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Hi everyone!

Was out of town over the weekend so this is a short week for me. I almost forgot it was Thursday!

I finished The Gate to Women's Country for my book with an author that has the same first or last name. I was pleased to find Sheri who spelled it the same way! It was an alright book. It was an interesting premise, but I don't particularly go for the kind of feminist fiction that postulates women are somehow better than men. I'm about equality not superiority. Still, there were enough interesting ideas to get me through.

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World - Counting this for my feminism prompt. I have read plenty of feminist fiction, and books about feminism over the last couple years, so I'm fine with counting a really good kids book for this one. I loved the illustrations, and I think there was just enough information given on each women to spark curiosity and further research. I learned quite a lot too! I knew some of the big names, but a lot were new to me, and were responsible for things I never realized.

I spent the rest of the weekend getting caught up on comics!

Currently reading: Too Like the Lightning - this isn't for a prompt, a friend was talking about it and it sounded interesting. It's ok so far, I think it's one of those books where the premise is great but the execution is lacking.

SInce it's fathers day (at least in the US) on Sunday, I'll also borrow PopSugar's question this week: Who are the best and worst fathers in books you read?

I'd say one of the best was the father in The Hate U Give. I think he really supported Starr in her decisions, even when his gut reaction was to just keep her safe. He had serious discussions with her, and didn't patronize her or treat her like a child when serious things were happening in her life.

I sadly can think of a lot worse ones. I'll go with Baron von Rathbart in Black Swan, and the dad in Unnatural Issue. both of them were terrible. Also in Purple Hibiscus, the father was pretty terrible.

Hello All!

This last two weeks have been very hectic for me, so really the only thing I've gotten read is Mary Poppins as my childhood classic I've never read. Is it sacrilege to say that I don't see what all the fuss is about? Mary Poppins seems like a fairly disagreeable woman to me, except for the occasional adventure. But even that seemed to not be very enjoyable for her. I suppose this might be a case of me not feeling the cultural context: she's was a bit too "stiff upper lip" for me, but that fits the time and place in which the book was written. Needless to say, movie Mary Poppins is still my preference!

I've just today started reading Middlesex as the June prompt for a LGBQT+ book. I'm on page 5 and already riveted! The book has a kind of magical realism quality to it that I enjoy in some of Salman Rushdie's book (especially Midnight's Children), and I can't wait to keep reading.

That reminds me, I want to give my respect to Daniele for finishing Satanic Verses last week. That's amazing!!

Hmm, best dad's: Tam's dad in the Wheel of Time series is pretty great.

Worst Dad's: Walter Frey from A Song of Ice and Fire is particularly terrible!

Stephanie,

Yeah, Mary Poppins was a little weird for me too, for that same reason. She seemed rather standoffish, and I didn't really get why the kids liked her so much, unless its' just that otherwise they have no access to magical adventures at all. However I did appreciate that the original didn't have the whole "Mom needs a nanny because she's a suffragette and too busy for her children" tone, they got a nanny because Mrs Banks was simply struggling to do everything in the household. Apparently the author was very angry at Disney for that change.

Between work and a weekend road trip, I didn't get any physical reading done. I did go on a memoir audiobook bender:

Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded, which I'll be counting as my LBGTQ+ protagonist.

Yes Please, which will be my celebrity book club pick (although please don't ask which one - I don't remember!)

And I'm about halfway through The Princess Diarist, which will count as the recommendation from someone else doing the challenge.

All lovely, strong, female voices with a knack for words. Just what I needed after the Satanic Verses!

QOTW: Since Stephanie brought up Walder Frey, you could say that George RR Martin has examples at both ends of the spectrum. Until his untimely passing, Eddard Stark was pretty darn good, imparting wisdom and humouring Arya's less-than-girly inclinations with lessons. Tywin Lannister had... issues. As did Tarly.

And I'm realizing that there are few fathers (or parents at all) in a lot of books I read. Either I'm reading the coming-of-age adventures of orphans or adults whose parents just aren't in the picture. Hmm.

Well, to all of you whose fathers are still around and with whom you're on good terms, hug them and wish them a happy Father's day!