My children are studying ancient history this year, and as part of that—and as part of my Cavalcade of Classics—we read The Odyssey aloud together. Emily Wilson’s translation of Homer’s … Continue reading Playtime is Over: The Odyssey, Emily Wilson translation
Our November was filled with mad science, unexpected reunions with family, and more rain than we usually see around these parts. With all of that going on, December snuck up … Continue reading Bookends: November 2019
Ah, October! Santa Ana winds, a three-day jaunt to the desert (the “real” desert, not the coastal Southern California desert), taking my kids to the thrift store to buy costume … Continue reading Bookends: October 2019
This month’s book totals are a little inflated due to the picture books and early readers I read for the Birth and Beyond Reading Challenge (#BBRC) on Litsy. Still, even … Continue reading Bookends: September 2019
Plot summary, gleaned from the book jacket flap: “A recklessly idealistic girl dares to test the perimeters of her tightly controlled (future) world and is punished by being sent back … Continue reading Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates
In the late 90’s/early aughts, Volkswagen had an ad campaign with the tagline, “Drivers Wanted.” Even in my early 20’s I was a jaded consumer of advertising. I knew I … Continue reading My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Usually, I like reading books quickly. I like immersing myself in the world, a quick dive to the bottom of the pool and then back up again for a deep … Continue reading History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
There’s an episode of the podcast “Hidden Brain” about counterfactuals. Counterfactuals are basically a reimagining of past events, an answer to “what if?” and all of the events that cascade … Continue reading The Third Hotel by Laura van den Berg
Reading this novel, I asked myself, why would the Nazis ban this book? Because at first, it’s just a story of young men going to war narrated by Paul Bäumer. … Continue reading All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Well. I’m done. Actually, I’ve been done since 9:00 last night when I finished All Quiet on the Western Front just before my alarm went off signalling the end of … Continue reading 24in48 January 2019 Wrap-up
Twenty-four hours into the January 2019 24in48 readathon, and I’m still in the game. I finished Ali Smith’s Winter (which I was already halfway through at the start of the … Continue reading 24in48 Halftime Report
January 2018’s 24in48 readathon came when we were deep in moving mode. I made some half-hearted plans to participate, but reading took a backseat to finding lodging and figuring out … Continue reading Cautious Optimism: Preparing for the 24in48 Readathon, January 2019
Imperfect Happiness 