Mark Reece's Blog, page 8

Review- Crusaders

Crusaders: The Epic History of the Wars for the Holy Lands by Dan Jones

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I read this book knowing very little about the crusades, and it serves as a good general history to the topic. Given the length of time covered, even at 487 pages, some of the events are given in outline, although there is an extensive bibliography for further research. The book also gives some interesting context, such as the papacy's role in using 'crusading' to develop its political power, and the fact that 'crusading' was deployed as a justification for military campaigns in Europe as much as the Middle East, and even against Christian rulers.

The main weakness of the book is that it focuses heavily on various leaders of the crusaders and of Islamic states, beyond the point that I consider useful. For example, I'd be much more interested in learning about how the economic conditions of the various European kingdoms encouraged knights to join up to a crusade, rather than the personalities of particular kings, which at times seemed to imply that crusades came about because of the quirks of a handful of people. It would also have been useful to have included more maps and family trees, as the plethora of names were a little confusing at times.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book, and have a reasonable understanding of the main events of the crusades as a result of reading it.



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Review- Julius Caesar at the RSC

I recently visited the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford for the first time to see Julius Caesar. The theatre is stylish and memorable, with a square stage, meaning that the audience have a similar view wherever they're seated.

The set was minimal, with a screen at some points that displayed imagery relevant to the action, such as wilting flowers. A box was also used to hold characters who died during the course of the play. I didn't know why there were no period costumes- perhaps this is no longer the given practice, but the everyday dress seemed a little curious, given the play's setting.

The acting was good, with William Robinson as Mark Anthony standing out for me, giving a strong rendition of the 'honourable men' speech.

Some of the references to gender within the speeches was changed to reflect the actor paying each part, but inconsistently, so that 'he' or 'she' was changed, but not references to 'man' or 'woman' in the same dialogue. This seemed a little odd; if something was going to be made of a gender swap, then perhaps the language should be modernized more substantially to change what was being expressed.

Overall though, the play was very enjoyable, and I hope to visit the theatre again soon.

Review- The PDA paradox

The PDA Paradox by Thompson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This short memoir details the struggles of the author to find a place in the world after he was diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and PDA (pathological demand avoidance, although Thompson has elsewhere given it an alternative title of 'persistent demand for autonomy'). The book is structured roughly chronologically, although is written in a stream of consciousness style. The author doesn't describe PDA (or anything else) systematically, but instead gives illustrates of how he thinks with a series of instructive examples, largely based around his experiences in school, various workplaces, and during different types of relationships.

Thompson doesn't seem to mind portraying himself as dislikeable. He describes many instances where he puts other people in danger or is actively abusive, such as when he drives when drunk or on drugs, punches a boy in the face for asking why he went quiet during a period of anxiety, and pisses in the butter of a housemate. The author doesn't offer excuses for these episodes, but the way they are told- as engaging anecdotes, creates a sense that they should be seen as in some way praiseworthy- as expressions of freedom or as a refusal to follow rules. In this way, it isn't clear whether the author is emotionally honest, or alternatively, somewhat slippery in how they are presenting themselves (or perhaps both). For example, the anecdote of the boy who was punched in the face would have had a very different tone if it was told in a more straightforward fashion, and focused on how badly he was injured. It is noteworthy that Thompson comes from a wealthy background, which perhaps explains why the worst punishment described for any of his behaviour is to be expelled from a series of schools.

It would be wrong to criticism the book for being unsystematic, as it is not intended to be an analytic review of PDA, but it is a shame that Thompson's wider thoughts about autism and the school system are so shallow. At several points, he suggests that children should be allowed to 'find their own path', and criticises schools and workplaces for their authoritarianism. And these positions are entirely reasonable, of course. But disciplinary practices are not wholly unreasonable impositions. People need to be prevented from drink and drug driving, from punching other boys in the face, and so on. Maybe it is too much to expect from a memoir, but passages where the author gave his personal philosophy were too often just annoying.

The book is a success in describing a way of being autistic that is very rarely presented. In his description of himself, Thompson seems very charismatic and engaging, and chaotic in his lifestyle, although he seems to be pattern seeking in some respects. Furthermore, he acknowledges that he has a tendency to want to dominate conversations. There is little autistic representation of characters of this nature, making it an interesting example of representation, and a worthwhile read.



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Review- Warbreaker

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A fantastic book, I enjoyed this from start to finish. The novel is set in a world where 'breath'- loosely speaking, human life force- can be transferred from person to person. Having lots of breath enables one to carry out incredible feats, such as bringing the dead back to life. A conflict has arisen because two kingdoms have very different philosophies about how breath should be utilized. Idris decries most uses of breath and promotes an austere religion that eschews colour. By contrast, the kingdom of Hallandren is brash and colourful, making use of breath in a variety of ways, most notably, by creating a class of 'returned'- people who have come back from the dead to form the ruling class. These 'gods' need to be fed with the breath of the populace to retain their strength.

The set up is very good and is incorporated neatly into a world that is otherwise recognizable, ruled by absolute monarchs. However, what makes the novel is the characterization, which is excellent. The story is based around two Idrian princesses who go to Hallandren and have to quickly adapt to its customs. Siri is youthful and wayward. She is sent to Hallandren by her father as part of a treaty commitment to prevent war between the two kingdoms. She is required to marry the 'god king' of Hallandren and bear him a child. Her elder sister, Vivenna, was supposed to go in her place, although her father swapped which daughter he sent out of personal preference. At the start of the book, she is a devout follower of her religion and is disdainful of Hallandren. When her sister is sent away, she follows her to launch a rescue attempt, and is soon associating with an assortment of mercenaries and other dubious characters.

As the perspective is told from characters from Idris, the first chapters indicate that Hallandren is being set up as a supernaturally evil place. However, as the princesses proceed on their journeys, Idris starts to feel like a despotic, theocratic, state, and they question their previous lives in different ways. The shift is very subtle and well done. The sisters have to develop personally too, Siri gradually becoming more responsible and Vivenna having to make compromises to her beliefs in order to survive. Despite the fantasy setting, the novel has strong elements of realism.

The politics of the book are also well done. The Hallandren gods live a luxurious lifestyle and have little to do other than scheme, and there are also many other factions with complex agendas. The princesses have little idea of what they are getting into, despite Vivenna having been trained to understand Hallandren culture since she was a young child. The political machinations drive the plot, and are often unexpected and thrilling.

I'm looking forward to reading more books set in this world.



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Review- The amazing Maurice and his education rodents

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved this book. A group consisting of Maurice, a talking cat, numerous intelligent rats, and a boy named Keith, have a scam in which they go from town to town in Discworld, tricking the inhabitants into thinking that there is a plague of rats, before Keith plays his flute to lead the rats away, for a fee. However, after agreeing to carry out a final scam, they reach a town where there are no rats and something seems wrong.

The novel is often silly, fun, and funny. The rats all have names that they've read from food containers, such as 'Dangerous Beans', and the book employs the 'intelligence animal' trope that looks at human societies from the perspective of outsiders to poke fun at hypocrisies and irrationality. Maurice's observations are constantly wry and amusing, particularly about 'the government'.

However, the novel is simultaneously very sophisticated. For example, each chapter starts with a quote from the rats' culture, a children's book about a rabbit going on an adventure, which they have found and taken to be true. This seems to serve as a satire of nationalist founding myths, or perhaps religion. The end of the book contains an extended passage about conflict resolution between different groups that is both humorous and profound.

Both the characters and the writing are memorable, including Malicia, a girl who relates everything to stories she's read, and a rival rat piper who who is arrogant and bullying. Managing the changes of tone, while maintaining the standards of writing, is what makes this an impressive and interesting book.



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Review- Dungeon Crawler Carl

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In Dungeon Crawler Carl, aliens invade the earth, instantly killing much of the population, and giving the survivors the option to either scrape a living as scavengers, or to turn themselves into characters in a real life RPG in an interactive arena underground. The aliens create a pastiche of various aspects of human culture, meaning that fantasy creatures such as goblins are portrayed as antagonists, and the earth characters (or 'crawlers') can 'level up' as if they are in a video game. The protagonist, Carl, enters with the dungeon with his ex-girlfriend's cat- Princess Donut, who, after a lucky experience in the dungeon, becomes super intelligent, and a more skilled character than Carl, meaning that she has a lot of control over how they proceed.

A premise this zany can only be introduced nonchalantly and with a lot of detail, and this is what the author does. In fact, the first few chapters are similar to a RPG video game, in which the rules are given in tutorials before the real game begins. A lot of this is tongue in cheek and very funny. For example, many actions in the dungeon give achievements to the crawlers that result in rewards, and at the start of the adventure, achievements are rewarded for various actions, such as entering the dungeon unarmed or with a pet. In all likelihood, much of the book will be mysterious to anyone who has not played RPGs in other mediums, but the right reader will love the references.

