So, I was seriously considering stopping the blogging because I post so little lately. Also I kind of feel transitional lately. I have still have no defense date because I have no completed dissertation, but over this last year my self-image has really changed from that of a student to that of a professional. A professor. A non-student, whatever. So I think that is good, as I think that is one of the things to be learned in grad school. Hopefully I can use this new self image to propel me into getting this stuff done. woo! Much of this transition was helped along by the million classes I taught last quarter. While I do not recommend teaching a million classes ever, and while I hope to never do so again, I think it was good for me in the end. I did not dissertate too much, but I now have so much teaching mojo! I can teach anything, anywhere, with little notice. Aw yeah. And I am not scared of a heavy work load. I did work on my own stuff while teaching the million classes, although at a much slower rate. Teaching so much made me feel like a professor AND I have now gotten a full-time job at one of those schools for next year. That's right, guaranteed full time load (less than a million) for a whole academic year! A grown up salary! A title. Love it. Now I will try to use my desire to be a "visiting assistant professor" as opposed to a "visiting instructor" into to defeat that pesky dissertation.
Oh, and in the end I am apparently not stopping blogging. Maybe when I graduate I will do a "Dr. Monkeygirl" style makeover. We'll see.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Smarties!
Look! I'm still alive! I have just been unmotivated to post. Anyways, I am back in the land of teaching smart kids. I am at a different campus than the last two years, though. This one is at a small college in a small town. I am really loving the location so far. I went to a Farmer's Market today that was so nice and well-attended. I don't have access to a fridge or a kitchen (it's all dining hall all the time for me) but I did buy some blueberries and grape tomatoes to eat as snacks. Also a blueberry muffin for breakfast.
I'm teaching a new to me class, zoology, but I can combine a lot of stuff from previous classes I taught, so I am not too worried. The kiddies arrive on Sunday! Should be fun.
OK, I'm off to lunch.
I'm teaching a new to me class, zoology, but I can combine a lot of stuff from previous classes I taught, so I am not too worried. The kiddies arrive on Sunday! Should be fun.
OK, I'm off to lunch.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Books!
So I've been to busy to review all the books I've read, but I have read 45 books in 2009 so far. Here's a list of the ones I rated 5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads.
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Dreamhunter and
Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
How to Write a Lot by Paul J. Silvia
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
The Riverbones: Stumbling After Eden in the Jungles of Suriname by Andrew Westoll
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Dreamhunter and
Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
How to Write a Lot by Paul J. Silvia
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
The Riverbones: Stumbling After Eden in the Jungles of Suriname by Andrew Westoll
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Monday, May 25, 2009
Now an even more awesome champion
You may recall that back in October I ran my first 5k race, beat some clowns and clocked a time of 38:54. Well today I ran another 5k. There were no clowns to beat, but I think I smashed my previous record with a new time of 34:27. Go me! It was a fun race, very neighborhood-y (not in my neighborhood) and R got to over hear some firefighters with Chicago accents talk about how they supported the IRA. The old school IRA, though, not the current one. The current IRA is just a bunch of punks. Also, this race went up "largest hill in Chicago". I did not notice a hill. I am glad I began my running career at the highest point in Manhattan so that these Chicago hills are not a threat to me.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Sunday
So two of my classes are over and I just need to finish up some grading and paperwork! Woo! As there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I am now trying to blog every weekend. We'll see how that goes.
It has been a very nice sunny weekend. Yesterday R and I walked to a garden fair and then to a coffee shop where we attempted to work for awhile but it was too loud. So we moved to a bench in a park where we ran into a random bike race. This is one of my favorite things about living in a big city. Both here and in NYC I will often come across some sort of random event like a street festival or market or bike race. I finished grading exams while watching the bike riders zoom by and then we headed back home. At night we went to a banquet for R's department which was pretty fun. I am friends with a lot of R's fellow students, so I didn't feel out of place and there were other spouses/partners there as well.
Today I need to get to work to prep classes for the week ahead and finish off a book chapter I've been working on. Then it is back to hard core dissertating. I'm having a little bit of a hard adjustment to not having such a packed schedule that I need to work all the time. It is less motivating to have some stuff I kinda need to get done, but no OH MY GOD IT MUST BE DONE NOW!! stuff. I also think I want to slack a little after all the work of the last months. But I will rally and get to work! Go me!
