What are you reading now?: March 7, 2026

Learning to Fight, The Israeli Armored Corps, and Italy and the Second World War are what I have lined up for the coming week.

Now working on Snake-Eater and Inventing the Renaissance.

I'm about a quarter of the way through the 624 page novel, The Heiké Story by Eiji Yoshikawa. Published in 1956, this is a modern retelling of a 14th century Japanese epic about a 12th century civil war. So far it's not particularly deep but it is engaging. It recently occurred to me that it's the kind of book I would have absolutely adored when I was in my teens.

I finished up Jackson Crawford's translation of The Poetic Edda: Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes which I enjoyed. I'm about to start The Kalevala by Elias Lonnrot. Lonnrot was a 19th century Finnish philologist. He collected ancient tales, songs and poetry of the Finnish people and wove them together into one long epic poem stretching from the beginning of the world.

Started: The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis (YA)
Historical fantasy novel in Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis (YA)
Historical fantasy novel set in Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots

Currently reading Bound for Destiny by James R. Trammell

The hunger games SEEMS like a good book so I am trying it out (Maybe)

Finished Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America by Joy-Ann Reid which I highly recommend. A great and important read. Also finished The Lifted Veil by George Eliot, my first time reading her; The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe which was so good; and The Man Of The Crowd by Edgar Allan Poe which I got into but the ending was meh.

Now I've got the following in progress:

In a Glass Darkly by Sheridan Le Fanu
The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
Maru by Bessie Head

Cosmos by Carl Sagan a little at a time and Inca Gold by Ciive Cussler.

I'm still reading Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. I didn't finish in time for the museum book club but I went anyway and saw a cool exhibit of Cara Romero's photography. I didn't get to spend enough time with Living Light before the museum closed so I will definitely be going back.

I've finally broken through a reading slump! I had to spend money on new books but it was worth it.:)

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson is wonderful. It is fantasy but rooted enough in our world that it makes sense. What a terrific read! I can't put it down and read half of it yesterday then I realized that the 2nd and 3rd books of the trilogy aren't out yet. I had to slow myself down. :(

I picked up To Catch a Thief the novel that the Hitchcock movie is based upon. It's great! I'm not that familiar with the movie so most of this is fresh for me. I'm looking forward to reading other novels by David Dodge.

So glad I've got books on the go again! Reading slumps are hard.

>10 PaperbackPirate: That is such a great book. Enjoy it.

Started reading Castle of the Wolf by Sandra Schwab

Fluff Dragon – Platte F Clark
2**

Book two in the Bad Unicorn Trilogy continues the adventure. The children are beginning to understand the parameters of their magic powers and come across a few additional “friends.”

Clark has developed a fantastical world that appeals to children. His imagination runs wild creating scenarios and creatures that are decidedly other-worldly.

Take the fluff dragon, for example. If a dragon accidentally gets turned inside out, the “fluffy” interior of his scales becomes the outer layer. Yes, he can still breathe fire, but he looks like a little kitten. And speaking of which, there are fire kittens who can shoot flames from their tales hot enough to burn through the toughest iron works.

It’s a bit much for this reader who is long past middle-school. But I can see the appeal for the target audience.

The Great Shadow: A History of How Sickness Shapes What We Do, Think, Believe, and Buy
Susan Wise Bauer
Interesting non-fiction book about sickness and how humankind reacted to it throughout the years. I learned a lot. Non-Fiction

Currently reading and enjoying Midnight Timetable by Bora Chung

The new thread is up over here.