MickyFine Is in the Corner Reading, Thread 4

I'm Micky, 38 years old, librarian, and generally bookish nerd. I usually have a good mix of reads going on every year with strong doses of romance, sff, historicals, and a dash of non-fiction. I'm largely kicking around without any goals this year beyond a list of 12 books off my own shelves that I want to (re)read. We'll see where my reading mood takes me!

I do my best to be chatty on my own thread and in addition to my reading, I'll also discuss highlights of my craft projects (check out my NeedleArts thread if you like more details), board games, what we're watching, and general life goings on often featuring my husband, Mr. Fine, and our two cats, Ash and Smee. Posters and lurkers alike are welcome.

January
1. Word to the Wise - Jenn McKinlay
2. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (adapted by Anna Lyse Erickson)
3. No Words - Meg Cabot
4. The Hooktionary - Brenda K.B. Anderson
5. The Confession of Henry Jekyll, M.D. - David Rambo
6. The Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan
7. Ten Thousand Stitches - Olivia Atwater
8. A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas
9. Like, Literally, Dude - Valerie Fridland
10. The Road to Roswell - Connie Willis
11. Fantastic Four: Whatever Happened to the Fantastic Four? - Ryan North et. al.
Favourite(s):


February
12. The Battle of the Labyrinth - Rick Riordan
13. Longshadow - Olivia Atwater
14. A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. Maas
15. The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood (re-read)
16. The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan
17. The Imaginary Corpse - Tyler Hayes
Favourite(s):


March
18. A Court of Wings and Ruin - Sarah J. Maas
19. At First Spite - Olivia Dade
20. The Untold Story - Genevieve Cogman
21. The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan
22. Squirrel Girl: Universe - Tristan Palmgren
23. A Court of Frost and Starlight - Sarah J. Maas
24. Other Birds - Sarah Addison Allen
25. The True Love Experiment - Christina Lauren
Favourite(s):

April
26. An Unexpected Peril - Deanna Raybourn
27. Cat + Gamer Vol. 4 - Wataru Nadatani
28. Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe - Carla Larueano
29. Teach Me - Olivia Dade
30. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
31. A Cup of Silver Linings - Karen Hawkins
32. Cat Massage Therapy - Haru Hisakawa
33. Novel Advice - Jay Bushman
34. Truly Devious - Maureen Johnson
35. Hana Khan Carries On - Uzma Jalaluddin
36. In an Absent Dream - Seanan McGuire
Favourite(s):


May
37. Hook, Line, and Sinker - Tessa Bailey
38. A Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. Maas
39. This Is How You Lose the Time War - Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
40. Untitled - AK
41. The Galaxy, and the Ground Within - Becky Chambers
42. Sensational She-Hulk #4 - Rainbow Rowell et. al.
43. Sensational She-Hulk #5 - Rainbow Rowell et. al.
44. Sensational She-Hulk #6 - Rainbow Rowell et. al.
45. Sensational She-Hulk #7 - Rainbow Rowell et. al.
46. Sensational She-Hulk #8 - Rainbow Rowell et. al.
Favourite(s):


June
47. The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
48. Come Tumbling Down - Seanan McGuire
49. Of Noble Family - Mary Robinette Kowal
50. The Ministry of Time - Kaliane Bradley
51. Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close - Hannah Carlson
52. Sensational She-Hulk #9 - Rainbow Rowell et. al.
53. Molly of the Mall - Heidi L.M. Jacobs (re-read)
54. An Impossible Impostor - Deanna Raybourn
Favourite(s):

July
55. Beach Read - Emily Henry
56. Girl Abroad - Elle Kennedy
57. Miss Lattimore's Letter - Suzanne Allain
58. An Incomplete Revenge - Jacqueline Winspear
59. Ruined - Sarah Vaughn, Sarah Winifred Searl, and Niki Smith
60. Canadian Boyfriend - Jenny Holiday
61. The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home - Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor
62. Finding Mr. Write - Kelley Armstrong
Favourite(s):


August
63. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
64. The Frugal Wizard's Handbook to Medieval England - Brandon Sanderson
65. Once Persuaded, Twice Shy - Melodie Edwards
66. Terrible Maps - Michael Howe
67. Funny Story - Emily Henry
68. Any Duchess Will Do - Tessa Dare (re-read)
69. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
70. Roomies - Christina Lauren
71. The Belle of Belgrave Square - Mimi Matthews
72. Planes, Trains, and All the Feels - Livy Hart
Favourite(s):


September
73. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
74. The Library of Legends - Janie Chang
75. Christa Comes Out of Her Shell - Abbi Waxman
76. Close Knit - Jenny Colgan
77. Grave Peril - Jim Butcher
78. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
79. Nightwatch on the Hinterlands - K. Eason
80. Slow Dance - Rainbow Rowell
Favourite(s):


October
81. The Switch - Beth O'Leary
82. The Third Gilmore Girl - Kelly Bishop
83. Nightwatch Over Windscar - K. Eason
84. Across the Green Grass Fields - Seanan McGuire
85. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
86. What's Next?: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service - Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack
87. The Postscript Murders - Elly Griffiths
88. 40-Love - Olivia Dade
89. Adulthood Is a Gift - Sarah Andersen
Favourite(s):

November
90. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
91. Babel - R.F. Kuang
92. The Solid Grounds Coffee Company - Carla Laureano
Favourite(s):

My rating system:

/ = Ran screaming in the other direction (aka did not finish)
* = Suffered through it for reasons I'm still not sure of
** = Had far more flaws than virtues
*** = A read I don't regret but could use some improvement
**** = A good, solid read that I might revisit
***** = Loved it beyond reason and will probably re-read in short order

My only goal for myself this year is to read these books off my own shelves. I'll be aiming for one a month but we'll see how it goes.

From My Shelves
The Galaxy and the Ground Within
Any Duchess Will Do (re-read)
Lost in a Good Book (re-read)
The Love Hypothesis (re-read)
Molly of the Mall (re-read)
Babel
The Switch
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (re-read)
To Say Nothing of the Dog (re-read)
The Dark Is Rising (DNF)
The Golden Key (DNF)
Squirrel Girl Universe

This thread is officially open for business. Come on in and feel free to chat away!

Happy new thread, Micky!

Happy new one, Micky!

I love the image in your first post.

>8 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene!

>9 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! Every once in a while I see one of those reels that feature a book shed in the back garden (largely British users, obvs) and I have a bit of envy. I'll enjoy this imaginary one for the rest of the summer. :)

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Micky!

Happy new thread, Micky!

Happy new thread Micky!

>6 MickyFine: It looks like your making good progress on shelf!

Happy new thread, Micky!!

Happy new thread, Micky!

Happy new thread Micky!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Thank you to Anita, Mary, Arlie, Susan, Natalie, Meg, Rachel, Jim, and Foggi for the new thread well wishes. So nice to see you all!

Book 63



Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling (re-read)

The audiobooks narrated by Stephen Fry are finally available on this side of the pond so I've started acquiring them and then, of course, a re-listen was required to make sure the files are good.

Book 64



The Frugal Wizard's Handbook to Medieval England - Brandon Sanderson

A man who can't remember who he is wakes up in a field with no clue he got there and only the burnt pages of a book titled The Frugal Wizard's Handbook to Medieval England to help him.

I picked this book up from a library display on a whim based solely on the title. Then it came home with me because the blurb and my prior experience with Brandon Sanderson meant it was probably going to be a good time. I was not wrong. This is an SFF romp with our main character slowly piecing together who he is while also trying to survive in a medieval-esque world where nothing is quite as it seems. If the title amuses you, I'd recommend giving it a whirl. You'll have a good time.

