Unintentional Social Distancing Readathon: I Put My Phone Away, and Read 5 Books in a Week

How's this for an unproductive use of my time: I started five books in March, but somehow, only finished two. In my defense, Covid-19 stress was keeping me permanently unfocused and forever glued to my phone, neither of which is terribly conducive to reading a lot.

Because of this inability to just get to the final page, back at the end of March, I made it a priority to actually enter into the first few weeks of April with a fair amount of reading under my sleeve. In particular, I wanted to read five books in one singular week.

I figured this was a solid enough number, because I knew it was feasible with the kinds of books I was choosing, and it would help me a lot in getting back on track with my Goodreads goal for 2020. I decided I would keep my phone in a different room - with a whole staircase between us - and continued to make plenty of time in my day for regular journaling and walking (both of which help me mitigate my stress levels, and keep my mind clear), as well as spending time with my family.

And wouldn't you know it? I actually made my goal! Truly anything is possible if you force yourself off Instagram every once in a while.

(There's still one book I'm not counting, too: my Tastee-Reads cookbook - in case you've been following - for the month of April is Alison Roman's Nothing Fancy, and I spent the week reading through it cover to cover. I got through everything, including body paragraphs, ingredients lists, and recipe intros, and still had time over to flag the recipes I wanted to tackle, and then read through it a second time. Still, I don't count cookbooks towards my personal Goodreads goals!)


Here are the five books I managed to read in one week:

The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next #1), Jasper Fforde

Just as charming, quick-witted, and fast-paced as I've always thought this balls-to-the-wall British absurdist comedy was. Time travel, dodos, the Socialist Republic of Wales, raucous and Rocky Horror-esque performances of Richard III, and most importantly, the ability to jump to the pages of a book and back... and that's not even managing the minor side plot about the vampires. Or the black hole. Truly, this book has it all.

But while its fit to burst with all manner of exciting and improbable plots, it never feels overburdened so much as in a happy kind of frenzy. You check your skepticism and rationale mind at the door when you open the cover of the book, and you're undoubtedly in for a good time. In an alternate version of England, 1985, there is war with Russia over the Crimea, having lasted for over 100 years, a super-villain who can disguise himself at will holding literary characters hostage, and the real author of the Shakespeare plays is as widely discussed and hotly debated as religion. Clearly, this is not the arena for a disparaging eye.

In truth, I acknowledge that the book is a lot, like a stage improv game that keeps asking itself "Yes, and...?" As are, what? The other seven books in this series, not to mention the several spin-offs? I would know... I've read each of them multiple times. This madcap detective series is one of my long-term favorites, and I know the plot well enough now to really adore all of its strange little quirks and eccentricities. I know its a lot to take in at first, but I still heartily encourage you to make the leap... you'll be swept along in the chase in no time!

Besides, it will make you want to pick up plenty more British literature when you're finished. Its really the perfect sort of series for a bookworm... if only everyone had such an appreciation for literature as Ms. Thursday Next!


Stardust, Neil Gaiman

Undoubtedly one of the greatest modern fairy tales of the 21st Century, Stardust is filled with familiar Fantasy elements, like witches, kings, quests, and all manner of magical creatures, but they occupy a world that feels entirely new. It carries feelings of nostalgia and comfort, due to its expert use of a craft no longer as popular as it once was, but the twists and turns that the plot takes keep it from ever getting boring. It is constructed from the well-worn clothing of Fantasy components, but as no point does it feel overly composed; it abides by Fairy Tale conventions, but is far from conventional. Gaiman is an old pro at long, involved novels, and all of his cleverness is as much as work here as it is in Good Omens or American Gods.

(Well, save for one: practically every single female characters talked about her breasts, or had them remarked upon by someone else, at least once. So much boob talk. In that way, Gaiman clearly fulfills the stereotype of a typical male Fantasy author.)

