It's Always Somethin'
Well, I've had an... interesting week.
Last Thursday, I woke up with stabbing pains in my hand. I figured I must have slept on it weird, but it was bad enough that I couldn't hold a pen or type so I called in sick to work. On Friday the hand was okay-ish, but by Friday night the pain was agonizing. My fingers were stuck in the claw position and from elbow to fingertips it felt like my arm was both numb and on fire. I ended up going to the hospital at 2am... and many hours and an x-ray later, they diagnosed it as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
I had NO idea Carpal Tunnel was so.damn.painful.
I came home with morphine (!!!!) but since then there's only been the teeniest of twinges so I haven't had to take any as yet. (Though I am interested in seeing if I react to it that same way that Matt Farrell did. :D)
The ER doc wanted me to take an extra day off work so I only had a 4-day week this week, but that still managed to be eventful when a driver went BALLISTIC and came to our office to yell obscenities at the dispatcher for ten minutes because he didn't like the trip he was given. Oh boy. I need a holiday.
OH. And even with my busted hand, I managed (on Sunday, when the pain was much less) to write a last minute fic and win MARCH MADNESS, my fic challenge with persnickett!! That means I get DH Snickfic this month, woot woot!
Because I couldn't type or doing anything for many days, I did manage to get LOTS of reading done.
Books 19 to 22
19. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
In his last year at wizarding school, Simon Snow (aka The Chosen One) teams up with his vampire-nemesis-roommate Baz to investigate Baz's mother's murder years before; meanwhile, the big bad 'Insidious Humdrum' continues to wreak havoc on the magic world and soon enough Simon and Baz have to confront their feelings for each other.
I've gone on and on (and on) in the past about Rainbow Rowell's faaaabulous "Fangirl". The Simon Snow series of books is Rowell's fictional version of Harry Potter, which her heroine Cath is obsessed with. In "Fangirl", Cath is writing a long multi-chapter fanfic for the Snow books, called "Carry On, Simon". The book contains "snippets" of both what is supposed to be the original Snow books, and of Cath's fanfic version. And they are so popular with readers of "Fangirl" that Miss Rowell decided to write the book for real!
Well, almost. This isn't quite the story that she excerpts in "Fangirl"; instead we're given two mysteries (the hunt for a murderer and for the big bad) and the moment when that enemies-to-lovers trope comes into play. I really enjoyed this little gem of a story. As it's technically a young adult novel it is definitely an easy read, but there are many amusing moments (I particularly enjoyed the numpties and the recurring motif of Baz's aunt bringing them up) and the novel doesn't shy away from dealing with issues like class structure and sexuality (Baz's father ignores mentioning his homosexuality as much as he does his vampirism.)
Aaaand there is a sequel coming out in September. Woot woot!
3.5/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 14 - a book you see someone reading in a movie or book
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 23 - inspired by something old
529 pages
20. A Ticket to Ride by Paula McLain
Jamie is your typical teenager whose life is turned upside down when her wild and irresponsible cousin Fawn comes to visit in the summer of 1973.
What a beautiful novel. This was sitting in my To Be Read pile for over a year, and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. Jamie is an introverted, innocent girl of 15 when her cousin Fawn comes to stay with her for the summer (banished from her home, she says, because of an affair with her drama teacher.) Fawn is beautiful and self-assured, and Jamie wants only to be as cool as her cousin. She lets herself become Fawn's summer project, cutting her hair and following her lead in beauty tutorials; she sneaks out of the house with Fawn every night, smokes, drinks, takes up with the 'bad kids' that hang out at the local park. One bad decision leads to another, and the end result is a tragedy.
The characters are rooted in such a strong sense of reality, and I think that's because the timeframe is so perfectly written. I did not grow up in the 70s but I could SEE that 70s landscape in my mind, which is particularly impressive considering there is not a cliché or trope in sight. Jamie, Fawn and their friends just feel like real people - maybe someone you've known, or seen in the high school hallway, or aspired to be - and that's because they're both such perfect products of their time while being equally accessible as high-school-timeless.
4.5/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 02 - a book that makes you nostalgic
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 39 - strong sense of place
254 pages
21. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
A young boy and his friend are forced to travel to alternative worlds by the boy's evil uncle.
This is the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, which I had never read as a child. I think that children could easily relate to the young hero and heroine in this book. I expected it to be more whimsical and - trying to relate to it as a child would - I was disappointed that the Talking Beasts didn't show up until near the end of the book, but was highly amused when they finally got into the picture. There is a whole section of Talking Beasts and the evil uncle that made me laugh out loud.
3/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 11 - item of clothing on cover
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 31 - a children's classic you've never read
22. The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. LeGuin
When George Orr discovers that he can have 'effective' dreams, which alter reality, he begins abusing drugs in an attempt to stifle them. This leads to his involuntary treatment with a therapist, who doesn't have George's best interests at heart.
What would YOU do if you had the ability to alter reality through your dreams? George Orr just wants it to stop, especially since the subconscious mind find circuitous routes to make these changes. When he is caught self-medicating, he is forced into seeing Dr. Haber, who doesn't want to help George to prevent the dreams but rather he wants to direct them to make the changes that he sees fit.
The story takes place in a future dystopian world of overcrowding and ever-present war, but every attempt that Haber makes to influence George's dreams just backfires. For example, when Haber hypnotically suggests that George take care of the overcrowding problem, he awakens to a reality in which, years ago, billions of people were wiped out by a super plague. It's a fascinating look at the hazards of playing God, even with humanity's best interests at heart.
4.5/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 18 - about someone with a superpower
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 52 - weird or intriguing title
184 pages
Books Read: 22/80
Goodreads Book Challenge: 22/52
Popsugar Book Challenge: 18/40
Total Pages Read: 7612
Hope everyone is doing great!
