Probably a Record
Currently reading:
All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby
Books finished this week*: 4
*Or, technically, in the last three weeks.
★★★★☆
Where this book came from: Barnes & Noble preorder
Why this book: I love a hot dog. Also, not to brag, but I went to college with Jamie Loftus. (Hi, Jamie!) (You’re not reading this.)
Thoughts: So, I was expecting a bit more about road-tripping and eating hot dogs here. Those activities definitely came up, and I enjoyed the looks at the history and politics surrounding hot dogs. But the book became more of a memoir than a narrative history, which felt a little like a bait-and-switch at first. Every hot dog sounded kind of gross when it was described, too. But I weirdly started to like it a lot more in the last third? Maybe I was used to the vocabulary and rhythm by then——I just felt like the moments of interaction worked better later on. It sounds like I hated this book, but my four stars stand.
★★☆☆☆
Where this book came from: I legitimately don’t remember! It feels like a vacation indie bookstore impulse purchase, though.
Why this book: I loved Charlie Jane Anders’ first book, and though I’m not typically a big sci-fi reader, the premise of this one sounded excellent.
Thoughts: Unfortunately, the actual plot of the novel doesn’t really follow the premise laid out in the book’s summary. It also felt like there was a ton of world-building the author had done off the page that simply never made it onto the page. I couldn’t really picture any of the people, places, or creatures clearly, and found it really difficult to latch onto details. Overall, I spent most of the book bored or confused, which obviously isn’t ideal. Two stars for the premise and some nice lines. But I wouldn’t recommend it.
★★★★☆
Where this book came from: A work “field trip” to the Strand and Barnes & Noble, during which I was supposed to be doing “research” and told myself I would just browse, but, well . . . (you’ll see)
Why this book: Partly the premise, partly the cover
Thoughts: I knew this book was either going to be confusing and weird and bad or really, really good. For me, it was 112% the latter. I can’t totally pinpoint why, but I loved this book. It was an excellent companion on my train ride down to DC (more on that below) and just the right mix of insightful and interesting yet still wild and genre-y and easy to consume.
[PAGEBOY photo]
★★★☆☆
Where this book came from: Purchased at the National Book Festival in DC
Why this book: If a famous person I like writes a book, I’m probably going to read it, let’s be real.
Thoughts: I can’t lie, I was a little disappointed by Pageboy. It was wonderful to see Elliot Page speak about his book and his journey at the book festival (brag), but, like his memoir, the conversation felt a bit surface-level. I would have liked some additional reflection and introspection, a few deeper dives into some events and emotions. His journey has, as expected, been an arduous one, and I did appreciate the honesty and vulnerability. I also didn’t mind the nonlinear storytelling, though there were a few chapters/moments where it wasn’t totally clear where in his story the events were taking place.
Also . . . Kate Mara??
Library updates:
It’s been a few weeks, because I was out and about the last two weekends, and exhausted once I got home. Since I gave you four (four!!) book reviews to peruse, I’ll keep the rest of the missive short. Here are some highlights:
Fan Expo Boston:
Meeting Henry Winkler, the kindest man on the planet. I chickened out of asking him to introduce me to Bill Hader, but he did sign my Emerson ID.
Meeting Garrett Hedlund, who is just as attractive in person, inside and out, as I thought he was when I first saw him in Tron: Legacy in 2010.
Walking far too many steps around Boston, a city I think I have not visited since 2017, somehow? (Also thinking to myself repeatedly, Maybe I want to live here again . . . )
Road-tripping up and back with my favorite passenger princess<3 (love you, Britt)
Asking Britt if our old neighborhood in Allston was always such a shithole and being reassured that, yes, it was.
The National Book Festival in Washington, DC:
Seeing Grady Hendrix, S. A. Cosby, and Elliot Page speak (on different panels, though how amazing would it have been to have them in conversation?).
Buying just so many books.
Resting my tired feet in the World War II memorial fountain (it’s allowed, the sign said so!!).
Meeting some of Maia’s (hi, Maia!) wonderful DC-based friends (hi, friends!).
Returning to Calico and Never Looked Better.
Reading Pageboy in three different coffee shops on Sunday, because I was too hungover and the city was too damn hot to do anything else.
Closing thoughts:
Travel! By yourself, with friends——far away or just to another neighborhood. See things. Explore. Make plans and follow them, until something else piques your interest. Fill your time, but don’t forget to leave time to rest, to read, to drink coffee (or an adult juicebox), and to take in a place.
Total books read from the Moratorium Library: 43
(Total books added to the Library: 67)
So, last Monday and Tuesday, we had a big work get-together, where everyone came to the office from all over and we all got to meet in person and hang out. And, as I mentioned above, some of us went on a trip to the Strand and Barnes & Noble on Monday afternoon, and . . .
And then I went to the National Book Festival, and I knew exactly what I was doing.
(In my defense, though I purchased She is a Haunting, I’m not counting it in the final total because I bought it for a friend! I swear!!)