The book is a personal favorite, and would honestly be considered among the best work in his canon, save for one issue: in the late '00s, Stardust was turned into a movie. The movie version streamlines the plot a little, amps up the action in others, and gives greater animation and characterization to much of the main cast. It is - to be completely honest - my favorite, between the two formats: the movie is an underrated gem, and deserves many more fans, at least as many are fans of the book.

However, that is all still a testament to the story's construction, the compelling plot, and the engaging and evocative characters with which the novel is populated. It is so incredible, that it easily makes its way between formats, and there is something unique to each that is remarkable.

It is a genre that feels both old and new again, and a story that succeeds in two formats, about a boy and a girl who each are a part of two separate worlds.


Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot #17), Agatha Christie

Poirot is one of my favorite Christie focal points, and for great reason: his slightly antiquated and charming demeanor makes him a pleasant companion on a no-so-pleasant trip down the Nile, as a crime of passion and predilection for revenge gives way to multiple murders.

Might I just say, the oldest among Christie's canon are some of her best work! This was written in 1937, which makes its setting and time period among the most novel... it also makes some of her characterizations among the more prejudiced and not exactly politically correct. Racial descriptions, even among Europeans, are pretty rough. The communist and a secret riot-inciter on board are also there to stir the old-timey waters.

It is a perspective that Christie is uniquely adept at maneuvering: a large cast of characters, all of whom have something to hide, plenty of moving parts with varying degrees of motivation. When you factor in that the book takes place on a grand, luxury mode of transportation, comparisons to tone of her other iconic works - Murder on the Orient Express - abound... is it any wonder that in the last moments of Kenneth Brannagh's version, he alludes to an important message sent straight from Egypt? But this story stands plenty on its own, with not only violence, murder, and intrigue, but also romance, interpersonal drama, and even a little bit of political discourse.

There were any elements I thought could be streamlined. Every piece had its place, and they filled them beautifully. And, against all reason, all of those pieces came together unexpectedly by the time you reached the end... because that's one of the best hings about Christies. The world could be chaos - like it is out here - the chips could be down and everything could be falling apart... but you can bet by the final page, everything will make sense again.


Wine, All the Time, Marissa Ross

As the daughter of a couple who used to host gourmet dinner parties with their friends, complete with beverage pairings, as a means of keeping tight with my Dad's fraternity brothers, you might also be able to tell that a love of wine runs in the family. But while my parents may have spent their early '90s newlywed years volunteering with the Washington Oenological Society for a few extra bottles of the good stuff, I've had to strike out on my own to gain entry to any kind of education. Hence: the oft-used Vivino app on my phone, and Marissa Ross' Wine All the Time: A Casual Guide to Confident Drinking. 

Casual it is: Ross' background lies in comedy writing, doing stand-up and acting as assistant to Mindy Kaling before her blog - Wine, All the Time - gained the attention of the Internet, eventually being parlayed into a gig as Bon Appetit's official wine editor. Hilarious personal anecdotes operate alongside instruction on tasting and flavor profiles; a comprehensive breakdown of global wine regions, their terroir, and the resulting varietals, comes only a few chapters before detail-specific step-by-step information on how to sneak white wine in a soda container into a sports arena. Her information is good, and her delivery is charming and conversational. She doesn't just tell you how to choose the right wine to bring to a family dinner, she also gives you advice on how to keep from getting so drunk you start a fight with your Great Aunt over some Facebook scam.

Its the kind of thing that will cause older wine enthusiasts - like my parents - to turn up their nose. But when you're young and inexperienced, Ross is like the older sister who buys you alcohol that you didn't know you had.


My Life with the Saints, Fr. James Martin, SJ

It does feel a little strange to be reviewing a Catholic memoir of a priest in the same blog where I I've also reviewed romance novels, but what can I say? I contain multitudes.

Fr. James Martin is a pre-eminent contemporary Catholic author, whose books espouse plenty of the church's more social-justice-focused progressive teachings, which is probably why I like them all so much. He is especially good at bringing the teachings of the church into arm's reach: his friendly personality, candor, and relatability make his books feel welcoming and accessible, especially to those who read with the hopes of finding a closer faith in a contemporary world.

My past year's Lenten read - A Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything - was also one of his works; one that focused on describing the Jesuit process, and how it relates to modern life, but is also filled with examples from Martin's life and faith process. This one - with chapter that find their ground in saints across the centuries - is also portrayed in a similar way, with the book laid out in a sort of progressive narrative of Martin's life experiences in the faith.

Not only is the book itself a compelling story, filled with more compelling stories, but it also provides a great jumping off point for further reading. I may have finished the book, but now, my TBR is much longer, which is exactly how faith reading should affect its readers.


Here's what I consider to be the major outcomes of this experience:

Staying the heck away from my phone was definitely the key. I was still able to check it multiple times a day - and to my chagrin, still managed a screen time record of about one to three hours a day despite the distance - but even avoiding permanent time holes like Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr freed up giant chunks of my day for things like reading.

Taking time to create meaningful routines also helped. I did most of my reading in the mornings, took a break for meals and long walks outside, and then would pick up my book again in the afternoons, leaving my evenings free. Sometimes, I'd read before bed. But I never felt like I was being pressured, or losing out on other activities.

Managing my stress was a major key in this week, too. Regular journaling and long walks helped a ton at keeping me feel open and relaxed, and semi-regular yoga and meditation really brought me into a more positive mindset, too. Overall, I got the emotional releases I needed, and also gave myself plenty of room to take my mind off of reading, as well as digest what I had been reading so much more freely.

Other things I've been doing: cutting out television (except for a few key favorites), watching the occasional movie (feels like more of a time investment, and carries a full and complete plot, instead of being strung along in an episode-based binge), playing board games with my family, spending more time outside, and daydreaming about getting back to work on my garden.

I also definitely think I chose the right kind of "short" books - two rereads, a fantasy, a mystery, something funny - but the "stretch" book I included (a 400-page Faith Memoir) was also a relatively easy read, because it was so personal and engrossing. I was really happy that I included it, even though it took a little longer.

I also think I'm going to keep reading down my shelves... now that I know that my reading focus in quarantine could be such a success, I'm more confident than I ever have been about my ability to continue going through my TBR shelves. I actually consider the fact that I did another round of "speed-dating my books" right before attempting this week of reading, one of the key factors in why it was so successful: it was like I had been given a little "preview" of each of the books ahead of time, and was now ready to read the feature event.

Important note: My heart is still with all of our first line of defense in the Covid-19 crisis - nurses, janitors, grocery store clerks, and more - as well as all who have had their regular lives uprooted, like teachers, students, and everyone who's spent the last couple of weeks wrestling with a ridiculously unhelpful unemployment office or cancelled graduation plans. However, by undertaking this challenge, I've figured out my way to separate the grief and the frustration from overtaking my daily life. I am more positive and productive because of it, and those are going to be my goals for carrying through the rest of this struggle.

How has your reading been going so far? What else have you been spending your time doing? Let me know, in the comments below!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I've Read and Enjoyed, But Rarely Talk About

I've been keeping this blog for almost ten years now; that's a lot of time in which to rank reads and hype favorites. Except, of course, for when I don't.

As it turns out, after I started pondering this week's "Top Ten Tuesday" topic, there are quite a few books which I've read - and often reread - but that don't get their chance in the sun much here. It's not any particularly purposeful oversight, it might just be a chance of not wanting to repeat content, or focus too much on certain genres... but that's all changing right now.

Here are my Top Ten books I've read and enjoyed, but which rarely ever get the recognition they deserve on this platform!

1. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain
Stalwart blog readers might recognize this particular novel as not just a favorite, but a childhood favorite... one I've been reading every summer since I was eight years old. This story hits a sweet spot of new and nostalgic every time I pick it up again, and it carries with it the significance of accompanying me on many a summer vacation.

