JJoyce Yu > Recent Status Updates

My paperback purchase in London! Found a copy in a used bookstore. Trying to see if I can see the trace of inspiration for mortifying ordeal/irresistible urge. So far so good!

I am once again LOVING London. This time taking a special interest in books and antiques. I love the density and the little shops and cafes. 6 days is too short! (Especially when i spent one full day of 6 golfing with Alan :p)

Such a c t i o n

Omg “this is no misfortune, but to bear it true to yourself, is good fortune.” Is this ancient Roman’s peloton instructor “you don’t have to, you get to!” On a related note, I felt like I almost threw up at the gym today. But I bore it true to myself. So is good fortune 🙂‍↕️

I hope I remember to read book 4 when I’m dying. It must be comforting to read. Crazy this was a popular read in the trenches in wwi >_<

On a more serious note, on book 2 of meditations, Marcus aurelius reaching to me from 2 thousand years ago to tell me to be less annoyed with people 🥺

Just finished the introduction. Reminds me I gotta read that Roman history book I picked out out of the $5 bin at a The Strand booth outside of Central Park! Can you tell I just love that I got that book out of a The Strand kiosk outside of Central Park? More than I actually wanna read the book? 😆 I forgot to mention in whistler how much I loved New York in that book.

So incredible.. obviously more affecting than the d -day history because I sort of, well I did also live through that day, even if I was on the other side of the world. I guess I was 9. Guess I was pretty dumb for a 9 yo cos it took me a while to realize the buildings were real and not from a movie. I remember my uncle going “holy fuck!” At the tv… such a good record tho… when memory becomes history…

Wow. Such an amazing book. I teared up at the end. But just such an amazing read. Might be my favorite of the year. Right after irresistible urge too!! I thought that was my favorite of the year! Also finished the labyrinth series this year… big year for me! Wow. Eddie… such a good read. I need to read more of Ann patchett! I did love tom lake as well but don’t really remember the other one. Wow. Still amazed

Ugh. But have to admit.. so much heroism in this book.. which the pessimist in me immediately goes: see they don’t last as long as the assholes and the assholes get to reproduce more and we get more assholes.

Like lessons in chemistry meets a Kristin Hannah read? The fact that this is read by Julia whelan too. Maybe lessons in chemistry meets any of the Reese’s book club picks haha. Alan seems to be enjoying this more than me. I think it’s ok.

It’s kind of crazy how on re-read (not counting all the excepts I’ve reread) it still holds such narrative tension. Like you know the caleb all along but you’re still scared for his reaction, and you know they end up together but its still harrowing to get through post reveal then post wedding. Like any moment she could still OD and he could still go to jail lol. Really good writing in a v diff way haha.

“… for the first time in a long time, I remembered that I loved her, or more precisely, I remembered she was. Person who had lived her own autonomous life full of mistakes and disappointments and judgements and thwarted love.” p. 162

Why can’t I imagine what life would have been like if my parents stayed married? I do know for sure though we would NOT have been good together.

Ugh the morbid curiosity strikes again and this is not good for my mental health. 9/11 feels more horrific the older I get. Probably makes sense cos now I’m in the same life stage as all those people working in those corporate offices. It’s just so so sad. And preventable? I don’t know. Like how I always feel in times like this: our species is cooked

Enjoying this so much. I just love Ann patchett’s writing. This does remind me of tom lake, which was also such a good vibe. I’m liking reading physical books!!! Ruh roh!

Meep ;(

Trying to keep track of what Caleb/stalker does to orla and why. Caleb is so psycho!!

I’m really enjoying the book (is there something about reading a physical copy? I also immensely enjoyed irresistible urge book 2). Ann patchettes writing is like a cozy blanket.

Omg.. what is the moral of this story?! 😵‍💫😵‍💫

Poor girl. Men are dogs

It’s so twisted… I keep forgetting Caleb is the stalker and feel bad for her when she has to see Caleb even though it was Caleb all along anyway! It’s so good gah.

Sadder than I remembered..

This reminds me of my self help book phase where everything sounds so good but I just do not have the motivation to implement anything. Also like a lot of self help book this also reads really snake oily which turns me off.

Jedi mind tricks! The Star Wars references are everywhere! Let’s see. So far we’ve learned about mirroring and labeling negative emotions. These all feel manipulative af dude. I go to my go-to wish: why can’t there be a planet where betas with extremely beta auras thrive. I just walk in, immediately disclose all my positions and deepest fears, and hope to be treated with fairness and respect? 👉👈

Recc from new guy at work. Seems interesting.

Wow I’m done. I can’t believe this was Jane Austen’s favorite novel. I’d have to agree with the misogynists I think Austen is way better! Maybe I’m not looking at it right. I think Austen’s stories are better but maybe Evelina is a more cutting social commentary? Evelina did feel a lot more helpless due to the various behaviors of the men around her. She had 0 agency. Maybe this is the msg Austen liked?

Also isn’t the dad a piece of shit?! Why are they so solicitous towards him!! This entire book made no sense to me 😵‍💫