Around the Corner
Currently reading:
Freakslaw by Jane Flett
Out There by Kate Folk
Sonnets for a Missing Key by Percival Everett
Books finished this week: 2
★★★★★
Where this book came from: I . . . actually have no idea? I think I picked it up at Barnes & Noble, but can’t find a receipt or photo to back that up.
Why this book: I saw a BookTuber——and of course now I’m blanking on who——talk about this book and it sounded perfect.
Thoughts: And it was perfect! What about “sapphic fantasy noir set in 1940s Chicago” sounds bad? A really fun narrative voice and tons of magical and/or supernatural touches, plus it’s a novella, so a quick read and the perfect confident booster when you feel yourself dipping toward a reading slump.
★★★★☆
Where this book came from: Greenlight, while browsing to kill time before some kind of event or something at the Center for Fiction.
Why this book: Toni Morrison talking about literature. Full stop.
Thoughts: Admittedly, I think I’ll have to revisit this one many more times throughout my life. Some of Morrison’s points easily made it into my brain, but some of it felt convoluted——and I’m fully chalking that up to my brain not being totally attuned to more academic reading pursuits and not Morrison’s presentation of the material. Still, obviously a worthwhile topic to read more about.
Library updates:
Almost every time I have therapy, my therapist and I end up talking about how we can’t believe it’s already whatever part of the month we’re in, or that the next month is already coming up. The fact that it’s Memorial Day weekend is truly astounding to me. Granted, the start of this year was very tough, and the last few months have been busy. But it really does seem true that time speeds up as you get older. I think I hate it.
Anyhow, there have been many good things this past week! As you’ll see from the list above of books I’m currently reading, I’ve decided to put short stories into my reading rotation, to keep the poems company. I aim to read at least one of each every day. Apologies to Percival Everett, but I . . . don’t think he’s a poet. But Out There has been, overall, a delight so far! Just as strange as Sky Daddy (which I truly cannot stop talking about to anyone who asks about books) and very much giving Black Mirror sometimes meets Man Seeking Woman vibes. You’ll get a full report when I finish it.
I signed up for a six-week writing workshop, which kicked off on Monday night this week. I know I’ve talked a lot here about finding my community, especially when it comes to writing, and this is a way to continue working on building that community and to also take part in a structured workshop. We did two writing prompts to start things off and it was also lovely to handwrite alongside other writers, and to share a bit of one of the pieces I came up with.
And on the topic of writing community, we also had a little Little Nights Big Weekend reunion happy hour this week. The group of people I met at my retreat back in September was obviously the best, but it was great to meet some cool other folks too. Plus, Bar Kabawa for bites and daiquiris afterward was unbeatable——highly, highly recommend dropping in if you’re a New York local!
This week’s missive would be incomplete if I didn’t also mention that Britt (hi, Britt!) and I saw Boop! (my first time, her third). It absolutely stole my heart and Jasmine Amy Rogers should win the Tony——I said it!!! Just such a fun, silly little time with incredible choreography; the perfect pick-me-up for tough times.
Closing thoughts:
Why look around the corner when it’s all right here? (That’s Betty Boop for, “Go for it.”)
Total books read from the Moratorium Library: 154
(Total books added to the Moratorium Library: 309)
Met up with a Big Weekend friend (hi, Becca!) at the Center for Fiction’s cafe, and couldn’t help myself when we stopped to peruse the bookstore.
I did manage to restrain myself from buying anything——any books, anyway——at Ripped Bodice when we stopped there after. Praise me for my strength.
(So excited to finally unite my LA pin with her Brooklyn sister.)
And you knew more Murderbot was coming my way. Thank you, Barnes & Noble<3