Rating: ****

Book 65



Once Persuaded, Twice Shy - Melodie Edwards

In this modern reimagining of Persuasion, Anne Elliott is the director of a theatre festival and a town councillor in the small community of Niagara-on-the-Lake. She is always the consummate professional and the person people turn to when things look like they might fall apart. What no one knows is that there's still a small part of her that regrets breaking up with Ben Wentworth eight years ago. When Ben's aunt and uncle buy a winery in the community and Ben comes down from Toronto to help them set up the business, Anne knows it's unlikely that he's ever thought twice about her in the intervening years. But as events push them together over and over, old feelings come rushing back and Anne wonders if maybe there might still be something there.

I absolutely adored this novel. Edwards does a brilliant job of reimagining Anne and Wentworth into the modern era while holding on to the essential parts of their characters and romance that make the original novel so beloved. She also does a great job of describing the picturesque town of Niagara-on-the-Lake (give it a Google if you've never seen it before) and filling it with a cast of delightful small town characters from Anne's enthusiastic if quirky assistant to the professor who leads the historical society. And then there's the Canada goose that provides so much comedy I was laughing aloud on the bus over its antics. I devoured this book in two days and loved every second. Highly recommended both for fans of the original novel as well as readers who enjoy a solid contemporary romance.

Rating: *****

Book 66



Terrible Maps - Michael Howe

A quick read filled with humourous maps that all have similar vibes to the one on the cover. I cackled loudly over many of these. If it seems like your kind of humour, you'll probably have a good time with it.

Rating: ****

>23 MickyFine: - Welp, I need to get my hands on that one!

But tell me, is there a letter at the end?!?!

>25 katiekrug: Excellent! I hope it's a hit with you. And of course there's a letter. It's not as amazing as the original but nothing could be really.

You got me with books 64 and 65 -- plus, I already wanted to listen to the Fry versions of the HP audiobooks (especially since I don't love the Jim Dale ones).

>27 foggidawn: I think you'll quite enjoy both, Foggi!

Over halfway through August and I have yet to do a life update this month. Let's see what things I've missed sharing.

We had a lovely August long weekend and kicked it off with a game night with our friends M&A who house swapped with A's parents who live nearby so they could have a kiddo free evening. We played games again the following morning and then did brunch buffet out.

Work the last couple weeks has been steady but not overwhelming nor boring. One of my coworkers has taken a 6-month contract in a public-facing role at our branch and while I'm going to miss her as my cubicle neighbour, I've swapped over to her desk for the duration of her contract. I'm already so in love with it as it has premium window access, I only have a wall behind me not a cubiclemate, and while my back is still mostly to where people walk past, the angle is a little better. Made the swap as there's a decent chance that said coworker might not come back and I wanted to stake out the desk early if she does make a permanent change.

I'm working hard to get as much off my desk as possible as I'll be taking a week of vacation starting this Thursday (more on that in a bit).

Last weekend was full as we had a wedding on Saturday and a birthday party for two of the niblings on Sunday (their birthdays are less than a week apart). The wedding was beautiful although let it be stated that ATVs and formalwear don't mix (everyone was fine but there was some magic required for repairs to the wedding dress between the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception 😬). The birthday party was a good time and it was lovely to see a bunch of my family and close family friends as well.

Today we had the housewarming for one of my friends from work (there was much joking that we are now successful outside of work friends). We didn't stay super long as I didn't really know anyone besides my friend but the house is an adorable 1950s bungalow with a ton of cute details and a space with the potential for a library with a ladder (I've yet to meet a librarian for whom this is not a dream). Tomorrow Mr. Fine has some friends coming over for their monthly board game session.

Vacation starts Thursday as we'll be playing host to one of our friends from Newfoundland who is coming to town for the Metallica concerts. We've got lots of local touristy things planned and I'm looking forward to her visit.

On the crafting front, I finished my cross-stitch piece for the guest room on the long weekend. I'm now balancing two projects and finding that's going OK. I've picked up my crochet cardigan again and I'm about halfway done with the back panel. I've also started a cross-stitch piece that's intended to be one of three pieces I'll hang on the wall in my library at home.

TV shows on the go haven't changed much although we FINALLY finished Supernatural. I am of the strong opinion that the penultimate episode should be treated as the finale and the final episode ignored (also I would not have stuck it out past season 10(ish?) if not for Mr. Fine so there's that). Mr. Fine has now added Lost into our rotation. I never watched it back in its heyday and it's not bad to watch so far. I'm also doing another rewatch of Agent Carter as my show I watch solo while crafting. I continue to love Peggy (and her clothes!) to bits.

I've finished 3 books and abandoned 1 since my last batch of reviews. I'll try and get those notes up today or tomorrow.

>29 MickyFine: Totally agree re: the Supernatural finale/penultimate episode. I will look forward to your thoughts on LOST! I got into it sometime in the third season (I caught up on DVD and then started watching in regular time), and my brother and I would watch together and discuss every episode. I own the series, but haven't actually gone back to watch the whole thing through.

>29 MickyFine: ATVs and formalwear, oh no!!!

I think Lost is great fun as long as your expectations are tempered.

>30 bell7: Aww that sounds like a lovely tradition. I had friends in high school that were SUPER into the show so I knew about a few details going in particularly the polar bears.

>31 norabelle414: Right? Not a choice I would have gone with.

I don't have huge expectations for Lost as I'm pretty familiar with JJ Abrams bag of tricks so at this point it's something I look up at occasionally while crocheting.

Back on the long weekend, I finished the cross-stitch piece I've been working on for several months now. It finally got hung up in our guest room today, so I'm sharing how lovely it looks!



Pattern: Quaker Tiles on White by Vivsters (Etsy)

Book 67



Funny Story - Emily Henry

No one could have predicted that what looked like Daphne's happily ever after would turn into such a disaster. When her fiance, Peter, leaves her for his long-time best friend, Petra, Daphne ends up living in the spare room of Petra's ex-boyfriend, Miles. Seemingly opposites other than their shared heartbreak, Daphne is counting down the days until she can leave the apartment and her job as a children's librarian in the small Michigan town she moved to for Peter. But as Miles and Daphne start getting to know each other and Daphne starts letting others in to her life, she finds that maybe she's not quite so desperate to get away from the town after all.

As expected, a perfectly delightful romance from Emily Henry. Henry does such a great job of crafting characters who feel so real, with their own baggage, that you can't help becoming invested in their journeys as individuals and in the relationship between the leads. Daphne and Miles' story is a perfect summer read and great both for established fans of Henry's writing as well as a great one to try if you've never picked up one of her books before.

Rating: ****

Book 68



Any Duchess Will Do - Tessa Dare (re-read)

Tessa Dare never disappoints and re-reading is just as much fun as the first encounter. I had a grand time with revisiting Pauline and Griffin's romance.

Rating: ****

Book 69



Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling (re-read)

The audio re-read continues.

Rating: *****

And a note that I abandoned The Once and Future Fling after 42 pages. Great title, fun concept, not great execution. The use of "brunet" five times in three chapters raised my hackles and the very "throw everything at the wall" opening chapters did nothing to soothe them. There could be a great novel here in more experienced or better edited hands but sadly I was disappointed.

>34 MickyFine: Lovely, beautifully done, it is a treasure! All those squares, all different. I adore the selection of cool colors.

