Quick Lit April 2021 Archives

A Place Like Mississippi: A Journey Through a Real and Imagined Literary Landscape

by W. Ralph Eubanks

I downloaded this on a whim, and what a lovely surprise! Having just read and researched Zora Neale Hurston and the Harlem Renaissance, I enjoyed catching all of the references in this expansive-yet-accessible exploration of Southern literary history. Eubanks connects the contributions of giants past and present—from William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and Richard Wright all the way up to contemporary authors like Jesmyn Ward and Natasha Trethewey—to Mississippi's culture, landscape and history. I enjoyed learning more about authors I've read and getting to know authors that were unfamiliar to me, and vicariously exploring a state I've only visited once. While I loved the audiobook narrated by James Shippey, the hardcover has gorgeous photos that surely enhance the reading experience.

Sorrow and Bliss

by Meg Mason

Sorrow and Bliss is a mix of Where’d You Go Bernadette and Fleabag, with a dash of Bridget Jones’ Diary. 40 year old Martha is coping with a lifelong, unnamed mental illness. She can be cutting and she completely lacks a filter, wreaking havoc on those around her. Avoiding a heavy tone, Mason explores the nuances of severe mental illness, providing an inside look at how it feels to live within its grasp. When Martha teams up with her saucy sister Ingrid, prepare for side-splitting shenanigans. TW for severe mental illness, suicide, substance abuse and longing for children.

A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload

by Cal Newport

From the publisher: "Modern knowledge workers communicate constantly. Their days are defined by a relentless barrage of incoming messages and back-and-forth digital conversations--a state of constant, anxious chatter in which nobody can disconnect, and so nobody has the cognitive bandwidth to perform substantive work. There was a time when tools like email felt cutting edge, but a thorough review of current evidence reveals that the 'hyperactive hive mind' workflow they helped create has become a productivity disaster, reducing profitability and perhaps even slowing overall economic growth. Equally worrisome, it makes us miserable. Humans are simply not wired for constant digital communication. We have become so used to an inbox-driven workday that it's hard to imagine alternatives. But they do exist. Cal Newport makes the case that our current approach to work is broken, then lays out a series of principles and concrete instructions for fixing it. Above all else, important communication is streamlined, and inboxes and chat channels are no longer central to how work unfolds. A World Without Email will convince you that the time has come for bold changes, and will walk you through exactly how to make them happen."

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

by Anne Lamott

In Anne's own words: "Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.'" A modern classic, and a must-read for writers.

Brood: A Novel

by Jackie Polzin

Will and I thought about getting chickens for years but never went for it, and it turns out chickens are really hard to keep alive. The nameless main character manages to care for her brood of four chickens through a Minnesota winter, a summer tornado, and the random ailments that strike chickens down without explanation or warning. While pouring herself into her new hobby, she's also coping with heavy grief and disappointment due to a recent miscarriage and the possibility of a cross-country move. If you're in the mood for a quiet, introspective book that's on the shorter side, this might be right for you.

Second First Impressions

by Sally Thorne

From the publisher: "Position Vacant: Two ancient old women residing at Providence Retirement Villa seek male assistant for casual exploitation and good-natured humiliation. Duties include boutique shopping, fast-food fetching, and sincerely rendered flattery. Good looks a bonus—but we aren't picky. An advertisement has been placed (again!) by the wealthy and eccentric Parloni Sisters. The salary is generous and the employers are 90 years old, so how hard could the job be? Well, none have lasted longer than a week. Most boys leave in tears. Ruthie Midona will work in Providence's front office, and be at the Parloni's beck and call, forever. That's sort of her life plan. If Ruthie can run the place in her almost-retired bosses' absence, with no hijinks/hiccups, she has a shot at becoming the new manager. She might also be able to defend her safe little world from Prescott Development, the new buyer of the prime site. Maybe after all that, she can find a cute guy to date. All she needs to do is stay serious—and that's what she does best. Until, one day, someone dazzling blows in to town."

Quick Lit April 2021

A Place Like Mississippi: A Journey Through a Real and Imagined Literary Landscape

Sorrow and Bliss

A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Brood: A Novel

Second First Impressions

a gateway

to reliable joy this summer

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summer reading starts May 16th