After reading four books in quick succession for review purposes, I took a few days off from reading. I did crossword puzzles, finished my grand-daughter’s knitted scarf, and played games on my phone. I discovered that when I did crossword puzzles all the time, I was better at them. I’ve struggled a bit with the hard ones I’ve attempted. I can still breeze through the easy ones, but not the *** puzzles anymore.

Which goes to prove, use it or lose it.

I’ve certainly continued to use my brain, but the part that was good at logic and trivia has atrophied a bit.

So, like any good over-achiever, I’ve added crossword puzzles to my daily mental regimen.

And I’m back to reading, but haven’t finished anything to review.

Actually, that’s not true. I do have one I can review but I want to read the next book in the series and review them as a pair, so look for a post in a few weeks about a fun Jane Austen update.

I’m in the middle of two fiction books just now, The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova, a writer whose prose is as crystal clear and beautiful and sharp as an icicle dangling from a tree branch. And Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron. I’m usually all over Margaret’s newest releases and somehow this one slipped by me. But I can’t put it down, so it will likely be next week’s Book Talk Tuesday.

See you then!

PS: I’d love it if you’d click through to my entry at Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest and leave a comment!

http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2013/against-the-peace/