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?