Here’s a bit of what I’ve been reading lately.

Bad Feminist

I’ve heard much about Roxane Gay, mainly because, like me, she’s an academic who writes for a more general population. Bad Feminist is the first book I’ve read from Gay, and I’m glad I finally took the plunge. According to Gay’s definition, I would probably be categorized as a bad feminist as well. Not all of Gay’s essays are specifically about feminism, but they’re still engaging, and I love her easy, conversational style and her sense of humor. I already have her memoir, Hunger, downloaded onto my Kindle.

Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So

So here’s the funny part…it didn’t even occur to me that Mark Vonnegut, M.D. was Kurt Vonnegut’s son when I saw his name on the cover. A friend recommended the book to me so I decided to read it from word of mouth. This memoir is Mark Vonnegut’s sometimes meandering account of his life with his famous dad, his life with mental illness, and his life as a pediatrician who still struggles with mental illness. For anyone dealing with mental illness who thinks mental illness has to be the sole defining aspect of their lives, this memoir may help you think otherwise.

The Story of the Jews–Part I

I freely admit that I adore Simon Schama. I love his books. I love the documentaries he hosts. I love that he loves art. Simon Schama is one cool dude as far as I’m concerned. I’ve read several of his previous books, so perhaps it’s odd that this Jewish person (me) hadn’t yet read his history of the Jewish people. I’m Jewish because my mother is Jewish, though we’re more cultural Jews than religious (in case you didn’t know, Jewish people trace their lineage through their mother. You know how it goes. You always know who your mother is. Your father, not so much…). While I’ve learned bits and pieces about the religious side of Judaism over the years, Schama’s well-researched tome helped me connect the dots about my heritage. And I love that you can hear Schama’s voice come through the pages. I haven’t yet seen the documentary that goes along with The Story of the Jews, but I’ll definitely be watching.

Small Victories

Sometimes, I need to read something inspirational. Sometimes, I need someone to admit, you know what, life is hard, people drool, but we suck it up and do the best we can anyway because we’re capable of doing better than we are. When I need that kick in the pants, I read Anne Lamott. Her book Small Victories was just what I needed when I needed it. After a tough summer that I still haven’t emotionally recovered from, Lamott reminds me that it’s okay to feel bad when things go wrong but keep going anyway because small victories matter in the long run.