Murchie Plus Books - August 17th to 23rd

The premise: I love my dog. I love books. I combine these two passions by photographing my dog with every book I read (barring the stuff I get through Marvel Unlimited. Last week, that was lots of Avengers-related stuff).

The photos: go live on Instagram as I take 'em and appear here in digest form on Sundays.

As previously stated, I fell in love with Helen Oyeyemi's BOY, SNOW, BIRD within fifteen pages. Murchie could hardly believe it. He's listened to enough of my bookish rants to know I'm both picky and suspicious.

(Yes, I discuss literature with my dog. You're telling me you don't?)

He was rather less surprised when the book cruelly betrayed me. Murchie can be such a pessimist.

I discussed the betrayal last Tuesday and, to be honest, I'm still not over it, so let's move on to something happier.

Like THE MAGICIANS by Lev Grossman!

Which, okay, is maybe more cynical than happy, but I love it ever so much. I'm grateful my library had the audio edition, too, because it means I can squeeze a reread in without having to put the rest of my reading on hold. They don't have THE MAGICIAN KING on audio, alas, but I don't mind reading that one my own self before I dive into THE MAGICIAN'S LAND.

Murchie, I fear, was uncooperative when it came time to photograph him with the book. I thought he should sit in my red reading chair, cute and poised as you please with the book propped up beside him, but he flat out refused to stay there. The bed is definitely his comfort zone.

I still needed a pick-me-up, so I finally began a book I've had on la TBR for a good seven months: THE UNCROWNED KING by Michelle West. I fell in love with West's work earlier this year, but I was reluctant to read this second volume in the Sun Sword series until I had easy access to the rest of it. The books are in print, but my small entertainment budget means I either buy my books used, wait for Kobo sales, or borrow them from the library. And the library didn't have these ones.

Sigh.

I asked them to purchase the series (with lots of justifications! I played the, "Michelle West is Canadian" card alongside the, "You have the series that comes after this one so it just makes sense" card). They agreed. And while the books have taken a while to get through processing, older titles being low on the library's list of priorities, I figure I'm safe to dive back in now.

It's been great. Murchie agrees. He even allowed me to place this thick, wallowsome book beside him on the back patio, though he flat out refused to lie next to it or to sit nicely with his wee paws together. (He usually presses his front heels together like a cat. It is adorable.) Still, you can maybe get a sense of his cute little bow legs.

Next week: SHORT BOOKS. (Seriously, y'all--I love Michelle West's writing, but I cannot read her quickly. I've spent a full week with THE UNCROWNED KING and I feel like I'm stagnating). Hopefully a new audiobook, too.