Athena

Road

I liked the Detective a lot too .

It's cooler today here too, yesterday we even had a little bit of rain.

I'm sorry to hear you've not been feeling well . We've been having hot temperatures in the Netherlands too and it's also dry here (though I don't think there are as severe water restrictions here). I hope it's going to get cooler soon with some rain, but I think the hot dry weather will last a bit longer unfortunately.

Here are the books I've read during the July read-a-thon and some thoughts on them (see below for a picture). Akiko Higashimura - Princess Jellyfish 5: Volume 5 (Kuragehime 9 & 10) It was great to read the next installment(s) in the series. It did end on a bit of a cliffhanger, I look forward to reading the next volume next month . Keiko Tobe - With the Light 5: Volume 5 (re-read) I enjoyed re-reading this volume. Only 3 left now in the series. CLAMP - Chobits 2: Volume 2 It was nice to read this second volume. It's quite similar to the TV show so it was easy for me to follow the story. I liked it. It did end on a bit of a cliffhanger. Simone Arts and Tante Beun - Fashion Academy 2: Sport Meets Safari (re-read) It was fun re-reading this second book in the series. I look forward to reading book 3 next month, I haven't read books 3 and 4, so it'll be a new experience. Lucy Knisley - Relish This was a really nice memoir that involved Lucy growing up and her relationship with food. She grew up with parents who both really like good food and her mother worked in a restaurant for a while (as a chef). I also loved the colourful illustrations. I have 3 other memoirs by Lucy Knisley, I'm planning to read one each month for the read-a-thons. Marjolein Snoeij (ill. Mariëlle van de Beek) - Heksie: Heks in de klas This is a Dutch children's book I bought in the latest library sale I went to (it was in June). It's a cute story about a witch who has trouble reading spells, so she makes mistakes which the other witches don't like. I think it's part of a series. The story started off a bit confusing, I was glad I had read the back to tell me more of what was going on. I liked the story and illustrations. Jen Wang - The Prince and the Dressmaker This is a story that takes place in 18th century, France. It's about a prince who loves wearing dresses, and the girl he hires to be his dressmaker. I loved this book, I thought it was very good. I also liked the illustrations. Guy Delisle - Hostage (S'enfuir: Récit d'un Otage) This is a memoir, the author spoke to a man named Christophe who was a hostage for a while. He got kidnapped and had to spend a long time in a locked room. It wasn't an easy read, I really felt for Christophe. I found this a really interesting memoir. I quite liked the art style. David B. - Epileptic (L'Ascension du Haut Mal 1-6) This is a memoir about a French boy growing up, his brother has heavy epilepsy. I found this memoir a bit disappointing. I was tempted to abandon it several times. I did quite like the art style, but at points I found it difficult to follow the story. The parts when David talks about the history of his ancestors and relatives, I found them not as interesting to follow. I also didn't quite agree how the brother with epilepsy was treated by his family (but, I've not been in that situation, so of course this is just an outsider's perspective). I admit I even skimmed a couple of bits of the book, I found it hard to stay focussed on the story and it went back and forth a couple of times. I also found it hard to stay interested when the parents decided to try to help the brother (their son) by going to all these 'spiritual healers' and when it was explained how the various methods were supposed to work. Overall then this wasn't quite a book for me. I did find the illustrations interesting though. Isabel Greenberg - The Encyclopedia of Early Earth This is a story that takes place on early Earth. It also involves some more fantastical elements. There are also some stories-in-a-story. I liked this book, it was nice.

I read E. J. Copperman and Jeff Cohen - An Asperger's Mystery 1: The Question of the Missing Head, together with Sarah (LittlePixie) . This is a mystery with Samuel Hoenig, who has Asperger's Syndrome. Samuel answers questions for a living, but then he gets the question of who stole a preserved head from the Garden State Cryonics Institute. It's a good mystery, I really enjoyed reading it . I also loved the autism representation in this book. There was two things that I remember, that worked for me differently than for Samuel (and I didn't agree with his generalising comment(s)), when he has dinner with his mother (about not liking food) and when he talks about stimming. The book is funny and I really liked the characters. Samuel, Ms. Washburn, Mother.. I think those would be my three favourites . I loved the humour in the book too. I liked how the chapters were relatively short and how they often ended on a cliffhanger. It made me want to keep reading the book! I guessed part of the mystery but definitely not all of it! I thought it was well done and I liked the plot twists. Overall I'm very glad Sarah recommended this book to me and that we read it together . There are three other books in the series, and I'll definitely be reading them (I already bought them ).

My progress yesterday: Sunday: Guy Delisle - Hostage (436 pages) David B. - Epileptic (364 pages) Isabel Greenberg - The Encyclopedia of Early Earth (173 pages) The next read-a-thon takes place on the 3rd, 4th and 5th (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) of August.

Good luck at the hospital!! So cute . After the busy week that was last week, I look forward to being able to rest a bit after today's appointment.

I'm glad Billie and Becky are doing well . She's beautiful . I hope the cooling mat will be comfortable for her .

Thursday: Akiko Higashimura - Princess Jellyfish 5: Volume 5 (356 pages) (manga) Keiko Tobe - WIth the Light 5: Volume 5 (re-read) (50 pages) (manga) Friday: Keiko Tobe - WIth the Light 5: Volume 5 (re-read) (467 pages) (manga) Saturday: CLAMP - Chobits 2: Volume 2 (176 pages) (manga) Simone Arts and Tante Beun - Fashion Academy 2: Sports meets Safari (re-read) (134 pages) (illustrated children's book) Lucy Knisley - Relish (173 pages) (graphic memoir) Marjolein Snoeij (ill. Mariëlle van de Beek) - Heksie: Heks in de klas (61 pages) (illustrated children's book) Jen Wang - The Prince and the Dressmaker (283 pages) (graphic novel) I hope to read something today as well. Has anyone else made any progress ?

I'm sorry you couldn't go to London Pride. I'm glad the cats are settling in well . I hope Lithuania will be a bit cooler for you and that you have a great holiday . I'm really sorry about your co-worker and about your uncle . I hope you have fun with your family and friends this weekend .

warm

It sounds like you've been pretty busy! I'm doing okay, going through a busy week but hopefully next week I can rest some more. I wish everyone a happy weekend soon ! (though depending on where you live and your situation, it may not be weekend for another day or it may be weekend already).

Yes, it is her newest release, though it was released in 2016 . Her newest book should be out in hardcover in a couple of months. I hope you enjoy Small Great Things if you decide to read it . Thank you!!

Sounds great !

I'm glad you're doing well !

I'm so glad Mario is okay !! I'm sorry though for the cat that got run over . It's sad cars are going by so fast when it's supposed to be a slower speed road.

Bed

I'd be happy to have you join me . That is such a great idea! I've read one short story collection by him (The Other Side of the Sky), but not yet the Collected Stories (I bought and read the former before I bought the Collected Stories). It's a great idea to add a synopsis and some notes for each story . I hope you will be able to make some progress . I'm happy to have you join me . I hope you enjoy reading your books .

House

I'm glad you made up and that he's feeling better . That's a shame . I hope you had a nice day staying at home . Happy (belated) 4th of July to those in the United States who celebrate it .

Awww, I'm sorry to hear this . That doesn't sound fair . I hope you can find healthy ways to lower it .

Thanks, I hope so . We hope that if we can't find him, hopefully neither can the fox. Thanks Itsmeagain .

freedom

Thanks Sarah .