Oh boy. I just finished an amazing book:
If I describe it as a mashup of Harry Potter, Jane Austen and War and Peace, would that sound really weird? Well, it is a weird book! But I feel like even using those three comparisons leaves out a certain element of this book.
The story takes place in England in the early 1800s. England has a rich history of magic, but hardly anyone practices it anymore… except for Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. The story revolves around the two men- their friendship, their rivalry, and a deeper undercurrent of ancient magic at work.
This book is a time commitment (but so worth it) with multiple elements of the story that all come together in the end. The writing is incredible- so much humor that I really loved. The parts where magic is happening are mesmerizing-
“Invisible doors seemed to be opening all around him; winds blew on him from far away, bringing scents of woods, moors and bogs. Images flew unbidden into his mind. The houses around him were no longer empty. He could see inside them as if the walls had been removed. Each room contained- not a person exactly- a Being, and Ancient Spirit…Then a new, different sensation took him: it was a sensation not unlike falling, and yet he remained standing. It was as if his mind had fallen down.”
It’s one of those books that are hard to follow up. I mean- NOW what am I going to read? To solve this problem temporarily, I’m reading an Agatha Christie, Murder on the Links. This is a good “transitional” book because I don’t expect too much from it. I mean- I know I’ll enjoy it (providing I don’t remember the ending- I initially read it as a teenager) but I’m not expecting it to be anything other than a fun mystery.
I’m also almost done with this book:
Nothing absolutely earth-shattering here. A lot of it I’ve read or heard before in various forms, but it’s always good to have a reminder. There were a few chapters that are worth a deeper dive, and I’ll do a separate post on those.
Eating-wise… I made black bean soup from Nora Cooks.
It was delicious- but when I served it to my daughter she said “Wow, this looks really unappetizing.” Yeah, it did kind of look like throw up, I guess. (I didn’t say those words out loud, OBVIOUSLY.) But she ate it, so I consider it a major win.
Moving forward food-wise, my husband has TWO WEEKS OFF for spring break! That’s what happens when you teach at a private school. He does have some playing gigs coming up, but he said on the nights he’s home, he’ll cook. WOW! This will be the best two weeks ever.
Moving forward life-wise… this is my birthday week! My birthday is Friday, and guess how old I’ll be? FIFTY NINE.
WHAT. That’s almost… sixty??????? No, I can’t be that old? Can I? I feel like I’m thirty (okay, maybe forty.) Sixty sounds so old, but I don’t FEEL old?! What is going on here? I’m definitely pondering some Deep Thoughts, and oh yes, you’ll get to hear all about them.
Any suggestions for what I should read next?
Do you like birthdays? – I do!
Top photo by Valentin Antonini on Unsplash
16 Responses
Yay for two weeks off for your husband! Are you planning to work less too? It’d be nice to have some time off together.
59 is the new 29 — at least, that’s what I’m telling myself! In two years, I’ll be 59, and I can’t even wrap my head around 60 yet.
The only upside? New age groups! 😅
THAT IS TRUE! In another year I’ll age up. I’m going to say 59 is the new 39- I don’t think I want to go back to my 20s!
Happy birthday week! Maybe you can not cook for a whole week and just order take out when your husband can’t cook.
That book sounds great. I’m going to add it to my list.
Ahhh…. GREAT idea! Yes, why should I cook on my birthday week??? I like takeout.
You follow up with Robin Hobb. Robin Hobb. Robin Hobb. If I just chant it, you’ll do it, right?
Hahahahaha…. I think I did read the first Robin Hobb book! Maybe I need to continue on with the series…
59? I’ll always see you as 40, at most. Whatever the number, you’re rocking it.
I don’t care much about birthdays anymore! Of course I’m always thankful to have another one, because it means I’ve been blessed to live another year. But when my husband asks how I want to celebrate, I don’t really care.
Ooh! Yes, go ahead and see me as 40. I like that. To be honest, I don’t care about having a big birthday “celebration.” But I still feel like the day is special.
