For you reading people here is a new thread.
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For you reading people here is a new thread.
So I'm currently reading Zone One by Colson Whitehead, and I just have to share something. It's a post-zombie apocalypse novel, and our main character is a sweeper, part of a team that goes into buildings in NYC searching for straggler zombies and destroying them. It's a quasi-military group, and there is a quasi-government in place. The team just got word that every time they encounter and destroy zombies, they need to complete an incident report with location and demographical data on the zombies. As a former corporate drone, I'm thinking OMFG, that would absolutely happen! I know the budding bureaucracy would insist on incident reports rather than have the teams actually kill more zombies! It's enough to make you root for the zombies, sigh.
ha ha, well, zombies are people too! Or, they were people so they deserve some accounting,Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
There will also be a small but vocal minority who thinks the zombies should be pampered and coddled and cared for, because if only enough public resources can be spent on them, they will become productive members of society.
So far this year:
- "Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma", Claire Dederer
- "Who's Afraid of Gender?", Judith Butler
- "Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI", Yuval Noah Harari
- "Learn to Read Ancient Sumerian: An Introduction for Complete Beginners", Joshua Bowen & Megan Lewis
thank you for wading through the Judith Butler book. Tell us what your takeaways are. I’m not sure if that’s her first book about gender or the second one. Someone I respect claims her second gender book refutes at least one major premise of the first book.Quote:
Originally Posted by bae
Early on she separated sex and gender, and I’m not sure that’s currently her stance.
Judith Butler is the mother of queer theory.
Up next:
- "Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: The Crusades, Apocalyptic Prophecy, and the End of History", Jay Rubenstein
- "Playground", Richard Powers
- "Notes on Complexity: A scientific theory of connections, consciousness, and being", Neil Theise
- "The Random Factor: How Chance and :Luck Profoundly Shape Our Lives and the World around Us", Mark Rank
- "The Age of Insecurity. Coming together as things fall apart", Astra Taylor
- "The Burning Earth: A History", Sunil Amrith
I like to get new cookbooks from the library. After waiting months, I finally brought home the Rancho Gordo Bean Book which I am enjoying.
Currently reading "Damn! A Book of Calumny", by HL Mencken and rereading George Will's " The Conservative Sensibility". Next on deck are a couple of old Red Stout mysteries.
I'm reading Night Bitch. Unlike any book I've read. Strong images that disturb. The movie should be interesting...wonder how many graphic scenes (non-sexual) they will include...
Waiting for a summary opinion on the Judith Butler book from BAE…
A little slow to post, but these were my January reads:
The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurty - I guess most are familiar with either the book or the movie. I thought it was just OK. A coming of age story set in a small western town.
Zone One by Colson Whitehead - my third and least favorite book by him and my least favorite zombie book. It was really slow going for a zombie book.
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane - his books are always great and I think this was one of his best. This was a novel set in South Boston during the busing fiasco of the seventies. It amazes me that this stuff happened so close to me during my lifetime, and it seems like another planet in another era. Lucky me.
Judgment by Joseph Finder - nothing special but a decent page-turner, which is what I've come to expect from Finder.
Babysitter by Joyce Carol Oates - I found the first half of the book to be a bit of a slog, and I considered not finishing it. I'm glad I stuck with it because she is a good writer, and it got better as we got more into the serial killer part of the plot.
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore - I really enjoyed this one! It was a fun, fast read with time-travel, which I happen to love. It had some substance to it, not just fluff, and I liked the way it was structured.
Just finished Pearly Everlasting which I really enjoyed. Story of a girl and her orphan bear raised as siblings in an early 1900s Canadian logging camp. It would make a great movie.
I got a lot of reading done in February!
- Artemis by Andy Weir - SF from the author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary. It was an OK read, but not as good as his other two.
- The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon - Just another serial killer book (yawn).
- Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall - I really liked this one, focused on themes of motherhood and the evolution of abortion rights.
