A Quick Sunday Post

Team Homan

Hey there. Happy Sunday. Brighton had a great Saturday in the Premier League, winning 4-0. Go Seagulls! And even though I'm not getting any hopes up for the season, the Blue Jays won their first Spring Training game yesterday too. But.... the best sports news yesterday was the amazing shot that Rachel Homan made in the Scotties Curling play-offs. I hope this link works because it was truly amazing. Check it out.

So this will be quick today as I've only completed one book since my last Blog. I'll provide my review of it, plus what books I've started and any new books I've received since I last updated this,

Just Completed

1. When the Tripods Came by John Christopher (Tripods #0.5 / 1988). This completes this series for me It was excellent, an entertaining YA / Sci Fi series. I've enjoyed John Christopher's work and have since ordered his Prince in Waiting trilogy.

"I had read the Tripod trilogy, a YA / Sci Fi series a couple of years ago when I discovered the three books in a used book store I frequent. After I had completed the trilogy I decided to check out other books by British author John Christopher and discovered that he had written a prequel to the series in 1988, entitled When the Tripods Came, a prequel to the trilogy.

In the first 3 books, the premise is that the Tripods have taken over the Earth many years ago and mankind has reverted to a more primitive time, no tv, no radio, no cars, etc. Each year any children reaching the age of 13 lose their free will when they receive the helmet that will link them forever with the Tripods. Of course there is an underground movement to grab these children and turn them into rebels instead. This guerrilla movement is the crux of the 1st three books, the battle to return the Earth to mankind.

In the prequel, we find out how the Tripods take over Earth and it's fascinating. 3 Tripods land on Earth, one in England, one in the US and one in Russia. They are ultimately destroyed. The books focus is on the one that lands in England and is seen by two young boys out on an orienteering adventure, Laurie and Andy. 

After this first encounter, life goes on as normal but gradually things begin to change. Firstly there is a television program, called the Trippy Show to which people begin to get quite addicted, including Andy's step-sister, Angela. She must watch it and throws a terrible tantrum once when she misses an episode. Laurie's dad finally agrees to have the local doctor look at her. Oddly he tries hypnotism on Angela to remove this addiction to the show and it works. (Oh, Angela's mom Ilse, who of course is also Laurie's stepmom, has had to go to Switzerland to look after her sick father). 

But this addiction to the Trippy show grows and becomes quite threatening. When more Tripods land, masses of people head to their locations as a sort of cult. This includes Laurie's friend, Andy's mom. Andy moves in with Laurie and his family. The situation continues to worsen. Laurie's uncle and cousin show up one day and try to put a 'cap' on Laurie (this will link him to the Tripods). They have enough caps for the whole family. But Laurie's great aunt, Martha, intercedes and saves Laurie. The family now decides they need to leave England because it has now become to dangerous. And thus begins a journey to Switzerland for the whole gang.

For a very short story, 150ish pages long, there is a lot packed into it. It's a fascinating Sci Fi novel and a great adventure. I like how it explains the beginnings of the Tripod invasion and also provides an inkling to the future underground revolution. Scary and tense and with excellent characters. It's a series that both adults and kids could enjoy equally. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie (Tommy and Tuppence #5 / 1973). This will complete this series.

"Tommy and Tuppence Beresford have just become the proud owners of an old house in an English village. Along with the property, they have inherited some worthless bric-a-brac, including a collection of antique books. While rustling through a copy of The Black Arrow, Tuppence comes upon a series of apparently random underlinings.

However, when she writes down the letters, they spell out a very disturbing message: "Mary Jordan did not die naturally." And sixty years after their first murder, Mary Jordan's enemies are still ready to kill. . . ."

(I've broken my promise to stick to no more than 5 books at once by adding two short ones that I had to start)

2. A Field of Vision by Charles Causley (1988). It's February and I thought a book of poetry was appropriate. His work was recommended by Susan Hill in one of her books. I thought I should try it. 

"This latest collection of poems from Charles Causley includes thirty-eight poems and a translation from the German Des Knaben Wunderhorn, 'A Song of Truth'. His travels are reflected in many of the poems, 'In Malacca', 'At the Chateau Lake Louise' and 'I believe you were born in Odessa', but he comes home again and again to Cornwall, where his house, names after a Saxon spring, is celebrated in the lines of 'Sibard's Well'.

Travel and homecoming, reflection and recollection fill these pages. More than once, Charles Causley is drawn back to his childhood in the still dark shadow of the First World War. The spirit of storytellers and ballad-spinners of ancient Cornwall haunts many of these poems. Some like 'Legend of the Raven', are newly written yet might have been old when the standing stones were raised in the far west of these islands."

I'm getting into it and he paints such beautiful pictures. This is Kelly Wood, a short one -

"Walking in Kelly Wood, gathering words

Frail as split leaves, fine sticks of sentences,

Spirals of bracken from the fallen ground,

I listen for the silences of stone,

The stream's white voice, the indifference of birds,

Safe in my quiet house I lay them out

- Leaf, stick and bracken - in the hearth's cold

   frame,

Strike steel on flint against the page of dark,

Wait patiently for the first spark. A flame."

3. On Book Banning by Ira Wells (2025). I saw this in my local and it looked interesting.

"A lively, accessible survey of literary censorship through the ages.

The freedom to read is under attack. There are, today, more efforts to ban books from libraries than ever before. The supposed "dangers" posed by books including The Handmaid's Tale, Gender Queer, Huckleberry Finn, and the works of Dr. Seuss—leading children down a path of sexual deviance, or harming them with racist language or non-inclusive narratives—fuel the puritanical zeal of De Santis Republicans and progressive educators alike. On Book Banning argues that today's culture warriors proceed from a misunderstanding of literature as instrumental to the pursuit of their ideological agendas. In treating libraries as sites of contagion and exposure, censors are warping our children's relationship with literature and teaching them that the solution to opposing viewpoints is cancellation or outright expurgation.

