I also read Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. This was my first Atwood book but I loved it. I'm going to try and read the whole MaddAddam series or listen to it depending. Such an awful dystopia that felt so painfully familiar. Also, a decent push for humanities education in the story.

I made this model library that I got as a gift years ago. I missed some pieces, knocked stuff over, and didn't get the box to seal well, but I finally got it together. Now to just get the other parts of my life together.

I read All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy and it was really well written. It had some interesting commentary on class, race, and gender politics. As with all McCarthy novels, the atmosphere of the story made everything oppressive and dire. Despite all this, still a western and not my thing.

Stay warm, stay safe, and take care of those in your community. It's rough outside for all sorts of reasons.

Snow is just getting started.

A cold day but a comfy sweatshirt

Started All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. He is such a masterful writer of characters. Every person has such an immediate feel of depth. There's also always this apocalyptic ambiance to his books. I read Outer Dark last year and it was more my speed but I'll have to finish to compare them.

Acceptance, the last of VanderMeer's original Southern Reach Trilogy, was really satisfying. It filled in so many details about Area X but kept the mystery open. I also read Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. It was a fun read though it could stand to have been a little longer. Strong Sliders vibes.

I liked Annihilation better than Authority but both were great. I'm excited to dive into Acceptance. VanderMeer is quickly becoming a favorite author. My goal to consume 100 books this year is off to a decent start.

Made a cabbage recipe the other day. It's pretty good but I think I'd still prefer it fried. Cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots, and vegan sausage in a lightly smokey and spicy broth.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due was excellent. While some of the side characters were a little underdeveloped, the nuances of the main character and the depth of the setting were excellent. The novel displayed Due's attention to detail and historical research. A powerful story of human horror.

I certainly see a kindred philosophy of biology to what you find in enactivism and related projects. It may just be me though. VanderMeer writes a lot of this kind of speculative fiction centering on tensions between humans and the environment. It was a good and quick read.

Yeah, Annihilation is the first book in Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach Series. The POV character is a biologist going into a strange wilderness area. You get to read her observations basically. The book emphasizes a lot about feedback loops and ways of understanding life.

So much to do and so little energy.

Annihilation was so fun. I am looking forward to the rest of the series. The biologist had such interesting reflections on nature and she reminded me of Francisco Varela, Humberto Maturana, and Lynn Margulis. My current audiobook is The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. It's off to a good start.

The Picture of Dorian Gray was good. I fear too many people want to be Gray and don't recognize the tragedy and emptiness of the life aesthetic. I am now starting Annihilation by James VanderMeer. This POV from the cunty biologist is great. I already love her even though she has nature madness.

Some stuff I've made recently. Biscuits, banana bread with walnuts and chocolate chips, and chana masala. If I had folded my mix-ins into the banana bread it would have browned better but who has time to fold things in for their own dessert.

Listening to The Picture of Dorian Gray and I'm enjoying it so far. I also started gluing stuff into my relationship scrapbook. Been single for four months which has been an adjustment. The scrapbooking was less sad and more bittersweet now. I think we made the right choice but I still miss it.

Nowhere by Allison Gunn was very good. The ending wasn't my favorite but the story was one of imperfect redemption and understanding. I also listened to the first book of Wayward Pines and it was fun with a wild twist. Looking forward to reading more and watching the show.

Started Nowhere by Allison Gun. Definitely makes me feel some back home vibes already (even though it's set in Virginia and not Kentucky). Gritty and oppressive atmosphere even early into the book. Can't wait to read more.

Hemlock and Silver was a great retelling of Snow White. It almost read like Alice in Wonderland and Snow White could be in the same universe. It also scratched my itch for more apothecary stories while I wait for a new season of the apothecary diaries.

Dragon age is fun once you get past the antiquated controls lol

Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher was really good. I have read her horror stuff before and loved it. It was nice to find her dark fairy tales equally enticing. She is a skilled world builder making each story feel full but always leaving the world open ended and mysterious. Next Hemlock and Silver.

Living my best life with cold weather and decent snow. Already shoveled around my house and might work my way down the street after I do more grading.

Shaved and gave myself a haircut. It will look better when it grows out some but I'm happy with it.

The snow is finally here! I cancelled my classes because attendance was already looking bad. I'm going to drink coffee and swoon over the weather.

Glad my fortune cookie believes in me.

I was so ready for snow. I had my hot cocoa, my warm blankets, a good book, and a comfy seat by the window. Unfortunately nature has thwarted my plans.

Got to catch up with my friend who has been living in San Francisco for years now. It's nice how good friends can just slide back into each other's company with so little effort. Just instant comfort and warm familiarity. Picking up a conversation that each of you keeps alive in the other's absence.

Was talking about mutual interdependence from care ethics the other day. One student insisted he could set his broken femur, raise his own food, and maintain his shelter at the same time with the 0 medical training he has. Maybe if I believed in myself that hard I'd be a rugged individualist too.