I have to start out by apologizing to Jennifer for missing last month. I asked her (kinda last minute!) if I could skip that article because I had covid. At that time, I was still sick – laryngitis, headache, low grade fever, sever body aches, and brain fog.
Covid brain fog is a real thing! I just could not concentrate on reading or writing. I went two weeks without cracking open a book! I haven’t done that since I learned to read! (Again, I apologize. I have used so many exclamation points!) I googled how long a gnat’s attention span is, and the basic answer I found was zero seconds. That sounds about right. I even had trouble focusing on YouTube videos.
Luckily my symptoms were not long-reaching. Fatigue still sets in early and my leg bones still ache, but I am better. Still not able to read too much but I am interested in looking at books again.
My inability to focus means I could not decide what book to review. I picked out several, but nothing felt right. So I thought, could I let you know what I am thinking about reading? I have a massive wish list on Kindle, but I have narrowed this list down to three selections to which I keep coming back.
- Seeds of Glory and Ruin – This is actually a 4-book series from Melanie Cellier. Two sisters each contain a seed of magic. One will bring glory to the world, one only ruin. Will they be able to work together to save the world, or will their struggles doom us all? Throw in a magic guild, a handsome apprentice, a kingdom in turmoil, and court intrigue. Add a cup of hot chocolate and I have found the perfect autumn evening.
- The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires – I am so looking forward to this book! Reviews I read about this one were mixed. People either loved it or hated it. Either way, it invokes strong emotions in the reader. A middle-aged woman, growing dissatisfied with her life, joins a local book club. They do discuss the books but are more interested in real life crimes and unsolved mysteries. Then enters the mysterious stranger (cue dramatic music). Our heroine is drawn to his sensitivity, his dashing good looks. But local children start to vanish. Is our handsome newcomer to blame? From the title of the book, I am guessing what happens, but still can’t wait to read it!
- Carrying Albert Home – The author, Homer Hickam, describes this as the ‘somewhat true’ story of his parents and their engagement. Before agreeing to marry his father, Hickam’s mother moved to Florida and had a relationship with Buddy Ebsen. Yes, Buddy ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ Ebsen. We all know he landed in Hollywood, or more appropriately, Beverly Hills. Hickam’s parents reunited and eventually married. As a wedding present, Ebsen gave the couple a baby alligator. Okay, I have seen the lists where paper is an appropriate first year anniversary gift, and gold for 50 years. But a baby alligator? What was Buddy thinking? I couldn’t find that anywhere in Modern Bride magazine! Hickam’s father finally says the gator has to go. The rest of the book follows their journey and misadventures as they travel the country to return Albert the Gator back to his original home in Florida. Just skimming the reviews, I saw phrases like ‘running moonshine’ and ‘bank robberies.’ Sounds like a good time to me!
In the coming months, I hope to do reviews for each of these books for you. I feel more like myself the farther I get from my sickness. Please take Covid seriously. I was lucky. I know people who weren’t.
Bonus (that has nothing to do with speculative fiction. Sorry again, Jennifer!)! If you have Covid brain and find it difficult to concentrate, or you just need a quick diversion, I recommend the app Art Blitz. Famous masterpieces by artists like Van Gogh, Cezanne, Seurat, and Klimt are divided up into tiles. Your goal is to swipe and drag the paintings back to their original glory. I love the variety and scope of the pictures you get to see. If you can’t get a big city museum, at least you can spend an afternoon perusing the greatest art pieces ever. I could write a dozen stories just based on Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The girl holding the umbrella at the water’s edge? I want to know her story!
