A Day in the Life #47

Whew it's been a crazy couple weeks!  We had our first 6th grade concerts last week and the kids sounded so good - I was really proud of them!  (...even though like 15 of them left their music which meant I was running around like a chicken with her head cut off making extra copies instead working with the kids to make sure they were in the right head space before performing).  But jeeeeezzzzus I was exhausted.  By the time you've walked to the gym and back, you've walked a half mile - and no I am not exaggerating.  That's literally the distance.  So just imagine working a full day, that full day being with middle school children, and then running enough chairs, stands, percussion equipment, and risers for 80 middle school children on stage and god knows how many parents in the audience, corralling hundreds of middle school students, running two concerts, and THEN after ALL OF THAT....moving all of the equipment back.

So...let's just say that exhausted doesn't even begin to cover it, and I've only just started to recover from all of it because I slept later than I've slept in months today.  Aaaaand I am doing this all over again for the 7th graders this Wednesday, and the 8th graders after that...and then I'm done!  Which is very bittersweet, but I'll definitely be ready for the break because if I'm this tired now? It's got nothing on how I'll be feeling by the end of the 8th grade concert. 

And of course I'm FREAKING OUT about my 7th graders except for one group, and to be freaking out about 3/4 groups is NOT A GOOD FEELING.  But I'm hoping they'll pull together like my 6th graders did. (Or that Sue's band will cover up my band kids if needed)

On the other side of things...I had to put Lily down two weeks ago.  I don't much feel like talking about it, but I can say that it was time and I think because of that I'm not feeling quite as bad as I thought I would be.  I can also say that if you've ever had to put a cat down, consider doing it at home.  The cost for me was pretty on par with I would have paid at the vet and it was just a way, way better decision for her.  And if you live in the Maryland area, I would recommend Peaceful Passage a million times over.  I am still missing her like crazy - I keep thinking it's her out of the corner of my eye or that she'll be on the bed waiting for me, and between Sejoon being gone and her being gone it's kind of messing with my sleep. But I still have Tristan and he is the cuddliest cat in existence, so he's been making up for it in the meantime.

Books

Emma talks about Newt Scamander, Toxic Masculinity, & The Power of Hufflepuff House.
Emily dissects the literary glamour of madness.
There's a Lunar Chronicles character quiz. (I'm Cress, btw)
Chelsea thinks it's more important than ever to criticize the things we love.
Even more bookish links over on In Tori Lex!


Authors

Lin Manuel Miranda is producing adaptations of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle!!!!!
Neil Shusterman uses stained glass to recharge his writing.
Ursula K. Le Guin on the election, Lao Tzu, and a cup of water.
Authors on being a writer in the time of Trump.

Top Ten New To Me Authors of 2016

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish



Christopher Healy (Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom)

     

The Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom was the last dinner reading book I read with the kids when I was nannying, and it was a HUGE hit all around! Fairy tale retellings are always a favourite of mine (no surprises there) but this has so many of my favourite things about retellings, especially on the trope bending front.  It's funny and self deprecating and just all around fun!  I'm definitely going to be finishing this series soon.

Ernest Cline (Ready Player One)

   

Ready Player One is probably the MOST FUN BOOK EVER (that I have read this year).  I've been avoiding this book because for some reason I thought it was really serious/not YA.  (And I'm sorry, it's YA. If eighteen were a cut off age for YA, then a good portion of YA books wouldn't be YA.  And I know audiences are changing what with NA being a thing, but it seems like the audience divisions haven't really solidified as of yet.  Anywayyyyy getting off my soapbox. I'm just saying, if my non-blogger friends had tried recommending it to me like one of you guys instead of starting with "It's not a YA book" I probably would have read it sooner)



Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda)

     

*squees* Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda was the cutest freaking book ever.  And I actually got to meet Becky Albertalli which was really cool. (Btw, the audiobook - which is how I listened to it - is her favourite version of the book!)

Zen Cho (The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo)

   

This is hands down my favourite romance read of the year (and I've read quite a few this year). It's swoony and refreshingly surprising as far as characters go and there were nontraditional relationships (in comparison to usual) and Zen Cho has officially become an extremely high priority for me.  I will be reading Sorcerer to the Crown asap.  



