The Witches Are Coming | 
pickIncisive and funny by turns, inclusive, empathetic, incredibly well written. The claim that my enjoyment is a result of confirmation bias cannot be dismissed out of hand. It's deeply satisfying to have a person confirm just how shitty some (groups of) people have been acting in eloquent, expletive-sprinkled essays. This work is first a call to action, because everyone is capable of being more compassionate, doing more to foster a better society.
Today's 'scratched my brain just right' line:
"...fundamental delusion: the bootstrap ethos...that capitalism is an opportunity for the exploited to prove themselves..."
Memorable phrasing again:
"...the soft violence of willful ignorance, the barbaric fiction of rugged individualism."
A moment of appreciation for the upgrading of an old phrase: "err on the side of caution"
It's not just about not being cautious to avoid SOUNDING insensitive, it's about caring enough to be careful in your word choices.
pickIt gave a great voice to so many of the frustrations I have, and with humor. It was a bit sad to remember that things have only gotten worse since this was written though.
pickA soft pick. While I liked some of the essays many fell flat. A whole essay about how she has just realized Adam Sandler is not funny and built his career off being horrible to minorities and the disabled community? I felt I could have written this in the 90s when I wasn't understanding why people liked him.
Good essays too though, and some laughs.
This was my March #bookspin because I am totally on top of things.
pickThis was mentioned in Cultish and sounded interesting so I went down the rabbit hole. This #audiobook is read by the author and it's very political and very funny at times. I definitely enjoyed it. Obviously if you think Trump was the best president ever, this may not be for you.
1. Not exactly. But I do take notes and write down book mentions and quotes and vocab and stuff. I guess it's like a journal of my reading journey.
2. Every month is a good reading month in Vanessa-land. Although I haven't read anything yet that totally blew my socks off.
3. Today I'm grateful for @TheAromaofBooks and her fun #BirthdayBash readathon.
I tagged a random book that I am listening to and quite enjoying.
#WondrousWednesday
@Eggs
pickI hadn‘t heard to Lindy West before listening to this book. Libro.fm recommend it for me and it looked interesting. I really like her, a lot! She covers so so many topics and is smart, honest, funny, genuine and brave. I truly enjoyed this book and so glad that she has a tv show too (which I also looked up) called Shrill. I would recommend this book and will look out for her current and future projects.
Here‘s my July #TBR!
🧙🏻 To catch up on the #MonthlyKeyWordGXO challenge I need to finish the tagged book & also read
👑 The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
🐴 Gordath Wood by Patrice Sarah
👀 Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
😇 The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman
💍 Continuing my sister read w/ The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
🦖 For fun, Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #3 by Jason Ciaramella
📚 Which should I read first?
so-soProbably a case of #RightBookWrongReader because I did not enjoy this at all. Lindy West is bright and articulate, with a biting sense of humor but there‘s such a bitterness to her tone. I feel like she‘s quick to put others down and she seems to always be in fight mode🥊 #MoreMehThanYeah #BorrowNotBuy
Breaking from octopuses for a little witchy insight 🧙♀️ 🧹🔮I‘m not really a fan of Lindy West…she‘s very bright but there‘s a meanness to her humor and commentary that I don‘t respect.
“I think we can all agree that this fully checks out and that indeed it is men who are the true victims of witch hunts. Which they invented. To kill women.”
I wish she would have addressed intersectionality more in this book but she did spend an entire chapter shitting on Adam Sandler which I‘ve been doing for years so I‘ll recommend it.
pickWest's writing is quippy, sharp & intelligent. She states her opinions clearly with good supporting information. However, she is somewhat heavy-handed in her approach. This reduces her accessibility & makes it less likely for her to attract a wide range of readers. I found her to be very funny & smart. She is easy to listen to & understand & made talking about boring political topics quite enjoyable.
Our Governor in Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer‘s response after she was called a witch by a GOP leader 😂😂
I‘m trying out a book journal for the March 2021 #BookSpinBingo rather than my usual el cheapo « draw a grid on a piece of computer paper, use both sides » grid ?
#BookSpin: The Witches Are Coming
#DoubleSpin: The Ringed Castle
I started Midnight in Chernobyl this morning so will be aiming for bingo in that middle row!
1. Tagged!
2. I‘m going to cheat because I used to intern at a radio station in their library and was reminded of an album I once catalogued, called “Rendezvous in the Yurt” and it always made me chuckle.
4. I am waiting for Colin Jost‘s book.
#sundayfunday
@ozma.of.oz
pickI laughed at parts, I got angry with her at parts, I rolled my eyes a little at parts.
I‘d put this in between a pick and so-so. I read it for bookclub, and I probably wouldn‘t have chosen it otherwise.
