In 2021, I read approximately 27,071 pages across 105 books. Per habit, tradition, ritual, etc., I’ve compiled some of my favorites here for your perusal. I hope these stories share something of hope from my bookshelf (and reading community) to yours. *Some of these words are taken from my Goodreads reviews, lest you believe I’mContinue reading “2021 in books”
Tag Archives: Books
2020 in Books
This year was the year of story. I clung to the narratives I found veined across paper when it felt like my own was crumbling like so much sand between my fingers. In the midst of the wilderness — silences, lengthy depressive episodes, pixels, temptation, lonely nights and lonely walks, difficult but needed good-byes, aContinue reading “2020 in Books”
collected thoughts, viii
Summer is haying season. The field out back has been mowed up (RIP bird nests), grass swathed in semi-neat windrows left to dry and ready for baling. And no, I did not know most of that off-hand. Had to look it up, and it only took me eight years of living here to wonder atContinue reading “collected thoughts, viii”
collected thoughts, i
This morning I hit the snooze button for an hour and a half before writing a draft for a paper in one hour instead of two and a half. I’m still tired and the coffee isn’t helping. * Sometimes all you can do is write one or two lines at a time. * I believeContinue reading “collected thoughts, i”
some musings on reading & technology & God
My mother offered to buy me a Kindle as a Christmas present. I poured out my thanks but turned her down. “But you won’t have a lot of space in your tiny D.C. apartment for books,” she said. “I’ll pile my books on the floor if I have to,” I said. “It’ll be easier toContinue reading “some musings on reading & technology & God”
2019 in books
2019 was the year I rediscovered my love for leisure reading, but a few of these titles were still read for a grade, ha. In the order I read them, here are some of the best texts I spent time with this year (out of fifty-nine… narrowing it down was hard) and a little blurbContinue reading “2019 in books”
Abra
Lord, show me my sin: of when I have said too much and when I have not said enough. Lord, show me my darkness: not so I can wallow in shame but so I can fight for the light. Lord, teach me love: patience and kindness and trust do not envy, do not boast. Lord,Continue reading “Abra”
Days 50 – 53
Day 50: Shiver When I discover “Evensong” is on the itinerary for tonight, I let go a heavy sigh I hadn’t realized was building up in my lungs. *** The Perky Peacock is a tiny coffee shop built into an old lookout tower by the river. They’ve run out of ice. No iced coffees forContinue reading “Days 50 – 53”
Days 19 – 24
Day 19: Pentecost I receive communion from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The bread and wine are sweet as if to counteract the bitterness I’ve felt toward God for some time now. A man on the street sings a strange rendition of “Hallelujah” and rails about the heartless passersby who won’t even stop to smile atContinue reading “Days 19 – 24”
body
We had class in the dark and suddenly I wished we could do everything in the dark. Vulnerable, safe, I almost fell asleep. She read aloud to us, her children, her brood, gathered around her with pencils poised and eyelids fluttering. She read to us about a man who used to run, who felt theContinue reading “body”
Eliana Chow 