>34 MickyFine: Your cross-stitch creation is so gorgeous! Congratulations!

Karen O

>34 MickyFine: Your cross-stitch looks so great!

>35 MickyFine: Glad to see you enjoyed that one, too. She's become a fun summer read for me much like Sarah Dessen used to be.

>39 quondame: Thank you, Susan. I just followed the colours outlined in the pattern and I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

>40 klobrien2: Thank you, Karen.

>41 bell7: Thanks, Mary!

I think I have one of her (adult) novels left to read and then I'll be in the same boat waiting for her new books to come out every year. :)

>34 MickyFine: This is gorgeous! Such interesting patterns, and I also like the rainbow effect of the colors. Well done!

Book 70



Roomies - Christina Lauren

Holland Bakker has had a crush on the guitar-playing busker at the subway station near her apartment for months. When she's attacked in the station, and he calls the paramedics, they finally interact and she learns his name is Calvin. Partially as a thank you, she arranges for Calvin to audition for her uncle, whose musical has taken Broadway by storm. Everyone falls in love with Calvin's playing but when offered the job, Calvin has to tell them he's in the country illegally. Determined to make this work for both her uncle and Calvin, Holland proposes a green card marriage. Suddenly her crush is living in her apartment, hardly ever wearing a shirt, and everything is way more confusing. When a marriage is fake, how are you supposed to tell if any of your feelings are real?

It's rare to find a contemporary marriage of convenience romance novel and I was impressed with how Christina Lauren carried it off. Holland is still finding her way as an adult at 25 and watching her grapple with who she wants to be while also figuring out her relationship with Calvin is charming. The authors also do a decent job of creating a world behind the curtain on the Broadway show (although as a complete outsider, I have no clue how accurate it is). Is the ending a little too pat and I wished there'd been a bit more page count devoted to the resolution of the final conflict? Yes. Did that detract from my utter enjoyment of this novel? No. Recommended for fans of the genre.

Rating ***1/2

>44 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene!

I'm going to have to get my hands on Roomies. I'm a sucker for the marriage of convenience trope....

>47 katiekrug: Me too! It's why it jumped off the library shelf and came home with me, lol.

>45 MickyFine: Well, not so much for me, then, but a story to while away the summer is no bad thing. *smooch*

>49 richardderus: I've definitely had a string of good (for me) reads. I hope your picks have been treating you just as well. *smooch *

Love the cross-stitch! Looks like you've gotten some good reading done :) I liked Roomies about as much as you did, I think.

The title "Once and Future Fling" makes me laugh.

Another book bullet from you -- Roomies sounds like a fun read, which is what I need right now in life. Thanks! : )

Happy new week, Micky!

>51 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie!

>52 The_Hibernator: The title is what made me try it. I was disappointed the content didn't live up to it.

>53 Berly: Fun reads are my jam right now, Kim. I hope you have a good time with it.

>54 richardderus: Thanks, RDear. Hope it's treated you well!

All right, let's do another life round-up!

We had a grand time on our staycation while our friend A visited from Newfoundland. Picking her up was a bit nutty as our airport currently has construction happening so the exterior departures/arrivals zone is in a section of parking lot and it is not ideal. But we got through it (with minimal swearing on my part). Her first day we kept things relatively chill. We did breakfast out and then our regular weekly library visit for pick ups/returns plus showing off the branch at the same time. Then we did a bit of shopping. In the evening we went to our favourite Mexican restaurant and then the retro arcade. The next day we attempted the Metallica pop-up shop but the line was ridiculous so we opted out. Had a lovely visit to the Muttart (plant conservatory) though. I dropped off A and Mr. Fine for the first of the Metallica concerts and then had a quiet evening to myself. Saturday we largely bummed around with a bit of board gaming in the mix and Mr. Fine made a lovely steak dinner. Sunday we went out to our favourite game store and came home with several new games. Mr. Fine had a friend from work give him and A a lift to the second Metallica concert and I binged the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries (a great night in my books). The following day we went to the artsy district of the city, took the historic streetcar across the river to visit the Legislature grounds, then went back across the river for some wandering and shopping. A's last day we went to the zoo and had a grand time, then poked around the antique mall. Mr. Fine and I then had one day to ourselves where the only adult thing we did was grocery shopping before we went back to work.

Last weekend we had the farewell service in our church building (it's scheduled for demolition as the neighbouring care facility run by the medical arm of our denomination is expanding). It was a bit sad but also lovely to see a lot of familiar faces who came out for the occasion. Mr. Fine and I had our monthly game night with friends that weekend as well.

Work has been a little mad cap feeling with the post-vacation catch up, prepping for my first embedded visit to a branch, which happens right after I come back from another vacation this month, and trying to get budgets expended as year end approaches. I had my mid-year performance appraisal this week and my manager had only good things to say, which was nice. Slowly starting to shed my fear of these after my experiences with the manager who shall not be named. 😝

Crafting is going really well and I'm making good progress on both projects. The cross-stitch is starting to have recognizable shapes and I just passed the halfway mark on the first front panel for the crochet cardigan.

In gaming, I recently purchased Botany, a Victorian plant collecting board game, and I LOVE it. May have played it three times over Labour Day weekend. We've also played some Everdell and Flamecraft recently.

Mostly the same shows are in our evening rotation. My solo viewing while crafting is now Agents of SHIELD. I kept up with the first few seasons when it originally aired but dropped it when I cut the cable cord. I also had the great joy of introducing our friend, A, to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle while she stayed with us. She had a great time with it unsurprisingly.

I've been reading slowly lately. Partly due to being busy during vacation and partly due to a phone game that was way too much of a time suck that I've now deleted. I have abandoned one book and completed four books since my last update (and hoping to knock out one more this afternoon). Reviews soonish?

>58 MickyFine: It's likely to be real fall here, which I love so much! I've been on a real roll with reads, too. If you haven't I suggest strongly you try Glorious Exploits, at least a sample, for a taste of Greek history told in Dublin accents. It's really hilarious, and not at all twee like that makes it sound.

Yes yes yes, out of your wheelhouse, but worth a stab at it honest!

>60 richardderus: Jealous of your real fall. We're having last gasps of summer this weekend with forecasted highs around 30°C. However, we've also had smoke from BC wildfires roll in this morning so it's going to be a hot sleep tonight in all likelihood. 😭

Taken note of the title rec.

Life sounds busy, but good, Micky!

Have a great weekend.

>62 katiekrug: What Katie said! I enjoy reading your updates and am glad all is well chez Fine.

>62 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>63 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura!

I still owe a bunch of reviews (oops!) but hey, look at me doing a weekly life update like I always intend to!

Not a hugely fascinating week. Mr. Fine and I had fun embracing a 90s teen vibe and had our weekly date night at the mall. We hit up the food court (New York Fries and a bubble tea for me, Edo for him) and then wandered the mall, poking our noses into whatever shops we felt like.

Work was mostly me trying to get as much off my desk before taking a little over a week for vacation. Catch up is going to be a pain when I go back as I spend the first couple days doing embedded visits to one of the branches (lots of meetings and presentations does not mix well with the dedicated quiet time I need for catch up on my work).

I started my vacation a day before Mr. Fine as I had an EDO I needed to use. I spent Friday doing a mix of errands (cleaning, checking tire pressure on the car and adding air) and fun things I wanted to do (video games and cross-stitch). I also visited my Grandad as he had some clothes from my Nana that he thought might interest/fit me (based on the style of some them, she bought them in the 90s). I came out with a couple tops and skirts that fit me and my style.

