I’ve had a really busy fall, and am very happy to be in the home stretch!* There are a lot of things I’m looking forward to about the break between semesters, one of them being:
I loved Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (which I first listened to — in audiobook form — as a grad student) and the first book in the new trilogy, The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage was a highlight of my semester break two years ago. I know that I will not be able to put down the second book once I get into it, so I’m saving it as a post-semester reward! I also got a book by Martha Grimes. I haven’t read any of her stuff before, but I suspect I’ll like it. Since I’ve decided to reread The Book of Dust prior to reading The Secret Commonwealth, that means I have three books that I’m saving for the semester break that I’m really looking forward to.
In conversations with a few folks lately, they’ve talked about what they have in mind as a semester break treat — I’m definitely not the only one with reading plans! I’m curious to hear what others have planned. Please share in the comments!
*I mostly feel like “Home stretch! Finish strong!” but other times this is more accurate:
Dynamic Ecology 
Technically not post-semester treats, more “done with teaching and marking even though the semester isn’t yet over” treats: working on my book, and working on a fun little side project. Getting to write about stuff I feel inspired to write about is definitely a treat, even if it’s also work.
Actual post-semester treats: staying home for the holidays for the first time in many years. Showing visiting family the winter pleasures of Calgary. Getting a couple of date nights thanks to visiting grandparents–gonna try a nice Asian fusion restaurant in town I’ve been wanting to try for years, and go see Knives Out. Eating way too many (and yet somehow too few) Lindor chocolates. Drinking a lot of good beer.
New end-of-semester goal thanks to twitter: https://twitter.com/duffy_ma/status/1205521695085219840