Why Goldfish Chronicles?
Cuz I have the memory of one.
A few months ago, my partner and I sat waiting for an appointment and as we waited for what seemed like ages and after exhausting our respective podcast/audiobook episodes, we got to talking. In the middle of the conversation, he said something about media and culture that reminded me of an essay I’d read about five years ago. Now of course, I had ZERO recollection of the author or the text except for some vague idea of what it said.
Thus began an hour-long search for this elusive essay. After furious prompts on the google search bar leading me to the fourth and fifth pages of the search results, I finally found it: Reading the Beach by John Fiske. By this time, we had exhausted the topic and ourselves.
For a short time, I also tried writing down interesting points about the books I read or conversations I’d had on a handy notes app - didn’t work. I like the idea of writing to people instead of at them (so blogs are out of the running) and that is why the newsletter.
I will be writing to you about:
The books I read and how they make me feel. Sometimes I’m torn about how a book reads, like when I read The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin because on the one hand the historical significance of the book is undeniable but on the other it does present the reader with glaring issues. Sometimes when I read a book like Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane or Hunger by Roxanne Gay, I just need to tell everyone I know about how amazing it is.
My work in academia and how equally gratifying and incredibly frustrating it is.
My comics and everything that inspires them.
I might be getting kittens soon so I’ll make sure to send you guys a picture and maybe you can help name them!
I’d love to hear from you about fun things you’re reading, an amazing artist you’ve just discovered or even just something that could be good comic fodder. I’ll leave you with a cute comic about how joyful teaching is:
