Sometimes, lying next to you,
I can see outside myself.
I see the first time you smiled at me that night
from under your windswept hair and sunburned cheeks.
The blue in your eyes glinting in the fire
when you offered me a ride home, sly smile appleing that burn.
I see the first time your fingers threaded through mine,
and I slip mine through yours in remembrance.
Sitting next to you I can see forward, too,
and I like what I see.
Monday, April 3, 2017
#3/30 - 2017
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
MAR - Monday or Tuesday
March review for Book Riot's Read Harder 2017: Monday or Tuesday by Virginia Woolf, 1921. [collection of stories written by a woman]
Virginia Woolf is my favorite. (Fun Fact--my derby name was almost "Virginia Hungry Like The Woolf." But that was too long.) I love when I can discover new things by my favorite authors in conjunction with these prompts, so I was thrilled to be able to read this collection of short stories by Woolf for one of this month's choices. Monday Or Tuesday is a collection of eight stories by Woolf that marks the beginnings of the now-signature Woolf style, published in 1921 before Jacob's Room (1922) and Mrs. Dalloway (1925). It illustrates her discovery of stream-of-consciousness writing and the fluidity of character, each story acting as a sort of example of a type of meandering that she is to explore further in later works. It is notable that this is the only collection of short stories that she published herself.
These eight stories are wonderfully arranged. I think that the way in which they are ordered is essential to mapping Woolf's striving for this new kind of description. The first story, "A Haunted House," spans barely two pages and is relatively straightforward in its traversal. It details a ghost couple moving through the space they once inhabited as living creatures, talking to each other as they observe and think and process. The last story, "The Mark on the Wall," is a fantastic first-person demonstration of stream-of-consciousness, allowing the reader to slip into this woman's sinuous thoughts. It is almost as if through the arrangement of these stories, Woolf is convincing herself of the validity of this new descriptive practice. I, for one, am on board.
Each of the eight stories contains something to delight in, but I think most apropos to me in my current mood is the "delightful, feminist put-down of the male intellect" in "A Society." A group of women were having tea one afternoon, when one of them breaks down because her father, in his will, said that she would not receive her inheritance until she read every book in the London Library (!) and she has discovered that many of them are very, very bad. This revelation causes the women to question everything they know about the fabric of their lives, leading them to create a society meant for asking questions, in order to find out what the world was like. They vowed not to bear another child unto this world until they had all received satisfactory answers from each corner of their investigation. What follows is a savage satire on male bluster and their running of the world. I think Virginia Woolf, if alive today, would be absolutely ruthless in light of current political nonsense, and this story gave me a little hope.
One review I read described this as "Woolf at her liquid best," and I wholeheartedly agree with that characterization. I loved being able to immerse myself in her liquid and not-yet-formed style, rereading paragraphs and reciting them aloud as the words struck me.
These eight stories are wonderfully arranged. I think that the way in which they are ordered is essential to mapping Woolf's striving for this new kind of description. The first story, "A Haunted House," spans barely two pages and is relatively straightforward in its traversal. It details a ghost couple moving through the space they once inhabited as living creatures, talking to each other as they observe and think and process. The last story, "The Mark on the Wall," is a fantastic first-person demonstration of stream-of-consciousness, allowing the reader to slip into this woman's sinuous thoughts. It is almost as if through the arrangement of these stories, Woolf is convincing herself of the validity of this new descriptive practice. I, for one, am on board.
Each of the eight stories contains something to delight in, but I think most apropos to me in my current mood is the "delightful, feminist put-down of the male intellect" in "A Society." A group of women were having tea one afternoon, when one of them breaks down because her father, in his will, said that she would not receive her inheritance until she read every book in the London Library (!) and she has discovered that many of them are very, very bad. This revelation causes the women to question everything they know about the fabric of their lives, leading them to create a society meant for asking questions, in order to find out what the world was like. They vowed not to bear another child unto this world until they had all received satisfactory answers from each corner of their investigation. What follows is a savage satire on male bluster and their running of the world. I think Virginia Woolf, if alive today, would be absolutely ruthless in light of current political nonsense, and this story gave me a little hope.
One review I read described this as "Woolf at her liquid best," and I wholeheartedly agree with that characterization. I loved being able to immerse myself in her liquid and not-yet-formed style, rereading paragraphs and reciting them aloud as the words struck me.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
FEB - When I Was Puerto Rican
February review for Book Riot's Read Harder 2017: When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago, 1994. [book about immigration or by an immigrant category]
The second February book I chose for Read Harder is When I Was Puerto Rican, by Esmeralda Santiago, as the "book about immigration or by an immigrant" category filler. When I Was Puerto Rican is not your typical memoir: it starts and stays in the author's past, beginning when she was very young, growing up in rural Puerto Rico and following her through her journey to New York. It is told from a very young point of view, never really alluding to the fact that it is reminiscence, and the reader's comprehension--of the world, of Santiago's story--grows as hers does.
