfw9e7UMpitjbfxQ_zpFVG1UF5DR4VophGHfNTbpkSDm4c9lYvTgc555Y4n-1J0Qqne0T/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgls6Kq4P-tK17K5ssS7oAtHMGSRGdYz4ilyJ-laLKT_yk5wZJFpRS643nDVTHMVXqXLyzdUjitfgXpYS7lne_oDjuKkYeoSIS422jCDEROTGKwY0RRl3K62ERrfw9e7UMpitjbfxQ_zpFVG1UF5DR4VophGHfNTbpkSDm4c9lYvTgc555Y4n-1J0Qqne0T/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfmOUybG98N23MEHJqRnL5x7u2B3wV8fCjpFCo88VDdQMdD6PcB94drM6MSIDbFTefoTJ3m9nJIgb-7VTlpF-xuF4ax1gxYqdsPtMAb3PGGY7uuoZkLMVMMRAUWDsD7XpFIMOFbe7JT7nGfb0QOohN9o47X6j7j7fKSuzLhLB3xifiiDv4JXMtk8JEx5s/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfmOUybG98N23MEHJqRnL5x7u2B3wV8fCjpFCo88VDdQMdD6PcB94drM6MSIDbFTefoTJ3m9nJIgb-7VTlpF-xuF4ax1gxYqdsPtMAb3PGGY7uuoZkLMVMMRAUWDsD7XpFIMOFbe7JT7nGfb0QOohN9o47X6j7j7fKSuzLhLB3xifiiDv4JXMtk8JEx5s/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><p>Let's see ... capitalism unclenched its jaws slightly, and I'm halfway through two weeks off work.</p><p>I didn't do a lot last week - some reading, some stitching. I watched the first series of Reacher (Large Man Hits Things A Lot) which I enjoyed, and Son of Mine and I have started watching Fool Me Once, on Netflix, which is very good.</p><p>I did errandy type things on Wednesday and on Friday went to my friend's place for a bonus stitching/watching session. We watched a couple of episodes of the Traitors UK, and then finished the series last night at our regular Saturday night session. It's So. Good. It's honestly my favourite show, I think.</p><p>Son of Mine had a couple of friends over on Friday night for a sleepover, so I threw some pizza to the wolves, and retreated to my room to do some stitching and watch some Voyager. </p><p>Yesterday was a quiet one though I did get some reading done.</p><p>I had coffee today with a friend/workmate of mine. She's leaving at the end of this month and I am very sad about it - she's one of my people at work. We started about the same time and have pretty much been friends ever since. But she feels the need for a change, and while I'm happy for her, I'm sad for me. </p><p>I finished The Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking, and was highly entertained. I'm still reading Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett, and I also started Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett, which is sort of ... industrial fantasy? If that's a category. That's what it feels like. </p><p>I'm also reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I want to watch the series, but wanted to read the book first.</p><p>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-71567667646661343512024-01-27T17:23:00.000-08:002024-01-27T17:23:13.563-08:00The Sunday Post 42; It's Monday! What are you reading? 42<p>https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/ </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C6DRBUYuN0jfW2_bYNv8bortD8h2AlSr4RPMy0pVB6eSWHdm2goMe2CmRbqRw2dkbt1Ax24LOHPFqyj0RN7B4Jp7UFNEKWhtCgZocZyjh-A1XIXX-5iBHfEFFDqy_Ck-INKBpwMzTgBZApCiCxOU4EinBR5Y4mfYe3bVYVZjjmmb7fuFxtqwP_cVnl8t/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C6DRBUYuN0jfW2_bYNv8bortD8h2AlSr4RPMy0pVB6eSWHdm2goMe2CmRbqRw2dkbt1Ax24LOHPFqyj0RN7B4Jp7UFNEKWhtCgZocZyjh-A1XIXX-5iBHfEFFDqy_Ck-INKBpwMzTgBZApCiCxOU4EinBR5Y4mfYe3bVYVZjjmmb7fuFxtqwP_cVnl8t/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5J0ngs_LppKLbhLOQPO-QlTnSV1T5Oz_ZwT_YzqIEWEGNRLihkKWQXIGODktq8Sdt7kXANTbhCDQVcVG6-9uz4dTDqsmDy6OPGtUSo9UkRoUTLO2Nm5mHWO6dhk9op9MkwS3m_NfKilKxNqWWmXVQ81DpS06iHW-lwRZyeTgiELFvP6lxnMz3RCHjDiwc/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5J0ngs_LppKLbhLOQPO-QlTnSV1T5Oz_ZwT_YzqIEWEGNRLihkKWQXIGODktq8Sdt7kXANTbhCDQVcVG6-9uz4dTDqsmDy6OPGtUSo9UkRoUTLO2Nm5mHWO6dhk9op9MkwS3m_NfKilKxNqWWmXVQ81DpS06iHW-lwRZyeTgiELFvP6lxnMz3RCHjDiwc/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Ae You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><div><br /></div><div>Let me see... Capitalism put out snacks and trapped me again, so I went to work. </div><div><br /></div><div>We won at quiz again on Wednesday night, which always feels good I have to say. </div><div>I went to my friend's after work on Friday night instead of Saturday, as we both had prior Saturday engagements.</div><div><br /></div><div>We watched The Traitors UK and stitched. Still, I think, my favourite show. I love it so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>I put in a couple of hours overtime at work on Saturday morning, and the extra few dollars will definitely come in handy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then on Saturday night another friend and I went to a show - it's a one-woman show very much inspired by Shakespeare and it was hilarious. It's called Tempestuous: https://www.hotpink.co.nz/the-tempestuous/</div><div>This is usually the time of year for Shakespeare in the Park, but this was done in a theatre - possibly because of it being a one-woman show. But it was great. So, so funny.</div><div><br /></div><div>Son of Mine had a friend over last night for a sleepover, and I dropped them in town today to pursue pizza, so I went to the library, and got a couple of books out.</div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't done much else today, to be honest.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have two weeks leave now, and I'm very much looking forward to it. My plan is to power down completely - for the first week at least - and just do the things I like to do - read, watch TV, watch movies, cross-stitch, play videogames. I also want to sort out some clothes because my drawers are getting a bit full, but that sounds like a job for second week off Maree.