My January reading wrap-up includes fewer books than I would have liked, but that’s what happens when a new semester begins! I'm teaching three new courses, so preparing for those has been time consuming. Here are my five-word reviews of what I read in January. They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple: adulting is hard; cruelty... Continue Reading →
I love reading Dorothy Whipple novels, and I wrote my Master's thesis on her book The Priory (1939), but for some reason, I didn't remember They Were Sisters (1945) even though I read it a few years ago. Rereading it was a pleasure, and it reminded me why I enjoy forgotten mid-century women's fiction. Luckily... Continue Reading →
My top reads of 2018 include six books (well, eight of you count the three Kristin Lavransdatter books separately). I wanted to have a top ten or a top five, but this is how it turned out. Becoming (2018) by Michelle Obama Milk and Honey (2014) by Rupi Kaur The Star Side Of Bird Hill (2015) by Naomi... Continue Reading →
I experienced a few firsts on Christmas Eve. First Number One I read A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens for the very first time. I had never read it because I kept telling myself that I already know the story, so what is the point? I have images of Donald Duck, Goofy, and Mickey Mouse... Continue Reading →
I've failed this month. I've probably failed at more important things than reading the Literary Wives book pick, Anita Shreve's The Stars Are Fire (2017), but I always feel particularly melancholy when I don't hit my reading goals. My reading for the past two months has been dominated by academic journal articles and books about... Continue Reading →
Here’s what I read last month in five-word reviews. I did a lot of academic reading in October for an upcoming research trip to South African and Botswana. Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne: cute poems for Pooh lovers This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga: after war woman wanders, falters Rubyfruit Jungle... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, I posted about Pulitzer Prize winners. The post received attention from Lana Cole at https://colecampfireblog.com, who has decided to read all of the Newbery winners. (See her post about it here https://colecampfireblog.com/2018/07/21/my-new-reading-goal/) She has inspired me to see how many I’ve read. Here’s the list. The ones I have read are... Continue Reading →
Here is my September reading in in five-word reviews. It was a good month! The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: lovely reread; regrets are haunting Living a Feminist Life by Sara Ahmed: casually written brilliant caring theory The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by bell hooks: empathetic critique of toxic masculinity... Continue Reading →
I've been pretty silent on social media lately, and on this blog. I used to speak up about current events, social practices, academic theory, morality, etc. But for the last two years, I haven't spoken up. I'm not sure why. There's a lot of discomfort within me because of this. After reading Rhetoric Retold: Regendering... Continue Reading →
