Life and Things
I’ve expanded my walking area, and am averaging 3-4 miles each day now instead of 1-3. My endurance is returning, slowly but surely. As long as I take my meds before serious walking, I don’t usually have any problems during the walk, and so far, I’ve not crashed into shutdown mode. I only feel the pain of having exercised well, and the chronic normal pain. No flares though, which is, quite frankly, huge. And I’ve apparently walked the length of New Zealand.
The property we are trying to sell is still pending. This nonsense is grating my nerves. Get it done, people! Other than that, my week has been pretty quiet.
But!
This showed up on Netgalley!!! That cover! That title! It’s beautiful, and haunting, tinged with sadness.
I requested it, of course. Fingers crossed. I reviewed Confessions of Young Nero on Netgalley. He’s such a fascinating and misunderstood historical figure.
The Splendour before the Dark by Margaret George
‘Ascending to the throne was only the beginning… Now Margaret George, the author of The Confessions of Young Nero, weaves a web of politics and passion, as ancient Rome’s most infamous emperor cements his place in history.
With the beautiful and cunning Poppaea at his side, Nero Augustus commands the Roman empire, ushering in an unprecedented era of artistic and cultural splendor. Although he has yet to produce an heir, his power is unquestioned.
But in the tenth year of his reign, a terrifying prophecy comes to pass and a fire engulfs Rome, reducing entire swaths of the city to rubble. Rumors of Nero’s complicity in the blaze start to sow unrest among the populace–and the politicians…
For better or worse, Nero knows that his fate is now tied to Rome’s–and he vows to rebuild it as a city that will stun the world. But there are those who find his rampant quest for glory dangerous. Throughout the empire, false friends and spies conspire against him, not understanding what drives him to undertake the impossible.
Nero will either survive and be the first in his family to escape the web of betrayals that is the Roman court, or be ensnared and remembered as the last radiance of the greatest dynasty the world had ever known.’
My review for Confessions of Young Nero .
Updated Posts
Book Review: Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George
Books read, reviewed, and posted/scheduled this past week
Secrets of Colour Healing by Stephanie Norris, 3*
Bees, Bugs, and Butterflies by Ben Raskin, 4*
The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder by Sarah J Harris, 4*
Discover Ancient Egypt by Amanda Trane, 4*
Murder in Thistlecross by Amy M Reade, 4*
Inky the Octopus by Erin Guendelsberger/ illustrated by David Leonard, 5*
Life Sciences: Animal Mothers and Fathers by Mary Lindeen, 5*
Favourite Read(s) of the Week
The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder by Sarah J Harris
‘In the tradition of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a captivating mystery about a boy with synesthesia—a condition that causes him to see colors when he hears sounds—who tries to uncover what happened to his beautiful neighbor, and if he was ultimately responsible.
Thirteen-year-old Jasper Wishart lives in a world of dazzling color that no one else can see, least of all his dad. Words, numbers, days of the week, people’s voices—everything has its own unique shade. But recently Jasper has been haunted by a color he doesn’t like or understand: the color of murder.
Convinced he’s done something terrible to his new neighbor, Bee Larkham, Jasper revisits the events of the last few months to paint the story of their relationship from the very beginning. As he struggles to untangle the knot of untrustworthy memories and colors that will lead him to the truth, it seems that there’s someone else out there determined to stop him—at any cost.
Both a refreshing coming-of-age story and an intriguing mystery, The Color of Bee Larkham’s Murder is a poignant and unforgettable read—perfect for fans of bestselling authors such as Fredrik Backman and Graeme Simsion.‘
Current Read
Next Up (maybe)
Building a Trade Empire by Paul E Horsman
High Merchant by Paul E Horsman
ISAN by Mary Ting
Sindicate by JT Nicholas
Notes of Magic by Jessica Bucher
Book Haul
The Framingham Fiend by Gregory Harris
‘Of all the ghastly crimes in Victorian London, none are as infamous—or unsolvable—as those of Jack the Ripper . . .
The murder scene is chillingly familiar. A young prostitute has been slaughtered in her flat on Framingham Street in the East End. It’s not the first time Scotland Yard has seen a murder like this. But with the help of Colin Pendragon and his loyal partner Ethan Pruitt, they hope it will be the last . . .
Word of the Ripper-esque crime has begun to spread across London, sparking a fresh wave of fear, dread, and panic. Two prostitutes have already been killed. But when a third victim is claimed, Colin and Ethan are forced to explore every possibility—from the opium dens of Whitechapel to the darkest corners of the London morgue. For Colin, the answer will prove to be as elusive—and deadly—as the Ripper himself . . .’
The Button War by Avi
‘Twelve-year-old Patryk knows little of the world beyond his tiny Polish village; the Russians have occupied the land for as long as anyone can remember, but otherwise life is unremarkable. Patryk and his friends entertain themselves by coming up with dares — some more harmful than others — until the Germans drop a bomb on the schoolhouse and the Great War comes crashing in. As control of the village falls from one nation to another, Jurek, the ringleader of these friends, devises the best dare yet: whichever boy steals the finest military button will be king. But as sneaking buttons from uniforms hanging to dry progresses to looting the bodies of dead soldiers — and as Jurek’s obsession with being king escalates — Patryk begins to wonder whether their “button war” is still just a game. When devastation reaches their doorstep, the lines between the button war and the real war blur, especially for the increasingly callous Jurek. Master of historical fiction Avi delivers a fierce account of the boys of one war-torn village who are determined to prove themselves with a simple dare that spins disastrously out of control.’
