May Coffee Date!!!
Here’s some exciting (?) news- I finally found a coffee drink I like! An iced oatmilk latte! It’s not sweet, but the oatmilk makes it creamy enough to remind me of coffee ice cream (yum.) I won’t be drinking it often- my favorite is still Earl Grey tea- but for once I’m drinking coffee for our monthly coffee date. Thanks as always to Coco and Deborah for hosting! The first thing I would talk about if we were having coffee is J.K. Rowling. I recently finished this book: I think I’ve mentioned a few (hundred) times about how I re-read all the Harry Potter books over the summer, and how much I love them. The Casual Vacancy was published in 2012, but it took me a long time to get around to reading it, because to be honest, the plot sounds really boring. It’s almost like, after writing the most incredible series of books ever, J.K. Rowling set herself a challenge: pick the dullest topic imaginable (local politics in a small English village) and still manage to write a great book. And… she succeeded. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but then I was completely absorbed in the characters and their village issues. This is probably my least favorite book by Rowling, but the bar is set very, very high. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Next up: This is the fifth book in the Cormoran Strike mystery series, once again written by J.K. Rowling under a pseudonym. I LOVE these books! Troubled Blood is 900 pages long, and I would be happier if it were 9000 pages. I could read this book forever. So… I’ve mentioned J.K. Rowling quite a bit on this blog, and it’s time to face the “trans-phobia” issue. Rowling has been widely criticized for some anti-trans statements she made on twitter, and many people are grappling with their love for her art vs. their dislike of her views. I say… I think we expect too much from celebrities. In addition to being masters at their craft, we expect them to have impeccable morals and say the right thing at the right time, 100% of the time. Rowling is not a Buddhist nun; she’s not a spiritual guru of any kind- she’s just a writer. In case anyone is interested, Rowling lays out her reasons for speaking as she did in this article. I’m not saying she’s right. I’m not saying I agree with her. But it’s worth reading to hear her point of view. I don’t think she meant to cause harm to the trans community, and unless she does something to purposely cause harm to any group of people, I’m going to keep enjoying her books. Onto a lighter topic. Darlene has informed me that she’s registered for this race: It’s Sunday, February 19, 2023, and there’s a half, a full marathon and also a 5k option. I told Darlene that- barring any unforeseen problems- I’ll run it with her (and really, what could possibly go wrong between now and then? Hahahahahaha…) Who wants to join us for a race-cation/fun blogger meetup??? Think it over! Put it on your calendar! Florida in February. That’s it for this month. I hope you enjoyed your own beverage while listening to my ramblings! Do you like J.K. Rowling’s books? Would you not read her books if you disagreed with her views on twitter? Are you interested in a Florida race next February?