004: On World Book Day & unconventional methods of procrastination

Happy World Book Day!

Welcome back to Knovel! If you’re new, you can catch up on the last edition here.

I’m beginning to notice a bit of a pattern; I seem to have a predilection for writing only when I’m at my busiest, when I have better (or at least, more pressing) things to do. We’re nearing the end of second term here in Durham, which translates to one thing: deadlines.

I have 4 essays due in the next two weeks. And unlike the ones I had back in December, these essays are summative — they count toward my final grade. Not only that, they account for 40% of my overall mark.

(I’m fully aware that one assignment being worth that much might seem a bit ridiculous, at least to my American friends back home, and I agree. Such are the woes of the English system.)

World Book Day

Not only do I procrastinate by writing, I’ve also recently rediscovered my love for reading (although, deadlines looming, my timing could not be more inconvenient). Still, it’s hardly the worst method of procrastination out there.

In honor of World Book Day today, I thought I’d dedicate this issue towards all things reading. I’d never heard of the holiday until this morning, when I opened up Twitter and found that “Hermione Granger” was trending in the United Kingdom.

Curious, I clicked the link — only to be met with hundreds of pictures, all posted by their parents, of children dressed up as their favorite book character. Unsurprisingly, many of them opted for Hermione Granger. They donned cloaks and Gryffindor scarves, pointing their wands at the camera in an (unsuccessful) attempt to appear menacing. Halloween costumes, at least in England, pale by comparison.

The day’s festivities didn’t end there. I had resolved to go to the St. John’s library after breakfast, hoping that the atmosphere would spark some form of productivity, preferably in the form of words, in a Google Doc, for one of my 4 essays.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), it wasn’t meant to be. No sooner had I swiped my ID and entered the LRC (as our library is affectionately known) did I spot the display.

I hope you’ll forgive my excitement over something so small, but it really did make my day. There was a poster, with markers supplied, to provide book recommendations. On the first (i.e. the second, not ground) floor, there was a table with a selection of suspiciously book-shaped brown paper bags.

“Blind date with a book,” the sign read, “Don’t judge a book by its cover and try a mystery fiction book this World Book Day. Maybe you will fall in love!”

Intrigued, I scanned the books’ one-liners, which were scribbled in large Sharpie letters on each package. Eventually, and taking significantly more time than such a decision required, I made my selection.

“Art, marriage, suspense, and deadpan humour,” was the description provided. It seemed quite different to my usual choices, which I suppose is the whole point of the exercise. When I unwrapped it, I was greeted by the (fittingly) blue cover of So Much Blue, by Percival Everett.

So Much Blue and a book tracker/quotes spread from my bullet journal.

I’d never heard of the book, nor author, before, but (after scanning the back cover) I’m excited to read it. I’ll be sure to report back, likely in the form of a postscript, in a few weeks time.

35 books in 2022

As mentioned in my last edition, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to read 35 books in 2022. I’ve made significant progress already, largely due to my penchant for procrastination. In fact, according to Goodreads, I’m one book ahead of schedule!

I’ve finished 6 books thus far (and I’ve linked their Goodreads, in case you’re interested):

1. Galileo’s Error by Philip Goff. I stumbled across this book serendipitously in the St. John’s library. Seeing that it was about consciousness (one of my favorite topics in metaphysics), I decided to borrow it, and I’m quite glad I did. (5 stars)

2. How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton. I’ve been following Alain de Botton for some time now; he has an interesting YouTube channel called The School of Life. Anyway, I requested this book of his for Secret Santa this year, and my friend Woohyun was kind enough to get it for me. (4 stars)

3. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. This book has received a lot of attention recently, particularly on BookTok (the bookworm corner of TikTok). It was a moving book, an overall good read, but I’m not entirely sure that it’s “worth the hype” (and it’s gotten quite a lot of it). (4 stars)

4. Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford. I tend to have one “diamond in the rough” each year; a book that you don’t expect, perhaps that you’d never even heard of, that completely takes you by surprise. That was Somebody’s Daughter for me; I stumbled across it on Libby (a library app for e-books), and seeing that it was available, I decided to give it a go. (5 stars)

5. Shipped by Angie Hockman. To be completely honest, this one was thrown in for the sole purpose of having a light, fast-paced read. I had just read 2 nonfiction books (both on philosophy), a heavy novel (which provided commentary on domestic violence), and an equally heavy memoir consecutively — it was beginning to take its toll. (3 stars)

6. What Money Can’t Buy by Michael J. Sandel. I received this book for Secret Santa in 2020 (alongside Justice, another of Sandel’s books), and I only got around to reading it in February. It’s on an extraordinarily interesting topic — the moral limits of markets — and Sandel’s writing is accessible and (despite the subject matter) quite funny at times. (4 stars)

As for books that I’m currently reading, or plan to soon:

1. Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney. I just love Sally Rooney — her writing, her characters, her refusal to use quotation marks. Right now, I’m about 80% of the way done with this book.

2. So Much Blue by Percival Everett. See above.

3. Consolations by David Whyte. When I saw this book in the LRC’s display of new purchases, I remembered my 12th grade English teacher, Ms. Halligan, mentioning it in passing last year. Evidently, I had to borrow it (the beautiful cover certainly didn’t hurt).

If you have any recommendations, please do send them along :)

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Thank you for reading this far (and for indulging my inner bookworm), and I’ll be back in your inbox with the next issue soon! As always, a reply (even just to say how you’re doing) is always appreciated.

Hope you’re doing well!
Kaylyn

P.S. Funnily enough, Jack Edwards (Durham’s very own celebrity) posted a video last month using the “blind date with a book” concept. Coincidence?