.
Last Thursday, I woke up with stabbing pains in my hand. I figured I must have slept on it weird, but it was bad enough that I couldn't hold a pen or type so I called in sick to work. On Friday the hand was okay-ish, but by Friday night the pain was agonizing. My fingers were stuck in the claw position and from elbow to fingertips it felt like my arm was both numb and on fire. I ended up going to the hospital at 2am... and many hours and an x-ray later, they diagnosed it as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
I had NO idea Carpal Tunnel was so.damn.painful.
I came home with morphine (!!!!) but since then there's only been the teeniest of twinges so I haven't had to take any as yet. (Though I am interested in seeing if I react to it that same way that Matt Farrell did. :D)
The ER doc wanted me to take an extra day off work so I only had a 4-day week this week, but that still managed to be eventful when a driver went BALLISTIC and came to our office to yell obscenities at the dispatcher for ten minutes because he didn't like the trip he was given. Oh boy. I need a holiday.
OH. And even with my busted hand, I managed (on Sunday, when the pain was much less) to write a last minute fic and win MARCH MADNESS, my fic challenge with persnickett!! That means I get DH Snickfic this month, woot woot!
Because I couldn't type or doing anything for many days, I did manage to get LOTS of reading done.
Books 19 to 22
19. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
In his last year at wizarding school, Simon Snow (aka The Chosen One) teams up with his vampire-nemesis-roommate Baz to investigate Baz's mother's murder years before; meanwhile, the big bad 'Insidious Humdrum' continues to wreak havoc on the magic world and soon enough Simon and Baz have to confront their feelings for each other.
I've gone on and on (and on) in the past about Rainbow Rowell's faaaabulous "Fangirl". The Simon Snow series of books is Rowell's fictional version of Harry Potter, which her heroine Cath is obsessed with. In "Fangirl", Cath is writing a long multi-chapter fanfic for the Snow books, called "Carry On, Simon". The book contains "snippets" of both what is supposed to be the original Snow books, and of Cath's fanfic version. And they are so popular with readers of "Fangirl" that Miss Rowell decided to write the book for real!
Well, almost. This isn't quite the story that she excerpts in "Fangirl"; instead we're given two mysteries (the hunt for a murderer and for the big bad) and the moment when that enemies-to-lovers trope comes into play. I really enjoyed this little gem of a story. As it's technically a young adult novel it is definitely an easy read, but there are many amusing moments (I particularly enjoyed the numpties and the recurring motif of Baz's aunt bringing them up) and the novel doesn't shy away from dealing with issues like class structure and sexuality (Baz's father ignores mentioning his homosexuality as much as he does his vampirism.)
Aaaand there is a sequel coming out in September. Woot woot!
3.5/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 14 - a book you see someone reading in a movie or book
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 23 - inspired by something old
529 pages
20. A Ticket to Ride by Paula McLain
Jamie is your typical teenager whose life is turned upside down when her wild and irresponsible cousin Fawn comes to visit in the summer of 1973.
What a beautiful novel. This was sitting in my To Be Read pile for over a year, and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. Jamie is an introverted, innocent girl of 15 when her cousin Fawn comes to stay with her for the summer (banished from her home, she says, because of an affair with her drama teacher.) Fawn is beautiful and self-assured, and Jamie wants only to be as cool as her cousin. She lets herself become Fawn's summer project, cutting her hair and following her lead in beauty tutorials; she sneaks out of the house with Fawn every night, smokes, drinks, takes up with the 'bad kids' that hang out at the local park. One bad decision leads to another, and the end result is a tragedy.
The characters are rooted in such a strong sense of reality, and I think that's because the timeframe is so perfectly written. I did not grow up in the 70s but I could SEE that 70s landscape in my mind, which is particularly impressive considering there is not a cliché or trope in sight. Jamie, Fawn and their friends just feel like real people - maybe someone you've known, or seen in the high school hallway, or aspired to be - and that's because they're both such perfect products of their time while being equally accessible as high-school-timeless.
4.5/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 02 - a book that makes you nostalgic
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 39 - strong sense of place
254 pages
21. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
A young boy and his friend are forced to travel to alternative worlds by the boy's evil uncle.
This is the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, which I had never read as a child. I think that children could easily relate to the young hero and heroine in this book. I expected it to be more whimsical and - trying to relate to it as a child would - I was disappointed that the Talking Beasts didn't show up until near the end of the book, but was highly amused when they finally got into the picture. There is a whole section of Talking Beasts and the evil uncle that made me laugh out loud.
3/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 11 - item of clothing on cover
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 31 - a children's classic you've never read
22. The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. LeGuin
When George Orr discovers that he can have 'effective' dreams, which alter reality, he begins abusing drugs in an attempt to stifle them. This leads to his involuntary treatment with a therapist, who doesn't have George's best interests at heart.
What would YOU do if you had the ability to alter reality through your dreams? George Orr just wants it to stop, especially since the subconscious mind find circuitous routes to make these changes. When he is caught self-medicating, he is forced into seeing Dr. Haber, who doesn't want to help George to prevent the dreams but rather he wants to direct them to make the changes that he sees fit.
The story takes place in a future dystopian world of overcrowding and ever-present war, but every attempt that Haber makes to influence George's dreams just backfires. For example, when Haber hypnotically suggests that George take care of the overcrowding problem, he awakens to a reality in which, years ago, billions of people were wiped out by a super plague. It's a fascinating look at the hazards of playing God, even with humanity's best interests at heart.
4.5/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 18 - about someone with a superpower
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 52 - weird or intriguing title
184 pages
Books Read: 22/80
Goodreads Book Challenge: 22/52
Popsugar Book Challenge: 18/40
Total Pages Read: 7612
Hope everyone is doing great!
.