By Ariel Waldman.

This is a fun, short book with illustrations and one-page anecdotes of the things that happen, things that you can do, things that you can’t do, and what things are wonderful or horrible about being in space.

I really enjoyed it – I’ll never get to space (as much as I’d like to), so learning about what I’m missing is fun and educational. Definitely safe for kids – yes, there is talk of “elimination” but what kid doesn’t already want to know the answers to those questions? Or people like me who might physically be a woman in her mid-forties but has the scatalogical humour of a 9-year-old-boy?

And that is me finally done for January. We won’t count the 3 national geographic magazines or four gardening magazines, right? Can’t review them. Or can I?

Um, actually this was no. 7. I forgot about it! That doesn’t sound good, but it was only due to my needing a few days to write the post about Lumi. I kept getting interrupted!

Unhappenings is by Edward Aubry. A very easy read, well written and caught my interest from the start – what is happening, or unhappening, to the main character, and why? Genres are science fiction and time travel, so if either of those interest you, have a go. He does pretty well with human motivations, too.

Absolutely stunning cover art, too.

Yeah, more Jack Ketchum. Offspring is a continuation of Off Season. I have to admit I’m getting kind of bored with him now. Too many at once, perhaps? His writing is great; that’s not the problem. I think that I’m getting used to the same type of story and the horror becomes predictable. I know what to expect now.

He also writes about nipples way too often. Describes them too often, also. Seriously, he seems to think we women are mainly concerned with our nips being injured. Maybe some women do but for me it gets old fast. Guess Jack is a boob man? Anyhoo, here is the cover:

…which I apparently never looked at properly. A movie? Have I seen it? No, looking at the official trailer, I have not. But it appears as though it keeps very close to the book. 

Yet more Ketchum. Started this one, gave up, read two other books, and went back to force myself to finish it. Didn’t like it, clearly. Ketchum himself says in the afterward of this edition that he couldn’t sell it at all. I can see why.

More Jack Ketchum. I’m getting jaded now to his style of horror. This one felt…unfinished. Rushed, even. I liked the end, but most of the story of why things were the way there were was missing.

By Jon Krakauer.

This is a rare departure for me – nonfiction! If the author sounds familiar, he also wrote Into the Wild (which I read a few years back).

The fun part of my being able to read this book is that the company I work for has a lending library in the building. Anyone can contribute, borrow or even keep the books left in. I pick one out and read during my lunch hour until it is done, and pick another one. This one I might keep to give to a good friend who is a mountain climber himself.

What a great idea, and I take full advantage of it!