On Book Banning provides a lively, accessible survey of literary censorship through the ages—from the destruction of libraries in ancient Rome, to the Catholic Church's attempts to tamp down religious dissent and scientific innovation, to state-sponsored efforts to suppress LGBTQ literature in the 1980s and beyond. Throughout, Ira Wells demonstrates how today's book bans stem from the ineradicable human impulse toward social control. In a whistle-stop tour of landmark legal cases, literary controversies, and philosophical arguments, we discover that the freedom to read and publish is the aberration in human history, and that censorship and restriction have been the rule. At a moment in which our democratic institutions are buckling under the stress of polarization, On Book Banning is both rallying cry and guide to resistance for those who reject the conflation of art and propaganda, for whom books remain sacred vessels of our shared humanity, and who will always insist upon reading for ourselves."

New Books

(The two I just started reading both arrived this past week)

1. A Writer's Diary by Virginia Woolf (1953). This was another of the books recommended by Susan Hill.

"An invaluable guide to the art and mind of Virginia Woolf, drawn from the personal record she kept over a period of twenty-seven years.

Included are entries that refer to her own writing, and those that are relevant to the raw material of her work, and, finally, comments on the books she was reading. The first entry included here is dated 1918 and the last, three weeks before her death in 1941. Between these points of time unfolds the private world—the anguish, the triumph, the creative vision—of one of the great writers of the twentieth century."

2. We Solve Murders by Richard Osman (We Solve #1 / 2024).

"A brand new series. An iconic new detective duo. And a puzzling new murder to solve...

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.

Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job...

Then a dead body, a bag of money, and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy?"

3. Ms. Tree; Fallen Tree by Max Allan Collins (Ms. Tree #6 / 2024). This has been an enjoyable crime series.

"The sixth sensational instalment in the Hard Case Crime books of Ms. Tree, private detective, from famed Hard Case Crime author Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition).

Fans of pulp noir and hard-boiled detective crime fiction will love this seminal collection of classic comics.

From the minds of award-winning author Max Allan Collins and artist Terry Beatty, comes the sixth collection of classic Ms. Tree stories, collected together for the first time!

Join Michael Tree, the 6ft, 9mm carrying private detective on her thrilling adventures. No case is too small, no violence too extreme, just as long as it gets the job done.

Fans of hard-boiled detective and crime fiction will get a thrill from these “Fallen Tree!”; “Like Father”; “Murder Cruise”; “New Years Evil”; “Coming of Rage”; and more!"

4. The Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Oz #6 / 1910). I've been enjoying my journey through the world of Oz.

"The Emerald City is built all of beautiful marbles in which are set a profusion of emeralds, every one exquisitely cut and of very great size. There are other jewels used in the decorations inside the houses and palaces, such as rubies, diamonds, sapphires, amethysts and turquoises. But in the streets and upon the outside of the buildings only emeralds appear, from which circumstance the place is named the Emerald City of Oz."

Horror!

I've been thinking about what theme I could follow since I've finally completed my look at Women Author's Whose Work I've Been Enjoying. It took me a couple of years but was most enjoyable. Of course, it's not an all - inclusive look as there are so many others I've enjoyed. I tried to focus on those where I've read more than just a book. If you're interested in checking those threads out, you can find individual authors in the Focus threads along the right side of the Blog, e.g. for Becky Chambers, check this thread.

Well. I had a great plan to focus on Horror books next but as I checked through my previous Blog entries, I've discovered that last year I did about 5 or six posts on the topic, including favorite books and graphics. So instead of re-inventing the wheel, if you are interested, please go to this thread. It was in September. Just scroll through. Now to think of something else???? War books maybe? I'll keep you posted.

A December 2024 Reading Update

How time flies when you're.... well, you know how the expression goes. It's been a busy reading couple of weeks. I'll list all of the books I've read since my last update but I may only provide reviews for a few favorites as I think I've read quite a few (November was graphic novel month and in December I'm focusing on children's / middle grade type books, so they do go fairly quickly) What with the postal strike, I've been buying more books locally, which I always enjoy. I'll list them all, but once again, maybe only provide synopses for a select few. 

Onward!!!

Recently Finished

1. Tank Girl #3 by Alan C. Martin  (1996) (2.5 stars)

2. Chocky by John Wyndham (1968).

"One of the first Sci-Fi authors that I remember enjoying (and my memory is faulty due to my increasing old age... ) was English author John Wyndham. The first book I remember reading by him was Day of the Triffids, a book I've read two or three times. Since then I've enjoyed many of his books; The Chrysalids, The Kraken Wakes, The Midwich Cuckoos, etc. When I saw that I had a copy of Chocky (1968), I thought I must have read it before but I decided to try it anyway.

I think Wyndham's later work (from the books I highlighted especially) displayed a unique story telling style, kind of like Nevil Shute of Sci Fi. The characters are usually unassuming people, the main story tellers, caught up in unique situations and handling them with common sense and aplomb. In this story, Matthew is the 12 year old adopted son of Mary and the narrator (I don't know if we ever get his name). At a later date they finally have their own child, Polly.

While growing up, Polly had an imaginary friend, Piff, who she eventually grows away from. The story starts with her older brother now exhibiting signs also of having such a friend, named Chocky. While they are concerned, the parents feel it is something that Matthew will outgrow. A series of incidents and just school reports raise their concern again. Dad has a medical friend over to talk with Matthew. He talks about 'possession'.

I won't get into the story anymore except that the connection with Chocky grows but there remain few answers about who this Chocky is. Matthew does try to explain but being still barely a teenager, he finds it difficult to communicate his perceptions. Chocky has views about Earth, various physics type ideas, even art and perception.

