Hello patient friends,
I’m guessing that in the flurry of preparing for winter break and either recovering from or preparing for your holiday celebrations, you don’t have time to read this newsletter.
That’s good, because I don’t have time to write it.
One of the most encouraging academic developments I’ve observed in recent years is a growing movement to actually take a break this winter break.
I’ve seen people log off—and stay off—Twitter for all of December. I’ve received away messages with language like, “No, I’m REALLY not checking my email until the third of January.” I myself committed to my project partners that they wouldn’t be receiving Doodles and emails requests from me in the next few weeks.
Collective change is possible, if we do it collectively.
Look for teaching tips, thoughts on motivation and emotion, research on student mental health, and incidental musings on whatever is occupying me in the new year.
In the meantime, here are a few things I’ve enjoyed this week - would love to hear what has brought you joy in the comments.
And may the year twenty-twenty two be kind to us all.
with warmest of wishes,
Sarah
Joy #1
My favorite Substack newsletter is The Biblioracle Recommends by John Warner, and after telling him my last five fiction reads he recommended Lexicon by Max Barry, and it was just the thing. A well-paced, intriguing, rompy thriller that whisked my brain straight out of real life and into its pages. If you’re looking for a quick read to distract you from pandemia, here you are.
Joy #2
I have an intense love/hate relationship with the book A Little Life. I can discuss it for hours. It might mean I’m a bad person, but this vicious review of the author’s new book enthralled me and horrified me both.
Joy #3
Few things tickle me more than when something goes wholesomely viral in the hivemind, and humans far and wide apply their ridiculous smarts and creativity to spiraling out increasingly random applications of the meme (30-50 feral hogs, anyone?).
This week it was the tale of Jean and Jorts.
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If you like what you read, feel free to like the post, share, or tell your friends. I can also be found at @SaRoseCav on Twitter and @SarahRoseHIVE on Instagram. You could also always give one of my books a whirl!