It has been a very nice sunny weekend. Yesterday R and I walked to a garden fair and then to a coffee shop where we attempted to work for awhile but it was too loud. So we moved to a bench in a park where we ran into a random bike race. This is one of my favorite things about living in a big city. Both here and in NYC I will often come across some sort of random event like a street festival or market or bike race. I finished grading exams while watching the bike riders zoom by and then we headed back home. At night we went to a banquet for R's department which was pretty fun. I am friends with a lot of R's fellow students, so I didn't feel out of place and there were other spouses/partners there as well.
Today I need to get to work to prep classes for the week ahead and finish off a book chapter I've been working on. Then it is back to hard core dissertating. I'm having a little bit of a hard adjustment to not having such a packed schedule that I need to work all the time. It is less motivating to have some stuff I kinda need to get done, but no OH MY GOD IT MUST BE DONE NOW!! stuff. I also think I want to slack a little after all the work of the last months. But I will rally and get to work! Go me!
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Good morning!
Happy Saturday! I am all happy today as it was sunny yesterday and R and I ate dinner on the porch for the first time this year. We had homemade black bean burgers, fries and corn on the cob. After that we went for a shake and a malt and then watched Baby Mama. This morning R made me eggs and toast.
It is overcast today, but I am determined to run. All the teaching has really dstroyed my running habit, but my new plan is to run 4 miles a week. When I am always doing that I will up my miles. I also want to start doing yoga 10 minutes a week (from this book).
Last weekend my parents came to visit and we had a very fun time with them. We went to dinner and sat on the porch playing games. My mom and I shared a bottle of plum wine and at one point my dad advised me to gamble more while my mom advised me to drink more. It is good to know they are looking out for me. :)
My parents also drove us to Home Depot where we bought supplies for our back porch garden! Woo! We have a hanging tomato plant and a window box of basil and dill and some chives which were planted from seed and have not yet emerged. The picture is from R's iPhone from inside the house so it is not the best, but it is too cloud y to get a good picture today.
I'm posting because two of my classes are ending this week, so I have hopes of returning to a semi-normal life and also making more progress on actually getting out of grad school one day. Hopefully I'll be around more once I grade all the finals!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Snapshot
This is for the May Scientiae.
TEACHING FIVE CLASSES! Hopefully, in the future, I will look back on Spring 2009 and remember this was a very bad idea. Here is how I spend my time: teaching, planning labs, prepping labs, prepping classes, grading, eating, sleeping. That is pretty much it. Seriously, people, don't teach five classes in a semester, especially if three are lab classes.
scientiae-carnival
TEACHING FIVE CLASSES! Hopefully, in the future, I will look back on Spring 2009 and remember this was a very bad idea. Here is how I spend my time: teaching, planning labs, prepping labs, prepping classes, grading, eating, sleeping. That is pretty much it. Seriously, people, don't teach five classes in a semester, especially if three are lab classes.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Fun
People, I enjoyed Spring Break in Florida but got little teaching prep done. Then I returned to Chicago where I immediately started spring quarter. Also, this week was the big conference for my field (luckily here in town) and I have spent the end of the week at that. Thus, I am behind in everything.
BUT, despite all this, I am excited as R and I are going to see the Circus Cats of Chicago in a few short hours. Performing cats! Hilarious!
BUT, despite all this, I am excited as R and I are going to see the Circus Cats of Chicago in a few short hours. Performing cats! Hilarious!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Spring Break!!!
That's right! I still have papers to grade and classes to prep, but it is spring break and in a few hours I am off to Florida for a friend's wedding and then a week of hanging out. Woo! Good times! I am excited about the warm weather and the sun.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Food
Once before, Ellen asked me to write about the tasty meals R and I make and since I only live to please Ellen, here are few.
They are all from Martha Stewart's "Everyday Food" magazine. I got a subscription to this magazine in order to use up some frequent flier miles that were going to expire. At first I was skeptical. I mean, I like Martha and all, but the magazine is Reader's Digest sized and looked like something sold at the grocery store checkout (like all those 100 Best Cakes! little booklets, or Prevention or something). But I cut out some tasty looking recipes, and by now we have made several that have all been really good. Seriously. There was one recipe that was merely 'meh' but everything else has been super tasty and pretty easy. Also, Martha kindly shares the recipes on the internets, so I can point them out to you.
Warm Spinach Salad with Fried Egg
Red-Leaf Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Bourbon-Pecan Truffles
Portobello, Broccoli and Red Pepper Melts
Enjoy!
They are all from Martha Stewart's "Everyday Food" magazine. I got a subscription to this magazine in order to use up some frequent flier miles that were going to expire. At first I was skeptical. I mean, I like Martha and all, but the magazine is Reader's Digest sized and looked like something sold at the grocery store checkout (like all those 100 Best Cakes! little booklets, or Prevention or something). But I cut out some tasty looking recipes, and by now we have made several that have all been really good. Seriously. There was one recipe that was merely 'meh' but everything else has been super tasty and pretty easy. Also, Martha kindly shares the recipes on the internets, so I can point them out to you.
Warm Spinach Salad with Fried Egg
Red-Leaf Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Bourbon-Pecan Truffles
Portobello, Broccoli and Red Pepper Melts
Enjoy!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Challenge
The April Scientiae topic: Tell us about that most firey fire through which you have had to walk in your scientific career. How did you overcome the challenge? Did you have help along the way, or was it a solo effort? And what did you learn? Why are you a better scientist given the difficulties that you have encountered?
Peeps, I am in the most fiery challenge of my scientific career right now. I am not going to go into details, but my dissertation writing is by far the hardest thing I have ever done. I began writing this thing back in early 2007 and have had a bastard of a time with it since. There are difficulties with professors involved, I have become angry at the system and I feel it has greatly let me down.
I have not overcome this challenge yet, but I know I will sometime. I do have help along the way. I have friends who are willing to listen sympathetically and who also are willing to not ask when I say I don't want to talk about it. R is great at reminding me to be self-confident and at reading my chapters critically and coming up with awesome insights that really help my writing. I have also started going to counseling, which has been amazing for helping me remember who I am, and that I am a smart, successful person, even when others say I am not.
I have also really learned a ton. I have learned about facing huge obstacles and harsh criticism and about how I work best. I think this last part has been most useful. I've often tried to work how I think others work, or how I think I should work. But it is only this semester, when I am teaching 10,045 classes and writing that I have really found what works for me. I have carefully scheduled writing time that I CANNOT make up if I miss. Really. If I don't write between my two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays I don't have time to write for that week. This knowledge really makes me cut the procrastination. Also, the time chunks I have are short enough that I don't get bored. I am forced to stop by needing to go teach, which always leaves me wanting to get back to my work. And I have finally accepted that I don't work well in the house. I have access to a great office that I am using a lot, and I recently added two more hours to my work time by staying after my classes for an hour at night.
When I am not too upset by the whole situation, I know that this really crappy dissertating experience will in the end make me more sure of myself as an independent scholar, and will make me more able to take rejections and criticisms of my ideas in the future. I also wouldn't wish this experience on anyone, and hope it will help me be more sympathetic of any grad students I may get to work with in the future.
scientiae-carnival
Peeps, I am in the most fiery challenge of my scientific career right now. I am not going to go into details, but my dissertation writing is by far the hardest thing I have ever done. I began writing this thing back in early 2007 and have had a bastard of a time with it since. There are difficulties with professors involved, I have become angry at the system and I feel it has greatly let me down.
I have not overcome this challenge yet, but I know I will sometime. I do have help along the way. I have friends who are willing to listen sympathetically and who also are willing to not ask when I say I don't want to talk about it. R is great at reminding me to be self-confident and at reading my chapters critically and coming up with awesome insights that really help my writing. I have also started going to counseling, which has been amazing for helping me remember who I am, and that I am a smart, successful person, even when others say I am not.
I have also really learned a ton. I have learned about facing huge obstacles and harsh criticism and about how I work best. I think this last part has been most useful. I've often tried to work how I think others work, or how I think I should work. But it is only this semester, when I am teaching 10,045 classes and writing that I have really found what works for me. I have carefully scheduled writing time that I CANNOT make up if I miss. Really. If I don't write between my two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays I don't have time to write for that week. This knowledge really makes me cut the procrastination. Also, the time chunks I have are short enough that I don't get bored. I am forced to stop by needing to go teach, which always leaves me wanting to get back to my work. And I have finally accepted that I don't work well in the house. I have access to a great office that I am using a lot, and I recently added two more hours to my work time by staying after my classes for an hour at night.