The story isn't scary at all, but it's still a fascinating read. There are connections of sorts to other Wyndham stories, especially The Chrysalids and The Midwich Cuckoos (also published as Village of the Damned) with their plots about children with 'powers' of the mind. The parents reminded me of the couple in The Kraken Wakes, level-headed, commonsensical and dealing with a unique situation. It's kind of a coming of age type story, a boy growing up and dealing with a strange situation. Well written, entertaining and even touching. I still prefer other Wyndham stories but Chocky is still an excellent tale. (4.0 stars)"

3. Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV (2020) (3.5 stars)

4. The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln (2024) (3.5 stars)

5. The Wind's Twelve Quarters by Ursula K. Le Guin (1975) (4.0 stars)

"The Wind's Twelve Quarters is a collection of short stories by Ursula K. Le Guin. As she states in the forward, "This collection is what painters call a retrospective; it gives a roughly chronological survey of my short stories during the first ten years after I broke into print, belated but undaunted, at the age of thirty-two." There are 17 short stories, each with a brief explanation or foreword about the story, how it might relate to some of her novels, etc. 

Overall, I found it an interesting, enjoyable book (and now that I've said that, it seems like I'm damning with faint praise, which definitely is not my intent. It's just more a demonstration of my lack of ability in describing something.😔). Do you have to have read her novels to grasp some of the stories? No, not necessarily, but some of them do relate to her Earthsea books or her Hainish stories. She does explain where the particular short story fits in so that makes it easier.

It's a nice mix of stories, fantasy, Sci Fi in all its varieties and just original thoughts. I found Direction of the Road particularly fascinating, a story of life from the perspective of an ancient oak tree and how its life is impacted by the introduction of a highway beside it. Semley's Necklace struck a chord with me as I'd just finished Rocannon's World recently and the tale of how Semley finds her necklace and the impact of space - time and its impact on her homeworld and her life was very poignant. April in Paris was a strange time travel / wizardy magic story. The Masters deals with technology vs religion. In some ways it made me think of The Canticle for Leibovitz... just in some ways. This story covers the rediscovery of a wheel and pleas for heresy. I could go into all of the stories, but let's just highlight a couple of more, The Word of Unbinding which brings  you to the world of Earthsea and the power of names and also dragons.. Vaster than Empires and More Slow talks about a scientific expedition to another galaxy and the effects on the mental stability of the crew as it meets 'life' on the planet. Quite a scary story.

Suffice it to say that the ability to craft a short story, to quickly get into the plot, to introduce the characters and to satisfyingly tell a story that satisfies the reader is quite a unique talent. Alice Munro has this ability and so does Ursula LeGuin. What makes her unique in this field is that she was equally comfortable writing short stories or novels. I always find her stories, in either style, interesting, thoughtful and so well-crafted. The Wind's Twelve Quarters was no exception. (4.0 stars)

6. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy (2019) (5 stars) My favorite novel for this update. Also a 30 minute animated feature.

"What a wonderful, perfect, gentle, loving book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy is. I found it by chance as there were a couple of people talking about it as I wandered around my favorite local book store. I had to take a look at it and it looked beautiful with the drawing of the horse and his 3 companions on the cover. The title was also in a wonderful cursive script. As I scanned some of the interior pages, I had to take a chance on it.

There is an expression I regularly hear on the Great British Bake-off, 'style over substance', meaning it looks good but leaves something to the desire when it comes to taste. Well, this book has style, wonderful drawings by Charlie Mackesy and it also has substance, just a beautiful story about love, caring and friendship.

The story, which is more of a novella actually, starts with the 'boy' sitting by himself and meeting the 'mole'. As they wander, the boy askes questions, the mole answers... the mole seems to think everything revolves around cake, which is no bad thing. While sitting in a tree, they meet the fox who is trapped. While not very talkative, he threatens to eat the mole. Even so, the mole helps him get free and later on the fox returns the favor. As the 3 continue their journey, they meet the horse and continue their walk. The horse seems to be the logical one with the answers he provides to questions.

The simplicity and beauty of the dialogue resonates...

"Sometimes I worry you'll all realise I'm ordinary," said the boy.

"Love doesn't need you to be extraordinary: said the mole.

"We all need a reason to keep going," said the horse. "What's yours?"

"You three", said the fox.

"Getting home," said the boy.

"Cake," said the mole.

I don't want to use up all of the wonderful quotes, but I had to add this one for you.

"I've discovered something better than cake."

"No you haven't," said the boy.

"I have," said the mole.

"What is it?"

"A hug. It last longer." *sniff* (that was me)

The story, the journey and the wonderful artwork make for a perfect little wonderful story. One that is fine to read by yourself, but one that is even better to share with a loved one... Enjoy. (5 stars)"

7. 1984: The Graphic Novel by Fido Nesti (2021) (4.0 stars)

8. Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi (2023) (4.5 stars)

"Woman, Life, Freedom is an excellent graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi and a group of excellent comic artists and 3 other authors; political scientist Farid Vahid, acclaimed journalist Jean - Pierre Perrin and historian Abbas Milani. The graphic novel centers around the death of Iranian Mahsa Amin, who was beaten by Iran's Morality police for not wearing her veil.

The book covers the history, the politics  and all aspects of life in Iran and for those Iranians who were forced out of the country to save their lives. It's a wide - ranging story covering the ongoing revolution to regain democracy in Iran, the history of Iran, the treatment of protesters (a detailed list of some of those murdered by the regime for daring to challenge authority), various anecdotal stories about life in Iran; women who dare to disguise themselves so they can go to a soccer match with men; a simple (seemingly)story of a woman trying to live a normal life and risking it, just to spend time with normal activities. 

There are fascinating sections covering the decadence of the ruling class; pretending to be loyal Muslims while in Iran but living the high life of dancing, drinking, etc when away. There is the inability to trust people around you, whether in the country or outside because the regime has spies everywhere, pretending to be normal citizens but 'maybe' reporting back to the regime. To be a woman or a man supporting women's rights in Iran is highlighted throughout. Chapter 3 starts with a segment entitled 'Names that will go down in history'; Niloofar Hamedi who took photos of Mahsa Amini who was in a coma. She tweeted the photo and was arrested shortly thereafter. Elaheh traveled to the hometown of Mahsa to cover her funeral and was arrested as well. Doctors who dared to treat protesters who rallied against the regime were arrested. Lawyers defending protesters were arrested, thrown in prison, lost the rights to practice as a lawyer. And on and on.