</div><div><br /></div><div>I finished The Watchmaker's Hand by Jeffrey Deaver and also Daisy Darkly by Alice Feeney, both of which were just ... okay for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still reading Wyrd Sisters, and I also started The Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher, which is a YA fantasy novel, and so far pretty entertaining.</div><div><br /></div><div>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-38925138207142971482024-01-20T21:28:00.000-08:002024-01-20T21:28:44.027-08:00The Sunday Post 41; It's Monday! What are you reading? 41<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuv7psdAcg-ut4uojwBYZ7NzSiB7ejBogoAudPIhTlLE7KVCadVTpuqedIJ0sOnCxX5JXcbAuDG35WRYub_78C8MuBjI-Qf7oHmvL6pob0tH2wLtcwL6D6v_wMOgBhm26a9SWPM4xuMEoab7bRGogWGTqH6idc4njave2PeaczcTh_AtdP5jTYxjLFjPaf/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuv7psdAcg-ut4uojwBYZ7NzSiB7ejBogoAudPIhTlLE7KVCadVTpuqedIJ0sOnCxX5JXcbAuDG35WRYub_78C8MuBjI-Qf7oHmvL6pob0tH2wLtcwL6D6v_wMOgBhm26a9SWPM4xuMEoab7bRGogWGTqH6idc4njave2PeaczcTh_AtdP5jTYxjLFjPaf/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v7M8V8LMM4M7c5ijlkqOsLxtiEoIgjTtcUJr4guXDbLKb9f903Ys3CwyT7pWzRZKN5dOP1BoCg0hv0e8X3mCmbNU5lE2PlDNMK-g0L5oxZSTSQCRf-j6cSBBubyuPuahyphenhyphenE0jqoeHcXEQS9sBEi6U_uikOWcw0STPLj5MguDvoy2KsnzJbvZuqFVz8USB/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v7M8V8LMM4M7c5ijlkqOsLxtiEoIgjTtcUJr4guXDbLKb9f903Ys3CwyT7pWzRZKN5dOP1BoCg0hv0e8X3mCmbNU5lE2PlDNMK-g0L5oxZSTSQCRf-j6cSBBubyuPuahyphenhyphenE0jqoeHcXEQS9sBEi6U_uikOWcw0STPLj5MguDvoy2KsnzJbvZuqFVz8USB/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><div>Let's see ... capitalism opened its maw wide and trapped me yet again, so I had to go to work.</div><div>Quiz started again on Wednesday night and we set off on a positive note with a win, which was nice.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was not feeling great towards the end of the week so I took a couple of sick days on Thursday and Friday. Just general run down-ness I think. It's also been extremely hot here (for those playing along who don't realise, I live in New Zealand. It's summertime) and I do not do well with the heat. I'm an autumn/winter supferfan. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I sat on the couch, and watched TV pretty much. I've finished TNG and started Voyager. I forgot how much I really enjoy Voyager. I also watched Peter Ustinov's Evil Under the Sun, which was a lot of fun. In the spirit of trying to watch new things and not just rewatch old things, I started Reacher. I've only read one of the books and honestly thought it was just okay. The show is fun though, as the premise seems to be "large man hits things", and I'm here for that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway. I took spawn for a haircut on Saturday morning which has been a long time coming - I just hadn't got around it to it but he definitely needed one. We also went to the library and the supermarket - as Son of Mine put it, it was a proper adventure. (We bought snacks.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I went to my friend's last night as usual and we binged a few more episodes of The Traitors UK, which is absolutely my favourite show.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today was super exciting with housework and another supermarket visit. I spent the afternoon listening to one of my favourite podcasts (You Must Remember This, about Hollywood's first century) and I worked on a couple of blackwork projects. I might do a post on those at some point. </div><div><br /></div><div>I read The Watchmaker's Hand by Jeffrey Deaver recently, and thought it was .... okay. I like Mr Deaver's earlier works better - the twists are more twisty and shocking. I keep going back for some reason and honestly I should know better. I'm also reading Wyrd Sisters by Mr Sir Terry Pratchett, which is no less enjoyable for being a re-read. I also have Daisy Darkly by Alice Feeney on the go, which is a riff on And Then There Were None. So far so good.</div><div><br /></div><div>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-48180863004741629612024-01-15T22:30:00.000-08:002024-01-15T22:30:00.131-08:00Short reviews<p> These are the first 3 novels I have read in 2024. I haven't done reviews for a while and I don't want to go too far back, so fresh start and all that jazz.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMfjn23lr4PzM8T9AlYWf5NFlwnZ9_w_8SAojpyMNvMe9byBtg2tVwBntpvRE2EBRiVX0RAfWh1d5v7xQeZW4pVgkl0JYCKvt5FAfyVWGr0uSM5eevzNCvwWxEo-RN8_dToKj2PP2t5JPBbWjLF2ZvmxL-vtHgxrRSNq6ZcPBsmJ34dzqJwVT7KRW19p8/s918/Mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="688" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMfjn23lr4PzM8T9AlYWf5NFlwnZ9_w_8SAojpyMNvMe9byBtg2tVwBntpvRE2EBRiVX0RAfWh1d5v7xQeZW4pVgkl0JYCKvt5FAfyVWGr0uSM5eevzNCvwWxEo-RN8_dToKj2PP2t5JPBbWjLF2ZvmxL-vtHgxrRSNq6ZcPBsmJ34dzqJwVT7KRW19p8/w150-h200/Mountain.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span> </span>First up is Under the Mountain, by Maurice Gee.<p></p><div>This is a re-read for me, and is a book that is deeply embedded in the psyche of many Kiwi Gen X kids. The book came out in the 1970s/80s and a TV series followed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Twins Rachel and Theo come to Auckland from the country to spend the summer holiday with their aunt and uncle. However, there's more going on than the twins realise, to do with the creepy and secretive Wilberforces and Mr Jones, a mysterious old man with an interest in the twins.