It's Monday! What are you reading? 11/22/2021

Hosted by: Book Date

Life: Trigger/content warning: Mental health and suicide

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I haven't posted in months, and a lot has happened, primarily as relates to my father.  I've discussed mental health and the mental health system before...  On October 2, my father took his life.  He had been sent to 2 different hospitals 3 times over the weeks preceding, and each time was sent back without being put on any sort of suicide hold.  The last time he was sent back within a couple hours, and a few days later he was gone.  I've been grieving and dealing with anger and frustration and numbness and sorrow and pain and all the other emotions that come from this sort of sudden loss.  

I am currently under quarantine as my family has been out with the big bad.  Hopefully I test negative (again) so I can participate in a 5K this Thanksgiving as well as Small Business Saturday.

Anyway, The emotional overload and severe loss of focus has deeply impacted my reading.  I am slowly getting back to reading, primarily by focusing on graphic novels or genre fiction by auto-read authors.

Recently Read (October/November):

• The Girl From The Other Side: Siúil A Rún, Vol. 11 (The final volume in the series.  I moved through this quickly, and perhaps it would have been more impactful if I had slowed down.)
• Undead Unluck, Vol. 1, Undead Unluck, Vol. 2, Undead Unluck, Vol. 3 (An okay series so far.  Vol . 1-3 is mostly world-building.  I'll continue because I'm curious to see how things progress, but some parts are beyond ridiculous.)
• I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss, Vol. 1 (This was my first "light novel".  Sort of like what a graphic novel/manga would be like if it was written in words. I enjoyed this one and look forward to the next volume.)
• Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide (Mrs. Claus #2) (The second of a series, halloween themed cozy, and of course I read it after Halloween. Oh, and a Canadian read!)
• Seven-Year Witch (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries #2) (I enjoyed the first, so I knew I wanted to read this second book in the series.  Josie's magical connection with books is awesome.  Just saying.)
• Needle and Thread (This was a free PDF read from a library virtual event.  Something about those stories where characters may not be who/what they initially seem  - Rich snobby brat? Loner geek? - can be nice on occasion.) 
• Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 15 (I honestly don't know why I continue with this series.  This particular volume seemed to have less of Komi and Tadano than usual.) 
• The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 6  (Some of the this book is amusing and some is corny as this mafia leader gone househusband applies the talents from his former life to his domestic tasks.)
  
• When Sorrows Come (I was glad to finally get to Toby and Tybalt's wedding.)
• Beyond (First in the Founding of Valdemar series, and first book that I read after my dad's passing.  I wasn't sure how I would feel because I'm not a huge fan of jumping around timelines in series, but I did enjoy this one.)
  
• and some children's picture books (Anthony and the Gargoyle, The Story of a Story, Chaiwala!, Yours in Books, My Life with Autism , My First Book of Growing Food, My First Book of Houseplants, It Fell from the Sky, This Book is Not a Bedtime Story).

Currently Listening:

The Paper Solution: What to Shred, What to Save, and How to Stop It from Taking Over Your Life by Lisa Woodruff (I'm listening to this now, and then I'll refer to a print copy for my actual organizing.)

Currently Reading:

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis (A book discussion title ... I didn't finish it in time for the discussion, but I will finish it.)

Next?

Everything is in flux; I'm (over a month) behind in my grad course, and I have several partially started titles.  But I do have new Jayne Castle, Jennifer Estep, and Juliet Marillier books checked out.