One of the most terrifying chapters Women Saying No has a page about White Torture. Female prisoners who committed no crime were placed in a totally white room. 'With no sense of time, of day and night... the whiteness starts to take over their body, their mind and soul... and their personality dissolves into nothingness." Terrifying; a version of George Orwell's 1984 in real life.

And yet the book is still filled with hope. The mantra Woman, Life, Freedom permeates the story. There is a persistent hope that the regime will sink into the earth, that with this continuous democratic pressure, that right - minded Iranians will finally get to live the lives that they deserve. They just need the support an an opportunity to create this environment. This was powerful and excellent, and I highly recommend. (4.5 stars)"

9. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson (2015) (4.0 stars)

10. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin (Catwings #3) (3.5 stars)

11. In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune (2023).

"I was first attracted to In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune by its wonderful cover designed by Red Nose Studios, specifically Chris Sickels. The story outline then sounded intriguing and then, of course, the story, which was wonderful.

In the Lives is about Vic, a young boy, who lives with his father, Giovanni Lawson, in a fantastic house in the woods. Vic's best friends are Nurse Ratchet and Rambo. So let's stop there for a moment. Vic is human, maybe one of the last humans left. Giovanni is a robot / android, an inventor. Nurse Ratchet and Rambo are both robots that Vic found in the huge junk heap near their house, and repaired them. Ratchet is as her name describes a medical robot and Rambo is basically an oversized Roomba. Both have personalities - plus. 

The three are best friends and spend their time wandering through the forest and sneaking visits to the dump. They must be careful because the dump is patrolled by huge robots and they must avoid them at all costs. The dump is a valuable place, filled with broken robots, repair parts, etc, etc. 

Oh, I forgot, Vic designed a heart for Giovanni, made of wood, that helps keep Giovanni going... and makes him more human?? Anyway, one day, the threesome discover a broken robot at the dump, missing some parts. They bring it home to Giovanni, who is very upset. The robot is a HARP, basically killer robots designed by the mysterious Authority, to hunt down and destroy humans and rebellious robots. Still, Vic and Gio bring Hap (now named thusly) to life, repair his broken parts and give him a new heart as well.

They must spend time now, helping Hap remember but also trying to make him more gentle and friendly. HOWEVER.... one day while visiting the dump, they see a floating ... er, robot? the Terrible Dogfish, which discovers their home in the woods, and they take Giovanni away. He has made Vic and the others hide in a secret room under the house. Only Nurse Ratchet knew about it.

This is where the story takes off and I won't go into much more detail, except to say that Vic decides to go the City of Electric Dreams (Las Vegas) with his friends to rescue Giovanni. And it's a very exciting trip and adventure where they will meet other robots and even the Blue Fairy. (Oh right, this story is a modern, Sci-Fi take on the Pinocchio story... Mind you, who actually Pinocchio? Vic or Hap?) Anyway, on  this trip, Vic will discover many disconcerting, troubling things about his father, Giovanni and about Hap that will require him to try and reconcile his feelings about life and the whole damn thing.

It's a fascinating, rich story. All of the characters are neat (yes, I said neat) and so funny and interesting. Well, they're not all funny but the core 4 are just great. As an aside, Klune said he got the idea for the story by watching his Roomba and then adding ears to it. Strange, eh? Rambo is one of my favorites, optimistic, in love with the movie Top Hat and won't stop talking. Nurse Ratchet is like her namesake in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest except she's so much more, smart, evil, funny, just a bit of everything. Vic is a boy, smart, inquisitive, trying to adjust and survive in a world of robots... It's just a wonderful, entertaining story. I can't try to describe it all... (4.5 stars)"

So there you go, 11 books since my last update. I've whittled my Currently Reading list down to 7. 

Currently Reading

1. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig (2019). I've been working on this since the end of June but I've made steady progress since I started it at the end of June. Consider it as The Stand but without the humor??? That was a joke.

2. The Blunders by David Walliams (2023). I've enjoyed a couple of Little Britain's David Walliams' children's books. This one looked neat.

"Meet the Bertie, Betsy, their children, Brutus and Bunny, along with their beloved grandma Old Lady Blunder, and their pet ostrich, Cedric. An ostrich is not a sensible pet, but then the Blunders are not sensible people. This family of upper-class twits lives in a crumbling country house named Blunder Hall. When their home comes under threat, they must embark on a series of comic misadventures to save it."

3. Jane on Her Own by Ursula K. Le Guin (Catwings #4). The final book in this children's series.

4. The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown (Wild Robot #2 / 2018). The 2nd book in the Wild Robot adventure. I really enjoyed #1 and will read #3 before end 2024, I'm sure.

"Shipwrecked on a remote, wild island, Robot Roz learned from the unwelcoming animal inhabitants and adapted to her surroundings--but can she survive the challenges of the civilized world and find her way home to Brightbill and the island?"

5. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin (1974). This is my first exposure to Baldwin's work. I'm getting into it now.

6. Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia (Harlem Renaissance #1 / 2021). I've been neglecting this mystery but will focus more once I finish either Beale Street or Wanderers.

7. Booked by Kwame Alexander (2022). I enjoyed The Cross-over very much and am liking this so far.

"In this electric and heartfelt follow-up to Newbery Medal–winner The Crossover, soccer, family, love, and friendship take center stage as twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams.  From the dynamic team behind the graphic novel edition of The Crossover.

