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Big Machine: A Novel | Victor LaValle

🚪😔

Murder by Memory | Olivia Waite

🙌🏻

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What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird | Sy Montgomery

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My favourite Sy Montgomery so far. A couple of enjoyable hours on audiobook, even as the book delves not just into the personal delight of keeping chickens, or the wonders investigated in the science of their cognition and behaviour, but also into those aspects of chicken behaviour which may dismay humans, and the reality that predators/carnivores and factory farming exists.
1/2

Robotswithpersonality 2/2 Regarding the audiobook, if you're struck by an immediate case of the giggles when confronted with the contrast between cool, calm intro and closing voice (main text read by the author), reading out title and copyright details backed by *CHICKEN NOISES*, you're not the only one. 🐔🤭

⚠️animal death 24h

11 likes1 comment

Rental Person Who Does Nothing: A Memoir | Shoji Morimoto

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Next up in mixed bag (largely positive) non-fiction! I think it's best to go into this book knowing that the do nothing person is by and large not a person you rent, aside from travel expenses, that this position is more of a thought experiment than a vocation.
I can certainly see why the weight of societal expectations and the toxicity of the job market (the things his former boss said to him?!) would remove any enthusiasm for striving 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? toward employment. Hard not to connect his apathy towards the rat race to the fact that it basically killed his sister.
That being said the author/interviewee(?) has an apathy to work but is obviously broadly interested in humanity, and while attempting to remain grounded despite an increasing social media presence, is of help to a number of people for often zero income. 1d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? He's careful to acknowledge when people provide gifts, money, but he also obviously cares, even if he might be said not to care about the same things society would praise him for. The most lackadaisical rebel ever.
On that note, I like the crowd effort indicated and acknowledged in his Twitter followers offering support and solutions to those who the rental person cannot or elects not to take on as clients. 1d

Robotswithpersonality 4/? A lot of the book feels like clear evidence of a loneliness epidemic, of people lacking a support system, too insecure or unwilling to burden family or friends with niche interests or downplayed needs, so they employ someone to just be there.
The author introduced the idea of an intensive form of reciprocity in Japanese friendships, and suggests that perhaps it contributes to this need for side quests with a stranger. 1d

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? Whatever the reasons, there are some fun tasks identified, among them my favourite is definitely the individual who got rental person to casually encounter them on a walk and make a big fuss out of their dog because it loves affection from passersby. 🥹 1d

Robotswithpersonality 6/? The shifting parameters of what 'do nothing' actually encompasses, because he's often doing something, the reality that he's living off savings, not really writing, and as he has a young family will need to seek out an alternative revenue stream at some point in the future, and seems bound and determined to convince the reader that he doesn't want to do or care about much, is where the mixed bag comes in. 1d

Robotswithpersonality 7/7 If nothing else, it feels like further fuel for the Universal Basic Income argument - look at all the ways we could be there for each other if we didn't have to survive late stage capitalism. 😵‍💫

⚠️suicide, mention of murder, cult membership 1d

11 likes6 comments

A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon | Kevin Fedarko

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I don't know where to start! I'm glad that Fedarko was retroactively humble enough to call out the full extent of their disastrous first attempt. I'm very happy that he consistently points out all the many dangers of traversing/transecting the canyon, and the many people who helped him and his friend survive the process. If you're squeamish, prepare to hear about multiple trail injuries and ailments. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? I was surprised how much of this book ended up delving into the canyon's past, but I'm grateful that the loudest message coming out of the book is about conservation and recognizing the indigenous people who originated in the area, suffered greatly over the decades, centuries, of white settler encroachment and are still fighting to keep their connection to the land, to keep the canyon from being further developed, 2d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? while acknowledging the economic forces internally and externally that make that priority so difficult. It's become second nature to look for own voices when such talking points are raised, and while Fedarko is respectful and seeks out, (again with the help of those in the know), indigenous voices to quote, I'm hoping for those who read a lot of this book and want to know more/get involved, there are more direct sources available. 2d

Robotswithpersonality 4/? I appreciate the thread running through connecting Fedarko's drive to see the canyon to his family history in a place not known for nature's beauty, for mining and pollution, the connection to his own father's dreams.
There's so much of this book that has a reverent tone (the descriptions of natural wonders are particularly enchanting), 2d

Robotswithpersonality 5/? that I have to wonder if I would have had a greater sense of gravitas if I hadn't been doing a tandem read with the audiobook, which is read by the author. His attempt to give each person who has a large role to play in the story their own speaking voice leans dangerously close to farce on a couple of occasions and it disrupts the tone somewhat. 2d

Robotswithpersonality 6/6 I think my mixed bag of feelings toward the book is summed up by the author's note, which attempts to explain that after reading an adventure such as this, it would be best if the reader didn't then decide to go and hike the Grand Canyon. Fedarko tempers this request with other options, and explains some descriptions of places are masked to ensure their preservation, but the cognitive dissonance matches my overall takeaway. 2d

8 likes5 comments

The Unlikely Thru-Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey | Derick Lugo

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A truly lovely recounting by a lovely individual. Lugo/Mr. Fabulous's attitude made all the difference, in his hike and in his narration. This has to be the only hiking memoir I've read that really didn't stress the hardships of the trail, (not that it missed reporting on them, or regarding hijinks and humourous misfortunes), and also completely skipped the 'gearing up' phase. It is purely moments on the trail, and rest stops as appropriate. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Fabulous is an amateur at the start but he humbly indicates gains in experience and wisdom. There are sights seen and obstacles overcome but mostly there are people he meets and hikes with, and his own emotional landscape. Fab does touch on the experiences of being one of the few if not the only current Black thru-hiker, as well as being profiled as a Rastafarian with a weed connection, but the framing does feel like discomfiting subjects 2d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? he wants to shrug off with equanimity and humour, rather than make a larger topic of discussion. His memoir, his choice.
Aside from indicating the benefit of a positive outlook (or maybe just a naturally chill, kind demeanor), I wouldn't necessarily consider the book direct inspiration for hiking the Appalachian Trail, unless you're already very invested, but if you enjoy walking/hiking memoirs, this one's a real treat. 2d

Robotswithpersonality 4/4 ⚠️A dog is a brief companion on the walk, and its fate is uncertain, as much as it's returned to its owner, so if you're sensitive to this, watch out for Chapter 20, Magic.
On the other side of the coin, Chapter 6, Farewell to Indoor Plumbing is hilarious (no grossness, promise). (edited) 2d

9 likes3 comments

When the Moon Hits Your Eye | John Scalzi

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Just wonderful. I love that it was thoughtful and emotional and clever as well as hilarious. I love that it was an ensemble piece, almost more of a connected series of short stories, and yet tied in so well, repeating characters every once in a while and well-framed by the lunar cycle format. Certainly 'cheese moon' is sci fi (or in other hands pure farce) territory, but as Scalzi does so well, this was mostly humans 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? reacting to circumstances the way humans do, in admirable and reprehensible and ridiculous ways, regardless of how new or unreasonable those circumstances might be.
I laughed, I cried, and I ranted alongside (and in one case AT) a few characters.
Not every POV is likeable, not every character thinks in a way I understand, but without exception, I felt like I was in their shoes for the moments alloted. 3d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? Also: kudos for the fan service regarding one character's comeuppance - if he's an avatar for others of his ilk, certainly it's not the first time such a fate was wished upon them, if not quite so creatively.
I love the role that media and social media played in the story, more a sprinkling than a true mixed media book, but used judiciously to great effect. 3d

Robotswithpersonality 4/4 Eagerly awaiting the next from this author, which I'm overjoyed to discover is a new book in the Old Man's War series coming out this fall!!! 😲🎉

⚠️mention of terminal illness, assisted death 3d

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The Unlikely Thru-Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey | Derick Lugo

Get it, Grandma! 😄
The author has such a lovely outlook. ☺️

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The Paradox Hotel: A Novel | Rob Hart

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That was a lot, but not necessarily in the ways I originally thought it would be.
I think the strongest thread is the unhealthy vs healthy progression through grief.
You certainly have some subtle-becoming-less-subtle introductions of Buddhist philosophy, around acceptance, sangha (community/family), and the primacy of working to end suffering.
The majority of the work is a sci-fi action mystery with what I might term a smidgen of queer 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? romantic subplots.
January definitely kicks ass, figures things out, speaks truth to power and deals with more dinosaurs than one might expect, but she's also taking out her emotionally neglected childhood and inability to move on from loss on all those who care about her, so she fluctuates in the likeable character matrix, while navigating a fictionally unique form of mental health concerns. 5d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? It's rare that I read anything in the neighborhood of a thriller and find the twists worth the stress, but this book stayed emotionally grounded, and never dragged out the tension to an implausible degree - mostly because new wild shit kept happening to move the plot forward! 😅
Strange to think I appreciated the pace so much, because I couldn't help feeling like the wrapping up of things was a little rushed, even if the hint of ambiguity at 5d

Robotswithpersonality 4/4 the end felt appropriate.
I had a good time, and I think I will read from this author again, as long as he's doing unique twists on classic mysteries or genre mashups. I feel like his writing shines most when Hart is handling the classic mystery angles, but I love that he wrote for an audience that doesn't mind when things end a little gentler than expected. 😏
⚠️mention of self-harm 5d

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The Paradox Hotel: A Novel | Rob Hart

THE. SASS. Robot sass! 💅🏼🤖

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A Rover's Story | Jasmine Warga

pan

Um, what? Okay, okay, I'm obviously outside the target age demographic, but that caveat aside...1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? So - the last minute fuss about dire diagnosis for the mom/scientist was a complete misdirect.
The mystery about the sound was never resolved despite constant harping on it because it helps to indicate the reality that science takes a really long time to figure things out...not particularly narratively satisfying, but okay. 7d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? The Resilience rover who was basically given sentience for the entire novel and a close relationship with the drone robot character who similarly had a full personality, was split from Fly for - dramatic impact? Just to make us sad? 7d

Robotswithpersonality 4/? Resilience, despite clearly demonstrating the full range of human emotion (which, along with Sophie's letters, could help young readers identify their own struggles with emotion, maybe?) and the ache to connect is never able to communicate with any of the humans he worked with. 7d

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? The mission to find evidence of Mars supporting life in the past matches up with the real Rovers, okay cool, while the mission to get Courage on line was another incredibly sad failure that appears to be completely fictionalized?
Sophie writes a series of letters that allow us to get to know her, and later read them to her mother, far as we know, Resilience never got them? Not the point, okay. 7d

Robotswithpersonality 6/? 'It's about the Journey not the destination' makes for a dreadful pun about the test rover's name, who never got to see Mars, again, randomly sad and disappointing.
I enjoyed the push and pull of attempting to relate a robot consciousness and how they would struggle to navigate a world built by humans, when they were infused with a purpose dictated by humans, that and the relationships between robots had some real potential. 7d

Robotswithpersonality 7/? But the author seems to have also been pulled in two other directions which both compromise what felt like the real heart of the book - somewhat paralleling the current science/discoveries relating to Mars Rovers, and trying to make this into a standard tear-jerker, because I'm fairly sure attempting to rip the reader's heart out is how you win medals in middle grade novels, but this attempt is particularly clumsy. 🤷🏼‍♂️ 7d

Robotswithpersonality 8/8 Resilience makes it back to Earth, without his friend, to be turned into a display piece, relive the glory days and missing his friend via video clips, sustained by the brief visits of those who he tried so hard so hard to please who can't even hear him. Congratulations, you successfully anthropomorphized the robot, that sounds like a nightmare.
I will continue my search for happy robot stories. 7d

8 likes7 comments

Are We There Yet? | Dan Santat

so-so

I had way more fun with the visual storytelling and turn-the-book text gimmick than with the fairly schmaltzy message and somewhat cliche/confused narrative. I think I would look for other Santat picture books for that pictures alone.

9 likes

When Breath Becomes Air | Paul Kalanithi

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Oh, this feels weird. I've certainly read other books by people who have already passed, and even one or two by people who knew they were dying, but I'm not sure I've encountered one where the act of dying was so much the focus. Critiquing a dying man's words feels...wrong.
For the most part, I'm not certain what might be viewed as a critique is anything more than a difference in option on two points. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Paul's identity, at least as it's presented in his writing in this book, was very much caught up in his work, his ability, his perspective as a neurosurgeon and a caring physician meant an unflinching understanding of prognoses in the pursuit of quality of life, which meant that often his phrasing around the cognitive function of patients is a clinical assessment, and yet it resembles ableist language I've seen before. 1w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? While his quotations bridge both secular literature and scripture, his conclusions around the necessity of even scienitists believing in God to acknowledge a meaningful, loving existence felt not just insupportable but offensive to this atheist reader. A difference of opinion certainly.
I am grateful for the epilogue written by Lucy, his wife's, point of view, because it provides the acknowledgement 1w

Robotswithpersonality 4/? of both the limited time available to Paul to write the book, and its value as is, the fact that it was written focusing on a brief period under the specific conditions, with that specific priorities of a specific human being at that time.
We can't experience death before our time, and another's experiences can only ever be a possible touchstone for our own approach to end of life, but it's still encouraging to know people who care, 1w

Robotswithpersonality 5/5 about their families, about their careers, doctors who care about patients, about the future of medical science, who see the future they've planned wiped away and still find reasons for enjoyment in existence.
⚠️death, grief, descriptions of medical procedures and terminal illness 1w

16 likes4 comments

A Rover's Story | Jasmine Warga

🥹✨⭐🌟🌌🌠

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When Breath Becomes Air | Paul Kalanithi

🩵

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A Rover's Story | Jasmine Warga

Today I learned: 😲🌈
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/rainbow/

dabbe 💙🌈💚 1w

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A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon | Kevin Fedarko

Today's 'scratched my brain just right' sentence. ☀️💛🧡🤎

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Are We There Yet? | Dan Santat

🥰🦖

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Are We There Yet? | Dan Santat

Best inclusion of a back of book barcode in the cover art I've seen in a while. 😁

GingerAntics Oooooh, I do like that! 1w

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When Breath Becomes Air | Paul Kalanithi

Context provides a lot of the punch, but this is definitely the phrase that caught my attention today.

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The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think | Jennifer Ackerman

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Just an all around good time, full of amazing facts. Ackerman speaks well, with both empathy and an even-keeled understanding of how harsh nature can be. It's refreshing to hear not just the acknowledgement that the flaw in many studies may be the way humans choose to perceive and judge things based on our limited perspective, 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? but how historically, a more patriarchal view among a largely male scientist base may have biased reports of or dismissals of female bird behavior.
The author is also ready and eager to point out when conclusions are preliminary/under supported by existing evidence. The idea of always asking more questions, realizing that answers may be more complex than first thought, it feels necessary to any non-fiction/science-based work. 1w

Robotswithpersonality 3/3 The audiobook is a great listen.
⚠️animal abuse, animal death 1w

14 likes2 comments

The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think | Jennifer Ackerman

Excuse-MOI! 🦜 😄

Ruthiella 😂😂😂 1w

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The Paradox Hotel: A Novel | Rob Hart

Drone design improvement. 👀😁

Texreader Perfect! I can picture it! 🤣 1w

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Small Gods: Discworld Novel, A | Terry Pratchett

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A remarkable novel that does not need any connection to the Discworld series to make it so. It seems clear that Pratchett set out to have a clear-eyed discussion about religion, with a minor detour into classical philosophy, and on those points alone it's an incredible book. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? I'm glad it's been long enough since my original read for me to forget the ending because it got to me probably as much as it did the first time.
I can only approach this book from my own perspective as an atheistic reader, but it might have other things to offer those with a spiritual tradition.
Unsurprisingly, this book works because of some Pratchett gold standards: excellent character work 1w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? (the evolutions of Om and Brutha are marvelous), deadly serious yet often wryly worded tackling of darker subject matter, which doesn't mean there can't be puns and disgruntled penguin goddess avatars, and a few moments spared to remember the importance of libraries, and just how stupid war is. 1w

Robotswithpersonality 4/4 I could go into more detail about how well Pratchett lays out the arguments around organized religion, the nature and value of faith, but I don't think there's a substitute for reading the book, even if there may be moments where you wish things would go faster (hint: that's probably when you should slow down and think about it more).
Don't take my word for it, go read it!
⚠️torture, mention of slavery 1w

13 likes3 comments

The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think | Jennifer Ackerman

I mean, fascinating discovery, but you gotta figure the first thing that firefighter thought was “you little bastard....“ 😆🔥👨🏼‍🚒

StaceGhost I loved her book about birds in Lewes DE! It‘s only about 45 m from where I live and she captured it so well 2w

