This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
All my frenetic activity of last week was slammed into reverse after Monday’s Pilates class – as I woke up on Tuesday very stiff, with a sore throat which has progressed into a cold (I think!). But whatever it is, my Fitstep teacher and hairdresser don’t deserve to find themselves having to quarantine ‘just in case’. So I’m staying in until it goes away. And writing… Work on Picky Eaters 2 is going well, and is great fun to write, but because I’m feel fairly awful – I’m not getting as much done as I want! My life has lit up with binge-watching The Big Bang Theory – what I’m going to do when I finally get through all 12 seasons, I’m not quite sure… And hurrah for The Great British Bakeoff and Strictly Come Dancing, as well as Portrait Artist of the Year…
This week’s photos are from a walk I took along the beach at Bexhill.
Last week I read:
The Ministry For the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Established in 2025, the purpose of the new organization was simple: To advocate for the world’s future generations and to protect all living creatures, present and future. It soon became known as the Ministry for the Future, and this is its story. From legendary science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson comes a vision of climate change unlike any ever imagined.
Told entirely through fictional eye-witness accounts, The Ministry For The Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, the story of how climate change will affect us all over the decades to come. Its setting is not a desolate, post-apocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us – and in which we might just overcome the extraordinary challenges we face.
Despite NOT being a post-apocalyptic horrorfest, the earlier stages of this interesting book did made tough reading. But I’m glad I persevered as it does provide a message of hope, along with a host of possible fixes. Review to follow.
NOVELLA Masquerade in Lodi – Book 9 of the Penric and Desdemona series by Lois McMaster Bujold
Bastard’s Eve is a night of celebration for most residents in the canal city of Lodi — but not for sorcerer Learned Penric and his Temple demon Desdemona, who find themselves caught up in the affairs of a shiplost madman, a dangerous ascendant demon, and a very unexpected saint of the fifth god.
It was a real treat to turn to more Penric and Desdemona goodness – this is an engaging fast-paced story that I tore through in a single sitting. Review to follow.
Map’s Edge – Book 1 of The Tethered Citadel by David Hair
Dashryn Cowl has run out of places to hide. The erstwhile sorcerer of the Imperial College fled the Bolgravian Empire when his high-flying family fell from grace, but the tyrannical empire is still hunting for him. So when he gets his hands on a map showing a place outside the known lands rich in istariol, the mineral that fuels sorcery, he sees a way back to power. There’s only one problem: it means masquerading as an Imperial Cartomancer (an instant death sentence) and finding some dupes to help him mine the istariol in secret, no questions asked.
But somehow, amid the dangers of the road (floods and avalanches, beasts, barbarians and monsters), a strange thing begins to happen: Dashryn starts to care about his ragtag followers and their strange odyssey into the ruins of an ancient forgotten civilisation. But his past won’t let him be: the implacable Imperial Bloodhound Toran Zorne has caught his scent, and Zorne has never yet failed to bring his quarry to ground. At the edge of the map, there’s no going forward and no going back . . .
If I’m a tad bleary-eyed today, it’s because I sat up faaar into the night, unable to put this delightful fantasy adventure down. It felt a bit like one of those wagon train Wild West stories I used to watch on TV when I was a girl – but with evil sorcerers, instead of corrupt sheriffs. Review to follow.
My posts last week:
Castellan the Black and His Wise Draconic Sayings
Review of NOVELLA Night’s Tooth – Book 1 of Tales of the River Vine series by Jean Lee
Friday Face-off featuring How To Break a Dragon’s Heart – Book 8 of the How To Train a Dragon series by Cressida Cowell
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of The Postscript Murders – Book 2 of the Harbinder Kaur series by Elly Griffiths
Cover Love – featuring the covers of Elly Griffiths
Can’t-Wait Wednesday featuring Fallen Princeborn: Chosen – Book 2 of the Fallen Princeborn series by Jean Lee
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Tuesday Treasures – 16
Review of AUDIOBOOK The Stranger Diaries – Book 1 of the Harbinder Kaur series by Elly Griffiths
Sunday Post – 18th October 2020
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last week, in no particular order:
Blogger Statistics: a Quick Look https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress.com/2020/10/23/blogger-statistics-a-quick-look/ If you’ve ever wondered who else enjoys blogging alongside you – here are some stats…
10 of the Best Poems About Absence https://interestingliterature.com/2020/10/poems-about-absence/ Do you agree with this selection?
