Monday Malarkey

Recent arrivals:

• Wow, No Thank You (essays) by Samantha Irby
• The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin

Both were purchased after I read several reviews of each. I was tempted to buy Wow, No Thank You based on the cover alone. I love that cover (my favorite color is apple green) and I would happily frame it. But, I didn't buy it on impulse. Instead, I read the reviews, added it to my wish list, then finally decided to buy it because everyone was describing the content as humorous and, boy, don't we all need a laugh, right about now? The City We Became . . . similar. The cover caught my eye and every time a review has turned up, I've read it and thought, "That sounds good." It took several reviews to convince me to buy a copy, though. And, I likely won't get to it, right away, although I'm already reading Wow, No Thank You.


Books finished since last Malarkey:

• The Paris Hours by Alex George
• Psi-Man: Mind-Force Warrior (Psi-Man #1) by David Peters, aka Peter David

Quite a contrast between these two, a gorgeous piece of literary historical-fiction writing and a cheesy1990s series book with a psychic who has telekinetic powers, respectively. I plan to review both, this week, so I'll say no more.


Currently reading:

• Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby
• The Prisoner's Wife by Maggie Brookes

Whoever wrote about Wow, No Thank You was right. I've gotten a lot of smiles and a few actual chuckles from her writing, so far. I always mean to keep something with short chapters like a book of essays, short stories, or poetry going, but that idea often manages to gang aft agley. I'm enjoying having something to dip into just a little every night. The Prisoner's Wife is WWII historical fiction based on a true story and while I found the romance has moved a little quickly for my taste, I am rapt. It's one of the best WWII novels I've read in a while.


Last week's posts:

• Fiona Friday - Contemplative (cat photo)

Only the one post and not a single review, last week, thanks to the fact that I was having an arthritis attack. I still am, but it's improved. I can at least type, now. I had a pinkie finger that screamed if I typed so I avoided writing, as much as possible. Hopefully, it will continue to improve, this week. 

In other news:

We started the second season of Life on Mars, last week. Husband looked ahead to see how many seasons there are (just the two) and how it ends and he said, "It's weird. Not sure I understand it." So, at this point, we're watching it to finish watching it without high hopes for how the series ends. 

This was not a big TV-watching week, otherwise. I watched a single episode of Upload but Huzzybuns thinks it's incredibly stupid and drifts away if I turn it on. Well . . . it is stupid, but it's a good kind of stupid, the kind of mindless entertainment you turn on when you don't want to have to think. 

And, we watched A Streetcar Named Desire, the latest free streaming production from the National Theatre. When I watched the preview video, I was certain I wouldn't be able to make it through the entire play because of Gillian Anderson's horrendous Southern accent (she plays a Mississippian . . . and calls New Orleans "New OrLEENs", which is how I pronounced it before I moved here. Nope, it's N'awlins). But, I confess I was sucked in by the drama and energy of the story. It's so very, very raw, tragic, appalling and utterly fascinating because it's so real. In fact, I sobbed at the ending. Poor Blanche. She really was a hot mess.

This was also the second week of my Coursera course on Postwar Modern Expressionism (taught by a conservator and art historian from MoMA) and the first week we had a hands-on assignment. It's fairly time-intensive, with plenty of reading, instructional videos, and, of course, the painting — which was done in about 6 stages. I am absolutely loving it.

And, finally, this was the first week I've actually gone anywhere besides the farm for the weekly produce box, gas station, drive-through pharmacy, or drive-through restaurants in about 3 months, maybe longer. I needed to stock up on the fizzy flavored water I drink as a substitute for Coke, so I made a Target run. Since I haven't been to the grocery store (Huz's job) or any other store in so long, this was the first time I got a glimpse of the empty paper aisles. Oh. Still? I really had no idea it's remained difficult acquiring paper towels and toilet paper. I bought a 27-pack of toilet paper about a week before the Panic Hoarding Event and we're still doing fine, but I'm a little concerned about our paper towel situation. We may have to work on using rags and towels for clean-up, instead. In truth, we probably use too many paper products and should do that, anyway.

It was good to get out of the house but I'm back in lockdown for at least a month or two, now, apart from my usual low- or no-contact errands. I miss normal life but now that I'm used to lockdown life, I'm really enjoying the burst of creative energy, the chores we're accomplishing that we normally don't get around to because we run here or there on weekends, and watching the pandemic garden grow so beautifully. A friend of mine said there's "a richness" to life during COVID-19 and I must agree. You can look at it from a glass half-full or half-empty viewpoint. I'm finding mine is half full.

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