My Two Blessings

 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 d...

  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 everyo...

  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 an...

  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 

  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, ...

  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...

  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 im...

  “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, circ...

  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...

  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 review )  which 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 d...

  "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 - tw...

  “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, ...

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 Amazon s 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 ...

  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 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 ...

  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 ...