Salutations, dear readers. I hope every single one of you are doing well and have had a good weekend!

I spent all of this past Thursday and Friday battling a nasty flu bug. The fever set in around 3:00 PM on Thursday, which left me largely incapacitated and unable to write my usual Thursday evening post. Bummer! However, being confined to my bed did allow me to get some much-needed reading time! On the plus side, my fever finally broke around 6:00 AM on Friday.

As I mentioned previously, I was reading Laughing at my Nightmare, by Shane Burcaw, for the past two weeks. Shane is a well-known blogger, speaker, and the main mind behind his My Nightmare LaughTour, which he started back in May of 2013. Having lived with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) for his 23 years of existence, Shane learned quickly that humor, no matter how messed up or ill-timed, is the best way to conquer unforgiving physiological disorders. He is a sharp and whip-smart guy, and I appreciated how he touched on both the highs and lows of his personal life and his medical struggles. I’m now following his blog, and if you’d like to do the same, here’s the link: http://laughingatmynightmare.tumblr.com/

Shane Burcaw giving his Emmy acceptance speech!

Next on my reading list is an older YA book by Jeanne DuPrau called The City of Ember, which I delved into last night. I picked up this book on a whim from my roommate’s considerable collection of books – and was thrilled to see that it’s a YA dystopian novel! Though it was first published way back in 2003, I was elated to begin reading a book that has garnered countless rave reviews. I’m three chapters in and already admire the depth of DuPrau’s characters and how multifaceted her City of Ember is. Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow seem to be complimentary protagonists, and I’m reading full speed ahead, ready to see how their exchanging of jobs at the beginning of the story will impact the course of their lives.

There are many codes to crack in The City of Ember

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on either of these books, whether or not you’ve read them. Until next time, stay sharp fellow bloggers!