Jason Robert Brown's "Hope"

I know it's been a while. Beyond the usually insanity of the school year, the run-up to the election and the election results sapped the will to write right out of me. Although I don't post a ton about politics on this blog, a quick search will probably give you a good sense of my political leanings. Consequently, you wouldn't be all that surprised to find that I am not, in any way, shape, or form, at all happy about the outcome of the election. What's more, the fallout has been pretty devastating. The uptick in violence and harassment of certain groups of people, including minorities and people who are undocumented, has been especially difficult to process. Since I now live in the Midwest (in a state that did not go blue and in a county that also did not go blue), I feel especially isolated. While my friends and colleagues tend to have the same mindset that I have, the majority of people who surround me do not.

This continued stress and uncertainty about the future (both personal and national) are taking its toll. However, as often happens in times like these, some pieces of pop culture have emerged to make me feel, if not quite better, then at least not as alone. Jason Robert Brown, the composer-lyricist for shows such as Parade and Songs for a New World, wrote and debuted "Hope" the day after the election. What I find particularly helpful about the song is that it doesn't end with a cheery, "everything is going to be okay" platitude. Instead, Brown, as he often does in his musicals, acknowledges the difficulty of the situation while also reminding us that "the work begins."

If you want something a little more angry and still politically charged, there's also Brown's biting "A Song About Your Gun," which he wrote in response to the Orlando shooting. It mixes a very catchy tune with some biting lyrics, and for me, it makes an effective "get up and do something productive about this mess we are in" anthem.

Banned Books Week 2016

Happy Banned Books Week 2016! While we're halfway through the week, there's still plenty of time to celebrate by reading one of your favorite banned or challenged books. You can also read a book from 2015's most banned and challenged list, which you can find on the ALA website.

A notable but sad trend that 2015's list illustrates is the over-representation of books about issues concerning diversity. This was also the case in 2014, when the ALA noted that 80% of the most challenged books with "diverse content." To further show this issue, the ALA even created an infographic on this:

Fittingly, this year's Banned Books Week spotlight is on banned books that feature diversity, and I hope that this brings attention to this matter. While people fear the other and the unknown, banning books is perhaps the most counterproductive way to deal with topics that seem strange and frightening. If recent events have taught us anything, it is that insulating ourselves from what is unknown doesn't protect us. Instead, it keeps us ignorant and afraid, and this leads to blind, and often unfounded, anger. Perhaps if, instead of banning books like I Am Jazz or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, it would be helpful to read these texts and get a better sense of other people's perspectives and experiences. To quote Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird, another book that is a regular on banned and challenged lists, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." In other words, rather than avoiding or prohibiting the things that scare us, it's important to face these issues head on and try to gain some empathy, or at least some perspective, on the thing that we fear.

Book Review: Literary Listography

I would consider myself a fairly organized person, and as such, I tend to gravitate towards lists. While I have several list apps, I also like and use pen and paper lists. Given this and my love of books, Literary Listography seemed like a natural fit for me.

For those aren't familiar with the Listography books, they are an offshoot of the website and app that encourages users to create and share public lists about anything (you can read about it on the Listography website). Since the first Listography book was published in 2007, there have been 12 books in the series that focus on different themes, including friendship, food, and film.

Picture from Listography.com

Unlike other books, the Listography books is very much driven and created by the reader, and Literary Listography is no exception. Billed as a "selection of lists chosen just for the book lover," the book includes 70+ lists that are designed to delight and intrigue any bibliophile. Rather than providing you with lists of books to explore, this book relies on you to interact with it and create lists based on the prompts. With prompts ranging from the expected ("My Favorite Authors") to the atypical ("Fictional Crimes I've Witnessed"), this book is fun and thought provoking. Some of my favorite prompts included "Fictional Characters I'd Go on a Date With" (let's be honest - if you love books, you've probably considered this. For the record, my list includes Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables books), "Cultures I've Immersed Myself in Through Literature," and "Words I Love and Hate the Sound Of."

Besides the great list ideas, Literary Listography had a number of features that I appreciated and that added to the experience. Each prompt is accompanied by a full-color picture depicting a book related to the prompt it faces. For instance, a picture of a backpack and hiking books symbolizing Cheryl Strayed's Wild goes with the prompt "My Favorite Memoirs and Autobiographies." Besides this, the physical features of the book make it a pleasure to use. The pages have a nice weight and texture that hold up to even fountain pen ink and resist smudges, and the book pages lie flat, which makes it easy to write inside.

If  you are looking for a book to help you record your reading life and thoughts, Literary Listography could be the perfect book for you. It would also make a great gift for the book lover in your life (just be prepared for him or her to become preoccupied by it).

Book Review: "Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War"

Following any of the horrific events that have become all-too-common in modern society, someone on social media inevitably shares Mr. Rogers’s advice to “’Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’… I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” These words are true, but after so many tragedies and so many Facebook posts, it becomes easy to dismiss or forget about them. Artemis Joukowsky’s Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War provides clear proof of the veracity of this sentiment. The book tells the true story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, who took on the enormous task of helping refugees in Europe as the Nazis were coming to power and World War II was starting. It is also the companion book to the Ken Burns documentary that will be airing on PBS in September.

While the Sharps seemed like an ordinary couple, they had an extraordinary sense of duty that led them to accept the mission put forth by the American Unitarian Association to go to Prague, Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Nazi invasion. Despite having two young children, Waitstill and Martha go to Prague, learn ways of circumventing the obstacles in their way, outwit the Gestapo, and work to help those who are being oppressed and hunted by the Nazis. After leaving Prague and having a short sojourn at home, they return to Europe during World War II to continue helping those they can.

In many ways, this story seems too fantastic to be true, but Joukowsky, who is the Sharps’ grandson, does an excellent job providing research and facts as support. In some instances, the number of names, dates, and references can weigh down the narrative, but the text’s focus never wavers for long. Joukowsky’s writing style also does not veer far away from the facts. If it is not verified in Martha and Waitstill’s correspondence, excerpts of which are included, or through his interviews with him, the text takes pains not to dramatize the events. This helps further establish Joukowsky as a trustworthy author, but it also can make the narrative a little dry, which is surprising given the suspense that is built into the story. However, despite these minor issues, the book moves quickly and leaves the reader wanting to find out what happened to the Sharps. Additionally, there are places where the straightforward narration works to the book's advantage. The description of the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia is especially sobering; any further dramatization would have detracted from the horror of the event.

Another aspect that reinforces the book’s reliability is that Joukowsky examines some of the more everyday facets of the Sharps’ lives. A prime example of this is the tension that exists between the good that Martha wanted to do by helping refugee children and the fact that she did this at the expense of spending time with her own children. Also, rather than closing with the Sharps’ second mission to Europe, Joukowsky follows them post-World War II, as they grow further apart both literally (Martha did a lot of travelling on the lecture circuit, while Waitstill returned to Prague to work for the American Committee for Relief in Czechoslovakia) and figuratively and after their marriage ends. In a perfect world, their bond would have been galvanized by the shared experiences in Europe and would have remained strong. Joulowsky’s exploration of its disintegration reinforces the reality of this story; it is not a fairy tale or fable but the story of two seemingly ordinary people who were able to accomplish extraordinary things under great duress and in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

All in all, Defying the Nazis is a worthwhile and important book. Besides providing the Sharps with the attention they so richly deserve for their heroic actions and showing the personal cost that can come with such actions, it also illustrates how people can rise to the occasion. In short, it is another reminder for us to look for the helpers.

Wendy Cope's "From June to December - Summer Villanelle"

If this blog has illustrated anything, it is my ongoing love of Wendy Cope's poetry, particularly her villanelles. I hadn't given her a great deal of thought recently, but Wednesday's edition of The Writer's Almanac podcast reminded me just how much I enjoy her writing.

While some argue that Cope is mawkish, I've always found her poems to be somewhat biting under the supposed sentimentality ("The Orange" is the exception rather than the rule). On the surface, "From June to December" is the typical love poem, where the speaker's thoughts are preoccupied by his (or her) love. Indeed, anyone who has ever been in love (or in the first stages of a passionate affair grounded in lust) can relate to the line "I think of little else but you." However, several elements of the poem (such as the title and the final stanza) hint at a slightly darker sentiment.

The title is intriguing and puzzling, since it asks the reader to determine what the span of time is in reference to. Does it mean that the affair only lasts from June to December? Or does it refer to the time span that the feelings in the poem lasts?

Similarly, the questions that start the last stanza, "But is it love? And is it true?/ Who cares?", can be interpreted as an indication that the speaker is still in the giddy early part of the relationship and doesn't care what anyone calls it, but it might also indicate that the speaker is aware that this might not be true love but is okay with that realization. Additionally, this poem is more overtly sensual than "The Orange;" rather than pure giddiness, there's some decided carnality at play here that keeps the poem from becoming too sentimental.

Of course, I might be totally off-base here, so please feel free to share your thoughts below!

From June to December 
Summer Villanelle
by Wendy Cope

You know exactly what to do—
Your kiss, your fingers on my thigh—
I think of little else but you.

It’s bliss to have a lover who,
Touching one shoulder, makes me sigh—
You know exactly what to do.

You make me happy through and through,
The way the sun lights up the sky—
I think of little else but you.

I hardly sleep-an hour or two;
I can’t eat much and this is why—
You know exactly what to do.

The movie in my mind is blue—
As June runs into warm July
I think of little else but you.

But is it love? And is it true?
Who cares? This much I can’t deny:
You know exactly what to do;
I think of little else but you.

Looking Ahead to the 2016 Tony Awards

Next Sunday is the 2016 Tony Awards, and as usual, I feel more than a little unprepared for the show. However, I also think I'm better informed than I have been for the past few years thanks to a wealth of online resources (and because it seems pretty certain that Hamilton will be a juggernaut). Below are a few of my favorites just in case you are looking to do some cramming for the Tonys or in case you are looking for some great information on Broadway and theatre.

My go-to resource for all things Broadway is BroadwayRadio. I've been a longtime listener to their Sunday podcatsts (and Peter Filichia wrote the first theatre book I ever bought for myself). Recently, they've expanded their podcast, so they have one each weekday morning in addition to the one on Sunday. These daily podcasts are shorter (usually around 15 minutes each), and they include review round-ups for shows that have just opened as well as news related to Broadway and the theatre world. The hosts (James Marino and Matt Tamanini) have an obvious love of theatre, and their well-informed and strong opinions are always thoughtful and engaging. Additionally, BroadwayRadio seems to be acquiring new theatre-related shows on a weekly basis, so this is definitely a resource to check out!

Love them or hate them, The New York Times is a wealth of information on Broadway, and their Tony Awards section is extensive, with news, interviews, and videos. I also love following the theatre critics' liveblog and Twitter accounts during the awards telecast.

