book

Rated Mermaids on the Golf Course 8/10

What are the degrees of fantasy? When is it merely the willing suspension of disbelief, and when is it delusion on much grander scale, a coping mechanism for day-to-day life? In this collection of short stories, Patricia Highsmith’s characters all deal with self-made fantasy, forcing themselves to believe something that they know, perhaps not so deep down, is not true.<br><br>Many of the eleven stories made me question what was real and what was a product of the character’s imagination, and all made for interesting character studies. Each person struggles with what they know is true, what they want to be true, and how they are expected to behave around others.<br><br>(Full review can be found at <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2010/01/selected-stories-of-patricia-highsmith.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.)

Rated Mikhail and Margarita 10/10

This made me want to read [b:The Master and Margarita|117833|The Master and Margarita|Mikhail Bulgakov|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327867963s/117833.jpg|876183] again so I could pair up how they reference each other, as well as finally read [b:A Country Doctor's Notebook|897363|A Country Doctor's Notebook|Mikhail Bulgakov|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1331655799s/897363.jpg|2709608] (though I have seen the TV adaptation). I am a sucker for art that does not hide how it is influenced by previous art, rather than pretending all ideas mysteriously come from the inspired ether.<br><br>Of course, anything that has to do with the Russian government has resonance today, and some of that certainly adds to the experience of reading, but it's just a well-written, fascinating book. Like the work from which it is inspired, it takes a little acclimating to get used to the more formal language (if one is not used to it), but it's worth it. Do pick this up.

Wants to read Mischief

Rated Missy Series 2 10/10

Even better than the first volume. Very, very much enjoyed this. It's funny, adds more to Missy/the Master's history, and the Monk is always great when he shows up.

Finished reading Exit Strategy

Rated The Girl Who Electrified Tesla 4/10

<div>Some of the pulp-style art was fun, and I was semi-interested in the story, but overall, it was just an ok read</div>

Rated Bernice Summerfield: Missing Persons 10/10

This was really great! Lots of humor and adventure and it wrapped up the Epoch storyline nicely. I enjoyed listening to this a lot.

Rated Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz 6/10

I wanted to like this more than I did.

Finished reading Fugitive Telemetry

Finished reading North Continent Ribbon

Rated Witte veder 2/10

Finished reading Whisperwood

Rated Moby Dick: or the Whale by Herman Melville, original classic paperback, 8/10

<div>Reading Moby Dick as a big group on Bluesky was absolutely the best way to finally get around to reading this literal behemoth of a book. If you once put it down as a teenager, with that too-cool-for-classics sneer, I recommend revisiting. It's gayer than you expect, funnier than you expect, completely unhinged in parts, and then Melville will hit you with a paragraph of true beauty. Subtlety? NOT IN THESE SEAS.</div>

Finished reading Great Big Beautiful Life

Finished reading The Red Threads of Fortune

Finished reading Common Goal

Added Game Changer to Read Books

Finished reading The Ascent to Godhood

Rated Missy Series 4: Bad Influence 9/10

<div>Another great set of Missy adventures.</div>

Rated Montana Noir 10/10

Even though there were a few stories that I didn't love every bit of, and one I just didn't like (Downtown Billings, looking at you, but maybe I'm missing something), I still LOVED this collection. It is such a RELIEF to read a book that really makes an effort to get Montana right. Sure we have cowboys and all that, but we're just as varied here as many other places. It's hard to pick a favorite, but maybe Debra Magpie Earling's Polson-set story is it. The pacing, the details, all of it: perfection. <br><br>Other highlights include David Abrams, Caroline Patterson, Eric Heidle, Keir Graff, Jamie Ford, and Janet Skeslien Charles' stories. Also, if you get a chance to see Yvonne Seng read aloud, do so, because that woman's voice is magnificent.<br><br>Full disclosure: I do know some of the authors personally, but we're a state of only a million people. It would be weird if I didn't.

Rated Motherhood Smotherhood: Fighting Back Against the Lactivists, Mompetitions, Germophobes, and So-Called Experts Who Are Driving Us Crazy 8/10

Review forthcoming.

Finished reading Orbital

Added Happy Place to Read Books

Rated Negative Space 10/10

<div>LOVED so much about this very smart and empathetic look at being an artist, art in general, addict parents, and memory. I also really liked the photographs of her father's work interspersed throughout. It's too bad (I'm assuming) printing considerations mean that the photos are black and white, but they're all still very striking. I definitely recommend this book.</div>

Finished reading Tough Guy