November is a time when I think most people in the U.S. pause to reflect on the wonderful things they have going on in their lives–and I’m no different. 2017 has been too good to me–with my marriage to my soulmate, with a loving family whom I’ve seen often, with an amazing group of kids to teach this year. I’m beyond thankful for all the big things that really make a life worth living–but also for the small things: good coffee, and comfortable places to read interesting books, among them.
I started the month reading African Psycho, a book I had brought with me on my travels in October but hadn’t managed to finish. It was a dark read, and wasn’t one I particularly looked forward to as I slogged through schoolwork. It told the story of a murderer aspiring to live up to the legacy of a fellow killer, and while I spent some of my free time this month binge watching true crime shows like Mindhunter, this book just didn’t do a whole lot for me.
Next, I took on The Invisible Mountain, which I didn’t know a whole lot about except that it was the type of Latin American magical realism I’ve really come to love these past few years. Both my husband’s and my families live near us, which is a wonderful thing, but can also make holidays rather hectic. My husband worked on Thanksgiving, so my holiday included stopping by the fire station before my parents’ dinner, and then a make-up dinner the following day–not to mention the fabulously Friendsgiving we threw the week before. I love Thanksgiving, and every year I think a holiday centered around eating and family time is going to be relaxing, and every year I remember how busy and exhausting it can be. Therefore it was nice to be reading something I was looking forward to reading, a story of revolution and self discovery, but I found I didn’t have as much time as I’d have liked.
With December underway and the countdown to Winter Break on, I imagine I will be enduring similar conditions–Christmas shopping, wrapping up the quarter, finally finishing the paperwork nightmares of sorting out my teaching certification and and getting my name changed, and trying to be a festive and jolly person (and not the cranky brat I normally am). But hey–let’s hope I can squeeze in a few books too!
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