This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald Page: 264 Finished

The Complete Henry Bech by John Updike Page: 90

Turns out that the cryfest that prompted yesterday’s plea for help had an *ahem* hormonal cause. I always feel like that invalidates everything. Anyway, I’ve often thought that this is just one of those “hard times” that wouldn’t get any easier except with time but it is good to hear others say the same. I want to love and serve my family and do so without some kind of martyr complex and without going insane. It helps to remember that it is supposed to be hard.

Alex has a bit of a fever and spent all afternoon and evening being clingy and fussy. I wanted to hold him but I was in the middle of making more applesauce so it was short hugs and tucking him back in on the couch. We are also trying to get the boys to start sleeping through the night…always a fun process. My nerves are not as shot as I’d expected. Yay!

Fitzgerald was fascinating and even energizing, I truly enjoyed This Side of Paradise. Now I’m into Updike, whom I hadn’t ever read, and while the writing quality is quite high, I’m not sure I’m enjoying it quite as much. We’ll see.