Twelve-year-old Nick is a soccer-loving boy who absolutely hates books. In this graphic novel version of Booked, the follow-up to the Newbery Medal–winning novel The Crossover, soccer, family, love, and friendship take center stage as Nick tries to figure out how to navigate his parents’ divorce, stand up to a bully, and impress the girl of his dreams. These challenges—which seem even harder than scoring a tie-breaking, game-winning goal—change his life, as well as his best friend’s."

New Books

1. Bear by Marian Engels (1976)

2. Good Bones by Margaret Atwood (1992)

"A treasure trove of collected works from the legendary author of The Handmaid's Tale and Alias Grace

Queen Gertrude gives Hamlet a piece of her mind.
An ugly sister and a wicked stepmother put in a good word for themselves.
A reincarnated bat explains how Bram Stoker got Dracula hopelessly wrong.

Bones and Murder is a bewitching cocktail of prose and poetry, fiction and fairytales, as well as some of Atwood's own illustrations. It's pure distilled deliciously strong and bittersweet."

3. Red Mandarin Dress by Qiu Xiaolong (Inspector Chen #5 / 2007). I enjoyed the first book in this mystery series very much.

4. Passage by Connie Willis (2001). I have read and enjoyed one of Willis's Oxford Time Travel books.

5. Tarzan at the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan #13 / 1929). I do like this series. I pick up a book every year or so.

6. Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold (Vorkosigan Sage #9 / 1995)

"The latest installment in the adventures of Miles Vorkosigan. Miles and Cousin Ivan travel to Cetaganda to play the part of sprigs of nobility doing their diplomatic duty. But when the Empress of Cetaganda dies naturally, and her lifelong attendant dies unnaturally, Miles and Ivan finds themselves in the thick of it."

7. The Amulet: Escape from Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet #6 / 2014)

8. Monstress: Warchild by Marjorie Liu (Monstress #5 / 2020)

9. Unprotected: A Memoir by Billy Porter (2021). Such an interesting man. I look forward to reading this.

"It’s easy to be yourself when who and what you are is in vogue. But growing up Black and gay in America has never been easy. Before Billy Porter was slaying red carpets and giving an iconic Emmy–winning performance in the celebrated TV show Pose ; before he was the groundbreaking Tony and Grammy Award–winning star of Broadway’s Kinky Boots ; and before he was an acclaimed recording artist, actor, playwright, director, and all-around legend, Porter was a young boy in Pittsburgh who was seen as different, who didn’t fit in. At five years old, Porter was sent to therapy to “fix” his effeminacy. He was endlessly bullied at school, sexually abused by his stepfather, and criticized at his church. Porter came of age in a world where simply being himself was a constant struggle.

Billy Porter’s Unprotected is the life story of a singular artist and survivor in his own words. It is the story of a boy whose talent and courage opened doors for him, but only a crack. It is the story of a teenager discovering himself, learning his voice and his craft amid deep trauma. And it is the story of a young man whose unbreakable determination led him through countless hard times to where he is now; a proud icon who refuses to back down or hide. Porter is a multitalented, multifaceted treasure at the top of his game, and Unprotected is a resonant, inspirational story of trauma and healing, shot through with his singular voice."

10. The Ferryman by Justin Cronin (2023). I'm just about to finish Cronin's Passage trilogy and this one looks interesting.

"Founded by a mysterious genius, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera's lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Then they retire themselves, embarking on a ferry ride to the island known as the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped clean, and they are readied to restart life afresh.

Proctor Bennett, of the Department of Social Contracts, has a satisfying career as a ferryman, gently shepherding people through the retirement process--and, when necessary, enforcing it. But all is not well with Proctor. For one thing, he's been dreaming--which is supposed to be impossible in Prospera. For another, his monitor percentage has begun to drop alarmingly fast. And then comes the day he is summoned to retire his own father, who gives him a disturbing and cryptic message before being wrestled onto the ferry.

Meanwhile, something is stirring. The Support Staff, ordinary men and women who provide the labor to keep Prospera running, have begun to question their place in the social order. Unrest is building, and there are rumors spreading of a resistance group--known as "Arrivalists"--who may be fomenting revolution.

Soon Proctor finds himself questioning everything he once believed, entangled with a much bigger cause than he realized--and on a desperate mission to uncover the truth."

There you go. Update complete. Maybe you'll get a few present ideas for Christmas in this BLog entry. Have a great December. Read many good books.

The Olympics Have Started!!!

I apologize for taking so long between Blog posts. I don't know why it's been so long. Maybe the Manana Proposition fits the bill. I definitely know that's the policy I've been following when it comes to mowing the lawn. Poor Clyde gets lost out in the long grass these days... If he's not battling the creeping blackberry vines.

Before I get down to updating my books; new ones, just finished and currently reading, I just wanted to say that Jo and I are enjoying the Olympics so far. The Opening ceremonies were so neat. The whole idea of doing the intro to the athletes by having them travel down the Seine on boats was cool. 

The French opera singer who sang the French national anthem was so powerful and she was stunning standing on the roof. And what can I say about Celine Dion. Considering the health issues she's been dealing with, she was so wonderful. Brought tears to both of our eyes. What a voice! What strength of character! 

We've been enjoying the Games as well although it's totally screwed up our sleeping habits. I've sort of failed to stay up overnight to watch events live. Jo's much better at it than I am. But we do catch up all day long. I'm very proud of the Canadian team. I'm pissed off at what happened to the women's soccer team. Who doesn't scout out their opponents before a game??? But I'm cheering for them to overcome all the adversity and win the Gold! Please! What a finish to the game against France yesterday. Both of us were screaming with joy. LOL. And today we won our third medal.... so far. Men's synchro diving. That's a first. Yesterday we won our first ever fencing medal. So things are good. Now more swimming medals please. 🥇

Now. On to books. It's been two weeks since my last update so there may be a bit of highlighting. We'll see. Let's start with completed books.

Just Completed

(I've completed seven books since my last update. Let's check out 4)

1. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #4). I've read this a few times over the years but I've been focusing on Le Guin this year and it's in the middle of the Hainish series. 