While this isn't a resource dedicated to theatre, I'd be remiss if I didn't include the interview Broadway producer Scott Rudin did with Terry Gross on Fresh Air. He had some wonderful insights into the backstage world of Broadway. Additionally, if you go into the Fresh Air archives, you can find some excellent interviews with other theatre personalities, including Stephen Sondheim, Sheldon Harnick, and John Kander.

Happy reading/listening!


Yes, I know I posted this last year. And yes, I still think it applies.

Foodie Friday: Potato, Asparagus, and Tuna Salad

Growing up in the South, meat and potatoes/starches were a staple. I don't think I even knew anyone who was a vegetarian until I was well into my 20s. Luckily, time and new experiences have broadened my horizons, and while I still like meat, I've also found that it isn't necessary for every meal. Earlier this month, I had a lovely dinner with two friends who are vegetarians (technically, they are pescatarians), and if anyone could convince me of the wonders of vegetarian eating, it would be them. For this time around, they served a hearty salad that is perfect for summer, and I knew that I needed to recreate it later.

Going from what I knew of the salad (it had tuna, potatoes, greens, asparagus, green beans, herbs, and a vinaigrette), I worked backwards and found some possible starting points. The first recipe that seemed promising was this one from the BBC Good Food site. While I didn't want the salad to be warm, I was intrigued by the use of pesto as the dressing.

Epicurious also had a recipe, originally published in Bon Appetite, and it was closer to what I remembered. However, I don't care for capers, and I wanted to scale down the proportions and cut down on the amount of oil (seriously, the dressing alone has a cup of oil). I also decided to simplify the ingredients list since I didn't have the time to visit Whole Foods for Champagne vinegar and radishes.

The end result was a filling, fresh, and delicious salad that could satisfy even the most dedicated meat lovers. It keeps well and is infinitely adaptable, so feel free to play with the ingredients as you like!

Potato, Asparagus, and Tuna Salad (adapted from BBC Good Food and Epicurious/Bon Appetite)

For the vinaigrette (Note: You might not need to use all of this vinaigrette on your salad depending on your preferences)

• 1/3 - 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (start with the smaller amount and add more as you deem necessary. If you like, you can use some of the drained olive oil from the tuna here)
• 2 - 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar (you can use Champagne vinegar if you have it. Lemon juice would also be refreshing)
• 1 small shallot, minced (or you can use 2 tablespoons of minced red onion)
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon pesto (you can forgo this if you like)
• Herbs to taste (I used chives and parsley)
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Mix 1/3 cup of olive oil  with 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar and the mustard until the mixture is well-combined.
2. Add the shallot and herbs to the mixture.
3. Taste the vinaigrette and add vinegar and/or olive oil as needed.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste. However, you might want to go easy on the salt for now - the tuna will have quite a bit of salt in it.

For the salad

• 1 pound of asparagus, trimmed and steamed or roasted and cut into 1 inch pieces
• 3/4 pound of potatoes (new potatoes are nice!), boiled and cut into 1 to 2 inch chunks
• 1 pint (approximately 3/4 - 1 pound) of cherry tomatoes, halved (I roasted mine in a little olive oil, but you don't have to)
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped into small pieces
• 6 ounces of tuna packed in olive oil, drained (use more or less as desired - I use 6 ounces) 
• 4 - 5 oz. of mixed greens
• 1/4 cup of pine nuts
• Other possible possible add-ins: red onion, cooked fresh green beans, olives, fresh mozzarella, cucumbers, roasted red peppers

*The potatoes don’t have to be used, but, if you don’t use them, the salad won’t be as hearty (it would likely be more of a side dish than a main course). If you don’t use the potatoes, you won’t need all of the vinaigrette. Also, you could replace the potatoes with croutons or pieces of toasted bread and make this similar to a panzanella, but this won’t keep as well.

1.In a large bowl, combine the asparagus, tomatoes, herbs, eggs, and onion, and toss gently.
2. Drizzle on approximately 1/3 of the vinaigrette and toss to combine the ingredients and to evenly coat them with the vinaigrette.
3. Dress the potatoes (if using) with 1/3 of the vinaigrette (they will absorb quite a bit of the vinaigrette, which is why I like dressing them separately from the rest of the veggies). Add the dressed potatoes to the other dressed vegetables.
4. Flake or chunk the drained tuna. You can either mix it into the vegetables or serve it on top of the vegetables.
5. Dress the mixed greens with the remaining vinaigrette. You can either toss these greens into the vegetables or use the greens as a bed for the other vegetables and the tuna.
6. Top the salad with pine nuts (toasted if desired).

Long Time, No Post

While I didn't mean to take a four-month break from blogging here, spring semester happened. I'm planning on being better this summer. Stay tuned for book reviews, Tony Awards ruminations, and other random thoughts!

My Top Reads from 2015

I apologize for my lengthy absence - the end of the year is always rough in academia. Between the holidays, the end of the semester, and a five-day conference, November and December were a little crazy. However, now that the craziness is more manageable, I wanted to write a post on my favorite reads from last year. I had a great reading year in 2015 (I read over 80 books). This was aided by a Scribd subscription for part of the year (I used it in the summer, but I didn't feel like I could justify having it once school started back) and a seven-day cruise where I had very limited internet access.

Besides the number of books I read, what is even more exciting to me is that most of them were quite enjoyable. Below are my favorite books that I read during the past year. While most of them were published before 2015, the ones that I included in this list were new to me (I'm an avid re-reader, but I'm not going to list them since I've likely written about them on my blog before :).

