Welcome to Litsy!

A job worth doing, a job well done. No black ice on my watch!
Back into Survival Math for the #PatreonBookClub coming up this Sunday, 2/21! Check it out! https://bit.ly/2FFnZmt​
Our first book, for #blackhistorymonth and for #pdxhistory! #bookclub #litcommunity

Mitchell Jackson pushes the boundaries of what a memoir can be, bouncing back and forth between phases of his life while employing historical examples to gain insight into his own behavior. His self-examination of his chronic infidelity was refreshingly honest, going so far as to interview his exes so they could speak to it directly. One of the most analytic and self-reflective memoirs I've read- I will definitely be seeking out more of his work.

Jackson has a beautiful way with words, even as he‘s detailing super harsh realities. He writes powerfully about race (e.g., “whiteness” as America‘s true civil religion - wow). He also spends a loooong time interrogating his own history of mistreating women who were his romantic partners. I wasn‘t always into that, but if men continue to be held accountable for their bad behavior, they‘re allowed to talk about and analyze it, I suppose. 😜

I'm trying so hard to focus on reading these days but i'm struggling. I've been interviewing a bunch for a new job, had an offer I declined last week, am getting an offer tomorrow, and then taking a final interview for yet another job Wednesday. And stressed about passing my job on to the next person. I can't focus!

This jumped out at me: the finesse with which the author is able to explain what Mitzrayim (Egypt) means to the Jewish people. Later in this chapter, he writes, “...I was thankful that from this stoop in a land UNpromised, I sensed the advent of another Mitzrayim, the boon of a chance to become” (24). Mitzrayim was the catalyst for the Jewish people to become a nation, and spiritually, is the catalyst for an individual to become his true self.

To what extent does it hurt or help a group of people to know their destiny? What about an individual? Would it push people towards change and hard work or towards laziness and complacency? What would be the ramifications of that?

Winnie wants you to know i'm reading survival math and it's really complex and interesting!!! She's not grumpy, just drowsy!

So excited and honored to having been given a copy of this book from the author himself. My students (and I) follow Berit Gordon‘s model of Readers‘ Workshop (see: No More Fake Reading). We time ourselves reading for 10 minutes and double it to see how many pages, minimally, we should be reading everyday. This book? I got to page 3. In 10 minutes. #humbled #excitedforthechallenge

IT IS THE MOST EPIC OF NEW BOOK DAYS! Here are some of today‘s new books! And there‘s a whole bunch more out now I‘m really excited about, including DAISY JONES & THE SIX, FRIEND IS A GIFT YOU GIVE YOURSELF, MANIC PIXIE DREAM BOY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, WOMAN 99, STRANGER DIARIES, and SISSY:A COMING-OF-GENDER STORY by Jacob Tobia. What are you excited about? 📚❤️📚(EDIT: Somehow I included THE BIRD KING and didn‘t notice. It‘s out next week, sorry.)