The Memory Palace, by Nate DiMeo

Dear Nate DiMeo,

I'm very upset with you.  Your book was just not long enough.  I wanted more, more, more.  I have listened to approximately three podcast episodes in my entire life.  They're not really my thing.  But I am totally going to go out and listen to yours.

I loved this book.  The subject matter was fantastic—interesting and varied.  The writing was creative.  At times the style got a little more experimental or grandiose than I like, but that's very subjective, and I still enjoyed it even in those bits.  I loved how you made these unknown people and strange moments in history so real.

The length, however, was terrible.  I wanted it to be about three times as long.  I'll forgive you, however, if you write a sequel.     

I don't give a lot of 5-star reviews, because I think 5-star books should be pretty near perfect.  But there's not even a question here.  FIVE STARS!

Sincerely,

Melinda Brasher

Of a Feather, by Dayna Lorentz

I really enjoyed this middle-grade novel of love, belonging...and birds of prey. 

The writing was engaging and I loved the characters.  Rufus’s point of view chapters were a little uneven as far as the bird-ness, but I still enjoyed them.   

4.5 STARS.  I will certainly read more by Dayna Lorentz

Tom's Thumb--A great hike in the Phoenix area

Despite hiking a lot in the Phoenix metro area, I'd never been to Tom's Thumb until a few weeks ago.  It was totally worth the drive. 

For scale, try to spot the person standing on the ridgeline:

If I were in the Czech Republic, I would call these "rock towns"  

I named this formation "The Exasperated Backpacker."  Can you see it?  

Tom's Thumb itself:

A beautiful female Phainopepla:  

I took the long way, from the Gateway Trailhead (18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. in Scottsdale), and the trail passed several distinct landscapes and areas of vegetation.  Beautiful.  Once I got away from both trailheads, it was pretty quiet too.  A lovely day.

WARNING:  I did this a few weeks ago, on a cooler day.  If you attempt this in shoulder season, go early and start from the closer trailhead (Tom's Thumb Trailhead).  I would NOT advise doing this in full summer, unless you are well acclimatized, pick a less-hot day, carry plenty of water, start at sunrise, and only do the shorter version.   

MY ROUTE:  From the Gateway Trailhead (easy access from the 101), I took the Saguaro trail to the Gateway Loop trail to the Windgate Pass trail to Tom's Thumb Trail.  I enjoyed a detour to Lookout Point, played a little on the rocks, and went about half a mile on the gorgeous Tom's Thumb Trail northbound before I turned around.  Then I went down the East End trail to the Bell Pass trail, which eventually connected back up with the Gateway Loop trail near my original trailhead.  According to my tracker, it was just over 14 miles and only about 3100 feet of gain (but it felt like more).   

A map of my route, if the forty trail names above confused you (note: all the number on my tracker site are in metric)

The traditional route from Tom's Thumb Trailhead is about 4.25 miles round-trip and 1033 feet gain, a little more if you check out Lookout Point or do any other exploring.