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America - This book was on my "To be read" list for a long time.I finally picked it up last year, and my only regret is waiting so long to read it. In it, Erik Larson provides a gripping account of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Through alternating chapters, he tells about the fair's construction and the serial killer who took advantage of the fair to murder a number of people in horrific ways. My one piece of advice when reading this book is not to read it late at night. Reading about a murder house is disconcerting at any time, but it is especially troubling at 1:00 am.

Fun Home - Allison Bechdel was our keynote speaker at NCTE this year, and when I had the opportunity to buy some of her books for her to autograph, I jumped at the chance. While I liked Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama, I loved Fun Home, which is examines her relationship with her father and which was the basis for the musical that won the 2015 Tony for Best New Musical.

Drama - I really like Raina Telgemeier's work and was excited to read her graphic novel about middle school students putting on a musical. The story focuses on a female tech person, which made it especially enjoyable for me (in high school and college, I spent a lot of time working backstage on various plays). It touches upon friendship, crushes, and LGTBQ issues without getting too heavy. Overall, it is a lovely, humorous read.

The Secret History of Wonder Woman - Jill Lepore's look at Wonder Woman's origin is critically acclaimed for a reason. The main focus is on William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman's creator, and Lepore does an excellent job taking Marston, who could easily seem like an unsavory and over-the-top individual, and making him multifaceted and nuanced.

Hope Against Hope: Three Schools, One City, and the Struggle to Educate America's Children - Since I feel inundated with information on education at work, I often bypass reading about it in my spare time. However, I picked this book up at a library book sale, and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Besides providing a thoughtful look at the state of education in post-Katrina New Orleans, a city that has had many issues with their public education system, the author does a great job presenting all sides to controversial topics like Teach for America and charter schools.

Book Review: "The League of Regrettable Superheroes"

I’m not a comics expert, but I have a great affinity for reading about comic books of years past. One of my favorite aspects of reading about these books is the often well-intentioned but ridiculous missteps that have occurred, such as an entry in the Superman universe that Glen Weldon gleefully (and affectionately) recounts on the NPR site where Jimmy Olsen travels back in time and starts a Beatles craze in ancient Judea. “The League of Regrettable Superheroes” by Jon Morris is dedicated to celebrating the wacky hijinks and preposterous storylines of yesteryear. However, rather than focusing on the missteps of well-known series, Morris’s book focuses on lesser-known and less-successful superheroes. Some have dubious origins (Captain Tootsie, a superhero/advertisement for Tootsie Rolls) while others seem to have been designed to take advantage of a trend popular at the time (Morris points out that Magicman, which debuted in 1965, was an attempt to cash in on shows like “Bewitched” and “I Dream of Jeannie”). In almost all cases, the superheroes are indeed regrettable, but Morris has palpable fondness for them even as he acknowledges how ridiculous and ill-conceived they are.

The entries are organized into three parts – The Golden Age (1938 – 1949), the Silver Age (1950 –1969, a time that Glen Weldon refers to as The Crazypants Years), and the Modern Age (1970 – present day). Most entries are two pages in length, with a page dedicated to humorously and wryly describing the superhero and the other page featuring lavish color pictures from the comics (a few entries have four-page spreads, with the extra pages consisting mostly of pictures). As a sidebar, Morris includes a few quick facts on each hero, such as the creator and the debut info, as well as some snarky commentary (for instance, The Conqueror’s sidebar includes “Last seen: Moving inexorably toward Berlin”). While the setup might frustrate those who want further information, the format works very well for readers who want a general overview of the comics without too much minutiae to bog down the proceedings. Additionally, the use of full-color pictures throughout the book (in fact, all of the pictures are printed in color – Quirk does not skimp on the printing or layout) provide further insight into the heroes, as Morris wisely uses his subjects’ inherent insanity and inanity to speak for themselves. These features also make “The League of Regrettable Superheroes” perfect as a quirky and fun coffee-table book.

In short, if you are looking for a serious and in-depth examination of failed comic book characters, then “The League of Regrettable Superheroes” might not be for you. However, it is perfect if you want an entertaining, approachable, and amusing look at unsuccessful or inept attempts at finding the next Superman or Batman.

Edelweiss: A Rumination on Rogers and Hammerstein's Underappreciated Classic

According to the liner notes for a CD I bought many years ago (when I still bought CDs), “Edelweiss,” Rogers and Hammerstein’s song about the Austrian flower, is one of the most moving songs ever.  Even without the hyperbolic wording, it is easy to scoff at such a thought.  The song seems like a sentimental side note within an even more sentimental musical and movie, a minor selection within the maudlin excess that is The Sound of Music.  At first glance, it doesn’t even seem to completely fulfill the definition of moving.  For most of the population, moving means grandiose declarations and copious weeping.  Undoubtedly, musical theatre has offered numerous songs with more outright passion and pathos; from the Rogers and Hammerstein canon alone, songs such as “We Kiss in the Shadows,” “I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” offer considerable dramatic flair.  By comparison, “Edelweiss” is a short, simple, and somewhat repetitious love song to nature.  It lacks the tragedy of young lovers separated by circumstance, the exhilaration of falling in love for the first time, or the comfort in understanding that no one is truly alone.

However, to simply dismiss “Edelweiss” as a clichéd ode to flowers does a great disservice to the song and its composers.  One part of the song’s undeniable appeal and moving quality does have to do with its context within the film version of The Sound of Music. 

