There are only a handful of books that have changed my life. I am adding this book to the list.
Here is the mythology I was living with before I read tThere are only a handful of books that have changed my life. I am adding this book to the list.
Here is the mythology I was living with before I read this book: "Women suffer with the bias and power that men and society inflict on them. They hold very few positions of power because men and society simply don't want them to, either consciously or unconsciously (implicit and explicit bias)."
Oh, if only it were so. The real story is far more violent and dark. Men in power seem to have a knack for harrassing, assaulting, stalking, exposing themselves, and raping women who work for them. How many, I don't know. One in five men who get power positions? I don't know. But the number is high. Then, of course, the other men and women around around these violent aggressors help them hide their deeds and retaliate against the women who were the victims.
This book is not just a great piece of writing, it is a great piece of journalism, and I hope, God I hope, it signals a turning point in Western culture where this whole mess gets cleaned up....more
Just some thoughts on this aesthetically rich book.
The style reminded me of Solar Bones: I felt that prose and poetry are moving towards each other reJust some thoughts on this aesthetically rich book.
The style reminded me of Solar Bones: I felt that prose and poetry are moving towards each other reading both books. It also reminded me of the My Brilliant Friend series. Both works give true, detailed descriptions of the inner life of girls and women; and the interpersonal network of women of all ages and how it operates in a world that heavily tips the scales against females.
In both these cases, this book feels new and true to me....more
This great book is likely the moment that sci-fi became mainstream. I can't bring myself to call it sci-fi and yet it was almost exclusively about thoThis great book is likely the moment that sci-fi became mainstream. I can't bring myself to call it sci-fi and yet it was almost exclusively about those topics....more
Microdosing not only made a difference in her mood, it made her writing great. This was a great nonfiction book. It went far beyond the topic of microMicrodosing not only made a difference in her mood, it made her writing great. This was a great nonfiction book. It went far beyond the topic of microdosing....more
What a rare treat this book is. A Booker longlist nominee; it should have won the whole thing. The writing is as great as you will find, it is originaWhat a rare treat this book is. A Booker longlist nominee; it should have won the whole thing. The writing is as great as you will find, it is original, it is contemporary, and it has a creepy edge that makes it a masterpiece....more
This book is an amazing deconstruction of one psychopath, Robert Gallo. Unfortunately, not many people have read this book or want to believe someone This book is an amazing deconstruction of one psychopath, Robert Gallo. Unfortunately, not many people have read this book or want to believe someone like Gallo could succeed. However, he is still succeeding. His wikipedia page has the same old lies that Gallo has told his whole career. And worse, he continues to wring millions of dollars out of his marks including Bill and Melinda Gates.
Bravo John Crewdson. I'm so sorry for civilization that so few are willing to look at your masterpiece.
If only there were a Crewdson for every Gallo. Life would be magnificent....more
(I received an early copy of Human Acts from the First to Read program.)
"Human Acts" was some of the best literary fiction I have ever read. The first(I received an early copy of Human Acts from the First to Read program.)
"Human Acts" was some of the best literary fiction I have ever read. The first half of the book was magnificent. The second half was just fine; more than good enough to conclude the book.
I read The Vegetarian earlier in the year and found that a fantastic read as well. It is clear from these two productions, that Kang and her translator, Deborah Smith, are a magical team. The translated English versions of these books contain better writing than almost all English literary fiction.
There are sections of Human Acts that are so clever and emotionally engaging I wanted to yell out while I was reading. However, I think to summarize what happens in these sections would be a spoiler.
I can say this. Kang is a master of creating ambivalent feelings. When I am reading her books I go in and out of feeling shame because I am so drawn in to scenes that my mind tells me I should disapprove of. Reading Human Acts was like not being able to turn away from a video of a horrible true-life disaster; like watching a video of such a disaster over and over....more
"Being an Other, in America, teaches you to imagine what can't imagine you."
"The fashion and beauty complex has so many ways to enchant and maim."
Just"Being an Other, in America, teaches you to imagine what can't imagine you."
"The fashion and beauty complex has so many ways to enchant and maim."
Just two quotes from the end of "Negroland" by Margo Jefferson: A truly great book. Wow! What a writer. It was so painful to read but I looked forward to every page.
Jefferson's magic is the ability to get up close to the reader and talk about an injustice that you can understand and then gently show you the amplified injustices that she suffered growing up as a black woman in the United States.
I easily picked out two quotes at the end, but it felt like if I had had a highlighter the whole book would have been made neon pink.
I have to add, Negroland makes you *understand* the pain we inflict on each other at a deep level. You come out the other end with an education....more
Now that I finished the fourth book I see that this is really one very, very long book. I appreciate it being broken up into 4 parts to make the booksNow that I finished the fourth book I see that this is really one very, very long book. I appreciate it being broken up into 4 parts to make the books easier to hold.
This one was at least as great as the other 3 and had quite an ending. My breath was taken away.
I really loved the whole experience. So original. Such as aesthetic experience....more
I wish we lived in an America where everyone would want to read this book. Profound access to what it is like to be black in America. An opportunity tI wish we lived in an America where everyone would want to read this book. Profound access to what it is like to be black in America. An opportunity to understand the lives of others and the dark parts of American life and Western history that we must face up to to be great, humane, and just. So much in such a short book....more
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