- James by Percival Everett - Good, pretty quick read. It was kind of the Huck Finn adventure told from the viewpoint of the escaped slave Jim. I didn't love it as much as I expected, but it was definitely good.
- Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett (NF) - I only recently discovered Daniel, and then he died shortly afterward. He was a prominent atheist, one of the famed four along with Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens, and practically a neighbor from the state of Maine. The book had some decent substance to it, but it was a real slog and read like a textbook. I read it as a side-book, and probably started and finished 25 other books in the time it took me to read this one. It was an attempt to examine religion under the lens of scientific inquiry. I doubt it would sway any believers, and for people like myself, it was a case of preaching to the choir.
- The Last Flight by Julie Clark - an OK thriller type book.
- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (NF) - really great, true story about Louie Zamparini, WW2 POW and hero, and Olympian athlete.
Rosa, I recently skimmed a book about the Jane abortion provider network, but I don’t remember the title of it.
I already mentioned this in another thread because it was such a page turner: Last Call for Bud Light: the fall and future of America’s favorite beer.
The author was a perfect person to write this book because he worked at a high-level for Anheuser Bush and left a year before the big meltdown of Bud Light. It seems that so many sensible people have the same view of this fiasco, and it is that pairing with Dylan Mulvaney was not the smartest thing in the world, but Anheuser could’ve come out of that little problem if they had acted right by simply apologizing. But they kept doubling down and doubling down and doubling down again, revealing the inability of their foreign overlords to understand the American beer market and the Bud Light customer.
That was exactly my reaction, I wanted to see a head roll and an apology for the marketing head’s verbal insult. She should’ve been fired, not necessarily for a marketing campaign, but for her interview where she called her customers “fratty and out of touch.”
This book author wants to see Anheuser Busch purchased by an American and brought back into the fold of great American brands.
In the skin of a Jihadist by a French journalist who initiated an online relationship with a major figure in the terrorist network. She masqueraded as a young woman who would come to Syria and become his third wife. She strung him along for several months to get information for her story about how these terrorists recruit European young people. She had to be anonymous for the entire story and for the book due to retribution from French terrorist cells.
Could not get through "Shelterwood." I was just slogging through it and I'm not always patient with the dual timeline storytelling. Maybe it takes a special skill, either writing or reading.
Now I'm devouring Anne Tyler's latest, "Three Days in June."
I think it is interesting how the brewing industry has gone full circle on LBGQ/DEI things. As beer goes, so goes the nation?Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
https://teamsters856.org/uncategoriz...oycott-strike/
Still haven't finished Les Miserables, but have started Jane Eyre. Enjoying it so far.
That little bit of history of Teamsters and gay coalition is interesting. In my mind, Bud Lite’s partnership with trans persons could have worked if handled differently and if the brand manager hadn’t gone on record insulting her customers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogar
Budweiser products have been a sponsor at Pride parades for years, so alliance with the alphabet people isn’t new or foreign.
Or, there are a lot of Bud drinkers who are homophobic and the far right made a big deal in the media over nothing important to enterprise on that.
I don't consider Bud a responsible organization and their loss of sales is not bringing any tears to my eyes.
I'm reading The Great Transformation by Karen Armstrong. It was a best seller and up for awards a couple of year ago and traces the origins of the four major religions. It might sound a little boring, but it's quite readable without being too simplistic.
I just finished "The Women" by Krisitn Hannah for the 2nd time- once for myself and then this time for the book club (30 years and still going strong) I love how whe writes. Second reading (I had forgotten much of it- just my anger at the reality) was just as compelling as the first.
I'm still working on my "sense of place" chapter for Exit 9. (This has been a terrible winter for getting things done so I'm way behind). These are some of the books I'm referencing:
The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry
Belonging by bell hooks
The Need for Roots: Prelude to a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind by Simone Weil
Bowling Alone (revised edition) by Robert Putnam
A Sense of Place: Great Travel Writers Talk About Their Craft, Lives, and Inspiration by Michael Shapiro
That's basically it for the time being.