Today will largely be a quiet kick off to our vacation. Breakfast, walk, online church, and board games are all likely. We hit the road tomorrow but I'll save details on that until next weekend.

I'm on to the second front panel for the crochet cardigan and I'm pleased to say the first panel is the same length as the back panel. Huzzah! The cross-stitch is also coming along nicely and you can now definitely tell one of the blobs is a flower.

I think I've finished two books since last update (maybe?). They're all tracked in my spreadsheet so there's that at least. Current read is Close Knit, which is really lovely so far.

Book 71



The Belle of Belgrave Square - Mimi Matthews

Julia would like nothing better than to avoid all parts of the social season and just curl up with a good book, but as a young woman with a considerable dowry, she must instead go out regularly. Not that anyone is particularly interested in Julia, except for the mildly terrifying Captain Jasper Blunt who came home from the Crimea with a large scar on his face and an even more impressive reputation as a brutal but heroic war hero. Jasper, however, despite this reputation is in desperate need of funds and when circumstances push Julia to get out of her family home as quickly as possible, the two agree to a marriage of convenience. But as Julia gets to know Jasper better, she discovers all is not as it seems.

This was a solid historical romance with definite influences (as the author mentions in her notes at the end) from both Bluebeard and The Blue Castle. Both Julia and Jasper are charming main characters and while I wished they'd talked out their issues a little earlier in the plot, reading this was a lovely way to spend a few hours.

Rating: ****

After the previous book I abandoned Know It All by James H. Marsh. I wanted it to be a Word by Word-eque book about the Canadian Encyclopedia but instead it was just the life memoir of Marsh, who edited the project. It wasn't a bad memoir (based on the first chapter), just not one of interest to me and only a single chapter was devoted to the encyclopedia so I moved on to other things.

Book 72



Planes, Trains, and All the Feels - Livy Hart

Cassidy Bliss has promised to make it home to California for her sister's wedding. But from the moment a good looking but obnoxious dude stole her parking spot at the airport, the trip hasn't gone well. Next she misses the airport shuttle, said dude's fault, and then the plane is grounded. Much to Cassidy's surprise, the dude, whose name is Luke, offers to share a rental car with her. While the sparks between them fly, their travel woes continue to mount. As they try to get across the country, the bigger question becomes whether they'll want to get away from each other at the end of the trip.

It's an enemies to lovers road trip novel, with many a mishap. Hart writes sparkling dialogue and has many hilarious lines in her prose. I had a great time with the book and would recommend it if you're in the mood for something fun (and don't mind some vicarious travel stress).

Rating:****

Book 73



Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling (re-read)

Audio re-read continues. This is where the series always surprises me with the sequences or details that were lost from the film adaptations and that I forget about between re-reads.

Rating: *****

Book 74



The Library of Legends - Janie Chang

Set in China in 1937, this novel follows Hu Lian and her classmates from Minghua University as they evacuate from Nanking. Japanese attacks have forced the decision to move everyone further west in China where the university will set up a temporary campus. As the students make their way on foot across over a thousand miles of countryside, they carry with them The Library of Legends, an encyclopedia of the myths and legends surrounding the spirits and magical creatures of China. As the students move westward, however, it becomes clear that it is not just the human population of China who is making the decision to flee.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel which is largely historical fiction with a dash of magical realism in the mix. The novel largely focuses on Lian as she makes her way across the country but there is also plenty of exploration of the politics of the time and the exploration of Chinese myth. I appreciated the opportunity to explore a piece of history about which I knew nothing, all while enjoying Chang's well-crafted novel. Recommended for those who like historical fiction.

Rating: ****

Book 75



Christa Comes Out of Her Shell - Abbi Waxman

Christa Barnet would like nothing better than for the rest of the world to leave her completely alone to study her snails on a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. But when her famous naturalist father suddenly walks out of the woods of Alaska after thirty years of everyone presuming he died after a plane crash, Christa returns home to Los Angeles to support her mother and sisters through the media hoopla. Also there, is longtime family friend, Nate, and the two discover an unexpected and intense attraction. Of course, it's the worst possible time for romance to bloom as the media circus grows ever more intense as new family secrets come to light.

Abbi Waxman is an auto-read for me and while this novel isn't going on my list of top faves, it was a good time. Is the plot a little farfetched? Absolutely. Does she make it feel completely believable? Amazingly, yes. Waxman crafts a lovely cast of characters, deals believably with the baggage of growing up in a family with strong personalities where not everyone made the best decisions in the past, and also manages to include a very sweet romance. Plus, as always, she includes several lines that made me laugh out loud. Recommended for those who have enjoyed Waxman's other books.

Rating: ****

Book 76



Close Knit - Jenny Colgan

Gertie MacIntyre has always been a bit of dreamer and can't quite believe that she's somehow nearly thirty, still living at home in a cottage with her mother, grandmother, and too much wool, and working at the local grocery store on the small island in the Scottish Highlands where she grew up. When a new opportunity arrives for Gertie to work for the small local airline, Gertie who often deals with her problems by burying herself in her knitting, decides to be brave and make the change. But one small change leads to another and Gertie finds herself in situations she never would have expected just a few months ago.

Jenny Colgan writes some really lovely cozy fiction and this latest novel is no exception. Of course, setting it on a small Scottish island and including lots of fibre crafts basically made it catnip for me and I'm so delighted I picked it up. There is plenty of cozy Scottishness but with a rather dramatic third act that made the last chunk of the novel fly by. If you've never tried Colgan before, this is a great book to try as your first, and if you have, then you'll definitely enjoy this one. Recommended, with the warning that you'll probably want to run away to Scotland when you read it.

Rating: ****

Hey, look at that. I've passed the magic number. Go me!

>66 MickyFine: - This was already on my WL, or you would have put it there!

>68 MickyFine: - Glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did!

>71 MickyFine: - Also an auto-read for me, though I still have two others to get to. Oops!

Enjoy your vacation! Can't wait to hear where you're off to :)

ETA: Congrats on the magic number!

Very impressed with all your review posting; have a good vacation; congrats on reading 75 books!

Congrats on passing 75, Micky!

Congrats on the 75+, Micky!

>73 MickyFine: Congratulations!

>71 MickyFine: Brava, Micky! You're over the goal line!

Congrats on surpassing 75!

Belated congrats on hitting 75.

Thanks to Katie, Nora, Mary, Irene, Susan, Richard, Foggi, and Arlie on the 75 books congrats.

>74 katiekrug: Kind of envious you have unread Waxman books left.

It's the last of my vacation days so let's do a life update!

On the 15th we had a chill morning puttering around the house and left around 11ish to drive to Canmore. We did our traditional road trip stop in Red Deer and had lunch before tackling Calgary traffic and finally making it to the mountains. We got there in the late afternoon and after checking in to our hotel, we walked into downtown Canmore for dinner at our favourite pub. Afterwards we poked our noses into the local board game store and I popped into an ice cream shop for dessert. During our walk back to the hotel we got the fabulous treat of a large double rainbow, which was so gorgeous with the mountains in the background.

The 16th was our anniversary and we got up a bit early for breakfast so that we made it into Banff before things got too busy. The park is strongly advocating taking the bus from Banff town to a lot of the major hiking destinations in the park, so we tried it for our planned hike to Johnston Canyon. We had a good experience with it. Johnston Canyon was pretty busy but not packed like I know it can be and we enjoyed our views of the falls and time on the trail. After bussing back to Banff we wandered the main drag for a while and also checked out the Art Walk along the Bow Valley Trail in town. We had dinner at PARK, which is a distillery restaurant, and bar. Their menu is campfire inspired so we both had excellent dinners, tin foil trout for me and steak for Mr. Fine and we both had s'mores for dessert.