My #BookLaunch #Countdown for #FallenPrinceborn: Chosen Continues with #WritingTips on #Plot and #Character https://jeanleesworld.com/2020/10/22/my-booklaunch-countdown-for-fallenprinceborn-chosen-continues-with-writingtips-on-plot-and-character/ Another interesting article, revealing the writing process of a talented author…
Soaring https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.com/2020/10/21/soaring/ Cindy’s pics are often featured here, as they are fabulous. But this time around I caught up with them on Charles French’s blog…
Kids Books That Share True Stories of Native Peoples https://platformnumber4.com/2020/10/11/kids-books-that-share-true-stories-of-native-peoples/ This list looks both instructive and delightful. And important…
Thank you for visiting, reading, liking and/or commenting on my blog – I hope you and yours have a peaceful, healthy week. Take care.
Brainfluff 
I hope you feel better this week. Now I am curious about The Ministry for the Future. Enjoy your week and your books, and thanks for visiting my blog.
I am savoring my books and my shows. I might have to binge-watch The Big Bang Theory, as I have been viewing Young Sheldon, and have enjoyed occasional episodes of the original series.
Have a great week!
I have been absolutely loving The Big Bang Theory – having met a number of Sheldon’s in my time when at Cranfield Institute of Technology, I find it hilarious:)). I haven’t encountered Young Sheldon – I should check it out… Glad you are able to enjoy your TV and your books – things that make life worthwhile:))
We watched Big Bang from its inception to the end, as it unfolded weekly. We came to love the characters and still follow the actors who played Sheldon and Amy.
Oh, I love them, too! It’s the underlying affection between them all that I really appreciate, under all that snark:)). So I’m delighted to hear about Young Sheldon!
We LOVE Young Sheldon. It just “fits” so well, and I understand Jim Parson’s had the final say on the actors trying out for the part. Parsons is a Houston graduate of the High School for the Performing Arts in Houston ISD. He has Emmys and Tonys for his excellent performances. Any time I see anything about or with him, I watch it!
I have only seen Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory – but he and Penny do steal the show, somewhat. Though I love them all and think they all give stellar performances. But I’m so glad to know there is more enjoyable comedy out there once I’ve finished with The Big Bang Theory… I haven’t found anything else I regularly want to watch, recently!
I know the feeling. TV is a vast wasteland. Thank goodness for Netflix.
I absolutely agree, Rae:)). Our TV too is crammed with utter rubbish, apart from a few scattered gems…
I hope you feel better soon, being sick is no fun, no matter what it is. I’ve now heard several bloggers talk about Map’s Edge, which is not on my radar at all. It must be from a UK publisher. I’m definitely going to look into it further😁 Have a nice week, Sarah!
I highly recommend Map’s Edge – Hair is a really good author and this is a cracking adventure:)).
I hope you recover soon 🙂 I feel a bit ashamed, but I’ve never read Kim Stanley Robinson (not yet anyway), maybe I should consider therapy too… Take care 😉
Oh you don’t have to feel ashamed, Iza:)). Much as I enjoy reading Kim Stanley Robinson – he is an acquired taste!!. Thank you for your kind good wishes and I hope you have a great week.
Golly, I hope it’s just a cold, and I hope it goes away quickly and thoroughly.
We watched all the Big Bang shows over a series of months a year or so ago. We don’t have regular tv, so we tend to take a look at shows we hear others talking about and then, if we like it, watch the whole thing in a row.
So happy Great British Baking Show is back on. Now that’s a series I would love to watch again. I love to bake.
Those photos of the Bexhill beach are lovely. I guess your water is cold. Ours is still hot…the reason we are still churning up hurricanes in our Gulf of Mexico.
I’m looking for The Ministry of the Future. I think it’s something I’d like. I wonder if our naturalist book club might, too.
Thank you, Deb:)). I had watched The Big Bang Theory in dribs and drabs over the years – but Netflix has the whole 12 seasons, which I’m now working towards.
Yes – the Great British Bakeoff is in the middle of this series. I still prefer Mel and Sue, but it’s great fun. I love that the contestants are so supportive of each other.
