Hello! Welcome to my fashionably late wrap-up for the month of May. Is it me or are the months just flying by faster and faster? I can’t believe it’s June already. Normally I’d be starting my countdown to Italy but that’s looking less and less likely to happen.
So, May. A month in which I had a long list of good intentions that went absolutely nowhere and it seems the only productive thing I actually managed to achieve was to get my first vaccination. Most of the month felt like November, all dark and chilly and miserable. But also pretty uneventful. Except for …
Millie. Hm. She is now 27 weeks old and has been with us 10 weeks.
Of course a puppy is hard work. Of course you need five pairs of eyes and you have to watch them all day, every day. Of course they are going to sink their teeth into something they shouldn’t. But I did not anticipate this constant level of sheer frustration I’m dealing with on a daily basis.
Her constant fear of everything and everyone isn’t getting any better. In fact, most days I feel it’s getting worse. Case in point, not only does she now hide herself away when the doorbell rings or people enter the living room. She also now does that when she hears car doors slam, even if it’s not right outside our house. Voices continue to be a problem for her as well. The first few days of June (because I’m obviously really late with this wrap-up) were gloriously sunny but she refused to stay outside while neighbours were talking, throwing parties, having barbecues and the like. Even though she clearly enjoys lounging in the sunshine.
Meanwhile, my sister-in-law also got a puppy. Not a rescue. Things are going so much easier for her. Her puppy slept through the night from the very first time. Millie still doesn’t. Her puppy loves going for walks and driving along in the car and whatnot. Millie does not. And I’m so jealous. That rewarding feeling people talk about when adopting a dog? Not a clue what that’s like. With every step forward, we are taking three backwards. The puppy trainer we hired to help, well, she’s not much help because Millie will not cooperate and come out of her hiding place. I get that it all takes patience and time and a whole lot of love. But I just want to be able to do puppy things with her and feel we did the right thing.
In the meantime though, while more and more restrictions are being lifted I will happily use her as an excuse as to why we can’t go anywhere. So I suppose there’s that 💁🏼♀️
As for reading, well. I started out extremely well and determined and ended up reading 6 books in a week. But it all went downhill from there. Not helped by a three day migraine and an eye infection. So, how did I end up doing, I hear you wonder.
| BOOKS I READ IN MAY |
A grand total of 14. That could have been a lot worse, I suppose. I’m still behind schedule on my Goodreads challenge but after much dithering back and forth I did decide to join the 20 Books of Summer challenge so hopefully that’ll give me a much needed boost.
| BOOKS I BOUGHT IN MAY |
Can you tell I’m trying to buy less books? No, me either.
Did already read four of those. Hashtag accomplished. 😏
| ON THE BLOG IN MAY |
Review | The Last Act of Adam Campbell by Andy Jones
Review | Time Is Running Out by Michael Wood
Review | Girls Who Lie by Eva Björg Ægisdottir
Review | The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
Review | Twisted Lies by Angela Marsons
Extract | The Crazy Season by Jim Ody
Extract | Talk Bookish To Me by Kate Bromley
Press Release | Longlist for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel 2021
Still not a lot happening on this here blog, eh? I tried.
| COMING UP IN JUNE |
Aha! Well! Sit back and let me tell you all about the superduper exciting things that are coming up over the summer on this here blog full of cobwebs.
Not … a … clue 🤷🏼♀️.
Apologies if the excitement was too much for you to handle. Hope I didn’t cause a bad case of heart palpitations for anyone.
There will be this :
June 9th : Blog tour | Extract | One Last Time by Helga Flatland
June 22nd : Blog tour | Extract | This Is How We Are Human by Louise Beech
June 25th : Blog tour | Review | In The Mirror, A Peacock Danced by Justine Bothwick
June 28th : Blog tour | Extract | Everything Happens For A Reason by Katie Allen
And obviously there should be reviews for the 20 Books of Summer challenge. At some point. But my blog isn’t really on my list of priorities for the moment. Hence why I couldn’t decide wether I should join the challenge this year. The reading shouldn’t be too much of a problem, I hope, but the reviewing is another matter. Being able to sit down and devote time to the blog is also another matter. I owe some of you replies to comments from so many weeks ago, it’s just completely embarrassing and I do apologise! Please address your complaints to Millie the Magnificent. (Thanks, Jonetta! 😄). She says she’s not sorry but will happily consider bribes.
Anyway, that’s a wrap! Hope everyone has a fabulous month of June. Happy reading and until next time. xx
Novel Deelights 
Oh, I do love a bit of Scandinavian noir. I love Yrsa Sigurdardottir, her books are very creepy in places. A new one out in July, I think
Gill
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Yes, you are right! The Doll is coming July 22nd. Definitely one to look out for. Even if the cover alone already gives me the creeps.
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I am sure Millie will get better, everything is still new to her and she is gorgeous! Great reading and book-buying month xx
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I hope so.
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I can’t even think what Millie might have gone through to have this fear. I hope she overcomes it soon and you have great June.
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Thank you! You too, Yesha!
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Poor Millie (and you!) There’s no telling what she’s been through. We went the puppy route in the end and ours has anxieties for new things. Having a course of 1-2-1 with a trainer who’s given us some good distraction ideas. Fingers crossed for you and Millie xx
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I think she was completely overwhelmed from the beginning. She came from the middle of nowhere where it was nice and quiet. Also, I think (with my psychology hat on) that she somehow thinks people ringing the doorbell or entering our house are here to take her away. Distraction ideas sound good though. I hope your new puppy settles down soon as well! ❤️
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Thank you 💚
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Perhaps the answer is to have Millie the Magnificent write your reviews for you?
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There’s a thought. Less work for me, distraction for her. I’ll get right on that!
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You’ll get there with Millie, it just takes time. Poor little mite must have had a rough time, but she’ll come round once she realises she’s safe.
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That’s what I keep telling myself too. I’m just not a very patient person. Oops.
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Oh, Eva, I’m so sorry about Millie. It appears she’s suffered extreme trauma, which I’m sure isn’t news to you. You might need a resource to guide you from here as she’s got specialized needs. I’m rooting for you, no matter where you go from here💜
Kudos to you for the reading you did get accomplished.
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She was born in the house of an elderly Dutch couple who have made it their life’s mission to rescue as many dogs as they can. She was surrounded by other dogs and cats. She was fed twice a day. She slept on a sofa. She had space to run and play outdoors. So we really don’t understand. Except maybe that the trauma occurred because of her trip here and she’s now scared someone will come take her away again. We don’t know.
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That is such a mystery.
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I bet your sister-in-law is fooling herself, like people who post about their perfect families on Facebook. Probably she spends her entire day cleaning up after her puppy, and her nights sobbing and twitching from exhaustion. Millie is a vastly superior pup – you can tell just by looking at her beautiful face! One day you’ll look back on all this and laugh, hopefully not hysterically… 😀
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The idea of my sister-in-law sobbing and twitching from exhaustion already made me laugh 😏
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Oh my goodness, I can only imagine what Millie must have gone through to have that much fear. I hope things get better as she gets more comfortable with her new family. She is a beautiful dog.
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She really is. Thank you!
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So sorry for both you and Millie. Obviously her history was horrendous. I wonder how she and your s-i-l puppy would get along? Anyway I admire your patience and can’t help but think it will eventually pay off.
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Thank you! I do hope so!
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