Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater by Peggy Orenstein (Narrator)

It’s been awhile since I read a knitting book. I like memoirs so much these days and I remembered this one published last year. The author decided to make a sweater from the start. She sheared the sheep, carded, dyed, spun, and then knitted the sweater. As with many knitters, I have wondered about this journey myself. I’ve even dabbled with hand spinning but found it too laborious and time consuming. Shearing is too dangerous and gruelling and this memoir proved it. I appreciated the author’s mix of personal memoir and research about the history of wool and crafting.

1.5x. March 12-17, 2025.

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 5 by Miya Kazuki with You Shiina (Illustrator), quof (Translator)

While I felt a bit better on the 17th, I was a bit tired after physio and read most of this. I enjoyed this one more than the last volume, but it was still slow. It’s not helped by the fact that I’ve read about four of them in a row. Enjoyed the return to the Italian restaurant and Myne standing up for the commoners. Myne gold scolded a lot. She is told and described by others as abnormal in every volume. This exasperated me when reading one volume after another. I get that this makes her less of a Mary Sue, but reading constantly in first person that she’s an uncontrollable and irrational person is frustrating. It was one of the reasons that I’m not warm towards Ferdinand. We’re about halfway through the series and my favourite characters remains Myne, Lutz, her commoner family, and some of her retainers. Don’t care for most of the archnobles. I did like the introduction of Aurelia. She seems a bit different than other nobles. The side stories were great too. I am going to to try to take a break this week and also read the Royal Academy stories which is set right before this one.

March 16-17, 2025.

The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo, Júlia Sardà (Illustrator)

Can’t go wrong with Kate DiCamilli. This was also illustrated by one of my favourite children’s illustrators Júlia Sardà. I really liked the gentle story telling pace of this one alongside the whimsical black and white drawings.

March 17-18, 2025.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Abraham Verghese (Foreword), Sunil Malhotra (Narrator), Cassandra Campbell (Narrator)

A short memoir from a doctor who was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and passed away before the publication of this book. Well written, sad, and reflective. Kalanithi is a good writer and contemplates the intersectionality of trying to save lives while effectively uncertain of his future after the diagnosis. Good job by all the narrators.

1.75x. March 17-20, 2025.

Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan with Kelly Chong (Illustrator)

Overdue since I bought this when it was released over a year ago. I needed to read it since I bought and intend to read Immortal which is the the newest book from this universe. I adored the Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology. This collection of short stories includes main and supporting characters and an even better epilogue for the final couple. I found these stories light something up in me. They reminded me of the stories I grew up with. I appreciated how the mythology and characters are interwoven. The illustrations were lovely.

March 18-22, 2025.

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Royal Academy Stories – First Year by Miya Kazuki with quof (Translator), You Shiina (Illustrator)

This was a good collection of short stories between the volumes. I am glad I read them as it set things up well for Second Year at the Academy. I do not like Wilfred and I’m neutral on most of the students. I did like the stories about Cornelius and Hartmut since they are enjoyable characters. The Traugott story was interesting in that he’s a very weak and unlikable. He’s actually punished physically for being a jerk by Justus. Such interactions are kept away from Rozemyne in the main story because she is the higher noble. What I like about these books is that the stakes are actually high for people but it’s often done in a manner and tone that’s not edgy or strained. It’s due to the world building and humour that the author incorporates.

March 21-22, 2025 on Kobo Clara BW and Kobo Libra 2.

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 6 by Miya Kazuki with quof (Translator), You Shiina (Illustrator)

Back to the main stories. This volume was all at the Royal Academy. Cozy and action packed. This was probably the funnest volume in a couple of volumes. I like it when Rozemyne uses her powers and develops new relationships.

March 22-23, 2025 on Kobo Libra 2.

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 7 by Miya Kazuki with You Shiina (Illustrator), quof (Translator)

This has become my weekend series so I jumped from one volume to another. I liked that Florencia reminded Sylvester that Rozemyne should not scolded too often. She is revolutionizing their world. I feel like most of these books are people scolding Rozemyne and it was grating. Anyway, another great volume and this one introduced more politics including terrorism so a lot of action. There were significant political and religious plot points which I think is foreshadowing. I am remaining largely unspoiled with this series so it’ll be exciting to see where that goes. There were romantic pairings too which I enjoyed since it was not the main focus. I’m glad I read the Royal Academy stories to add context. I am close to the end of this volume and Rozemyne is still only 11. I wish she was a bit older but I am starting to accept she won’t be an adult / 15 until the very end.

March 23, 2025 on Kobo Libra 2 and Kobo Clara BW.

I’ll Just Be Five More Minutes: And Other Tales from My ADHD Brain by Emily Farris with Emily Farris (Narrator)

DNF at 53%. An ADHD memoir which I learned about when the author pushed it somewhere on Instagram. There were a couple of moments that I related to. I have sympathy for the author. I did not find it funny or interesting enough to continue especially when I had other audiobooks I wanted to start.

1.5x. March 21-23, 2025.