When I am not too upset by the whole situation, I know that this really crappy dissertating experience will in the end make me more sure of myself as an independent scholar, and will make me more able to take rejections and criticisms of my ideas in the future. I also wouldn't wish this experience on anyone, and hope it will help me be more sympathetic of any grad students I may get to work with in the future.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Wow
So, I knew that female hyenas had a false penis, but until reading this post at Field Notes', I had no idea how crazy their birthing was! Wow.
Also, here is a story of a chimp who plans ahead to throw stones at zoo visitors. I have been planning to raise up a gorilla army for many years now and I think this chimp can fill a leadership position.
Also, here is a story of a chimp who plans ahead to throw stones at zoo visitors. I have been planning to raise up a gorilla army for many years now and I think this chimp can fill a leadership position.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Snow
I woke up early today and had my Human Evolution class prepped before lunch. I also did laundry. It was a good day in that regard, although it snowed the whole freaking day. Actually, the snow would not be bad if it were not for the wind. It is coming in under our back door and making this weird whistling/rattling noise. I am concerned for the state of our house. We are on the third floor and it may blow right off.
In other news, it is 8:41 pm and I am seriously thinking about going to bed.
In other news, it is 8:41 pm and I am seriously thinking about going to bed.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Valentine
I hope everyone had a good Valentine's Day. I am not usually into Valentine's Day, and R and I usually do not really do anything special. Since the day was on a Saturday this year, though, we took some time to cook a very tasty dinner of mushroom, leek and lemon risotto and green beans with shallots followed by homemade caramel flan and an awesome drink made of champagne, vodka, and lemon sorbet all smushed together in the blender. It was nice to turn off the email, not talk about work and just hang out and play some cribbage.
Now get out there and buy the discounted chocolate!
Now get out there and buy the discounted chocolate!
books
I am soooo busy. I am on campus from like 9:00-6:30 4 days a week. It is like I am a regular person with a real job. Anyway, that is why I have not been blogging. I am also still writing away on the dissertation. I have been reading, though, and I want to catch up some. Here is a list of what I have read recently. The ones I loved and that you should read are starred.
7. Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox*
8. Watchmen by Alan Moore*
9. The Genius Factory by David Plotz*
10. Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares
11. Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares
12. The Breaker by Minette Walters*
13. My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student by Rebekah Nathan
14. Billion Dollar Kiss: The Kiss that saved Dawson's Creek and Other Adventures in TV Writing by Jeffrey Stepakoff
15. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
16. City of Thieves by David Benioff
17. The Law of Similars by Chris Bohjalian
18. Downers Grove by Michael Hornburg*
19. Next by Michael Crichton
7. Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox*
8. Watchmen by Alan Moore*
9. The Genius Factory by David Plotz*
10. Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares
11. Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares
12. The Breaker by Minette Walters*
13. My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student by Rebekah Nathan
14. Billion Dollar Kiss: The Kiss that saved Dawson's Creek and Other Adventures in TV Writing by Jeffrey Stepakoff
15. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
16. City of Thieves by David Benioff
17. The Law of Similars by Chris Bohjalian
18. Downers Grove by Michael Hornburg*
19. Next by Michael Crichton
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Dreams
This month's Scientiae Carnival asks, "What do you think a better, more equitable society should look like? What are your dreams for your life? For the lives of others? How close are you to living the life of your dreams? What would make you able to live that life?"
I'm going to answer the last part of this question, as it relates to things I have been thinking about lately. I recently kind of hit rock bottom in my feelings about my dissertation and things I have feared would happen with it happened. Despite that and the fact that I am in a new city and missing old friends and also that I insanely took on a huge teaching load, I have been really happy. I think I am really happy for two reasons. 1) We know we will be here for awhile. R will be in his PhD program for 5,6,7 or more years. After I graduate and he finishes classes I might get a tenure track job elsewhere, and we might spend time in between two cities, but he will be at this school for the foreseeable future. It gives us some stability we have not had for a long time. 2) I realized that if I spent all my days like I did now with the addition of more money and a PhD, I would really be exactly where I want to be. I really love teaching, and this semester I am teaching some upper level classes which are giving me more of a taste of what I might get to do in a full time job someday. I also think I'll be teaching at these schools for more than 2 semesters, so I'll finally get to see what it is like to settle in a little somewhere, learn the student culture, know where to eat lunch, etc. I have been striving so long for the goal of a PhD, I think I forgot a little what I wanted it for. I wanted it so I could teach and research, and I am teaching and researching (or at least writing up research) right now. I already have my dream job in a way, and if I keep doing it, the diploma will come.
