Weekly Miscellany

Added to Wishlist

1. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race – Margot Lee Shetterly.  I’m really looking forward to learning more about these women, so my local library system best get a copy of this ASAP.
2. Goldenhand – Garth Nix.  Okay, so, I still haven’t read Clariel but I’m going to!  And I’m excited about it!  And this one too! (The UK covers are the least cool though.)
3. A Closed and Common Orbit – Becky Chambers.  More about Pepper – yay!
4. The Wicked + The Divine, Volume 4: Rising Action – Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson & Clayton Cowles.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is better than Volume 3.

1. Trees, Volume 2: Two Forests – Warren Ellis & Jason Howard.  It’s so long since I read the first volume of this, I’d forgotten all about it.
2. Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History – Sam Maggs & Sophia Foster-Dimino. <3 <3 <3
3. Stray – Monica Hesse.  Total cover add, but happily the sci-fi story sounds pretty solid.
4. Juniors at the Chalet School – Katherine Bruce.  I’m always excited for a new Chalet School fill-in, especially one written by KB.

1. I’m Thinking of Ending Things – Iain Reid.  There are really mixed reviews of this, but I love an ‘unnerving’ read, so I’m definitely going to give it a go.
2. The Joyce Girl – Annabel Abbs.  I’m always up for reading a story about James Joyce’s daughter.  Shame about the weirdly pulp-esque cover though.
3. Spare and Found Parts – Sarah Maria Griffin.  Irish post-apocalyptic sci-fi, with a steampunkish twist.  Want!
4. Conclave – Robert Harris.  I still haven’t read An Officer and a Spy, but Robert Harris is one of my favourite authors so I keep buying his stuff and shelving it nice and neatly for the mysterious day in the future when I will finally catch up with his output.

Articles of Note

• 12 Times Stella Gibson was the Baddest Bitch on The Fall.  Crime’s not my genre, never has been, but these quotes make me think I should maybe reconsider.
• 11 New Sci-Fi Books to Celebrate Your Inner-Nerd.  My love of sci-fi isn’t a secret so I’m not a fan of the title of this article, but I forgive them since they’re highlighting some brilliant sounding news reads.  (The cover for The Secret Sea is so bad but the covers for The Longest Day of the Future and Everfair are amazing.)
• 14 Brilliant Books by Irish Women That You Really Ought to Read.  The only book I’ve read from this list is The Country Girls.  Tender is on my TBR pile though and someone’s requested it at the library so I’ll probably have to read it soon to avoid fines.  That makes me an okay read of Irish women writers, right?
• Inside the New York Public Library’s Last, Secret Apartments.  This is so cool.  Carnegie also funded several libraries in Glasgow so I feel totally hard done by that none of them have built-in flats.
• What Do You Use A Microwave For?  Popcorn.  And reheating stuff at work, but never at home.  I can’t quite bring myself to use it for anything else.  It skeeves me out that there are people who cook whole meals using a microwave.

Bookmarked Recipes

• Cider Beer Sangria.  Yes.  Absolutely yes.
• One-Pot Burrito Chicken and Rice.  There’s a beer in the photos, which obviously mean I’ll have to drink when I make this.
• Chilli and Lemongrass Chicken.  I love lemongrass but hardly ever use it, so hopefully this recipe will change that.
• Plum Squares with Marzipan Crumble.  I also love marzipan but hardy ever use it.
• Salted Rolo Brownies.  Flipping heck is about all I can say to this one.
• Piri Piri Chicken.  I’ve only ever had piri piri chicken in a pub, so I’m actually looking forward to making it myself.
• Kinder Bueno Cupcakes.  These look so good I could cry.
• Double Crust Chicken Pot Pie.  Perfect for the colder weather.
• Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese.  Take some cheese, add some more cheese, then a bit more cheese and then put it on top of cheese.

Watching: Still Game

We all remember how The Great British Bake Off was supposed to save 2016 for us, but then betrayed us by being sold to another station and having both the hosts and a judge pull out of any future series, yeah?  Sad times so here’s hoping the new series of Still Game will save us instead!  For those of you who haven’t heard of it, Still Game is a Scottish comedy that originally ran from 2002-2007.  It follows Jack and Victor, two Glasgwegian patter merchants who aren’t content to be resigned to the background now that they’re old age pensioners.  It’s not the subtlest of humours, but it’s undeniably laugh out loud television, that also fits in some touching stories about depression, illness, family and loneliness.  The first episode of the new season was a solid return and I’m hoping things get even better as it goes along.  (PS, most of it is on YouTube if you’re interested in checking it out.  It’s also on Netflix if you’re in the UK or Ireland.)