Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros


 First Lines:  "Where in Malek is he going? I hurry through the tunnels beneath the quadrant, trying to follow but night is the ultimate shadow and Xaden blends seamlessly into the darkness."

Of course, Onyx Storm would end in a cliffhanger. Now I want to read the 3 books in the Empyrean series again, knowing that there is a fourth and fifth book that will be coming out in the future.

So Onyx Storm drops right in where the last one ended. I didn't remember as much as I thought I would and it took me a few chapters to get back into the groove of the story. 

I've heard a lot of complaints that the actions going from fast to nothing happening real quick and I realized most folks don't know how the military works. I'm a military brat so know there is a lot of waiting around between battles, between negotiations. The story reflected how the real life military works in some ways. 

Long story short, without giving away any spoilers, the tale is full of battles. The dark wielders Venin, politically, with authority, attempts to win over other islands leaders to fight with Navarre, as well as her battle to keep hidden Xaden's infection by the venin.   In the process of trying to find Andarna's kin, we learn more about Violet's history with her dad. Plus throw in the life of a cadet as she trains and bonds more with Tairn and Andarna, and her fellow classmates, and it makes for one hell of a story. 

527 Pages

Entangled Publishing, 2025

Fantasy

Reading Log as of January 31st

 


I jumped into book #3 in Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series with Onyx Storm and couldn't stop reading. I just finished, which left me with a book hangover, so I'm still processing. So much to think about. 

“After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming…and not everyone can survive its wrath.

My bedtime read is What You are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama which is a series of vignettes about patrons approaching Sayuri Komachi, the mysterious librarian, for information and end up with a list of books as well as little colorful felt objects which end up representing something important to each person. Enchanting so far. 





Reading Log as of January 25th

 



I finished two books and gave up on one this week. 

My breakfast read in which Heather Webber’s magical realism tale – At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities –  was charming and sweet, with both eccentric and quirky characters, human and animal, in which everyone finds their happily ever after, but not without going through rough times, finding ways to communicate, and accepting past and present. ****

My bedtime read was Alan Dean Foster’s science fiction tale – Iceriggers:  Oh my gosh, I’ll never be warm again. An action filled story from beginning to end in which our characters are stranded on an icy planet and placed in jeopardy every step of the way, with the most unlikely of heroes. Fun read! ****

I'm sad to say I gave up on Haruki Murakami's The City and It's Uncertain Walls.  What the heck was I reading? I hoped it would get better, that there would be some rhyme or reason to it.  What am I  missing?  I read it out loud to my hubby and it sounded pedantic and silly, unlike Murakami's usual writing. I reach the end of the first section,  to find we were in a place similar to the other place and a somewhat similar situation. After more repetitive nonsense, I jumped to the back and found an afterward. That explains it. It would have been much better as a novella and come to find out it once was.   Fine, I'll read the last chapter - we're back to the same situation.  **

"I have no hesitation. Perhaps." Ugg!

I gave up. 

Maybe me and my shadow were not the target audience. 

Maybe, I don't know, try that again, explain it again, tell me again. Maybe I'll change my mind again. Maybe, perhaps, I don't know.  Jiminy Christmas.  My disappointment knows no bounds. Thankfully I can go back and read his other stories which I enjoyed more. 


James has me reading All Star Superman graphic novel which is a combo of 12 issues which are supposed to the background for the new superman movie.  Graphic novels and comics aren’t really my thing but what the hey.  Silly so far.  When I’m done with this one, he wants me to read the Star Wars novel: Dark Plagueis.


Rebecca Yarros's Onyx Storm has arrived so diving in. 



Iceriggers by Alan Dean Foster


 

First Line:  "The man in the Antares bar-lounge didn't quite bang his head on the curved star ceiling on this, his fourth attempt."

Oh my gosh! I'll never be warm again.  Iceriggers is an action packed story from beginning to end in which our characters are stranded on an icy planet and placed in jeopardy every step of the way, lead by the most unlikely of heroes. I love the characters names:

Ethan Fortune - who is a salesmen at the beginning and Skua September - our head banging bar fiend who is a hoodlum on the run. 

Aliens, ice beasts, pirates, nutty monks. Lots and lots of ice. Always cold. Battles, beasts, crazy sail boats, even a volcano. Our characters are tested against the elements as well as against the pirates, and ice beasts. 

Fast, fun, furious, ferocious, crazy story. And book #1 in the Icerigger series. 


