Emma > Recent Status Updates

For anyone who has struggled, this book has actually been really helpful so far. Chapter 3 is a bit triggering but it still offers some solutions.

This book keeps incorrectly referring to the NYBG as the Bronx Botanical Gardens and it’s driving me bonkers.

2022 Goals Reflection

1. Start an annual tradition of re-reading Emma on my birthday - Done! Excited to read it again
2. Allow myself to take a break from reading - I could be better
3. Review 2 books a month -10/12
4. Read one classic novel a month- done
5. Read at least one book by a nonwhite author/mo- done
6. Read one nonfiction book/mo - done
7. Read one book translated from another language/mo - 6/12

Good lord. How many times can Emma Straub insert the phrases “I’m a New Yorker” or “as a New Yorker” etc. So far the plot is enjoyable, but this is such an annoying tick. And I silly this as a New Yorker ;)

Preparing myself to be disappointed by the Netflix adaptation.

I picked this up on a whim from Libby and it’s BAD. The first essay about COVID is interesting. But the second essay about MeToo feels disconnected and goes off the rails. The author seems overly sympathetic to sexual predators.

Either I was spoiled by The Mystery of Mrs. Christie or this book really is that bad because I don’t find any character sympathy and the plot of this is quite a slog.

February Goals Update:
1. I read and HEAVILY annotated Emma on my birthday weekend and it was better than I remembered. To top it off, I watched the movie (Gwyneth’s version of course). I’m looking forward to doing it again next year.
2. Again, hard to quantify, but I’ve made time for other activities this month.
3. I reviewed The Maid by Nita Pride and The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. Plus Emma, as a treat.

This book chooses to give all credit for the discovery of the DNA double helix to Watson and Crick- not cool. Justice for Rosalind Franklin.

January Goals Update Pt 1 (Goals in my profile)

1. Watch this space in February

2. Progress here is hard to quantify but I have made the time to do some crocheting this month so that’s a start.

3. I reviewed The Smartest Guys in the Room and Summer Country, both of which I very much enjoyed.

4. I read Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery; not my favorite of hers but enjoyable nonetheless

January Goals Update Pt 1 (Goals in my profile)

1. Watch this space in February

2. Progress here is hard to quantify but I have made the time to do some crocheting this month so that’s a start.

3. I reviewed The Smartest Guys in the Room and Summer Country, both of which I very much enjoyed.

4. I read Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery; not my favorite of hers but enjoyable nonetheless

January Goals Update Pt 1 (Goals in my profile)

1. Watch this space in February

2. Progress here is hard to quantify but I have made the time to do some crocheting this month so that’s a start.

3. I reviewed The Smartest Guys in the Room and Summer Country, both of which I very much enjoyed.

4. I read Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery; not my favorite of hers but enjoyable nonetheless

This book has more action that the first, so plot wise I’m enjoying it. However, there are so many perspective shifts and we don’t even see Cerulia (now going by Kestrel) until 95 pages in, despite her being the main character.

You can tell a man wrote this because within the first hour of her journey Charlie is clocking major red flags left and right, yet when her driver stops for gas/ coffee she stays makes zero attempt to get out of the car.

I love listening to this book learning about Cary Grant while also taking a walk down memory lane to when I watched his movies with my family as a child.

I really appreciate the acknowledgment to the Italian internment in this. Even though it was relatively minor compared to other actions of the US government, I’ve rarely heard it discussed outside my own family.

Jane Austen plus economics? I’m in. It’s fascinating to read about the raw strategy behind Austen’s characters decisions.

One of my favorites aspects of the audiobook are the recordings of Justice Ginsburg’s speeches.

The photographs int his book are gorgeous and the anecdotes, both personal and historical, are fascinating.

This fees like the author reached into my brain and transcribed my inner monologue. Janet’s descriptions of indescribable sadness are all too relatable.

One of my favorite niche genres is historical fiction about women living in boarding houses set in NYC so I’m excited to get into this one and learn more about the real Barbizon.

About halfway though the audiobook. I appreciate President Obama’s insight on his decision making process regarding the (last) economic crisis However, his descriptions of the crisis itself and the mechanics of what caused it are rather verbose and don’t add anything to the narrative.(although I acknowledge if you don’t know a lot about it this is a good overview).