Reading (and My Word of the Week)
I know- this post is usually “reading and eating.” I have been eating (obviously) but nothing worth sharing. My dinner motivation is at an all-time low. Don’t worry- somehow, we are managing not to starve but dinners have not been photo-worthy. Moving along! I have several books to discuss. First, I read Slow Horses by Mick Herron (no photo because I gave the book away right after I finished it- oops.) This is the first book in a series about M15 spies, who have screwed up their careers in one way or another, and are now referred to as “Slow Horses.” In this story, they have an opportunity to redeem themselves by rescuing a young man who has been abducted- but since this is a spy novel, the situation is not all as it initially seems. I liked this! It was funny, well-written, and the ending was exciting. I would read more in this series, except that I have so many books on my TBR right now, I’m not interested in going down a rabbit hole with any particular author. Maybe someday. Next up- I finished this book: I’m glad I read it because I learned about the fascinating condition acquired savant syndrome. The main character becomes a mathematical and puzzle-solving genius after suffering a brain injury (the syndrome is real! But I think they could have come up with a better name so the acronym isn’t “ASS.”) Anyway… Overall, I didn’t like this book. I thought the ending was bizarre- it’s about mysticism! No, it’s a romance! Wait, it’s about quantum physics! I would have liked it better if it was just a mystery about a guy who solves puzzles- I didn’t like the supernatural elements. Here’s a book I got my husband for Christmas: I noticed it languishing on his bedside table, so I snatched it up. It’s divided into 28 chapters, and the idea is to read a chapter a day. I’m only on Day 3, but I like it! In the introduction he talks about how, with all our efforts to get more done, be more productive, and be in control, our lives can lose their “resonance.” Oooh! You know how some words just leap out at you? I looked up the definition of “resonance” and found a couple: “The quality in a sound of being deep, full and reverberating.” And- “On the same wavelength as the universe or divine intelligence.” One more- “emotional resonance is about empathizing, feeling, and truly connecting with others.” Resonance! My word of the week. What are you reading? If you had a word of the week, what would it be? Top photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash