My mom wanted me to update. :) It's been awhile... in the interim, I finished my masters degree, officially was the lead at my job for the summer, and have largely had not enough time and too much to do! In my respite, now that summer programs are done and school is done and I've got a bit more time for myself, I have been reading like crazy! Science fiction, historical fiction, scientific non-fiction, history, comedy... all those books that I started a list of last winter that sounded interesting and worth reading are slowly parading through our home courtesy of the local public library and its interlibrary loan program. Here's what I've got home at the moment:
The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell
This extra-thick novel is a debut for the author and I absolutely love it! It takes place over three-ish generations in Zambia (mostly) and especially now that I'm nearing the end I find myself exclaiming out loud when I realize the threads she has managed to tie together from the different characters lives as they come closer and closer together through the generations - truly spectacular! But make sure if you get this from the library that you've got time to read it - the book clocks in at over 500 delightful pages.
American Eden by Victoria Johnson
I've only just started reading this one, but I like it already. It follows the life and times of David Hosack, a botanist and doctor in post-Revolutionary War New York. It's a time period that I honestly am under-informed on, and I am really enjoying the way that she seamlessly weaves in the history of the era (without assuming I know too much already). I feel like I will learn about a topic that interests me - ethnobotany - and will come away with a better understanding of an time period that I never really retained much on - the early years of the United States.
Unladylike: A Field Guide to Smashing the Patriarchy and Claiming Your Space by Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin
I have been listening to a podcast (radio program) by these authors which goes by the same name for a couple years. This is a fun read with lots of little illustrations that breaks down the various ways that women might experience sexism in our society and what we can do about it, from little comments to systemic problems. It's an eye-opener, but light and fun - although the amount of lingo and cultural references that permeate every paragraph really rub in how much of a hermit I am these days...
So anyway, that's what I've got going on right now. I just finished knitting a couple pairs of socks (one for Jack, one for me) and am about to go take my favorite drive to a local spring to fill up water jugs for the house. Jack will be home soon, and we'll be transitioning into a busy fall!