2. A Whole Lot of Graphic Novels and Comics
This might be a lot more true for in years past, but I read a lot - a LOT - of graphic novels and comics that don't end up getting a lot of words written about them on the blog. Whether it's glancing through a classic old Bill Watterson Calvin and Hobbes compendium, or getting lost in a treasured continuation like Alex Hirsch's Gravity Falls: Lost Legends, or giggling over a thick hardbound copy of Kate Beaton's Hark, A Vagrant, there are more than just a few in my collection who deserve some extra attention.

3. Beyond: the Queer Sci-Fi and Fantasy Comic Anthology, edited by Sfe. R. Monster
Specifically among those Graphic Novel and Comic book ranks, is this collection of just what the title leads you to believe it is: an anthology of LGBT-focused short comics, of the Science Fiction and Fantasy varieties. While my reception of the various contents were mixed upon first reading, there are still elements from them that I still think about literal YEARS later. I honestly think it may only have improved with time.

4. In Other Lands, Sarah Rees Brennan
Truly one of my favorite YA reads of all time, and one I am absolutely unable to trace where I heard about in the first place. I think it might have been a throwaway recommendation on a YouTube channel sometime a few years ago, but this book - contemporary YA Fantasy following a boy as he grows up in a magical world just on the other side of a wall from ours, making mistakes and falling in love, but with elves and mermaids and harpies and such - has been read multiple times since then, and is one of my favorites to recommend, especially as LGBT rep. Read it!!

5. Romance Novels
I know, I know, I actually do talk a lot about romance novels on this blog... like I do here, or here, or even most recently, here. But in actuality, that's only the kind of stuff that's fit for dinnertime conversation. In reality, I read a lot more romances that not just don't make it onto my blog, I don't even add them to my Goodreads Challenge. No, I won't tell you which.

6. Cookbooks
I'm a passionate and devoted cookbook fan. It's one of my favorite arguments against the whole "ebooks and the Internet will destroy traditional publishing" thing: no matter how many recipes you can find on Pinterest or Google at a moment's notice, there's still an inherent value in buying a print cookbook that you don't get when you just watch a Tasty video instead. And yes, this is another one of those subjects that I do quite frequently discuss on my blog, but the reality is, I flip through at least one or two cookbooks daily. (It's one of my favorite ways to unwind.)

7. Humor Books
I don't mean like Tina Fey's Bossypants, or B. J. Novak's short story collection... I mean like the really short form funny stuff, like Mallory Ortberg's Texts from Jane Eyre, or Jill Poskanzer, Wilson Josephson, and Nora Katz's Literary Starbucks, both of which are some of my favorites for riffing on works of classic literature in a hilariously irreverent, but loving, way. (Definitely for fans of Sparknotes' impossibly good Instagram profile.)

8. Meddling Kids, Edgar Cantero
Here's the thing: I enjoyed this book. I really, really did. In fact, I enjoyed this book so much, that my opinion has fully gone unchanged, despite numerous people whose opinions I respect telling me how much they absolutely hated it. This bananas book is a parody of teen sleuths, but more specifically, the Mystery Gang... the difference is that in their equivalencies, Velma's a lesbian, Fred is dead, and Shaggy's going crazy from constantly having to deal with what he believes is Fred's ghost talking to him. Also, there's a strong Cthulhu component. Read at your own peril, but if you choose to go along for the ride, there's a good chance you'll have a good time. Maybe.

9. Feed, M. T. Anderson
I was talking about "always recommend" books with a friend a couple of Christmases ago, about what books that, no matter who the audience was, we would recommend to absolutely everybody. She chose this uncannily prescient dystopian novel, which - despite covering topics like factory-farmed meat substitutes, eerily responsive ad recommendations, and body-modifying tech that works suspiciously like an iPhone - was written in the 2002. It was one of my first books of 2017, and it's pretty much set the standard, in my mind, for Science Fiction ever since.