313 Pages

Ballentine Books, 1974

Science Fiction 

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber

 


First Line:  The letter had been sent by a dead man. 

The adventure for Ava began when an envelope fell at her feet containing  a mysterious message from her dead boyfriend, Alexander, sending her to Driftwood Alabama to interview as a caretake for a stubborn old man.  

The town turns out to be full of charming and nutty and friendly folks all with stories to tell:  

Maggie, who runs Magpie Cafe and matches people up with curios from her cabinet of curiosities when she feels a vibe. 

Estrella, who always wears black and a veil and knows things. If one doesn't listen to her advice, they break out in hives. 

Dez, Maggie's father, who is keeping secrets, seems forgetful, and is weeding out all his old possessions.  Maggie wants to know why.

Sam, friendly yet sad, with his little dog normal, who according to Ava 'quabarks', a cross between a quack and bark only she can hear.  Sam is keeping secrets as well. 

Rose and Titus, who do the coffee dance, him asking for a special coffee, and she giving him black coffee instead.

Characters fall in love and try to deny it, or hold on to the past as long as they can. Some hide the truth, while searching for the one who will help them the most.  

Ava is accepted into the fold, and tries to help, at the same time looking for something different, than her ordinary life, all while hiding her medical issues. 

While Driftwood is a charming, magical, little town, set by the ocean, and the place is full of love, and help draw Ava out of her comfort zone, all the characters go through the wringer, ironing out their issues and relationship, until they find their happily ever after. 


One of my favorite quotes:

"It was a gray morning, the sky filled with low hanging clouds. Leftover rain droplets from a storm that had rolled through in the wee hours of the morning sat fat and sparkly on the edges of my bug splattered windshield as I glanced at the dashboard clock: 8:38."

I love how Webber crammed all the detail about the weather, the car, the time in one sentence so beautifully. 


320 Pages

Forge Books 2023

Magical Realism 


Reading Log as of January 18th

 


I woke up to the enticing scent of fresh roasted coffee beans which Hubby hadn't done for some time now.   He generally likes to do a dark roast so he choose to roast some Guatemala Xinabajul which is an earthy combination of dark chocolate, sugar, and caramel. At Christmas time, we also received some homemade Kahlua made by one of my employees which was wonderful.  Normally, I don't drink coffee but hubby made the best cup of espresso this morning because when I took a sip, it was actually good.  And now I’m craving an Espresso Martini. Which is why coffee is on my mind and either subliminally or not so subliminally, I started reading At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber this morning.

"When Ava Harrison receives a letter containing an unusual job listing one month after the sudden death of her ex-boyfriend, she thinks she’s being haunted. The listing—a job as a live-in caretaker for a peculiar old man and his cranky cat in Driftwood, Alabama—is the perfect chance to start a new life. A normal life. Ava has always been too fearful to even travel, so no one’s more surprised than she is when she throws caution to the wind and drives to the distant beachside town.

On the surface, Maggie Mae Brightwell is a bundle of energy as she runs Magpie’s, Driftwood’s coffee and curiosity shop, where there’s magic to be found in pairing the old with the new. But lurking under her cheerful exterior is a painful truth—keeping busy is the best way to distract herself from the lingering loss of her mama and her worries about her aging father. No one knows better than she does that you can’t pour from an empty cup, but holding on to the past is the only thing keeping the hope alive that her mama will return home one day.

Ava and Maggie soon find they’re kindred spirits, as they’re both haunted—not by spirits, but by regret. Both must learn to let go of the past to move on—because sometimes the waves of change bring you to the place where you most belong."

Also knee deep in Haruki Murakami’s The City and Its Uncertain Walls which is certainly interesting in which I still don’t know the names of our two protagonists – Just I and You in which each chapter bounces back and forth from when they meet to the present living within the walls of the imaginary town.

Dipped my toes into Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn and really want to dive in sooner than later. 

With Les Miserables, made it through “The Fall” which in the TOC is Book One of Fantine.  I've been documenting as I read, summarizing each chapter, and looking up real life events as well as definitions for some of the words. Hubby found his mom’s  much older Two Volume set and thinks I should be reading it instead of my version. Except I can’t write in it so not touching it because I’ll be tempted to.  It's also a different translation so it may be interesting to interchange between the two, but that means I’d be reading everything twice or thrice depending on how you look at it.