Tuesday morning we kicked around Canmore for a bit killing time as we planned to pop into the shop for a local brewery that makes beers Mr. Fine likes and sodas that I like. Unfortunately, when we got there we discovered they were closed that day for staff appreciation, which was a small bummer. Drove back home in the afternoon with another pit stop in Red Deer to give my arms and shoulders a break.

Wednesday the weather was gorgeous so we went on a day date to a local corn maze. I'd never been to one before and we had a lot of fun. It was pretty quiet being a week day and there were just a couple families with young kids and one school group. In the evening, I had my monthly massage, which I definitely needed after all the driving.

Thursday we had a quiet morning in. I had an appointment for a bangs trim around lunch time so afterwards we popped into the cafe at the Italian centre for lunch and then did a bit of shopping before Mr. Fine had a quick medical appointment.

Friday was the start of our local comic con. We met up with our friends M&A for breakfast and then played board games at their place before heading in for the opening of the con. We had passes that gave us access a couple hours early before the show opened to the general public, which I quite liked as the expo floor was much more laid-back. Did a bunch of shopping and played a board game with A while we waited for our husbands who were doing a celebrity photo op together. I headed home solo as Mr. Fine stayed over with M&A as they were doing con on Saturday and I was not.

I had a quiet day at home on Saturday where I slept in until nearly 9. Did some crafting, watched church online, went for a walk, and got some reading time as well. In the evening, I headed over to M&A's where we did dinner and board games before heading home.

Sunday, it was back to con. Mr. Fine and I went down for when the show opened and popped into a couple stalls for a little more shopping. Then it was my highlights of the con: photo op with Jonathan Frakes followed by watching his Q&A. Both were a delight. Afterwards Mr. Fine watched another panel with M, while A and I went with her kiddo to a slime making session for kiddos (it was Ghostbuster themed and pretty cute). Afterwards, Mr. Fine and I were peopled out so we headed home. Went for a walk and then ordered pizza as we were both pretty beat.

Today is our recovery day before going back to work. I have some cleaning and laundry to do and we'll probably do a walk at some point too.

On the crafting front, I finished a page of the cross-stitch pattern, which always feels like an achievement. For my sweater, I'm over halfway done the second front panel.

Board games played recently include Bonsai, Boop, and Botany (just realizing how alliterative that was).

Reading has been slow this week. Mr. Fine and I listened to an audiobook during all our driving last week but that's my only completed book. I'm nearly halfway through Nightwatch on the Hinterlands, which I'm enjoying but am not getting through it super quickly. Hopefully a return to routine will help me read a little more.

>84 MickyFine: Your vacation sounds lovely! I'm glad you had a good time.

Sounds like you've had a great vacation!

Congrats on 75 and sounds like you had an excellent vacation :)

Glad you had a nice vacation!

Hi there! Congratulations on 75 and a successful vacation. I've enjoyed catching up with you and you hit me with a few BBs:
The Frugal Wizard's Handbook
Once Persuaded Twice Shy
The Library of Legends

Now I just need to find time to read! I have started exercising more (good) but am losing reading time (bad).

Happy Tuesday!

>85 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora. It was a lovely break.

>86 katiekrug: Twas indeed, Katie! :)

>87 curioussquared: Thanks on both fronts, Natalie!

>88 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel.

>89 AMQS: All excellent BBs to take, Anne.

And I hear you on trying to balance all the things. It's tough to fit everything I want to into a day or even a week. :)

Book 77



Grave Peril - Jim Butcher

An action heavy entry in the series full of ghosts, vampires, and fairies, that ends in a pretty bleak place that has me interested to see where things will go from here. James Marster's narration continues to be the biggest draw here and it makes these great listens when my husband and I go on a road trip.

Rating: ****

Book 78



Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling (re-read)

This is always the point where I'm delighted at how much more depth there is in the books. And also when I am reminded that the Triwizard Tournament is a terrible spectator sport, lol.

Rating: *****

Book 79



Nightwatch on the Hinterlands - K. Eason

I could try and summarize the plot of this one but it would be a lot of sci-fi-y names and trying to describe a bunch of the world-building, and I often find those blurbs as dull as pitch. So, why should you consider reading this? It's a well built sci-fi murder mystery tale that engages in themes of politics, faith, and friendship across cultural boundaries, all while having a fair amount of action and dialogue that doesn't spare the banter. This was a slow read for me as I wrapped my brain around the characters and the world and the history that Eason has built, but I didn't get antsy as I often do when books take me a while. As it's the first of a duology, I immediately placed a hold on the second book - not because the ending is particularly cliffhangery, but because I wanted to continue the narrative while all the details were still fresh. Highly subjective but if you like sci-fi, this might be your jam.

Rating: ****

Book 80



Slow Dance - Rainbow Rowell

Shiloh and Cary were best friends all through high school. Everyone was positive they'd end up together. And then they didn't. But when they both attend their mutual friend's second wedding, they reconnect and find that their friendship has the potential to be just as strong as it ever was. Whether it can withstand them trying to be something more is the question that neither of them are quite sure they want to answer.

I'm a Rainbow Rowell fan and while I enjoyed this novel, it's not going on my list of favourites or joining my personal library. I can totally see why some people would adore it and fall hard for Shiloh and Cary's friendship and romance but it wasn't a complete hit with me. I think partly because both of them find it so hard to articulate their feelings that I was left feeling a little distanced from them and unsure if I actually wanted them to be together. That said, Rowell crafts a novel that is a compelling read every time, so if you've liked her other works, definitely give this one a try.

Rating: ***1/2

And that wraps up my September reads!

Book 81



The Switch - Beth O'Leary

Leena has been burying herself in work at a large consulting firm in London ever since her sister passed the year before. But when she has a massive panic attack during a major presentation, she's given two months paid leave to try and get herself back together. Meanwhile, her seventy-nine year-old grandmother, Eileen, lives in a small village in Yorkshire and is feeling stymied by the lack of eligible men as she considers diving back into the dating pool. When the two decide to switch lives for the next two months, neither of them realize just how much they needed a change. Nor do they realize that a change of scenery might also change who they are as people.

I adored this charming and cozy tale, with its gentle romances for both Eileen and Leena, as well as the delightful found families both of them build in their new communities. O'Leary doesn't hesitate to grapple with the real challenges of grief for her characters but she also provides them with so much joy as they grow and discover who they are in the wake of events that have altered their lives. If you're looking for a cozy read with a guaranteed happy ending that will make you long to live in a small English village, then you can't go wrong with this one.

Rating: ****

Book 82



The Third Gilmore Girl - Kelly Bishop

Kelly Bishop's memoir is just as charming as you'd expect. There's no dirt here, just her recounting of her life from her days training to be a ballerina, becoming a Broadway dancer, her life-changing Tony Award win for her role in A Chorus Line, and all the many acting opportunities that came her way afterward. She doesn't hold back in discussing her personal relationships but does so with kindness and frankness for her own flaws and poor choices. Ultimately the book leaves you with the picture of a woman who loves her work, her husband and friends, and the many animals she's had over the course of her life. A lovely way to spend a few hours.

