Sometimes things don’t go as planned, Part 2…

The Sunday Salon, What I'm Reading

This week, I learned again that sometimes things don’t go as planned. 

While I did read and finish Dark Water, the sixth in the Makanna Investigation series, by Parker Bilal, the pseudonym of Jamal Mahjoub, a British-Sudanese author, other plans fell through:

  • A trip to Corning on Aug. 18 with family, which has been delayed yet again, but this time because of a series of circumstances too complicated to explain here.
  • My dad, who lives about an hour and half away, was coming over this Friday to help me cut down some bamboo-like weed in our yard that keeps sprouting every few years and has to be cut back. But then it rained.
  • Instead, I started to read a book on Friday, but then after getting about halfway through, I decided to abandon it because I realized it just wasn’t that good.

The first two things will be rescheduled for a later date, but I don’t plan on returning to that book or any books, specifically mysteries, by authors new to me. While on the phone last night with a friend with whom I talk every month or so, usually about our reading too, I decided I need to return to reading Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series. I need narrative that doesn’t bounce around from first person subjective to third person omniscient and back again, like some of the mysteries I’ve been trying to read. I need the straight story and nothing but the straight story, although I don’t mind twists and turns, as long as it’s not in who’s telling that story. 

I guess what I am saying is that I like structure. It might be why I prefer the liturgical churches to the shall we say less liturgical churches, the more “charismatic” churches.  Or why I have a daily routine of playing Solitaire and listening to music before I go to work and before I go to bed. 

That is not to say plans don’t go awry, as has happened these past few weeks, or even this past week. However, I continue to aim for a more structured life even still. That is always my target. 

Addendum: My wife, who was in the hospital a couple of days last week, for atrial fibrillation is doing better. She is adjusting to her medications and has an appointment with a cardiologist next week. She is on vacation this week, as her mother is visiting us.

Published by Bryan G. Robinson

Blogger formerly known as Unfinished Person. Still an unfinished person...

Published

9 thoughts on “Sometimes things don’t go as planned, Part 2…”

  1. I recently finished a book that bounced between narrators and different POVs. It was incredibly frustrating and distracting. I like that you are going to stick with what works for you. Sometimes, we just need to go back to the basics.

    I am so glad Kim is recovering. I hope she is taking it easy this week while off of work and letting both her mother and you pamper her!

    Like

  2. Glad to hear Kim is doing better. Must have been a little unsettling for both of you. I started the Nero Wolfe series not long ago but then got off on other things. You’re mentioning it reminds me I should get back to it. Take care Bryan.

    Like

  3. I have two mysteries — well a start of a series — to recommend to you. This series is actually a middle grade mystery series but it meets your requirements. The series is Pumpkin Falls by Heather Vogel Frederick. The first book is Absolutely Truly (http://pussreboots.com/blog/2016/comments_10/absolutely_truly.html). The second one (which I’m currently reading) is Yours Truly.

    Another series of straightforward mysteries are the Booktown mysteries by Lorna Barrett. Some readers don’t like the series because the main character is rather fussy. So far her attitude hasn’t stopped me from enjoying the series. I just finished book 6. The first book in the series is Murder is Binding: http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comments_08/murder_is_binding.html

    Like

  5. Glad to hear your wife is doing better. I’ve been praying for her this week.
    I am currently more than halfway through a book that I just don’t like anymore. I love the main character, but I am not at all interested in the plot. But I feel guilty quitting when I’m so close to the end.
    Thank you for giving me permission to abandon the book and move on to one that I know I will truly enjoy 🙂

    Like

    1. Thank you for the prayers. They must be working. 🙂 And you’re welcome for the permission too. I’ve gotten close to the end of books too and realized that I don’t like the book in some way. It’s OK to let go.

      Like

Comments are closed.