Bedtime read is slow going as I’ve had insomnia lately and so tired when bedtime comes,  falling asleep as soon as get into bed so reading of IceRiggers is slow going.  But wide awake come the witching hours so taking advantage of the sleepless times to write posts or in journals until get sleepy again around 6 a.m. At least I don’t have to be up until 9:00  which is good.

Have bookmarks in several non fiction books so snatching a few minutes reading which ever one suits my mood.  

All-Star Superman -James. M's Review

 









Been some time since I covered something related to DC. Well, after going to the local comic book store recently, I got something that is worth a review. This is All-Star Superman, written in the 2000s, and said to be an influence behind James Gunn's Superman movie that is set to release in July of 2025 as of this writing.

As you all know, Superman has been one of DC's top superhero characters for decades, with many iconic stories under his belt. All-Star Superman is no exception, and I see how so many people love it. I read this for myself, and the story is incredible, just as the art is beautiful to the max. To make a long story short, the storyline sees Superman suffering from overexposure to the sun's energies, and, with the time he has left before he dies, he works to accomplish as much superhero work as possible. I won't spoil it, just in case you never read the comic, but this one is fantastic.

Grant Morrison pens All-Star Superman, and his writing is really impressive, you can tell so much effort was put into making this story and the dynamic between Kal-El and Lois Lane is one of the major highlights here. I love this so much, I wouldn't mind reading it again at some point. All twelve issues are gripping, and you feel for Superman with the state he's in. Even when he's dying, he never gives up being a hero, and he will always help someone in need. 

That's all I got to say, folks. Take care, and help others whenever you can.

-James M



Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty (spoilery thoughts)

 


“Can we delay bloodshed for at least a few days? I didn't cross a cursed lake in a giant wooden bowl so I could be beheaded for treason before I had a chance to sample some royal cuisine."

"That's not the punishment for treason," Ali murmured.

"What's the punishment for treason then?"

"Being trampled to death by a karkadann."

Lubayd paled and this time, Ali knew it wasn't due to seasickness. "Oh," he choked out. "Don't you come from an inventive family?”


First Line:  "Alizayd al Qahtani didn't make a month with his caravan."

The second book in the Daevabad middle Eastern fantasy series is from the point of view of 3 main characters: Ali, Nahri (Banu Nahri e-Nahid) and Dara (Darayavahoush - e Afshin).  Ali has been banished, Nahri forced to marry the King's son, and Dara, freed by Banu Manizheh, is unable to return to Daevebad.  All three are enslaved one way or another, oppressed by the King, circumstance, or power.  Ghassan, the King, is a horrible person, quashing and killing any one who doesn't obey him.  He fortunately died near the end of the story. And also, by the end, I didn't like Dara at all and he will have to work hard to redeem himself in the 3rd book. 

Politics, racism, oppression, infighting, back stabbing, assassination attempts, and magical entities all make for an riveting and thought provoking tale.  There is so much that happened, it is hard to narrow down.  Suffice it to say, the King and Nahri's husband died, Nahri saw the true Dara, came to understand her mother was just as evil.  

Nahri and Ali, using other's greed, managed to get away.  Ali with Suleiman's seal making him the new Emir and Nahri free.  Except, somehow they ended up in Egypt. What happens next? We will have to wait to find out in Empire of Gold.


617 pages

Harper Collins 2019 

Daevabad #2 

Middle Eastern Fantasy 


Marvel Monday -X Men (2000) review

 








Hello, true believers. Welcome to Marvel Monday, and today, we're going to be discussing an iconic superhero movie. Nearly 25 years ago, before we got Sam Rami's Spider-Man trilogy and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 20th Century Fox put out something unforgettable. We're talking about X-Men, which brought Marvel's world-famous mutant team to the big screen along with Wolverine.

Little interesting story, my parents and I first saw this in 2020 and I barely sat through the whole film b/c I was having sleep issues at the time. Later, I rewatched it and sat through all of X-Men without having any sleeping issues whatsoever. So, what do I think of this nearly 25-year-old superhero movie that helped cement the superhero craze?

Well, I really like it. From the musical score, to the action, and the cast. Hugh Jackman, an Australian actor, nails Wolverine, and Patrick Stewart, known for playing Captain Picard in Star Trek, makes for a good Professor X. Oh, and James Marsden as Cyclops is a cool little treat, not to mention you can never go wrong with Ian McKellen as Magneto, he was incredible. The film's story is gripping as it brings you into the world of the X-Men, where people with special abilities face scrutiny along with many other hardships, and the focus is on both Wolverine and a young girl named Rogue.

