The Sunday Post 21; It's Monday! What are you reading? 21

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and 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/

Let's see ... MUCH less drama this week! J has got the insurance ball rolling for the garage door, which is going to take a while apparently. The car - luckily - is fine. It just needs a superhero bandaid on its bumper and it'll be fine.

We came second at quiz on Wednesday - with our HIGHEST SCORE EVER. I'm a bit competitive, so I'm still slightly bitter. Amazing score, but still second. *Sigh.*

Work again was a thing I did to facilitate paying my bills. 

I went to the library yesterday morning, and wavered on going around the secondhand shops, but ultimately decided I was too lazy. We need new kitchen chairs, but they don't need to be new-new. I haven't found anything I like yet.

I did some reading, and went to my friend's as usual last night to watch TV and do some stitching.

When I got home, there was a power cut in my part of town, which was interesting. So I was navigating by iPhone torch. Luckily it only lasted a couple of hours in total.

And now here we are. :)

I'm still reading The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer, and I also started The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

The Sunday Post 20; It's Monday! What are you reading? 20

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and 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/

Let's see. My week was largely uneventful. We came second at quiz on Wednesday night, and I had taken Thursday off as Spawn was supposed to go to the dentist to have a crown fitted. However, the dental surgery cancelled due to staff illness. Which would be fine, but all the text they sent me said was that they'd contact me to reschedule. Which means I'll need to arrange more time off.

On the bright side, it was nice to have the day off and not have to go anywhere in particular. So I let Spawn stay home, since I wasn't going to send him to school anyway, and we went to the library.

On Saturday morning, I was all set to take Lily to the vet finally. So I duly put her in the back seat of J's car, got in, and I was trying to adjust the seat as I'm a lot shorter than J. And then did the dumbest thing I have ever done. I accidentally put my foot down on the accelerator and drove right through the door of the garage. (We don't keep the cars in there as there's not enough room, and it was closed).

J was in there, as he keeps a computer in there. Luckily, no one was hurt, and the car seems to be okay apart from a few scrapes and scratches. Not my finest moment in my 52 years.

I still managed to take Lily to the vet (in my own car this time), and the good news there is her thyroid has finally stabilised, and she doesn't need to go back until November.

I spent the rest of yesterday afternoon reading, and then went to my friend's as usual.

Today has been quiet, though I did go to the library again to take some books back.

I've also done some stitching and watched Red, White and Royal Blue, which was super cute. 

I've finished Carpe Jugulum, by Mr Sir Terry Pratchett, and also Tangerine by Christine Mangan.

I started The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten, but got 50 pages in before I realised I was looking down the barrel of a love triangle. I hate love triangles. So that got returned to the library today.

I have The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer lined up (which has been on my bookshelf for many years) and I'm thinking of starting The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz.

That's a lot of sentences starting with "I". 

Anyway. I had also started Open Grave by A. M. Peacock but in the first two pages the main character talks about two work colleagues who don't like him/don't like working with him. I call that "Oi, Guv" - a character who Bucks the System or doesn't Get Along with Others but Gets Results. I hate it. People can get along and still catch serial killers. 

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading? 

Sunday Post 19; It's Monday, what are you reading? 19

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and 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/

Let's see .... work was once again a thing that happened in order to pay bills. 

I've been driving my husband's car as mine still doesn't have an up to date warrant of fitness (we work opposite hours). I basically drive a hot wheels (a Nissan Tiida) and J drives a Suzuki Escudo (a tank). So that's been fun. 

We won at quiz on Wednesday night, and I was peer-pressured into going to a quiz on Thursday night as well. Normally back-to-back nights out - especially during the week -  are my nightmare, but I did it anyway. To add injury to insult, our team didn't place. 

Spawn and I watched Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping on Friday night, and it was absolutely hilarious.

Saturday I was meant to take Lily to the vet but she vanished until 5 minutes before the appointment, so I had to reschedule. 

Spawn and I went to the library yesterday, and I trawled the withdrawn book shelf as I always do. The books are $1 unless priced higher for various reasons. I picked up The Legend of Sigrud and Gurun by 

J R R Tolkien and a dictionary on the history of the fashion industry. I know the second one sounds a little bit out the gate, but it should come in handy for quiz research. 

Saturday night I went to my friend's as usual.

Today, I've been playing the closed beta for the game Palia: https://palia.com/ which is a cosy exploration/setting up home type game. It's had a couple of glitches, but so far I'm enjoying the overall vibe.

I've done some stitching today, and listened to a couple of episodes of one of my go-to podcasts - You Must Remember This, which is about the first 100 years of Hollywood history.

I'm still reading Carpe Jugulum, and I also started Tangerine by Christine Tangan, a novel set in Tangiers in the 1950s about two former college room-mates who reconnect after a year and some kind of Terrible Event. It's very atmospheric - almost claustrophobic, and gives me strong 1940s/50s noir vibes.

How about you? How's your week? What a re you reading?

Review - The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison

 

The Grief of Stones is a sequel to The Witness for the Dead, and the third book set in the same universe as The Goblin Emperor.

I don't think you need to read The Goblin Emperor to understand The Witness for the Dead (but you should read it anyway) as it largely stands alone.

Thara Celehar - who was a minor character in The Goblin Emperor - takes centre stage in these novels.

