Week sixteen Book twenty-two : Like Brothers

 

Insight into the minds of the Duplass brothers, reads much like you would expect it to. If you like the brothers work (I do) and you wanted to know how that worked (I did) and what pitfalls happened (Go on) and being so close and yet having partners and children is like (Fascinating).

I did enjoy, not the least because they are easy going and smart, usually not much of a combination.

But like their movies, they work well and you don't really know why but you just feel it? (Uh huh, go on!).

No that's it. (Oh, OK. That's good?)

Love you (Love you too), 

Affectionately, Stink Monster.

(Read the book, it will all make sense).

Maybe.

Week Fifteen Book twenty-one : The Thursday Murder Club

 

A ripping yarn, full of character and charm. Though it was a slow read, mostly because you can easily imagine Osman narrating the book to you, and he's not as fast as the voice in my head.

Not a whodunnit, so much as a "look over at the left hand, ignore the right" kind of mystery. Whenever you think you have it, the rug is gently slid from under you, to plonk you in the comfortable armchair of being lead up the garden path.

A few problems with the resolution, but it's not about the trip home, it's the holiday before that.

Week fourteen Book twenty : The Unexpected Spy

 

Hard to define this book as it's fascinating and highly offensive at the same time. Is her story interesting? Yes. Is she likeable? No. Is that sexism? I sincerely hope not. Was she treated poorly because of her gender? Yes. Did she treat others poorly because their (gender, race, religion, country of origin)? Also Yes. 

Can you learn something from this book? Yes? Did the author? If she did, she missed the bigger picture of her own arrogance, racism, prejudices and yes even her own sexism. 

I expected to be reading about battling sexism in the CIA and FBI from the blurb, but instead got a love letter to American Exceptionalism written by an "Ugly American" trope masquerading (barely) as an Enlightened Internationalist.

Week thirteen Book nineteen : Fight Like A Physicist

 

A short but interesting overview of basic principles of Physics applied to the Martial Arts (all of which, regardless of discipline, creed or origin - are bound to the same laws of Physics). 

Will make more sense to actual martial artists, and a good understanding on the science of it all is no replacement for training and experience. 

But like all things that could do with demystifying, colouring in your understanding with a grounded science, this is a good set of things to know/understand/realise.

Week thirteen Book eighteen : Homo Deus

 

 

A well thought out treatise on what the future might hold? Probably closer to the likely future than not. Hardly iron clad, the premise that we can barely recognise ourselves from a hundred years ago to now, holds true for the next hundred years as well.

But there's plenty of things to hang your hat on about what may nor may not (probably though) happen to us as a species and what "should" happen. 

Ultimately you look at books like this and ask yourself "In the balance of the argument - how do I much do I agree with and how much hurts to hear?" Regardless of what you say, think or feel though, what would you do with this information anyway?

Bet on the next big things? Good luck to you.

Third book of his I've read in the last thirteen weeks. Third I have enjoyed.

Week thirteen Book seventeen : The Hunting Party

 

Gripping and twisty, as the cover claims. Very much in the vein of Agatha Christie with multiple suspects, the clues in the open and the red herrings spawning all over the shop.

Very well conceived and delivered, loved every minute of it and so very little happens, until one by one the hastily constructed facades of their outer selves and the foundations of inner lives crumble under scrutiny.

As Jean Paul Satre put it, hell is other people.

Week twelve Book sixteen : the Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep

 

This really is a book lovers dream. I mean that literally as well as figuratively.

I'm not a fan of Dickens, though I recognise his genius and talent. This book relies on this in so many ways, but also any other author of note from the Victorian-ish (Cough* Out of copyright *Cough) timeframe. Which also lends itself to a tonal and consistent world building, with a few dragons and beatsies blended in. 

It reminds me of Ready Player One, but in some ways it's the polar opposite of that. Where RP1 was gratuitous wish fulfillment played for an ego, with no ethics or morals guiding it, this is wish avoidance, because the consequences are understood and the hero can not become a villain to save himself.

Also I loved the source of reference for RP1 and hated the book. The opposite is true here, I don't like the source (Dickens) but ended up loving the result in this book.

The pace changes a few times, the first third is speculative and ponderous and then accelerates beyond control, then slows down to introspection for the end. 

 

Week eleven Book fifteen : American Eclipse

 

I figured this might be an interesting if dry history of the eclipse chasers. Instead its full of intrigue, politics (scarily similar to modern day nonsense) and excitement.

All to play for there is reputation, scientific advancement and women's rights are all on the table as they race across the country to be part of the great American Eclipse (like they owned it).

All this and Thomas Edison too.

Week eleven Book fourteen : The Knife of Never Letting Go

 

Gripping and un-put-down-able as the first time you picked up Harry Potter or the Hunger Games.

The pace, the tension and the curiosity never let up and though it ends on a cliff-hanger I don't feel cheated or manipulated, I just want the next book now.

Bought it Tuesday, finished Friday - would have been sooner if I wasn't juggling a few other things.

I can see why it's an award winner and talked about so reverently. 

I even love that I don't want to punch the protagonist, a common trait with me and YA novels. 

Brilliant. Can't wait for the next two. 

Week eleven Book thirteen : Reverie

 

Well planned out and wholly constructed world. Love that they give center stage to queer youth and bring home that sense of connection for readers.

HOWEVER - just like Harry Potter book 5, it would be a lot better if teenagers were bloody annoying, as teenagers often are.

It's fantasy after all, can't the authour imagine them to be less obnoxious?

Week ten Book twelve : Sapiens

 

An excellent history book for the entire history of Humanity (Sapiensness?). As a single discussion though it varies and roams wildly, as a complete history of our species should do. Does make it hard to draw specific points or reach conclusions per se.

