I read a bunch while I was in Montreal, then got home and couldn't find my notes on what I'd read, so this is sketchier than it should have been.

The Tainted Cup, by Robert Jackson Bennett: this is both a fantasy and a mystery novel, and I think worked well as both. The world-building is interesting and unusual, with hints of a lot more than the narrator has reason to mention in telling this story. The mystery is twisty and full of questions about people's motivations. Definitely recommended. Based on some discussion on Discord, I'm glad to know there's a sequel, but not racing to read it.

Jellyfish Have No Ears, by Adèle Rosenfeld, is a novel told by a woman who has been hard of hearing since childhood, and is now losing the remains of her hearing, and trying to decide whether to get a cochlear implant. At least two of the characters are figments of the narrator's imagination. Interesting, but it felt like the story stopped too soon. I think I grabbed this for the "book in translation" square on my Boston library summer reading bingo card.

The Adventure of the Demonic Ox, by Lois McMaster Bujold: a new Penric and Desdemona fantasy novella. I liked it, but there's enough ongoing plot arc that I wouldn't start here.

The World Walk, by Tom Turcich: Memoir, by someone who decided at 17 that he wanted to walk around the world, and starts on the journey after finishing college. He has the advantage of a supportive family, and he also mentions some of the ways that the trip is easier for him because he's American. The travelogue is mostly about people, even when he's also talking about the sky from the Atacama Desert, or the interesting foods he eats while traveling. His planned route isn't literally around the world on foot, but he meant to walk on all seven continents. Instead, the section on Asia and Australia is foreshadowed by the celebration of New Year's Day 2020. Overall, an upbeat book. despite that, health issues, and encounters with hostile police and other officials.

So You Want to Be a Wizard, by Diane Duane: reread of a young adult fantasy novel. picked up from Emmet's bookshelf after I ran out of things I wanted to read on my kindle. I enjoyed rereading it.

I'm now partway through John Wiswell's Wearing the Lion, a retelling of the Heracles legend, because I had it on my kindle (shared by cattitude) and needed something for the flight home from Montreal on Tuesday. The characterization is oddly flat, for a first-person narrative.

It is too hot here to do much, alas. Friday was OK, but it was too hot yesterday for me to eant to go out—possibly doable, but sitting outside for lunch would have been unpleasant— and it’s not forecast to improve until after I leave.


So mostly I am sitting in the only air conditioned room in the apartment, reading. This isn’t exactly bad, but it doesn’t feel worth the trip, in terms of either dollars or the hassle of traveling.

If anyone wants to call RFK Jr. to complain about him not funding vaccines, and specifically about mRNA vaccines, his office phone number is 202-690-7000. I called during office hours (8:30-5 Eastern time) and got voicemail. The message asked for a phone number, and claimed someone would call me back.

If anyone wants a script, my message was:

My name is Vicki Rosenzweig. I’m calling from Boston, to demand that the secretary restore funding for MRNA vaccines. He must make the fall covid and flu boosters available to everyone. I’m immune-compromised, and my safety depends on my family being vaccinated and not giving me a virus. My phone number is [your number here]

I got the idea and phone number from a comment by threemeninaboat on sonia's journal. (I also posted a version of this to thisfinecrew)

Of local interest: JP Licks has fresh peach ice cream.

They didn't make any last year, because there was no local peach harvest, and I'm ery glad to see it this year: they make really good peach ice cream. Not all their flavors are as good as this, and I shop there primarily for this and the cucumber ice cream, when those are available.