He's a Witness for the Dead in the city of  Amalo, which means basically people come to him when someone has recently died to try and solve particular mysteries.

In some cases, it's how they died, or if they were murdered. In others, it's to find out things like where the money is hidden - or the scone recipe. Celehar takes all the cases on their merits, and gives them the same care and consideration.

When a Marquise is found to have been poisoned, Celehar finds himself entangled with a school for orphaned girls - and a terrible, terrible cover-up. 

In Witness for the Dead, Celehar is largely insular and guarded, having come through the horrific trauma of watching the man he loved be executed for murder. While that still haunts him in The Grief of Stones, he also finds his circle widening with friends, colleagues - and possibly even a new romance. 

The series is called The Cemeteries of Amalo, and somehow they blend fantasy, a little bit of steampunk and mystery in a very compelling and readable way.

Also, there are cats, so I'm naturally biased.

Sunday Post 19; It's Monday, What are you reading?

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/07/sunday-post-586.html and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see .... how was my week?

Work was a thing I went to in order to get paid so I can then pay bills, so that happened.

We won at quiz on Wednesday night, which was nice (winning is always nice).

I had Thursday off, so parked up for most of the day to do some stitching and reading. I'm working on a small gift for a workmate, and I started The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison, which I finished today.

Spawn and I started Good Omens 2 on Friday night, and we'll probably finish that tonight.

Yesterday I went to my friend's as usual, and also did some reading. I'm not usually a listener of classical music, but the house was so quiet while I was reading (spawn was at a friend's and husband was sleeping), I searched for a classical music reading list on Spotify. And I didn't really know a lot of the music on the playlist, but it was nice to listen to while I was reading. 

Today I've been playing Mum's taxi, and doing some stitching and reading in-between. One of these days I'll do a post on what I'm working on, but I need to take some photos so today is not that day. 

I also went to the library and, even though I already have a pile of library books, I walked out with more. I'm not 100% on what I'll start next - probably Carpe Jugulum by Mr Sir Terry Pratchett. 

I ended up parking The Merlin Conspiracy for a bit - I like the premise, but it wasn't quite what I wanted. I also tried Murder She Knit but got bored about 50 pages in. It's the first in a cosy mystery series, and I was lured by the cat on the front, but found it repetitive, so I stopped. I'm too old to finish books I'm not enjoying.

The Grief of Stones is a direct sequel to Witness for the Dead, and both books are set in the same universe as The Goblin Emperor. Which is also great.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading? 

Reviews - The Seven Ancient Wonders; I Like Me Better

 

The Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly is the first novel in the Jack West series. West is an Australian ex-military super-hero - er, soldier.

He's formed a team of elite specialists (including, as always in these teams, one Toke Woman) to locate the Capstone from the Great Pyramid in order to complete a ritual and avoid the end of the world.

Something, something .... stuff blows up.

I did enjoy reading The Seven Ancient Wonders. It has action! Found family! Lots of unnecessary exclamation points! Did I say action! 

I mean  - I was entertained. It's one of those books that you can read 100 pages without blinking because it's easier to just - keep reading.

I Like Me Better by Robby Weber is super-cute. It's an M/M YA and it's basically a romcom. 

Soccer is Zack Martin's life. He's lining up to become captain now that the previous captain is off to college after the summer. However, when Zack takes the fall for a REALLY stupid prank by the previous captain, his whole summer is thrown into a tailspin.

He ends up doing Community Service at the Marine centre, where he meets Chip, who is not only extremely cute, but also the previous captain's cousin. 

Many, many shenanigans ensue.

I Like Me Better was extremely enjoyable. Warm-hearted, fun and pure escapism.

Sunday Post 18; It's Monday! What are you reading? 18

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and 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/

Let's see ... it was cold last week, I know that much! 

We came second at quiz on Wednesday night. It's always nice to place.

I went to the Barbie movie on Friday night with a group from work, and greatly enjoyed it. It was VERY entertaining.

Saturday I took my car for a warrant of fitness. Which it failed. I'm waiting for the invoice, but I know it's going to be bad. Also - waiting and people watching - customer service really is the same wherever you go.

One customer was told over the phone that the wrong part had arrived for his vehicle. Not that the mechanic had ORDERED the wrong part, but that the wrong part had been delivered. Then the receptionist told the mechanic that the customer was coming in and he wasn't happy about the part, and about something else that they'd told him, so he wanted to take photos.

Being Saturday morning, the workshop was - naturally - busy. As I was paying (just for the warrant, not for ALL OF THE THINGS wrong with my car) another woman asked why someone else's car was taken when hers was ahead in the line, as they were in a hurry and had to leave to travel. It was because - according to the receptionist - that the other car would be quicker. There were TWO LINES of cars!
If you're planning a trip on Saturday, don't warrant your car the same day!

Ahem.

I spent part of Saturday reading, and also playing Strange Horticulture: https://www.strangehorticulture.com/ which is fun, and also relaxing. I've played it before, and really enjoy it.

I went to my friend's on Saturday night as usual, and parked up today after doing some housework stuff and watched some House and a movie while doing some stitching. Now here I am. :)

I finished The Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly, and also I Like Me Better by Robby Weber, which was very cute. 

I decided to read something from my own shelves, and picked up The Merlin Conspiracy by Dianne Wynne Jones, which I've never read. 

How's your week? What are you reading?