Isola by Allegra Goodman. Narrated in the first person, this novel tells the story of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval who was a real person who was marooned on an island for defiance. She lived there for 2 years and survived attacks by polar bears. Her story is found in Marguerite of Navarre's (1492-1549) The Heptameron.

The Cloisters by Katy Hays A murder mystery set in the 21st century. Narrated in the first person by an ambitious art historian of the Renaissance. Quite a twist at the end. Reminds me of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. Trouble Water by Sharon Shinn A romantasy. The female protagonist parallels her other ones like Rachel from Archangel. A diverting read in unsettled times.

Today sitting in the sunshine with my dog curled up beside me, I finished Cecilia Blomdahl's book Life on Svalbard, in which she documents with photography and words her experience living in the northernmost human town. Svalbard belongs to Norway, but anyone of any nationality can live on Svalbard without a visa provided they secure a job and a dwelling place before arriving.

Atalanta is told from the point of view of the woman in Greek mythology famed for her fleetness of foot and her archery prowess. Jennifer Saint wrote this one in 2023. A fast, enjoyable read which sneers at the overly masculine Greek heroic ethos epitomized by Jason of the Argonauts, Herakles, and Peleus (father of Achilles -- here the apple does not fall from the tree). Atalanta does find two men (Meleager and Hippomenes) who recognize her as an equal.

Stone Blind (2022) by Natalie Haynes: tells the story of Medusa, the human Gorgon whom Perseus slays to save his mother. Multiple voices and cynical feminism. Medusa and her two immortal Gorgon sisters live apart from all human and divine beings because they have been exiled for their ugliness. The Olympian gods are not favorably depicted -- very post-modern critique of them.

Last year at Maryland Sheep and Wool festival I bought a 5 pound Marino fleece. I scoured the fleece last spring and only just now got around to weighing it. That 5 pound fleece is now 3 pounds. I can’t believe I washed out 2 pounds of lanolin!

I have carded almost 1 pound of a 5 pound merino fleece, which I bought at the 2024 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. Probably when my SH reads this blog (and he reads my posts almost as soon as I publish them) will be yet another confirmation that my STABLE is too big. Anyway. After carding nearly a pound of wool, I am finally beginning to understand the fleece I bought.

Spend 5 minutes. Make 5 calls. Make your voice heard.