And yes – our water is cold! For all the sunshine we experienced at Bexhill, no one was swimming in it… And I very much hope the rest of the season is hurricane-free. How much longer do you have to continue anticipating the possibility of hurricanes?
The Ministry For the Future is certainly a fascinating read – it’s a bit of a doorstep and I won’t pretend that it’s a classic story – Stanley Robinson doesn’t write like that. But it is chockful of ideas and schemes to avert our current crisis – most of them very far-reaching. He makes no bones about the fact that we need to consume a lot less and rejig the global fiscal struture around carbon capture – which is a bold idea that makes a lot of sense. I hope you have a lovely week, Deb:)).
Answering for Deb (We live in the same town) Hurricane season lasts until Nov. 30th.
Urg! That’s a very long time to be holding your breath and watching the weather forecasts intently. Keeping my fingers crossed that nothing needing a name chooses to come ashore anytime between then and now!
I’m so sorry you’ve got a cold, Sarah. No fun at anytime and a little worry in these times. I hope you’re better soon.
I’ve read a few of the Penric and Desdemona books and need to read more since they’re so fun to read. I haven’t heard of the other two you read so will have to investigate. As always you have interesting links which can lead to going down rabbit holes–but such interesting rabbit holes! I’m so glad you’re working on the next Picky Eaters book.
Take care and I hope you have a good week.
Thank you, Jan:). Glad that you, too, love the Penric & Desdemona series – such a gem! And I very highly recommend Map’s Edge, if you enjoy your fantasy adventurous and fast-paced.
Glad that you enjoyed Picky Eaters – I’m having so much fun writing the next one:)). I hope you have a peaceful, happy week.
Oh, oh, that does not sound good. I don´t know how it is in the UK if you can get tested easily or not. But maybe you should ask your doctor for one. Just to be safe. Your books are new to me, but I will check them out. Happy reading and have a great new week ahead.
I hope this is not more than a cold! And yes I laughed so hard with Big Bang Theory! Stay safe and take care of you 😉
Thank you, Sophie:)). I think it’s SUCH a funny programme, with a real heart of warmth and friendship under the snark. And I’m sure that if I had tested positive last week, I would have been contacted.
Big Bang is such fun. I’m looking for something new to binge, I keep going back to old favourites, I’m just about to finish up Warehouse 13.
Wishing you a great reading week, and better health!
Thank you, Shelleyrae! I’m pretty sure that it is only a cold – I was only tested for COVID last week, as I’m currently part of a testing programme. I think they would have contacted me if my test had been positive:)).
I hope you get better soon! Meanwhile, have fun with Big Bang: I could not think of a better way to forget the world’s troubles for a while, than in the company of Sheldon & Co. 😉
Thank you, Maddalena:)). Oh yes, Big Bang is ideal for viewing while I’m coughing and spluttering. I always found myself howling with laughter…
Sarah, thanks so much for sharing my post about books to help children understand the true Native Peoples. I hope you’ll be feeling MUCH better VERY soon!
You’re welcome – anything that helps people understand better, particularly children, is important. Thank you for your kind good wishes and I hope you have a lovely week, Becky:))
Thank you for including me on your list of posts.👍📚 I’m glad that you enjoyed Map’s Edge too, a really fun and exciting adventure, I’ll look forward to your review.
Thank you, Drew – it was an interesting article and worth sharing:)). I thought Map’s Edge was so much fun! I’ll have to read his Blood Mage series – I think we’ve actually got the books!
Hi Sarah! You must take care of yourself and good for you for being such a considerate human being.
Watch Young Sheldon after The Big Bang Theory. It is a great tie-in and we enjoy it a lot!
The ministry of the future sounds like an interesting read.
Hope you feel better real soon and that you will have a good week.
Here’s my The Sunday Post #16
Ah, thank you so much, Mareli:)). It’s a drag, but it is only a cold – I just wish I felt more like working hard through it!
And I will DEFINITELY tuck into Young Sheldon after The Big Bang Theory – apart from anything, I’m going to suffering with severe withdrawal symptoms… And yes – The Ministry For the Future is a really interesting read. I hope you have a good week, with plenty of purrs and lots enjoyable books:)
I hope you will be much better very soon. I hate to be sick, who doesn’t? Kind of you to look out for others. I hope you have a better week and get to read some great books.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Thank you, Anne. I think we all now have to be mindful of others when we’re not very well and consider how it might impact on others if they have to take time off work because they have some suspect symptoms… I’m hoping to feel better this coming week, too:)). In the meantime, I hope you have plenty of fabulous books to read and a great week.
