Tomorrow is 2018! And not a moment too soon. This year has had some wonderful parts for me personally, like completing my third session and taking real strides forward professionally, and my trip with my husband to Michigan to see my family and take him to the Upper Peninsula, but it’s been exhausting on a lot of other levels. Here’s hoping that I can take the lessons from these past 12 months forward and leave the rest of it behind for a fresh beginning in the new year! And, of course, that I read wonderful books 🙂 But before we call it quits on 2017, here is a look back at the last month.
In Books…
- The Lady Elizabeth: I’ve loved every one of Alison Weir’s histories that I’ve read, but this is the second of her fiction works to leave me cold. Despite the fact that she’s a much better historian, the fiction is just as trashy as Philippa Gregory’s, but not as compelling.
- The Games: I’m one of those weirdos that likes the Winter Olympics better (mostly because of figure skating), so before Pyeongchang kicks off, I figured I’d read this book about the history of the Games. It’s good, but very information-dense…I tend to prefer my non-fiction a little more narrative.
- The Girl In The Tower: The first book in this series just made my best books of the year list, so I had high hopes for the second one and they were not disappointed! Vasya’s adventures continue, taking her both on the hunts for bandits and into the dangerous world of Moscow high society. The final book is due out next year but I need it NOW!
- The Lady of the Rivers: Philippa Gregory’s books tend to be guilty pleasures for me…I know they’re historically dubious and often sensationalistic, but they’re easy to read and kind of fun for brain candy. This one is neither especially good or especially bad from her, so it was entertaining enough and not especially memorable.
- The Power: This examination of what might happen to our world if women developed abilities that made them the physically dominant (and therefore, more powerful) gender had interesting ideas, but never really developed narrative cohesion.
- Rebecca: This book inspired a fantastic Hitchcock movie, and might be the best example of imposter syndrome I’ve ever read. Very good and something I’ll definitely read again!
In Life…
- The holidays continued: I managed to get my presents off and out on time and had a lovely Christmas with my husband and his parents and the dogs. I am very glad that the season of official overeating is over.
- The Broke and the Bookish Secret Santa: I did this for the first time last year, and had such fun with it that I was really looking forward to it this year! It’s so fun to try to find fun things for your new internet friend…and get your own presents in return! Many thanks to Lois at You, Me, and A Cup of Tea for the books and pug goodies!
One Thing:
Thankfully my own experience with this kind of thing in Carson City has been minimal, but this piece from the New York Times on the rampant sexual harassment of female lobbyists, usually by male lawmakers, in state legislatures rings true to a lot of things I’ve heard through the grapevine. I’m glad that the national climate is turning towards actual consequences for men who exploit their positions of power to prey on women.
Gratuitous Pug Picture:
