The Geriatric Ward continues to be in recovery mode. Mom has continued to convalesce from her latest infection. The antibiotics simply sap her of all energy and strength. She does appear to get stronger with each passing day, so I’m hoping that she is able to get back to her normal routine slowly this week.
Since she has been getting better, I was able to sneak into the back room much of the week and get some serious reading done. That brings me to the first success of #BigBookSummer.
What I Finished This Week
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Few things are more enjoyable than turning the last page of a big book and knowing that you have accomplished something significant. When you can admit that you thoroughly enjoyed the book as well, that just makes it better!
I know I’m late to the Outlander phenomenon. I had resisted reading these books for some time. I was expecting something that had a lot more to do with time travel. I was anticipating something more magical and supernatural. You cannot imagine how excited I was to find that I couldn’t have been more wrong while also kicking myself for missing out on such an enjoyable read for so long!
Outlander is a love story at its core. As the relationship between Claire and Jaime grows, the readers’ understanding of the danger and implications it has on both of their lives makes for an exciting story. Gabaldon does an exceptional job of making the Scottish landscape come to life while setting us firmly in the political intrigues of the 17th century. I found myself laughing out loud at the outrageousness of events only to be twisted in knots as I waited to see how Claire and Jaime would escape those who wanted to harm them. I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful conversations between Claire and Anselm in the abbey at the novel’s conclusion. These explorations of issues of faith were incredibly enlightening and extremely well written. I’m looking forward to Dragonfly in Amber, but I think I’m going to wait a little longer so my Outlander experience can be extended.
What’s Up Next?
With the arrival of a new month, it is time to begin another big book as I celebrate #BigBookSummer. This month’s selection is Blackout by Connie Willis. I haven’t started reading it yet, but the description sounds intriguing. Essentially, the story centers around time-traveling historians in 2060’s Oxford who are returning to events of World War II. (I know, I just said that I’m normally not one who enjoys time travel!) I heard the description on a podcast and thought it sounded really interesting, so I’m going to give it a try. Coming in at 491 pages, it is one of the shorter “big books”, so I decided it was worth a try.
In addition to the big book, I’m also hoping to read a few more small books this month. First up is Crusher by Daryl Banner. This is another installment in Banner’s Texas Beach Town Romances, the first of which I read in honor of pride month. Just beginning the book, it is a funny MM romance that is just a fun read.
There you have it. Hope you all have a great week and lots of happy reading along the way.
~Kennith
Reading for Me 
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