Author Archives: Thistle

Unknown's avatar

About Thistle

Queer, neurospicy, chronically longwinded oversharer. 40s; they/them. ✍️📷🐈📚🥾🇩🇪🏳️‍🌈😇💖🐍

Top Ten Romance Likes and Dislikes

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Thistle

Today’s topic is an interesting one – things we like, dislike, and/or want to see more of in fictional romance. While I don’t really read straight romances, I do love a good love story, and I definitely have strong opinions … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged | 12 Comments

Sunday Coffee – Struggling for Balance

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Thistle

Sometimes balance is so hard. I’ve gotten much better about blog-balance in the last few years, but every time I have a major life change, I struggle to get my life back into balance. And 2015 has brought along some … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal, Wellness | Tagged | 8 Comments

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke (audio)

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Thistle

This book is way too long and multi-plotted for me to try to describe on my own. I’d paste in the Goodreads synopsis, but that’s also extraordinarily long, so instead, if you don’t really know what this book is about, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

Top Ten Unread SF/F Classics

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Thistle

Over the last three years, I’ve developed a strong love for SF/F, especially fantasy. Having said that, there is a huge gap in my reading. There are very few SF/F classics that I’ve read, and I probably ought to read … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged | 11 Comments

Sunday Coffee – Wrapping Up January

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Thistle

Can I just exclaim a little at how happy a reading month I had in January? I finished five books – a steady, comfortable speed for me, especially considering I’d started one of those books in the last week of … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged | 5 Comments

House of Shadows, by Rachel Neumeier

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Thistle

When eight sisters are orphaned, two must enter contracts outside the home in order for the others to survive. Karah is taken in by the most prestigious and respected Flower House (think Geisha) in Lonne. Nemienne is apprenticed to a … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged | 2 Comments

Choose Your Own Autobiography, by Neil Patrick Harris

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Thistle

When I was a kid, I loved Choose Your Own Adventure novels. There’s one in particular, The Magic of the Unicorn, that I read over and over and over. Having always been a pragmatic, logical kind of person, I took … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Top Ten Book Club Books

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Thistle

Back in 2006, as a new stay-at-home mom desperate for adult company, I started a classics book club at my local library. This book club thrived, and I ran it for about 5.5 years before time conflicts obliged me to … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged | 12 Comments

Sunday Coffee – When Enough is Enough

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Thistle

Last Sunday I talked about previewing books to determine if I actually want to spend the time reading them. I’m sure that on occasion, I disregard a book that I really would have loved had I kept going. Similarly, I sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged | 10 Comments

Firstborn, by Lorie Ann Grover

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Thistle

Tiadone is a firstborn female, and by law, not allowed to live unless her parents declare her male. They do so, and Tiadone grows up knowing that though her body is female, she is male, and must conform to all … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments