So, Coronavirus is a thing, and my country has started going into lockdown. I’m not going to say too much more about that, because I’m sure your newsfeeds and social media accounts are as full of news about that as mine.

My day job is in food production, so I’m an essential worker. Whilst I am not that keen on my job and would love more time for my reading, writing, and blogging, I am extremely lucky to have that job right now. I’ve been long-term unemployed before, and know how crushing it can be to be out of work. Hopefully this can serve as a wake-up call as to how needlessly cruel, unfair and inefficient the welfare system is.

And that was probably getting a bit too political for now. I’ll get back to my book blogging.

Since I am still driving into work, I won’t have extra time to devote to my blog. I am however quite motivated to put in extra work regardless. I’ve re-organised the site, so that my short stories are more prominent. I also added a new story, Nine Lives, Two Billion Deaths, which I wrote last year after having a nightmare about having to leave my kitten behind in an emergency.  Maybe it was boldness, or maybe it was impatience, but I didn’t get anyone else to proofread this one. I’ve been having some anxiety issues that have made it harder for me to share things, and I wanted to push ahead and get something new out there.

At the moment, I’ve been reading a lot. I’m on track with my Goodreads reading challenge of 80 books this year. Speaking of Goodreads, it’s starting to act like Youtube. You see, I’ve never been a big comic book reader, but after reading a few comics and graphic novels, Goodreads has began showing me more comics in the ‘more like your 2020 reads’ section, and I’ve seen many that look interesting. I’m also filling out my Book Bingo card, and will write some more reviews once I get a bingo (not too long now).

I’m currently reading Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Curse of Chalion, and intend to follow up with the sequel Paladin of Souls. I also have Vol. 3 of Ms. Marvel and Vol.2 of Locke and Key on their way here. Hopefully. I’ve also been reading Brian K. Vaughn’s Paper Girls and am really digging it. Better yet, Paper Girls looks to have an end,  which is nice considering  the long hiatus Saga is on.

Sooo…. I’ve just talked about a lot of not much. I guess what I was really getting at is, what is everyone up to during these crazy times? It might be cool to compile a list of recommended reading for the lockdowns. Anyone out there got any books they’ve been putting off reading for a while? I’d love to hear about that.

~Lauren.