It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Catching Up

Last week on Monday I was incredibly ill, and I neglected my blog. Well, really I neglected my blog all week. That’s what being sick will do for me—ruin my creative process.

And create ever larger stacks of papers for me to grade.

So I’m back.

What I finished:

The Farseekers, Book Two of the Obernewtyn series by Isobelle Carmody

I enjoyed this one as much or more than the first. I guess the whole several-years-between-books thing can really do wonders for a writer’s styles and idea bank. Again, I am quite grateful that I didn’t begin this series at the date of its inception. This is one of life’s gifts to me: the knowledge that all the books in the series are already out or will be out before I finish the previous books. Unfortunately, our library does not have the rest of the series (another challenge of reading international authors), so I will be looking to purchase the remaining installments.

The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr

Hamlet’s Blackberry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age by William Powers

I’m lumping these books together, as they share a similar theme and as I read them in quick succession. Carr and Powers have helped me define some of the vague discomfort I have felt with the rapid growth of online technology. Both books are balanced in their discussions of the many benefits and concerns of our new digital age. I will be re-reading sections of these and reflecting for a long time.

What I’m currently reading:

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

What I’m listening to:

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond

As you can see, I’m on a nonfiction kick right now. This is the cycle of my reading life, I believe. I binge-read fiction and then feel tired and hungry for some good socially-conscious learning.

What I’m Reading Again:

I’m re-reading The Divine Comedy because my students are reading The Inferno right now. This is one of my favorite literary works, one that affects me profoundly. Look for meditations on this epic poem soon.

What are you reading this week?

“It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It’s a great way to keep track of what you’re reading and see what others are reading each week.