Reading

I got back to town on Sunday evening and at 9 am on Monday started right in on teaching an intensive Spanish class. It's three weeks long, 5 days a week for almost 4 hours each. The good part is that I'm out by 1 pm and can get other things done and/or relax for the afternoon.

The weather has been pretty confused this week- Monday it was in the 90s and this morning it was a very brisk 45 when I took Mobi for a walk. But everything is green and blooming and deliciously springtime. It is so nice.

I have been doing a lot of reading this past week- I got three books read last week alone. One is dissertation-related: The Invention of Argentina by Nicholas Shumway is a great history of the beginning of the country in the 19th century. He examines the "guiding fictions" that were established during this time and that continue to influence how the country operates and sees itself today. I thought this was going to be hard to get through, but it was surprisingly easy to read and engaging.

I also read Are Men Necessary?: When Sexes Collide by Maureen Dowd. (I had to assure Juan that the title was facetious). It was a quick, amusing read- I finished it in a day. I'm not sure I can say I learned a lot; the book lacks a deeper insight into the issues it mentions. It did, however, make me think about the concept of feminism and my own definition of it.

Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture by Ariel Levy was much more thoughtful and informative. She examines the disturbing trend that establishes porn stars and Paris Hilton (same difference) as young women's role models. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot about contemporary culture. Highly, highly recommended.