Robotswithpersonality @StaceGhost Have a feeling I'll be looking up her other books soon! 1w

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The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think | Jennifer Ackerman

😏

dabbe 😱🤣😱 2w

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Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

so-so

I wish I had a clearer memory of my experience with the novella I read by this author a few years ago. I can remember that it had a promising premise, that there was emotion, and sci fi tech, and yet what I most clearly remember feeling at the end was a bit frustrated, a bit empty, like for all that was there, at the conclusion, once it was all compiled, it felt a bit cold. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? I want to believe that robots, so often, if not exclusively, an analogue for humanity in science fiction, don't automatically mean a distancing, a detachment from human empathic response, and other books have relieved me of this worry, but I can see where this book wanted me to land emotionally and I just didn't get there. 2w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? Certainly, for much of the book, focused somewhat on a writer, but mostly on a person, Zelu's experiences, as an individual and with her family, had me feeling all the emotions, and so much of the earlier moments with Ankara and Ijele had me experiencing a tentative hope, but somehow as things crescendoed, I felt less and less attached. 2w

Robotswithpersonality 4/? The writing, on a sentence level, is incredible, but I hesitate to think I'll pick up another work by this author, because despite so many things to recommend within their pages, rich insights into that life of a particular individual which I have never encountered before, but I really don't enjoy this lack of anything particular I feel at the end. 2w

Robotswithpersonality 5/5 If I felt dissatisfied with the way the book ended, that would be a particular feeling, if I was angry or sad but objectively admiring, that would be something, but I just feel a gradual dissipation of investment. Sorry, can't recommend, I'm not in a headspace to do so.
⚠️ableism, misogyny, racism, loss of a parent, mental health concerns, PTSD 2w

14 likes4 comments

The Magic Fish | Trung Le Nguyen

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LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT! Recognizing and accepting queer identity in the face of contentious cultural norms, fleshing out immigrant experience so that while the unique and possibly painful experience of immigration is not ignored, it doesn't try to be a monolith or fall into tropes, doesn't need to form the backbone of the story, interweaving fairy tales, 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/2 in all their grimness and whimsy, absolutely gorgeous fantasy dress designs, a beautiful mother and son relationship, the author notes at the back, discussing language and fashion and his own experiences growing up. UGH, I LOVE IT!
⚠️homophobia, violence, cannibalism 2w

12 likes1 comment

The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird | Joshua Hammer

so-so

Informative, fair and measured in reporting, but overall sad in tone. Hammer does a decent job of presenting Lendrum's crimes within the broader context of the demand and attraction of theft and smuggling of rare/endangered/illegal bird's eggs, within Lendrum's own life which encompasses both some unfortunate circumstances, but mostly unfortunate choices,1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? the somewhat acknowledged addictive nature of illicit collections, and some understanding of the uneven regulations and law enforcement sentencing of such crimes.
It's obviously an area that needs improvement, because the crimes are still happening, with the resulting death the endangerment and death of living creatures for at least partially a monetary gain alongside possible thrill-seeking and compulsive motives, 2w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? (and the author is clearly pointing the finger at powerful financial backers that everyone is afraid to identify), but having read up on prisons systems it doesn't seem like that type of sentencing has or will help anyone.
The author quotes those who remark on the fact that Lendrum's skills could have been incredibly useful in science or conservation, and it seems tragic that Lendrum never found a successful rehabilitative path in that 2w

Robotswithpersonality 4/? direction, and further that he often took advantage of similar circumstances when available.
I'm glad that McWilliams' team exists, but he definitely feels like a somewhat sidelined force for good, rather than a true narrative foil. The amount that prosecuted bird collectors kept in touch with him post-arrest further underlines that some form of mandatory rehabilitation involving community outreach 2w

Robotswithpersonality 5/5 rather than fines or sentences seems like a much better method of reducing recidivism.
This is as close to true crime as I want to wander in non-fiction, and as even-keeled (versus a possibly more salacious accounting of events) as it was, it pretty much validates my opinion that such stories are major bummers and involve delving into real people's personal lives in a manner that makes me uncomfortable.
⚠️animal abuse, animal death 2w

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Small Gods: Discworld Novel, A | Terry Pratchett

Pfft. Savage. 🫢😆

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The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird | Joshua Hammer

