september 2025, fall quarter
I started the second year of my grad program last week. If I keep seeing this through, I will have a Master's in Social Work in a little over a year. And with that Master's in Social Work, what shall I do? Who the hell knows. I've been winging my whole life so far, and I'll continue the tradition because anytime I jolt into reality and demand that I "get my shit together," something really awful happens, personally or in the world, or, oftentimes, both. If you've read my latest letter, you have insight into my mind over the past few weeks. It's been, and I don't have to tell any of you, a lot.
And social workers deal with a lot. I know that because, as most people studying for their Master's in Social Work can attest, I've worked in the field. Lots of people are doing social work without being Certified Social Workers; many of you, even.
Here's what I read this month!
[books I read]
The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman (2023) | Quick summary: Maeve Wilhelm is in a strange comatose state and has not aged in years. Maeve's mysterious “sleep” draws a slew of characters to her and causes strife for her family, namely her twin sister.
This book was strange as hell, and I didn't understand it at times until it all came together for me. I'm both fascinated and fearful of twins, and I love it when they're prominently featured in a story. Some of the themes in this book were really spot-on for how life feels right now; the idea of taking some kind of drug regimen to maintain youth, starting with famous people but trickling down to everyone, is a vicious cycle that happens in real life all the time, and might be happening right now with idk, GLP1s, or not talking about Palestine.
There were also great sentences in this book, and as a bonus, it's been on my literal TBR for a long time, and I'm glad I finally read it!
[literary fiction, magical realism, written by a white(?) writer, medium-length read]
Titanic Legacy: The Captain, His Daughter and the Spy by Dan E. Parkes (2025) | Quick summary: The story of Captain E.J. Smith and his family, primarily his daughter Mel, after his death.
Unsurprisingly, I have an alert set up for Titanic, and on occasion, it hits. Usually it's something about the sinking itself – people are always researching this damn ship – but sometimes it's like TITANIC TRIVIA NEAR YOU or, in this case, a new book. I decided to request that the Seattle Public Library carry it, and if they approved my request, I'd read it. Well, they did! And it took me over a week to read it, so my physical book count this month is relatively low, but that's fine, and in fact, that's good!
I'm gearing up to finally read Stephen King's The Stand, and it very well may be the only book I read with my eyes in that given month. Oh, anyway, this book was fascinating! We just don't really know how Smith died, which I did not realize! It's uncertain if he jumped off the ship as it sank, if he shot himself, if he just went down with the ship, sorta like 1997's Titanic portrays, or what. It was fun to read! And stressful. And, as a Titanic scholar, it's cool to see where James Cameron pulled from here and there.
[nonfiction, biography, written by a white british director, researcher, and writer, long read]
Abigail by Magda Szabó (1970) | Quick summary: A coming-of-age story set in Hungary during WWII.
I've had this book on my physical TBR since the final time I was able to enter a physical bookstore in 2020. I bought and read The Door, also by Szabó, and this, which I have let sit for five years. It took me a minute to get into the story, but once I realized I was essentially reading a 1970s Hungarian version of Mean Girls, I was in. Gina is a great, stubborn young girl, one of my favorite types of people, and I love any meandering school-based tale. I saw One Battle After Another the other day and actually got Abigail vibes watching it, too. I know this is one of, if not Szabó's most famous and beloved tales, and it's easy to see why.
[fiction, coming-of-age, written by a white hungarian novelist, medium-length read, translated by ]
[books I heard]
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green (2021) | Quick summary: A collection of essays about things.
The term "Anthropocene" refers to the period during which humanity has become a planetary force of change. I'll be honest and admit I don't really understand the title of this book, but what I understand is that I enjoyed hearing John Green tell me about Diet Dr Pepper, the hall of presidents, scratch 'n' sniff stickers, and the QWERTY keyboard, even though it was interwoven with early COVID-19 feelings, which can be hard to go back there. Green rates each of the subjects in the book as if he's leaving a Yelp review, which adds to the charm. I think I always try to dislike John Green, but why?
[nonfiction, essays, written by a white bestselling author, medium-length listen, read by the author]
Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer by Barbara Ehrenreich (2018) | Quick summary: An argument about how we are killing ourselves in order to live longer, but are not living well.
