Two weeks ago yesterday I broke my arm. Last Friday, the 14th, they finally put me in a short cast to stabilize the wrist. (“They” being another orthopedists office that the workman’s comp insurance company found, as the office I initially went to couldn’t even see me until tomorrow, the 19th.) Things are far better now that I’m in a cast: my arm doesn’t hurt as much, and I’m actually able to use my fingers a little without straining the rest of the arm too much. The cats are ecstatic that I’m home practically 24/7, and I’m coping with the complications and frustrations of only having one really usable arm/hand, plus learning some new skills to boot.

Things that make you take your dominant arm/hand for granted:

• Any form of remote communication – writing, typing, and even talking on the phone. I used to have really legible, neat penmanship, type 110 wpm, and be able to take notes while I was on the phone. With only my left hand, my writing is chickenscratch, I can only type 35 wpm (with numerous errors), and I have to rely on a headset if I want to do anything while on the phone.
• Washing your hair. If you only have one hand, how are you supposed to get the shampoo out of the bottle and onto your head? I’ve managed by propping my leg up on the edge of the tub, squeezing the soap onto my knee, and then scooping it up after I’ve replaced the bottle on the shelf. A normal 8-minute shower now takes 20 minutes.
• Dressing. Bras and buttons are the hardest. I’m currently restricted to pull-on sports bras and sweatpants. It kinda sucks. Maybe it’s a good thing I’m working from home for the time being.
• Opening bottles and jars with screw-off lids. You get surprisingly good at holding the container tight with your knee while twisting with your good hand.

New skills I’ve recently developed:

• Using chopsticks with my left hand. It was surprisingly easy, actually. Who knew?
• Writing with my left hand. It’s still chickenscratch compared to my normal penmanship, but it’s getting more legible and consistent every day. A few days ago, it looked like the writing of a stroke patient; now it just looks like that of a child.

I could probably knit now that I’ve got the cast on, but my arm is usually too sore and tired after a full day of work, so I haven’t attempted it yet. Especially since what I really want to work on is my Nantucket Jacket, which is full of cables – sure to be a stress on my arm and wrist. Instead, I’ve been reading in my spare time. When I read, I don’t just inhale books – I practically hyperventilate them. (Can that verb take a direct object? Oh well – I just made it take one anyway.) So instead of sharing pictures and stories about my knitting, I’ll write some brief reviews of the books I’ve been reading lately.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (link)
My father read this a while back and really enjoyed it, so I thought I’d give it a go. I love stories told from a minor character’s point-of-view, and this one didn’t disappoint. The novel was well-written and engaging, and while several plot-points are based on theories that are not widely-favored, it’s well-researched and fairly historically accurate, while still being fiction (since not much is actually known about Mary, who tells the story). The characters are believable, if not always likable, and it’s easy to get drawn into their story. Unlike so many works, there aren’t really any good guys and bad guys – even when Anne and Henry are at their worst, they’re still human, and you still feel something for them. And yes, Anne dies at the end. Sorry for the spoiler.

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (link)
A cheap piece of pulp I picked up on the bargain shelves at Barnes & Noble. It’s the dual tale of two women – one in 2005 and one in the early 1200s – who apparently share a name as well as a soul and who are both tasked with the keeping of the Holy Grail. The writing wasn’t great, but not so much to bother me too much once I got into it. The characters were three-dimensional, but only just. The plot is frequently forced and usually transparent and obvious. Still, not a bad read for a rainy day, especially when it only cost $5 for the hardcover.

Prep by Curtis Sittenfield (link)
Another book recommended by my father. It’s the story of an average, normal Midwestern teenage girl from a lower middle class family who falls in love with the idea of going to boarding school in New England. She struggles to fit in and never really does, mostly due to her own insecurities and low self esteem. If the story hadn’t been told from the point-of-view of the girl after she was quite a bit older and had made something for herself, it would have been a real downer. As it was, though, while not happy and optimistic, it wasn’t a really depressing book. The only thing that bothered me about it was the flitting around of stories and memories, from past to current and back again to past, but later or earlier in the past, with very little forewarning or landmarks to judge by. I wouldn’t read it again, but I enjoyed it well enough the one time.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (link)
This is one I picked up randomly at the book store and thoroughly enjoyed. It’s the story of a shy, quiet bibliophile and amateur biographer who is called upon to write the biography of a famous but highly reclusive best-selling author upon her deathbed. The characters have depth and are even surprising sometimes, and the plot twists and turns and leads you in directions you weren’t expecting it to take you, all while maintaining an air of believability (not always an easy task). It was a real page-turner, and I’m glad I read it, though it probably won’t be one that I read over and over again.

Halfway House by Katharine Noel (link)
Another random buy at Barnes & Noble. It starts out light enough, but quickly dives into the depths of despair. It’s the story of a 17-year-old girl who comes apart at the seams and is eventually diagnosed as highly bipolar with suggested schizophrenic tendencies. The story revolves around her and her family, and what her disorders do to their relationships. It’s always dark, always depressing, and while well-written and fairly engaging, I just wanted it to be over with so I could move on to something happier.