I did not read a lot of books this month, but they were good ones! Otherwise, it’s been a rather unsettling time, with me deciding to have surgery, bizarre summer hailstorms, and a flood that did a lot of damage in our town though it left our house untouched. Let’s hope things are going to be more peaceful from now on.
Literature
Thanks to Sylvia Townsend Warner Reading Week at A Gallimaufry, I finally read The Corner That Held Them — an unusual book by a brilliant and original writer; I’ll be checking out more of her work for sure. Otherwise, there were a couple of Barbara Pym comedies, a fascinating nonfiction read on childhood trauma, and a reread of one of my all-time favorites. Elsewhere, I reviewed The Wolf Den for Shiny New Books.
As a discussion post, I asked Is there an alternative to Goodreads? Not really, at least not one that has the features I want. So I’ll stick with GR for the time being. (Links below are to my reviews there.)
- A Glass of Blessings and No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym
- The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce D. Perry
- Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis – Reread
Language
I’m slowly making my way through my “Make me read it” French selection, L’étranger by Albert Camus. I’m glad to finally conquer this classic, but as a contrast it will be fun to read Die Kleine Hexe, the readalong for Summer in Other Languages.
A fascinating discussion ensued after I shared my struggles with identifying the right time to switch to the informal version of “you” in A formal feeling – Thanks so much to all who shared their thoughts.
Life
I’ve had digestive problems all my life, but only in January discovered that I had a large gallstone and was advised to have my gallbladder removed. This is a surgery that is often done unnecessarily, so I was hesitant. But after trying to treat my gallbladder with diet and supplements I’ve finally conceded that I waited too long to address the issue and that I do need to have it out. So in July I’ll be having the surgery and recovering. Wish me well!
One thing I did not know before moving to Switzerland is that it is a land noted for violent thunderstorms. We’ve had several of these already this year, one of which dumped large crop-destroying hailstones and caused a flash flood in our little village. I was not home at the time and missed the whole thing, but my husband took pictures. Luckily for us our apartment building was unaffected, but lower-lying neighbors were not so fortunate.
What storms have you weathered this month? Or has it all been sunshine and rainbows for you?
Linked at The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and the Monthly Wrap-up Round-up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Good luck with the surgery!!
Thanks, it’s expected to be uncomplicated — and definitely better than waiting till I have to do emergency surgery. Hopefully all will go well.
Fingers crossed.
Good luck with the surgery, Lory! I hope it will go well and you will recover fast.
Where in Switzerland do you live? I’m in Geneva… we could maybe do a blogger meet one day?
Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading.
Thank you so much, Linda. I don’t think I’ve come across your blog before, so I’ll look forward to checking it out.
And I’d love to do a blogger meetup! I’m in the Bernese Jura, a 3 hour train ride from Geneva, but I’ve never been there. I will definitely have to make the trip someday, or if you’re ever headed towards Bern, Biel, or La Chaux de Fonds, let me know.
I know loads of people without gallbladders and all have been absolutely fine – the only thing you need to watch for is fat in food, but I’m guessing if you’ve been trying to work on it without surgery you’ve covered that one, anyway. Also, from experience having an internal cyst removed, even if you’ve had some problems before, it can be a bit upsetting going from feeling fine to wobbling around recovering from an op and anaesthetic from an elective rather than an emergency surgery, so maybe note to expect that but you’ll be right as rain in no time.
And I’m glad you’ve had a good reading month and hope you have some good ones lined up for July!
Thanks Liz, I have certainly learned a lot in the last few months — I knew I had a gallbladder but nothing about what it did or how it related to the whole digestive system. So even without one I will still continue to try to learn more and to support my body with conscious awareness, being grateful for its amazing capacities and not overtaxing it with too much stuff that’s hard for it to deal with. Too bad it took me so long to learn this lesson, but better late than never.
I am supposed to be reading in other languages this month, but I’m giving myself a break and not being so strict. As long as I keep something going I’ll also allow myself plenty of comfort reads (that means English!)