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of those books that I absolutely cannot be objective about. I love it for the story, for the nostalgia, and for the deep essence of Kiwi-ness that it just ... exudes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1XAVDmRj4HmtSk5u0hsSkgwl4GY54CcYAPgBkqbMqLqeg1ULmwxo5Hvj8tP5wyNV1JwNirqoriuxGtBCBuiyZlQIUvtxT1mkfzzZwu9cvdJ9D1KL318_XCTbR9S0H7xRvWcJzKRf-jK2LzQ6g_agCE7Mk67c6Rwk4FCwLUoScBDhtugYn4si6oxcEd2-/s918/Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="668" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1XAVDmRj4HmtSk5u0hsSkgwl4GY54CcYAPgBkqbMqLqeg1ULmwxo5Hvj8tP5wyNV1JwNirqoriuxGtBCBuiyZlQIUvtxT1mkfzzZwu9cvdJ9D1KL318_XCTbR9S0H7xRvWcJzKRf-jK2LzQ6g_agCE7Mk67c6Rwk4FCwLUoScBDhtugYn4si6oxcEd2-/w146-h200/Dragon.jpg" width="146" /></a></div><br /><div>Next, is the graphic novel The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O'Neill. I know it's only halfway through January, but this was a five-star read. It's so charming and the art style is so lovely. Blacksmith's daughter Greta finds out about the dying art of tea dragon care-taking from a kindly tea-maker. </div><div><br /></div><div>She also discovers new friends - not least shy Minette, and also the tiny tea dragons themselves. First book in a series, and I need the rest of them immediately, if not sooner than that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Highly, highly recommend.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j_kji-o_8LxODPe9E8UXQ_rJuR3ehre1SZ4UT0l33hOp_InxiBZSb76-SfZD6NJOUns0rJi_9QhR0FFIM9bX-lqCpNa5JuD280CfqJfSKmdmo_TyEXfgc7LMJij3x5WzUWokOkiHR1TZ44y7pwnm18Z-7RMAV3dlx10FD0RPxltUoqu0C6tVuht81x-G/s500/Paladin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j_kji-o_8LxODPe9E8UXQ_rJuR3ehre1SZ4UT0l33hOp_InxiBZSb76-SfZD6NJOUns0rJi_9QhR0FFIM9bX-lqCpNa5JuD280CfqJfSKmdmo_TyEXfgc7LMJij3x5WzUWokOkiHR1TZ44y7pwnm18Z-7RMAV3dlx10FD0RPxltUoqu0C6tVuht81x-G/w133-h200/Paladin.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Last up for this post is Paladin's Grace by T Kingfisher. The only other book I've read by T Kingfisher is Nettle & Bone, which I loved.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And ... I loved this as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stephen is a Paladin, but of a dead God. He's drifting a bit and doesn't really feel like he has a purpose. He and his fellow remaining Paladins serve the Temple of the White Rad, which means they mostly stand around looking intimidating.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then Stephen meets Grace, a perfumer with a troubled past and it all kicks off.</div><div>I will say - I'm not a fan of "romantasy" novels. Romance generally isn't my thing, and this burgeoning genre which - given I don't read it - seems to mostly be made up of teenagers mooning about so definitely not my thing. HOWEVER, Grace is in her 30s and Stephen is in his 40s. They're adults with their own pasts and lives and - despite the severed heads - it's ... low stakes? Not Legends & Lattes low stakes (which is also great) but Stephen and Grace aren't out to Save The World. </div><div>They just want to save themselves. A fun read.</div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-52741180393635153032024-01-13T21:10:00.000-08:002024-01-13T21:10:29.408-08:00The Sunday Post 40; It's Monday, What are you reading? 40<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0npaotA6m3m9K6umf7dsvZwyewIzu2v3XDMDIV1jvyilq1IIEHT4-eyyghXaKJA-dOXsVTsn40RFy5Wi60HCuZekW1k9BHKnOhAUgeJAIUj6l-h0594Aw4N6LYyvKZEr9JFytfKpHV3bPHCRTugOMoyp8wYNcUzc5gfSZ3N1bBXNYNyKdina2vwJux9L/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0npaotA6m3m9K6umf7dsvZwyewIzu2v3XDMDIV1jvyilq1IIEHT4-eyyghXaKJA-dOXsVTsn40RFy5Wi60HCuZekW1k9BHKnOhAUgeJAIUj6l-h0594Aw4N6LYyvKZEr9JFytfKpHV3bPHCRTugOMoyp8wYNcUzc5gfSZ3N1bBXNYNyKdina2vwJux9L/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLA5a317mf9WZ5NoFN2cD3SSoB5pVfbVnZFVaMGBtTAGFN-ldoJMOLvUa7rEdqX-tahayVgm6J9-qONIAiMeO_uVRBmyxNfSXjGe-lA-WZW41IMqbNZCTCJcdt-ZeogP-bqQDYR4W2QcHFze1c5AJaB8-Zj8BtpsgAGN_rv3SF_rl607xxCNFCXOj-8o6/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLA5a317mf9WZ5NoFN2cD3SSoB5pVfbVnZFVaMGBtTAGFN-ldoJMOLvUa7rEdqX-tahayVgm6J9-qONIAiMeO_uVRBmyxNfSXjGe-lA-WZW41IMqbNZCTCJcdt-ZeogP-bqQDYR4W2QcHFze1c5AJaB8-Zj8BtpsgAGN_rv3SF_rl607xxCNFCXOj-8o6/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><div><br /></div><div>We're back to "normal" after the weird liminal space of Christmas and New Year. And because capitalism never sleeps, I had to go to work. </div><div><br /></div><div>Quiz doesn't start again until this Wednesday so it was a quiet one for me, work aside. </div><div>I did some reading, did some stitching ... the usual. </div><div><br /></div><div>Spawn, a friend of mine and I went to the library on Saturday morning and I went to my friend's place last night for stitching and watching TV. We're watching season 2 of the Traitors UK, which may possibly be my favourite TV show.</div><div><br /></div><div>I watched the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie on Friday night and was NOT prepared for the emotions at all. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am currently reading The List by Yomi Adegoke, which isn't grabbing me the way I had hoped, but it's pretty good so I'm going to keep on going.</div><div><br /></div><div>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-7927963570763530182024-01-06T14:26:00.000-08:002024-01-06T14:54:53.158-08:00The Sunday Post 39; It's Monday! What are you reading? 