Elizabeth Gaskell (North and South)

   

Unpopular opinion: I actually think I might like the miniseries more than the book.  But that has little to do with the book and much to do with Richard Armitage and the soundtrack.  That being said, I do really love her writing, and so much of her social commentary on class is relevant today. Like...way more than I am comfortable with, actually.  She's often compared to Dickens, and it makes sense why - but unlike Dickens, she knows when to wrap a story up.  (In Dickens' defense, a lot of his stuff was serialized, and you only have to look at oh I don't know...any comic book/American tv show to know how that can screw with things)

Patrick Ness (The Knife of Never Letting Go)

   

 To say that I am still not ok after reading this book would be a large understatement.  This book hurts. And I thought the concept was so interesting that I will definitely finish this series, and I know that the rest of the series is not as upsetting as this book was....but the FEELS guys!  They're too overwhelming, and finishing this series has been put on hold until I can get it together. 

Intisar Khanani (Thorn)

   

Intisar Khanani is probably my favourite new author of the year.  Ok, not probably - definitely.  I actually heard her on a bunch of panels at Chessiecon last year before I'd read anything of hers (although I'd known of Thorn before - my library just hadn't had a copy for me to read) and she had so many thought provoking and insightful things to say, that it prompted me to pick up Thorn.  (That and La La repeatedly recommended it haha!) Cue three months later and I loved her writing so much that I actually bought all of her books AND pre-ordered her last book that just came out a couple months ago.  If you want diverse fantasy - both in setting and in race - paired with beautiful writing, she is my number one recommendation.  I will forever be a huge advocate of hers (especially since she's an indie author so word of mouth is basically how she makes her living), so definitely go read something of hers!  While I loved all her writing, The Bone Knife is actually my favourite piece of hers - it's a novella that she's actually working on developing into a series right now!

Jenny Holliday (Sleeping With Her Enemy)

   

Some of you know that my boyfriend is Korean. And as a white girl with an Asian boyfriend...it's just not something I see reflected in society/media. Like...ever.  So having a romance novel with an Asian (well, half but I'll take it) male lead??? SIGN ME UP PLEASE! Plus this was hate to love and all my favourite romance things, so I was basically cheering on the inside the whole way through this novel haha!

Alaya Dawn Johnson (Love is the Drug)
 
   

This book has it all - it's heart racing with all of the government conspiracy stuff going down, there's coming of age stuff, there's complicated family relationship stuff, there's a solid romance, there's race and class through the lens of a rich private school kid -  I'd read another of her books in a heartbeat.  (And considering I've been recommended Summer Prince like a million times, it's shameful that my first book of hers I picked up on a whim and only later realized who the author was!)

Isabel Quintero (Gabi, a Girl in Pieces) 

   

This book is just so...real. There's so much honesty to it - and it's a truth that is so different from my experiences (what with not having grown up Latina or poor) but still resonates in so many ways.  And there are some experiences that are just....if you're a girl, you've been there.  I don't usually read contemporary works, but I'm glad I made an exception with this (although I wish I'd had a physical copy of the book since I think the art would have been easier to see).



Over all, this has been a good new author year for me.  I'm also pretty pleased that 4/10 authors are PoC, and that 6/10 book feature PoC as main characters! (7/10 depending on how you read the descriptions in Hero's Guide - I can't remember if they were ever explicit, but a couple of the characters definitely felt like they could be read as non-white).   A much more diverse list than last years was for me!  What about you guys? These authors new to you or long time favs?

A Day in the Life #46

Hello my lovelies!  After many months, it is nice to be able to write a bit!  I can't promise I'll be back to any sort of regular schedule, but I've missed blogging (and all of you!) a lot so I'm going to make a go if it again.

