My Summer Reading Blog

Hello! My feet are touching grass and it’s a breezy 82 right now in Kansas City, where I’m grading AP Research Academic Papers for the College Board. I’m on my lunch break right now, for which I have a whole hour, so now is a great time to update the blog, as I have been conditioned to eat in 25 minutes or less (read: i have actual free time at lunch here! Imagine!).

I finished Isola last night. As i stated previously, i really wasn’t expecting to love it. I just thought it would be another in my ever expanding list of books i read for no reason other than to continue finding evidence that women have always had a bad time, actually. But i really did love it! The language is beautiful and descriptive, and it doesn’t shy away from the heavier or sadder moments. I’m fascinated by Marguerite de La Rocque now, and i will definitely be googling her at length, later. Without going into spoiler territory, I will say that i felt validated by her sense of agency when she had no reason to have one. The story was compelling from beginning to end, and I didn’t find a single part of it to be slow or boring.

I’m really glad I started this blog and this challenge. On days when I’ve been tempted to not read due to whatever internal or external forces have convinced me that I shouldn’t or can’t, I haven’t regretted reading anyway. I’m getting back into the habit. Tonight, I’ll be starting The Starving Saints, which I think is about cannibal nuns!

Extra credit: I also finished Cleopatra last night! I only had an issue with one thing, which was the ending. If you know me and want to find out more about why, feel free to ask via text or in person! I don’t want to spoil this one either.

Isola: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cleopatra: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️