39<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLX77bnmvbI5iTe8DpxSoXUCvnBgqqDzvBpTBYExzu3kpAlRAf9SbEp0S1itVJqZZPm_mXmgwddkdDigVS3tHRFmihA8x-bE_lFAtCD00m8KJq-4L5nvPBWUx9mNr4SIkaXRhv2bGk923tCUwMoWOwpKn4Xe01eeXixpqAAwf_QTwpqRU867Ov7_4mnN7/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLX77bnmvbI5iTe8DpxSoXUCvnBgqqDzvBpTBYExzu3kpAlRAf9SbEp0S1itVJqZZPm_mXmgwddkdDigVS3tHRFmihA8x-bE_lFAtCD00m8KJq-4L5nvPBWUx9mNr4SIkaXRhv2bGk923tCUwMoWOwpKn4Xe01eeXixpqAAwf_QTwpqRU867Ov7_4mnN7/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOPTiZo2j5j3D4PE7Sjh_HC-T7n9KlfIEr_k5KkyFVQBlTljT0ircYU5E9DO47d43K0z8zi7H1ZJtLvLlla3VbeJtD2Mz6Dc96hwC2wQtg9S1-m12jqEK5bavJOI1acR1BIaCdpoDsddp_7MBP_e10dIyYfH4wI7g-BTgcCiPmRkmVlAVijC-66ds4qdW/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOPTiZo2j5j3D4PE7Sjh_HC-T7n9KlfIEr_k5KkyFVQBlTljT0ircYU5E9DO47d43K0z8zi7H1ZJtLvLlla3VbeJtD2Mz6Dc96hwC2wQtg9S1-m12jqEK5bavJOI1acR1BIaCdpoDsddp_7MBP_e10dIyYfH4wI7g-BTgcCiPmRkmVlAVijC-66ds4qdW/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><p>Let's see. I didn't do a post last week as I was working on Sunday, filling in as the regular Sunday person was on holiday. </p><p>I had Monday and Tuesday off as they're public holidays, and I did my traditional re-watch of Lord of the Rings and start a new project. A friend of mine turns 40 in March so my new start is a birthday present for her. </p><p>I also worked yesterday (I don't normally do Saturdays) so the overtime cash money will come in handy.</p><p>I am feeling tired, though. And I'm trying to think of what else I've been doing...</p><p>Watching Star Trek: TNG mostly, I think. I'm up to season 7. I do want to at least try and watch some new (to me) shows and not just re-watch old favourites, but it's so ... cosy I think. </p><p>I finished Labyrinth Heart, and I loved it. I also finished Three-Act Tragedy which was also great.</p><p>I got Holly by Stephen King for Christmas, and spent most of Boxing Day reading it - it was my last read for 2023.</p><p>I also read The Tea Dragon Society which is an absolutely adorable graphic novel by K. O'Neill. </p><p>Now I'm reading Paladine's Grace by T Kingfisher, which I am absolutely loving.</p><p>How about you? How's your new year so far? What are you reading?</p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-7178634687008021492024-01-03T22:30:00.000-08:002024-01-27T16:44:38.596-08:00Gift post<p> So this is a post of the cross-stitch gift projects I finished in 2023. In no particular order.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNLLjqqPjM3n9D1fwJdlIqTGY3wc6LozGau92nbI_6aS9BLaidHdocZ3kALMhmfTYpMgN53gT6lPnh4mLLKKRq_YzQCpW4Pcxa5gj6nCLTUbnqj4d3U4Ab-J3btHMOIf1DQc3u92HZZ7Mf2k1qO1t1T6rBJ3P1BIfYLxmlRvzVd1-PVxzKjX7ISq06zno/s728/Castle.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="551" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNLLjqqPjM3n9D1fwJdlIqTGY3wc6LozGau92nbI_6aS9BLaidHdocZ3kALMhmfTYpMgN53gT6lPnh4mLLKKRq_YzQCpW4Pcxa5gj6nCLTUbnqj4d3U4Ab-J3btHMOIf1DQc3u92HZZ7Mf2k1qO1t1T6rBJ3P1BIfYLxmlRvzVd1-PVxzKjX7ISq06zno/w151-h200/Castle.jpg" width="151" /></a></div>First up is a gift for a workmate. His wife has just had a baby girl in the past few days. <div><br /></div><div>I do still need to add the name and date of birth before I frame it and pass it on, but obviously I'm not going to put that information on the internet. :)</div><div><br /><div>The pattern is from Whimsical Cross Stitch by Cari Buziak and it's stitched on 16-ct white aida. It's entirely done in shades of pinks and purples with a few yellow highlights and it's very cute in person.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85KbWWGkJHzqreQAzqlPjISScXhaZDr-Z3GRHOwW6LYzowp8jtkGTRON66x16bQxJCWlUHa6EmJthIXV1w09e90ubLKv2JBn3ecJyAne_98Q68TbcZ_joi5VJxoTlm5FI-9gmI6Ol-7v26XkOeF2XJzDeg-nqVS6VWdKlOk5gd9iqhYV1qJ3rsUFTYQf9/s918/IMG_2052.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="688" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85KbWWGkJHzqreQAzqlPjISScXhaZDr-Z3GRHOwW6LYzowp8jtkGTRON66x16bQxJCWlUHa6EmJthIXV1w09e90ubLKv2JBn3ecJyAne_98Q68TbcZ_joi5VJxoTlm5FI-9gmI6Ol-7v26XkOeF2XJzDeg-nqVS6VWdKlOk5gd9iqhYV1qJ3rsUFTYQf9/w150-h200/IMG_2052.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div>Second is a gift for a friend of mine. (Please excuse the wrinkles, it still needs to be ironed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Her birthday was in October, but that deadline passed, so the plan was to give it to her for Christmas... ahem. At this point it may just be a very very very very belated birthday present. She's of Dutch heritage, and I'm fairly confident she will love it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The pattern is by Emma Congdon, and is from Contemporary Cross-Stitch. I stitched it on 16-ct white aida, which is my go-to fabric for basically everything.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXWkxYH4PIgzQcPrUofhAxoIUk2vzyfQOjdgcIDB5D4QDQrwBDCzjLHf1O_oftcvz-SdIOL9c3PgvjlrLQLE4-smx0dJa9kSjd2AeryzE6kWuER4edP3aRVNngKwq0U-CEVYYUpkpz4IsG1DcUXImJ_0iOPM8G3_dQjwQuftnuz4SZ5i9xj46d8JT3F25/s918/Daffodil.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="688" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXWkxYH4PIgzQcPrUofhAxoIUk2vzyfQOjdgcIDB5D4QDQrwBDCzjLHf1O_oftcvz-SdIOL9c3PgvjlrLQLE4-smx0dJa9kSjd2AeryzE6kWuER4edP3aRVNngKwq0U-CEVYYUpkpz4IsG1DcUXImJ_0iOPM8G3_dQjwQuftnuz4SZ5i9xj46d8JT3F25/w150-h200/Daffodil.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div>Third is destined to be a somewhat belated birthday gift for J's mother. Her birthday was earlier this month.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, it needs to be ironed and framed. It's pretty small so I need to search for a rather small frame - I feel some secondhand shopping coming on - you can usually find some nice frames for a few dollars.</div><div><br /></div><div>The pattern is by Durene Jones, and comes from the magazine 365 Cross Stitch designs. Again stitched on 16-ct white aida.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDbyqr2z4X5zrC-UD_5zwzUCK2RaZm0byLY48WN4nOVOAg3rvBfifNEwcTFiap6FwWsfzq9_jJE-HpZkWKUwcGs9S01KdxC4n4yKiL1AeZNFQ4yAdsYSwOOevgl39Mke_T1y14GVku1W4Yjyd8beGyt7R6NoD9Tz4gOntowDJKZZ8fa3KNdG44rWedDjS/s621/Gin.