I started teaching in September, and I knew it was going to be a draining gig, but MAN I underestimated it!  On the one hand, I'm not nearly as tired as I was nannying and working at the cafe every day, physically speaking.  On the other hand, I can barely keep my eyes open past 6:00 pm on Tuesdays. (Why Tuesdays you ask? Beats me, I have no clue.)  When I'm teaching well - really well - it is the most draining thing in the world.  I mean, it's super fun and really rewarding and I LOVE it...but then at the end of the day all of a sudden I'm ready to collapse.  Hmm. Maybe this is what taking drugs feels like?  Honestly though I think it comes from being an introvert and having to be ON all the time.  Teaching music is different than teaching a regular class - not that I'm knocking classroom teaching at all.  (One of the downsides of teaching at this school is that if there is a teacher out and they can't get a sub or if they had to schedule a meeting during class, one of the other teachers has to come in during their planning period and teach the class instead.  It's....greeeeeeat.)  In a regular class there's a lot of downtime where the students are working individually/taking tests/etc, which means you have some breathing space to get a little of your own work done.  (The downside of this of course is there's way more grading)  In music, there's not a SECOND where you can let your attention waver, and you have to be actively teaching 100% of the time.  And if you're an introvert?  It's a little bit of personal hell.  Luckily, I do love teaching I just find it really exhausting at the end of the day.  (And 8th graders are of course....8th gradery.  Thank god I don't teach any 8th graders at the end of the day or that really would be the limit).  My time with this group is almost over, which will be sad. And I'm likely going to be at a high school for a couple of months starting in February (which scares me shitless. I DON'T WANT TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOL!!!! But, a girl needs a job, so there we are.)  Then I'm back at either a middle school or elementary school teaching strings and general music.  So by the end of this year I'm going to be significantly more well rounded! (Although I sincerely doubt it's going to change my mind about liking middle school band best)

So basically, teaching has taken over my life, and since I'm still working at the cafes on Saturdays, I only have Sunday to get my main cleaning/cooking/general life stuff done.  So I haven't been reading like...at all.  I never, ever, EVER though that the only reason I'm getting any reading done is through audiobooks.  AUDIOBOOKS GUYS.  A thing that until last year I had sworn was the most boring thing everrrrr.  But at least I've had a good run on those?  (Bill Bryson guys.  Great author, great narrator. Highly recommended.)  I also had a SUPER AWESOME weekend (four days off! Unheard of for me!) that I will tell you about later because this is more than I've written in three months and this is long enough.  But long story short I spent my Thanksgiving weekend in Flushing and Chinatown having the best dumplings EVER and I don't care if everyone thinks that's a weird way to spend a weekend it was amazing. So there.


Bookish News

Cait confesses the worst and most horrific things she's ever accidentally done to a book.
Jane talks about her first encounter with lesbians in fiction - Haruku and Michiru from Sailor Moon.
Gillian has fallen out of love with a series.
Heather shares how to read more diversely.
Zita the Spacegirl (aka one of my favourite reads of last year) is being adapted into a film!
Katherine discusses the English fairy tale "Mr. Fox" (the oldest known version of Bluebeard).
La La has a huge personality test round up that is super fun and interesting (and she'd love your feedback too!)
Yash lists the four types of book break ups.
Heather suggests what we could change up about literature programs so they aren't all white men.


Author News

Ursula Vernon is basically the best.
KRISTIN CASHORE IS RELEASING A NEW BOOK!!!!!!
Jacqueline Carey had a limited edition reprinting of her Kushiel series and it is so freaking gorgeous and there was a leather bound version too *sobs* I want one so bad!! (Too bad they're sold out).


 Nonbookish News

Teresa names four non-American feminists she's thankful for.
Emily's review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is exactly would I would have said (tl;dr delightful, full of plot holes, Eddie Redmayne is perfect as Newt)
Need something cute to erase the horror of this month? Jessica recommends the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary Facebook page. 

Like my weekly round ups? Check out In Tori Lex's - this week she links to articles about censorship in Kuwait and what books YA authors are most thankful for.

A Day in the Life #45

Well, not a lot of note to report.  Basically just getting prepared for jumping into teaching sometime this week or next, which I'm excited about.  (Well, excited and scared.)  But I went in and saw one of the steel drum classes last week and I think I am going to have so much fun over the next few months!  (I mean, sure I'm also probably going to want to smash things too, but hey that's part of it too).  Otherwise the past few weeks have been mundane things that need to be done.  Which, actually, considering my past month of terrible surprises, I am totally ok with.  Added bonus, replacing my brake fluid means my car will probably not kill me in the near future.  Yay!  In any case I'm making up for my lack of links in the past/not having much personal news at the moment (I actually just remembered I did have an epic hiking story, but it's late so I'll save it for another week.  Long story short, it involves ending up in a farmer's back yard/hiking on a highway/up a river/and losing another pair of shoes.  Ah another adventure with Elizabeth! Don't you wish you could join?)