🤦🏼‍♂️

The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird | Joshua Hammer

Okay, but I love that. 🐣🥚🧺🐇💚💜🩷

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In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration | Shane O'Mara

New word acquired!
Actigraphy. 🚶🏼‍♂️📊

dabbe #weirdwordwednesday @CBee Great word! 🤩 2w

CBee Very cool!! 2w

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The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird | Joshua Hammer

😲

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Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Relatable. 🤖♥️📚

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The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird | Joshua Hammer

Good timing, baby bird! 😊

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Cabin: Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman | Patrick Hutchison

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A lovely time. It's a treat to encounter a mix of humble and enthusiastic maker who is also a writer, meaning the description of their discovered passion is that much more a joy to read. I loved the journey from haphazard, curious, to more knowledgeable, but still eager. There are shenanigans, but there's also beautiful descriptions of nature, of appreciating the time spent. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? The market for memoirs in the range of 'person dissatisfied with work/life discovered new path/hobby' is inexhaustible, but that doesn't devalue a particularly well-done version, especially when the cynicism/exhaustion is cranked way down and the joy of new discovery is cranked up. It never felt too hokey, but it does feel wholesome, even if not every choice made would pass a safety check. 3w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? I did notice a couple repeats in work recounted that make me think certain chapters may have had their first iterations as separate articles, but overall the chronology is engaging. Even if you're not sure where a chapter is going at the start, you end up seeing the linkages by the end.
3w

Robotswithpersonality 4/4 While I'm happy Hutchinson has found fulfillment in his carpentry business, I am also glad he is still billed as a writer, and this as his first book, so hopefully I can look forward to more. 3w

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pick

As often happens with books where the writing really impressed me, I know I'm going to have trouble expressing how much I enjoyed this. To say it was a wild time feels like the easy way out, and bound to be misconstrued considering the subject matter. As much as there was personal drama, and a smidgen of sexiness, it's the off-the-wall social media strategizing, the inspiring amount to which the character recognized her apparent levels of 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? power and powerless and took the leaps, the points at which she confronts being some version of 'stupid' because being naive and inexperienced with much that life has to offer (good/bad) is what happens to young people, and is not something which should come with blame or shame, can be met with courage and empathy, and strategizing with your support systems. Which is not to say that people decades older cannot act in immature and destructive 3w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? ways, as evidenced in parents and exes.
The extent to which a particular moral view can be more soul-destroying than soul-saving, the extent to which money, while not directly purchasing happiness, allows for agency, for freedom, certainly necessary for happiness to manifest, the extent to which misogyny infests so many value judgements on how to live a life. The parallels about promotion for wrestling versus onlyfans was endlessly 3w

Robotswithpersonality 4/? fascinating, as were so many of the discussions raised by all of the issues brought up by the plot. I always thought 'juicy' in reference to a book had to infer salaciousness, but here I just think it means the novel is overflowing with things for the reader to sink their teeth into. On the surface, I would consider a book like this to be outside my comfort zone, but now I'd happily read Rufi Thorpe's take on anything I wouldn't normally dive 3w

Robotswithpersonality 5/5 into.
⚠️mention of SA, misogyny, struggles with addiction, mentions of wrestling injuries 3w

10 likes4 comments

The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable American Life of a 109-Year-Old Man | David Von Drehle

pan

Okay, how do I put this delicately? I would much rather have had a) the story of this man's life written by someone else and b) a pamphlet consolidating Charlie's direct wisdom and any reasonable distillation of his life experience as teachings, because I'm pretty sure that's all the space that's actually required. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Not only did the author feel it necessary to put in a fair amount of his own filtering and filler with opinions and historical facts which at a stretch might be considered context for the life events of Charlie White, but he went into what I consider to be gratuitous detail regarding the death of Charlie's father and his first wife. Maybe it's worth flagging that the nature retreat he went on as a boy may have included the trauma of sexual 3w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? assault that Charlie didn't want to acknowledge, but I feel really weird about my perception that the author attempted to mortph that into a lesson of resilience. I'll be honest, Charlie's mom may have been a bit neglectful because as a single mother of that many kids she didn't have a choice, but I struggle to see any of the youthful experiences related as anything more than lucky escapes rather than adventures that teach bravery 3w