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="534" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDbyqr2z4X5zrC-UD_5zwzUCK2RaZm0byLY48WN4nOVOAg3rvBfifNEwcTFiap6FwWsfzq9_jJE-HpZkWKUwcGs9S01KdxC4n4yKiL1AeZNFQ4yAdsYSwOOevgl39Mke_T1y14GVku1W4Yjyd8beGyt7R6NoD9Tz4gOntowDJKZZ8fa3KNdG44rWedDjS/w172-h200/Gin.jpg" width="172" /></a></div>Fourth was a gift for a friend's 40th birthday, in April 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously, she likes the odd gin. :) This one was ironed, framed and passed on many months ago, so this is the picture I took just after I'd finished it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The pattern is by Durene Jones and is from the June 2022 issue of Cross Stitcher magazine. Again stitched on 16-ct white aida.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqytG9CnANTnWO0qDNsLSsbqZznDf6ZIyZsjrfhu2SlTw0YsrOrYpP-ymkaC-JClvyZg9CA9ru8BNpGUvhnoSYK7bbk82unu1Mng725KjiA0KSg_6JnikCEkvs6RobgNf5l8NVRRI58WtH7KxcApXwSMkuP5j-jkTEBdoscKrxakmQssi6ukB36pq3mnk/s717/Good.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="571" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqytG9CnANTnWO0qDNsLSsbqZznDf6ZIyZsjrfhu2SlTw0YsrOrYpP-ymkaC-JClvyZg9CA9ru8BNpGUvhnoSYK7bbk82unu1Mng725KjiA0KSg_6JnikCEkvs6RobgNf5l8NVRRI58WtH7KxcApXwSMkuP5j-jkTEBdoscKrxakmQssi6ukB36pq3mnk/s320/Good.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br /><div>The fifth one was a gift for a workmate. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had stitched other gifts for workmates/friends, and she was feeling left out. (She has the WORST fomo).</div><div><br /></div><div>So I found this chart, and thought it would be perfect.</div><div><br /></div><div>It has - since this photo - been ironed and framed, and handed on.</div><div><br /></div><div>And it still sits on her desk. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>The pattern is designed by Felicity Hall, and is from Contemporary Cross Stitch magazine. Again stitched on 16-ct white aida.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOg9mCINPGKMBfaH5eaQGtTyOfoA3kenhV3oOcqhPRENM6hyphenhyphenhhdlgzZ9s0jQPrUoYAgYXP-eVVwWeJp6g9lJerk-KONfqHbT99Av3d4pVNQULVvdeGVyTQq7OkfcUjGfD8jv609AvPXueQECxAsAJJECoK7zubqnF5Rx_LQVEFd5SE9oPcWE02yYnZ3Gu/s3264/IMG_1577(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOg9mCINPGKMBfaH5eaQGtTyOfoA3kenhV3oOcqhPRENM6hyphenhyphenhhdlgzZ9s0jQPrUoYAgYXP-eVVwWeJp6g9lJerk-KONfqHbT99Av3d4pVNQULVvdeGVyTQq7OkfcUjGfD8jv609AvPXueQECxAsAJJECoK7zubqnF5Rx_LQVEFd5SE9oPcWE02yYnZ3Gu/w150-h200/IMG_1577(1).jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Last (I think) but certainly not least is this festive llama pattern I did for a friend's birthday last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>She loves llamas and although her birthday is in June, I know she didn't mind getting these Christmas themed ones. :) Again, taken before it was ironed and framed and passed on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Designed by Cheryl McKinnon, the pattern is from the December 2020 Cross Stitcher magazine. Stitched - I *think* on 16-ct fiddler's blue aida.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's actually a pretty productive year, for me. :)<br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF5LVbXE3_8ckPog6JUn_KcHwHLfoXhi7jOvGxvqx8W_aKvq1JhlhhB-krXhIjTSbzScXcXbZ-nD1iP_49xQR5u3_PnCC9UwHVGAXavWe47XS1hVlBFxGvYgjZ7ZIx9JmtdjGqtkPnvBFu-IZE0QMxolVeQENxa4g4fozHJUcDmq3jnHRxETbLbst1RB-/s918/IMG_2052.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div></div></div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-74667094489764690982024-01-01T22:30:00.000-08:002024-01-27T17:07:19.840-08:00Two reviews<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgHeONU2AbP77PDiRHUASCS-E9KUhCv_-RUrm91Uo5uls_d3NhEBHRGGRvnDYRzEDrLFdwlk3fql7N4d-PfnZAlEOyPsBabEhW_mCVcJK5HAnemkg1jt4xsPXPzjdYX439EN9pDyuRWiv_Bjwof2vLYwZCpp1PcmmPCBfzpA4TJCZv_ZLPxYch2rHMA6N/s500/123177851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgHeONU2AbP77PDiRHUASCS-E9KUhCv_-RUrm91Uo5uls_d3NhEBHRGGRvnDYRzEDrLFdwlk3fql7N4d-PfnZAlEOyPsBabEhW_mCVcJK5HAnemkg1jt4xsPXPzjdYX439EN9pDyuRWiv_Bjwof2vLYwZCpp1PcmmPCBfzpA4TJCZv_ZLPxYch2rHMA6N/w133-h200/123177851.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>I picked this one up at the library, because I quite enjoy Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs together.<p></p><p>And I always have high, high hopes that Jeffery Deaver is going to shock me again with the twist like he did with his early books.</p><p>Alas. Maybe I need to stop trying.</p><p>And the thing is, the book isn't bad. An old nemesis surfaces, determined to murder Rhyme, and then giant cranes around the city start malfunctioning on construction sites, and it's all related somehow?</p><p><br /></p><p>Honestly I started to get a bit confused. Then slightly bored, then confused again. And that signature twist was missing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP966emAG0V6-LtZpoaot0vy2LJUvkX07l8_pDP2_Se4orhULTYO4K8_LW2cYo3xp33fzzR9b8qpGGyFO3a9VnRULIuM496kWgqjMmGmQ2J1FT5RM2m7sUfnF8QNfPf3XbuNkOzrleS7KIDw5w3z2MNJkcQZKmLjJFatDpUVasmb98CFbLLMFPwANwNNB/s700/59808050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="460" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP966emAG0V6-LtZpoaot0vy2LJUvkX07l8_pDP2_Se4orhULTYO4K8_LW2cYo3xp33fzzR9b8qpGGyFO3a9VnRULIuM496kWgqjMmGmQ2J1FT5RM2m7sUfnF8QNfPf3XbuNkOzrleS7KIDw5w3z2MNJkcQZKmLjJFatDpUVasmb98CFbLLMFPwANwNNB/w131-h200/59808050.