I love The Good Place, basically. Which is a little terrifying, quite frankly, given that most of the shows I loved last year were cancelled. But, to be real, that’s exactly why I am talking about it. (I already lost The Grinder, guys. I can’t take another hit.)
I didn’t post last week because, although I finished a book, I didn’t know what I was going to read next. Like, I honestly had no clue. My work schedule is so hectic (I’m teaching an overload, so six classes instead of my usual five) that my brain is mostly mush–not to mention I’m behind on everything. And by everything, I mean EVERY SINGLE THING. It is maddening. And unlike with my usual beginning of semester behind on everythingness, I’m not really seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
Continue reading “Catching up on one thing, at least: Monday reading”
The topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about audio and rather than list my favorite narrators or audiobooks, I’m going to take this opportunity to talk about a different kind of reading/audiobook experience I had this summer.
This summer, I actually spent quite a bit of time listening to plays, which if you have never done that, I highly recommend it. The plays I listened to are all full-cast productions so all of the characters are played by different actors. If you’re wary of audiobooks or not sure if they’re for you, I think full-cast productions are the perfect entrée into the format.
When we watch plays (or TV/movies for that matter), I think we take for granted how much work the dialogue has to do. So I really appreciate listening to plays because they give me an even greater sense of how much work the dialogue does in terms of setting the scene, establishing character/character relationships, and advancing the plot–all without huge dumps of exposition (if it’s done well, of course).
I listened to 3 1/2 full-cast plays this summer. Here are the three I actually reviewed over on Goodreads:
Continue reading “Full-Cast Play Productions: An Audio Experience”
Today is the 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Flight 93. I was still living in the DC area at the time and remember very clearly where I was and what I did on Sept. 11, 2001. I worked not far from the Pentagon but was at school on that particular day.
I tried to think of a way to talk about the attacks and my feelings, but I was a very different person then who processed grief and shock very differently. Instead, I’m sharing a sermon I wrote this summer about Ezekiel 37: 1-14 as the culmination of a sermon writing seminar I took at my church.
So, basically every single show that I watched and loved last season got canceled. Except one.
Continue reading “I can complicate anything–even my fall 2016 TV viewing”
Also, the start of the semester. One of those is more impressive than the other. Hint: it’s the one related to school.
Hello! I haven’t participated in this meme in a while (since mid-July! wow!), but I read two awesome books this week and wanted to share. I was going to do an August wrap-up, but honestly, all you need to know is that the best book I read last month was Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel, which is, of course, a re-read. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all had a friend like Frog? I think so.
Continue reading “It’s Monday & I survived Hurricane Hermine”
I was about to get all teacher-y and ask about AYP (adequately yearly progress). As it is, I just hope everyone is plugging along and moving closer toward their goal for the challenge. I’m right on track. How are you doing?
Btw, I am still looking for someone to take over hosting the challenge for next year. If you’re interested, drop me a line at theenglishist @ gmail.
Lastly, please encourage each other by clicking on links and reading and commenting on reviews! It’s not required, but it is nice. It’s also a great way to build up a community of readers committed to reading diversely.
Link up your reviews below. If you don’t have a book blog, but have Goodreads or Library Thing, etc., you may use that to participate and post your links to your reviews. Get more details about the challenge here. It’s not too late to sign up!
The Englishist 