Colette Denali > Recent Status Updates

Reading aloud to Vanessa as friends of ours are on the Isle of Skye; we are dreaming of the sea air too!

we read yesterday on the train back to Toronto, but I forgot to update our progress!

We read yesterday evening after a sunny, happy day at a powwow with friends. We are loving this novel so far!

(That’s in spite the occasional weirdly inaccurate academic tidbits - what adjunct gets a sabbatical before even going tenure track?! A semester away from teaching makes more sense. Her own office too! How do I get hired at this lax university?!!)

My friend Julianne recommended this book to me as a Bedtime Booktime selection. It’s a perfect fit!

Vanessa & I love this line:

“Her married sister always said serial monogamy was like being a slow-cooker ho.”

As an adolescent, I loved Gauguin's work. He was one of the few artists I encountered who painted women of color. My coming out years are all tied up with my admiration for his work. (I even had a Swatch style watch from MFA Boston!)

In retrospect, I feel gross about my former affection for Gauguin's brown girls. Reviews of this book describe it as apologist. We'll see, but so far, I agree with that assessment.

This book has a journalistic tone; it's an easy read. The author doesn't ignore the obvious racism/sexism inherent in Americans adopting Chinese girls, but her privilege regularly flares. There's a disturbing paragraph when Demick describes a family slaughtering a duck through the creepy lens of her privilege.

Separated identical twins? What a hook! I hope the families are receiving ongoing therapeutic support...

I've admired Kristen Kish since she was a contestant on Top Chef. I am really enjoying her as the new host of the show. So, a show I like + queer memoir? Sold!

So far though, the writing is abysmal. It isn't engaging whatsoever. I'm really, really hoping it picks up a bit or I will be setting it aside. Celebrity memoirs can be amazing, but they *need* good editing.

Began reading this with Vanessa at dinner yesterday after interacting w so much marketing for this book!

So far, I find the narration extremely annoying. Am I just too old? The story is intriguing but I sincerely hope the protagonist improves her writing style. I know it's her journal, but it actually feels tedious to read.

the entitlement and delusions of white adoptive parents of kids of color… oof.

More reading this evening

I’m a modicum less sick today, so I read to Vanessa a bit