In troubled times, sometimes the best thing you can do is open a book and pretend you live somewhere else. In these particular troubled times, I have a feeling almost anywhere else would do—even Mordor. Now feels like a really good time to climb into a long fantasy series and never climb out. But forContinue reading “In which I enthusiastically recommend an advice book from the 1930s”
Category Archives: Nonfiction
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Hi, my name is Kathleen, and I like stuff. Not all stuff, admittedly—my problem areas are clothing (specifically dresses) and books. I mean, that’s the reason I started this blog: my overwhelming piles of unread books. I’m happy to say that since I read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, those piles haveContinue reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo”
Two books about diseases and public health
I’ve mentioned a few times that my research focus during my MA was disease (specifically rabies) and the Victorian novel. I’m still very interested in diseases in general, especially how we construct narratives of disease and how these narratives—often deeply ingrained—influence our ideas about public health. Old (research) habits die hard: whenever I see a newContinue reading “Two books about diseases and public health”
A Whole Shelf of Dating Books, or the Beginning of My Charlotte Lucas Year
I turned twenty-seven last week. I’m also single. Fans of Jane Austen will know that this puts me firmly in Charlotte Lucas territory. In Pride and Prejudice, Charlotte is the best friend of Elizabeth Bennet, our protagonist. Charlotte is described as around twenty-seven, plain, but sensible and practical. Charlotte is really more notable for what she isn’t;Continue reading “A Whole Shelf of Dating Books, or the Beginning of My Charlotte Lucas Year”
Twentysomething by Robin Marantz Henig and Samantha Henig
A few months ago, I started to notice I had this strange feeling: like I was kind of stuck. After a few years of moving cities, getting and leaving jobs, and finishing degrees, I’ve now been in the same job and apartment for about two years. This is the longest I’ve stayed anywhere since I finishedContinue reading “Twentysomething by Robin Marantz Henig and Samantha Henig”
Kathleen Keenan 