Alone in the spotlight, seeing the Nazi guards waiting to take him into custody so he can fight in the army, Captain Von Trapp starts singing this simple tribute to his homeland, a place that, according to the Nazis, no longer truly exists.  In the film version, Christopher Plummer’s purported dislike of the project makes it even more meaningful.  Even as he manfully sings and strums, Capt. Von Trapp’s voice cracks as he realizes the enormity of what has happened.  For just a moment, Plummer’s cynicism fades, and he allows the audience to see the vulnerability and sadness lurking beneath the stoic façade.  His family, led by the incomparable Julie Andrews, joins in and urges the audience to sing too.  I still remember my 8^th grade teacher’s explanation of this moment – “It’s like singing the National Anthem in the face of defeat.

Despite the intense emotions associated with the scene, a close examination of the song reveals its considerable strengths without the context of Nazis, Austria, and Julie Andrews.  “Edelweiss” was Oscar Hammerstein’s final work before succumbing to cancer.  Unlike the obvious morality of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” or “Climb Ev'ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” offers a more restrained method of inspiration.  While time and life are fleeting, some things remain unchanged.  In this sense, “Edelweiss” is also one of the most Romantic (with a capital R) of Rogers and Hammerstein’s songs; nature remains constant and provides a sense of comfort within this ever-changing world.  The music takes a similarly understated and simplistic approach.  Stripped of histrionics and vocal gymnastics, the tune emulates traditional folk music.  This is not a song that lends itself to lush orchestrations or complicated choral arrangements; instead, it embraces the sincerity and spontaneity that usually only comes with impromptu singing.

As for its inclusion on the most moving songs of all times list, it is difficult to take a sale-priced CD at the bookstore as the world’s foremost authority on music.  However, in the case of “Edelweiss,” perhaps it is on to something…

Literary Halloween Costumes: 2015 Edition

Every year, I consider not doing a literary Halloween post. After eight posts, it can be a little challenging to come up with something relatively new and/or different. However, after thinking about it and taking a quick look at my blog stats, I find that I can't resist. Here are a few new costume ideas from classic and not-so-classic literature.

Lady Macbeth from Macbeth - Unlike some characters, there is no single, indelible image that is Lady Macbeth, which can be a bonus (even if it does require that you explain your costume to people throughout the evening). For Lady Macbeth, you can go with a more formal, regal look (think velvet gown and elaborate hair) or a more severe ensemble (whenever I picture Lady Macbeth, Judy Dench's version comes to mind). Perhaps her most recognizable outfit is the nightgown associated with the sleepwalking scene, which would allow you to be very comfy (layers would be a good thing) and mutter "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" all evening.

The Girls (Bridget, Carmen, Tibby, and Lena) from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - This idea works best if you have three female friends who want a group costume but no one wants to spend a lot of time or money coming up with one. The main thing each person needs is a comfortable pair of flattering jeans. After that, personalize the looks based on the different characters. Bridget needs long blonde hair (or, if you want to go for the second book, poorly dyed black hair), a soccer jersey or flirty top (when she's trying to get Eric's attention), and maybe a soccer ball. Carmen is trendier and curvier than her friends. Tibby might have a blue streak in her hair, a Wallman's (or Walgreen's) smock/vest, a nose piercing, and a somewhat sour expression. Lena dresses on the preppier end of the spectrum and tries to blend in.

The Narrator from "The Raven" - Our knowledge of the unnamed narrator of Poe's "The Raven" is limited, but he would be easy to recognize because of the raven. Given the late-in-the-day setting, slippers, pants, a shirt, and a nice robe would suffice. However, you would also need a stuffed raven to place on your shoulder (add the word "Nevermore" on a speech bubble coming out of the bird's mouth for further detail) or a friend to dress up as a raven to accompany you on your Halloween adventures. You might also have a picture of Lenore to look at and sigh over throughout the night.

Princess Elizabeth from The Paper Bag Princess - Elizabeth makes a refreshing change from the typical princess archetypes in their tiaras and fancy dresses. Additionally, she would be a (relatively) easy last-minute costume. As the book title suggests, she wears a paper bag instead of a gown and goes on adventures. Given the (probably) chilly temperatures and decency laws, I don't recommend that you only wear a paper bag. Instead, wear tights (or shorts or pants, depending on your preferences) as well as a tank top or long-sleeved shirt underneath your paper bag (or brown paper) dress. While Elizabeth's dress was simple, you could go all Project Runway with the idea and make your creation a more elaborate affair by styling your paper bag just so.

Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind - I can't believe that I haven't yet spotlighted Gone with the Wind here yet, but better late than never. I think that part of reluctant to include the book is that the movie, its costumes, and its overall look are so well known, but rather than run away from it, you could also embrace the iconography. Scarlett and Rhett (typically) require some planning, but the effect is well worth it. Depending on time, budget, and weather (seriously, running around in a hoop skirt and ballgown wouldn't terribly fun in 80 degree weather), you can go super-fancy in one of Scarlett's well-known, sumptuous ensembles, such as her green velvet dress (made from Tara's curtains), her red velvet party gown, or her picnic dress (Edelweiss Patterns has some beautiful pictures of a homemade version). To be a dapper Rhett, a period suit, preferably with tails and a vest, would do nicely. However, if you are short on time or actually want to fit into your car as Scarlett, you could go with her less famous but still iconic farmhand look by wearing a long, simple cotton dress and a determined if weary expression. Bonus points for defiantly saying, "As God as my witness..." throughout the evening. Rhett's dressed down look is even easier: all he needs is rakishly disheveled hair, long pants, and a white shirt (buttoning it up is optional).

