§ Monday morning, as I approached the lake, the world vanished underneath a dense blanket of low cloud. I guess it was all of the rain last week suddenly vaporizing into fog and returning to the sky in the warm morning air.
By Monday night, the rain came back with a vengeance and brought the wind along with it. Evidently it was all too much for a dying tree in my yard and I heard a sudden crack as one of its large branches finally gave up and snapped off, falling right on top of the wattle fence I built a few years ago.
§ I finished—that’s right, finished—Where the Axe is Buried and then started on Things Become Other Things. Readers of these weeknotes will appreciate how rare it is for me to actually finish one book before starting another one—It’s a known problem.
Where the Axe is Buried was snappy and engaging with numerous, short chapters each from the perspective of a rotating cast of characters. Each chapter went by fast enough that, had I been less interested in a particular storyline, it wouldn’t bother me much. In the end, I was equally invested in each of the six main characters—a small marvel in and of itself.
Remember last week, when I said Where the Axe is Buried lacks a spirit of “mutual aid in the face of adversity” and replaces it with “fear and hard-nosed authoritarian repression?” Well, that’s true for most of the novel but, without getting into any spoilers, let me just say that this changes dramatically by the end of the book.
That said, after reading two dystopias in a row, I was ready for something a bit different. Things Become Other Things fits the bill. Earnest, reflective, memoirs are usually not my cup of tea but something about listening to the author on John Gruber’s podcast convinced me to give it a try.
§ I would like to find some fiction to read as well. I’ve bounced between a few things but, so far, nothing has satisfied the itch. Suggestions are very welcome.
§ I don’t see anyone talking about The Studio anymore which is a shame because it remains excellent. The score, in particular, deserves a ton of praise.
§ On Friday, Caroline and I got ten yards of mulch delivered and yesterday—with the weather finally back on our side—we managed to get though at least half of it.
I could have sworn we did this all earlier in the season last year but nope, we’re actually a few weeks ahead of schedule.
§ Later this afternoon is Caroline’s graduate school graduation ceremony—exciting!
After the celebrations I expect more mulching is in our future. Rain is back in the forecast early next week.