It’s such a great feeling to finish such a satisfying book! You almost make me want to pick it up but the set up of the combo of those 3 books is intimidating for me – plus I do not like Jane Austen (don’t hate me! She just doesn’t work for me despite multiple attempts). I am ready a long book that many other bloggers have read and loved – The Bee Sting – but it is very much character driven so I would not recommend it for you. And Paul and I finished the first HP and jumped right into the 2nd. I tried to talk him into reading something different with dad but he had to see what happened next in the series. I can’t imagine we’ll make it through all 7 books but time will tell! I know JK is very problematic but I couldn’t miss out on reading this series to Paul.
Happy Early Birthday! I’ll raise a drink to you in Mexico! I hope you have a wonderful day! I do love birthdays! Especially other people’s birthdays. What a gift to turn another year older. And you have aged very well so I can see why you don’t feel like you are 60. I still can’t believe I’m in my 40s. I remember my parents turning 40 and they seemed SO OLD. Lol.
I think you’ll probably want to have a short break in the HP books after the third or fourth one. The fourth one actually gets pretty dark at the end. I feel like the books take a mature twist after that (I mean- nothing inappropriate. Just darker subject matter, people dying, etc.) But, your Paul is older than my Paul when we started. So maybe it will be okay to continue on- you’ll probably figure it out when you get there.
Ooh yes- you can think of me while you’re lounging on the beach in Mexico!
Now that both my parents are in their early 60s, it doesn’t seem as old to me as it did when I was a kid! I mean, they’re both still fairly active and healthy, and I think that makes big difference — obviously you are very active with running and strength training, so you probably feel a lot younger than you are!
Meanwhile, at 32, I do still feel like I’m in my early 20s because I still don’t feel “mature” enough to be considered an adult. I do live on my own and work full time but I still feel like I’m figuring out my life, and there’s no way I can afford to buy a house and I’m not a parent so I feel like I’m not doing typical “adult” things, but I try to remind myself that everyone is on their own timeline and journey in life!
When I was 32 I was definitely still figuring out my life. I was traveling a lot and didn’t own a home and was about to make a major career change. I didn’t get married till I was 34, and had my son when I was 36. That’s probably when I started to actually feel like a “real” adult. But like you said- everyone is on their own timeline. I think that’s why I feel younger than 59- I still have a daughter in high school! And your parents are in their mid 60s and have a 32-year-old daughter. As we said… different timelines.
Happy birthday week! I love birthdays, especially my own!
I was listening to a podcast (when am I not listening to a podcast) and it was so interesting when someone uses the adjectives young and old as descriptors to how they feel, “old” always being pejorative. But why should it be? Why should feeling old be a bad thing? What’s wrong with feeling the age we are? Well, what’s wrong is that society has shaped us to believe certain things about certain ages and that “old” equals “insignificant” or “infirm.” I say we reclaim the narrative. I am turning 50 next month and I clearly – like, SO clearly – remember when my mom turned 50, her cousin sent a card that said “if we still lived in Torquay (small town they grew up near) we would be in the 50+ club now.” And the “50+ club” was code for the floral housedress-and-support-hose wearing, grey permed hair-having, unattractive women with one foot in the grave. Let’s all agree that this is not the reality in 2025!
I just think – hey, Jenny’s 59 and still doing all sorts of cool things! She’s vibrant and reading and living her life and eating black bean soup – these are all amazing things! After all not everyone gets to be 59. And not everyone gets to be 59 and in good health! So yay to you and your birthday!!!
(sometimes when I want to make myself laugh, I think of Les Miserables “at the end of the day you’re another day older…one day nearer to dying”)
Nicole, I’ve been having some of the same thoughts! Why do we “compliment” people by saying they look young? What is wrong with being old? These are some of the Deep Thoughts I was talking about.
I have a feeling you’re going to have an epic 50th next month!
Woo hoo birthday week!!! The number really doesn’t matter unless you’re turning 18 (adult), 21 (drinking age), 25 (car insurance goes down), 59.5 (access retirement accounts), 62 (social security), or 65 (medicare). Of course you don’t feel old – old people are not training for 50 mile races. But no, I would not look at you and say “yep she’s turning 59 this year”. I remember back when I was a kid that people in their 40s were SO OLD, which means that I’m glad I was a kid back then and 50 now. I can’t wait for the deep thoughts.
Black bean soup doesn’t have to look good – it always tastes good.
I like your set of facts there! And I know- when I was a kid, I mean 60s was OLD. I guess that makes sense because my grandparents were in their 60s at that point. Funny how your point of view changes!