Several weeks ago, I was at a retirement celebration for my English education professor (and academic advisor) at my private college. It just so happened that one of my mentor teachers from student teaching was there—she and I fell into a terrific conversation about teaching, life, and books. Always books. An observation K had made (and I agree with, now that I notice it) is that young adult literature is kind of in a lull right now. Dystopian fiction has been the big trend, but […]
A lot for Chicagoans to consider.
I’ve been focusing a lot on social justice these past few years, because the rhetoric/composition course I teach at one of my universities (ah, the joys of rootless adjuncting!) has integrated social justice and care for others as part of its Jesuit curriculum. This year, my theme is Art and Protest. I’ve read Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow and other related books to expand my knowledge base, as well as that of my students’. Goodreads recommended The South Side to me when it saw […]
Tim Kaine is a Lying Cat (no, really). Or, I talk politics and Saga at once.
Everyone has already reviewed this volume of Saga, so there’s not too much I can add. Also, I read it so long ago, that Volume 7 *must* be on its way out, right? Right? I digress. [ETA: March 28, 2017, according to Amazon. THAT’S SO LONG TO WAIT, CAN WE GET A KICKSTARTER GOING] I don’t know how much my review will add to the discussion, but I plan to give it my best shot. But can I just say, that THIS is my personal […]
Another longer-than-anticipated reviewing hiatus ended!
Hey, crew! I’m back again. Hopefully, I can keep up with my reviews. Like I said, Goodreads is a better bet at this point, because almost all of my reading now takes place at bedtime, thanks to my three adjunct jobs (SO MUCH GRADING). I’ve got some major catching up to do. Let’s start with some children’s lit: I’m a huge fan of Thanha Lai’s novel in verse, Inside Out and Back Again, so I was eager to hear about her new novel that was […]
OMG BRIAN SELZNICK!!!!
Is there such a thing as Brian Selznick addiction? Because OMG I totally have it. I devoured his two previous books in a mere afternoon apiece as they each came out. I’m just sad I forgot to put a hold on this when it was first released. I appreciate the way he merges simple charcoal-like sketches with a complex and layered story that helps us merge art and text. The Marvels is more of the same that I’ve come to expect. I can’t decide if […]
A mixed bag book club read for me
My Book Club has decided to merge August and September’s books together, which is a good thing overall, since August was *crazy* for us all. Plus, B and D, the members who had the respective picks, decided to go with similarly themed books. B chose Coates’s Between the World and Me (which I read last year and found really profound and insightful), and D chose Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy. I had a strong reaction to it, which he was not expecting. The Chancellor’s review is […]
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