Sonia Ansari
@soniaansari
wife and mother, Pakistani-American Texas girl, democratic socialist, immigration attorney/librarian, I love reading books, watching movies, listening to music, walking, and hanging out with my dog, Cheddar. #insulin4all
Enjoyed reading the new Dave Egggers novel today. Contrapposto. It gets better and better as it goes along. “He talked to Marki’s aunt about what lesbian life was like in Texas in the 1970s.” I would read a book about that! Borrowed from the Austin Public Library.
Highly recommend Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress. The world is much better than it was but it could be so much better than it is. Borrowed from the Austin Public Library.
We already have a lot of direct democracy in the U.S. at the state and local levels but we’ve never had a national referendum. He also addressed Brexit, probably the most infamous referendum in recent history. Definitely an interesting read.
Roma just won her first college scholarship! From Camp Bluebonnet, the Type 1 diabetes camp she volunteers at every summer and has been going to since she was little. So proud of her! ❤️🎉🥳👏🏽🎊
Taking a break from A Far-flung Life by M.L. Stedman’s, which is terrific, to meet friends at Bouldin Creek for dinner. Thank you to my friend, Steve, for recommending it.
Our front flowerbed (Esperanza above and lantana below). Both native perennials so we don’t even have to do anything every year!
Spent the evening reading David Sedaris’s new book of essays, The Land and Its People. Loved it. Bought from BookPeople.
Enjoyed Rainbow Rowell’s newest novel, Cherry Baby. Borrowed from the Austin Public Library.
I loved Olga Dies Dreaming so much, I decided to check out Xochitl Gonzalez’s new novel, Last Night in Brooklyn. Enjoyed it very much. Set in 2007-2008 in Brooklyn. Borrowed from the Austin Public Library.
Belle and Sebastian were one of the first concerts Parker and I went to. Parker surprised me with tickets for their show Monday night but since he’s in Italy, I went with my friend, Jeff, who is also a fan and was also at their show at the The Backyard more than twenty years ago. Go see live music!
Went to see Alok with my friend, Genn, this evening at the Paramount as part of their Majestic Ball Week. They were amazing! Happy Pride!
Most people only know Marjane Satrapi from her terrific Persepolis graphic novels but she came out with another great graphic novel a couple of years ago titled Woman Life Freedom.
Parker is in Italy and asked me to send him a selfie. I took this one and texted it to him, and he texted back “Oh my God” and I was like what? And he was like you’re so pretty and your hair is fire as the kids say. He’s a nice husband.
Finished reading All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror by Stephen Kinzer while donating platelets at We Are Blood this morning. Highly recommend reading if you want to understand the modern history of Iran.
This morning I’ve been lying on my back gazing at the sky as the clouds slowly roll by. It’s like a movie!
Saw Dear Evan Hansen at Zach Scott this afternoon, and it was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen! Only two shows left - definitely catch it if you can!
I loved Hope Jahren’s memoir, Lab Girl. I didn’t know until I watched a conversation she had with Barbara Kingsolver that she published another very good book titled The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go From Here. Borrowed from the Austin Public Library.
Parker’s in Milan. He just texted me this picture and said he’s lost. Poor Parker!
Just finished listening to Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto by Kohei Saito, a Japanese philosopher who studies the intersection of ecology and political economy from a Marxist perspective. Interesting read and compelling argument. Borrowed from the Austin Public Library.
Finished Edward Said’s Orientalism (borrowed from the Austin Public Library) in our backyard this morning. Now we’re going to see I Love Boosters. Yay long weekend!
The three of us just saw Rear Window at the Paramount as part of their Summer Classics Series. Roma liked it!