In light of today's political climate surrounding immigration, it was interesting to hear an immigration narrative in the voice of someone who doesn't necessarily understand what it means; When I Was Puerto Rican does not boast a self-aware take until the end. Santiago grew up in the 1950s, in the midst of the push for the Americanization of the Puerto Rican territory, with aid groups coming to distribute food to rural villages and teach them about health and nutrition during the election. I needed to do a little reading on Puerto Rico's history as a supplement to Santiago's story, since it was told through her child's perspective, but it was interesting to note the different perspectives and racial divides Santiago notes upon her move to New York, hearing echoes of current pains.
I enjoyed Santiago's writing immensely, though it was simplistic and relatively easy to digest. I loved her inclusion of Spanish, and I would love to read the text in Spanish at some point.
In light of today's political climate surrounding immigration, it was interesting to hear an immigration narrative in the voice of someone who doesn't necessarily understand what it means; When I Was Puerto Rican does not boast a self-aware take until the end. Santiago grew up in the 1950s, in the midst of the push for the Americanization of the Puerto Rican territory, with aid groups coming to distribute food to rural villages and teach them about health and nutrition during the election. I needed to do a little reading on Puerto Rico's history as a supplement to Santiago's story, since it was told through her child's perspective, but it was interesting to note the different perspectives and racial divides Santiago notes upon her move to New York, hearing echoes of current pains.
I enjoyed Santiago's writing immensely, though it was simplistic and relatively easy to digest. I loved her inclusion of Spanish, and I would love to read the text in Spanish at some point.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
FEB - Texts From Jane Eyre
February review for Book Riot's Read Harder 2017: Texts From Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg, 2014. [book about books category]
Texts From Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations With Your Favorite Literary Characters is, in a word, fantastic. I was gifted this little tome for Christmas a few years ago, and I was delighted to read it, not simply because I love everything Jane Eyre, but also because I love the premise, the idea of translating classic stories into a different storytelling format. Mallory Ortberg is the creator of The Toast, a fantastic erstwhile blog for women that created a safe space for free expression in a relatively oppressive online climate. I am always so in awe of women like Ortberg who have found a way to use their voice to chisel away at the world, something I am still working on. Her creativity and drive are inspirational in a nonstandard sort of path, another idea of one emulation of a writer's life.
In her book, Mallory Ortberg takes your favorite literary characters (as well as some unknowns) and imagines how their stories would unfold over text. It is a brilliant way to highlight interaction in a digital age, including missed calls and contact searches in the interactions. Some stories I had to look up, while others I could get the gist of without any research of my own--I thought it incredibly interesting how Ortberg distilled each story, finding the salient parts and poking fun at them in their entries. I found myself consistently stifling laughter in public places as I read, unable to contain my glee. For example:
Just, really, so fantastic. But if I were to lay out all the entries I thought to be hilarious, I would be taking pictures of most of the pages, so I will voraciously suggest that you pick up a copy of your own and get to laughing.
In her book, Mallory Ortberg takes your favorite literary characters (as well as some unknowns) and imagines how their stories would unfold over text. It is a brilliant way to highlight interaction in a digital age, including missed calls and contact searches in the interactions. Some stories I had to look up, while others I could get the gist of without any research of my own--I thought it incredibly interesting how Ortberg distilled each story, finding the salient parts and poking fun at them in their entries. I found myself consistently stifling laughter in public places as I read, unable to contain my glee. For example:
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
JAN - The Case for Books
January review for Book Riot's Read Harder 2017: The Case For Books by Robert Darnton, 2010. [nonfiction book about technology category]
Books about books! My favorite! A quick one, this, as I'm not entirely sure how to parse my thoughts, but I want to get this out before the month is done. Start the year off right, you know?
The Case For Books is about reading and writing, past present, and future. I wanted this book to be excellent, in-depth, and comprehensive, but of course it was published 7 years ago, so it couldn't be that up-to-date. I enjoyed the cover of my edition, the juxtaposition of old bound book and new electronic reader. As an avid reader, this is a juxtaposition constantly close to my heart.
