Sunday Post #22: Lazy

Sunday PostI have been pretty lazy this week, and I haven’t done a lot of reading. I have been watching TV and videos, reading things on the Internet, playing games, and making soap, but I haven’t been reading much. I think the problem is that I am not really enthralled by the books I’m currently reading.

Bad English teacher confession time. Here goes. I am finding Walden to be quite a slog. I am going to finish it, and honestly, I’m trying, but it is not grabbing me. It’s one of those things I think I should read so I can say I read it (I know, I know… there is no such thing). I am an English teacher, though, and an American literature teacher at that. I have only ever read parts of Walden before, and those parts are good. I do find myself highlighting certain chapters heavily. But for the most part? It’s kind of boring. There, I said it. (Ducks and runs.) Seriously, though, I think we have a classic like that. We know we’re supposed to like it because it’s a classic, but we just don’t. I feel doubly bad, though, because Walden is one of the most iconic books about Massachusetts, and I have actually been there and found it to be what Thoreau did—a very special place. It was in the middle of February, and the pond was frozen over. I was actually standing on it.

Feet on Walden My current paper book, I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira is one of those slow starters. I can tell it’s about to get good. I can. But it isn’t there, yet. I am not giving up on it at this point, but if it doesn’t start showing itself pretty soon, I am. I will be sad to do so as I was looking forward to this book. I have stuff to read, however, and I don’t have a lot of time to waste on two books that aren’t doing it for me.

I am, however, enjoying All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, but it is an audio book, so it is taking me longer. On the other hand, you know it must be good if I just volunteered to do the dishes tonight so I can listen to the book while I work. I don’t do well just sitting and listening to an audio book, but if I’m busy—traveling somewhere, doing chores, making soap—I love listening to a book. I have about three hours left in that one.

In other news, all of my herbs are coming up in my herb garden!

The cilantro is especially fast. The parsley just started coming up, so it might be kind of hard to see, and the oregano is kind of tiny, so also hard to see. But those little leaves are there! I didn’t think they’d really be coming up this fast. I am pretty proud that I was able to get them to grow. I am terrible with plants. I mean really terrible.

So what is cooking in your reading life at the moment?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and things we have received. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

Sunday Post #21: School’s Out

Sunday PostI have two days of professional development at school, and then school is out for me. My children are still in school until around the end of the month, however. I am also going on several professional development trips, including a multicultural teaching institute, the Kenyon Writer’s Workshop for Teachers, and AP English Literature training. Busy summer! I have said it before, and I’ll say it again, don’t believe anyone who tells you that teachers don’t work during the summer.

I just watched the most recent adaptation of Wuthering Heights directed by Andrea Arnold. Let me save you two hours of your life. Avoid it. While the scenery is certainly atmospheric, the movie captures nothing that makes the novel special, and, like many other adaptations, completely cuts out the Cathy/Linton/Hareton storyline. I don’t know why movie adaptations consistently cut that part. It is the hopeful, redemptive part of the story. Ugh. As polarizing as that book can be, the movies are so much worse. I was bored watching this version. Bored! When it wasn’t boring, it was plain weird.

This week I started listening to All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven and narrated by Kirby Heyborne and Ariadne Meyers. Ariadne Meyers also narrated We Were Liars, which I finished last Sunday. So far, so good.

I added Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt to my TBR pile. What decided me there was seeing a really glowing recommendation, and I forget now who shared the recommendation.

I started an herb garden this weekend. I really hope something grows. My problem when I buy fresh herbs is that I don’t use them up before they wilt in the fridge. I know I could freeze them, but I also have a small freezer. I think if I can get these herbs to come up, it could be quite a lot of fun to use them in cooking. I am growing Italian parsley, sweet basil, oregano, thyme, cilantro, and sage. I have a notorious brown thumb, so wish me luck. I will post pictures if and when anything starts growing.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and things we have received. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.