"One of my all time favorites. Great story; I can read again and again. 

(Latest reread). I think this is at least the 3rd time I've read The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. I read it the first time in university as one of the books in a Science Fiction novel course I took. What a great course! Reading two Sci Fi books a week and being graded on either a review of a book or for having written a Sci Fi short story. What more could a Sci Fi fan ask? And it introduced me to so many great authors, including Le Guin. 

I read it again as I'm working through her Hainish Cycle and it's the 4th book in this Sci Fi series. The basic story is of Genly Ai, a representative of the Ekumen, a conglomeration of planets who try to add other planets to the grouping. Genly has been landed on the planet Gethen (aka Winter) to try and persuade the peoples' to join the planets. A spaceship with other representatives orbits the sun, with its crew in hibernation, awaiting word from Genly.

The beings of Gethen, divided into various individual states are 'its'. When they come into 'kemmer', i.e. ready to procreate, they become either women, ready to bear children, or male. They can change each time. It's an interesting sexual situation.

Each state / country has its own type of government. Where Genly lands first, Karhide (city of Ehrenrang), it is ruled by a king, Aragaven, who is somewhat insane. Genly is under the 'protection / guidance' of Estraven, the king's Head of State. The other country we visit in the course of the story is Orgereyn, divided into Commensals and I think the best similarity here on Earth is Communist Russia, especially under Stalin, where everyone is spied upon.

Over the course of the story, Estraven will be called a traitor by the 'mad' King, his job taken over by the plotting Tibe and Estraven will be forced to flee to Orgereyn or he will be executed. Genly comes under disfavor. The King distrusts this concept of joining a league of planets as he feels he will be subsumed into it and become minor and insignificant. Genly also makes his way to Orgereyn, where he will eventually be made a prisoner. He and Estraven will undertake a dangerous journey across the glaciers back to Karhide to escape his imprisonment.

That is the story in its simplest I think. In this third .... or fourth... reading, it took me awhile to get back into it. I think I've become used to reading books with more action. But in fact, especially at the end, it's a tense, fascinating story. There are so many elements to it. You have this sexual nature of the Gethenanians, in comparison to Genly's human, where Genly is considered a pervert for being always in 'kemmer'. You've got the various political situations. Overlaid with it is Winter, itself, a cold, forbidding planet that Genly will eventually come to love. There is a rich emotional context as well, the growing of a relationship between Genly and Estraven, the growth of the understanding by Genly of the planet his is on and its people and its nature. Reading it again reminded me of how grat the story is. I'm moving on to the next Hainish book, The Dispossessed (5 stars)"

2. Wycliffe in Paul's Square by W.J. Burley (Superintendent Wycliffe #9). I focused on Burley in July and managed to read 3 of this excellent crime series. 

"Wycliffe in Paul's Court is the 3rd Wycliffe mystery I've read this past month and each one has been excellent. It's the 9th book in the series by W.J. Burley.

In this story, we start with DS Kersley until Wycliffe makes his appearance. Paul's Court is a small little square of 4 apartments. You've got Willy Goppel, who makes miniature doll houses. He lives over his shop. The Wards live in the other half and run the local sub post office. There are the parents and their two kids, teenagers Alison and Henry. You've got the Fiskes, husband and wife and their mentally handicapped boy, Marty. There are the retired couple, the Hedleys. Mrs. Hedley is interested in tarot. Finally there is Natalie Cole who runs a local night club and likes to sun bath naked in the courtyard. She lives with boyfriend, garage owner, Geoff Bishop. Natalie has a teenage daughter as well, Yvette who goes to school with the Ward kids.

That's the basic situation. Willy Goppel has a son Frederick who has moved out and lives in town with the Hedley's nephew, Tony (aka Pongo). Willy is a German immigrant who married an English girl and has lived in England for many years. His wife died years ago. It turns out that Willy has a secret. He has passed himself off as a German Jew who escaped from Germany but his papers indicate something else. They have been stolen and then somebody sent them to the local police, addressed to Sgt Kersey. After the Sgt.'s visit, where he indicates he has to send the papers to the Home Office, events begin to take off.

Yvette turns up missing. Kersey begins to investigate and gradually Superintendent Wycliffe becomes involved. When a body turns up and then another, things begin to get really interesting. I'll leave the story there as I wouldn't want to ruin your enjoyment. Suffice it to say that W.J. Burley knows how to tell a story. His characters are all interesting, his plot line fascinating and the story flows very nicely. There are a variety of story lines as you get to know the characters, some with secrets, but all will out eventually. The investigation is methodical, but at the same time there is room for Wycliffe's jumps of intuition. His relationship with his team is excellent as he is well - respected and straight forward. A most enjoyable mystery and just a great story. I'm glad I still have more of the series to read. (4.0 stars)"

3. Six Ostriches by Philipp Schott (Dr. Bannerman #2).

"Six Ostriches is the 2nd book in the Dr. Peter Bannerman mystery series by Canadian veterinarian / mystery writer Philipp Schott. The 3rd book in the series, Eleven Huskies came out in 2024. For once I'm caught up with a series!!! 😎

The series has many things of interest to me. It's by a Canadian author. I've lived in Winnipeg (ok, I lived there one year, but it felt like 4!) Manitoba. The series is set just outside so it kind of resonates with me. And, of course, I like animals so a mystery series featuring a vet is kind of neat. (I guess it's not many things, but still).

In #2, spring is just around the corner. Peter visits a local farm which is raising ostriches because one of them seems to have swallowed something. Performing surgery on the ostrich, he discovers it swallowed what appears to be a Viking artifact. (Critical point here - The local area has been heavily populated by Icelandic and Finnish immigrants for many years). The perceived artifact is a mjolnir which Peter takes to the University in Winnipeg to have examined by an expert on Viking artifacts, Grim for short. Grim believes it to be an ancient artifact and that it supports his theory that Vikings settled in the Winnipeg area around the time when they were exploring Newfoundland.

