I’ve been in need of solace the last two weeks, so I thought it might help to share some of my recent comforts:
• I’ve been re-reading T. Kingfisher fantasy novels and novellas. They’re charming, funny, and inclusive. I started with re-reading my favorites of hers, the Clocktaur War duology, Swordheart, and the Paladin series (note: series is still unfinished, but each book works as a stand-alone). Those are all set in her Clocktaur world.
Once I finished those, I’ve been meandering through some of her kids’ books (Minor Mage, Illuminations, A Wizards’ Guide to Defensive Baking), and fairy tale retellings (Bryony and Roses). I may skip over her more horror-leaning works for now.
• I’ve been catching up on last year’s Gardener’s World TV show and my favorite gardening podcasts (Gardening with the RHS, Let’s Argue About Plants, Grow, Cook, Eat Arrange, Garden’s Question Time). It’s healing, thinking ahead to spring, learning new ways to grow and nurture (I learned how to prune my mock orange! I might try taking cuttings, even though it intimidates me strangely!).
When there are so many really big, hard questions to think about, I think my brain needs a break. Listening to a panel of experts argue about the best way to deal with blackspot, or hearing a woman request tips so she can grow the biggest carrot and win the village fete, or enjoying the good-natured wrangling between a husband and wife who disagree about whether or not that crabapple tree needs to go…it’s just lovely.
Hope this helps a bit.
Pictured: hibiscus and bougainvillea, putting on a bit of a January show.
