Not Boring
Currently reading:
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London
Out There Screaming, edited by Jordan Peele
An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice [audiobook]
Books finished this week: 1
★★★☆☆
Where this book came from: Another BookHampton purchase from the incomparable Hamptons Whodunit.
Why this book: Much like with The Ghostwriter, I heard LJ Ross on a panel at the festival and just really liked the sound of her books! Her publishing story is also super interesting: she left her career as a lawyer over ten years ago to pursue her dream of writing, and first found great success self-publishing before getting picked up by a traditional publisher. Hearing her explain her path was just a nice reminder that there are many paths to success.
Thoughts: Basically until the last thirty to forty pages, I figured this was an easy four stars. British and Irish mysteries are my catnip, and I’m really, really excited to have a new name to add to the roster (especially one with so many books to read!!). I found myself rolling my eyes every now and then at the protagonist, Dr. Alexander Gregory, though mostly because there were a few comments made by other characters about how he was just so smart and special. But the mystery was pretty good and I love a small-town with complicated relationships and dark secrets. Unfortunately, I did find the ending——both the reveal of whodunit and the finale of the novel itself——a bit . . . well, “silly” feels a little mean, but it was the word that came to mind. I debated still giving this four stars, but that felt a little high based on my frustrations with the ending and a few other quibbles throughout. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this book (and it’s the first time it’s only taken me two or three days to finish reading something in I don’t know how long), so I’m looking forward to reading more of Ross’ work!
Library updates:
It was a sleepy week. Not boring, by any means——quite the opposite, in fact, so I was very tired for a lot of it.
Not very much to report on the reading or writing fronts. For reading, it was nice to find myself so driven to finish Imposter, after being in a bit of a slump (or, at least, definitely reading more slowly than usual) the last few months. And now I’m very much enjoying Yesteryear! And for writing, a piece I submitted for an anthology was declined, but I’m trying to focus on the positives there. I’m thankful the answer came so quickly, and that I forced myself to write something new in a genre (folk horror) that I don’t often dabble in. I felt good writing that story, and now I have a finished piece I can submit elsewhere and hopefully see out in the world sooner rather than later.
Lots of writing ideas brewing and submissions on the horizon, plus plenty of edits to complete at work, plus a bunch of lovely books to read out in the world as the weather slowly gets nicer. Reading on the beach on a summer Friday is right around the corner; I can feel it.
And, of course, a very happy Mother’s Day to my mom, and to all the moms and other wonderful supporters and parental figures out there! Sending love to those celebrating and to those who find today a bit more complicated, whatever the reason.
Closing thoughts:
Easier said than done, but find a positive in the tangled ball of a negative situation and let it lead you forward.