Peter also finds himself (plus the local RCMP detachment, which includes his gay brother - in - law, Kevin) investigating a series of animal murders and mutilations. Peter wants to get involved in the investigation but due to what happened in the first story (Peter was almost killed) both his wife, Laura, and his brother - in - law, emphatically tell him to stay out of the investigation. However, we know that Peter won't be able to or the story would end right there. Along with his wonderful scent dog Pippin, Peter tries to find out who is killing loved farm animals.

Throw in a secretive local white supremacist (Odin followers) movement that believe they are the original settlers???? and you've got the makings of an interesting story. Both Peter and Pippin are in danger, especially Pippin. I like that Peter's wife, who makes a living knitting thematic sweaters (pop culture themes) even gets more involved, especially with a strong knowledge of the internet.

The story moves along nicely. The characters are all interesting and getting more and more developed. I could have done without the brief interlude with Peter's ex-girlfriend, even though it's not pursued. (Just sort of a throwaway... although maybe it's a teaser for #3) I kind of had the main suspect sussed out, but it didn't matter because even there, the story kept me unsure. It's all resolved kind of nicely and quickly once you get to the end. But #2 was more enjoyable than the first and it seems that Schott is finding a nice stride with this series. #3 is currently on order. (3.5 stars)"

4. The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi (The Amulet #2).

"The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi is the 2nd YA / Fantasy graphic novel in the Amulet series. I have to say that so far I love it. I love the art work, the coloring, the characters and the story. It's an engrossing, entertaining adventure story set in a wonderful, fascinating world. 

Emily and Navin now find themselves wholly in the world below the basement of their great grandfather's home. Their mother has been bitten by a poisonous spider and is in a coma. The two desperately are seeking a cure. Their great grandfather's robots, Miskit, Cogsley and the others are now taking their home (yes, it walks) to the city of Kanalis to try and find a doctor and a cure.

The evil elves want to stop them. Emily is wearing one of the magic amulets and they know she is now a threat to their security. Emily must learn to control the being within the amulet as it wants OUT!

In Kanalis, which is under the thumb of the Elves where people are changed into animal shapes, there is also a resistance. We also meet the Fox, Leon Redbeard, who is much like Puss 'n Boots, offers his services to help Emily and Navin find the cure for her mother. The Elves attack the doctor's house, the Resistance and Navin escape through tunnels while Emily, Leon and Miskit escape across the rooftops.

It's now a race to find the fruit tree that has the cure. There is even some friction amongst the Elves. The Elf King's son is having an internal battle, loyalty to his father but hatred of him as well because of his treatment. And don't forget the entlike trees who see into the future.

It's a rich, deep story. I love the characters. I love the imagination (the walking house are so neat) and I love the way it is drawn, rich colours, lots of action. Check the series out. Enjoy the heroes. Enjoy the fantasy. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Old Man's War by John Scalzi (Old Man's War #1 / 2005). I've wanted to start this series for awhile now.

"John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.

The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-- and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So: we fight. To defend Earth, and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has been going on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.

Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.

John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine--and what he will become is far stranger."

2. Maigret in Holland by Georges Simenon (Maigret #8 / 1931). The Maigret series will be my August focus.

"On his latest case, Maigret finds himself in the town of Delfzijl investigating the murder of a teacher. He is presented with two clues-a sailor's cap in the bathtub and a Manila cigar butt-and a gaggle of suspects, including a flirtatious farmer's daughter, an angry lawyer, a larcenous ship owner, an unaccountably frightened cadet, and a pompous criminologist with a revolver. The Inspector, in turn, is preoccupied with a suspicious pathway lit by a lighthouse beam, which leads him to wonder if this is the kind of spot where secret lovers might be discovered..."

3. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #5 / 1974).

"The Principle of Simultaneity is a scientific breakthrough which will revolutionize interstellar civilization by making possible instantaneous communication. It is the life work of Shevek, a brilliant physicist from the arid anarchist world of Anarres. But Shevek’s work is being stifled by jealous colleagues, so he travels to Anarres’s sister-planet Urras, hoping to find more liberty and tolerance there. But he soon finds himself being used as a pawn in a deadly political game."

4. Poems from the Women's Movement by Honor Moore (2009).

"In 1965, Sylvia Plath’s posthumous  Ariel  took the literary world by storm with its fierce and undeniably female voice. For the next 15 years, America saw a historic outpouring of women’s poetry supported by and supporting the women’s movement. As editor Moore points out, poetry was vital to the movement, articulating previously unexpressed lives, empowering others as the poets found their own power. . . . And all who missed these missiles and epistles then will find them still demanding and invigorating.”— Booklist  (starred review)

“What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? / The world would split open.” These lines by Muriel Rukeyser epitomize the spirit that animated a whole generation of women poets, from the 1960s to the 1980s, who in exploring the unspoken truths of their lives sparked a literary revolution. Honor Moore’s anthology presents fifty-eight poets whose work defines an era, among them Sylvia Plath, Adrienne Rich, Anne Sexton, Sonia Sanchez, May Swenson, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde, Anne Waldman, Sharon Olds, Diane Di Prima, Lucille Clifton, Judy Grahn, Alice Notley, and Eileen Myles. Here is a fresh and revelatory look at a crucial time in American poetry that presents the full range of its themes and approaches and a generous sampling of its most compelling voices."

New Books

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Throne #1 / 2012).

"Lethal. Loyal. Legendary.

In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not come to kill him. She has come to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three murderers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she will be released from prison to serve as the King's Champion.

Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. And a princess from a faraway country will befriend her. But something rotten dwells in the castle, and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying mysteriously, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival-and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world."

