In my ears: The Names by Florence Knapp (which deserves the hype). With my eyes: Advent by Gunnar Gunnarsson (I've only just started it, but it seems lovely) and On Dancer by Annabeth Albert.

And the people who don't want the T, generally, if you bring it up in discussion, would quite like to ditch the B, too.

I grew up French enough that I still get surprised every time I encounter Now the Green Blade Riseth because the tube is all Christmassy to me.

I only had an imaginary dog (Honey) and an imaginary dragon (Grenth).

You have a point. Now that the slugs don't have to navigate the maze of dirty dishes, they can glide merrily all over the clean ones.

I enjoyed The Tainted Cup, but enjoyed the sequel considerably more.

My stepmother lives near Empúries, where there are the remains of a fish sauce factory (along with other fascinating ancient ruins) and when I visited I got ridiculously excited about the fish sauce.

I, too, have held firm, but am wearing my very warm socks, have a hot water bottle tied around my waist, and am under a heated throw with a hot drink while browsing slippers online.