Robotswithpersonality 4/? in the context of a mother who granted her son the gift of early responsibility and independence.
Despite championing Stoicism, the author doesn't wander too far into the 'rugged individualism' that has toxified modern American society, but I fear that interpretation is up for grabs among a biased readership.
The premise of writing a book to aid your kids in navigating the future based on how a man in the past navigated big changes hasmerit (edited) 3w

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? is even heartwarming, but the tone of the book is uneven, to say the least.
Among the many tales of being a doctor in the earlier years of the twentieth century, the intern stories are appalling, while the realities of medical breakthroughs quickly falling to the wayside, leading to an understanding of IID, Iterative Incremental Development as a way to approach change seems valuable. The part where Charlie seemed to council on the side of 3w

Robotswithpersonality 6/7 callousness when it came to ailing loved ones, including one of his wives dying of cancer, not so much.
I think if you're looking for general life wisdom, there are better sources. I think if you're looking for the story of a spectacular life lived across a recent swath of history, you should be prepared for a bunch of distressing moments, and to feel ambiguous about the subject at the end of it. 3w

Robotswithpersonality 7/7 ⚠️child SA, mental health concerns, details of medical procedures, loss of loved one by cancer 3w

GingerAntics Eh, this does not sound good! 3w

marleed Oof! My IRL KC-based bookclub read this last year. I was one of only two (other being the host who recommended it) that liked it at all. I found the KC history interesting. Also my maternal grandfather went to med school in Chicago during that time. Both he and my mother have long since passed and this has me curious about his medical training. I always thought it a big deal he was plucked from Montana mines for medical school - but maybe not🧐 3w

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Snuff | Terry Pratchett

pick

Third reread. Still my favourite book. The one that got me out of a decade long reading slump, before I'd read any other Discworld books. Having now read all of them, and reread all the City Watch books, I'm overjoyed that it lives up to my memory. Vimes remains a character who you regularly see thoughtfully consider the challenge to his own assumptions and then do better as a result. Pratchett's writing in his voice is fully developed. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? While Thud! does a lot for Vimes, this is the only book that really moves from including Vimes as the head of an ensemble in the City Watch, to being primarily his story with a new supporting cast.

On that subject, Feeney is a wonderful addition because similar to Night Watch, you get to see Vimes in the role of imparting wisdom AND being reminded of his own flaws. The dialogue/attempts at punning regarding the pseudolanguage in reference 3w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? foreign cuisine and fighting styles doesn't age particularly well, but as a further way of underlining Vimes' continual journey from ignorance to fuller understanding while simultaneously indicating Freeney 's earnestness and potential, it works well.

I loved seeing Willikins fleshed out and put to full use in this story, it only makes me wish we'd seen more of him earlier. Obviously after Thud! you can't put that awesomeness back in the box 3w

Robotswithpersonality 4/? As much I remembered the reappearance of the Summoning Dark in this story, Willikins feels like the more eloquent depiction of a Vimes without the weight of the law, which is why he spends so much time being carefully, occasionally humorously reined in...most of the time...

The arc of the goblins is expertly plotted to travel from heartbreaking to uplifting, and stands as eloquent shorthand for any manner of oppressed and dehumanized groups 3w

Robotswithpersonality 5/? throughout history.

It pains me to say that a little Sybil goes a long way because I always love her contributions, but Pratchett has created a character who rarely needs more than a couple of paragraphs to accomplish wonders, whether it's being a confidant to a spouse or changing the minds of society. Still happy to see her conscientiously woven into the plot as needed. 3w

Robotswithpersonality 6/6 This time 'round I particularly felt the tying of ends, as much as they could be, for Nobby and Colon, the romance that might last for one, the dramatic shift of mindset that might last for the other. A footnote (though not literally 😉), but lovely possibilities offered. I can't honestly recall if they pop up in my books after this one, at the moment, so am happy to leave them in semi-retirement in the country.

⚠️ Speciesism, slavery 3w

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Snuff | Terry Pratchett

Having just survived the latest at work, I am in thundering agreement. 😫

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❤️‍🩹

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This is your reminder that slut-shaming is patriarchal, misogynistic bullshit.

BkClubCare Yes. This quote struck me profoundly. 3w

dabbe 🎯🎯🎯 3w

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Today's favourite simile:

Cabin: Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman | Patrick Hutchison

🍲😌