I read a bunch while I was in Montreal, then got home and couldn't find my notes on what I'd read, so this is sketchier than it should have been.

The Tainted Cup, by Robert Jackson Bennett: this is both a fantasy and a mystery novel, and I think worked well as both. The world-building is interesting and unusual, with hints of a lot more than the narrator has reason to mention in telling this story. The mystery is twisty and full of questions about people's motivations. Definitely recommended. Based on some discussion on Discord, I'm glad to know there's a sequel, but not racing to read it.

Jellyfish Have No Ears, by Adèle Rosenfeld, is a novel told by a woman who has been hard of hearing since childhood, and is now losing the remains of her hearing, and trying to decide whether to get a cochlear implant. At least two of the characters are figments of the narrator's imagination. Interesting, but it felt like the story stopped too soon. I think I grabbed this for the "book in translation" square on my Boston library summer reading bingo card.

The Adventure of the Demonic Ox, by Lois McMaster Bujold: a new Penric and Desdemona fantasy novella. I liked it, but there's enough ongoing plot arc that I wouldn't start here.

The World Walk, by Tom Turcich: Memoir, by someone who decided at 17 that he wanted to walk around the world, and starts on the journey after finishing college. He has the advantage of a supportive family, and he also mentions some of the ways that the trip is easier for him because he's American. The travelogue is mostly about people, even when he's also talking about the sky from the Atacama Desert, or the interesting foods he eats while traveling. His planned route isn't literally around the world on foot, but he meant to walk on all seven continents. Instead, the section on Asia and Australia is foreshadowed by the celebration of New Year's Day 2020. Overall, an upbeat book. despite that, health issues, and encounters with hostile police and other officials.

So You Want to Be a Wizard, by Diane Duane: reread of a young adult fantasy novel. picked up from Emmet's bookshelf after I ran out of things I wanted to read on my kindle. I enjoyed rereading it.

I'm now partway through John Wiswell's Wearing the Lion, a retelling of the Heracles legend, because I had it on my kindle (shared by cattitude) and needed something for the flight home from Montreal on Tuesday. The characterization is oddly flat, for a first-person narrative.

I came home yesterday afternoon, and spent yesterday enjoying the air conditioning and catching up on some PT that requires equipment I didn't take with me to Montreal, like a foam roller.

I woke up in time to get outside before it got too hot; conveniently, Adrian came back from a walk when I was about ready to leave, and decided to come to the store with me. I enjoyed the company, and two people can carry more groceries than one, so we now have a small watermelon, a box of lettuce, blueberries, tahini, blackberry jam, and non-dairy ice cream.

cattitude and I played Scrabble yesterday, and I've been doing other ordinary things like combing the long-haired cat and taking out recycling.

It's hot outside today (still), but the kitchen was cool enough at noon for me to make oatmeal for lunch. Adrian made a frittata when we got back from the store this morning, for tonight's supper.

It is too hot here to do much, alas. Friday was OK, but it was too hot yesterday for me to eant to go out—possibly doable, but sitting outside for lunch would have been unpleasant— and it’s not forecast to improve until after I leave.


So mostly I am sitting in the only air conditioned room in the apartment, reading. This isn’t exactly bad, but it doesn’t feel worth the trip, in terms of either dollars or the hassle of traveling.

I'm visiting rysmiel for a few days. The trip up was borin, which is good: anything exciting would probably be bad news, or at least make you late for dinner.

It is going to be hot over the weekend, so we went out for a relatively early brunch today, so we could sit almost-outdoors at Juliette et Chocolat and eat crepes. We then walked around Jean Talon market, where I bought plums, blackberries, and a cucumber.

I have np real plans for the next few days, which is fine.