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney is a riff on And Then There Were None. The Darker family gather on an isolated island to celebrate the matriach's 80th birthday. The house is on an island off Cornwall that can only be reached by a causeway, and when the tide is in, the house is completely cut off.<div><br /></div><div>So the family - estranged parents, estranged sisters Rose, Lily and Daisy, and local laddo Connor who the family had taken under their wing when he was a child - gather at the house, Seaglass.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, they're cut off. THEN, the murders began.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to like this so much more than I did. I love And Then There Were None, and I was expecting a similar reveal or a clever twist. And there WAS a twist, but it was ... not clever. And it made absolutely no sense to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>The book read okay, although the jumps into the past could get a little tedious, but the payoff wasn't worth the time spent reading, for me.<br /><p><br /></p></div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-1955988100506013312023-12-23T19:39:00.000-08:002023-12-23T19:39:07.958-08:00The Sunday Post 38; It's Monday! What are you reading? 38<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w3SiK_qVknRTLBcjTL7ywS4u0uQAa_bO-yrLMHDjlP1zU_TjepUkSMVa5XxfBe3pr7VBPBoy54nP1CxV8CFTDxepsPWrJ0Lhay_iLFP-08Ihr0oB_E28f0c4mBZUgzW2ZNN1dUoHUqh0pV7C_ffXpkX7zA6PYCO3pWsTHL_fNT0VTjW9IWyiq5esU-67/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w3SiK_qVknRTLBcjTL7ywS4u0uQAa_bO-yrLMHDjlP1zU_TjepUkSMVa5XxfBe3pr7VBPBoy54nP1CxV8CFTDxepsPWrJ0Lhay_iLFP-08Ihr0oB_E28f0c4mBZUgzW2ZNN1dUoHUqh0pV7C_ffXpkX7zA6PYCO3pWsTHL_fNT0VTjW9IWyiq5esU-67/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNAG81QE0v9nWlkEIixJ5zwPGBsUr0L5-ziwmYYMYbjsO1_0FvOi0X3dAoVOzpEOrSTL7EeA_5WTELcetw9X-_03nCUQWvG8mr6KFUdaH1XgvK7OEd7aELEANLVi-yTgzQYYGqTvPfgyDhNOA2dBeDZ_QZ5lxKzZDBaZwqyxmaL06qSKhMpgewhGOwvRU/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNAG81QE0v9nWlkEIixJ5zwPGBsUr0L5-ziwmYYMYbjsO1_0FvOi0X3dAoVOzpEOrSTL7EeA_5WTELcetw9X-_03nCUQWvG8mr6KFUdaH1XgvK7OEd7aELEANLVi-yTgzQYYGqTvPfgyDhNOA2dBeDZ_QZ5lxKzZDBaZwqyxmaL06qSKhMpgewhGOwvRU/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br /><br /> The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><div>Let's see ... no quiz last week as the last one for the year was the week before.</div><div>Work happened to me though despite my best efforts. </div><div><br /></div><div>All of my Christmas shopping is done and wrapped. There's only the 3 of us, and we'll just have a roast chicken dinner tomorrow and a quiet day. I'll get a new book, so will likely spend the day reading. </div><div><br /></div><div>Boxing Day is a holiday here as well, so I don't have work until Wednesday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Spawn and I went to the library yesterday, and then watched Get Santa, which was fun. I also watched Hercule Poirot's Christmas - the one with Sir David Suchet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today Spawn hung out with a friend for a bit, and I watched A Christmas Carol, which I do every year. I watched the Jim Carrey animated version, which isn't bad. My brother and sister-in-law came for their annual flying Christmas Eve visit, and I've basically been watching Star Trek: TNG in between. I've also been snacking - I finally found cherries (it's summer here) and it's never quite Christmas without cherries.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still reading Labyrinth's Heart, and I'm hoping to finish it this week. And speaking of Agatha Christie, I'm reading Three-Act Tragedy as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</div><div><br /></div><div>And Meri Kirihimete - Merry Christmas!</div>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-83619453722359246342023-12-16T20:39:00.000-08:002023-12-16T21:44:40.196-08:00The Sunday Post 37; It's Monday! What are you reading? 37<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRetE9_1EcplmdYNS-G0DNygjC9FQMaNNGD8GSeGn8__HlPuBHQeIulGxt_Jk0puUxYHVz_V4yeMqiIXtWTwLf72tugFhXoqtpsrRu5N5VHU8OBY-335k8C5LLKmdrsNESCnHw8MI2Xrvv9EsnI_Hs2Ld6cP-5Rk9Sb5CfPnsWtZd9q5ylGEYLWVqMp21/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRetE9_1EcplmdYNS-G0DNygjC9FQMaNNGD8GSeGn8__HlPuBHQeIulGxt_Jk0puUxYHVz_V4yeMqiIXtWTwLf72tugFhXoqtpsrRu5N5VHU8OBY-335k8C5LLKmdrsNESCnHw8MI2Xrvv9EsnI_Hs2Ld6cP-5Rk9Sb5CfPnsWtZd9q5ylGEYLWVqMp21/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sBYx-T_qVQNgjdxdNw7upNgTvWUEKDVX-if0O1dr67ztEZmffutRJRumK7WRhJJMQIgP5alobXbrhKGCdN_Fiz8EE8dyias0tt3yCnC6W4QGkJ1BtPCMRSiAVAAaSFYu35eUUZo4aHtqH-rmajMu9w029pVJbzrJOCJCdtv-skOaG1ou22nXiLl_5qee/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sBYx-T_qVQNgjdxdNw7upNgTvWUEKDVX-if0O1dr67ztEZmffutRJRumK7WRhJJMQIgP5alobXbrhKGCdN_Fiz8EE8dyias0tt3yCnC6W4QGkJ1BtPCMRSiAVAAaSFYu35eUUZo4aHtqH-rmajMu9w029pVJbzrJOCJCdtv-skOaG1ou22nXiLl_5qee/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><p>Let's see ... .capitalism informed me that Netherfield has been let at last, so I went to work as usual because I remembered I'm not a young, single Jane Austen heroine but a middle-aged modern woman who has to earn her own living.</p><p>Anyway. We won at quiz on Wednesday, which was nice, as it was the last one of the year. There was meant to be a work do on Friday night but one of the organisers contracted COVID so that's been postponed until next year.</p><p>On Saturday Spawn and I went to the library, and also on a quest to the gaming store, both were completed successfully.</p><p>Today we finally put up the tree - it's not much to look at but it's festive and I'm happy.</p><p>Now here I am, waiting for dinner to finish cooking.