Woolgathering: Contemplative Rest

This book draws from the thematic threads of the German folktale about Rumpelstiltskin, that magical little imp who makes a horrific deal in exchange for his ability to spin straw into gold.

For me, the stories in Spinning Silver are about finding and making manifest one's golden brilliance. It's about not being afraid of your power and allowing yourself to be fully present in your gifts.

I read an excerpt from the end of chapter six where Miryem encounters the otherworldly Staryk king for the second time.

Accompanying contemplative prompts for this book can be found at my website.

Spinning Silver written by Naomi Novik and published by Del Ray, 2018. Naomi Novik is the author of many other novels, Including Uprooted (which is perhaps an origin story of Baba Yaga), a series about dragons, a series about a secret magical society, and numerous other stories.

This delicious retelling of the classic Hamlet, is a familiar tale of deception riddled with class, court, and gender politics. It's told from the point of view of the narrator whose identity is not revealed until the final pages of the book. It's a good reveal!

I read an excerpt from the opening chapter of the book.

Accompanying contemplative prompts for this book can be found at my website.

The Raven Tower is written by Ann Leckie and published by Orbit of Hachette Book Group, 2019. Other novels by Ann Leckie are Ancillary Justice.(2013), Ancillary Sword (2014), Ancillary Mercy (2015), Provenance, (2017), Translation State (2023), and numerous short stories.

This book is the first in a series of three and tells the story of a young boy named Kuro. He has been raised in squalor and neglect by a rather nasty wizard who groomed him to be a thief. Kuro is quick-footed for speedy get-aways and is well-practiced at blending into his background while being unobtrusive.

Early on in the book, his fate turns towards more hopeful happenings and he is sent to a school for magical children. His story continues with him discovering true friendship as well as crafting a chosen family.

I read an excerpt from the opening chapter in the book. Stealing From Wizards: Volume 1: Pickpocketing is written by R.A. Consell and is self-published by the author, Ryan Consell (October 29, 2019).

The other self-published books from the Stealing From Wizards series are:
Volume 2: Burglary (June 28, 2021)
Volume 3: Kidnapping (November 1, 2023)

This book tells the story of William Bellman from childhood through his life until old age. It's a ghost story of sorts and for me, it is about those losses, shocks, and traumas that colour our perspective of reality and alter our trajectory. I read an excerpt from Chapter 12 of the book. Bellman & Black is written by Diane Setterfield and published by Third Draft Limited, 2013. Other books by Diane Setterfield are The Thirteenth Tale (2008) and Once Upon a River (2018). I wish she would write some more books.

Some of my thoughts about my preferred book genre (hint: it's some sort of cosy) and a snippet reading from the opening chapter of Psalm for the Wild-Built: Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers.