Ira the pikalope

I sat down to add wings to a plastic animal last week. That was the plan. The problem was, the wings didn't look quite right with any of my animals. What I found instead was the body of a plastic horse and a plastic cowboy, so I figured I'd make a centaur.

This, of course, left me with some cowboy legs. Rather than throw them out, I looked for another animal to cement to the top. Once I glued on a fish head, though, I quickly became enamored with the new being. I've since abandoned the centaur. Instead, I added some antlers, making a creature I've since dubbed the pikalope. I think he makes a good companion to the sharkticorn.

 

 

Book 12 complete - The Black Island

The Black Island by Herge

Tintin books are a great source of simple criminal machinations and adventure. This particular book adds a fair amount of slapstick comedy to the mix (including a two page spread involving the fire brigade and a missing key). While it's not my favorite Tintin book, it's a good one to end my 24 hours of reading.

Book 11 complete - A Brief History of Time

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Full disclosure: I understood very little of this book, but then I didn't really expect to understand it. Had I planned my readathon list in advance, this would not have been the audio book I'd have selected. I soldiered through for two reasons. 1) It was an ideal length. 2) It was already on my phone. All that to say, I'll probably revisit this book at least two more times in future. What I gleaned from it this time is that very little in physics can be cleanly and definitively stated and Dr. Hawking was not only brilliant but funny.

Book 10 complete - The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World's Worst Pirate

The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World's Worst Pirate by Tim Collins

Given the title and the cover art, I was expecting a more humorous story. While I can appreciate using a story to teach, I didn't find the plot particularly enjoyable or believable.

Book 9 complete - Chasing Augustus

Chasing Augustus by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Just a few pages of this book and I realized the inherent risk of reading it at this point in a readathon. When is a dog book not an emotional read? I wasn't sure I would be emotionally stable enough to read a dog book while sleep-deprived. I was pleased to discover, then, that this is not a sob-fest. Really, it's more about accepting change and forming bonds with people than coping with loss.

Book 8 complete - Trolled

Trolled by Bruce Coville

My capacity for reading heavy, contemplative fiction is definitely waning, so this book came up in my list at the perfect time. It's light-hearted, easily followed, and quick paced. That last element is largely due to the mixed format, told in journal entries, short articles, letters, and text exchanges. While Trolled is technically third in a series, the story stands easily on its own.

Book 7 complete - The Lives of Desperate Girls

The Lives of Desperate Girls by MacKenzie Common

Common draws some intriguing parallel in this book between a girl rejected by her peers and one rejected by society on the whole, both based on circumstances beyond their control. This is an exploration that is likely to be uncomfortable for most, delving as it does into racism and rape culture and the damage they inflict on young lives. It would be fascinating to discuss this book with a book club, especially to list out all of the titular Desperate Girls.