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| Hosted by The Book Date |
Life
Another quiet week at home, recovering from COVID. I'm still very restricted, but I definitely saw some slow improvements over the past week, which is very encouraging! And I reached out to my ME/CFS (my chronic illness) specialist in NYC to ask if she or her colleagues knew of anything that might help someone with ME/CFS to recover more quickly from COVID. Much to my surprise, she said yes! She called in a prescription and gave me the name of a combination of amino acids to order. Both won't arrive until the end of this week, but just the hope has helped greatly. So, some good signs and highlights from last week:
- Less time spent lying down (by necessity) and more time sitting up.
- I've managed some brief periods in my usual "office" - the recliner by the window - instead of on the couch.
- Some very slow, short walks around the cul-de-sac in front of our house.
- I recorded two book videos on Thursday ... and didn't "crash" (i.e. worsen) the next day - big victory.
- I left the house Saturday! I was getting a bit stir-crazy, so my husband drove me to our little local natural foods store and the library. It felt good to be out in the world!
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| Out in the world, visiting our library! |
We had horrible heat and humidity here again last week, but I tried to get outside whenever I could manage it. Our screened porch is a nice, peaceful place to read, and we love to watch our bird feeder.
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| Our Surprise Lilies Bloomed! |
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| Reading on the screened porch, enjoying the green |
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| Purple sneezeweed in full bloom! |
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| Feeder is popular on those hot, humid days |
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| Forgot to bring the feeder in before dark and caught the bandits red-handed! |
And my husband built my Little Free Library! Now, I just need to figure out how to paint it. I'm not very artistic, but I love bright colors.
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| Little Free Library is built and ready for paint! |
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Friday Reads 8-2-24 and Birthday Book Haul! - my brief weekly update of what I am reading and listening to, plus the books I received for my birthday.
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After finishing the biggest of my books for #BigBookSummer, Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, I moved onto the Big Book that's been in my summer stacks for several years: Cloud Cuckoo Atlas by Anthony Doerr. I'd heard this novel is similar to Cloud Atlas, which I loved, and I can see why the comparison was made. This book, like that one, includes multiple narrative threads, from different places and times, from 1450 Constantinople to Idaho in 2020 to a future where Earth has been destroyed and a group of families are traveling on a space ship to a far distant planet to begin again. There are multiple perspectives in the 1450's and modern-day narratives, which makes it even more interesting. The thread that pulls all of these stories together is an ancient Greek story (made up by Doerr) by a real-life author, Antonius Diogenes, that is gradually told throughout the novel, as various characters discover it. I'm about halfway through now, and so far, it is engrossing and original.
I am very much enjoying listening to The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune on audio (also a Big Book). Yes, I somehow missed this very popular novel, though I enjoyed Under the Whispering Door. What finally pushed me to read it is that the publisher (Macmillan) reached out to ask if I wanted an early audio review copy of the sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. It's a beautiful, uplifting story of hope and love, about a quiet man named Linus Baker who is a case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY). He is assigned to visit and assess a top secret facility (the title house). Though Linus is a by-the-books man who can quote the department's Rules and Regulations (and often does), what he finds in this home surprises him, opens his heart, and changes his life. I'm loving it on audio.
My husband, Ken, is still reading Lonesome Dove (my review at the link). He's enjoying it very much, and it's fun to be able to talk about it with him.
I talked to our older son, 29, this weekend, and he said he's still reading book 2 of the Licanius Trilogy by James Islington, An Echo of Things to Come. He started a new job last month and hasn't had any reading time! He's loving his new job so far, but it's keeping him busy; he even worked Saturday this weekend.
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You can follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook or on Facebook on my blog's page.
Glad you're feeling better! I can hardly believe I'm still putting along. I feel like Covid has got to be chasing me down. Wastewater levels of Covid in Boston are up 300%, I heard.
ReplyDeleteI've finished three BBS audiobooks, but am still reading my first print one (The Once and Future King by T.H. White) which is really a quartet of novels in one giant book, though. I'm on the last and saddest (fourth) book now, but I think it's also the shortest.
Are you still feeling the effects of the COVID infection you had earlier this year, Laurie? Let me know because I've been learning about some treatments to help. COVID infections are way up here in Delaware, too. My only silver lining is that maybe I made some antibodies to this infection so I'll be less likely to get it the rest of this year (we'll see - I'm going for testing because I don't make many antibodies at all from the vaccines). I loved The Once and Future King as a kid, though I thought it was a trilogy - maybe I lost one book somewhere along the way from then till now! Hope you're enjoying it.
DeleteIt is good to know that there could be something to help you recover faster, hope they arrive soon. It will be fun to paint your Little Library when you are a lot better, in the meantime some designing? Sounds like you are enjoying your reads.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathryn! Both treatments arrived sooner than expected :) Hoping to feel well enough this weekend to go with my husband to pick out paint colors for the LFL!
DeleteOh gosh, Sue, I'm so sorry you got COVID—I missed your last few posts, and it sounds like recovery has been a capital-P Process. I'm so glad your doctor had some recommendations for how to heal, and how wonderful that you saw things improving and were able to leave the house, and sit up, and be active! And wow, it looks so beautiful where you are, judging by all the pictures (well, maybe all the pictures minus the raccoon one!)!
ReplyDeleteAs for books, Cloud Cuckoo Land sounds fascinating—how interesting that the characters are linked by a fictional story by a real author. And I read and loved The House in the Cerulean Sea a fair while back, so it's wonderful that you're enjoying it—and that a sequel is on the way!! I will have to tell some folks who loved the first book.
Thank you so much for the wonderful post, as always, and I hope you keep feeling better this week, fingers crossed! 🤞
ha ha, Max - yes, capital-P Process is a good way to put it! I just finished Cerulean Sea, and it was wonderful! I can't wait to read the sequel :)
DeleteGlad you are on the road to recovery albeit slowly. Your lily is gorgeous! Love the pictures--we have to bring our birdfeeders in every night as well as the bandits climb the pole, over the baffle, and rob us blind.
ReplyDeleteDId you like Drums of Autumn? Will you read more in the series do you think?
I never did read Cloud Atlas, but Cloud Cuckoo Land was incredible, imo.
Hoping for healthier days soon!
Thanks, Jane. And glad you enjoyed the pictures. LOVED Drums of Autumn!! It's #4 and possibly my favorite (though I said that last summer after reading Voyager ha ha), and I will definitely continue the series. I think it says something when you finish reading 880 pages and are sorry it's over! Just finished Cloud Cuckoo Land and loved it - great ending!
DeleteI hope the small steps continue to accumulate so that you feel you are on the road to recovery. I am sure that time outside feels really good and the change of scene is vital.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helen - I'm definitely on a good track! And, yes, I love spending time outdoors - so rejuvenating!
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