 The Future by Naomi AldermanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars I enjoyed this book–a fun, simple SF romp. The characters are not great, and the plot is plodding sometimes, but the complexity and cultish underpinnings compensate. There is also some good apocalypse thinking that is fun these days. View all my reviews |
Category: Book
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The Future by Naomi Alderman
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Vlad by Carlos Fuentes, Ethan Shaskan Bumas (Translator), Alejandro Branger (Translator)
Vlad by Carlos Fuentes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fantastic and fun vampire book. Quick and unusual. strongly recommended
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Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music by Alex Ross
Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music by Alex Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great book. A sprawling review of the influence of Wagner. Sensitive, well-written, balanced, and primarily brilliant in its observations. Honestly, it is one of the top five books on “classical” music that I have read. It is strongly recommended for lovers of Opera (obviously), history of ideas folks, and anyone that fights with art impact on society. It was a relatively slow read for me- there are a lot of details, and it covers many areas that I am not familiar with, but overall, it is strongly recommended.
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The Wisdom of the Saints: 365 Days of Inspiration by Matthew Kelly
The Wisdom of the Saints: 365 Days of Inspiration by Matthew Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It is a relatively straightforward daily devotional. I enjoyed using it and the price was right, but I prefer something more topical and focused.
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Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser, Tavia Gilbert (Narrator)
Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
LOVING this book that I got for Christmas.
There is so much here I did not know–Moser’s observations of Sontag’s early childhood are gold, and his understanding and contextualization of her incredible achievements in various forms is detailed and insightful. Sontag’s unprecedented success and style, fearlessness in the face of war and censorship are documented, as are her diva-induced missteps. For me, the queer theory closing sections are heartbreaking and some of the best biographical writing I have ever read.
This book tells the story of Susan Sontag, who will likely never return. I find the book flat-out life-changing and inspiring. The book makes me want to read more–a lot more!
More than a simple author biography, Moser’s Sontag is a complete picture of women I thought I knew pretty well but had no idea. Eye-opening, reveling, inspiring, strongly recommended for the fans of literary biography, twentieth-century art, and just about anything bookish.
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A Spectre, Haunting: On the Communist Manifesto by China Miéville
A Spectre, Haunting: On the Communist Manifesto by China Miéville
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
China is clever & persuasive. Very few people have thought about the Manifesto like this–as a literary object, a piece of writing that kicked off the Manifesto craze.
Lots of good history–too many modern references to Palestine and Trump feel petty–but the stuff about what was going on when the Manifesto was written is good—a solid overview of some of Marx’s academic axe-grinding, which I like.
Honest review of the criticism of the Manifesto and objective acknowledgments of its weaknesses.
It is a good read and a quick overview of the Current communist thinking.
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The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli
The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A very quick review of quantum stuff–I read a book like this every year. I’m not sure I learned anything, but I have some exciting time observations. I enjoyed a rant about NOW not existing, but I did not take much from this book. I am sure it will make some undergrads very smart. I like Rovelli- he quotes the Dead & Proust- but I am not sure I followed his position on most things. I feel like I am more of a physical traditionalist.
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The Second Coming by Walker Percy
The Second Coming by Walker Percy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Holy cow! Who is Walker Percy? This book is fantastic–there is literary play at work here that I assume would have been presented to me earlier–I am not even sure how I stumbled into this excellent book–I will read the rest of his work & some biographical stuff pretty quickly–a tremendous American writer.
There are racist and sexist, and maybe even mental health trigger warnings & likely not excellent representation, but the overall structure and play found in this book is plan excellent. I strongly recommend it, mostly because I want to learn what you think.
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David Given Schwarm 