10. All The Lives I Want: Essays About My Best Friends Who Happen to Be Famous Strangers, Alana Massey
It's a weird one, but one that I love. What I had originally thought, based off of its cover, was that this book would be a quasi-fluffy-marshmallow-y riff on other memoirs I've read, discussing someone's relationship with various celebrities who have shaped their pop culture perspectives, but this book is so much more than that. It's an intensely feminist lens pointed at things like the vilification of Anna Nicole Smith, the double standards of media coverage of prominent black female rapper feuds, and the horrifying public commodification of the personal beings of underage women, like Mary Kate and Ashley's virginity, or Britney's body. If this all sounds intense, it definitely is, and that makes it one of my favorite contemporarily published feminist works that I've read in the past couple of years.

What's in your Top Ten? Let me know, in the comments below!

Speed-Dating Books: Check Your Shelf, Pt. 2

Yup. We're back here again already.

Here's the thing, though: the first installment of this year's new speed-dating project was pretty darn successful. In the time since I wrote it, I've read four of the titles I chose. Not joking! (Look for an update with their reviews, coming within the next week.)

The difference is, that the reasoning behind it last time was to break out of a slump; now, I'm just looking for a little more inspiration to continue reading at such an improved pace since last month's lack of finished titles.

What can I say? It's a really good system!

I'm actually thinking that I might mess around and try and do one once a month for the foreseeable future... at least while we're all still in quarantine / social distancing / shelter-in-place-ing. It will give me a positive focus for my attention, a way to clean off my shelves, and a great reason to continue reading the way I am now.

In case you've forgotten since the last time we were here, here are the rules again:

1. First, you pick a stack of books you want to read from your shelves, usually between 8 and 10. 
2. You gather the rest of your materials: a notebook and something to write with, a timer (or your cell phone), and maybe a snack or something. 
3. Assemble the books in a randomly-sorted stack, and set your timer to approximately five minutes. 
4. When you start the timer, you pick up your first book, and read for the complete duration, until your timer goes off. 
5. Then, quickly jot down a couple of notes on how you think it went! Did you enjoy the style, the voice, the action? Would it be a stretch read, or an easy one? 
6. At the end of your notes, write down whether you want to read it "Now," "Soon," or "Later." If "Later," try to specify when, like an appropriate season, occasion, etc. 
7. When you feel satisfied with your notes, start the timer again, pick up your next read, and repeat the process until the stack is finished! 

(Note to my lovely teacher friends: I know it's hard being away from your kiddos right now, but this might be a great activity to extend to them - in a varied format, of course - to make sure they're still picking up plenty of books while they're away from the daily structure of school. Invite them to gather a couple of titles they're interested in, go through the process, and have them send you a picture of their set-up and notes, if they're able. You'll be able to stay involved in their reading habits, and they'll probably be excited to show you what they've been working on, too!)

the exercise

  
Smoke, Dan Vyleta
In a Fantasy version of Dickensian London, the moral value of a person is determined by the amount of smoke that shrouds them, with the poorest and meanest covered in soot and ash. However, that doesn't mean that those clean of smoke are pure of heart...
It is quite intriguing, and has a really gorgeous central conceit, but I can't help but feel right now is not the correct time to reach for it... it does feel very Victorian, which I normally save for Fall or Winter. Maybe that will be the right time to read something as dense as this hardcover.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver
Noted novelist and writer Kingsolver moves from Arizona to a farm in the East Coast, and decides on a new family project: they will spend a year eating only what they can grow, pick, raise, and cook themselves!
This will be really good, I think, to read in June or July, when my future garden will really be embracing its destiny. What better time would there be to read about someone growing their own food? Besides, it will give me even more reasons to work hard this Spring.

Crazy Rich Asians, Kevin Kwan
The bestselling novel that inspired the critically-acclaimed movie, a young woman follows her boyfriend home to Singapore, only to realize that his family is impossibly wealthy.
Really fun, but bordering on crazy amounts of exposition as I read. Felt a little too bright and frivolous of a read for when Spring is still working out its moods. Maybe I'll revisit it sometime this Summer? That being said, though... I'm not sure that I loved it enough to jump right for it when the weather turns.

