I really hate the way it sounds, “I’m highly sensitive” but that doesn’t make it less true.

There’s an online questionnaire you can take, and for me, some of the questions are gimmies:

I am particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine.
I startle easily.
I make a point to avoid violent movies and TV shows.

Hell, I’ve been teased about all those things for years. “GOD NO! Don’t let Michelle drink coffee!”

Of course, some of the things don’t fit. I don’t see myself as more sensitive to pain, but I am super bothered by some physical sensations, like itchy clothes or the seam on my socks being in the wrong place. And “I find it unpleasant to have a lot going on at once.” is false, perhaps because I’m simply used to chaos.

Does this discovery matter in the long run?

Not really.

But it is interesting. And I found some interesting suggestions on how to deal with being sensitive.

Realize that you’re the one and only master over yourself, and no one can have power over you unless you let them.
Don’t take things personally.

Both of those are easier said that done, and are things I have a very hard time with, but, as with many things, it sometimes helps to know that it’s not that I’m crazy, it’s just that I react differently than many people.

Not bad, just different.

While Alaska and Northern Canada have been giggling up their parka sleeves, much of the US has freaked out over the weather.

So today’s word is: wonderland

So, I’ve really enjoyed the mysteries by non-English writers I’ve been reading, but I’d like to find more books set in non-English speaking countries or places that are culturally different from what I normally read.

I absolutely adore Sergei Lukyanenko‘s Night Watch series–I re-read it in the fall and am currently listening to the audible versions.

I also love John Burdett‘s Sonchai Jitpleecheep series, which although written by a native English speaker, he’s one who lived in the place about which he’s writing.

I’ve been a fan of Andrea Camilleri and Arturo Pérez-Reverte for quite awhile. And I’ve recently read some excellent mysteries by Henning Mankell, Karin Fossum, Arnaldur Indridason.

But I want more. As may or may not be obvious from my love of fantasy, I like reading about places with which I’m unfamiliar. And Bangkok and Moscow are just about as foreign to me as Middle Earth and Newford.

I found this site, , which had some suggestions, but I want more.

So, recommendations please! If you want you can peruse the Fantasy and Mystery authors I’ve already read.

And if you want to squee about a particular author and tell me all the reasons I need to read them, that’d be awesome as well.

Here are the books I read in December. Yes, I read mostly mysteries.

~ Mystery ~

Kurt Wallander
The Fifth Woman (1996/2000) Henning Mankell translated by Steven T. Murray (Rating: 9/10)

Inspector Erlendur
Silence of the Grave (2002/2005) Arnaldur Indridason translated by Bernard Scudder (Rating: 8/10)

Inspector Sejer
Don’t Look Back (1996/2002) Karin Fossum translated by Felicity David (Rating: 7/10)
He Who Fears the Wolf (1997/2003) Karin Fossum translated by Felicity David (Rating: 8.5/10)
When the Devil Holds the Candle (1998/2004) Karin Fossum translated by Felicity David (Rating: 3/10)

~ Supernatural Mystery ~

Detective Inspector Chen
Snake Agent (2005) Liz Williams (Rating: 8.5/10)
The Demon and the City (2006) Liz Williams (Rating 8.5/10)
Precious Dragon (2007) Liz Williams (Rating: 8.5/10)
The Shadow Pavilion (2009) Liz Williams (8/10)

~ Fantasy ~

Day Watch (Audio Version) (2006/2010) Sergei Lukyanenko and narrated by Paul Michael (Rating: 8.5/10)

~ Comics ~

Fables Vol. 19: Snow White (2013) Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham

~ Anthology ~

Kicking It  (2013) edited by Faith Hunter and Kalayna Price (Rating: 2/10)
I’d like to point out that several of the stories here were very good and worth searching out, but as a whole it was a very disappointing anthology.

Here’s what I have on pre-order for 2014:

January
Ashes & Alchemy (The Gaslight Chronicles)  Cindy Spencer Pape  Jan 6th eBook : This is a fun series, in spite of the boinking. I was a little disappointed in the last book, and hope it picks back up with this book. (steampunk, romance, erotica)
Black Arts: A Jane Yellowrock Novel  Hunter, Faith   Jan 7th paperback : This has been a pre-order book for me since I read the first book. (supernatural fantasy, mystery)
Up from the Grave (Night Huntress)  Frost, Jeaniene  Jan 28th paperback : This is another automatic pre-order series, despite all the boinking. (supernatural fantasy)

February
Broken Homes: A Rivers of London Novel  Ben Aaronovitch  Feb 4th eBook : I devoured the first three books in the series this summer, and am looking forward to this addition. (urban fantasy, mystery)

March
Night Broken (A Mercy Thompson Novel)  Patricia Briggs  March 4th eBook (I switched to eBook format when the series shifted to hard back) : I really love Mercy, and hope she gets a break in this book. (supernatural fantasy, mystery)
Why Kings Confess: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery :  C.S. Harris  March 4th eBook (I previously bought this in hardback, but am now delighted to have an eBook option) I love this series so much I have all the books in hard back. And might end up getting this book as a hard back, just for symmetry. (historical mystery)

May
Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark) C. C. Hunter  May 20 eBook : Shadow Falls was a YA series that finished up this summer, but this is a spin off following a character I quite like, and who has appeared in several short stories. (supernatural fantasy)

June
Fairest Vol. 3: The Return of the Maharaja Sean E. Williams et al June 3 : I will NOT read this until I have read Fables. (comics)

July
Fetch  Thurman, Rob  July  1st paperback  (?) This book isn’t actually listed anymore. I’m hoping it’s a new Cal Leandros book. Because that may be my favorite series going right now. Which is saying something.
Fables Vol. 20: Camelot   Willingham, Bill et al July 8 trade paperback : I will read this BEFORE I read the newest Fairest. (comics)
Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels)   Ilona Andrews  July 29 eBook (I switched to eBook format when the series shifted to hard back) This is another series I’ve pre-ordered since reading the first book. (supernatural fantasy, mystery)

So, what are you looking forward to reading? Anything I should be aware of?