Tis the Season (for highs and lows) + Books

The last few days of the semester are a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Many things escalate (writing papers!) then suddenly drop off over the horizon altogether (finishing papers! Not teaching classes! Not working!). I always think it will take me a day or two to adjust, then I remember it actually takes me closer to a week.

I have a very hard time switching gears from frantically busy to reasonably un-busy. So, I chain read in between grading; remind myself how to clean the house; binge watch TV shows and the Bravo channel, etc.

I finished all my side job grading for the semester, and have posted grades for one of my classes. My goal for today is to finish grading my other class. I'll post their grades tomorrow and then I'll really be done. I'll give myself a good 48 hours before I start revamping the syllabus for next semester. **sigh**

I had some work peeps over to the house Sunday night and it was super festive and relaxing. I've been getting some end-of-the-semester emails and thank-you's from students, saying how much they enjoyed the class, and my teaching, and my enthusiasm. I was floating on Cloud 9 yesterday when I got my VW final paper score back, and let's just say it was crushingly disappointing. It was an A, but it was a much-lower-than-I-expected A and I was clawing the ceiling for a while in anguish and despair.

It totally cancelled out all those kudos from students.

But I'm over it now. I have the independent study to look forward to...

Lucy hates festivity. So much.

I have, though, been reading like it's my job. I love, love, love being able to get lost in a book and not have to, like, remember things or write about themes or use a pen while reading.

Two book recommendations:

So, as I said, I'm on a mystery kick right now because reading fast-paced books helps me transition from crazy-busy to holiday-break-leisurely pace.

I highly recommend this one:

Kingdom of Strangers by Zoe Ferraris

This was my first book by Ferraris, but I will read her other ones (I believe she's published at least two more). Kingdom of Strangers is a (fictitious) mystery about a serial killer in modern day Saudi Arabia. Not only is the plot engaging and multi-faceted, but Ferraris includes a lot of cultural issues such as religion interfering with forensics work, gender separation and prejudice, etc. She's a good story teller, a good writer, and a good cultural informant, so to speak.

Caught by Harlan Coben

And I'm on a roll with Harlan Coben, or as I now refer to him in texts to The Russkie, "HC," pronounced, H-Seeeeeeee. Caught starts with an upstanding social worker who gets exposed as a pedophile. Of course he denies it, and as the story unfolds, a deep and wide conspiracy seems to be at play. Dun Dun DUNNNNNNNNN. I have to say, Coben keeps you guessing until THE END, people. I'm starting one of his other books today.

Here's hoping I do better on my American Lit paper. If you don't hear from me for a few days, someone come get me down from the ceiling.