Bad day at work. Ended up leaving early, getting ice cream and eating it outside in the sun, and then picking up a couple books at Barnes and Noble. Doesn‘t fix anything, but does help me feel a little better. Loved the Hyperbole and a Half blog in college, so I know these will be winners.

Lunchtime reading before going into the office

The usual Saturday - egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit, iced americano, and some reading before running errands

I loved this cozy, found family, sea-faring fantasy adventure. I especially liked the narrator, which felt like having a good friend tell you about something that happened (similar narrator vibes to T. Kingfisher‘s What Moves the Dead, though WMtD is obvi more creepy/filled with dread while Tress is whimsical but thoughtful). No need to have read any other Cosmere books previously - I haven‘t and really enjoyed this.

This was just ok for me. I thought the multi-cast audio was good, the characters worth rooting for, and the concept of the reading list fun. But for a book about the power of books and libraries, there were some inaccuracies about libraries that, as someone who previously worked in a public library, annoyed me (not everyone working at a library is a librarian! I get the non-library worker characters not knowing that, but even the library workers…

Mom and I went to a makers market today. Found some cute things (candle, cat things). There was also a cute little shop in a trailer that sold used books 📚 and a free paint chip bookmark with purchase.

Usual Saturday - reading with lunch (egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit and a cold brew), gas and a car wash (since it‘s actually nice out!), and Petsmart.

A little reading, a vanilla latte, and a biscuit sandwich before work

Took a little walk after lunch around Marion, IA and stopped into the Marion Chocolate Shop (their caramels are so good 😋) and the HEA Book Boutique - a romance themed book store. First time I‘ve visited and it‘s very cute. I got myself the tagged book and a T-shirt that says “I closed my book to be here”

It‘s a pretty nice spring day. Starting a new book from my #AuldLangSpine list to try to get out of a bit of a reading slump. The barista excitedly told me she just finished this one as she was bringing me my dirty chai (also having overnight oats with apples and peanut butter).

Please excuse me getting on my soapbox for a minute, but I saw that the #DynamicDs prompt for today is #DifferentlyAbled

Can we just not with the “differently abled” language? I‘m disabled. So is my sister, my cousin, and some of my friends. I‘ve been a part of disability groups politically/professionally. We either use “disabled” or “person w/ a disability.”

Tagged is good if you want to learn. Pic of sister‘s invisibly disabled cat for tax.

Starting a new book (instead of finishing one of the many I‘ve started but not yet finished) and trying a new coffeeshop. I got the gourmet grilled cheese and a latte. Running errands after this.

“I swallowed hard, straightened my shoulders to shed some fear, and tuned my comm to the emergency channel.
‘All staff, this is the Auditor.‘”

“To shape sensory experience and in doing so communicate . . . what? Does it even matter?”

Spring in the Midwest means wearing a sweater but also having a blended latte because it is but isn‘t warm out 😆

“‘I was right though, wasn‘t I,‘ said Granny. It wasn‘t a question.”

A biscuit sandwich, an iced black tea, and a couple chapters before going into the office

Relaxing Saturday with my favorite egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit, a mocha, and a book 📖

Autoimmune illness related fatigue plus daylight savings time has left me so exhausted this week that I‘ve been unable to run some needed errands. So I took a day off to get some extra sleep, pick up my prescription and some cat food, and get gas/go through the car wash. Break for a cappuccino and a biscuit sandwich and some work-adjacent reading.

More free books somehow found their way home with me today. April isn‘t judging me - she‘s too cozy! #CatsOfLitsy

The free book table at work has returned - this time with books that were previously used by the high school concurrent enrollment program. So a bit beat up, but still readable and FREE

No errands for once this weekend! But still decided to go out for lunch, including trying the new “Lucky Leprechaun” latte.

This was an enjoyable enough read and I‘ll probably read the sequel because I want to see how the story plays out, but it‘s not the best Romantasy I‘ve read. Its backstory as fanfic is pretty apparent (which isn‘t bad, but can be distracting) and the colonizer romance aspect is pretty cringe. I did like that it was more build up than spice (only one spicy scene that was over 80% in). And some of the descriptions of scenery were vividly rendered.

Back to my normal weekend routine after traveling last weekend. Starting a new book, having an egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit and a latte, and then going to Petsmart.

Birthday gifts from my mom (James) and sister (the third season of Twin Peaks - I already have the original series and Fire Walk with Me). We also went to see Dancing with the Stars Live today and will have cake in a bit 🎂 💃 📖 🦉

Lunch (egg and cheese ona cheddar chive biscuit and a gingerbread latte) and starting part II of this novel before running errands 📖

“‘The world is vast,‘ he finally told Sevraim. ‘We‘ll keep looking. We‘ll make it clear that any nation harboring our enemies will be crushed along with them.‘”

The free book table at my work has returned! 😆 I‘m sure some English instructor just cleared out their office, but I found a couple gems #BookHaul

#AuldLangSpine adjacent because @BookmarkTavern had the most recent in the series on her list and this book has been on my TBR since it came out. I loved the concept and the dark fairy tale vibe, along with a murder mystery, a ragtag group of misfits who are out to solve it, and some legit representation (romantic asexual protagonist! I‘m aro-ace and ace rep is so rare so I get excited). I only wish it was longer! Looking forward to the next one!