So I am so so close to living the life of my dreams. It is pretty awesome. And what do I want for others? I would really love if everyone could have the space to figure out what they want and then the opportunity to try it out and see how that kind of life fits them. I have so many students who have interests in one area, but feel compelled for financial reasons to follow a path they are less interested in. I wish they could follow their dreams for awhile, to see if those are their real dreams. I know how lucky I have been to end up where I am now, to be encouraged to get into a profession that is not at all 'normal' and that is risky in someways, and I wish everyone could have the encouragement and support I have had.
scientiae-carnival
I'm going to answer the last part of this question, as it relates to things I have been thinking about lately. I recently kind of hit rock bottom in my feelings about my dissertation and things I have feared would happen with it happened. Despite that and the fact that I am in a new city and missing old friends and also that I insanely took on a huge teaching load, I have been really happy. I think I am really happy for two reasons. 1) We know we will be here for awhile. R will be in his PhD program for 5,6,7 or more years. After I graduate and he finishes classes I might get a tenure track job elsewhere, and we might spend time in between two cities, but he will be at this school for the foreseeable future. It gives us some stability we have not had for a long time. 2) I realized that if I spent all my days like I did now with the addition of more money and a PhD, I would really be exactly where I want to be. I really love teaching, and this semester I am teaching some upper level classes which are giving me more of a taste of what I might get to do in a full time job someday. I also think I'll be teaching at these schools for more than 2 semesters, so I'll finally get to see what it is like to settle in a little somewhere, learn the student culture, know where to eat lunch, etc. I have been striving so long for the goal of a PhD, I think I forgot a little what I wanted it for. I wanted it so I could teach and research, and I am teaching and researching (or at least writing up research) right now. I already have my dream job in a way, and if I keep doing it, the diploma will come.
So I am so so close to living the life of my dreams. It is pretty awesome. And what do I want for others? I would really love if everyone could have the space to figure out what they want and then the opportunity to try it out and see how that kind of life fits them. I have so many students who have interests in one area, but feel compelled for financial reasons to follow a path they are less interested in. I wish they could follow their dreams for awhile, to see if those are their real dreams. I know how lucky I have been to end up where I am now, to be encouraged to get into a profession that is not at all 'normal' and that is risky in someways, and I wish everyone could have the encouragement and support I have had.
Monday, January 19, 2009
books!
6. Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Landvik
I was given this book for free, and it is kind of just standard "women are strong and survivor's" fluff. Think of Steel Magnolias set in Minnesota. It was a fun read and the characters were engaging.
I was given this book for free, and it is kind of just standard "women are strong and survivor's" fluff. Think of Steel Magnolias set in Minnesota. It was a fun read and the characters were engaging.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
New Year
I have made some New Year's resolutions. They are mostly about exercising, but here they are:
*run at least 2x a week
*run in at least two races
*yoga or pilates 2x a week
*be more social and get out of the house more
*don't stress so much
----
And since it is already Jan 17, here is how I have been doing. I have been doing great on the running. I got a Nike+ (Santa got me an ipod Nano for Christmas) which is a huuuuuuge motivator for me. R laughs at me, but knowing the Nike+ is watching me makes me push myself harder. Also, I love graphs! So I am on track for my running. We'll have to see about the races, but I have a whole year ahead of me. I have only done yoga twice and I still need to figure that out. Basically, I need to get over being embarrassed to do yoga with R in the house. I am not home enough when he is gone to get two half hour practices in a week. I am still trying though.
We have done great on the social front! I am so happy about it. We went out two nights last weekend, had people over during the week, and are going out two nights this weekend. woo! Go us!
Finally, I have been having serious issues with my dissertation which I cannot share here. BUT I have learned an important lesson which is that I need to go easier on myself, and stop beating myself for not reaching expectations I had that were ridiculous to begin with. To this end, I dropped my spring hours which means I definitely cannot graduate in May. That is ok. I am approaching the dissertation more as a journey. I work on it, and one day it will be done. I do not know when that day is. From now on, when people ask when I am going to be done my answer will simply be, "when I am done." I have lots of things I would probably do differently if I could go back and do grad school over, but one of the biggest is that I would not be so fixated on getting out fast. I was too obsessed with finishing and that made me get so upset when I missed deadlines and therefore caused me to procrastinate more. So I am working more on enjoying the day to day. And the lack of pressure has not made me work less, but actually more, as it is less of a chore now.
