she/they Love and compassion are acts of resistance. Forever in recovery; learning to be a better human.
I read far more than I realized. I’m trying to find better words to describe the feelings manifested by the books I read, so my reviews may be more feeling oriented than objective.
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It’s been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; …
Just what I needed. The first time I finished this book I hugged it, this time I listened to it and felt hugged by it.
It’s been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; …
Reread of a favorite
"26 years ago: A girl in South Dakota falls through the earth, then wakes up …
Unfortunately book 3 has a waitlist at the library. Nothing amazing so far, but a generally good time. I needed something lighter to help bridge the concentration of heavy reading last month.
The adventure of Boyd Halverson—star journalist turned notorious online disinformation troll turned JCPenney manager—and his …
Just not feeling this. It’s well written, just not the vibes I want at this point in my life. There’s not a single likable character and the plot is a train wreck (intentional comedy of incompetence). If you’re into dark humor plot heavy character light books, this may be your jam. Also it’s an election year in the states and the last thing my mental health needs is a book dripping with fake news, alt right, Trumpism satire. Yeah it’s supposed to poke fun, but I just don’t find it funny - it’s tragic.
Not sure what it is I just read. I didn’t not enjoy myself, but did I? There is a story here, but I couldn’t tell you much other than it happened. I think there may be some vernacular I don’t understand that maybe have it a bit more grounding?
Effy has always believed in fairy tales. She's had no choice. Since childhood, she's been …
I think it’s best to go into this knowing as little as possible. Started a bit slow, but an after a couple of chapters the generic fantasy world building got out of the way and the characters came to the forefront and carried this so well. Then, to my surprise, the world felt more rich as the story progressed. I want to rave about everything I loved, but the less said the better.
From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a thematic response to The Secret History …
Content warning Chapter 29
I really appreciate the nuance (a theme for this book) of depicting a strike, how it plays out in the court of public opinion, the grit, the sacrifice, the impact to the innocent. Having been close to a strike more than once, the calculus involved of your own livelihood against an injustice is not easy and my experience was small potatoes compared to this scope.
Also a huge fan of the jagged edges of imperfections of character and morality, it’s all gotten so messy. I was afraid it’d be a violent martyr scenario and it seems like even if that’s how it plays out, it isn’t likely to be glorification of a madman that so often devolves to one dimensional propaganda. Just a bit more to go and we’ll know if I’m wrong or not lol.
For years Carmen Maria Machado has struggled to articulate her experiences in an abusive same-sex …
I love that book clubs can help break you out of your comfort zone and create the space to discover new things to love about reading. I have a new minor obsession with memoirs, and have a few more queued up from the library.
For years Carmen Maria Machado has struggled to articulate her experiences in an abusive same-sex …
I connected with the literary styling of this memoir and it had a deep resonance with my experiences. I find indirect prose does a much more effective job at communicating the things in life that can’t be communicated. There’s plenty of directness too, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg on the horizon. The real damage is beneath the surface; invisible, suffocating.
From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a thematic response to The Secret History …
Content warning First Interlude of Book 5
I continue to be amazed at the nuance of the characters who act within the context of their position in society, making me both feel deep hatred and immense compassion. With the span of a couple chapters, I was goaded into the same bloodlust for Letty as Robin felt (which was not a common reaction for me, violence is not typically my jam), and then was able to nod in understanding through the eyes of Letty in this interlude. Nothing outlined here was new or a surprise, it was just lost in the bigger tapestry, and the more front and center suffering of the other characters. The short interlude brought this so deftly into focus; a reminder that anyone who isn’t on top is fighting tooth in nail in the social dogpile for space to breathe and be seen, to be accepted.
No matter how morally suspect or potentially thoughtless the decision was, she too took action that aligned with her beliefs and convictions. Brutal. #SFFBookClub
From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a thematic response to The Secret History …
Edit: This quote was actually from another book I’m reading. See the quote from In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado for proper context. Sorry!
There was an idea somewhere in this book (early on perhaps?) that talked about the etymology of archive or archivist, how it’s an act of policy, governance, power. Even though I can’t recall the quote since I didn’t get a chance to write it down, it’s been a recurring haunting; sometimes insidious, other times ethereal and fascinating. The idea isn’t new, but peering under the hood into the history of the word and then filtering that through real historical context gives it more verisimilitude (more than this even, but words fail me) in my mind. #SFFBookClub
From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a thematic response to The Secret History …
The audiobook is fantastic, there are just so many quotes I want to write down and I’m awful at doing it in this format. #SFFBookClub
The Book of Love showcases Kelly Link at the height of her powers, channeling potent …
So happy this came today!
Fetter was raised to kill, honed as a knife to cut down his sainted father. …
I greatly enjoyed my time with the book, even when the plot felt to me going nowhere (and not in that intentional cozy sort of way, but in a rambling past things that aren’t central to whatever it is that has or will happen). Some of this is likely due to cultural expectations of a narrative progression, and it was actually a joy to have that shaken up. The prose is decadent and evocative, breathing life into a world that was equally enchanting and horrifying. I also greatly appreciated fiction that pulls from Buddhist traditions and imagery, while not bowing to a need to only shine it in a grand and endearing light. Much of this may go unnoticed without having been previously exposed to the stories not often found in mainstream Buddhism, but it’s not required for enjoyment, just a lovely layer of depth to an already nuanced world. …
I greatly enjoyed my time with the book, even when the plot felt to me going nowhere (and not in that intentional cozy sort of way, but in a rambling past things that aren’t central to whatever it is that has or will happen). Some of this is likely due to cultural expectations of a narrative progression, and it was actually a joy to have that shaken up. The prose is decadent and evocative, breathing life into a world that was equally enchanting and horrifying. I also greatly appreciated fiction that pulls from Buddhist traditions and imagery, while not bowing to a need to only shine it in a grand and endearing light. Much of this may go unnoticed without having been previously exposed to the stories not often found in mainstream Buddhism, but it’s not required for enjoyment, just a lovely layer of depth to an already nuanced world. If, like me, you are woefully ignorant to the historical and political turmoil in Sri Lanka, reading the authors blog post on Unbuddhism (googling his name and the term will turn it up) will help illuminate the parallels of the recent history and present depicted in the story. I happened upon that prior to reading and it didn’t spoil anything while giving my a grounding in an unfamiliar culture that was a juxtaposition to my exposure to Vajrayana stories and teachings. Highly recommended, along with many of the more recent blog posts.
Annis, sold south by the white enslaver who fathered her, is the reader’s guide. As …
Listen. This book is brutal. It’s Dante’s descent into Inferno, except your Dante and Ward is your Virgil. Prose that hooks you deep and won’t let you go, sparse dialog that contains multitudes of hidden depth, your mirror neurons will be firing on all cylinders. This story sank into my marrow and ravaged my soul. So why would one even want to embark on this journey? To see and to learn, to commune with the spirits and walk through the bloodstained landscape of history. When we all turn away from what’s uncomfortable, hate flies free and love dies in the dark.
Just remember to not over do it, burnout is real and not healthy or helpful to anyone.