Hamilton - Lin-Manuel Miranda & Jeremy McCarter

Hamilton

Title: Hamilton: The Revolution

Author: Lin-Manuel Miranda & Jeremy McCarter

Publication Date: 4/12/16

Pages: 288

Genre: Play / Political / Nonfiction

How I Found It: I'm in love with the show.

Date Completed: 8/23/16

Summary: The "Hamil-tome" includes thoughts on the making of the hit musical, behind the scenes info and stories, beautiful photos, and the complete libretto with Miranda's notes.

What I Thought: I'm obsessed.

I never thought I would say that in regards to a hip hop musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton. I mean....seriously? History and musicals...I'm great with both of those. Wouldn't have necessarily put them together like this, but you could have convinced me there. But the hip hop? That's not my style. I was skeptical. Just like you are now if you haven't already listened to the Hamilton cast recording. If you haven't, may I politely suggest you stop reading this, block out a few hours, and listen to the album in its entirety. It's on Spotify. In fact, let me make it easy for you. Here it is. The whole album. Stop before reading on and at least listen to the first song...

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Jack Thorne

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Author: Jack Thorne, J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany

Publication Date: 7/31/16

Pages: 330

Genre: Fantasy / Play / Fiction

How I Found It: Is this even a question?

Date Completed: 8/1/16

Summary: Nineteen years on from the ending of the iconic series, Harry Potter is now a Ministry employee and sending his middle son, Albus, off to Hogwarts. However, neither father nor son feel settled in their new roles. 

What I Thought: One of my dearest friends and fellow Potter fans once said to me, "The best thing that could happen to Harry Potter would be for J. K. Rowling to die." While I find this sentiment more than a little overblown, I get where he was coming from. Rowling gave us one of the best book series of this era. She's inspired thousands if not millions. She's become one of the richest people in the world. And, yet, she cannot leave Harry and his story alone.

I don't blame her for this. As she's said in interviews, she's spent far longer with these characters than any of us. Over twenty years, now. Her emotional connection to them is indisputable deeper than any of us will ever really understand, despite feeling like Harry and company are practically family. So, when she drops new, little ideas on Twitter or talks about the characters in interviews, I get it. I understand that this irks some fans who would rather she let the books alone be canon (my friend included). In general, though, it doesn't bother me. I can separate the books from everything else. In a lot of ways, I think it's neat to sort of pick and choose what of her new ideas I want to accept and which I want to reject. The idea that it should have been Harry and Hermione together in the end? Hard pass to that one. But knowing that Teddy Lupin grew up to become Head Boy. It warms my heart. 

A Doll's House - Henrik Ibsen

A Doll's House

And so we start the integration of my grad school studies with Read.Write.Repeat.

In case you did not know, and I've mentioned it a few times, I am currently pursuing my Master of Liberal Arts. I am in my second term and it has taken over my life. 

And. I. love. it.

I am counting the weeks until tuition is paid in full and I can quit my marketing job and pick up more teaching positions. 

For me, being a student is the ultimate career. Sharing that knowledge is a close second. 

Today's post is a little abnormal, all due to my attempt to kill two birds with one stone. I had to read Henrik Ibsen's classic play A Doll's House for my Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts course (yeah, that's a mouthful, I know). I am in the process of writing a paper analyzing it. Seems a waste not to share it with you as well.

Don't worry - you're getting the super condensed version with my actual thoughts, not the academic paper version.