What are you reading the week of June 29, 2024?

This has not been a good year for me. I think that I need a break. Is there someone who is willing to take over this thread for me?

I can do it going forward.

As for this week, I've just wrapped up The Wizard and the Prophet. I'm about half the way through The Blue Water War. Designing Modern America and Mirrored Heavens will be next.

>1 fredbacon: I hope it improves from here on.

I'm still reading Cress by Marissa Meyer. I'm really enjoying it and trying to finish before the end of the month.

I'm almost finished listening to Sociopath by Patric Gagne, who is a sociopath and a therapist specializing in sociopathy. It's fascinating.

I have just started to read The Hunchback of Notre Dame as part of my plan to read some of the large-sized classics this year.

>2 Shrike58: Thank you. I spent the week investigating a ransomware outbreak on a couple of lab computers at the office. I finally figured out how they got in and spread to those computers before being detected and stopped. It could have been so much worse than it was. I've fixed the flaw that let them in, and now I'm implementing new policies to help improve our security situation. But I'm way behind on work. I'm tired and overworked. I just need a break.

>5 fredbacon: I hope things balance out for you soon, Fred.

I'm reading Monica Wood's latest novel, How to Read a Book and, because I think I need a little brushing up, I'm rereading for the third time, The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs by Patricia McConnell

>5 fredbacon: My pleasure. One question, how do you create the link where you mention the new thread is up? You can just private message me on that.

Christmas in July books ~
(from Hallmark Publishing)

Three-book audio set via Libby ~
Wrapped up in Christmas
Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy
Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope
by Janice Lynn

I only pop in once in awhile. Maybe I’ll try to be more dedicated. I certainly appreciate fredbacon’s efforts and hope things get back on track for him. I just finished The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger. Thinking back on it I would have to say…lots of sins in this book, but in the good vs evil fight, kindness, grace and gentleness win. The Second World War looms large as a character in the background of this book.

The Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo
5*****

In her debut novel, Acevedo tells the story of a teen from Harlem, who finds her voice in writing poetry, but who struggles against her mother’s expectations.

I love poetry. I am in awe with how much a poet can convey in so few words. And Acevedo does a truly marvelous job in this novel-in-verse.

Xiomara (sometimes referred to as Xio or simply X) is not the best student, but when it comes to her poetry her English teacher recognizes talent and encourages Xio to express herself. Being a teenager is hard. Xio’s path is further complicated by her early development of “curves” and by her twin brother’s genius status. (He has skipped a grade and attends a different school.) Then there is her mother, who at one time wanted to be a nun, but instead married Xio’s father. Mami insists that Xio attend church and be pious, but Xio isn’t feeling it.

She isn’t at all wild, but she is attracted to a boy in her biology lab. She would like to be able to be a normal teenager, with friends, including boys, but she cannot talk to her mother. So, she pours her feelings into her poetry, written in a leather-bound notebook her twin gave her. As she finds her voice, she also finds the courage to be herself.

Recursion
Blake Crouch
3/5 stars
This is the science fiction story surrounding a New York City cop Barry Sutton and scientist Helena Smith. Smith wanted to have people to keep and remember their memories. However, her technology attacks the mind and changes the past and the world. Very interesting! Science Fiction

New thread up:

here