Rating: ****

>101 MickyFine: Ooh, you got me with a BBB (Big Book Bullet) for The Third Gilmore Girl!
Looks like just the thing for a rainy fall day (not that MN is expecting any of those for a while, but I will not complain). Thanks!

Karen O

Ok, time for a life update.

Let's start with work stuff first. When I got back from vacation, I immediately dived into my first embedded visit to one of our branches. Basically these are days where I spend a lot of time meeting with staff at all levels discussing all things collections - both the collections tasks they have in branch as well as talking about what my work is. It wasn't as exhausting as my introvert self was worried it would be but four meetings in my second afternoon there was A Lot of meetings.

The downside to going straight from vacation to being in branch is that it has delayed my post-vacation catch-up and after being back for two weeks I still don't feel like I'm on top of things yet. My customer suggestion queue keeps hopping back up to 250+ even after spending a few hours on it almost every day. Le sigh.

The big news this week is that my current temporary manager has been appointed as the permanent manager of the downtown branch, which is an amazing opportunity for her. However, they also announced the manager who will be taking her place until our permanent manager returns from her maternity leave and I am not enthused. I've heard stories from colleagues about his management style that have me apprehensive. Trying to remind myself that it's only for 9-ish months (my permanent manager took an 18-month leave), but my brain is still pretty worried. My current temp manager's departure also means that projects that she was leading where I was a co-lead or major support have now landed on my desk as the sole lead. Yay? Let's just say I anticipate my stress eczema is likely to make a raging comeback in the next few months beyond its usual small patch on one elbow. *sad trombone*

Outside of work, life has been decent. Last weekend my friend A and I had our monthly hang out. We've now started crafting while mocking Timeless (a show we both like but also love to make fun of it's flaws - it's a good successor now that we've finished A Discovery of Witches). I went to a new dental clinic that's much closer to my house than my old dentist and had a really great experience. My parents returned from a two-week trip to Ontario this week and after picking them up from the airport (which is still a gross mess with construction obstructing the usual arrivals/departures area) we had a lovely dinner out afterwards.

I've spent the last few days being uncertain if I have a cold or just a bit of seasonal allergies (I'm still not sure). Yesterday I was feeling so not great that I asked someone to cover for me for leading singing at church today, as I anticipated a worsening of symptoms. But so far that hasn't really manifested so I'm feeling a little guilty for asking for the coverage. The last few years, the normal pattern of how my colds progress has completely changed and now I'm constantly baffled as to whether I'm sick or not for several days. At this particularly moment, I'd say it's probably a cold but I've waffled four times already since I woke up at 6, lol. It was so much easier when they always started off with major nasal congestion but now it's just minor throat irritation and what might be chest congestion or might just be my brain looking for problems (the joys of tendencies towards hypochondria).

On the crafting front, I've had a decent amount of stitching time for my cross-stitch project. The crochet cardigan is really taking shape as I've finished the second front panel and am about a third of the way through the first sleeve. My show I put on in the background while crafting is now Agents of SHIELD and I forgot how good the first season got, particularly after the started writing in the ramifications of plot reveals from Winter Soldier (still one of my fave movies of the MCU).

On the shared viewing front here's where we currently are: just started series 5 of Downton Abbey, we're in season 6 of Castle, about to start season 5 of X-Files which is one of my favourite seasons, we're getting close to the end of season 1 of Lost (I think?), we're on the penultimate season of As Time Goes By, and we've gone back to watching Gargoyles. Plus we're looking forward to the drop of more Bluey minisodes on Monday, lol.

On the reading front, I'm going to start Nightwatch Over Windscar today and I'm hoping I find it a quicker read than the first book now that I'm familiar with the world, but we'll see.

>102 klobrien2: I hope it's a great read for you, Karen!

Whew! Lots of changes and efforts to add chez vous. I hope a new normal friendlier to your internal resources gets reached before something untoward occurs in your health.

It's been a lovely fall here so far, a few soggy days as Helene's pulse of humidity barrelled through but so far no hurricane-y crud.

*smooch*

>105 richardderus: Thanks ever so, RDear. *smooch*

Glad to hear Helene passed you by. We're having another warm fall and could probably use a few more soggy days. Not complaining too much as it's currently full sun out there's a pleasant cool breeze coming through the window, and chili in the slow cooker for supper.

Nice update, Micky. You've been busy! I understand your apprehension about the manager change, and hope it works out better than you think and isn't too stressful.

>107 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura!

Sorry to hear you're getting a new manager again and I hope things go better than you expect with him! And hope the work stress is less than expected, too.

>109 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie. I appreciate the well wishes.

Manager changes are always awkward at the beginning. Hopefully all goes soothly as you get to know their management style and personality.

Thanks, Figs.

Book 83



Nightwatch Over Windscar - K. Eason

The second part of a duology this book was just so solidly GOOD. This is pretty sci-fi-y sci-fi, which I'm rubbish at describing without it making it sound dull as pitch but suffice it to say that I would highly recommend both of these books if sci-fi is in your realm. The characters are so wonderfully well-drawn, there's plenty of mystery and action and a dash of brain stimulating politics, plus banter. What more can you ask of a book? Basically, if K. Eason writes it, I'll try it even if it doesn't sound immediately like my thing because she does it so dang well.

Rating: ****1/2

Book 84



Across the Green Grass Fields - Seanan McGuire

The tale of Reagan, who wanders into a land where every time a human arrives it means great upheaval for the country. But Reagan is no believer in destiny and as she spends time with her new family of centaurs, she continues to struggle with just what her role is in this land when she refuses to be the hero everyone demands she be.

Books in this series often vary wildly in how much they appeal to me and while this one isn't one of my loves, it is a charming and gentle tale that I had a really good time with. This one is decidedly for those people who grew up obsessed with horses (I was a little until I actually rode a horse and then that phase ended quickly). McGuire also does a really great job of sensitively dealing with a child learning she's intersex and the upheaval that causes in her life.

Rating: ****

Hey look, I actually managed a life update a few weeks in a row.

First off happy Thanksgiving weekend to all my fellow Canadians. I hope you're having a restful and enjoyable holiday.

Nothing too exciting happened this past week. The uncertainty about what was going on with my immune system ebbed on Saturday and thus I've landed on it being allergies. Yay?

Work was quietly productive. I finally caught up on customer suggestions and finished my annual review of circulations for our standing order titles (always a big undertaking as we get hundreds of travel guides). Set more details for my upcoming embedded visits so I have days figured out for all of them and should have more firm schedules as November approaches. And I worked my last few days with my outgoing temp manager. The new temp manager starts Tuesday *apprehensive face*.

I was a very good adult and booked a bunch of appointments for the next few weeks (plus one for November as booking in advance to see our GP is the best option - he books up quickly especially during cold and flu season) and I'm very proud of myself. It helps that only a couple of those bookings required making phone calls.

Last night we went on a double date with our friends D&BB to a local Italian place and then they came over for some table games. It was a pretty early night as Mr. Fine and I were both wiped by nine as we'd been getting up at 5 a.m. all week (joys of Mr. Fine's early shift weeks) but we had a good time.

Today was church and a rather lovely Thanksgiving service. However, the church we're renting has hard wooden pews and my backside can only handle about an hour and a half on them, lol. Thankfully service didn't go long today.

We're having our family dinner for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Mr. Fine is making both roast chicken and roast beef for a total of five people (there was an unsuccessful attempt to convince a roast chicken would be enough but alas). So the two of us, my parents, and my grandfather will be well fed, lol.

