It’s late afternoon and the smell of coffee is in the air. I’m waiting for my first pot of the day so I can start reading. There’s nothing better than a cup of coffee to go with a good book. I’m reading The Warmth of Other Suns with Heather from Between the Covers. Heather is one of the most hilarious bloggers I know. She keeps me laughing plus she writes great reviews.
Last week was so hectic! School started Monday and I’ve had homework from day one. I don’t mind so much even though one of my psych professors told my class to start working on a major research project now. I’m so excited about my project that I know I made the right choice in changing my major to psychology and anthropology. In my archaeology class, my professor had us discuss the effects of media on society as we recalled all the famous archaeologists from movies. Talking about Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones, and other movies made me want to spend an afternoon watching them all over again.
So as exciting as school has been, it’s left me with little time to read. I’ve been reading Muriel Spark’s Memento Mori between classes. It’s a hilarious (yes, I’m using that word for the second time), story about old age. I need to thank Claire (Paperback Reader) for talking about it last year. I can’t believe it took me so long to read it. I also continued The Street Sweeper but since it’s so big, it’s my nightstand read.
I suddenly became sick yesterday so now I’m off to bed to regain my strength. What are you reading this week?
Hopefully you find a good balance once the semester settles in. I am reading Brave New World this week on my husband’s insistence.
I just finished Crow by Barbara Wright about the massacre in Wilmington, NC in 1898. It’s a wonderful book – middle grade, and the author’s website has teacher’s guides so you can help kids understand what was going on in the South then. But what I really loved about it was the protagonist, who is 11, and *he* doesn’t understand a lot about the dangers in the white world, because his parents want to keep him sheltered. It’s really interesting and a wonderful book (well of course except for the fact that it recounts all that led up to the massacre and what happened when it took place!) Now after reading a book set against the genocide in Rwanda followed by one set against the Wilmington Massacre, I am going for some really brainless “happy” stuff! :–)
Crow sounds good but sad.
What was the Rwanda book you read? Running the Rift?
I read Crow, too, and really liked it! I think you’d enjoy it, too, Vasilly – it’s a very honest (at least, it seemed that way to me) and realistic book, particularly for middle grades.
I just read Trickster, a graphic novel of Native American folk tales – I didn’t love the stories so much, but I love the whole idea of the compilation. I think you’d enjoy that one, too!
I need to add Crow to my reading list then, Aarti! I read Trickster and had the same problem as you: so-so stories but it was a great idea for a graphic anthology.
________________________________
Yes, Running the Rift. Very good! And it was Aarti who recommended Crow to me!
I just got a copy of Memento Mori to read for a Faith n Fiction in March! So glad to hear you’re enjoying it – now I can’t wait to start.
Carrie, I forgot that it’s the March pick for Faith n Fiction! I plan on joining the conversation then. I hope you enjoy it when you read it.
________________________________
oh! feel better soon! Does that mean you are not quite getting to 1Q84? Am I being a pain!?
Care, you are never being a pain!
I’m hoping to get to 1Q84 as soon as I can. Hopefully it will be by the end of the week. I love reading your tweets on the book.
________________________________
I’m still not half way! eek. I hope to get a few hours in today.
Memento Mori was a really good read! I’m at the half way mark in Anna Quindlen’s Every Last One. Hope you feel better soon.
I hope you feel better soon!
I’ll admit that there is still a part of me that wants to be an archaeologist or anthropologist. There is something so fascinating about literally uncovering the past. I’ll have to live vicariously through you!
I hope you’re better soon and that you have a wonderful semester.
So awesome that you’re majoring in psyc and anthro!!!! My degree is in psyc and I actually almost had enough credits to minor in anthropology…I loved my anthro classes SO much
Good luck to you this semester!!!
So happy to hear you’re enjoying your classes! The archaeology class where you talked about Indiana Jones does sound fun. I blame him for my majoring in art history. ;P
Aw, thank you for the wonderful compliment. I hope you’re feeling better soon.
I love doing research, and that is one of the biggest things I miss about college. I am thinking about taking some classes again soon, and hopefully I can scratch my itch regarding research! I hope that you are feeling better soon, and are enjoying that coffee!
I am reading quite a few things. In print I’ve got one classic, one nonfiction, and one fiction going, and then in audio, one fiction and one nonfiction. It’s quite interesting trying to figure out how to make equal time for all of them!
Three cheers for double majoring in Antho & Psych. I did that too.
Evelyn, you double-majored in the same things too?! I thought it was only me!
I don’t think I realized you changed majors! I’m glad it’s working out and you’re excited about it. And amen to the coffee.
Poor sickly you! Feel better!
I am SO GLAD you are enjoying your new major. I hate research projects. Hope yours goes well.
So sorry to hear about you getting sick. I’ve been fighting a cold for a straight week now and am really tired of it. I hope yours passes much more rapidly.
It seems like a lot of people are getting sick these days. We’re snowed in so at least we’re not getting any of those germs right now! And I majored in zoology but took some anthropology classes for fun and it definitely was a strong runner-up in my interests. I hope all of your classes are as fun and interesting!
I hope your feeling better and the laughs from the book are helping.
I know it’s not always easy to balance time between the different interests, same here
Hope you are feeling better though!!
I’m reading Brothers by Yu Hua, a great read so far.
Your classes sound like fun – especially your archeology class! I just finished the second Flavia De Luce book, and am now debating whether to start on The Game of Thrones or something else …
It sounds like you’re having wonderful classes; even though they keep you busy, it’s important to be excited about them so I’m happy to hear you are enjoying the change. Hopefully you’ll find a good balance and fin a little time for reading soon
Hope you are better now but no better way to cheer yourself than with a Muriel Spark novel. I adore her books.
no, there’s nothing better than coffee and a good book
I hope you enjoy THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS. I have it on audio but the narrator isn’t working for me so I might ditch it and go with the print!
Feel better, Natasha! Your classes sound amazing!
Oh dear. I hope you are feeling better. Sick is not good. Sick at the beginning of a semester is awful.