Magneto serves as the primary villain of the movie, and, light spoilers, his motivations are driven by the traumatic suffering he endured at the hands of the Nazis as a young boy. Yep, he lived through World War II, and the events of the Holocaust drove him to become the extremist that Magneto is today. Ian was the right pick for the role, and I can hardly imagine anyone else playing him, at least for now. I won't spoil the rest of the story, especially as there are those who haven't seen the rest yet.

9/10. In my fairest opinion, X-Men is one of those superhero movies that is legendary for its time, and it deserves a chance from newcomers in the Marvel fandom. Good luck, and make sure you see the other movies.

Hope to see you on Marvel Monday again soon.

-James M

Reading Log as of January 12th

 



I finished Ursula LeGuin’s The Dispossessed in which no society is perfect and someone will always try to take charge. They aimed for utopia and got dystopia, no matter where they went. I'm not going to write a review because her stories are always so complex and ambiguous and I never quite know what to say.  

Completed Steve Berry’s The Emperor’s Tomb (spoilery reviewwhich was a great story, but I think I was more enamored with the Chinese history and politics , the philosophy, legalism vs  confucianism and whether oil was biotic vs abiotic than the chaos created by the two politicians vying for control of China. There were so many twists and turns which kept me fascinated until the end.  Next up in the series is The Jefferson's Key. 

Dove back into S.A. Chakraborty's The Kingdom of Copper, the 2nd book in the Daevebad Trilogy.  Oppression and control seems to be the big theme as the 3 main characters - Ali, Nahri, and Dava - forced to do things they didn't want to do. 

As for my great Les Miserable reading project, I decided to keep a journal and write a summary of each chapter.  It will help me keep track of the story and remember details since it's such a huge book. I may post weekly updates, chapter summaries and thoughts, but haven't decided yet. 

Started The City and Its Uncertain Walls and annotating as I go. Strange story so far as I think the characters are all dreaming or existing in a shadow world. 

With my bedtime read, IceRiggers by Alan Dean Foster, the characters are being drawn into the native's war. 

Alternating between New Testament journal bible and Thomas Merton's Dialogues with Silence which has pen and ink drawings by Merton with are absolutely powerful in their simplicity.   


The Emperor's Tomb - Steve Berry (spoilery version)


 

"History is a maiden and you can dress her however you like, the Premier said."

First lines:  "A bullet zipped past Cotton Malone. He dove to the rocky ground and sought what cover the sparse poplars offered. Cassiopeia Vitt did the same and they belly crawled across sharp gravel, finding a boulder large enough to prove the two of them protection."

Little did I know when I started reading The Emperor's Tomb, #8 in the Cotton Malone series, would I get a history lesson on the birth of China, what happened to Mao's body, whether oil was biotic or abiotic, and more.  The author verified in the author note's in the back of the book that much of the history, science, and other events mentioned were true. 

Cotton is forced to help Cassiopeia when she is kidnapped while trying to find the son of friend Sokolov, and she tells the bad guys Cotton has what they want and will bring it to them.  Cotton and Cass find themselves in a battle between two factions - two men who are vying to be the emperor's replacement. The battle field takes them through old museums and new, all the while never knowing if an arch nemesis Viktor can be trusted. He was a triple threat, playing all sides. 

What amazed me was each Chinese Emperor had no problem destroying any historical records that didn't support his beliefs, his rule.  

"The fate of China, as has happened many times through the centuries, that's what made our culture so special. It is what set us apart from all the others. No emperor even ruled solely because of his bloodline. Instead it was the emperor's responsibility to set a moral example for both his government and his people.  If he grew corrupt, or incompetent, rebellion has always been regarded as a legitimate recourse. Any peasant who could gather an army could found a new dynasty.  And that happened many times.  If prosperity came from his rule, then he was deemed to have gained the 'Mandate of Heaven.'  His male heirs were expected to succeed him, but they too could be overthrown if judged unfit. The Mandate of Heaven must not only be maintained, but must be earned."  Pau to Ni, pg 400

Getting back to the story, Cassiopeia was trying to find the son as well as the father who'd been taken by Kang, one of the men who wanted to rule.  Tang was the bad guy, and just wanted power, any way he could get it. Ni was the Emperor's choice and the good guy, one who wanted a sort of democracy, a more people friendly rule. Now, throw in the ancient brotherhood of the Ba and Pau who is the leader of a group of Eunuchs and it all makes for a rather convoluted story. 

