Originally intended to simply focus on book reviews, over time, KaliDesautelsReads has morphed into its own entity.
I write about issues that are near to my heart, be they political, feminist, motherhood, mental health, or, as the title holds, books.
A thirty-something Canadian woman in my mid-thirties, I have been “super married” to my high school sweetheart since 2006, and together we have two crazy, clever, kind, hilarious, wonderful kids.
My first book – How Not To Blog: Finding Myself, One Post at a Time is available on Amazon (in eBook formats for you clever tech readers, and paperback for those of us who love that new book smell!)
I have tried a podcast – it’s still on Apple and Google Podcasts – but writing is where my heart is.
My life changed dramatically when my husband was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2018, and I am now a writer for a leading Canadian Cancer Non-Profit.
I am lucky enough to have a family that loves me and pushes me to be my best, even if it is outside of my cushiony comfort zone. I have a village of friends that nourish me, mentally, and spiritually.
Welcome to my thoughts. Sit down. Stay a while. Enjoy a cup of coffee!
Midweek – my kid is sick. My computer wants to keep updating. My coffee pot overflowed. BUT – I am working in my Jammies. My house is quiet. And I’ve Rosie to keep me encouraged.
How is your week going?? #work #wednesday #coffee #rosie #rosietheriveter #mug #muglove #inspire #inspo #wecandoit #butfirstcoffee #jammies #pjday #blogger #blog #laptop #crash #giterdone #followforfollow #follow #follow4follow #followme #kalidesautelsreads
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Less than 100 followers to go before our first Bookish giveaway!!! Simply follow @kalidesautelsreads, like one of the giveaway posts and tag a friend!! Ready to win??? #giveaway #1000 #follow #followers #kalidesautelsreads via @RiplApp #followforfollow #follow4follow #bookstagram #books #bookstagrammer #read #reading #blog #blogger #win #winner #tag #tagsomeone #bookish #booknerd
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On a rainy Sunday, yoga, sushi and time with my kids is the best way to spend the day. #yoga #kids #sushi #familyday #weekend #kalidesautelsreads #SundayFunday via @RiplApp #pokemon #ash #hat #mykids #kiddos #momlife #mommy #rainysunday #rainy #rainydays #love #followforfollow #follow4follow #follow
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“The teacher said silence is golden/I said silence is bronze, at best” – Andrea Gibson Take Me With You
I fantasized about being a poet. I dreamed that I had a poetic bone. I read and read and read and read and hoped to fall in love with the poetic word, as I loved the prosaic. I never did. I read the words, and tried to reach them, but could not grasp them. I could not held them and examine them, turning them over in my hands until I had an understanding of them.
I determined that though I longed to understand Byron, Shelley, Keats, and Dickinson, I was simply not romantic. I did not into poetry and that was that. I learned to read poetry with the same interest and gusto that I applied to reading the periodic table of elements. (*read – little to none) I learned to circumvent the poetry section in libraries and bookshops for 20 years.
I simply did not enjoy poetry.
… the funny thing with definitive statements, is that they are never truly definitive.
This winter, as I described in a previous post, I inadvertently purchased Sabrina Benaim’s beautiful collection Depression & Other Magic Tricks, and for the first time, felt the poetry speak not around me, but to me. Benaim’s words were for me and of me. How could this be? How could words along meters speak to me? There were no sentences, hanging pronouns, rules of grammar shattered. But I understood them.
… I tricked myself. I began to renegotiate my path through the bookstore, to stumble upon the stacks of poets. I flipped through them as I stood, waiting for my son to finish typing Dog Man into the computer at Chapters, glancing away from him briefly to read what words I had opened to.
I understood these words. Frowning, I flipped to another page, and felt the same connection. I looked at the cover of Andrea Gibson’s Take Me With You and saw that they were, in fact, a poet. I picked up another poet from the shelf and read that one, and that one, and that one. I enjoyed the poetry. I enjoyed the poetry. I enjoyed the poetry. I enjoyed the poetry.
… the thing with declarative statements is that they often need to be retracted.
I may not enjoy Byron, Shelley, Keats, and Dickinson, but as it turns out, I quite like poetry, Sam-I-am.
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the last stop in Manhattan – the Strand Independent Bookstore Pop-Up Shop in Times Square! I found my very own copy of #irenenemirovsky’s #suitefrancaise! I have been hunting for this book for the last 2 years and today I found 2 copies! #thestrandbookstore #bookstore #book #bookshop #bookstagram #books #independent #usedbooks #newyork #newyorkcity #nyc #read #reader #blog #blogger #followforfollow #follow4follow #follow #kalidesautelsreads
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This may be the closest I have managed to come to the Broadway version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but it was thrilling to stumble across the gorgeous marquee featuring one of my favourite literary characters! I am sure my “OH!” followed by a squeal is the reaction shared by many Potterheads as they round the corner to see these gorgeous lights! One more reason to come back to one of favourite cities in the world.
Frozen hot chocolate @serendipity3nyc for @brennaduperron’s 30th birthday @braeden_duperron @sherriduperron
This is a bucket list item for my sister, so here we are! Frozen hot chocolate, pink ceilings, rainbow chandeliers, and a fireplace make for a quaint, cute, albeit touristy meal. We lucked out with a great server, who made the meal! #serendipity3 #serendipity #frozenhotchocolate #hotchocolate #newyork #nyc #newyorkcity #yum #nomnom #nomnomnom #getinmybelly #lunch #eatnyc #blogger #blog #travel #tourist #wanderlust #review #kalidesautelsreads
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Easter was spent in my version of heaven, and I was unaware of it until today. The Morgan Library and Museum, with my ultra smart Medievalist Ph D Student sister explaining about all of the books in the special exhibit. I was in awe of the beautiful books, the amazing space, the Tennessee Williams exhibit, and the awesome architecture. It was fascinating to learn the backstory to The Glass Menagerie, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Kali J Desautels 