These were the dullest stories ever. How do I know? It took me a full day to read "Feathertop," and now self is stuck reading "Master Zacharius," which is about a clockmaker in Geneva.

"Master Zacharius," by Jules Verne (!!!), is divided into chapters (Oh no!) and the most momentous and scary things happen at night (No, not really) and the dilemma is: should Master Zacharius give his beautiful and virginal daughter Gerande to an ugly, wizened old man. What to do, what to do?

There's some nonsense about a clock not being allowed to strike midnight because Satan . . .

Whoa! By judicious skimming, self has reached THE END OF THIS STORY!

The next one is by Louisa May Alcott, and even though this one will probably not slay, because it's about the Frost King, and self doesn't think fairy tales are Louisa May Alcott's specialty, it is, mercifully, short.

Stay cool, dear blog readers. Stay cool.