This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
Another funfilled week. Himself’s shoulder injury is apparently an issue with his neck and while he is coping better, it’s because he now is now taking three different types of painkiller. I’ve still been battling on and off with this wretched headache, which I think is a mixture of stress and lack of sleep. And then on Tuesday I broke a tooth. I’ve a delightful visit with the dentist ahead of me, involving lots of tooth-drilling while gazing up his nose, and then handing across an eye-watering amount of money at the end of it. And that’s all going to happen in early December on my mother’s birthday.
One chink of light in all this November murk – will it EVER stop raining??? – is that my sister now is in the process of moving into her new home. I spent yesterday morning with her, helping to hang curtains and put up a shower rail. The other chink is that in the middle of all this misery, I’ve managed to dive back into Mantivore Warrior – to be honest, writing about the struggles of my young hero while MindLinked to a rather grumpy alien is something of a relief…
Last week I read:
Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
Our voyage from Earth began generations ago. Now, we approach our new home.
AURORA.
This was a really intriguing read about a generational ship finally approaching its destination after a long, long time in space… Review to follow.
AUDIOBOOK – Poirot’s Finest Cases: Eight Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations adapted from the 
books of Agatha Christie
This included Murder on the Orient Express, The ABC Murders and my favourite – The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
All these stories were given the full Radio 4 treatment, including a stellar cast of the great and good of British acting at the time and were well worth the cost of a single credit. Review to follow.
The Violent Fae – Book 3 of The Ordshaw series by Phil Williams
They hid among us, until she exposed them. They’ll destroy everything to be hidden again.
Pax is discovering that the smallest mistakes can have the deadliest impact. To protect her city, she’s uncovered monstrous truths and involved terrible people. The consequences are coming for her. The Sunken City is unstable. The Fae are armed for war. Can Pax stop the coming disaster?
I’ve read and enjoyed the previous two books in this quirky urban fantasy series – see my review of Under Ordshaw – so was keen to find out how it all gets sorted out. Review to follow.
My posts last week:
Review of Cleon Moon – Book 5 of The Fallen Empire series by Lindsay Buroker
Friday Faceoff featuring Use of Weapons – Book 3 of the Culture series by Iain M. Banks
Review of New Star Rising – Book 1 of the Indigo Reports by Cameron Cooper
Review of Castaway Planet – Book 4 of the Boundary series by Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor
Teaser Tuesday featuring Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
Sunday Post 17th November 2019
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last few weeks, in no particular order:
Happy Friday! #ThePositivityWave #13 https://carlalovestoread.wordpress.com/2019/11/22/happy-friday-thepositivitywave-13-november-22/ Carla explains how she and her wonderful family turned what could have been a devastating anniversary into a celebration…
Travel Back in Time – Thanksgiving 1963 (excerpt from DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens) https://4writersandreaders.com/2019/11/21/thanksgiving-1963-excerpt-from-dog-bone-soup/ This lovely extract is both poignant and funny and so I thought I’d share it with you.
The Guilty Reader Tag #Bookblogger #Bookbloggers #Bookblog #Blogger #Bloggers https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress.com/2019/11/20/the-guilty-reader-book-tag-bookblogger-bookbloggers-bookblog-blogger-bloggers/ Drew addresses these searching questions, designed to test his blogging rectitude with his customary seriousness—nah – who am I kidding? It’s a hoot…
Sci Fi Month 2019: THE BORDERS OF INFINITY by Lois McMaster Bujold #SciFiMonth https://spaceandsorcery.wordpress.com/2019/11/19/sci-fi-month-2019-the-borders-of-infinity-by-lois-mcmaster-bujold/ Sci Fi Month is in full swing and going brilliantly – and one of the highlights for me is the series of reviews written by Maddalena on the classic Vorkosigan Saga. Science fiction at its best really is allll about the characters – and what a character Miles Vorkosigan turns out to be!
Wordless Wednesday: Lillian https://applegategenealogy.wordpress.com/2019/11/20/wordless-wednesday-lillian/ I keep thinking about this photo. That smile is so wonderfully radiant – I hope she had a happy life…
Thank you for visiting, reading, liking and/or commenting on my blog – I hope you have a wonderful week.
Brainfluff 
It seems that this year November and December are the months where we all have to deal with something unpleasant. You with your teeth, me with my bathroom/kitchen wall. Oh boy. Right now I say, can´t we just skip the last three months of the year to make it wonderful and pleasant again? Have a (hopefully) great week and happy writing and reading!
