The Sundays in Bed With… meme, hosted by Midnight Book Girl, dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning. Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today!
Orchid Child by Victoria Costello
At the time I wrote this (Friday night), I was ~50% through this ARC. I’m not quite sure yet what to think about it as it seems to span a couple of different genres. It definitely dabbles in some mythical fantasy. And I hope that aspect becomes more prominent. But at this point in the book there is more of a focus on generational trauma and mental health. When I saw neurodiversity mentioned in the blurb I thought there would be an autism component to it. But, reading the blurb more closely, I see that neurodiversity is used more broadly than in the context I tend to see it used online in my social media feeds.
Anyway, I haven’t made as much progress on this, or any reading, as I wanted to this month. I wouldn’t say I’m in a slump. But I think I need either a genre change away from fantasy for a bit. Or I short hiatus from perceived “obligations.” Or both.
About the Book
Author: Victoria Costello
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Liminal Books
Publish Date: June 13, 2023
Print Length: 312
Kate is a neuroscientist who covets logic and order, unless she’s sleeping with her married lab director, and then logic goes out the window. So does her orderly life in Manhattan when she’s fired over the affair and Kate’s mother presses her to accept responsibility for her fifteen-year-old nephew, Teague, an orchid child who hears voices and talks to trees but rarely people.
To salvage her career, Kate agrees to conduct a study in West Ireland where hostile townsfolk rebuff her study of their historically high rate of schizophrenia and a local chief Druid identifies Teague’s odd perceptions as the gift of second sight, thrusting a bewildered Kate on a trail of madness, magic, and armed rebellion that leads to her own grandparents, who were banished as traitors from the same town.
When a confrontation with the chief Druid endangers Teague’s life, Kate lands at the intersection of ancient Celtic mysticism and 21st century neurodiversity, where the act of witnessing old wounds can heal suffering in both past and present – even hers, if she can accept the limits of science and the power of ancestral ties.
Lately I’ve been struggling to read ARCs, they just haven’t been pulling me in. I actually picked up a Bridgerton book last night, which has nothing to do with my blog, but its a fun read?
And that’s exactly what I mean with respect to a genre change! I read HAPPY PLACE last weekend in just over a day. My soul needed a change of pace and it ended up being the perfect read I needed…even gave it 5 stars. It’s tough not to get sucked in to feeling like we have to review every single thing we read.
Ah, I know how you feel. I didn’t read as much as I wanted so far this month and I am not in a slumb either.
But hey, sometimes we need a little break and as you said, a genre change. That’s why I picked up The Handmaid’s Tale. I just need the change from fantasy to realistic dystopia.
Cheerio
RoXXie
Yea I think I might take a break next month. Hope The Handmaid’s Tale is the break you need!
I will definitely take a 2-3 weeks summer break in July.
Good for you! I hope you enjoy your break. 🙂
So whenever I see you write the “Sundays In Bed With…” meme, two thoughts come to mind. First, it’s such a comfy, cozy image! And it makes me want to curl up under the covers with a book. But second, I am faaaar too protective of my books to ever read in bed. What if I bet the cover?!? Or a page?!? What if I accidentally – *GASP* – creased the binding??? So as comfy as the meme makes it sound, I have to live it in a vicarious, imaginative way only XD.
Whaaattt you don’t read in bed?! Admittedly, I do a lot of my reading on the couch, but during the week I’m known to read a bit right before bed, so naturally that’s where I am. I hope this doesn’t hurt your heart too much, but sometimes I have snacks while I read, haha. But I promise I’m very careful because I, too, really hate accidentally bending a cover or page or creasing anything. I’m mostly paranoid about wrinkling the dust jackets on hardcovers…I really should get into the habit of just taking them off while I’m reading them.