Oil played a part and there were many discussions on whether it was biotic - fossil fuel which is limited supply or abiotic - naturally occurring and in unlimited supply. If they could prove it was abiotic, China could supply one hundred percent of their own oil and not rely on other countries.  The father knew the truth and his son was being withheld until he could test the ancient oil found in the tombs and prove the theory. At which point, Kang would have him killed.  

Long story short, the good guys won, but there was death and destruction everywhere they went.  The father and son were reunited, Ni was chosen as the emperor's replacement,   The secret of the oil was that is was truly abiotic but people preferred to continue believing in fossil fuels.  Viktor was killed and no longer a threat. And in the end, Cotton and Cass decided to quit playing games, and be together. 

Ballantine Books, 2011
471 Pages
Cotton Malone, # 8 out of 19 
Historical Thriller 

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

 


“The island had come to seem one of those places seen from the train

 that belong to a life in which we shall never take part.”  


First Line:  "Roger, aged seven, and no longest the youngest of the family, ran in wide zigzags, to and fro, across the steep field that sloped up from the lake, to Holly Howe, the farm where they were staying for part of the summer holidays."

Father's telegram:  "Better Drowned Than Duffers If Not Duffer Wont Drown"

And with that telegram and receiving both their parents permission, the Walker Children - John, Susan, Titty, and Roger set sail for their boating and camping adventures on Wild Cat Island.  The story is one of innocence and imagination and part of the fun is all the adults in the children's lives take part in the children's adventures, supporting their imaginations as they play at being pirates as well as Titty's Robinson Caruso.  Mother helps them prepare, trusting the kids to tell her what they need, although she does provide a few hints, as well as adult assistance in the forms of the local dairy farmer for their daily milk,  

While camping, they discover two sister's Nancy and Peggy Bleckett who had previously claimed the island the summer before.  The kids parlay like real pirates and decide to make a game out of claiming each other's boats which ends up being an all night adventure for the Walkers.  Throw in a curmudgeonly uncle who thinks John vandalized his boat, only to find out he didn't, which results in a hilarious battle when all the children try to claim his houseboat.    Add in a wild storm, and buried treasure and and the resourceful kids enjoy a summer outing, full of innocence and play as well as a lot of work.   

There is quite a bit of detail about sailboats and sailing and nautical language which the author builds beautifully into the story so the reader doesn't realize they've just received a tutorial in how a sailboat works, the care that goes into it, and the mechanics of sailing. 

The story brought back memories of my three older sisters and I putting on plays in our carport when we were about the same age as the Walker kids, for our parents and neighbors.  And days spent playing and romping through the neighborhood with all the kids on our block, until dusk and dinner.  Little did we realize, our mothers were probably keeping an eye out the window to make sure we didn't get into trouble.  And reminds me of a mother's intuition, when mother showed up while Titty was alone on the island and kept her company. 

Swallows and Amazons is the first book in a 12 book series and while I may or may not complete the series at some point, we do have the next book, Swallowdale waiting in the wings. 


16th Edition 2008, first published: 1960
David R. Godine, Publisher
361 Pages
Middle Grade historical fiction classic 

Reading Log for the week of January 4th




January 4:  I have bookmarks in multiple books right now, reading something different during breakfast, lunch, after dinner, and at bedtime, plus whenever I have a free moment. 

I'm halfway through my current breakfast time read -  Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome during breakfast about four siblings who, with permission from the father and mother, camp out on a island across from the mainland, by themselves, pretending to be pirates. Full of sailing adventures as well as parlaying with two amazons (two local sisters who live nearby). Totally enjoying this super sweet adventure story.  

Lunch time, it's Steve Berry's The Emperor's Tomb in which while Cotton helps his lady friend help find a kidnapped boy, their adventure takes them to China and the story is full of fascinating Chinese history, most of it true according to the author.  At the halfway point as well.  

Bedtime, it's Ursula Le Guin's The Dispossessed in which the alternating chapters between past and present are sort of driving me crazy so alternating with Alan Dean Foster's IceRiggers in which September and Foster (love their names) have just shipwrecked on a frozen planet and it's a battle between stupid kidnappers and the elements. 