I’m so very sorry to hear about the disaster in your kitchen and bathroom. What a terrible time of year – and the two major rooms that make a house a home… Thinking of you and sending you a big virtual hug!X
Thank you. Your virtual hug is very appreciated.
Sorry to hear about your husbands shoulder/ neck injury. Glad the painkillers are helping at least. I always hate going to dentist, both for the money and the actual visit. I am sorry you had to go through that. Here we luckily have had some sunny days in between the grey days. That is good news your sister is moving to her new house. And sounds like your writing works as a bit of an escape at least. I hope next week is a better one.
Thank you Lola for your kindly sympathetic words. Yes… I’m also dreading the dentist:(. Glad that you at least are having some sunshine – and at least this morning was bright without any rain.
I’m sorry to hear your health woes are still around. But helping your sister move in sounds like lots of fun😁 Hope your week ahead is much better!
Thank you, Tammy. Yes, spending time with my sister always cheers me up:). And I’m hoping the coming week is a lot better, too!
Sorry to hear that pesky headache is still hanging around and about the dental issues, but I’m glad to hear that your sister’s move has provided some brighter moments for you. Hoping this week is better for you!
Thank you, Suzanne. I’m very much hoping it will be a better week, too!
I really must read some Agatha Christie. Enjoy your week and your time with family and friends. Thanks for visiting my blog.
It was even more fun listening to the dramatised version, Laurel:). Have a great week.
Oh I hope things are improving on the health end soon for you and your husband. I keep working for my daughter to reduce her pain through various things which is a daily effort, over the last 10 years. It’s been better lately but we both are afraid to get our hopes up. Do you all celebrate Thanksgiving? I realize it is an American holiday but being thankful is such a blessing. I wish you the best week with better weather and health and great books!
Anne – Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
Thank you for your kind concern, Anne:). Fortunately (so far) we are not suffering with chronic pain and my heart goes out to anyone who is… And no, Thanksgiving isn’t an American custom that has migrated this side of the Pond, though perhaps we ought to count our blessing, right now. I appreciate your good wishes and I hope you, too, have lovely weather, good health and great books – it’s a wonderful wish for the coming week:)).
I’m glad there is some light among the dark for you.Ask your dentist for the good drugs 🙂
Wishing you a great reading week, and some sleep!
Thank you, Shelleyrae:)). Oh for sure – he’d better pump me FULL of the painrelieving EVERYTHING come the time!
Hooray for your sister’s new home and for getting back into your writing. It sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate right now. Hopefully things ease up a bit soon. The fees charged by the dentist often feel like insult added to injury 😦
Thank you for your kind encouragement, Maire:). And you’re right about the fees! They are simply knee-buckling…
I’m so sorry about your health issues. I hope you are feeling better soon. Good luck with the dentist. Have a great week!
Thank you for your kind good wishes, Yvonne and I hope you, too, have a lovely week.
Ouch. It sounds like you and Himself are having a rough time. I hope you both feel better soon.
Thank you, AJ – I hope so, too:))
Oh no sorry to hear about the tooth! Dentist appts and drilling- ugh. No fun. Hope it goes easy for you though! Also Aurora- I love generation ship stories so I think I’ll probably need to get that one. 🙂
Thank you, Greg. Yes… It’s not really been a good November for us. But do get hold of Aurora – it’s a really interesting read and some strong opinions on where humanity should direct future efforts…
I love the sound of that. Will definitely take a look…
Thanks for linking my post.👍📚
Here’s to hoping that you and your husband start feeling better very soon!
*ouch* for your visit to the dentist! The saying about them hurting you twice, first when they work on your teeth, and then when they work on your wallet, is tragically true…
And moving to better topics: I can’t wait for your reviews of Aurora (which I have not read) and The Violent Fae (which I did) – and thanks for the shout-out on the Miles book 😉
Thank you for your kind sympathy – yes… I’ll be glad when all the dental work is over!
It was my solid pleasure to give a shout-out for your wonderful series of reviews on the Miles Vorkosigan books:). Apart from anything else – I’d love other folks to have the joy of reading them! And yes – Aurora is certainly worth getting hold of. And I really enjoyed The Violent Fae, too:))
I hope you end up having a wonderful week!
Thank you! I hope that you, too, have a lovely week:))
Thanks!