I decided to just listen to this book mindlessly so I could donate the physical copy I'd acquired at some point. I do that sometimes; shove a book I don't think I'll ever pick up into a little free library and listen to the audiobook from the library instead. Ehrenreich doesn't narrate this book; a downside for me when the author doesn't, but it was short, kind of interesting, and made me feel accomplished. I didn't love or fully agree with much of this book, but it was enjoyable to read as part of my general journey of exploring death, loss, and grief.
[nonfiction, essays, written by a white bestselling author, medium-length listen, read by the author]
Eyes to the Wind: A Memoir of Love and Death, Hope and Resistance by Ady Barkan (2019) | Quick summary: A memoir of how an ALS diagnosis led to a profound new understanding of social justice.
Ady Barkan passed away from ALS in 2023, and in his much-too-short life, made a huge impact. Barkan was a lawyer, activist, and co-founder of the Be a Hero political action committee. He was an organizer for the Center for Popular Democracy, where he led the Fed Up campaign, and hobknobbed with the likes of Elizabeth Warren. This memoir is more about his political work than his ALS, in my opinion, but the two are nearly interchangeable. What a legacy, may he rest.
[nonfiction, memoir, social activism, written by a white american lawyer, activist, and co-founder, medium-length listen, read by actor bradley whitford]
They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl's Fight for Freedom by Ahed Tamimi and Dena Takruri (2022) | Quick summary: A Palestinian activist's memoir of life under occupation.
Ahed Tamimi is a badass who has lived a million lives at only 24. Coming from a family that always stands up, Tamimi finds herself jailed at only 16 years old after slapping an Israeli soldier, which is so fucking cool, and devastating. If you are unfamiliar with Palestinian stories, Tamimi's memoir is a strong entry point.
[nonfiction, memoir, social activism, written by a palestinian activist, co-written with a palestinian-american journalist, on-air presenter, and digital producer, medium-length listen, read by the author]
The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path by Emma Heming Willis (2025) | Quick summary: A supportive guide for caregivers.
Emma Heming Willis, for those who don't know, is Bruce Willis's wife. Bruce Willis, for those who don't know, is a famous beloved american actor who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2022. They'd been married for over a decade when he was diagnosed, and with two young kids, Emma found herself in the throes of caregiving for her famous husband. This book is less of a memoir and more of a how-to and how-not-to be a caregiver, particularly regarding how it impacts the caregiver themselves. Be warned that it's not a memoir about Emma or Bruce's lives; it is a well-written, touching book that serves as a valuable reminder for caregivers to prioritize their own self-care.
[nonfiction, self-help, dementia, written by a british-american model, actress, and businesswoman, medium-length listen, read by the author]
Miss Me With That: Hot Takes, Helpful Tidbits and a Few Hard Truths by Rachel Lindsay (2022) | Quick summary: Former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay's memoir.
I own a copy of this, but wanted to listen to Lindsay's sweet voice instead. I enjoyed learning about her early life and the pre-Bachelor dating life. The Bachelor stuff itself wasn't as juicy, even though she talked a lot of shit, but I've already known the shit she has to talk; which is my bad for getting into the Bachelor franchise 23 years late. What I most appreciated was Lindsay's take on Black Lives Matter and some of the more pivotal police murders of Black people. I cried, even, because it's been a while since I've let myself think about Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, and many of the other names that were viral hashtags at one point. My heart breaks. It's a good reminder.
[nonfiction, celebish memoir, written by a Black american media personality, attorney, and podcaster, medium-length listen, read by the author]
[book challenges]
NOTHING WAS A CHALLENGE THIS MONTH; ALL VIBES.
[books I recommend]
- If you like a mindfuck: The Museum of Human History
- If you were once a teenage girl: Abigail
- If you like learning about stuff: The Anthropocene Reviewed
- If you're interested in Bachelor Nation: Miss Me With That
"On each, there was a portrait of a beautiful celebrity who'd had The Process. Their features were so symmetrical they looked alien, and their foreheads disappeared into clouds. Strange advertising. But memorable. Gripping." The Museum of Human History
"There is the story of First Officer William Murdoch's large black Newfoundland dog, Rigel, that survived the sinking while his master did not, and spent three hours in the freezing water searching for him to no avail. In seemingly typical Newfoundland-fashion, he ends up guiding the occupants of lifeboat no. 4 to the safety of the rescue ship the Carpathia. There were two key issues with the Rigel story. First, the crew member 'Jonas Briggs' who told the tale did not exist; and First Officer Murdoch never owned a dog, let alone a large black Newfoundland." Titanic Legacy
"You must try again. There is no anger that lasts forever." Abigail
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