1. Grad School Slogan. You don’t have to like it, but you do have to read it. I’m afraid that although I’ll be taking a class that focuses on two major authors, Cormac McCarthy and Russell Banks, I will be enjoying very little of the reading. Of the eight McCarthy books we’ve been assigned, I’ve read three and liked none; of the five Banks books, I’ve read two and liked none. Okay, to be honest, about one of them I was simply apathetic. I’m still investigating why this is, but in the meantime: Oh well. I’m sure to learn something despite myself.
2. Teaching. Incidentally, today was my first day to stand officially in the front half of the classroom. The poor freshmen never knew what hit them, but whether this is a blessing or not remains still to be seen.
3. Blackout. Why, Connie Willis, did you write a thousand-page novel and publish it in two volumes? And, more importantly, why does the second installment not come out until October 19? I can’t even talk about whether I liked the book(s) or not because, and this is essential, I haven’t finished reading it–them–yet.
4. P.S. And on a side note, science fiction is not all robots and laser guns, thank you. Most of my characters are psychologists or politicians or linguists or journalists. You know, people who are interested in other people. Because learning about people is what literature is all about.
Mostly About Books 