Reading Courtney Milan: The "Brothers Sinister" Series

I have been ill lately, and for some of the time I was ill, the Guy was away. Never a happy situation, and the incessant rain and gloomy weather seemed to make it worse (not that I was planning to go out, anyway).

What keeps me going through something like this is reading something indulgent and absorbing enough to keep me from too much self-pity. This time, among other things, I read a few of Courtney Milan's historical romances.

I really, really liked Unraveled.* A working-class heroine, a hero who's a magistrate and has a keen interest in justice, and a seedy side of England that you rarely see in historical romances.

But what I've enjoyed even more thoroughly is the Brothers Sinister series. I started with A Kiss for Midwinter, which I read last year and loved, but didn't realize how tightly bound it is to the rest of the series. The hero, John Grantham, is one of my favorite romance heroes ever, with his sardonic wit and his dedication to his job (he's a doctor). The heroine too is amazing: cheerful and pretty like most romance heroines, but with so much strength and depth to her character.

Mid-Week Reads: Heroes

I've been reading these incredibly inspiring, heroic stories that I want to share with you.

This teenager rescued a little girl who had been abducted.

This fireman rescued a kitten.

These women were the world's first combat pilots and fought back against Nazi Germany.

Mid-Week Reads: Movies and Videos

Dustin Hoffman wanted to be a beautiful woman, and that made him realize the unreasonable societal expectations of women's appearance.

There are too many interesting women I haven't had the experience to know in this life because I have been brainwashed.

Now I have to look up the movie Tootsie. Any of you watched it?

This fun Indian blog runs the Bechdel test on movies.

This ad for toys is the cutest thing ever.

When You Left...

When you left I wasn't sure
who I was. Did I really like
rom-coms, or was it your head
rolling against my shoulder
when you laughed
and your hand clasping mine,
at the end, that I loved?

When I eagerly ate bag after bag
of chips, was it because I liked
the salty fried discs, or just staying up with you?

When you left I wasn't sure
who I was. Do I really like
rom-coms, dark chocolate and eggs?

Mid-Week Reads: Fat, Female Politicians, and Fatherhood

Read this beautiful, poignant personal essay on body image and fat hatred.

‘‘You’re not fat,’’ I said earnestly and innocently, and you replied, ‘‘Yes I am, darling. I’ve always been fat; even as a child.’’

In the days that followed I had some painful revelations that have shaped my whole life. I learned that:

1. You must be fat because mothers don’t lie.
2. Fat is ugly and horrible.
3. When I grow up I’ll look like you and therefore I will be fat, ugly, and horrible too.

A powerful account of the misogyny targeted against Julia Gillard, and a tribute to the legacy she leaves behind. A 4-year-old girl, told that Australia had a new prime minister, said: “Really? What’s her name?” (via Aneela)

Also read this moving account of a father's parental leave.

A Saturday Morning in the Hills

Last Saturday, we went with the Pallus to Purandar, a fort in the hills just some 50 km from Pune. We didn't see much of the fort, but the drive, the quiet, the mist, the rain, the birdsong... it was magical. The nicest experience I've had in a long time.

Some pictures taken on my trusty old phone.

Danger!

How I Love Blogging

So we just started another blog: a place where we write about what we're doing as a team.

When Virendra suggested it, I sighed inwardly. One more blog? I'm already being almost absent here, I have a business blog to manage, and I'm trying to increase my guest posting on other sites. I can't seem to manage all of this well enough. One more blog?

Okay, I said. But no deadlines. And you manage it.

But you know what? I wrote three posts. In a couple of hours. And it didn't feel like work at all.