On Hiatus

Life is about to get extra busy for a month or so. I am suddenly teaching two classes this semester (a biology faculty member quit two weeks before the semester starts). While I’ve taught the classes before, I don’t have any slides made for it. It’s an online, asynchronous class, so I have lots of lecture slides to make quickly. On top of that, I’m doing a show at a local amateur theater company. Rehearsals start the same day classes do. Plus, I need to make sure my daughter is doing schoolwork as well. At least until the show opens, I’m going to be swamped with work. So, rather than add one more stressor to my life, I’m going to put reviews on hiatus for a bit. Don’t worry. I’ll still be writing the reviews. I will just save them up to share them with the world for a few weeks. See you on the other side.

Girls at the Edge of the World by Laura Brooke Robson

I saw this in the new book section of the library and picked it up for Miss Adventure. I thought the premise of a group of silk flyers was intriguing.

Published: 2021

Genre: YA fantasy

Length: 465 pages

Setting: the capital of a medieval tech world

Summary: Short version: Natasha wants to marry the King. Ella wants to kill him.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

I keep hearing about this series and the description always compares it to the show Firefly. That is still one of my favorite shows (and movie) so I decided I needed to read it now. It was even easier to read since the audiobook was available on Hoopla.

Published: 2014

Genre: science fiction

Length: 518 pages or 14 hours 23 minutes

Narrator: Patricia Rodriguez

Setting: various exoplanets and space stations, far future

Summary: Short version: We meet the crew of a tunneling ship as they take on a big job

Big Dumb Objects by Howard Taylor

This is the 16th book in the Schlock Mercenary universe. I read the entire run of comics (you can still read them at the website for free). I loved the series so much, I have bought each book. The most recent books have been published through Kickstarter. You can only buy the books through the Schlock Mercenary store since the books aren’t available in book stores (or Amazon).

Published: 2021

Genre: comic book

Length: 256 pages

Setting: various parts of the Universe, immediately after the events of Delegates and Delegation

Summary: Tagon’s Toughs have all the money they could every manage to spend, but still need something to keep themselves busy. They are involved in learning the secrets of the Oafan habitat. An effort to move a colony of Esspererins results a major battle and Captain Tagon’s death.

The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood

I was looking for some fiction at the library and decided to read some of Atwood’s back catalog. I’ve loved so many of her books that I’m willing to ready anything she’s written.

Published: 1993

Genre: fiction

Length: 466 pages

Setting: Toronto, Ontario, 1960s and 1990s

Summary: Short version: Tony, Roz and Charis’ lives are upended by Zenia’s actions

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

I was looking for a BBC Big Read book for my monthly challenge and chose to listen to this.

Published: 1853

Genre: literature

Length: 1017 pages or 32 hours 58 minutes on audio

Narrator: Simon Vance

Setting: mostly around the Court of Chancery in London, mid1800s

Summary: Short version: Mr. Jarndyce takes in Esther to care for the cousins Ada and Richard

The Broken Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin

This is the second book in the Inheritance trilogy.

Published: 2010

Genre: fantasy

Length: 364 pages

Setting: mostly the city of Shadow, under the palace, a few months after the events of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

Summary: Short version: Oree gets drawn into the life of the gods

Bicycling with Butterflies by Sara Dykman

I saw this book on the new books shelf at the library and couldn’t resist, having just been on a long bike trip myself.

Subtitle: My 10,201-Mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration

Published: 2021

Genre: nonfiction travel memoir

Length: 251 pages of text, 280 pages total

Setting: El Rosario, Mexico through the U.S. to southern Ontario, Canada, March-November 2017

Summary: Short version: Read the subtitle

The King’s Men by Nora Sakavic

This is the third and last book in the All for the Game series and Miss Adventure has been dying for me to finish the series.

Published: 2013

Genre: fiction

Length: 411 pages

Setting: mostly around Palmetto State, a fictional college in South Carolina, a few days after the end of The Raven King

Summary: Short version: Neil’s history clashes with the present as the Foxes take on the Ravens

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

This was a free ebook from Tor on my Kindle that I picked up to read on my bike tour. It’s also one of the Time Top Fantasy books.

Published: 2016

Genre: a blend of science fiction and fantasy, but also climate fiction

Length: 313 pages

Setting: nearish future, mostly in California

Summary: Short version: Patricia and Laurence have to bring their skills together to prevent the apocalypse