Hah, I decided I’d do my weekly check in on a Sunday as I’d have more time to take photos and compile my thoughts…obviously that didn’t happen. My blog is fast approaching its 10th birthday so I should really do something for that and stop neglecting the poor thing. BUT SOMEONE IS STEALING ALL THE TIME. I mean not the time I spend working, that drags all day, but as soon as I do something for me? Poof, it vanishes.

A year of lockdown is weighing on me I think, and last week’s news and social media were not good for my mental health. The world is in a state and there’s not much I can do about it.

So I tried to distract myself with reading at the weekend, and at least The Cousins by Karen M. Manus was the perfect light entertainment. I guess the plot might be a bit far-fetched but maybe that’s why I loved it. It had a gothic feel to it too, with old money, a big house and a mysterious invitation.

Last week I reviewed The Edge and read Klara and the Sun. I feel like Ishiguro’s latest is a good advert for taking vitamin D in winter! I’ll probably write a review when my brain engages again.

I also finished the audiobook of The Relentless Moon, which was a lot longer than I was expecting and took me a while only listening for short periods each day. Since I am so used to Mary Robinette Kowal being the voice of Elma, I kept getting confused and thinking it was her and not Nicole, whose perspective this is told from. I enjoyed having the timeline of The Fated Sky told from a different viewpoint though, with some time on Earth and some on the moon.

I did start listening to the audiobook of Dog Days but I could just not bring myself to spend time with the character of George, who should have been reported for animal cruelty and was a sexist pig. It wasn’t really what I was after for my dog walk listen. So instead I’ve been listening to Nikesh Shukla’s memoir, Brown Baby, instead which is beautifully told (and I love Himesh Patel’s narration, please can he do more).

There are so many books I want to read right now I’m a bit annoyed at falling into a slump again. Hey books, it’s not you, it’s me.

New books acquired:

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (ebook)
The Long, Long Afternoon by Inga Vesper (ebook)
[gifted] The Fall of Koli by M.R. Carey (Orbit)