</p><p>I gave up on Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - I'm sure it's a very good book but I could not stand Dov, and didn't want to spend 500 pages with such an awful character. So I returned the digital copy to the library.</p><p>I also had to return Making it So, as it had holds on it, so I just need to wait until it becomes available again. In the meantime, I'm still bingeing Star Trek: TNG.</p><p>I still have Labyrinth’s Heart on the go, and I'm about halfway through that and seriously the whole series is SO GOOD. Once I've finished it, I'll do a post on the whole thing, I think. I'm also reading Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie. I know I must have read it, but I cannot for the life of me remember any of it.</p><p>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-38440123234782569242023-12-11T22:30:00.000-08:002023-12-11T22:30:00.144-08:00Review - Hell Bent<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrkH_iWlzX9K7XexgSXDRdQI8TM1uvSMwBr8Oi_kx7hsLFAhw6FZjz11DFWicgbBfjHe_eJcqeU9sK9SHGW8TIrMs4yTPsMAaUxdolzwIUacpuj8sY2iY615SCTcpVTjtHtujEPHdMuskvprkC0I6iPzXGVct2ax0tXsLgB7nk2buqjv8AUcKe2HRxC2R/s918/9781473228023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="603" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrkH_iWlzX9K7XexgSXDRdQI8TM1uvSMwBr8Oi_kx7hsLFAhw6FZjz11DFWicgbBfjHe_eJcqeU9sK9SHGW8TIrMs4yTPsMAaUxdolzwIUacpuj8sY2iY615SCTcpVTjtHtujEPHdMuskvprkC0I6iPzXGVct2ax0tXsLgB7nk2buqjv8AUcKe2HRxC2R/s320/9781473228023.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo is the sequel to Ninth House.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Alex Stern has survived not only her first year at Yale, but her first year involved with the magic and mystery entwined with the eight Houses of the Ivy League school.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the end of Ninth House, Alex discovers that Darlington - her mentor and trainer in the way of the Ninth House - Lethe House - a kind of admin organisation designed to ensure the other houses don't abuse their magic privileges - is trapped in Hell.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Alex then decides what she needs to do is break Darlington out of Hell.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Things do not go smoothly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Alex is contending with mysterious deaths - again - the other Houses (although they don't feature as prominently here as they did in Ninth House) and her own dark past suddenly rising up to haunt her.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hell Bent does take a bit to get going. But once it does, all you can really do is hang on for the ride.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I honestly think Alex is one of my favourite fictional characters this year. Her, and Dawes. Dawes has a lot of growth and she's great. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I haven't read Leigh Bardugo's YA series, so I have no idea how this one stacks up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But. I do know it's a whole lot of fun to read.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><br />Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-42828917613983262642023-12-09T20:53:00.000-08:002023-12-09T20:53:27.038-08:00The Sunday Post 36; It's Monday! What are you reading? 36<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbaGaGPn8u0yxW0Btw5pFzFKoBWMecVo-j8eDNm2aLJVEDmk_6qqIKZlFb1pnWbdUfn3BlD_tbd6bqAZLBIuu3r3pR6xuO03mqn2sNYaVNU1LeKL9bfAtvXLvuohtNNWMpeV0ajRi041tX5XrAxb6JIZJvqeiaQWIm-velfpOT6o4VuVqdI22gvnChe96/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbaGaGPn8u0yxW0Btw5pFzFKoBWMecVo-j8eDNm2aLJVEDmk_6qqIKZlFb1pnWbdUfn3BlD_tbd6bqAZLBIuu3r3pR6xuO03mqn2sNYaVNU1LeKL9bfAtvXLvuohtNNWMpeV0ajRi041tX5XrAxb6JIZJvqeiaQWIm-velfpOT6o4VuVqdI22gvnChe96/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQZuf2_D7IxId5QRZF1rPjYc7jbju7MxwxREZuN5TVRY3b4WGc4Z2_GLa0el6vrKREuJt3t3aVDKeTNe1yuxnfUlnb4m5gfXpIqdq2z1V22jq1m5PXCf7b8RyFhl7FN0Rxm_GqfXcmAiyVMqSo37ov8Z1vn-iJ_I9xyjdjdM9NXB80QDX6jDe-6Ez24Ab/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQZuf2_D7IxId5QRZF1rPjYc7jbju7MxwxREZuN5TVRY3b4WGc4Z2_GLa0el6vrKREuJt3t3aVDKeTNe1yuxnfUlnb4m5gfXpIqdq2z1V22jq1m5PXCf7b8RyFhl7FN0Rxm_GqfXcmAiyVMqSo37ov8Z1vn-iJ_I9xyjdjdM9NXB80QDX6jDe-6Ez24Ab/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up with other bloggers - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><p>Capitalism once again trapped me with its seductive whispers about paying the mortgage and eating food, so I went to work. I didn't marry rich when I was young and skinny and we haven't won Lotto, so working for a living and feeding the machine it is.</p><p>I FINALLY managed to corral Lily into kitty jail and take her to the vet. She has hyperthyroidism and needed blood tests. Luckily her thyroid is still stable, so she doesn't need to go back for another 3 months. She was Not Impressed with the jail part, but oddly doesn't seem to mind being at the vet that much.</p><p>I did a spot of Christmas shopping yesterday, and just have a few more small things to get for Spawn. </p><p>My sister has COVID, and she's a nurse, so she's isolating at home, so I went on a mission of mercy to the supermarket for her on Thursday and today as well. </p><p>Apart from that I haven't done very much. I went to my friend's last night and we watched TV and stitched as usual.</p><p>Today Spawn and I watched the final David Tennant/Catherine Tate Doctor Who special and it was SO GOOD, I'm very happy with the show right now. </p><p>I also did some stitching and watched The Batman, which is a good movie, if a tad long at just under 3 hours.</p><p>I finished Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo, which did take a minute to get going, but once it did it was a great ride.