I am really glad that I read this book. Seriously, I think it has reinforced the way I think about money - as a tool for comfort, but not happiness itself. Of course, it’s easy for me to say as a member of the upper-middle class, that money isn’t everything. I am blessed and fortunate, and I want to maintain financial stability and frugality as I get older and move into adulthood.
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What I’ve Been Reading
Hi! I’ve been MIA. I apologize. I’ve been a bit of a trainwreck lately. I am a living testament that people really should take their meds… Also, I did this thing called applying to college, and that in and of itself was borderline traumatic, but I’m here and alive (mostly). Anyways, as always I’ve been reading. I’ll start with what I’m currently reading. Currently Reading The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck What a classic? Look at me, being all cultured at what not? Who even is she? I find 20th century literature so much more approachable than literature from earlier time periods. I’ve been enjoying this book a ton,…
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Book Review: The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Can some please explain to me why everyone and their mom loves this book? I just don’t get it. Like, really, I just don’t get it. This book felt unspecial and frankly boring. Honestly, I’m glad I read it, so I can say that I read it. But overall, I’m underwhelmed and unimpressed. Some back story: When I was younger, I used to go to a camp called Great Books Summer Program. It’s truly one of the best experiences of my life thus far, and it’s where I met some of my closest and best friends. Hello, Eve and…
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Book Review: The Year of Less
The Year of Less by Cait Flanders Rating: ★★★★☆ This book convinced me to stop buying sh*t. That in and of itself is an accomplishment. Really. If you don’t believe me, you should see my amazon account … Yikes. Anyways, I really enjoyed this book. One, I *love* memoirs that are narrated by the author. It just feel that authors know exactly where to put the emphasis and it just works. Ya know? I’m a big fan. Since lockdown, I’ve been doing a lot more chores. Normally, during the school year, I barely have time to sleep, so my parents are pretty lax about my not doing chores. In lockdown, my…
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What I’ve Been Reading No. 1
I’ve been reading a lot lately. //ONE// The Results Are In for Remote Learning: It Didn’t Work Wall Street Journal I thought it was super interesting to hear about other parents’ and students’ experiences with home based learning. I haven’t enjoyed it, but it is nice to have more freedom in choosing when and how I want to work. On the other hand, though, I miss having instruction and lectures from my teachers. Without their teaching, I get so lost so quickly in my school work. //TWO// The New World Disorder The Economist I’m a big fan of the UN. I keep a miniature UN flag on my desk. I…
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Book Review: The Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo
The Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo Rating: ★★★☆☆ Francesco Cirillo reminds me of a really strict teacher. He has a very particular, inflexible way of doing things and expects everyone to follow. In essence, my way or the highway. I never really liked teachers like that, so I wasn’t crazy about this book. But, I do like the Pomodoro Technique as a method for time management. FYI: One Pomodoro is equal to 25 minutes of work and a 2-3 minute break afterwards. I didn’t like that Cirillo had so many strict rules. For example, A Pomodoro is indivisible. If a Pomodoro is interrupted by someone or something, that Pomodoro should be…
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Book Review: Where’d You Go, Bernadatte by Maria Semple
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple Rating: ★★★★★ (4.5 stars/5 stars) I LOVED THIS BOOK! The book is mostly a collection of letters plus some narration of the days leading up to and after Bernadette Fox disappears. The parts of the book that are Bernadette’s letters are straight up, laugh-out-loud, downright HILARIOUS. These were some of my favorite parts of the book Sometimes these cars have Idaho plates. And I think, What the hell is a car from Idaho doing here? Then I remember, That’s right, we neighbor Idaho. I’ve moved to a state that neighbors Idaho. And any life that might still be left in me kind of goes…
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Book Review: The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer Rating: ★★★★☆ I really enjoyed this book! It was a fun read – I just genuinely enjoyed this book. I’d recommend it. It didn’t blow by socks off like Circe by Madeline Miller, and I don’t think it’ll stick with me as much as Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld has. A couple of things I really enjoyed about this book: It features a number of different narrators. The book revolves around the protagonist, Greer, who idolizes the second wave feminist (think Gloria Steinem), Faith Frank. I’m not a supperr huge fan of switching narrators especially when I feel it gets in the way of the…
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Battle of the Books: The Bullet Journal Method vs. Dot Journaling
Recently, I got into bullet journaling. In quarantine and remote learning, I quickly learned that my beloved Lilly Pultizer Agenda just wasn’t what I needed. I need a place where I could keep all of my tasks and random thoughts. Basically, a place to brain dump. I had dabbled bullet journalling earlier. In October 2018, I bought a superrr dot grid journal from Walmart on a whim. I *hated* how my spreads looked. I was so frustrated that they didn’t look like the picture prefect spreads I saw on tumblr and pinterest. Long story short, I quit. I’ve been using my bullet journal (bujo) off and on since then, mostly as…
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Book Review: Make Trouble by Cecile Richards
Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead by Cecile Richards Rating: ★★★★☆ Some Background I had never heard of Cecile Richards until April 28, 2020. I was watching a virtual livestreamed interview of Stacey Abrams, the former gubernatorial candidate for governor in Georgia. Her ultra-corrupt Republican opponent, Brain Kemp, stole the election by voter suppression. It was shameful! This fact was kindly pointed out by Cecile Richards during the interview. As soon as Richards called this out, I was like “Who is this older Southern white lady who is totally hip to the goings-ons?!?” Turns out it was Cecile Richards, daughter of Ann Richards, the late governor…