I appreciate that the author read the audio, and she did it quite well.
TW for abortion, although she doesn‘t talk about it in a traumatic way.
pickGreat book of essays, fantastic on audio. West always brings an interesting perspective to the world and her pieces on #metoo , Adam Sandler, television, climate change and trump‘s America had me thinking, laughing and lamenting but ultimately feeling hopeful. #nothalloween #witches
pickI was glad to finally get to this book. I first heard about it when I saw her speak at the Ubud Writers Festival in Bali a year ago. I raced home to Australia, watched her series Shrill & my husband bought me this book of essays, which has since sat unread of my shelf, until this week.
Although its US focus meant I was unfamiliar with some of the people she writes about, I enjoyed this cutting, clever, funny cultural critique.
so-soI don't know why I don't like this book more...I agree with so much of what West speaks about in this book. I too dislike Adam Sandler and don't understand his popularity. I can appreciate being presented with a different perspective than the one I've lived. #lindywest #thewitchesarecoming #shrill #feminist #womenauthor #femaleauthor #politicalpopculture
pickI love Lindy West's writing voice so much, she does a fantastic job blending humor into serious topics and she articulates the anger I've felt about a lot of the current political and cultural climate in a way I've never quite been able to. I'm working my way backwards through her books and look forward to reading/watching Shrill soon!
so-soSome excellent essays in this feminist takedown of politics and entertainment. West is also super angry, which although a reasonable response to discrimination and misogyny, kind of knocked me over when taken all in at one sitting. I guess I was expecting a more varied tone within the collection but it is mostly a long rant, which is warranted, but I guess is not exactly how I take in information best. Worth reading, but maybe not quite my style.
pickI love Lindy West‘s books on audiobook. She is so smart and doesn‘t try to hide it; she‘s also open and vulnerable. She‘s one of those authors that I‘d like to be friends with, but I‘d probably just sit in the corner of the booth listening to her talk rather than contributing anything myself. 😂
pickThis is probably my favorite white feminist essay collection ever. She hits the right notes between a drive towards activism and humor. I don‘t know of a writer in her genre that can blend the two better. Simply brilliant! #audiobook
pickLindy West‘s book of essays is highly readable and entertaining. She turns serious topics into beach reads! My best description is Rebecca Solnit meets Cosmopolitan! Lindy West has written a sexy, smart feminist book of our times. It‘s good! So read it!!!! 🚺
“The witches are coming, but not for your life. We‘re coming for your lies. We‘re coming for your legacy. We‘re coming for our future” ❤️
So inspiring at this moment, and so hard to believe she finished this book and published it... what, over 6 months ago.
#BLM
She starts out talking about the Parkland kids and Greta Thunberg, and then her stepdaughter at a school event unveiling a Black Power historical mural... I couldn‘t help but think this was so timely for what we are living through now.....months later.
#BLM
Ugh! I was thinking about this this morning as Trump attacked the 75 year old man shoved by the police and left bleeding on the sidewalk in Buffalo, NY...that one that‘s been on the news shows the last few days! 🙄
“Platforms could do something about it. Never forget that they choose not to.” 🎤⤵️
pickLoved this one, no surprise though with Lindy West, who can make you laugh while discussing the most serious of topics. A few felt a bit dated, but most felt like they could have been written today, which is amazing when you consider how much has changed and shifted in just the last few months.
#NonfictionMatters
#Nonfiction2020
I 💙 Lindy
Melissa side note: as bad as everything else is, I‘ve been thinking a lot about those defense contractors lately, so much of our taxes goes into “defense spending”, we need it they say, more than healthcare or education, we can‘t go without....but apparently we have SO much and make so much military stuff, we are now selling it to police departments, because well, someone has to buy all that extra “absolutely essential🤮” stuff. #BLM
“Men can choose how they treat us, and this is the world they choose. Frankly, not being angry would be irrational.”
🎤 drop!
pickSo smart and eloquent about feminist (humanist) issues. Yaaaassss!
pickVery timely read! I highlighted a lot... West really helped me to verbalize some of my thoughts and frustrations.
#BLM March Greenville SC May 31st 2020
The Judge at the sentencing of Ted Bundy....why does this remind me of Brock Turner a bit, the poor poor man and his potential as an athlete.🤮
Discussing how someone like Ted Buddy was considered very likable, charming, charismatic....but every woman, no matter how qualified, who runs for office is “not likable”.
“Likability is a con, and we‘re falling for it.”
“I cannot remember a more frightening time in my life. And I cannot remember a time with more moral clarity.”
** Dang, that seems especially poignant and precisest this weekend!