Most of the criticism is for things that are minor in the scale of the work itself, biology over choice, religion and governments as fictions. All of these are in fact true, like it or not.

To condemn this book because you don't like one section is like throwing away a phone book because there are too many Smiths in it.

On the while, as an exercise in math, it is 99% more agreeable than not.

Week ten Book eleven : Other Minds

 

A fascinating book, much like the cover claims. The first 2/3 of it flow pretty well and you learn about the Cephalopods (Octopi, Squid, Cuttlefish) and not only their evolution but the myriad ways they have complex and intelligent systems.

The back 1/3 delves into conscious thought, philosophical questions and the intersection of an "other" that is as alien to humans as you could think, but there may be more to them than the "apples and oranges" we generally think about.

The fact that you now have to use anesthetics when operating on them, and they seem capable of personality and almost rational thought, as well as time keeping and learning?

Don't know what think, even though the book is amazing and interesting.

I'll never eat squid or octopus again though.

Week nine Book ten : What If

 

Funny and informative, well researched answers to a few questions I have actually wondered about. Followed by a load more questions that make me wonder more about the kind of person that would ask such questions.

Good read for all ages, and the witticisms and cartoon illustrations make it less dry than you'd expect.

Week eight Book nine : Imaginary Friend

 

I wanted to like this, it certainly started well. Soon enough though it descended into actual and figurative madness.

Where horror films are torture porn, this is despair porn w/added torture and gore for bad measure.

I was so tired and irritated that it would never end. And the not at all subtle religiosity of EVERYTHING just got annoying. 

It's like experiencing someone else having a mental collapse.

Week Seven Book Eight : Lessons for the 21st Century

 

Since I unexpectedly finished a book in less than a day (see Book seven) I came back to one I have been plugging away at and finished that today.

Excellently researched and written series of observations based on history (hardly surprising from a historian) that look forward and avoid (mostly AFAIK)the trappings of bias and culture that stop us seeing the wood for the trees.

A long form view of the world and putting a lot of how our history shaped us into ruminations on what is next, and what we should do and NOT DO about it.

Reminds me of Guns, Germs & Steel and also Short Answers to Big Questions (J Diamond and S Hawking respectively).

Week seven Book seven : The Midnight Library

 

I started this book yesterday evening and before I knew it, 2 a.m. had rolled around and I was halfway through it. Finished today, because in two sessions I could not put it down.

Beautiful, witty, insightful and hopeful. It cracks on at a pace and is impossibly good on every page, in every life.

Can't recommend enough.

Week six Book six : Boys Will Be Boys

 

Uncomfortable, but not wrong. It's easy to rail against the tone as aggressive (because it is) but is less aggressive than I like to admit. Having read some of the misogynistic authors she confronts - her tone is nowhere near as blunt, violent and insulting as theirs can be.

The major difference is that she is not wrong. This is undeniable, backed by facts and can only argued against by prejudices and an unwillingness to talk about the problem.

Week five Book five : A Song for the Dark Times

 

Never disappointing even with twenty four (and counting) Rebus novels from one of my favourite writers, Ian Rankin.

There's a cadence to the plots, dialogue and characters that feels familiar and reassuring without being predictable or dull.

If you're a fan, you probably already have it, if you're not then the jumping off point could be anywhere. Each stands alone, even if the characters do not.

Week four Book four : Son of Superman

 

It's been a while since I've read/collected/cared about comics, especially DC. However it is nice to catch up on a TPB or graphic novel every now and then.

Bit confused about the wider arc, the "real" superman, the half human son of Lois and Clark and the combined souls of Krypton embedded in the Eradicator?

Can't say it has thrilled me for returning to comics anytime soon. The whole secret identity upheaval for Superman and now Batman is just ten pounds of meh. I was never that fussed about why they were keeping it a secret. 

Filled in a few gaps and a week with less reading time in it.

Week three Book three : The Girl in the Mirror

 

Nope. 

I thought it maybe would get better, but it didn't. It was as nauseatingly privileged as The Goldfinch, and full of as many irritatingly evil people pretending to be human and failing.

No one has redeeming features or motivations, the twists are both obvious AND unbelievable. The various character's spout absolutes then contradict them repeatedly.

How are we supposed to identify with any of these awful people with their terrible burdens of not being quite rich and privileged enough?

Week two Book two : Hidden Valley Road

Well that was a brutal read. It's in-depth, well researched and an important record of this family and this disease/symptom. Long sections of it though are like being slapped in the face repeatedly with a heavy book (like this one is). 

A cruel and bizarre family history cursed with the genetic predisposition of Schizophrenia, the dissection of which will eventually lead to possibly the best understanding ever of whatever that is. 

It's not an easy journey, however well written and thoughtfully it's presented. Trigger warnings should probably be printed on the reverse next to the blurb. As the onion is slowly peeled back the mental, physical and sexual abuses mount up in a family unsupported by the science of the time and juggled by systems, people and processes designed to deal with things that no one could understand.

An amazing story, no other way to tell it.

Week one Book one: Anxious People

 

This might be the best book I have read in a long while. I'm glad I started my new year of books with a winner.

It is nothing you'd expect and constantly toys with your expectations and prejudices, and never feels annoying or manipulative. 

I can highly recommend this to anyone, for any reason at any time.

After the year that is 2020, here is the hope that not all things this year are made of shit.

I did cry a little at the end, not because it has a sad ending, but because it does not.

Time to start this again.

 

 

One Book (finished) a Week ...

Because another stack of books is piling up next to the bed, on the book case(s) and on my Ipad.

So have at it...