1. I missed posting last week because I was grading, grading, grading. Now I’m caught up! Except not really because I got a fresh batch of papers at the end of last week. 😅 Ah, professor life.
2. This past week held two (two!) bookish events: (1) Robin Benway in conversation with Brandy Colbert to promote Benway’s new, shortlisted for the National Book Award book Far from the Tree and (2) Gabrielle Zevin, promoting her new book Young Jane Young. I have read neither of these books, but they are both on my TBR.
I took no pictures, but Robin Benway’s dress was super cute and Gabrielle Zevin has so much hair. Also–because I am a wonderful mother–I FaceTimed my daughter in to speak to GZ. Elsewhere is one of her favorites of all time, so it seemed only right.
3. Why is is that every time Apple does a system upgrade, the UI gets worse? Less intuitive, less attractive. Just…a mess. Anyway, this article talks about it, so I’m glad I’m not the only person constantly frustrated by how dumb the updates tend to be. I am seriously considering getting an Android when it’s time for me to upgrade.
4. I volunteered to have my first five pages workshopped in my creative writing class this coming Saturday, so I should probably write them, huh?
5. I read some things:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jules is a complete whackadoo and I am here for it. I counted not one but three (three!) whackadoo things she says that my daughter has also said, so she felt very realistic for me. High achievers, man. Anyway, this is cute and fun and a delight.
The Unhappy Wife by K.E. Garland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really liked this! Garland presents the women’s stories without commentary, which is very effective because she neither passes judgment nor offers advice. There’s also a really good diversity of stories and situations presented, so it’s pretty comprehensive in that way. I also liked the afterword (which, again, doesn’t pass judgment, though it does offer up some commentary about why women sometimes find themselves in these situations). My only complaint is that it’s TOO SHORT. Apparently, I could stand to read more about unhappy women and wives. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Garland also talks a little bit about each woman in a series on her blog, so I guess there is more out there.
Both of those count for the Clear A Shelf Challenge, btw. #winning
6. I am still making my way through the audiobook of A Bollywood Affair.
I am digging it, but I also realize that I probably would have been done reading it with my eyeballs by now. So that’s my way of saying I’m ready to be finished reading it. I am at the point of secrets being revealed now, so I’m almost there. Whew.
7. Okay, it is beyond time for me to go to bed, so I don’t have time to really talk about TV. Let me just end by saying that I am more than ready for the Jane the Virgin season premiere this Friday.
The Englishist 