A beautiful collection of works inspired by Harjo‘s ancestors‘ experience of the Trail of Tears, but covering far more ground than that from the deeply personal (the death of her mother) to the political to the invention of the saxophone. I found it accessible even as someone who hasn‘t read much poetry in the past couple years. And oddly hopeful and comforting despite its subject matter and our current political moment.
Beatrice #CatsOfLitsy

Probably my last #AuldLangSpine book this month (though others are on my TBR for later). This collection is proving to be beautiful, comforting, and timely all at the same time.

Enjoying a dirty chai latter and my usual egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit before going over to care for my neighbor‘s cats.

I liked this a lot. I loved the blend of fantasy/mythology (the Wild Hunt) with history and politics. The characters were well developed. I loved all of the protagonists (though they also sometimes frustrated me! but that‘s part of what made them feel real!). Also, so much queer rep! Sapphic romance! And multiple ace characters! If anything, I think the narrative dragged a bit, especially compared to her first book Sistersong, but a minor quibble.

My reading buddy for the day - Boston, one of the cats I‘m cat sitting. His sister Beatrice is more shy, and while she was happy to get treats, she didn‘t want to hang out. #CatsOfLitsy

Chai latte and an egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit and some reading after visiting a neighbor to meet his cats (I‘m cat sitting for him for the next couple weeks).

“‘I will walk, in that case.‘ Weariness still clings, but Ine straightens his shoulders. ‘Let another ride. I have slept enough.‘”

“‘It‘s fact.‘ Cædwalla‘s shield watches him from its place on the wall. ‘I want Dumnonia, or thought I did, but if this is the price, I have no wish to pay it. The Britons can keep their land and their birthright, and their memories of a king who was clearly a better one than I.‘”

Put my bookmark in. It has a ribbon. My bookmarked book is now a cat toy 😆 Whatever makes April happy #CatsOfLitsy

“Heart thundering in her chest, Æthel stares at him aghast, feeling she might be sick. She had not expected him to agree like that, so readily, as if he could not wait to be rid of her. She opens her mouth, but nothing emerges. He has entirely stripped her of words. So it is in silence that she stumbles out, all thoughts of Britons and wights and heathens gone. Her heart is in pieces . . .”

Usual weekend routine of an egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit, a caramel macchiato, and some reading time at my favorite cafe before going to Petsmart.

“About to follow, Herla stops. What is this? she asks her thumping heart. She is here for one purpose: Gwyn‘s spy. As soon as she finds them and shakes the truth out of them, she will no longer need to run around with mortals. Still she stands there, staring, long after the people return to their tasks and the streets teem again with the bustle of morning.”

This was a good fairy tale, and I enjoyed reading it, but never felt like I fully connected with it. Like, the writing was really good (Beagle can be very poetic at times but very humorous at other moments), but I never quite connected with the characters. Still a pick! Still a fun read! I just think it‘s a book I would‘ve enjoyed more when I was younger.

Second #AuldLangSpine book from @BookmarkTavern complete!

“The studio person started to read aloud something else from Wikipedia and Merritt thought she might excuse herself for a moment, but right then Harper Harper came strolling into the restaurant. She stopped on her way over to greet people at another table, but they saw her. They all saw her. She‘d made her entrance at last.”

Looking for a job this new year? I saw on LinkedIn this morning that Book of the Month is hiring for a freelance crime fiction reader. Thought it might be up the alley of some of the people here. More info: https://bookofthemonth.applytojob.com/apply/job_20241223170632_IGGO5NBCWXCAKBNV

Dentist appointment done and killing time until my haircut. Another #AuldLangSpine title, a caramel brûlée latte, and a tomato mozzarella sandwich.

First book of 2025 and #AuldLangSpine is complete! And what a fantastic way to begin my reading year. I wouldn‘t have heard of this one if not for the list from @BookmarkTavern which is why I like this event. This was lovely - both melancholic and hopeful. I liked the depth of the world building and the development of the relationship between Andres, Renee, and Liora. I thought the end twist was predictable, but made sense. I hope more discover it

New year, new me? Nah
New year, new book? Heck yeah! Starting my first #AuldLangSpine book 📖 with an eggnog latte and grilled cheese

First batch of library holds for #AuldLangSpine have come in! More should come in after the New Year. Also have Elatsoe on my Kindle app. Happy New Year everyone! Hope your 2025 is filled with good books.

“The Widow Botezatu, who had been observing this conversation between the priest and her pet foreigner with poorly hidden glee, was delighted at the prospect of feeding both at once, and readily agreed. We parted from Father Sebastian with a promise to see var in two days, and were finally allowed to leave the church and return to our usual week‘s degeneracy.”

Not yet time for #ALSpine2025 but I‘m getting into the spirit early with the sequel to What Moves the Dead (which both @BookmarkTavern and I had on our lists). Egg and cheese on a salt bagel with a Coke to go with it.

Continuing this book 📖 while enjoying a caramel macchiato and egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit. Then running errands. It‘s a beautiful day here - low 50s and sunny!