Posts

What I've Been Up To...

  Long time, no post! This will be a short one. It's been over a year since I've posted and a lot has happened. At work: I've been at my job for over a year and am still loving it. I presented to a room full of people and a computer filled with even more people tuning in virtually. I attended my first conference, which also involved me traveling by air alone for the first time ever. I think after graduating during a global pandemic and not getting to walk, this did a great job of solidifying the whole "I'm an adult now" thing. At twenty-six years old, it's about time, right? At home: We bought a house! Directly followed by a proposal! Yes, after ten years together I will be marrying my partner this coming May. Our husky, Newton, turned three and is starting to act like a little adult. His puppy energy has almost completely faded away, which is both a blessing and a curse. I may have cried over it recently, whatever. As for writing, traveling by myself and ...
Post a Comment
Read more

'To Paradise' Personally Victimized Me

Image
  This book was a doozy, but in the best way. I do not annotate books. Not in a judgmental sort of way. To be honest, in college I loved purchasing used textbooks in the hopes that others before me had annotated. As an English and Creative Writing major, I thought it necessary to buy my books instead of renting, since most were on writing styles or actual anthologies of short stories. I saw myself using these books later in life when I became a published author, stocking the shelves of my office with past texts that I could pull for inspiration or examples while talking to a pupil there to learn from me. This is a very specific vision. While none of that has really happened, I do revisit these books from time to time so I don't regret buying them. I didn't want the annotations for answers, I wanted them because I love used books. I crack the spines on all of my paperbacks, I listen to my hardcovers crunch as I lay them flat. I love used books, but I do not annotate them myself....
Post a Comment
Read more

Hanya Yanagihara loves commas

Image
  This weekend I decided to start reading To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara. While I think this book could use a few more periods and a few less commas (I had similar thoughts while reading A Little Life ), it's clearly just Hanya's writing style so I will let it slide. It definitely takes some getting used to though. And it would be nice if some shorter sentences were thrown in there to mix things up a bit. BUT IT'S FINE. I mean, clearly it's fine. I can complain all I want, but I'm the one choosing to continue reading, right? When a book is good, a book is good. And so far, knock on wood, I think this book is good. I've read very mixed reviews on this book. It sounds like those who loved it, really really loved it. And those who hated it, hated it with a burning passion and regretted "wasting time" reading it. I'll be honest, I'm 116 pages in and enjoying it so far. But I also loved A Little Life . But I am curious about where this book will t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Friday Tunes

  For work on this fine Friday morning that weirdly feels like a Monday, I'm listening through the Stranger Things Season 4 playlist on Apple Music. Favorites so far: 1. Psycho Killer Talking Heads 2. Master of Puppets Metallica 3. Play With Me Extreme I'm sure there will be more, but I'm not very far down the list yet so those are my top three. Say what you will about some of the characters in the show and how they handle them (Steve... I love him, but they kind of messed him up in S4 for me; Robin... I adore her, but I feel like they didn't know what to do with her this season now that she's a main character)... But they have some great music throughout the show. And even if not all of the songs on this playlist are in the show, they definitely fit the vibes of the playlist.
Post a Comment
Read more

Who am I?

Image
You can call me Hayden. I'm a writer. Man that feels so good to say. I'm an actual writer in the professional world. My title is Communications Coordinator, and I work for a university. I'm also an aspiring author, so I spend my hour lunch breaks writing in hopes that I will finally finish a story. Most of my time is spent reading, though. I've been in a bit of a book slump for a while now. Currently reading: The Mysterious Benedict Society (book 3) Favorite books: The Priory of the Orange Tree , The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue , probably the Priory prequel once it is released in February, and definitely others that I can't think of at the moment. Favorite movies: 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight's Tale, When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail... and probably others. Favorite shows: Stranger Things, Hunter x Hunter (shockingly enough... this is a recent discovery), Grace and Frankie, New Girl. Favorite music: Taylor Swift, Wallows, Avril Lavigne, The C...
Post a Comment
Read more