Academia Autumn
Currently reading:
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver [ongoing]
Extracting the Stone of Madness: Poems 1962–1972 by Alejandra Pizarnik [ongoing]
Books finished this week: 1
★★★★☆
Where this book came from: Liz’s Book Bar last week
Why this book: I think I heard at least two different BookTubers talk about this one, but the rec that stuck with me was from The Book Leo
Thoughts: This was a sweet little story with some gorgeous worldbuilding and philosophical questions and conversations that sometimes didn’t land for me, but sometimes made me cry. I finished this book on the LIRR and I really wish I hadn’t been in public (and perhaps in the middle of either a late quarter-life crisis or an early midlife one) so I could’ve really just sat with it and journaled and let all my true feelings out. The story is slow and the end doesn’t really feel like an end, but I guess that’s kind of the point. A Psalm for the Wild-Built is the novella equivalent of the saying, “It’s the journey, not the destination.”
Library updates:
It’s early enough in September that the weather is still seesawing between summer and fall, cool and breezy one day and sweltering and humid the next. It’s officially the time of year when I wake up and I don’t know how to dress myself or how to face the day, because it’s cool inside but hot in the sun, or stifling in my apartment and downright balmy when I go downstairs to throw out trash or walk to the train station. I’ve tasted fall on the air a few times and noticed how the sunlight has shifted to look cooler, more autumnal, on a couple of afternoons, but as I type this, I’m wearing shorts and a tanktop and I have the AC on to combat the humidity.
I probably wrote about this last September, too, but what does always kick in when August ends is that back-to-school feeling. It’s hit me especially hard this year and last, with the start of the fall semester of grad school, and I am very ready for academic autumn. Curling up with tea and a book about the craft of writing; pondering story ideas with a glass of wine on my balcony. I also really just can’t wait to wear sweaters and sweatshirts again. I am most myself in the fall.
On Friday night, I also officially filed my intention to graduate in May. After I finish this workshop this fall and then complete my thesis in the spring, I’ll be done with grad school. I remember starting just last May and thinking about how far away graduation seemed, but two years really isn’t much for an adult, especially when your days are filled with work and other responsibilities. You’re always moving, your brain always going; moments slip by.
But I’m going to try my best to savor this season. I will patiently await the consistently cool weather and I will bust out all my horror favorites for Halloween. I will work on my thesis manuscript and other short stories. I will take more walks under colorful leaves and maybe take drives or train trips to see quaint little towns. I’m going to enjoy it.
I also took a walk on Labor Day at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and, not to be dramatic, but it was very healing.
Closing thoughts:
Buy a new notebook. Class is in session.