*run at least 2x a week
*run in at least two races
*yoga or pilates 2x a week
*be more social and get out of the house more
*don't stress so much
----
And since it is already Jan 17, here is how I have been doing. I have been doing great on the running. I got a Nike+ (Santa got me an ipod Nano for Christmas) which is a huuuuuuge motivator for me. R laughs at me, but knowing the Nike+ is watching me makes me push myself harder. Also, I love graphs! So I am on track for my running. We'll have to see about the races, but I have a whole year ahead of me. I have only done yoga twice and I still need to figure that out. Basically, I need to get over being embarrassed to do yoga with R in the house. I am not home enough when he is gone to get two half hour practices in a week. I am still trying though.
We have done great on the social front! I am so happy about it. We went out two nights last weekend, had people over during the week, and are going out two nights this weekend. woo! Go us!
Finally, I have been having serious issues with my dissertation which I cannot share here. BUT I have learned an important lesson which is that I need to go easier on myself, and stop beating myself for not reaching expectations I had that were ridiculous to begin with. To this end, I dropped my spring hours which means I definitely cannot graduate in May. That is ok. I am approaching the dissertation more as a journey. I work on it, and one day it will be done. I do not know when that day is. From now on, when people ask when I am going to be done my answer will simply be, "when I am done." I have lots of things I would probably do differently if I could go back and do grad school over, but one of the biggest is that I would not be so fixated on getting out fast. I was too obsessed with finishing and that made me get so upset when I missed deadlines and therefore caused me to procrastinate more. So I am working more on enjoying the day to day. And the lack of pressure has not made me work less, but actually more, as it is less of a chore now.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
books!
I read about 87 books in 2008. I petered out keeping track at the end, so I am not sure of the exact number. I've already read 7 books in 2009! Here's the first set:
1. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
This is the story of an Australian book conservator who works on the Sarajevo Haggadah. The haggadah is the text used at Passover and the Sarajevo Haggadah is an actual illuminated manuscript. This book tells the fictional story of what the conservator finds, and how the book intersected different people's lives over its long history. I really enjoyed this book.
2. Once Upon a Time in the North by Phillip Pullman
Another book by the author of the Golden Compass. This one is in the same universe as those books but set earlier in time. I really enjoyed this short, adventure-filled book.
3. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood and
4. Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares
These are the 2nd and 3rd books in the Traveling Pants series. I read the first books years ago and feel like I was kind of 'meh' about it, but I really enjoyed these two. The writing is good and the characters are really interesting and I think pretty true to life descriptions of teenage girls. I am definitely going to read the 4th book.
5. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
A novel about a small town in Central Florida after a nuclear holocaust. This book was written in 1959 and holds up pretty well. It is very interesting and was fascinating to see what someone in 1959 imagined about living after a nuclear war. I also really liked the Central Florida setting. If you like end of the world novels, this one is really good.
1. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
This is the story of an Australian book conservator who works on the Sarajevo Haggadah. The haggadah is the text used at Passover and the Sarajevo Haggadah is an actual illuminated manuscript. This book tells the fictional story of what the conservator finds, and how the book intersected different people's lives over its long history. I really enjoyed this book.
2. Once Upon a Time in the North by Phillip Pullman
Another book by the author of the Golden Compass. This one is in the same universe as those books but set earlier in time. I really enjoyed this short, adventure-filled book.
3. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood and
4. Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares
These are the 2nd and 3rd books in the Traveling Pants series. I read the first books years ago and feel like I was kind of 'meh' about it, but I really enjoyed these two. The writing is good and the characters are really interesting and I think pretty true to life descriptions of teenage girls. I am definitely going to read the 4th book.
5. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
A novel about a small town in Central Florida after a nuclear holocaust. This book was written in 1959 and holds up pretty well. It is very interesting and was fascinating to see what someone in 1959 imagined about living after a nuclear war. I also really liked the Central Florida setting. If you like end of the world novels, this one is really good.
