Notes, 12/7/20

From Around the Internet

Via File 770:

Read

A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas by Jackie Lau
(Holidays with the Wongs #2)

Not quite as good as A Match Made for Thanksgiving, but still a fun romance. One thing I really have appreciated about both books is that the characters *eat*. The female characters too. They enjoy food without guilt. Jackie Lau definitely gets my seal of approval.

Also started reading The Tale of Terror: A Study of the Gothic Romance by Edith Birkhead, a book I had originally slated for Sherlockathon, but never got to. It’s off my Classics Club list; I figured it would be a quick read to keep me on my five year plan. But I think I’ll be revisiting it after I’ve read a few more of the Gothic novels on my list. I did read two short related works: “The Story of Sir Bertrand” by Anne (Aikin) Barbauld and “Fair Elenor” by William Blake.

Also read “The Last Customer,” an Eli Marks short story by John Gaspard. I just picked up Gaspard’s next book in the Eli Marks series, so I figured I’d get “caught up.”

Reading

Settled on attempting to finish Edison’s Eve. You know, I think my first attempt at reading this was in January. Honestly, it might end up being a DNF, but I’m not at that point yet. Don’t know what I’ll read after it. I’m very much in a winging it mode right now. Probably Strange Cures by Rob Zabrecky or The Christmas Party by Gillian St. Kevern.

Deal Me In

Week 49: 7♥️ – “Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers” by Peter S. Beagle
A Fractured Fairy Tale. What is *really* the deal with Jack and beanstalk? I mean, if you’re a giant, aren’t these humans showing up in your house just…pests?

Listening

I always remember how much I like Straight No Chaser around Christmas time. They’re good at what they do and seem to be having fun doing it.