Oh, hi.
You may have noticed, reader, that my best-sister-friend has been holding down the fort here at Gun In Act One lately. I’ve managed to stay on top of a few things, like the posts we wrote in May for Pink for All Seasons at the Bubble Bath Reader, but there has not been a lot of reading, writing, or even proofreading Amanda’s posts in my life recently. (Let’s hope that she hasn’t posted too many comma splices while I’ve been otherwise occupied!)
Anyway, my life has been a bit bananas, but that’s a story (or six) for another day. What I’m here today to talk about is finding myself in a bookstore (The Book Cellar) while in serious need of some self-soothing (a.k.a. retail therapy). I have previously professed my preference for e-books (or the library) over acquiring new books, but don’t worry, I am a good shopper. I came up with something(s) I had to have in print form.
Hyperbole and a Half, by Allie Brosh
This blog makes me laugh, and I needed to laugh. And this book cannot be read and enjoyed on my Kindle, so I had to buy it. See what I did there, with logic? #noregrets
We Should all be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Now, I had seen this book mentioned in other places, and you might think, from looking at the cover, that it’s a book. It’s really more like an edited transcript of a TED talk, consisting of 48 pages about half the size of a regular paperback. But, we should all be feminists, and I decided this would be a good addition to my bookshelf at work. And it is.
With my schedule on overdrive, picture-books and miniature books seem to be at just the right speed. What do you turn to for reading when your head has turned to mush?
Gun In Act One 
Cartoons! Nothing soothes a mushy brain like Calvin and Hobbes. 🙂 (And excellent choices you picked at the bookstore.)
I turn to graphic novels and light (but not too light) fiction. I’m glad you found some new goodies to add to your shelf. I’m the same way – I almost never buy books these days!
We Should All Be Feminists is a great pick. There’s a ton to pull apart in those few pages, but you’ll still feel like you actually got some reading accomplished. Retail therapy is always a little good for the soul 😉
Bookish retail therapy is way better for you than justifying extra treats (which I have a bad habit of doing)! I would say you made excellent choices. I agree with Shannon about We Should All Be Feminists! Such an important little book!
I always go back to Austen or Maeve Binchy if I need a reading reboot!
I gave “We Should All Be Feminists” to my son to read when he asked me why we needed feminism and when he expressed doubt that women still faced such bias in the work place. I’m hoping he learns a thing or two…or ten.
I like hyperbole 🙂