</p><p>I'm still reading Making it So, and I've also started Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and enjoying it quite a lot. I'm ALSO reading Labyrinth's Heart by M A Carrick which is the final book in the Rook & Rose trilogy. It's SUCH a good series, but I never see anyone anywhere talking about it. I might do a separate post on that one, I think.</p><p>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-59172722943330227612023-12-02T14:30:00.000-08:002023-12-02T14:30:35.460-08:00The Sunday Post 35; It's Monday! What are you reading? 35<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXF4610dxullvRhHwAeV12swma4yjDOirZGFHoNy_4PfY66mcS4kPUV_saQTrGfl9CLBIQscB_veSC6U3Ftgxq89UFj3IICgl9AlF5ZWcCIOknWzeeM6leQViygxfHT3diGBnLgK3zt9gdWrBh7EoQ0v74IYg8XMBTB6vUdyV8B-TMhizKY2Ev4XzoerA/s600/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXF4610dxullvRhHwAeV12swma4yjDOirZGFHoNy_4PfY66mcS4kPUV_saQTrGfl9CLBIQscB_veSC6U3Ftgxq89UFj3IICgl9AlF5ZWcCIOknWzeeM6leQViygxfHT3diGBnLgK3zt9gdWrBh7EoQ0v74IYg8XMBTB6vUdyV8B-TMhizKY2Ev4XzoerA/w200-h200/Sunday-Post-23-600x600.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZalFih6zWCkKxGKX6U5tmHc7LBNsQcy-Ob7EIQ5AMoJg792V96-g7IgU_T88OJ7cS23SAVW7zZ5-2kYnpn_QtznhR4iW-g22Z6gYhnAS9G8v9o4g_ksw3D3mto4DIO4DqyYSlSjEz7xXhsqMQozdnPVXpcwZSeRJkxOUfeUkWIVKaWpTxlizp3swXr-n/s200/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZalFih6zWCkKxGKX6U5tmHc7LBNsQcy-Ob7EIQ5AMoJg792V96-g7IgU_T88OJ7cS23SAVW7zZ5-2kYnpn_QtznhR4iW-g22Z6gYhnAS9G8v9o4g_ksw3D3mto4DIO4DqyYSlSjEz7xXhsqMQozdnPVXpcwZSeRJkxOUfeUkWIVKaWpTxlizp3swXr-n/s1600/it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.webp" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? Is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/<p></p><p>Let's see.</p><p>Once again, I fell for the trap capitalism set for me and I had to go to work in order to pay bills, eat and live in general. One of these days I will escape the maw, but not today.</p><p>The team came second at quiz on Wednesday, which we were pleased with, because we felt we had done far worse than we had. </p><p>Nothing else of particular note happened, which is absolutely fine with me. </p><p>I spent my Friday night stitching and watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, which I greatly enjoyed.</p><p>Lily again evaded our efforts to take her to the vet for blood tests, which was. Stressful. So I rescheduled the appointment YET AGAIN.</p><p>I went to my friend's last night for our usual TV and stitching session, and now here I am on Sunday morning.</p><p>I'm about to go make my sandwiches for tomorrow, and some lunch for today. Spawn and I are going to watch some Dr Who, and then I'm meeting a friend for coffee.</p><p>I'm still reading Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo, but will likely finish it today so I can return it to my workmate tomorrow. I'm also still reading Making It So by Patrick Stewart, which I'm greatly enjoying.</p><p>How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?</p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865552876009163919.post-9476678024765420362023-11-27T22:30:00.000-08:002023-11-27T22:30:00.135-08:00Review - A Long Petal of The Sea<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Sm33lIN086_MCsl6vdS83NU7KG55L6vxOnG1YpARkArto8Jb5G03wmPm0rMhl6w1h8a_i0PFHtiutGCiiVWeHW0nbmUzrNuVMeDmZcUO1iXqpjFqELElrTMK_U8eTMeaeTIrThaGuD92rVuTNuGyv3M6JED8CIFhDY5xkGV6q_ZjBXRDIuZUs3RvS-6/s1515/9781526615947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Sm33lIN086_MCsl6vdS83NU7KG55L6vxOnG1YpARkArto8Jb5G03wmPm0rMhl6w1h8a_i0PFHtiutGCiiVWeHW0nbmUzrNuVMeDmZcUO1iXqpjFqELElrTMK_U8eTMeaeTIrThaGuD92rVuTNuGyv3M6JED8CIFhDY5xkGV6q_ZjBXRDIuZUs3RvS-6/w132-h200/9781526615947.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>I like reading historical fiction - especially a book that teaches me something.<p></p><p>I was - of course - aware of the Spanish Civil War, but only in a vague sort of way. What I didn't know is that the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda commissioned ships to take Spanish refugees to re-settle and start new lives in Chile.</p><p>A Long Petal of the Sea starts with a family, who take in a musically talented girl, Roser to live with them. Roser grows up with them and falls in love with one of the sons, Guillem. The other son, Victor, is training to be a doctor.</p><p>When war breaks out, the brothers are called to different occupations - Guillem a soldier, and Victor a doctor.</p><p>However, when Guillem dies in the Spanish Civil War, Roser, Victor and Victor's mother Carme, begin a perilous journey to France to try and escape Franco's brutal regine.</p><p>Carme vanishes, and Roser and Victor end up in a concentration camp. Roser has Guillem's baby, and Victor is called away to work as a doctor once more. </p><p>He finds out about Neruda's plan, marries Roser in order to secure them a place on one of the ships, and all three sail away to a new life in Chile. </p><p>I have to admit - I wanted to like this one more than I actually did. The history is fascinating, and heart-breaking at times, as Roser and Victor find themselves subject to yet another fascist regime under Pinochet in Chile, but there's a remove with the story, almost.</p><p>Roser and Victor are the centre of the book, and every other character feels almost ... shadowy. Even their son Marcel in a way, and I wonder if that's why A Long Petal of the Sea didn't quite work for m. </p><p>Still. An interesting read about some truly momentous - and horrific - periods in our history.</p><p><br /></p>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10391774096405475284noreply@blogger.com0