pickNext 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/?
pickI 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/?
pickA 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/?
pickJust 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/?
Get it, Grandma! 😄
The author has such a lovely outlook. ☺️
pickThat 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/?
panUm, what? Okay, okay, I'm obviously outside the target age demographic, but that caveat aside...1/?
so-soI 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.
pickOh, 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/?
Best inclusion of a back of book barcode in the cover art I've seen in a while. 😁
Context provides a lot of the punch, but this is definitely the phrase that caught my attention today.
pickJust 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/?
pickA 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/?
I mean, fascinating discovery, but you gotta figure the first thing that firefighter thought was “you little bastard....“ 😆🔥👨🏼🚒
so-soI 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/?
pickLOVE 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/?
so-soInformative, 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/?
Okay, but I love that. 🐣🥚🧺🐇💚💜🩷
New word acquired!
Actigraphy. 🚶🏼♂️📊
pickA 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/?
pickAs 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/?
panOkay, 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/?
pickThird 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/?
Having just survived the latest at work, I am in thundering agreement. 😫
This is your reminder that slut-shaming is patriarchal, misogynistic bullshit.
pickThis really makes me think I'd have a better time with murder mysteries if they were all novella length. A couple caveats: I've had a good time with each book in this series thanks to the cheeky meta angle as well as the quality of the writing, and the last two books were not novellas. I also accept that if you're a one off or the first book in a murder mystery series you might have to take more time to introduce characters, and that adds 1/?
pickOh, I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT! A simple message for all ages that you've doubtless heard before, but the story is so sweet and the art is so beautiful. Sincerely hope this becomes a childhood classic for the next generation.
Incredible writing: inventive descriptions in non-fiction is one of my favourite things.
pickI think I've changed my mind about pursuing further Medea adaptations. While the original tale is enduring and memorable, it is also very dark. This version does its best to present flawed humanity more than supernatural/godly influences, but that presents even more starkly the limitations placed on Medea - while she has violent impulses, she also is at the mercy of any number of political machinations and the realities of being a woman 1/?
First page and it's already giving Terry Pratchett style footnotes. I LOVE IT! 😁
so-soPoverty and classism suck.
Full marks to Mason for making an entire book that really never wanders far from those points.
There's a decent thread of: communities without arable land and infrastructure are hit hard when natural disasters occur, drought, flood, so might be a bit of cli fi?
1/?
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. 15m
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. 15m
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. 14m
⚠️suicide, mention of murder, cult membership 11m