September 2015's PLAY! by Sephora Box

While I can't say that I'm a subscription box addict (my budget won't allow me to be), I do love trying out different boxes. When Sephora announced last month that it was getting in the beauty subscription box game, I figured I would give it a whirl. After receiving my first box, I'm very happy that I did!

PLAY! by Sephora is very similar to Birchbox, Ipsy, and other beauty subscription boxes in its most basic details. Like these other boxes, you signup for a monthly subscription ($10 + tax per month) and get a package of deluxe samples from the brands that Sephora carries in its stores. You also get a PLAY! Book with information on the different products as well as a PLAY! Pass that, according to the box's FAQ page, you can "redeem in store for a free one-on-one learning session with a beauty expert." My PLAY! Pass also says that I can redeem it to get 50 extra Beauty Insider points with purchase (depending on your thoughts regarding Sephora and the entire "Epic Rewards/Epic Fail" debacle, your mileage on whether these points are worth anything may vary).

Based on what I've seen online, I don't think that there is much (if any) variation in the boxes, which can be both good and bad. While Birchbox gives subscribers sample choice and has them fill out surveys so that the boxes can be tailored to preference and style, it seems like Sephora's boxes all contain the same products. Since I've had mixed experiences with Birchbox personalizing my products (I tend to get shampoo with sulfates, which I can't use because I glaze my hair, and foundations that are much, much too light), I'm actually happy to get the same products as everyone else since this helps mitigate the frustration that comes with getting products that don't work for you and seeing someone else get products that you could and would use.

 I received the notice that my box had shipped on the 18th and received my box today (the 22nd), which is a record for me and beauty boxes. It was packaged in a black and white Sephora shipping box. The inner packaging can be seen on the left. The size is somewhere between a Glossybox and a Birchbox, and it is very cute. One thing I'll be interested in seeing is whether Sephora changes the design on the inner box lids. While this is cute, I'd love to see some other colors and designs. The packaging inside the inner box was crinkled paper, which kept the products in place. If I have one complaint about Birchbox, it is that there isn't any cushioning, so I've gotten more than a few damaged products. I don't necessarily see that happening with the PLAY! box.

The products are snug in their bed

My samples were all deluxe-sized, and there was a nice variety to them. They included:

• The Sephora Collection Rouge Infusion lip tint/stain in Peony 
• A Marc Jacobs Highliner in Blacquer
• Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation face creme
• Bumble and bumble Haidresser's Invisible Oil
• Glamglow Supercleanse
• Elizabeth and James Nircana White perfume (this is a bonus product)

Overall, I really liked the products I received. When I first subscribed, I was a little nervous that the majority of items would be Sephora brand (rather than prestige brands), so I was pleasantly surprised that I received only one Sephora brand product, which I really liked. I particularly appreciate that these are all products I would like to try but aren't ones that I would necessarily purchase on my own. Since one of my hopes when subscribing to a beauty box is finding something new that I would like, I consider this a success.

Additionally, I found the PLAY! Book to be informative. I typically don't pay too much attention to the info sheets or booklets included with subscription boxes, but this one had some helpful information, such as how to use the products in unusual ways (for instance, you can use the Marc Jacobs Highliner to tint light-colored lashes and the Bumble and bumble oil primer to tame brows and moisturize nails). The book is also supposed to be scannable, meaning that you can scan the product pictures with the Sephora smartphone app to get additional information.

All in all, I'm very pleased with the box, and I'm looking forward to next month's. If you have any questions or thoughts regarding the box, please feel free to share in the comments section.

Summer 2015 Recap: Or, What I Did Instead of Blogging

I can't believe that it is already the end of August and that I've neglected this blog so much :(. I promise, it's not you, it's me. That said, I've had a very busy and eventful summer. This included (but wasn't limited to):

• Working on materials that serve as a checkpoint for tenure
• Revising curriculum (yay?)
• Reading a lot (more on this in a moment)
• Collaborating with colleagues on an educational exhibit that's coming this school year
• Going on my first cruise and visiting Alaska

All in all, it was a good summer, and while I could have used another week (or two, or eight), I'm proud of everything that was accomplished. Even though I really didn't make a dent in my to-do list, I was able to get a number of important things done.

Because of the cruise, I was also able to get a lot of reading done. A lot of these books were for fun, which is a luxury since so I have so many books that I need to read for class and research. These books included:

• The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson
• Drama by Raina Telgemeier
• The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs
• Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
• Lists of Note: An Eclectic Collection Deserving of an Wider Audience edited by Shaun Usher
• The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
• Understanding Rhetoric: A Graphic Guide to Writing by Elisabeth Losh

Overall, I enjoyed all of these books, and I'm hoping to review a  couple of them on the blog.

How was your summer? Did you read anything noteworthy? Please feel free to share what you read, did, saw, etc. in the comments!

The 2015 Tony Awards: The Host & Best Musical Nominees

The 2015 Tony Awards were earlier this month, and while I came in knowing very little about the shows, I found it to be a mostly entertaining night. While there were some egregious missteps (flat jokes, problematic musical numbers, the deeply awful "In Memorium" presentation), overall, it was an entertaining and enjoyable night celebrating theater. While there are some great play-by-plays and reviews online (The New York Times always has a great Tonys section), I wanted to add my thoughts to the ones already out there. So, let's rewind to earlier in the month and relive the great and not-so-great moments.