I’m glad you had something good to focus on besides all of the health issues. I hope they can resolve your husbands pain and the dentist visit isn’t too bad. It amazes how little insurance will cover for dental work. They still seem to consider dental work cosmetic even though problems with our teeth can lead to serious health problems.
After my birthday was over on the 21st of November, my week went downhill–fast. Like yours there were nothing but misadventures even including computer troubles. Now I am faced with buying a new one or investing in getting my laptop fixed–that it assuming it can be fixed. Any way I look at it, it will be expensive.
The only difference between your post and mine here is that we have had beautiful weather, going into the high seventies and not being cooler than the forties in the morning. My yard is in full bloom. We had one stormy day, but the wet was needed for the plants and I sat around in my T-shirt I had made that said, “A rainy day, coffee, and a good book–my idea of paradise!” We are expecting some rain, but not all day, tomorrow (Tuesday, the 26th).
I hope things get better for you.
So sorry to hear of your computer troubles – that is always a crisis as they are now a necessity, rather than a luxury in our modern world… But I’m heartened to hear of your lovely weather. I look out at the murky grey drizzle that seems to have clamped over us for an eternity and sunshine seems an implausible dream – so it’s a relief to know someone is experiencing all that golden glory somewhere! My garden is looking saggy and sodden… I hope your computer issues turn out not to be too dreadfully expensive, Rae:))
My “grandson” just got the newest Apple laptop, gave his “old” (last year’s) laptop to his mom, and is bringing me hers TODAY!! Good grandson.
Ah… those are the kind of grandchildren we especially love:))
It’s nice when they drive a Lexus and you get to ride! LOL
I’m looking forward to that stage! Right now, I’m still the one picking them up and taking them where they need to go…
Dental problems are the worst!!!! So sorry you have to go through that!
Thank you for your kind sympathy, Samantha. Yes… I’m feeling a tad sorry for myself, too!
Ouch on the tooth! I hope that the dental bill isn’t too high at the end of it. 😦
I’m also so tired of the dizzle and rain! I know it’s November but some variety in the weather would be nice! It’s been so gloomy and miserable… Ah well, at least Christmas is coming! Twinkle lights break up the gloom nicely.
I hope you’re feeling much better.
And I can’t wait to see what you made of the final Ordshaw book.
Take care
Lynn 😀
Thank you, Lynn. Yes – that wretched headache has FINALLY lifted! Yippee:)). And I’m hoping to post my review of the final Ordshaw book this week.
Oh no, not a tooth! Yeah, we’re still reeling from medical bills earlier this summer because the system went online without paper notices. Suddenly we’ve a pile of unpaid bills from summer and the billing department calling us every week. Just…ugh. Hugs, Friend. These are the days where it’s like, my paycheck can just bypass my wallet this week….sigh….
Yes… fortunately that was in the past and while I’m glad I did have the money to pay the wretched bill – there goes my paycheck for the last few months… That said – I don’t earn all that much. And the time is lousy with the runup to Christmas!
A.M.E.N. I’m actually applying for some different full-time gigs to see if anything sticks. Subbing has helped, but it’s just not enough. 😦
Urg. Good luck! It’s swings and roundabouts, isn’t it? I found supply teaching incredibly stressful after being a full-time teacher and far preferred getting a regular part-time post which at least gave me a measure of security… Wishing you all the best is your search!
Thank you so much! Yeah, the one good thing about subbing is that you don’t have to take work home, but the students are just so crazy, you know? Especially the tweens, whom I’ll be working with yet again today…sigh…
That was one of the things I disliked about supply teaching – the children were always cranky and miserable to see you walk through the door. It’s not a good feeling! And have you noticed how you are ALWAYS the one that – somehow – was on playground duty on the the roster, as the supply teacher??
LOL yes!!! Or on bus duty. That was me today. UGH.
Oh… joy…
It seems like I’ve hit a “bad luck” streak with the Sunday posts, and I feel really bad reminding you of them. I can only hope that you’re doing much better now and there will be at least some consolation in the fact that these troubles are long past you…
Actually, I am really pleased! I recalled just how overwhelmed I felt at the time. Yet I had the dental work, which was really necessary and Himself’s shoulder pain is now a thing of the past after a very effective set of exercises by the physio. We’re currently in the middle of a major family crisis and watching those I love suffer is absolutely horrible – but reading about this and knowing that it is all sorted reminds me of that lovely quote – This, too, shall pass… It’s a comfort I need right now!