Busy reading

It's been a few days since I've posted anything, but that's because I've mostly been too busy reading (I've also had a few things going on the last few evenings).

I finished The Darkness on Wednesday pretty easily, but only by staying up later than I should have. I took too long of a nap that afternoon and had too much else that I chose to do instead of reading I guess I just delayed reading a bit, and then couldn't put the book down, added to which was a desire to finish it so I could return it to the library the following morning while I was at work. I greatly enjoyed the story and look forward to the next on (with a little sorrow that it will be the last one in the series). There were, as expected, more battle scenes. It was a little tense for awhile as I couldn't tell for certain that Carlos was going to survive, but was glad he did. I rather suspected he had to, after all of the rest of his amazing/fortunate/unbelievable survivals he's already had, but you never can tell. I am also happy for Yonnie (Yolando officially - I just realized that his nickname doesn't match his real name as well as I'd thought it did - wonder why it took me this long) and Val (her nickname works with her real name (Valkyrie) much more sensibly). As usuall when reading this book, my personal, conversational prayer strengthened and deepened - I don't know how long it will last - but hopefully at least until the library gets the final book in the series and I get to read it. I really needed this book right now (I suppose the argument could be made that that's why I searched to see if this book was already available in general and if so (as it was) to get a copy at the library so I can read it).

After I finished that book, I started a book I'd checked out from the library on Tuesday (skipping a couple of books I'd already had checked out - in hopes of finishing it quickly and returning it on Friday to get my items checked out list back down to ten - I cheated a little). I skipped ahead to Andrew M. Greeley's Irish Love, the next Nuala Anne McGrail novel expecting that I'd plow through it as I've done with the rest of his books. I haven't quite yet finished the book, but that's no reflection on the quality of the book itself; rather it connects to this being a busy week for me and that I've been staying up too late watching tv online with Mom, leading to me choosing napping instead reading during the day around the work schedule. Thursday night was the bookclub meeting at church (quite enjoyable - they're a great group of women and we had some good discussion about The Good Earth - even if I never could get a word in to be able to share my idea of why O-lan was so quiet and stoic - I expect that as a slave in the "big house" she probably could have gotten into much trouble for sharing her ideas and talking in general and for showing any emotion - especially contempt for those she served. Also I suspect that if she'd shown much joy at anything, her owners could have done whatever they could to remove that joy from her. I suspect that her whole experience as a slave could have taught her that it was much better to hide her true thoughts and feelings). Friday night Mom and I went to the IHN-Greater Rochester Area annual concert. This was a lovely concert, but it took up much of the evening - my available reading time. I have been finding it interesting that Nuala and Dermot are back in Ireland - they've bought a cottage in Connemara and are living there for now - also Nuala has given up her singing. Their family has grown quite a bit now - in addition to Nelliecoyne they've also got a young son, mostly referred to as the Mick (officially named Micheal (shucks, I can't quite remember the exact middle name - to an extent his name is the inverse of his fathers though), and Fiona (the wolfhound) is expecting (or actually at this point in the story now has) three puppies - two girls and a boy - all as white as their mother. We knew this ahead of time because Nuala's a dark one. I find it interesting that in most of the Nuala mysteries so far she's been referred to as fey, but now in this one the phrase dark one has been used much more. I suspect it may have something more to do with living in Ireland again/for now perhaps, but I don't know. I do like the phrase though - it reminds me of "The Secret of Roan Inish" - actually much of this story (as well as some of the previous one) has reminded me of it. Nuala and Dermot seem to be talking about much of the time period and area that the movie utilized/referred to. The Maamstrasna (I think I've got the spelling correct) story portion of this book is maddening - it's almost laughable that this could ever happen - however, I suspect Andrew Greeley researched it well enough and in addition, as Eddie says, it's not much different to what happened in the U.S., both with the Native Americans, as well as with African Americans (similar to the themes found in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird) (which may also still happen to some extent - but I certainly hope not).

Also, on Thursday at work, I briefly read another kids book - I've the other two, similar books already. Llama Llama Misses Mama, is just as cute and touching (with the same endearing rhyming as Llama Llama Red Pajamma, and Llama Llama Mad at Mama. This was a fun story about the first day at school.

Similarly, at work today, the next Junie B. Jones book came in, so I checked out Junie B., First Grader at Last. I read it walking to and from the bank after work so I could get cash - and then I got to return it before coming home. At the beginning, first grade isn't looking so good to Junie B. - and she needs to get glasses - she's not that pleased with this idea, but is told she has no choice. Although a few of her classmates - one in particular, teases her about them, many of her other classmates think they're pretty cool, so by the end of the book she's thinking first grade might not be too bad after all. I would rather like to know what her teacher's real name is (and/or how it's spelled) because she says he said his name is Mr. Scary and I rather doubt that's true - at least she says she does think he "just made [it] up."