Flashing Palely in the Margins
Media Diet: January and February Feb 28
A quick look at the movies, television shows, and books that have captured my attention over the past two months.
Recoding America Feb 22
Reading Jennifer Pahlka’s Recoding America was a perfect reminder of why I do the work I do. Pahlka provides a number of examples of how thinking differently about the way we deliver services leads to better outcomes for people, and how thinking differently requires having digital talent inside government.
Fat Talk Jun 21
Fat Talk is the book I needed to read, not just as a parent, but as someone who is fat.
How To Be Perfect Mar 28
The pursuit of perfection is an impossible one, and that’s something How To Be Perfect acknowledges: no matter how we strive for it, we will never achieve perfection.
The Banshees of Inisherin Mar 28
The question I’ve been asking myself recently has been: am I the Pádraic Súilleabháin in this friendship?
What We Do In The Shadows Feb 13
What will my daughter remember from her childhood? Will she remember the nights spent rocking her when she couldn’t sleep? Will she remember the swimming classes and the dance classes and all the activities we took her to through the week?
Everything Everywhere All At Once Feb 01
Everything Everywhere All At Once, aside from being an entertaining (and really strange and quirky) film, is a great jumping off point to start asking these questions about our choices.
Wednesday Jan 20
The standout moment of Wednesday comes when, at the school dance, Wednesday Addams starts dancing.
When We Were Sisters Jan 11
My brother and I know that no matter what the circumstance, we can lean on each other to persevere, to grow, and to thrive.
How to Be an Antiracist Feb 06
There is no neutrality in racism. We are either racist or antiracist; "not racist" is a statelessness that does not actually exist.
She Said Jan 12
She Said—simple, direct, detailed, and weighty—can be hard to read because the subject matter is so horrific. It is, however, important to read because of the truth it unveils.
A year in reading, 2019 Dec 30
I've always prided myself in being mindful in most things I do; mindful reading is something that I have to work on.
More marginalia on more books Apr 09
I’ve been reading a few books recently, so here are some notes I scribbled in my virtual margins as I read them.
Some marginalia on some books Mar 19
I’ve been reading a few books recently, so here are some notes I scribbled in my virtual margins as I read them.
Letters of note, letters as acts of faith, letters as our truest selves Mar 05
I have been thinking a lot about why I love to send correspondence in the post, and why this has been the one habit of mine I have kept going since my childhood.
A few passages on solitude Feb 27
If there's one message I took away from reading Michael Harris' Solitude, it's that the things we do to bring us into solitude are actually the things we do to best connect: with the world, with others, and with ourselves.
It was everything that was needed, when everything was needed. Feb 17
I am reading poetry, now, after many years away. I am not writing it just yet, but I am told by friends that it is inevitable that the more I read, the more I will be besieged by the desire to write.
We are all made up of many Feb 02
What does it mean to be made up of many? How do we reconcile the multitudes that live within us, that many selves that make up our self?
A distortion of reality Feb 01
How do we reconcile the fact that my reality may not match yours? What does it mean when the reality I've constructed ends up harming you?
Listening to the voices we need to hear Jan 30
Whose voices are included when decisions are made? Whose voices are listened to when we think about how to serve the people around us, the world around us?
Becoming Jan 07
More than just a reminder of the goodness we miss, _Becoming_ is a story of adaptation, learning, change, and growth. It is, as Mrs. Obama mentions often, a book about "swerve."
A year in reading: letting the pile grow Dec 11
My year in reading has been marked by reflection on who I am and who I aspire to be, but mostly, it has been marked by a realization that I am okay, that even though I can be better, it's also okay to be who I am.
Home Fire Aug 28
What does it mean to share the name, the blood of someone whom you disavow, discredit? What does it mean to want to distance yourself from the generations who were supposed to know better, but obviously didn’t?
The leavers, and the left behind Aug 27
What happens when your parent leaves, without explanation or even saying goodbye, and you're left to piece together the answers to questions you never should have been faced to have?
The Map of Salt and Stars Jul 28
What is mapmaking but the telling of stories of the lands where we have travelled and the places that have shaped us?
Please won’t you be my neighbor. Jul 23
I knew I’d be in tears while watching Morgan Neville’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor, but I didn’t quite realize just how much it would affect me.
Even more marginalia Jul 12
As I’ve mentioned before, I used to be much better at sharing my marginalia from the books I read. I’ve fallen out of the habit, but I am working on re-introducing the habit, now.
Some marginalia Jul 08
In the past, I was better about sharing my marginalia from the books I read. In the past, I was better at scribbling in the margins.
Memory is the muscle sting of now Apr 15
Chariandy’s tale of growing up in Scarborough is song as memory. It is a lyrical, melodious, melancholic reverie passing through time to evoke memory through stories.
Yangjin’s boardinghouse Mar 27
I though of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko quite a bit as I ruminated on the idea of boarding houses offering independence to those who would not normally be able to afford that agency.
Unearned redemption outside Ebbing, Missouri Mar 18
It does not matter how entertaining a film may be when at the end, it reduces people of color to props upon which white characters “find themselves.”
A short drive away from the Lakes Mar 18
I was never really aware of the Great Lakes when we lived steps away from Lake Ontario, in Toronto, but I have never been more conscious of the role of the Lakes in our province’s ecosystem than I am now that we live in southwestern Ontario.