2. Selected Stories by Philip K. Dick (1982).

"Philip K. Dick was a master of science fiction, but he was also a writer whose work transcended genre to examine the nature of reality and what it means to be human. A writer of great complexity and subtle humor, his work belongs on the shelf of great twentieth-century literature, next to Kafka and Vonnegut. Collected here are twenty-one of Dick's most dazzling and resonant stories, which span his entire career and show a world-class writer working at the peak of his powers.

In "The Days of Perky Pat," people spend their time playing with dolls who manage to live an idyllic life no longer available to the Earth's real inhabitants. "Adjustment Team" looks at the fate of a man who by mistake has stepped out of his own time. In "Autofac," one community must battle benign machines to take back control of their lives. And in "I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon," we follow the story of one man whose very reality may be nothing more than a nightmare. The collection also includes such classic stories as "The Minority Report," the basis for the Steven Spielberg movie, and "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," the basis for the film Total Recall. Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick is a magnificent distillation of one of American literature's most searching imaginations.

» Introduction by Jonathan Lethem
1. Beyond Lies the Wub
2. Roog
3. Paycheck
4. Second Variety
5. Imposter
6. The King of the Elves
7. Adjustment Team
8. Foster, You're Dead!
9. Upon the Dull Earth
10. Autofac
11. The Minority Report
12. The Days of Perky Pat
13. Precious Artifact
14. A Game of Unchance
15. We Can Remember It for You Wholesale
16. Faith of Our Fathers
17. The Electric Ant
18. A Little Something for Us Tempunauts
19. The Exit Door Leads In
20. Rautavaara's Case
21. I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon"

3. Nothing Special by Katie Cook (2024).

"Two not-so-human teenagers and a friendly ghost radish face the fantasy adventure of a lifetime in this captivating graphic novel, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes material, from the inimitable Katie Cook.

In the grand scheme of the worlds at large, Callie thinks she's nothing special. Sure, she's friends with the ghost of a radish and her dad owns a magical antique shop--but she's spent her life in the human world. Her dad won't let her join him on his collection trips in the magical realm “for her own protection”, so she’s only caught glimpses of that world through the gates of the town where her father’s store is.

On her seventeenth birthday, Callie goes home with her friend Declan to find her home in disarray and her dad missing. Signs of a struggle point to the portal to the magical realm and when there are signs, you follow them. Now it's up to Callie, Declan, and Radish to band together and bring him home. As they face creatures good and bad, and all sorts of adventure, Callie and Declan may just find out that they are both special in their own ways after all."

4. The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie (Age of Madness #3 / 2021).

"Chaos. Fury. Destruction.

 
The Great Change is upon us . . .
 
Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry, and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds.
 
With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch. And in the bloody North, Rikke and her fragile Protectorate are running out of allies . . . while Black Calder gathers his forces and plots his vengeance.
 
The banks have fallen, the sun of the Union has been torn down, and in the darkness behind the scenes, the threads of the Weaver’s ruthless plan are slowly being drawn together . . ."

5. Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo (2023). I've enjoyed her books so far.

"Flor has a gift: she can predict, to the day, when someone will die. So when she decides she wants a living wake—a party to bring her family and community together to celebrate the long life she’s led—her sisters are surprised. Has Flor foreseen her own death, or someone else’s? Does she have other motives? She refuses to tell her sisters, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila.

But Flor isn’t the only person with secrets. Matilde has tried for decades to cover the extent of her husband’s infidelity, but she must now confront the true state of her marriage. Pastora is typically the most reserved sister, but Flor’s wake motivates this driven woman to solve her sibling’s problems. Camila is the youngest sibling, and often the forgotten one, but she’s decided she no longer wants to be taken for granted.

And the next generation, cousins Ona and Yadi, face tumult of their own: Yadi is reuniting with her first love, who was imprisoned when they were both still kids; Ona is married for years and attempting to conceive. Ona must decide whether it’s worth it to keep trying—to have a child, and the anthropology research that’s begun to feel lackluster.

Spanning the three days prior to the wake, Family Lore traces the lives of each of the Marte women, weaving together past and present, Santo Domingo and New York City. Told with Elizabeth Acevedo’s inimitable and incandescent voice, this is an indelible portrait of sisters and cousins, aunts and nieces—one family’s journey through their history, helping them better navigate all that is to come."

6. The Last Council by Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet #4 / 2011). I have to see where this series takes me now.

"A FALLEN CITY WHERE TERRIBLE SECRETS ARE REVEALED...

Emily and her friends think they'll find the help they need in Cielis, but something isn't right. Streets that were once busy are deserted, and the townspeople who are left live in fear. Emily is soon escorted to the Academy, where she's expected to compete for a spot on the Guardian Council, a group of the most powerful Stonekeepers. But as the number of competitors gets smaller and smaller, an awful secret is slowly uncovered—a secret that, if left buried, means the certain destruction of everything Emily fights for."

7. The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2023).

"A girl matches wits with a war god in this kaleidoscopic, epic tale of oppression and the cost of peace, where stories hide within other stories, and narrative has the power to heal… or to burn everything in its path.

In the winding underground tunnels of the Library, the great celestial peacekeeper of the three systems, a terrible secret lies buried.

As the daughter of a Library god, Freida has spent her whole life exploring the Library's ever-changing tunnels and communing with the gods. Her unparalleled access makes her unique – and dangerous.

When Freida meets Joshua, a mortal boy desperate to save his people, and Nergüi, a Disciple from a persecuted religious minority, Freida is compelled to break ranks with the gods and help them. But in order to do so, she will have to venture deeper into the Library than she has ever known. There she will discover the atrocities of the past, the truth of her origins, and the impossibility of her future…

With the world at the brink of war, Freida embarks on a journey to fulfill her destiny, one that pits her against an ancient war god. Her mission is straightforward: Destroy the god before he can rain hellfire upon thousands of innocent lives – if he doesn't destroy her first."

So there you go, folks. I hope you see a couple of books that pique your interest. Have a great week! Oh, and Canada just won its first gold medal ever in women's judo. Woo hoo!