I'm immersed in the ebook version of The Advent of Winter:  A Fantasy Anthology  - edited by Dom McDermott which was originally a kickstarter project a couple years ago and includes authors from all over the world writing fantasy short stories about winter. The first few stories are fantastic and I'm adding more new to me authors to my want list.  Now I want to get the physical copy of the book. 

I'll be diving into Les Miserables any minute now..... Plus Haruki Murakami's The City and It's Uncertain Walls. 

Nonfiction wise, I've almost filled a journal with notes from Louise DeSalvo's Art of Slow Writing. Also highlighting sage bits in Haruki Murakami's What I Talk About When I Talk about Running. 

I was halfway through Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty, when I set it aside as it isn't quite keeping my attention like the first book The City of Brass which I couldn't put down.  I may go back to it later. 

I'm waiting patiently for Onyx Storm, the 3rd book in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series to be released January 21st.  It's also my January Dragon Bookology read. This is one series I will enjoy rereading again at a later date. 

 I think my reading for the month is set.  


35 Things to be Grateful For

 



Even though I am the most positive person I know, among the many journals I decided to begin is a gratitude journal. Then the naughty gremlin started whispering in my ear about each day being pretty much the same and outside of work, we have a boring life and trying to pin the doubt of even beginning another journal. Every week would sound pretty much the same.  Thank God for Pinterest which kicks me in the butt every time I open the page.  

So ignore the gremlins. There are so many little things out there to be grateful for. So instead of me grousing about having no imagination, cheers to the ones who provide the words when we are at a loss. 

Reading Plans for 2025

 



Reading Plans

My buying ban has officially started so my plan is to read from my own shelves. I also love to read my books again and again, so the year will be interspersed with rereads.  Although I don't have a set goal for the year, if I get through my 10 x 10 categories, that means 100 books. Which is doable, but since my intention is to slow down, annotate, engage with my books, and write reviews in my book journal, we'll see what happens.  



1. Year long sip read - Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

2. Delve into the books of Thomas Merton included reread of The Seven Storey Mountain.

3.  Complete 52 Books Bingo

4.  Complete Dragon Bookology 

5.  Complete A to Z and Back Again

6.  Read from my own shelves 

7.  Slow down / Annotate / Engage / Review 

8.  Ten x Ten Categories 

Books about Books
Dragons and other fantastic beasts
Fantasy/Science Fiction
Finish the series
Historical Fiction
Mystery/Thrillers
Non Fiction
Romance
Start of Series
Translated 

    

 9. Read and Journal through the New Testament in a year with Noteworthy New Testament which specifically includes note taking space.  How cool is that!

 

 

 


2025 Word of the Year - Discover

 


Besides family, healthy, and business goals, 2025 will be my year of discovery:

I want to brush up on Spanish again and learn another language, but haven’t decided yet on which one, so I appreciate the person who turned me on to to duolingo.

Improve upon drawing and possibly learn how to paint.

Read Thomas Merton and associated books related to faith. I just found a great NoteWorthy New Testament: Read and Journal Through the New Testament in a Year which I can write in through Thomas Nelson website. I’ve always avoided writing in my bibles but this one is made for it so fits me to a t. I’d completely forgotten about Thomas Nelson so thanks to the ladies of life and liturgy for reminding me of them. 

Keep My Two Blessings up to date as well as continue 52 Books challenge. 

To that end I went a little bit notebook crazy in the past couple months but managing to write in them all.  I lost my mojo for story writing this past year, and hope all this creativity and writing in my journals will spark my story writing bug again.  Meanwhile I’m going to have fun.

I’m continuing with the catch all/morning pages/grumbles, and started different journals for Story of Me, common place book for quotes and things discovered,  junk journal, book reviews – separate ones for fiction, and nonfiction, Thomas Merton, and I’m sure there is something I’m forgetting. Oh yes, dragons, poetry and story writing.  This is instead of doom scrolling.  If I go online, it’s for a purpose.

And last but not least, I have my 10 x 10 goals for 52 Books which included reading Les Miserable but I’ll list the categories later, after 2024 wrap up. I’ll keep track of the bingo and spelling challenges, as well as the a to z and back again in my journal, plus writing reviews which I’ll transfer a censored version here or maybe not. I can put a spoiler warning in the header.  Found writing in the journal, I can say a heck of a lot more than I have been on the blog because I’ve been trying to avoid spoilers.  And it might make for more interesting conversations in L&L's book nook’s weekly threads because it helps me remember more.