old friends and new

Honestly, I forgot that I had placed a hold for Foundation (Collegium Chronicles, Book 1) by Mercedes Lackey so it was a very nice surprise to get the email letting me know my hold came in. I’m still proud of myself for being Adult enough (?) to put the book down at chapter six the first night and go to sleep. The next night, however, I sat in the bathtub and refused to come out (I did add in bits of hot water though because it had gotten cold) until I was done. There are some books I don’t want to end and can string them along, but in general I will read as fast as my eyes, fingers/hands (for turning pages), and brain will let me.

This volume, set in Valdemar tells of “Mags” and his Heraldic training as the Collegium is at a tipping point away from the old personal mentor system and into the new. It was wonderful to step into a world I love and feel right at home again (even if I was angry and wanted to kill a character myself. You do *not* *ever* *EVER* do that to children. Ever. Authors can have characters do that (I’ve done it), and it gets me as angry as in real life, but I digress. If you ever do it or similar to a child I will come and hurt you. Promise.), and learn more about Valdemar in the process.

A different reader read this book than the others. It’s been a while since I’ve read in this World and it felt good. I needed a story like this now. I felt strengthened by it and have Hope for my own writing and that there will be more in a “timely” fashion. Whereas timely is at least annually but if I had my way there would be a real-time feed. I know that Misty Lackey had said she’d not write more in Valdemar and I’m happy she did. I really do hope to see more.

Thank you very much for all your comments on reading imagery, if that’s the proper word. I needed that grounded reminder that not everyone thinks as I do.

Between Tor.com updates and my goodreads friends, I’ve been queuing up piles more books to read. Which is nice, but I only have two eyes and 24 hours each day. At least in this world.

Old Man’s War
by John Scalzi

I’m not sure exactly *who* pointed me first to John Scalzi, but my being me lead to this being checked out from the library and consumed on Friday night. It’s similar but different and good. He doesn’t earn full stars because I felt the ending was really really lame. But for a first foray into fiction? I greatly enjoyed myself and am happy that my Friday nights can now be spent curled up with a book. I hope to make progress on my reading lists.

Speaking of Tor.com, today I realized that there will very Very soon be a new Ender book, Ender in Exile! Why am I, one who loves Ender’s Game so far behind? For the most part I’ve stopped reading sites which tell of new tech devices and new books (Tor is the current exception). My to read list, like my to knit and to crochet lists, is insanely and impossibly long. I flip to a page in my book, choose a random number and use that to pick what I’ll read next.

And sometimes when I see a book I think I want to read I just place a hold request for it and then can no longer remember how or why or really when (since that information “disappears” from my access to my library account). Such was the case with this book:

The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence through Solar, Wind, Biomass and Hydropower (Mother Earth News Wiser Living)
by Daniel D. Chiras

This book was not was I expected and I think it relies too much on technologies available at the time of the author’s writing. I think it would be better titled as “This is what I learned when converting my old houses and building my new house to be energy independent”. It caught my eye because I hoped it would provide ideas for what we could do beyond switching lightbulbs and turning things off in our apartment. Perhaps the word “homeowner” should’ve clued me in. It’s probably a great handbook if you are evaluating conversion of an existing property or building new.

If you haven’t already, go vote tomorrow.

• Category: books