Craft projects continue apace. I've been trying to be more consistent at going for walks and adding in some yoga a few times a week so I've had last cross-stitching time. However, the crochet cardigan is moving on well and I'm on to the second sleeve. Might try and power through and get it wrapped up this weekend but we'll see.

Viewing rotation is still pretty much the same as the last update. Last weekend, instead of a film I opted to watch a Doctor Who two-parter from series one (the one with the creepy gas mask child, for those in the know) as it is exactly the level of scary I like for this time of year. They remain really delightful episodes.

Devoured the Seanan McGuire novella this afternoon so if there's bedtime reading tonight I'll be starting What's Next, which as a long-time West Wing nerd I'm really looking forward to.

>115 MickyFine: Happy Thanksgiving! At least leftover roast beef is delicious.

>116 foggidawn: Thanks, Foggi! The leftovers weren't as outrageous as I was worried they would be. Of course we also sent everyone home with care packages so that made it easier.

>117 MickyFine: Ah, good plan!

I keep thinking how very much more satisfying roastbeef sammys are than chicken or turkey...anyway, thankful y'all had a good day.

*smooch* for a much smoother tempager experience than anxiety's telling you it will be.

Happy Thanksgiving! Glad the leftovers weren't too egregious :)

Glad your immune system was "just allergies" and that you had a nice Thanksgiving.

How was the new temp manager?

Good job adulting! I used to hate making appointments but I'm so used to it now - for 5 people - that it doesn't phase me anymore. But I get where you're coming from.

comfort-offering *smooch*

Happy belated birthday, Micky! Hope you're doing well.

>122 richardderus: Right back at ya, RDear. Plus extra tight hugs.

>123 norabelle414: Thank you, Nora! I am keeping well and there's been staycation fun this week for my birthday and Mr. Fine's (his is only a handful of days before mine). Going to try and actually do an update around here this weekend. If I don't get distracted by crafts or board games or books. 🤣

Hope you had a wonderful birthday. Happy weekend reading!

Happy belated birthday!

Thank you Figs and Katie for the birthday well wishes!

Book 85



Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling (re-read)

The audio re-read continues. I continue to enjoy it.

Rating: *****

Happy birthday weekend, and happy belated Thanksgiving! Thanks for the life updates. I'm sorry you've been under the weather - not too uncommon for this time of year but not fun. I'm sorry about your expected eczema outbreaks. I hope that you are pleasantly surprised, but change is never easy, especially if you already have reservstions.

Book 86



What's Next?: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service - Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack

This one is decidedly for fans of The West Wing. Filled with lots of behind the scenes details from the whole run of the show and beyond, the book also includes (as might be deduced from the title) stories about how members of the cast have also engaged in causes near and dear to their hearts. While I enjoyed the read, it is very chunky, and likely could have used another editorial pass. Trying to jam together both the oral-esque history of the show with sections on service causes that various cast and crew members engage in doesn't always quite work. But it is a lovely way to revisit the series and will likely inspire the desire for a rewatch.

Rating: ***

>129 AMQS: Thanks, Anne! Luckily the symptoms were short-lived and probably allergies. I've been good otherwise on the health front this fall and there's been people coming down with all of the fall/winter bugs at work in the last little while, so I'm feeling lucky. I appreciate your empathy on the change front. So far all is well (life update at some point today, I promise).

Book 87



The Postscript Murders - Elly Griffiths

When ninety-year old Peggy Smith dies, apparently of a pre-existing heart condition, no one initially bats an eye. But Peggy's carer, Natalka, and two of Peggy's friends think something is amiss when they notice that she is named in the acknowledgements of multiple murder mystery books including one with a note of "thanks for all the murders." They then report the death to DS Harbinder Kaur, who initially thinks nothing of it. However, when authors that have thanked Peggy also start dying, Harbinder ends up on a decidedly deadly investigation.

Not quite as strong as The Stranger Diaries, I still thoroughly enjoyed this second mystery featuring Harbinder Kaur. Griffiths creates an intriguing mix of characters, all of whom are wonderfully drawn and fascinating to learn more about. She also does a solid job of crafting a mystery that left me guessing until near the end. A particularly good read for those who enjoy a book-ish mystery.

Rating: ****

Book 88



40-Love - Olivia Dade

High school vice-principal Tess Dunn is on vacation in Florida with her best friend. While out for a morning swim, a rogue wave steals Tess' bikini top and she is saved from flashing a beach full of young kids by a very handsome man who happens to be nearby. Said handsome man turns out to be the resort tennis instructor (and former tennis pro), Lucas Karlsson, and sparks between Tess and Lucas fly almost immediately. The problem? Tess is 40 and Lucas is 26 and Tess is positive their flirtation can never turn into anything more. Can Lucas convince her otherwise before her vacation ends?

Not Dade's strongest novel but a fun way to pass some time. The opening meet cute is funny and very well done. The rest of the novel wasn't quite at the same level but I don't regret the read. My major quibble was that I didn't completely buy the resolution of them being in very different phases of their life while wanting to be together, but was willing to suspend disbelief. If you're looking for a romance with a female main character who isn't an ingenue, this is a decent option.

Rating: ***

Book 89



Adulthood Is a Gift - Sarah Andersen

If you follow Andersen online, the comics collected here will largely be familiar. I enjoy (and often relate) to her work but with little new content specific to this book, I mostly appreciated the collection for the final essay Andersen includes at the end of the book reflecting on her decade of being a comic artist. Her thoughts on her growth as an artist and a person, as well as the challenges and joys of being a part of the comic industry were a fascinating read.

Rating: ***1/2

Book 90



Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling (re-read)

This remains my favourite book in the series.

Rating: *****

So it's been a month since I did a life update. Sorry, friends. I did not mean to be absent quite so long.

Work has ticked along fine since my last update. The new temp manager has proven to be decent so far. We've rubbed on ok, and I've had a few challenging work tasks come up since he started, so we'll hope it continues that way. The day he started, he let the department know he has surgery scheduled (it's this coming week actually) and he has an anticipated six weeks of recovery time during which he'll be off. So between that and my vacations, I'll only be working with him about 3 weeks this year (two of which I've been/will be out at branches). So we'll really see how it goes come January.

I'm halfway through my embedded visits and have my third branch lined up for this coming week. Going straight from vacation into being embedded is not the ideal scenario (this is the second time as I had the same experience in September), but such is life.

As mentioned above, I started November with a staycation to celebrate Mr. Fine's birthday and my own. We've been having a grand time treating ourselves with meals out and trips to favourite stores for birthday gifts (the last couple years, we've set a budget and the birthday person gets to choose whatever they like within that budget - it's a lot of fun). I, unsurprisingly, chose visits to the local romance bookstore (I picked up my own copy of Book Lovers and a cute banned books sticker) and the yarn store. We also went on a lunch date this week to a board game cafe and tried some new games, which was a good time.

In amongst the birthday fun, we also went with H and K (and H's mom) for a viewing of a reception venue. It's a pretty standard community hall but H is happy with it, which is all that matters. However, said outing has not improved my opinion of K. Le sigh. They've set the date for early October next year. Yay?

On the crafting front, I have completed my crochet cardigan and completely love it. I also have made an earwarmer headband for myself and another that will be a gift for my mom for Christmas. I have now started working on an amigurumi Nativity set for myself as well as a crochet cowl, also for me. And of course, I continue to stab away (heh) at my cross-stitch project.

