One cup, two sugars, no ass.

Necessary

If you are looking at the onyx boox leaf range, I think a new one is being announced in the next week or so… May be worth holding out if you can.

To try to add a positive slant to my agreement with this.

“hard times make hard people, hard people make good times.” (paraphrasing as I haven’t found time to dig out the original quote)

We are the parents shaping the people who save the world.

First thing I would suggest is to be kind to yourself and forgive yourself, and then… baby steps. Not only do baby steps eventually compound but they prevent any over training from holding yourself to old expectations.

I listened to the audiobook from Audible (GBP £8 ~ US $10) and would definitely say it was worth it. However, I understand the differences between the Martian and PHM can be divisive, but I loved it.

Only one from your list I have read is Piranesi, but I just had to say I really enjoyed it. I’m a big fan of the genre so it was admittedly right up my street.

Some titles from my ‘Short’ TBR list include

• The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler after really enjoying The Mountain in the Sea.
• The Long Mars by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter (#3 in the Long Earth Series).

In terms of waiting I only have a couple

• Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss… But by now I should probably reread the first two once it is actually out.
• The Martian Contingency by Mary Robinette Kowal (#4 in the Lady Astronaut series).

Edit: removing a spoiler that didn’t get redacted properly.

I loved it, and am eagerly awaiting Bookshops and Bonedust.

I listened to the audiobook for the first one, and really enjoyed it. I should pick up the next one.

I read upgrade, really enjoyed it can’t decide between dark matter and recursion as the next one to pick up. Do you have any thoughts on either?

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Ray Porter, so maybe he delivered it in a way that meant I didn’t notice it. But I did notice a similar vibe in Artemis (also audio, but narrated by someone else, cant recall who).

Edit: a typo and to add it was Rosario Dawson that narrated Artemis

I really enjoyed Heaven’s River, but I also enjoy a slice of life book, and really liked all the world building with the otter world, I can definitely see where you are coming from though.

My milage has dropped a fair bit recently with my eldest starting school and our routine being upended. Each run is feeling harder but I keep telling myself that there is no optimum routine any more and if I miss the ‘best’ time to run, that just means I need to look for the ‘next best’ time… Crammed a 5k into my lunch break yesterday and I am proud of myself.

If you listen to podcasts I recommend S2E1 of ‘How Other Dad’s Dad with Hamish Blake’ Joe Brumm, the creator of bluey, is a guest.

I also recommend the podcast generally also.