Blech to feeling sick, and a selfish YAY to making the Sunday cut! Seriously, though, I’m glad you’re taking it easy. If it’d help, channel that grumpiness that befalls us all when we’re ill and create some great cantankerous moments for Castellan to experience later. 🙂 Praying for better health! xxxxxxxx
Thank you for that:)). Yes… I was rather pleased yesterday with some additional wise insights I thought up for Castellan to share with everyone. And come to think of it – I WAS feeling a tad cranky at the time:)).xxxxx
LOL! It’s all about the mindset. 🙂
:))))
I’m sorry to read you haven’t been feeling well. I hope you feel better soon.
Stay safe and happy reading.
Thank you, Maureen – and I hope that you, too, have a safe week and happy reading:))
I hope you are feeling better. I love The Big Bang Theory! I’ve seen all the seasons already and miss it. I wish they were still making new ones. Hope this is a good week for you.
Thank you, Yvonne:)). I am trying to string out my watching experience and already dreading when I run out of seasons. But at least there are plenty of them! I hope you, too, have a great week.
Oh no, sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. Hopefully nothing serious and I hope you’re feeling good as new very soon!
I’ve never read Kim Stanley Robinson but that book sounds super interesting!
It is interesting – Kim Stanley Robinson is an acquired taste, his writing style is unlike anyone else. But it is packed full ideas…
And thank you for your kind concern, Greg. I’m sure it’s only a cold.
We have similar tv tastes if our Dancing with the Stars is the same as your Strictly Come Dancing! I’m so sorry to hear you’re feeling bad but hope you get lots of rest.
Yes! Your Dancing with the Stars is part of the same franchise – indeed, you share the same judges:)) Len was Head Judge of our programme for years and Bruno is still part of it. Thank you, Katherine – I’m sure it’s a cold, but I am tucking myself away so I don’t spread it around. Thinking of you very often and wishing you and Will the best possible week.x
What a great idea to include websites which caught your attention. That is something I am always trying to get my family interested in what I am reading online…now I can add it to my blog. Ha! My Sunday Salon post
Thank you, Anne:)). Glad you appreciate it. I don’t always manage to get around sufficient sites during the week – but if I do, then it seems to make sense to share the ones I think others would like, too.
Scary post, Sarah. Hope you haven’t come down with “IT.”
Oh, I’m fairly convinced it’s nothing more than a cold, courtesy of my granddaughter:)). But I am tucking myself away, as it’s not fair to others to hand anything around that could be mistaken for IT.
Ugh, sorry to hear you’re sick! Hopefully it’s just a cold. ❤ Can you believe I've never read any Kim Stanely Robinson? I should pick up one of his books soon.
Thank you, SJ. I’m reasonably sure that it isn’t COVID – I think I picked up my grandddaughter’s streaming cold the last time I saw her:)) She was being very generous with her nose secretions…
As for KSR – he’s worth giving a go, but he certainly isn’t for everything. Generally I’m all about the story, but with him, it has to be about the ideas…
I’m sorry to hear you’ve not been feeling great, SJ, but good to hear you have had some great telly (Big Bang Theory) and books to cheer you up! I hope you feel better soon. take care, rest up and happy reading! 🙏📚🙂
Thank you, Jessica:)). I’m convinced it’s only a cold, but it has rather knocked the stuffing out of me! Hopefully another week of taking it easy and taking at home will see it done.
I love The Big Bang Theory! When you finish it, just start it over again! It’s that good!
It hadn’t occurred to me to repeat the watching experience – but you’re right, of course! There’s nothing to stop me doing that:)).
I’ve actually never seen The Big Bang Theory. I really need to. I’m working my way through Schitt’s Creek right now and maybe after that I’ll start the Big Bang Theory.
Sorry you have a cold. It’s so scary to get those symptoms! Rest up and I hope you feel better soon. Happy writing and reading!
Thank you for your kind concern:)). Yes, I’m still feeling rough and a bit fed up.
The Big Bang Theory is an ensemble comedy about four nerdy young men trying to figure out the world outside their work. I love it:))