I’ve Been… Social Distancing Edition

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• Setting up my life so that I can run it from my apartment. During our first week of social distancing/self isolation it felt like many people were talking about learning to speak Latvian/writing the great American novel/ arranging their pantry alphabetically in all their new spare time. I was running around making sure I had some non-perishables in the house, trying to get my insurance company to authorize me stocking up on my prescriptions as per CDC recommendation (long story short: it can’t be done), and setting up zoom meetings so I could work from home. In other words it’s been more stressful than usual in every practical way.
• Grateful that we have the internet. Because how miserable must this stuff have been before we could complain about it to our family and friends 24/7?! Seriously, I am grateful to have something that keeps me connected to a lot of people even while we’re physically isolating ourselves. It helps to know that we’re in this together and  that we’re all anxious and frustrated.
• Thrilled with some of the creative ways that people have come up with to cheer each other up and entertain each other. Look for more about that in my next blog post.
• Worried about high risk family/friends and people in general.

And in non virus news:

• Rereading His Dark Materials trilogy. I’ve been meaning to reread these for years, but I had planned on it before the TV series aired. I didn’t get around to it obviously, so I’m doing it now. I haven’t read it since I first read the books as a teen. I’m really interested in how some huge scientific and philosophical concepts are incorporated into what is intended as a children’s story.
• Binging Jamestown. It’s not great. It’s not even very good most of the time, but it’s good enough to keep me watching.

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Upcoming Film Adaptations That I’m Excited For

For That Artsy Reader Girl’s Top Ten Tuesday:

May 14: Page to Screen Freebie (Books that became movies/TV shows, movies that became books, great adaptations, bad ones, books you need to read before watching their movie/TV show, movies you loved based on books you hated or vice versa, books you want to read because you saw the movie or vice versa, etc.)

This week I’m highlighting some film adaptations pf books that I’m eager to see.

1. Where’d You Go Bernadette? Based on the novel by Maria Semple

2. We Have Always Live in the Castle based on the novel by Shirley Jackson

3. The Spanish Princess (limited series) based on the novel The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

4. His Dark Materials based on the novels by Phillip Pullman

5. The Chaperone based on the novel by Laura Moriarty

6. Ophelia based on the novel by Lisa Klein

7. Ladies in Black based on the novel by Madeline St. John

My Bookish Identity Tag

I was tagged by The Orang-utan Librarian the other day. So here is some info about my Bookish Identity.

• What dystopian/fantastical world would you live in?
• Who would your partner be?
• Who would be your godly mother/father? [Percy Jackson]
• Would you be a downworlder or nephilim? [Shadowhunter world]
• Which house would you be in? [Harry Potter]
• Which faction would you be in? [Divergent]
• What would be your daemon [Northern Lights]

WHAT DYSTOPIAN/FANTASTICAL WORLD WOULD YOU LIVE IN?

I don’t think that I’d want to live in a dystopian world! Sometimes this world seems frighteningly close! But as far as fantastical…. I could go for the world of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It’s strange and dreamy, and doesn’t seem like it’s ever boring!

WHO WOULD YOUR PARTNER BE?

I suppose that depends on what kind of partner we’re talking about! Romantic partner? Business partner? Partner in crime? I think that Jamie Fraser in the Outlander series might actually do well as all three. He’s eternally devoted to his one true love, but he’s also a really smart, strategic thinker (when his emotions aren’t clouding his judgement).  He’s good at math, which could be useful in a business partner. Especially since I’m…not! Plus, he’s good at getting himself out of a tight spot, which would be useful for a partner in crime. Plus he’s tall and can reach things that are up high.

WHO WOULD BE YOUR GODLY MOTHER/FATHER? [PERCY JACKSON]

I had to google this one since I haven’t read Percy Jackson. I took a quiz here and I am apparently a child of Demeter goddess of agriculture, grain, and bread. I don’t know if that makes me Persephone or just her sister…

WOULD YOU BE A DOWNWORLDER OR A NEPHILIM [SHADOWHUNTER WORLD]

I’d probably be a Nephilim. I’m pretty firmly on the side of good. Not that there aren’t some shady Nephilim! But between that and a Downworlder I’m definitely Nephilim. (Just a note, I read the first 3 Shadowhunters books and that’s pretty much it. So if there are things we learn later that make this not applicable let me know!)

WHICH HOUSE WOULD YOU BE IN? [HARRY POTTER]

Ravenclaw. I was definitely a “brain” in school. By that I mean that I was always reading, and always the really obnoxious kid with her hand raised to answer every question (regardless of whether or not I was right!). I love to read. I love to learn. I’m creative. I think the sorting hat would be pretty definitive.

WHAT FACTION WOULD YOU BE IN? [DIVERGENT]

I think I have elements of all the factions in me. But I suppose that most of us do! I guess that Amity is the one I’d be most drawn to. I’m pretty peaceful. I try to be kind to everyone. I am very loyal to my friends, and I’m pretty forgiving.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DAEMON? [NORTHERN LIGHTS]

This is a tough one. I actually had to do another quiz, because there are so many options! This is what I got.

You are someone who lives in the present and you care deeply about your friends, whom you consider to be your sisters and brothers. You know how to enjoy life. But if anything threatens your future or that of those you love, you will always be the first person to fight for it.

Actually it’s probably pretty accurate.

I tag Emma, Caitlin Stern, Jessica, Cam, and  Holly.