Shows in rotation haven't changed since the last update and in the next week or two I'll start looking at putting together our December Christmas viewing calendar, when we pause all our current shows and dive into Christmas movies, specials, and episodes and Mr. Fine often picks a film series to work through (he's leaning toward Harry Potter this year).

Reading has been slow recently with all of the staycation activities but I'm over halfway through Babel, with hopes to possibly finish it this long weekend (Monday is Remembrance Day).

Sending all of you hugs and kind thoughts as I know it's been a hard week for so many. I lurk more often these days, but I'm here for you, friends.

It's so nice to hear from you, Micky. I'm glad all is well and wish you a happy belated birthday. I'm glad you liked The Postscript Murders. Those characters return in The Last Word, which I really liked. IMO you could skip the book in between, Bleeding Heart Yard, which other than Harbinder has a completely different cast and setting.

I can't wait to see your holiday crafting. That nativity set sounds fun and festive.

>136 MickyFine: *smooch*

>137 lauralkeet: Thank you for the birthday wishes, Laura! I'm a bit of a completist so I'll probably try Bleeding Heart Yard anyway, but I'm glad to hear that the characters from this book return in book four.

I'll be posting some craft pics here and in my NeedleArts thread shortly. Stay tuned. :)

>138 richardderus: Right back at you, lovely.

My crochet cardigan for the curious:



Pattern: Mountain Peaks Cardigan
Designer: Janine Myska (from her book Modern Crochet Sweaters)
Hook: 5 mm
Yarn: Estelle Yarns DK in Black

>140 MickyFine: absolutely wonderful! How long does it take you to finish a cardigan like that?

Glad to hear things seem good with the temp manager, and here's hoping that everything goes smoothly while he's out, too.

>140 MickyFine: The cardigan looks great!

>139 MickyFine: I'm a bit of a completist so I'll probably try Bleeding Heart Yard anyway
I'm the same way tbh so I get it. Bleeding Heart Yard wasn't a bad book, just very different and I was pleased to see the Postscript characters return. I hope that trend continues.

>141 figsfromthistle: Probably 30-40 hours? I mostly worked on it in the evenings while watching TV and did that for about 2ish months.

>142 bell7: Thanks on all fronts, Mary. I'm hopeful one of our associate managers will be named acting while the temp manager is off. She's done it before and she's really great.

>143 lauralkeet: I'm looking forward to both now. 😊

I really like your carduggan! Lovely shape and texture. I'm happy to say today's proving to be dull. Need the energy savings for...everything. *sigh*

>145 richardderus: Thanks, RDear. It's a delightfully cozy and I've been wearing it a bunch since I finished it.

I hope your dull day continued to be restful. *smooch*

On paper it was a short week but it has felt LONG. My return to work after vacation had the usual backlogs of emails and customer suggestions. As I was embedded at a branch this week and having a lot of meetings with staff, I ended the week with a still substantial backlog of customer suggestions (it's hovered at around 300 all week). I also didn't have quite as much time as anticipated for catch up as I thought I would because of workplace bureaucracy.

As background, my work's earned day off (EDO) program requires working an extra 1-2 hours per week (based on a calendar set by HR) that you add to your scheduled days in either half-hour or one hour chunks. For the last 6ish years I've been on the program, I've worked extra half hours and worked 7:30-4 most work days (and other staff in the department did the same).

While I was on vacation, our temp manager sent out an email stating that senior leadership (management above our manager) had noticed staff in our department working at 7:30 and that it was not permitted as work hours for our department are 8-5. Cue a lot of FEELINGS on my part (I really hate changes to my routine and this throws a spanner in not just mine but Mr. Fine's as well as we often share a commute on my in office days).

Seeing that short notice edicts like this could happen at any time, I realized that I should have a formal religious accommodation put in my employee file in case there are ever further decisions to change standard hours of work in my department (I observe Sabbath and don't work from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, which for a couple months in the winter means I don't work after 4 pm on Fridays). So I spent several hours this week crafting responses to HR's religious accommodation form (prompt more FEELINGS). It's extra tricky as I have to indicate that my current standard hours don't conflict and that I am able to complete my EDO time as things stand (the EDO documentation indicates if you have an hours accommodation, they can refuse to put you on the EDO program and I don't want to lose my EDOs on top of everything else). I mostly have the form completed, I'm just waiting to hear back from my new pastor (who started two weeks ago and I haven't formally met yet) about providing a letter that I can include as a support document in my application.

So between that and 8 hours of meetings this week, I finished the week wiped.

On a more fun note, we had dinner out this week with H (and K 😒) as an early celebration of her birthday. I had some fantastic salmon and it was lovely to get to see her.

The highlights of my weekend plans include church today and an outing for tea with a friend on Sunday afternoon (not fancy tea, just neither of us drink coffee). She used to work at my library so we'll have LOTS to chat about.

On the crafting front, I had to do a bit of frogging on my cowl as I lost a few stitches so I haven't quite made it to my first colour transition (I'm making it with 5 mini skeins, so it will be striped). For the amigurumi Nativity, I've completed baby Jesus and his basket and finished the ball that will be Mary's head. I was more into crochet this week, so my cross-stitch got a little less time.

On the viewing front we finished season 1 of Lost and are on to season 2 (some of the wigs in flashbacks on this show are real bummers 😆). No other season transitions to report this week.

I'm 60 pages away from finishing my current read so I should have two reviews to post later today.

Wishing you all a cozy weekend!

Book 91



Babel - R.F. Kuang

Robin Swift is saved from the brink of death during a cholera outbreak in Canton and brought back to England by his British benefactor, who spends all of Robin's youth preparing Robin to become a student at Babel. This college at Oxford is the centre of Britain's power and the translators at Babel are the power behind the silver-based magic that powers the colonial empire. But as Robin begins his studies, events lead him to see that Babel is not just an academic refuge but an essential cog in the engine of empire that is devastating nations around the world. Which leaves him with the question of what role he wants to play.

Kuang's novel is beautifully written but it is hefty both in page count and in themes. Kuang brilliantly grapples with issues of colonialism and racism and makes it both appropriate to the alternate Victorian era in which she has set her novel, while also having obvious commentary on the realities of contemporary life. She also beautifully evokes life on the Oxford campus and the bonds that can form so quickly between young people at university. If you're not typically a fantasy reader, I'd still recommending giving this one a try as the magic system is more a means for exploring the themes Kuang is engaging with here than the primary focus of the novel.

Rating: ****

Book 92



The Solid Grounds Coffee Company - Carla Laureano

Ana Sanchez has always specialized in crafting the perfect image, which comes in handy as her job as a publicist, where she specializes in crisis management. However, when a client relationship turns sour and Ana is asked to step away on paid leave, she's not sure what to do with herself. Enter Bryan Shaw, a former professional climber, who has bought a coffee farm in Colombia and is working to establish his own roasting company in Denver. With Ana's oodles of free time, she offers to help Bryan set up his company and the two go from acquaintances to friends and co-workers. With the sparks between them, it's obvious they could be more than friends but can they let go of their baggage to truly see if there's something worth pursuing?

The third in Laureano's Christian romance series, this entry follows established characters from the previous two books. The author does a solid job of crafting flawed characters who are both growing in their faith and their personalities and puts together a decent romance. My only quibble is that HEA epilogue felt like it was rushing things a bit to put a bow and engagement ring on all of the characters from the series. If you like coffee and Christian romances, you'll probably enjoy this one.

Rating: ***1/2

All right, another post or two should get me the thread continuation link.

Let's see if we can't finish out the year in new, comfy digs. Join me on my new thread!