I'm baaaaack

And why not? It's only been six months. I know what you're thinking: "What the hell happened to you?" Well, I believe Sebastian the crab put it best when he said, "Ariel, the human world, it is a mess!" Such a wise little crab.



So what really did happen? Well lots of things.

Starting in May I got a summer internship at a children's book publisher outside of Boston. You'd be surprised at how reading children's books all summer can really help you get back to the basics in life. Sharing is caring and the like.

Of course, summer wasn't all fun and games: I left my temporary office job for this internship. This resulted in waitressing six nights a week. I'll let you take a moment to imagine what that must have been like.

But then, one sunny August day when I was attempting to maintain a professional appearance and convince a publisher that I knew what I was doing, I actually managed to get a full-time editing job. And why not? It only took me 10 months. Insert snarky recession comment here.

So what did I read all summer? Lots of stuff! All Quiet on the Western Front (made me momentarily sympathetic for Germans), Freedom (depressing much?), Hunger Games trilogy (win), and lots of issues of The New Yorker (don't think it's working out for me). 

All in all, my summer reading was lackluster. But the real question is: how was my summer cupcake-ing? You will not enjoy the answer.

What interning and six-night waitressing really equates to is: I'm broke. I did not purchase any cupcakes this summer. And worst of all, I've had to start using the public library for my books. This is problematic because I often form emotional attachments to the books I buy.

I will say this: I turned 24 over the summer and received an array of delicious Party Favor cupcakes. A more simplistic cupcake style with extravagant decorations (read: the frosting color determines the color of your tongue).

Now that things are plateauing into normalcy, I plan on returning with my regular book and cupcake reviews. Coming up: The Private Life, by Jane Smiley. And a mystery cupcake!

Hiatus? What Gives?

I know, I know, I know. Bad blogger! Taking a hiatus without telling your dedicated, literature-hungry readers. For shame! Well, between changing jobs and finding a new apartment I admit I shifted my blogging to the backburner. But I'm back!

Lulu's

"I'm in love! I'm in love! And I don't care who knows it!" I am also the proud owner of 8 cupcakes.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Meet Oscar: fat kid extraordinaire who, despite his Dominican heritage, has no game.

It's March?

Okay, I'm a few days late. And by "a few" I mean six. But February is a cruel mistress, yielding a mere 28 days. If anything, I am a victim here. Especially because Sara Gruen has terrified me with her latest Ape House. 

Call me a trend spotter...

It appears that shortly after I declared the upscale cupcakery to be the future of Boston, The Boston Globe featured an article about the unrelenting growth of cupcake spots in the city. You're welcome, readers!

Sweet

On a blistery Boston winter's day, amidst the last-minute dashes for teddy bears and jewelry, I surpassed the crowds of Newbury Street to celebrate Valentine's Day with my one true love: the cupcake.

A Reliable Wife

Robert Goolrick's bestseller A Reliable Wife is one of the best books I've ever read. Honestly. I know I'm young and will probably read many more books that leave the same lasting impression, but I can say without hesitation that Goolrick's first novel thrilled me.

A blog is born

I'm familiar with all the sayings regarding new beginnings. And thanks to Semisonic I know that every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. Acknowledging this bittersweet reality, I find myself back home in Massachusetts after a two-year stint in Ireland. I've got my MA, lots of ambition, and my companion, Cheese, cat extraordinaire.  Together we have moved into a fabulous apartment above the Hoy Tin restaurant in exotic Brighton, where each day we linger in the aroma of Chinese delicacies and bus exhaust.

What we lack in glamour, however, we are making up for in optimism. At the suggestion of a mentor, I have committed to this blog business in order to market myself to the publishing industry. Needless to say, I will be mortified if there are any grammar mistakes in my posts.

When I considered what I would write about in this blog, I jumped for the obvious: literature. I could review books, show my insight and intellect, etc. But didn't I just finish 5 years of doing that very thing? I needed to make it interesting. So I added my second passion in life: cupcakes. Each month I will read and review two books and one Boston bakery. I may also want to consider a gym membership, but who are we kidding?

I should warn you of one thing: I am not a bandwagon reader. If you think I'm going to read the Stieg Larsson trilogy like every other person on the train then you will be severely disappointed.  I will try to make independent choices, perhaps discuss why I choose the books I read, and of course allow a bit of guidance from the bestseller list to keep myself in the publishing loop.

I would be lying if I said I was certain of my goals here. I have always thought it unfair to expect someone to know what they want from something before they've even begun. Especially when that something is my responsibility to create. I suppose that, in the end, I would like to say I stuck to it.