The Hosts - I have to admit that I'm torn about Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming. On one hand, they brought a lively sense of irreverence to the proceedings. At their best, it was a little like watching the Tonys with your two snarky, opinionated theatre friends who mock everything but in a loving and joyous way (as opposed to a bitter and angry way). For instance, watching Alan Cumming plug Josh Groban's performance for 90 minutes or so was funny because it was obvious that Cumming thought the constant reminders were obnoxious. I also enjoyed the little musical interludes that the hosts did before the commercial breaks.

However, there were times when the hosts (or the writers or both) went too far and the jokes landed with a thud or failed to launch at all. Case in point: After an amazing performance from Fun Home (more on this in a moment), the audience was treated to a lame E.T. joke. As Dave Itzkoff at the Times put it:

If you're really mad at Game of Thrones, remember you could have seen this on the Tonys. pic.twitter.com/sgUPKkUVet

— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) June 8, 2015

Let this be a lesson that sometimes less is more and that, if you are going to do a lame joke, then at least plan to do it after a crappy performance.

The Best Musical Nominee  Numbers
Fun Home - For most people, this was THE number of the night. Sydney Lucas, who plays the youngest version of Allison, showed some major acting and singing chops in "Ring of Keys." While this number doesn't seem like an obvious one for a Tonys telecast (most shows went for big, splashy, and fun production numbers), it was perfect.

Something Rotten! - While it was very meta (the song is all about musicals and the sometimes preposterous tropes and conventions they contain), it was a nice way to kick off the night. Also, anything that mocks Les Miserables gets a pass in my book.

The Visit - It is always nice to see Chita Rivera performing, especially when she is performing Kander and Ebb. Sure, it was befuddling (Chita is dancing with a younger version of herself, and according to those who have seen the show, the men in masks are supposed to be eunuchs), but it's Chita and Kander & Ebb.

An American in Paris - I don't know why, but I have an unexplainable animosity towards this show. I think that part of it stems from the fact that it (according to all accounts, rightfully) bested On the Town in the choreography category, but the Tony number it selected didn't endear it to me either. It was the perfect example of why medleys don't usually fare well in this venue. It was overstuffed and rather confusing (if you didn't know anything about the show, this probably wouldn't help you).

Tony, Tony, Tony!

I know it has been a while since I've blogged here, but tonight is Tony night!



While I know next to nothing about the nominated shows this year, I'm still excited. In a sense, this makes tonight's broadcast even more interesting to me since it will (in theory) give me a chance to learn more about the shows, and I won't get too upset if a show I love doesn't win.

I plan to have a reactions post on the Tonys up later this week. Stay tuned!

Have Yourself a Melancholy Little Christmas

Christmastime is here, and with it comes a heaping helping of Christmas cheer. The stores are decked out in tinsel and glitter, and carols ranging from "Frosty the Snowman" to "All I Want for Christmas is You" fill the airwaves. If you love this sort of cheeriness, then this is your time. However, if you are a little holidayed out and needing a respite from this unrelenting merriment, don't despair. There are a surprising number of songs that are of a more lugubrious mood.

"Winter Song" by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

This song technically isn't a Christmas song, but it is a winter song, so it counts in my book. I love the simplicity of the melody and the arrangement as well as the fact that the lyrics manage to be plaintive without being cloying. While I might not recommend listening to it in the depths of winter (especially if you are suffering from seasonal affective disorder), it is a lovely and reflective escape from the sometimes maddening glee that seems omnipresent this time of year.

"Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl

For a song that has a rather upbeat tempo, the lyrics are incredibly bitter. The surprising juxtaposition results in a great (and angry) song to drown your sorrows to while muttering, "Ho, ho, hell" to yourself.

"Christmas in the Trenches" by John McCutcheon

If "Winter Song" is contemplative and "Fairytale of New York" is bitter, then "Christmas in the Trenches" is downright heartbreaking. Much of the sadness comes from the fact that, while it is fictional, it tells the story of the real-life Christmas truce that occurred during World War I. Every year when I hear it for the first time, I tear up (this has happened to me more than once while I was driving).

Two Gluten-Free Desserts for Friendsgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from the U.S.! I apologize for the lack of posts recently - November is always a crazy month, and December is even worse. That is to say, while I will try my darndest to get another post up before Christmas, I can't make any promises.

Part of the craziness of this month is that I always have a conference that comes just before Thanksgiving. As a result, I flew back home yesterday (aka the busiest travel day of the year) and spent most of the day recovering from the conference and the early, early flight. Luckily, my Thanksgiving this year is quiet; beyond grocery shopping this morning (because I wasn't up for it yesterday), the only other things on the agenda for today were going to the gym, cleaning my kitchen, eating dinner with friends, and preparing for tomorrow's Friendsgiving dinner.

At least one of the guests at Friendsgiving has celiac disease, so I decided to try making some gluten-free recipes for her. The sides (glazed carrots and sweet potato salad) were easy enough, but the desserts always give me pause. As someone who likes to bake but hasn't quite figured out gluten-free (or vegan-friendly) desserts, this gave me a moment of pause. Luckily, I remember that one of my favorite comfort-food desserts, tres leches rice pudding from The Smitten Kitchen cookbook, is not only gluten-free but is also perfect for the cold and snowy weather we are having in the Midwest today. For those who might argue that rice pudding doesn't scream "Thanksgiving!" the way that pie or cake might, I would respond that this is what makes it special. Not only does it stand out on the dessert table, it can be very elegant, especially if served in individual bowls, glasses, or ramekins and topped off with a dollop of whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.

