Monster Moon

 Oh, I'm feeling its effects.  Horoscope Lady's words are ringing true lately. 

 The days at month's end are almost certain to exact a price - in terms of energy - from every Cancer. You have the intelligence to handle this situation, but you can't be overscheduled and tired when you do - plan to be fresh, rested, and ready....

Through all this you are fortunate in that Mars will be in agreement with your Sun, especially if you were born late in your sign, near July 17, but those born near June 28 will find the gale force winds strenuous for several days. Through all of this, you can find a way to prevail, but to get there, prepare to go through a trying time first. You will need to be strategic and anticipate what effect your actions will have from A to B to C as you extend the line forward and over the horizon.

I called this full moon of September 29 a monster full moon on Twitter (@AstrologyZone) for a reason. I am being honest. The mutable signs have had their difficult challenges 2008-2011 and now the cardinal signs, like yours (Cancer, Aries, Libra, and Capricorn) are feeling occasional changes and challenges of their own. These moments clarify situations, so in the end they do help, even if it is not immediately obvious that the universe is actually on your side. Eventually you will see this, but I am not sure if you will immediately.

And thank you to the person who recommended  Saving CeeCee Honeycutt: A Novel.  I listened to it as an audiobook and enjoyed it very much. I do have to agree with some of the less than glowing reviews - it really didn't have any dramatic tension to it. Without spoilers for those who planned to read it, I'll just say that it goes from dark to sweetness and light, with only little bits of potential drama in the second half of the story.  But if you like sweet stories with lots of gushy Southernisms and a happy ending, you'll love it.  I really did enjoy it as an audiobook; the reader was outstanding and it just flowed along in a very pleasant, very listenable way. I'm honestly not sure I'd have finished it in print, though. 

For one thing, the start of the story, with the absentee father leaving the 12 year old daughter to deal with her mother's spiral into mental illness hit just a wee bit too close to home for me.  I had a hell of a lot in common with Ceecee, though my mother's issues weren't full of "quirky Southern charm," it sure as hell scarred my childhood for good, and my father abdicated his responsibility and let it happen.  I nearly abandoned the book at one confrontation between the girl and her father - I'd HAD that conversation at the same age, but I didn't get "saved" and handed a magical life full of perfect people afterward.  I just slogged on through it.  But I stuck with the book, and really enjoyed it, though it was very heavy-handed with the "Quirky Southern Female" stuff.  It served as a mental mini-vacation. 

I have two audiobook credits to spend, and I'm torn between J.K. Rowling's new novel The Casual Vacancy and Beautiful Ruins: A Novel.  Both sound very interesting and have good reviews.   I haven't decided yet.