For Yesterday’s @guardian Review

Sneaky sneak 

#iquiteatingthereyearsago #blegh

I wish I could encapsulate the noise I made at these comments

Thereza Dillwyn Llewelyn (1834 – 1926), Welsh astronomer and pioneer in scientific photography who collaborated in the production of some of the earliest photographs of the moon in the mid-1850s

the origin of Carol of the Bells, ukrainian folk song Shchedrik

I HAVE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO SAY ABOUT READING

Which is why I'm yelling 😆 But seriously, this is very important:

#1 Reading should be enjoyable.

#2 The original intent of fiction books was entertainment.

#3 You don't have to finish a book if it isn't enjoyable.

I have a degree in English. I used to be an English teacher. And I still firmly stand by all of the above. Yes, in school you have to read what you're assigned, but guess what?

Outside of school you can read what you want. No one can tell you what to read. No one can force you to finish something you're not enjoying.

I am a member of a Facebook group about fiction reading. Actually, I'm in two. One is specifically for romance novels, and it's a blast. The other one I feel is a little bit snobby. They read "literature." The other day, someone posted about a book and asked, "This book is depressing me so much. Does anything hopeful happen? I don't know if I can finish it unless there's some light ahead."

Last I checked, there were 64 comments. Some simply answered her question. "No, it's dark and sad." Everyone else lectured her on how it was "so accurate to the time period, what do you expect?" and "not every book is light and happy you know" "the best books challenge us to think."

Oh boy. You better believe I chimed in. I said, "Just know that if this book is too much for you emotionally, there is nothing wrong with ditching it and reading something lighter."

I could not believe people were acting all high and mighty to this woman like it was SO SHALLOW of her not wanting to be depressed while reading FOR FUN. In the year 2021. After a year of a pandemic, murder hornets, and rioting, she didn't want to read a depressing book? YA THINK?????

So, here I am, a certified English teacher giving everyone permission to not finish books. For whatever reason. It's depressing. It's boring. It's scary. Whatever. If anyone makes you feel bad for it, screw them. They have a giant stick up their pretentious ass.

Now excuse me while I go read this romance novel with a sexy man in a cowboy hat on the cover

(Seriously, that's what I'm reading right now.)

Signs as Talking Heads Lyrics

Aries: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Tarus: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Gemini: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Cancer: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Leo: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Virgo: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Libra: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Scorpio: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Sagittarius: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Capricorn: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Aquarius: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Pisces: SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Finally some good fucking news