The other dessert was one I stumbled across thanks to Google. Chocolate coconut pie is not only festive and decadent, it only requires 4 ingredients and minimal oven time. Instead of having a traditional pie crust, the crust of this pie is made of butter and sweetened coconut, which is baked in the oven until browned. After it cools, it is filled with chocolate ganache, a decadent mixture of chocolate and cream, and refrigerated. That's it.

If you're having Thanksgiving tomorrow or if you need some last-minute desserts, I highly recommend these two desserts. Besides being delicious and gluten-free, they are fast and can be made ahead of time so you can focus your time and energy on other matters (watching one of myriad TV marathons, making many other dishes, pleading with the universe that the turkey will be cooked just right, etc.). Happy Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving!

Foodie Friday: Soup's On!

It's Halloween (or it would have been if Blogger had published the post on time :), and even though the temperature here in northern Indiana was in the 70s earlier this week, the forecast says that there is a chance of flurries this evening. However, even though I still find the possibility of snow in October (albeit at the end of October) a little disconcerting, there is a lot I love about winter, especially early in the season. Besides the wardrobe (sweaters! slacks! sweater dresses! warm scarves!), I love having the opportunity to do some winter cooking, and some of my favorite winter recipes are soups.

I will admit that I wasn't always a soup person. I think it was mostly because it didn't seem like a substantial meal. However, a number of recipes have helped me see the light, and now a typical weekend ritual in the winter is to make a pot of soup to sustain me through the week. I also love sharing soup with friends, because despite my new found appreciation, even I can't stomach soup for lunch and dinner for an entire week. 

Creamy Tomato Soup from MarthaStewart.com - Sometimes you need something familiar, and this soup is comfort food at its best. It is also easy, uses minimal ingredients, and is much better than anything that you can get from a can. I always use the optional garlic to give the soup another layer of flavor. Also, I strongly recommend using fire-roasted tomatoes if you can.

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup from CookingClassy.com - This soup is stick-to-your-ribs rich, which makes it perfect after a day of being out in the cold shoveling snow. However, if you want to lighten it up, you can certainly cut down the amount of butter and cream and use low-fat milk. You can also add more veggies and/or use leftover turkey instead of chicken (perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers).

Chicken Tortilla Soup from ThePioneerWoman.com - While I'm not a fan of The Pioneer Woman on television, I love this soup. It is warming but not too heavy (unless you go crazy with the toppings and add-ins). The only significant change I make to the recipe is to replace the beans with 8 oz. of frozen sweet corn, which I add near the end of the cooking time. I also don't use tortilla strips, opting instead to crush up some tortilla chips and mix them in before topping the soup with a little red onion, cilantro, cheese, and light sour cream.

Lasagna Soup from AFarmgirlsDabbles.com - I've yet to figure out how to make lasagna, but I don't feel like I need to since I have this soup for whenever I have a lasagna hankering. Rather than using Italian sausage, I use ground turkey. Also, as the recipe suggests, if you are planning on eating the soup throughout the week (or you make it ahead), you will definitely want to cook the pasta separately and add it to the soup as you eat it. This way, the pasta won't absorb all of the soup.

Are you a soup person? If so, what are your favorite recipes?

Characters Loved & Lost: Part II

After having a few weeks to think about the topic of character deaths, I must admit that I'm still torn about the issue. As mentioned in my previous post on the topic, I don't necessarily like my entertainment to be dark and depressing, but I also think that, in some cases, the death of a character makes sense. In order for this to happen, the death needs to fall into one of two categories: the character's death fits the storyline and/or propels the storyline forward or the actor who played the character died.

Storyline-Related Deaths - There are some instances where the death of a character fits with plot, character, and setting. For instance, if a given character has strong ties to other characters on the show, and his or her absence couldn't easily be explained away. The best example that comes to mind from my (very) limited scope is Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy. After having been established as wanting a child for several seasons, it would have been an abrupt about-face if Mark left the hospital and his family (including daughter Sofia and bffs Derek and Callie). While Shonda Rhimes has been known for killing off characters in unnecessarily violent ways (George was hit by a bus and was rendered unrecognizable to his co-workers, while Lexie died in a plane crash and was eventually eaten by wild animals), killing Mark, who actually had a pretty nice send-off by Grey's Anatomy standards, seemed fitting. Additionally, the plane crash (and Mark's and Lexie's deaths as well as Arizona's injuries) ended up providing the impetus for the following season (which wasn't that great, but at least it served a purpose).

Another, and perhaps more controversial, instance of this is the death of Henry Blake on M*A*S*H. I have enough self-awareness to know that I would have been one of the many angry fans if I had been around when Blake was killed, but in retrospect, the death seems very fitting. In times of war, there aren't always happy endings, and while the show had its share of death because of its nature and setting, having a main character die helped drive the reality of war home.

Actor-Related Deaths - While storyline-related deaths allow for the creators and show runners to work towards achieving some sort of creative vision, actor-related deaths come about as a necessity. Whether it is Coach on Cheers or Finn on Glee, killing off a character after the actor has passed away is usually the right thing to do. Not only does it give the character some closure, it also shows respect to the actor and the audience. In the case of Finn, not only was the character a central one to the show (the Ryan Murphy has mentioned numerous times that his vision for the ending of the show always involved Finn) but Cory Monteith's death received so much attention that having the character fade away into the ether would have been not just impossible but insulting.

Are there other reasons or scenarios where killing off a beloved character makes sense? Please chime in below!