Darnton wrote a number of essays and tied them together loosely based on the three topics, past, present, and future. starting with the future with an "update" prologue on the future. He has some attractive turns of phrase, and he most certainly knows a thing or two about books, especially the history of publishing and the book trade. That being said, I much preferred his focus on the old rather than the new. The sections on the future were primarily focused around the Google Book Search, and all of them seemed to relay the same information about GBS ad nauseam. I started to get bored with the minutiae. And that is unfortunate, because I do think the future of books and reading is an essential part of our forward propulsion as a society, but it is more than just the Google Book Search. I hope to read an updated opinion on the matter soon, just maaaybe not by Darnton.
JAN - Derby Life
January review for Book Riot's Read Harder 2017: Derby Life by Margot "Em Dash" Atwell, 2015. [book about sports category]
Derby Life: A Crash Course in the Incredible Sport of Roller Derby is just that: a crash course. Margot Atwell, also known as "Em Dash" in the derby community (one of my favorite derby names ever), offers a good primer on roller derby, touching a little bit on everything, from derby history to how to get involved with a league, from what sort of things you need to play to how to cross-train for your best derby experience. I contributed to this book's Kickstarter campaign with a few other of my leaguemates a few years back, but I never really got around to reading it. Thank you, reading challenges, for helping me remember gems on my own shelves before I go out in search of others!
I really enjoyed the Skater Stories section of the book, and I kicked myself through every page for not getting my act together and submitting anything. I've written a few things about derby since I started, some for the league's blog, most recently some playoffs recaps for Derby Central, but for whatever reason I didn't make time for this book. I loved reading the ways other skaters internalized derby and how it came out again through their writing.
This year marks a big one in derby for me, and I feel as if I'm at a standstill, waiting to see what is wrong with my knee and how long it will take to fix. It was helpful to read through Derby Life from start to finish as a sort of salve for my nerves. Remembering how I began, how I got here, where I can go. Taking deep breaths through the injury section, knowing that my body doesn't feel broken, just overworked, and praying that that's all. I just need the next steps because I've got things to do this season!
Derby Life: A Crash Course in the Incredible Sport of Roller Derby is just that: a crash course. Margot Atwell, also known as "Em Dash" in the derby community (one of my favorite derby names ever), offers a good primer on roller derby, touching a little bit on everything, from derby history to how to get involved with a league, from what sort of things you need to play to how to cross-train for your best derby experience. I contributed to this book's Kickstarter campaign with a few other of my leaguemates a few years back, but I never really got around to reading it. Thank you, reading challenges, for helping me remember gems on my own shelves before I go out in search of others!
I really enjoyed the Skater Stories section of the book, and I kicked myself through every page for not getting my act together and submitting anything. I've written a few things about derby since I started, some for the league's blog, most recently some playoffs recaps for Derby Central, but for whatever reason I didn't make time for this book. I loved reading the ways other skaters internalized derby and how it came out again through their writing.
This year marks a big one in derby for me, and I feel as if I'm at a standstill, waiting to see what is wrong with my knee and how long it will take to fix. It was helpful to read through Derby Life from start to finish as a sort of salve for my nerves. Remembering how I began, how I got here, where I can go. Taking deep breaths through the injury section, knowing that my body doesn't feel broken, just overworked, and praying that that's all. I just need the next steps because I've got things to do this season!
Monday, January 9, 2017
2017, Read Harder
Categories:
- Read a book about sports.
- Read a debut novel.
- Read a book about books.
- Read a book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author.
- Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigrationnarrative.
- Read an all-ages comic.
- Read a book published between 1900 and 1950.
- Read a travel memoir.
- Read a book you’ve read before.
- Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location.
- Read a book that is set more than 5000 miles from your location.
- Read a fantasy novel.
- Read a nonfiction book about technology.
- Read a book about war.
- Read a YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+.
- Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country.
- Read a classic by an author of color.
- Read a superhero comic with a female lead.
- Read a book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey (From Daniel José Older, author of Salsa Nocturna, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, and YA novel Shadowshaper)
- Read an LGBTQ+ romance novel (From Sarah MacLean, author of ten bestselling historical romance novels)
- Read a book published by a micropress. (From Roxane Gay, bestselling author of Ayiti, An Untamed State, Bad Feminist, Marvel’s World of Wakanda, and the forthcoming Hunger and Difficult Women)
- Read a collection of stories by a woman. (From Celeste Ng, author Everything I Never Told You and the forthcoming Little Fires Everywhere)
- Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love. (From Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of the Esa Khattak/Rachel Getty mystery series, including The Unquiet Dead, The Language of Secrets, and the forthcoming Among the Ruins)
- Read a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color. (From Jacqueline Koyanagi, author of sci-fi novel Ascension)
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