I began 2020 with a fire in my belly for reading. I made up a goal to ensure a robust literary year: 20 novels, 20 plays. I proceeded to read more nonfiction than ever before, and I have no regrets.
Opinion
In Review: Once Were Brothers
I love The Band. This blog is named after a song by The Band. My username is based on a song by The Band. Fans of The Band feel a little on the outside. The Band’s moment in the spotlight was short and unusual, and they don’t get the fanfare that many of their contemporaries … Continue reading In Review: Once Were Brothers
Cost in Translation
I do not speak or read Russian, so I am at the mercy of literary critics, polyglots, and bored Amazon reviewers. There are many P&V detractors. Whether they prefer other modern translators, Constance Garnett, or someone in between, many reviews (that are not featured on book jackets) criticize Pevear and Volokhonsky. The more I have read, the more I have had to accept they may not be the be-all end-all of Russian translators.
Queen Harvest’s 2019 Reading Recap
For my fifth annual Reading Recap I decided to do something a little special: procrastinate for five months before finishing it. In my defense, I was very busy around New Year’s, and I am very not-busy now.
Queen Harvest’s Top Five (5) Albums of 2019
For five years I have memorialized the albums that spoke to me in a year-end blog post. The record of 2019 shows that I invested my time into no more than four albums and one EP. That’s it? That’s it. Out of the five recordings that meant something to me in 2019, here are the … Continue reading Queen Harvest’s Top Five (5) Albums of 2019
Queen Harvest’s Top Five (5) Albums of 2018
By January of 2018, I was burned out. I had spent each of the previous 52 weeks identifying, listening to, and evaluating a new album. Though I got a lot out of my 2017 music mission, I did not have the energy or interest to invest in a lot of new music. As a result, … Continue reading Queen Harvest’s Top Five (5) Albums of 2018
Queen Harvest’s Top Ten (10) Movies of 2018
The One that Holds Everything (The Romanoffs Episode 8) The Violet Hour (The Romanoffs Episode 1) End of the Line (The Romanoffs Episode 7) House of Special Purpose (The Romanoffs Episode 3) The Royal We (The Romanoffs Episode 2) Bright and High Circle (The Romanoffs Episode 5) Expectations (The Romanoffs Episode 4) Panorama (The Romanoffs … Continue reading Queen Harvest’s Top Ten (10) Movies of 2018
QueenHarvest’s 2018 Reading Recap
I had one goal for reading in 2018: enjoy it. I forced myself to read too many educational books in 2017 for no reason other than I should, and I did not want to wear myself down that way again. I believe I succeeded.
Queen Harvest’s Top Fifty-Eight (58) Albums of 2017
Who doesn't love an arbitrary, subjective, poorly thought out ranking?
Queen Harvest’s 2017 Reading Recap
Early this year I followed Marie Kondo's advice and put every book I owned on the floor to be judged. I held every book and decided whether it brought me joy--if yes it stayed, if no it was discarded. Unfortunately, the joy a book brings can fluctuate based on all those words between the covers. … Continue reading Queen Harvest’s 2017 Reading Recap
