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Notes from
​the Journey

Fantastically February

2/1/2022

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It's cold. It's dark. It's February... And the tundra goes on forever. Well, only in my dreams and places farther north than I've had the chance to go... yet. The arctic circle is inching higher on the list, coming soon. But, that's another story. Right now? The first month of 2022 is over, a lot has happened, and a lot is in the works. But first? The January reads. 
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  • The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure - Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff

  • Station Eleven - Emily St. John Mandel

  • Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond

  • The Fates Will Find Their Way - Hannah Pittard

  • A History of Wild Places - Shea Ernshaw
One month and five books, only one of which was eh. I'll consider that a win. But that begs the question - which was the best? I had no intention of rereading Station Eleven this year, but after only one episode of the new HBO show, I knew I had to dive back into this world (and all the subsequent ones *cough* The Glass Hotel). And Jesus am I glad I did (also, side note, see below for another Jesus reference). 

If you haven't read Station Eleven and you can stomach a book about a pandemic, I implore you to pick this one up and read it. Through gorgeous, gorgeous prose, Shakespeare references, and a cast of characters that everyone will relate to in some way, Mandel will repeatedly show you why survival is insufficient. 

Now, Station Eleven reread aside, if I had to not cheat and pick a book that wasn't already one of my favorites of all time, I'd have to give the best January read to The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard. Told from a unique perspective (first-person plural), the POV will either work for you or it will grate your very senses. Luckily, I was in the former of those two camps. 

So... what else is happening you ask? And no, we're not at the other Jesus reference yet, hold tight. I promise it's coming. 
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Announced a few weeks ago, I've been working behind the scenes to assist fellow author and friend Liz Delton as the guest editor for Tourmaline & Quartz's first short story anthology Kingdoms of Wrath and Ice. To get a better sense of what we're looking for and hear a little bit more about me and what got me started writing - hint, fan fiction of some kind... check out an interview I did with Liz here.

And get those stories ready! 

Well, till next time friends... oh wait, the Jesus thing. Apparently, according to what I've heard from Carla Marie & Anthony (You Look Great by the way) the 33rd year of your life is where you're reborn in some way, shedding something from your past and starting fresh. Or, if you're anything like that guy from the religious texts, it's the year you'll start a revolution and wind up nailed to a cross, reborn as a spiritual figure that's the focus of many, many years to come.

I'll settle for a glass of Macallan 12 year. 

Here's to another year around the sun. Let's make it a good one, friends. Cheers.

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