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
The timeless tale that also inspired a recent award-nominated film adaptation, this novel follows the lives of the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, as they grow up together, and apart.
The selection I read isn't terribly representative, being that I keep on reading for several minutes after the timer had gone off, because I was still trying to sort out some thing in my own head. I did enjoy what I read, but the book is a little long to be jumping into as I'm still climbing out of a slump. Maybe I'll keep reading it and make it into a kind of "project" read?

  

Atonement, Ian McEwan
A young girl - taken to naive flights of fantasy - witnesses the flirtation of her older sister and a family servant, and misinterprets major events in a way that plunges all three of them into a future they can't control.
Beautifully written, and really quite easy to read; however, I know too much about the emotional nature of this book to choose it as a regular sort of thing. Maybe I'll save it for later on in Spring or early Summer, when the sunshine can keep some of the tears at bay... then again, I'm not really sure, having already been aware of the twist, whether I want to read it at all.

Stardust, Neil Gaiman
One of my favorite Fantasy authors delves deep into a fairy tale world, as a unique boy ventures into a magical realm, to claim a fallen star for his lady love. But the star is not what he thinks it is, and he's not the only one searching for it...
A regular favorite. I've been meaning to watch the movie again, but haven't read the book in a while. Including it in my upcoming TBR would give me plenty enough reason to do both!

The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry, Kathleen Flinn
A masterful food writer recalls her attendance at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris, France, and how her education developed through its tutelage.
Everything about this is so freaking right. I knew it the second I pulled this book from the stack... realistically, I probably didn't need to make it a part of this exercise, but its a great reminder of how much I adore Flinn's work. I can't wait to read this, especially its descriptions of culinary school.

The Liar's Club, Mary Karr
A master memoirist reflects on her explosive family and blue collar childhood, in a small, industrial-focused town in 1960s Texas.
I cannot wait to read this book, though I know I cannot do so right now. This book would be enjoyed so much better in Summer, sitting out on my back deck with a cold beverage in hand and the heat frying up my legs. I can't wait.

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard
The Pulitzer prize-winning collection of Dillard's reflections on the natural world around her, over the course of a year in Virginia's Roanoke Valley.
I shelved this lyrical and loving portrait of wildlife and flora back in summer, after I tried reading it in Oregon on vacation, but kept losing focus. Maybe now that its the ever-changing Springtime, instead, I'll be able to pay more attention to its varied seasons.

An Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin
The Founding Father, master writer, and diplomat recounts his life and his learning in his own words.
It's not the first time I've tried to read old Franklin's autobio, and each time, I've read a little, ruminated on how accessible it was and how it would probably benefit me to read it, only to decide that it didn't quite fit my mood. This is another one of those times.

the outcome

When it came to deciding what to read right "Now," Kathleen Flinn has never steered me wrong. The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry is immediately engrossing and would be a perfect read... even if I wasn't obsessed with someday going to culinary school.

Gaiman's Stardust and Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek both wound up on my list to read "Soon," but I'm not entirely sure when. Probably some time in the next month or so, so I'll add them to my April TBR, next to some of the chosen ones from my last round of speed-dating!

I also liked the idea of getting around to reading Alcott's Little Women soon. There's a bit of a personal history there - one that I'll probably have to talk about on the blog at some point - so I'm excited to finally give it a shot. But it's not exactly the kind of thing I think I'll be able to get done quickly, so maybe I'll break it up into chunks.

There were quite a few titles that ended up in the "Later" column... mainly because none ended up in the "Never" column, which is, I guess, a pretty good thing (though to be completely honest, McEwan's Atonement might eventually make its way there). I moved Ben Franklin's Autobiography to be read some other time, just because I didn't really find it all that compelling right now, while Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians was designated for a sunnier clime. Mary Karr's Liars Club was similarly marked for a dog-days-of-summer kind of environment, and Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Mineral was made for days when my garden is in full bloom, like July. The only one that got significantly bumped down the TBR was Vyleta's Smoke, to November or December, when the world is a little gloomier and more open to Dickensian-inspired Fantasy reads.

What is your quarantine reading looking like right now? What books have you been inspired to pick up? Let me know, in the comments below!