return of the bookworm

so i've been a little quiet, but largely because the current state of the world has kept us inside. as a culture vulture, i was worried i'd be struggling without live music, art and performances, but strangely i have settled well into this "new normal." 

things i've learned about myself

• virtual concerts aren't my cup of tea, aside from jojo's weekly noon pst ig sessions in april and the tallest man on earth's 10th anniversary concert for the wild hunt on youtube.
• i don't mind those relief concerts.
• i really miss live sports. thank goodness for the last dance. i might blog about my steve kerr coaching the triangle for the golden state warriors theory.
• i can self-practice yoga at home and thriving on these live yoga sessions. i still miss in person instruction and adjustments. oh the adjustments.
• i can happily hibernate for a max 3 days without leaving my house.
• i only need to buy groceries, at most, every other week.  i do miss fresh veg and my csa.
• i really like snail mail.  i mean i knew this, but i really love a good surprise and delight letter, postcard or note to a friend.  it fills me with joy when they say it's made their day.  also i still love going to the post office - mask on and gloves of course.
• i like phone calls more than facetime. in fact, i'm not really a fan of zoom happy hours. i prefer biking by friend's homes and chatting from a distance. backyards and rooftops get bonus points.
• biggest revelation - i'm a voracious reader when i have time to be one. here are a few reads i've completed of note:

Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Riotous Black Girls, Troublesome Women, and Queer Radicals by Saidiya Hartman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

beautifully written and researched. i was surprised how quickly i breezed through this historical piece. hartman brings profiles to life with thoughtful prose.



Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

pretty much loved it, except i felt the ending was just a little too sweet imo.





Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

jia is so so smart, but doesn’t make you feel dumb. her writing is relatable, yet also so astute.




The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 but rounding up. love me a bittersweet ending.





Tell Me More: Stories about the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

when a book is peppered with golden state warriors references, i'm in.

"that's how it works: someone important believes in us, loudly and with conviction and against all substantiation, and over time, we begin to believe, too-not in our shot at perfection, mind you, but in the good enough version of us that they have reflected."

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