back to routine

It's the first weekend of fall.  Yes, fall begins officially in another two weeks, but back to school means that it's fall.  This means back to work and back to routines.  And back to the pace of work/home life that leaves little time for reading.  It also leaves less  mental space for reading.  In the fall I find it harder to focus on books even when I do read as my mind is elsewhere.  Book clubs help with this!

This summer I read most of the selections from Anne Bogel's Summer Reading Guide - she's the genius behind the Modern Mrs. Darcy website, and the podcasts What Should I Read Next and One Great Book.  Every summer she suggests 30 titles for summer reading - most fiction, some non-fiction.  All are current (within the previous 6-8 months) and some are new releases out in early summer.  I read half of the titles over the summer, and still have 4 or 5 on my shelf from the library.  Hope to finish those in September!  My favourites:

This book had me stopped in my car in parking lots, the audio version of 'couldn't put it down'.  Shapiro narrates the audiobook - I highly recommend it and I rarely make it through audiobooks as my attention span is different when listening.  The story of identity will pull you in and make you rethink what identity, family, and nature vs. nurture.  It's the best book I've read in a very long time.

The best fiction book I read this summer was this one.  The story is multi-layered with characters that you root for even when they are the worst versions of themselves.  The exploration of mental illness, addiction, and love makes this one I couldn't put down. 

Another non-fiction that reads like fiction at times is the third on my list.  The author's voice (written word, not audible) drives this story about who we are, who we think we are, and who we want to be. 

The last one here is not from the Summer Guide, but my book club read it over the summer.  I really enjoyed it and think I'll reread it at some point, something I rarely do.  The book starts off very slowly, but is so worth sticking with as the second half pulls all of the threads together.  I want to reread it like one reads a mystery novel when you can't see the clues til the ending is revealed.  I want to go back, now that I know what's truly important, and read it again.

A book that was not for me this summer was this one:

The plot is compelling, but it's written in an interrupted style.  The first chapter is written in prose and it drew me in.  The rest of the book is written as interviews or interrogations of main characters by an unnamed person.  I gave up after about half-way; this style is not for me.  It's why I tried and couldn't read Daisy and The Six.  The constant change in voice, and interruption of the narrative drive is not for me. 

January Review - Reading

Aside from all of the knitting (see my previous post) I also did a lot of reading this month.  I love my library and get most books from there.  I'm trying to listen to books while I drive, but my commute is short (not a complaint, just a fact) and I only get about 10 minutes of reading at a time so the book feels disjointed.  I've also realized I can listen to non-fiction but lose the thread of the narrative if it's fiction.

I belong to two book clubs and our picks for January/February were very different.  One is historical fiction, highlighting the impact of federal and provincial policies on the most vulnerable people - in this case, children living in care or in mental health facilities in the 1950's.  The book is well written with complex characters, a balance between narrative drive and character development, and a satisfying ending.

 The second is a psychological drama, set in the near future.  The story unfolds in an interesting way, and has one of the most satisfying endings I've read in a while.

I also read two books that are on my list to read to learn more about perspectives beyond my own.  Brother is on the Canada Reads 2019 list this year.  It's set in Toronto, and the narrative moves between present day and and the past.  Race, immigration, and the impact of these factors on the lives of the characters make up the themes of the book.  It's short, but emotional and timely. 

The other I listened to on audio.  I recommend reading a hard copy with a notebook and pen in hand, the book is packed full of thought-provoking ideas and experiences.  Coates writes a letter to his son, describing what it means to be Black in the United States.  I love books that teach me something, and this one has so many lessons to learn.  Rethinking and unlearning are key ingredients to an excellent book, for me.

February's list looks just as interesting and diverse in genre and perspective - more on that in a month (or less)!

think, rethink, learn, unlearn

Lots of conversations in this corner of the crafting community (see Ravelry's summary to start) about inclusion, racism, and privilege.  This is not a new conversation for me; as an educator I have been working on examining my own privilege, biases, role in an unjust system, and role as an educator in a position of authority and influence.  I know very little for sure, but one thing I do know is that in order to change my own thinking I have to read, research, reflect, and act.  Reading reviews or excerpts of someone else's learning brings little meta-cognition or internal change.   To read first- hand experiences and to understand the larger context, go to Instagram and look at stories by @astitchtowear @booksandcables @su.krita and others.

The best thing that I can do is to recommend books that help me frame my own understanding.  I have been raised to believe I am White.  I have inherited and benefited from the privileges that those who are seen as White are afforded.   I recommend:

To know more about being seen as White and the privileges this affords:

To learn about those who viewed as "other" or People of Colour (PoC or BIPoC) and their lived experiences:

To understand the historical roots of racism and the impact this still has on individuals today (both are told through historical fiction):

I have read all of these over the past few years (or more recently, for some) and all still stay with me as I continue to grow and learn.