In any case, on to my numerous links!  Special shout out to Tori of In Tori Lex - she does a great bookish round up every week, so some of these links are courtesy of her round up that she does!


Authors

Alexis interviews Ann M. Martin, famed author of The Babysitter's Club about an upcoming reboot of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.
Shannon Lee Alexander talks ovaries before brovaries - or the importance of getting checked for ovarian cancer.
Katherine Langrish talks about the importance of shoes in fairy tales (and historically).


Blogging

Cait tells us what a perfect fairy tale retelling should look like.
Meg talks about Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake's long partnership.
Rachel shares the best bookish cities in Europe.
Jacob talks about reading Christian stories while growing up atheist, or I Have Forgiven Aslan for Being Jesus.
Anise says divorce should be an option in fantasy fiction.
Cait shares all her favourite diverse fantasy novels.
Ellie collects stories about how Harry Potter actually changed lives.


Book News

Shailene Woodley doesn't sound down for reprising her role as Triss on TV.
Potential casting news for A Wrinkle in Time! (Hint, it involves Mindy Khaling and Reese Witherspoon)
Apparently Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is getting a movie adaption!
Tracy says that Americans aren't reading less -- they're just reading less literature.


Nonbookish

Teresa bids Lady Chablis, performer/author/LGBTQIA legend, adieu.
Teresa has gathered feminism news around the world.
September 3rd was International Vulture Awareness Day - so show some love for a species that's going extinct at the moment!
Tim Gunn calls out designers for refusing to design clothes for the average American woman.

Top Ten Foreign TV Shows

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Ahhh I love this week's prompt!  As any of my regular readers know, I watch a lot of foreign things (namely anime and Korean dramas).  Soooo I had to limit myself.  I'm sticking to live action only, and preferably things that are completed and not super well known (hence no Doctor Who or Sherlock).  

Coffee Prince (Korea)

This is my all time favourite Korean drama OF ALL TIME.  It features some of my favourite tropes (namely gender bending), and has probably my favourite actor ever: Gong Yoo.  Yes, he's gorgeous which doesn't hurt - but he's also one of the most genuine actors I've seen on screen.  The show also has a great sound track and features probably my favourite scene of all time.  (For those of you who've watched it - the beach scene.)  I feel like this is a lot of people's first K-Dramas (it was mine too), and it ranks a favourite with pretty much everyone I know who has seen it.  

Torchwood (United Kingdom)

So we all know about a little show called Doctor Who, right?  Well, for those of you who don't know, there was a spin-off of the show where we follow a fan favourite - Captain Jack Harkness.  Guys, I loved this show.  It's much more adult and dark than Doctor Who - Doctor Who has a lot of innocence and wonder to it which is one of the reasons I really loved it.  Torchwood dealt a lot more with the consequences and aftermath - in that sense it's a bit of the Agents of SHIELD to the Marvel Universe movie.  It's also completely soul crushing. Like...like guys....I can not possibly describe to you how soul crushing it can be.  But it has such a great cast of characters - all super flawed in their own ways and it makes them so, so human.  And of course I'm always a fan of any show that has a bisexual character at all, let alone as a main character, super let alone a male bisexual character! 

Pinocchio (Korea)

This may be one of the best shows I've ever seen.  In fact I'd go so far to say that there is a chance A CHANCE that I like it even more than Coffee Prince.  Which would be blasphemy to say, but that's how much I loved this show.  It has a large ensemble cast and I don't think I've ever loved a cast so much.  I seriously loved every single character - even ones I thought there was NO WAY I would like.  The acting is phenomenal and the script is great (which is unsurprising, seeing as it's the writer/director from I Can Hear Your Voice which was also amazing, but since I have limited space here I could only choose one to feature).  And one of my favourite aspects of this show is that the romance takes a back seat to everything else going on for a good portion it, and that the guy isn't an asshole/alpha dude the way most guys are in K-Dramas. (I mean, I love them, but it's not to say they aren't problematic)

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (Australia)

This show is so fun!  It's really caught on lately (thank god! I was worried is was going to be cancelled a while back!) so I'm sure many of you know this one.  It's set in 1920's/30's Australia so there's an interesting dichotomy in class and race that you see.  I feel like a lot of US movies set in that era focus on all the glamour of the era and really gloss over the awkward transition a lot of countries were going through (particularly where nobility/class is concerned and because it's in between the two world wars).  This is a cozy murder mystery series where we follow the glamorous, head strong, progressive Phryne Fisher as she solves crimes.  We also get some sparks with the head detective, and of course my ever-favourite Dot, who works as her maid.  Basically this show is fun, shippy, and has GORGEOUS costuming and scenery.