Surgery is never fun, but the effects can be a relief–hope you get relief!
Thank you, yes that is the hope for sure.
Wishing you a speedy recovery!! Sorry to hear about the flooding also! Hope all is better now! Happy July!
Thanks Freda, it’s all cleaned up now and the authorities are looking into how to keep it from happening again. We’ll just hope the rest of the summer is not so exciting.
Sorry to hear about the floods and upcoming surgery. I am confident that all will go well and I hope you have an easy recovery.
Thanks for telling us about The Corner That Held Them. That sounds REALLY good…individual stories and not a lot of plot. I tossed it on my TBR shelf.
If you’re okay with (or even prefer) a book without a coherent plot, I can certainly recommend it.
Goodness that is a lot of water! I didn’t know that about Switzerland either. Best of luck with the surgery. My brother had to have his removed years ago and hasn’t had any issues since!
Thanks, it’s always reassuring to hear those success stories.
I’ll be thinking of you, Lory, and hoping all will be well and that you’ll be free of the problems you’ve had for far too long.
Your review of the Sylvia Townsend Warner encouraged me to acquire a collection of short fantasy pieces (including her Cat’s Cradle tales) to read in the near future as my introduction to her work—expect a post about it in due course!
Warner is a really interesting writer. I wish her books were more easily available. Congrats for snagging one!
I spotted Of Cats and Elfins (Handheld Press 2020) in a bookshop for which I happened to have a gift voucher, so I couldn’t resist!
Ooh lovely!
Oh, wow – that flooding looks unpleasant! We tend to get floods in front of our house in the fall because the leaves clog up the sewers. I often have to stand out there and try to stop cars from crossing through the flooded area. We’ve actually had to push someone out when they got stuck before!
I think the car in the picture ended up okay. My husband moved ours away from that street before it got covered with water!
Glad your apt didn’t get flooded. I hope the surgery & the recovery are very easy on you.
Thanks Victoria. I hope so too.
I am so sorry to hear about the flood and crop destroying hailstorm your little village endured, Lory – There have been many physical and life storms for me in June, too, which has sadly kept my reading numbers very low. However I did take great comfort from reading the insightful The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis, definitely my favourite of the month and I have ongoing reads which look like they are going to get July off to a much better start. Take care, all the best with your surgery and happy reading in July. 🙂
I need to reread The Four Loves, another Lewis favorite that goes well with Till We Have Faces. I hope your storms are receding too.
Oh Lory, good thoughts for an easy and successful surgery. Yes, it’s a common procedure, except for the person having it out! I hope for you a quiet, calm recovery with floods and chaos of all kinds kept at bay 😉
Every illness is individual and not subject to statistics, I find. Still the chances are good for recovery. Thanks for all the good wishes, that helps.
Thinking of you.
Thank you Jennifer. All good wishes to you too.
Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery!
Thank you!
I’m late! That flood looks awful, I sure hope people are able to recover well. I too am gallbladder-less, and the only advice I have is to have a way available to sleep tilted up if you need it the first night. I couldn’t lie down flat at first and we had to borrow a recliner.
I actually get to stay in the hospital for two days. The hospital bed is helpful!
Oh good! In that case, take a lot of books. <3
Good luck with the surgery!
I used to live in Burgundy, and yes I remember also terrible thunderstorms with hail – and sometimes at the worst time for vineyards. It’s convenient to have real shutters (not fake ones like in the US!) to protect windows from the hail!
Now I know the reason for the shutters (they definitely don’t help to keep out the mosquitoes).
Wishing you a speedy recovery from your surgery! My husband had this surgery too but it was because his gall bladder was infected. I recently saw the terrible flooding happening in Europe–the news showed a town in Germany devastated by the water and so many families lost homes and loved ones too. I hope you and your family are safe!
Thanks so much, I’m recovering well and we didn’t get hit badly by the flooding. What a weird year this continues to be, but we’re staying sane (mostly). Hope you are too.