BTW, I appreciate everyone who responded to my request for your perspectives on your place attachments. I will be adding some clips of the quotes (anonymous of course). If you wrote something but do not want me to use your quote let me know, but I assure you, no one would be able to identify you based on it.
Feel free to build on any insights, or add some. I probably won't get this done for a few weeks.
I've read such mixed reviews on this one. It's on my list, but I may not get to it for awhile.Quote:
Originally Posted by nswef
In Covid‘a Wake. Brand new and has been in the news a lot. NYT Daily podcast had a 45 min interview with the author’s in the last week or so. Very interesting look back on policies and such. The authors are professors at Princeton. Good so far.
I watched the film. It was interesting. At least I assume the film was based on this book. About an Amish or Amish-like community, right?Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
No, Iris it is about nurses in Vietnam and how the VA kept saying "there were no women in combat in Vietnam", I was reminded of the tv show China Beach.
oh, ok. I remember China Beach TV show.Quote:
Originally Posted by nswef
okay--yeah homo/non-homo beer. Ha. A really significant topic. Ha. You kids needta start using your time to do more YARD WORK!!, steada paying flunkies to do it. Yup.
Yesterday Budweiser pulled $150,000 sponsorship from our local Pride event. They have been a sponsor for decades.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogar
Interesting.
A little bit late, but these were my March reads:
- The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon - historical fiction about a midwife in colonial New England based on a real character. It was pretty slow moving early on, but I really liked it. It had very mixed reviews, a lot of people found it too slow and did not finish and a lot of people loved it. I would come down on the loved side.
- Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III - a wonderful book by one of my favorite contemporary authors. I would say it's his best since House of Sand and Fog. Initially it seemed so very dismal, but ultimately turns out to be quite an uplifting read. I feel like there is a touch of Buddhism in there, but I could be wrong. I loved the main character Tom Lowe and he will stay with me for a very long time.
- All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker - This was kind of a murder mystery. I liked it, but not nearly as much as the consistent rave reviews lead me to expect. I thought it was way longer than it needed to be.
- The Last Ranger by Peter Heller - I hadn't read anything by this writer in a long time. I didn't realize that he had written a few books since The Dog Star and The Painter, both of which I liked very much. This was a really good story about a ranger in Yellowstone, and although written a couple of years ago, it seems really relevant in view of current concerns about the country moving away from environmental protections and investment in our national parks. For some reason, this book reminded me of you, Rogar. I would be interested in knowing if you like it, if you get around to reading it.
- Attachments by Rainbow Rowell - this was a totally fluffy little rom-com that I read in a day. It's not my favorite genre, but I really enjoyed it because the characters were so witty and loveable.
Thanks for this. House of Sand and Fog is one of my favorite movies--I haven't read the book, but I bet the book is even better, as most books that are made into movies are. I will definitely read Such Kindness.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
RR, I enjoyed reading The Frozen River so much I bought a copy for my daughter as a birthday gift. Will look into Such Kindness.
Thanks for the reminder. I just ordered a used copy. The Painter was a favorite. I gave the book to a friend and it got passed around to several readers. It had place names and characters that were quite imaginable for around here, even the despicable ones. My last book of his was The Guide. It might to go down as a favorite, but a good story. It revolves around a global pandemic like Covid, which already seems a little dated. So far.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
I'm listening to The Fisherman by John Langan as an audio book. I read it a few years ago and like it a lot, but didn't want to re-read it. It takes place near the Adirondacks and belongs solidly in the category of pulp horror fiction in the style of Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard.
Currently reading "The Secret Life of Sunflowers," by Marta Molnar.
Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden Harris, and the odds in the wildest campaign in history by Chris Whipple
I raced through this new book, one of many to come, about the failings of the Biden campaign for presidency in 2024.
the theme is Biden‘s team insulated themselves from reality, told themselves that Joe Biden was up to the job of another four years as President. There was no adult in the room to say to Biden “WTF do you think you’re doing running for another term?“
One of the chief informants for the book was Ron Klein, who had worked for Biden as chief of staff and who was brought into coach him for the June debate. KLein saw a weak, unfocused, greatly diminished President unable to understand the basic policy questions he would most likely be asked during the debate.
Ron Klein is a special kind of traitor who was assuring the public how sharp and confident Joe Biden was up until the moment Biden stepped out of the race.
This book doesn’t reveal anything we don’t already know and even the juicy details are not many, and nothing new. And in order to pad out the theme into a book length manuscript it covers the entire presidential campaign with lots of detail about Trump World as well as the problems with Harris’ campaign.
While this is a competent coverage of the 2024 presidential campaign, nothing new or especially interesting is revealed, so save your money.
edited to correct title
I wonder how it will compare with Jake Tapper's soon-to-be-released book on the same topic: "Original Sin:President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again."Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
Oh my, I will probably have to buy and download that one as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by catherine
These were my April reads:
One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel - good read about triplets born and living in a Love Canal type of town where most of the townspeople have major issues caused by factory pollution. I enjoyed the relationships between the sisters, all three very smart, but one of normal ability, one profoundly disabled physically and one with an Asperger's-like presentation. I liked how they respected each other's strengths and none of the sisters was considered as less-than the others. I found it a little slow going at first, but as I got into the story, the relationships and themes of ableism/disability won me over and gave me food for thought.
Holly by Stephen King - very enjoyable read if you like Stephen King, which I certainly do. Also, there was cannibalism, and who doesn't enjoy a good creepy read involving cannibalism? :laff:
Go as a River by Shelley Read - decent read about a young woman in mid-century Colorado, with themes of racism, and the challenges of having a baby out of wedlock in that era.
Beyond That, the Sea - decent read about a young girl sent from England to stay with a family in the USA during WW2, and the relationships she develops with her family of origin and her US family.
Lawn People and Amy Tan's Backyard Bird Chronicles.
Original,sin: President Biden’s decline, it’s coverup, and his disastrous decision to run again by Jake Tapper and AlexThompson.
This one is juicy, unlike the previous book I read about this topic. This one has quotes by cabinet members who saw the decline of Biden and who were shocked and later kept away from the President. This book brings in Jill Biden’s role whereas the other book didn’t mention her. She was concerned about her performance after the June 2024 debate where she complimented her husband for “answering all the questions!!!” like a dialogue with a toddler. I found that so creepy, so I’m glad she recognized her part in that night’s debacle.
I learned from the book how much Beau’s death affected Biden. So many people said over and over he wasn’t the same person after 2015 when Beau died, and his extreme fear of losing yet another child keeps him tied to Hunter’s shenanigans where he’s always fearful Hunter will have a relapse with drugs.
It also gave a little bit of gossip. Michelle Obama was friends with Hunter’s first wife Katherine and when Katherine divorced Hunter telling the world why, the Bidens shut her out. That made Michelle mad. So this fueled the already cool relationship between the Bidens and the Obamas.
Jack Tapper is getting skewered in the media and rightly so. Podcasts are taking him to task for being one of the chief media failures to bring the story to light a year ago or two years ago.
I've seen Jake Tapper hawk the book on CNN for months.. I'm glad it's worth all the self-promotion. I was a little surprised that CNN allowed him to do that, but I don't know what the rules are regarding those things.
You have me interested in reading it.
But on a lighter book-reading note, on CBS Sunday Morning there was an apparently very rare interview with Anne Tyler. I have always loved her books. Her 25th book, Three Days in June is coming out. I haven't read one of her books in a while, but I'm going to see if the library is planning on getting a copy.