Velvet (Spain)

Speaking of beautiful clothing, I would be remiss if I didn't mention this show.  The fashion in the show is just...incomparable.  IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL I WANT TO WEAR EVERYTHING.  (Not that I don't also want to wear all of Phryne's clothes)  It's basically like Mad Men meets Downton Abbey.  So if you like either of those shows this is definitely up your alley.  Most people are in it for the main couple, but for me it's the rest of the cast that make this show for me.  And if 1950's Madrid does not sound like an interesting setting to you, we clearly can not watch TV together.

North & South (United Kingdom)

This is a miniseries that's based on the novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell.  I am going to say something extremely blasphemous right now: this is a better love story than Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy.  There. I SAID IT.  And for someone who has held that ship as the pinnacle of all ships since I was 12 years old, it's really saying something.  It's Elizabeth/Darcy's hate to love relationship but instead of Jane Austen's wit we get Charles Dickens' social consciousness. (Except better because I don't actually like Charles Dickens all that much and having read the book which is also great, of course, I prefer her writing).  But guys.  THIS IS THE SHIPPIEST OF SHIPS.  And oh my god I clearly never gave Richard Armitage enough credit for anything.  THE SWOONS.

Secret Garden (Korea)

Once again we have a bit of gender bending - but this time instead of having a girl who dresses like a boy (a la Coffee Prince), there's a body switch!  To complicate matters, the leading lady is a badass stunt actress and the leading man is a rich owner of a hotel chain - so they are from very different circles in life.  And of course the ensemble cast is what makes the show once again.  This one is just full of fun, and it shows you a side of the industry that doesn't get any credit - stunt acting.  (It is also unfortunately home to the cheesiest soundtrack of all time, but I like the show so much that I forgive it this one flaw)

Rosemary & Thyme (United Kingdom)

Ahhh I have such a fondness of cozy mysteries!  This one sets itself apart by following our two heroines - who are gardeners.  This leads to murder mysteries in the most beautiful English gardens and of course any tv show with lady friends is my favourite thing.  Beautiful settings and awesome nosy gardeners? So up my alley.  

Heartstrings (Korea)

This Korean drama has THE BEST SOUNDTRACK.  The main lead actor is most well known as the lead singer of the band CNBlue- which is, coincidentally, my favourite Korean band.  So of course the soundtrack is mainly CNBlue songs (and regular readers know I'm a sucker for a good soundtrack - it's the easiest way to convince me to watch anything)  The main actress, Park Shin-hye, is also the lead actress in another favourite on this list (Pinocchio).  She's definitely my favourite Korean actress - she's so funny!  And of course I enjoy this particular drama because it's set up as traditional Korean style music vs. newer rock music. Music all around, yay!

Black Mirror (United Kingdom)

This show is SO INTENSE.  It's very different from anything else on this list, because it's more like it's a collection of hour long films.  The production quality is extremely high, and as far as I can tell the episodes aren't linked, other than being very thought provoking.  Each episode is centered around a concept of some sort, and then throws the characters into situations that will make you question all morals and ethics and....everything. Very intense, and highly recommended.

Honorable Mention: Dance Academy (Australia)

Holy shit guys this show is so freaking addicting!!  And so dramatic.  But dance! Beautiful, beautiful dance!  This goes in honourable mentions for the sole reason that despite it being so addicting (and I loved every minute of it)...after a certain season finale I just couldn't watch anymore.  Too much drama for me - it starts stressing me out after a certain point.  (HOW MANY BAD DECISIONS CAN ONE PERSON MAKE TARA??? HOW MANY?)  But it has great dance and characters you will hate and then love and then hate again with great fervor. Literally the only reason I never finished it is because after said season finale the next season wasn't out yet and I just...couldn't.

I clearly watch too much television, so by all means leave me a link to your TTT below!