I’m linking up with The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. and The Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
Goings-On
The end of March/beginning of April has been busy and exciting. The new yearly book bingo challenge started on r/Fantasy. It’s a lot of fun and there was much excited planning. Last week I ended up hosting a sponatenous readathon on the sub, I read 3 whole books which was nice after having read fewer than average in March.
I’ve also started playing Minecraft again and it’s kinda taking too much attention, but I’m trying to be kind to myself and let me enjoy the things I’m enjoying without feeling bad about the things I’m ignoring, that thing being mostly the blog.
I’ve fallen monumentally behind on blog posts, reviews and blog hopping because I’ve also been spending a lot of time working on a big book database project we’re doing on Reddit. One of the new mobs started a huge list of all the books from all our Top voted for lists over the years. That was about 35 lists. So being lazy I spent a lot of time trying to automate the process of just checking which books are on which lists. I did one part but I still need to check 1000 entries for spelling mistakes.
I made a skirt last weekend, it’s a long half-circle skirt with big pockets, made of sunflower jacquard fabric. I’m in love with this fabric and found some more I want to order, with sea monsters. 
The finished picture doesn’t include the matching sash, please ignore the mess and the weird lighting
Books read
- Finished Voltaire in Love by Nancy Mitford. Very fun historical non-fiction about Voltaire being so extra and getting into a million fights while having the best and smartest mistress, countess Émilie du Châtelet.
- Exit West by Mohsin Hamid was a quick read. I loved it, even though it dealt with war and being a migrant, and a lot of loss and fear. Because the focus was so tight on the main couple, and the narration was sort of detached I liked it.
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston – this was love at first sight. It took me back to being 10 and discovering magical worlds for the first time. It was so much fun, so magical and wonder filled, I loved the characters, everything. It’s a middle grade novel about a girl that ends up at this place that’s part magic school part Men in Black headquarters.
- The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk. This is a C.L. Polk stan account, everything they write is so good. So tense and then so wonderfully tied together and satisfying. It’s a secondary world historical fantasy with Regency vibes, about a young woman who has to marry and lose her magical powers. It’s infuriating but also comforting in a strange and wonderful mix.
Currently listening to Imaro by Charles Saunders and loving it, it’s so much fun especially loving the evil sorcerers and how scary they are. Not really reading anything specific in print as I’m having a strong case of indecision and keep reading 10-15 pages out of every book.
This Week on the Blog
Not much tbh, I’m very behind:
The skirt is beautiful!! 😍 And taking the time to enjoy what are you doing is a bliss! (even if life is full of things that demand your attention!)
It’s hard not to stand outside ourselves and judge ourselves cruelly when we move in directions that are different from our original intent. It sounds like you are doing a nice mix of things, and that’s good.
I’m especially interested in the database you are working on. I do love good book lists.
And look at that sunflower skirt. I’ve been mesmerized ever since I saw a sunflower field in France eleven years ago.
I like the sound of Amari and the Night Brothers.
That skirt is lovely! Sunflowers are one of my favourite flowers and in the past I’ve grown them in the garden. They are so splendidly cheerful and you’re right – that material is fabulous. I also have The Midnight Bargain:)). I hope the coming week is a great one.
I love the skirt😁 I wish I could sew. I’m glad you loved The Midnight Bargain, I’d love to make time to read it.
A sea monster skirt sounds fantastic!!
What a lovely skirt, I look forward to seeing one with sea monsters on it.
Self care is important, craft away 🙂
Wishing you a great reading week