This is going to be a busy weekend for me. I have a ticket to see Hamilton on Sunday. This is actually part of last year's Broadway season's offerings (they tacked it on, I think to sell more season tickets), so I have been waiting for what seems like forever and finally the performance is almost here. I had wanted to read something about the Hamiltons, but maybe I will (likely actually) be inspired to pick up a book after the fact. I really should read more about early America--maybe that will be my next reading project!
Tomorrow is a local Lit Fest. It has been several years since a literary festival was organized so I am excited there is a day of readings and literary conversations. The lineup of authors looks really interesting with lots of local writers and some national writers thrown in the mix. I am hoping not to succumb too much to temptation and buy a stack of books, though I am very interesting in a new released and first book by Kassandra Montag, After the Flood. I was hoping the copy my library ordered would have arrived by now, but it is apparently still en route. Her novel has been generating a lot of discussion and press, so I can't wait to hear her speak. I fear I am going to listen to wonderful author talks and then want to read all their books. In any case, it will be a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
And just a few bits and bobs and other good things for the weekend--shorter things I want to catch up on reading and listening to:
I really need to read Lolita and am planning on getting a copy of Sarah Weinman's The Real Lolita now that it is in paperback. I plan on listening to this interview in anticipation.
I don't tend to spend a whole lot of time online, and when I do it is not primarily social media, so that is s world out there that I am unacquainted with and maybe it is okay to stay that way. However, every so often I will read something or be in a class and will get a peek at that other world and am always amazed who big that virtual world is. I am a little fascinated by how people became famous and maybe even wealthy and becoming trendsetters via these platforms (like YouTube and Instagram)! So this article caught my eye.
Hooray--the rise of spy novels about and by women. Hear hear, it is time indeed. I have read two of the books and own one of the others and now may have to add the rest to my wishlist.
I like to listen to music or podcasts as I am preparing my dinner or making my lunch for the next day, so this conversation about women and true crime is going into my listening queue. The nice thing about podcasts like these is the one-off commitment. I don't need to keep track and return to the series later.
I admire Jhumpa Lahiri who has not only learned to speak Italian (I think she lives there now or maybe spends part of her year there?) but also writes in the language and has translated books from Italian into English. I read about her experience learning Italian, In Other Words, last year or so. She has edited a new collection of stories, The Penguin Book of Italian Short Stories, that I would love to get my hands on. You can read about it here.
Margaret Drabble is on my night stand (no, not literally, one of her books, of course), so I was interested to see (and look forward to reading) this article about one of her earlier novels, which is called her 1977 Brexit novel. Maybe that will shed some light on what is going on in the UK these days for me.
I am interested (and more than a little scared by) "fake news" and want to read more about it. Of course, it seems, it is not a new thing (just a popular one these days--do we really live in a post-truth era? So, just today, I came across this list of books about fake news that I think I am going to look at more closely. Lots of older books and novels. Interesting.
On a happier and maybe lighter note--the new book by Tracy Chevalier is very close (finally-something else that I have been looking forward to that seemed far off in the distance) to being released. To get in the mood a little something about the book--yay.
I have a few library books to pick up and I have actually pulled a couple of needlework projects out that I might possibly start working on (wishful thinking? But I am in the mood to stitch!). As for reading, I will squeeze in whatever I can. I picked up the next Kinsey Millhone mystery (I could not resist and was feeling a little sad not to be checking in with her every day, so, on to letter N), and as there is a huge line of readers waiting for Lara Prescott's The Secrets We Kept, I think I will be spending time with my copy since I cannot renew it and don't want to get back in line for it.
Summer is holding on where I live, but I am ready for more fall-like weather. I will try and be happy to soak in the warmth as soon enough I will be complaining about the cold, right? Happy weekend everyone!