Not easy to answer Mar 06
What can I learn from the experiences I have had, the privilege I have been given, over and over again, while my Black friends have been systemically denied those same opportunities?
In color and in chrome Feb 16
Rarely do we see Africa presented as a place of splendor and brilliance: a place where great people do great things, a place where a multitude of histories and heritages weave into a majestic, multicultural tapestry.
Staring into the fireplace as the credits roll by Feb 04
A scene in Call Me By Your Name reminds me that there is happiness hidden in all anguish, and that we must give ourselves time to rediscover those joys as we grieve.
Such high hopes, so much possibility, to fall short. Jan 24
Have I lived up to the hopes and dreams of my parents when they first left their home country to come here? They will say yes, but honestly and truly, can any of us ever live up to the hardships they suffered, no matter what we do?
Parents, sacrifice, and cinema Jan 07
I wonder what it says about me that the lasting sensations from the past three movies I’ve watched have all been about family. Perhaps I’m growing nostalgic as I age.
A year in reading: a sentence or two on 95 books. Dec 28
I read 95 books in 2017. (I will read far fewer next year.) Here is a sentence or two about each and every single one of them.
The other side of the wall. Sep 03
Reading James Baldwin’s “I Am Not Your Negro” was sobering and powerful. It will, without hyperbole, change the way you look at the world.
When I love I give them wings. Aug 31
There were times, while reading Milk and Honey, when I was tempted to tear out pages, snippets, and paste them on the wall next to me.
Alone among the crowd. Aug 19
There are times to be alone, and then there are times to be together. Often, those times collide at just right moment.
Ode and Burgeonings. May 07
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading a collection of Pablo Neruda’s poems.
What would it take? Feb 08
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Marianne Schnall’s What Will It Take to Make A Woman President.
No need to be ashamed of tears. Feb 02
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning.
Let’s talk. Jan 25
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking.
Discomfort. Jan 07
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Paul Beatty’s The Sellout.
War, in all its glory. Jan 03
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Homer’s The Iliad.
Devoured Oct 18
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Sophie Egan’s Devoured.
Mo’ Meta Blues Oct 17
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Questlovle’s Mo’ Meta Blues.
Meditations. Sep 29
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.
The Apprentice Sep 18
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Jacques Pepin’s The Apprentice.
The Lonely City Sep 17
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Olivia Laing’s The Lonely City.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Sep 16
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
The Vegetarian Sep 08
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Han Kang’s The Vegetarian.
Fates and Furies Sep 02
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Lauren Groff’s Fates and Furies.
The Goldfinch Aug 30
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch.
Algorithms To Live By Aug 24
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths’ Algorithms To Live By.
Brown Jul 15
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Kamal Al-Solaylee’s Brown.
The Antidote Jul 05
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Oliver Burkeman’s The Antidote.
The Speechwriter Jun 22
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Barton Swaim’s The Speechwriter.
The End of the Alphabet Jun 08
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading C.S. Richardson’s The End of the Alphabet.
Hamilton: The Revolution Apr 27
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter’s Hamilton: The Revolution.
Mortality Apr 19
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Christopher Hitchens’ Mortality.
Killing and Dying Apr 04
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Adrian Tomine’s Killing and Dying.
Americanah Mar 30
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah.
The Story of My Tits Mar 17
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Jennifer Hayden’s The Story of My Tits.
Modern Romance Mar 11
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Aziz Ansari’s Modern Romance.
Between the World and Me Feb 10
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me.
A Field Guide to Getting Lost Jan 31
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Rebecca Solnit’s A Field Guide to Getting Lost.
How To Be Happy Jan 09
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Eleanor Davis’ How To Be Happy.
Missoula Jan 03
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Jon Krakauer’s Missoula.
So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed Jan 02
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Jon Ronson’s So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed.
The End of Absence. Nov 27
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Michael Harris’ The End of Absence.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry Aug 23
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.
Pool. Aug 09
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading JiHyeon Lee’s Pool.
Housekeeping. Jul 26
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping.
Hot Pink Jun 22
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Adam Levin’s Hot Pink.
Not Quite What I Was Planning / It All Changed In An Instant Jun 21
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading the two collections, Not Quite What I Was Planning, and It All Changed In An Instant.
Confidence. Jun 01
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Russell Smith’s Confidence.
Station Eleven May 29
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven.
Surfaces and Essences May 14
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Douglas Hofstadter and Emmanuel Sander’s Surfaces and Essences.
Sidewalk Flowers Apr 25
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading JonAmo Lawson and Sydney Smith’s Sidewalk Flowers.
Essays and Aphorisms Apr 21
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Arthur Schopenhauer’s Essays and Aphorisms.
March, Book Two Apr 12
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading the second book in John Lewis’ March series.
Love Me Back Mar 07
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Merritt Tierce’s Love Me Back.
Dollars and Sex Feb 18
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Marina Adshade’s Dollars and Sex.
The Leftovers Jan 04
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Tom Perrotta’s The Leftovers.
Dear Committee Members Dec 17
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Julie Schumacher’s Dear Committee Members.
Club Soccer 101 Nov 01
Miscellaneous notes, thoughts, and marginalia scribbled down while reading Luke Dempsey’s Club Soccer 101.