Although the plot is complete nonsense, the interplay between the two central characters is both funny and oddly touching in places. The novel also contains the start of an interesting meta plot involving the alien factions who design and control the game. Crawlers have to appeal to the audience to gain sponsors who can give them treasures that may prove vital to their survival, but the corporation that owns the game seems corrupt, meaning that crawlers struggle to navigate politics that they don't understand.

A book like this compels one to read further into the series.



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Review- HP Lovecraft the complete works

The Complete Fiction of H. P. Lovecraft: by H.P. Lovecraft

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'd never previously read any of Lovecraft's work, although I had consumed a variety of media with 'Lovecraftian' themes. As such, the stories were simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar.

Most of the earlier stories seemed to be stand alone, with many themes that are now horror tropes. These include people trying to gain eternal life or swap bodies/consciousness. Although Lovecraft is said to have favoured scientific explanations, that didn't seem particularly evident to me; many of his stories use religious language, often referring to 'blasphemy', for example. The stories are often slow paced, relying on long descriptions and a gradual build of of psychological tension. Sometimes, that took too long and induced a sense of frustration in the reader.

The stories I enjoyed the most were in vivid settings, where the descriptive passages enhanced rather than distracted from the story. For example, 'the beast in the cave' is a short tale about a man who becomes separated from a tour guide in a cave and is hunted by a mysterious creature. 'The temple' is a taut and memorable story of a German submarine captain during the first world war whose crew mutinies after the craft is damaged, leading him to question his sanity as he finds a structure deep in the ocean. Lovecraft's best stories are tense and thrilling, packed with telling descriptions.

In his later works, the stories seemed to form part of a wider vision concerning older civilizations that colonized earth long ago and that now lie dormant. Human conception of these creatures is invariably in the form of the mystical, such as the 'book of the dead', which is often mentioned and that appears to be the only way humans can understand such advanced civilizations. It may have been the result of reading the stories consecutively, but I found the constant repetition of this theme to be somewhat boring. Whatever the scenario posited in the latter stories, the same elements were introduced, often with lengthy descriptions, which became trying.

Many stories also had the problem endemic in horror, in that the characters rush to conclusions very quickly and unrealistically. In the latter stories, it is commonplace for protagonists to have a stressful experience then for some reason become obsessed with books on the occult, which they mysteriously interpret in the way necessary to introduce the alien species. Having said that, the best examples of the later, more thematic stories, are often memorable, such as 'At the mountains of madness', in which an expedition to the arctic uncovers ancient structures that are described very evocatively.

Some of the early stories feature themes around a fear of 'racial mixing', with passages concerning cults and social unrest being associated with particular ethnic groups in a way that mars the stories. These themes become less apparent in the later works.

Although this edition is a beautiful artifact, with a stunning front cover, silver edged pages, and a book mark attached to the spine, there are more typing errors than there should be.

Overall, the best of these stories are not only original and vivid, but have also highlighted how widespread Lovecraft's influence has been. I think his style would alienate some modern readers with its long descriptions and repetitive themes, but, like many writers, his obsessions are also sometimes his strength.



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Review- autism masking

Helping You to Identify and Understand Autism Masking: The Truth Behind the Mask by Emma Kendall

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a good primer on the subject of autistic masking, in which the author gives an overview of the way in which autism is diagnosed and classified, followed by a summary of what masking looks like, and its psychological effects. The author then gives their own experiences by way of example.

The book would have been helped by some notes or a bibliography, as although the contents tally with what I've read elsewhere, it would have been useful to know whether the author was drawing on personal experience or more formal sources in places. Given her academic background in the area, it is curious that she didn't choose to write a more comprehensive study, although the book is useful as it is.



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Review- Underdogs

Underdogs by Chris Bonnello

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I wanted to like this book, as its premise- a group of special needs children fighting an oppressive regime- is great. However, sadly, there were too many problems with the writing for me to enjoy, or even finish the novel.

Firstly, there is far too much editorializing. Whenever characters are introduced, their diagnoses are stated, and the author feels compelled to give long explanations that autism, downs syndrome, etc, doesn't mean that these children aren't worthy of respect. And of course I agree with the sentiment. The problem is, this is a novel. The author needed to show that the characters are more than their diagnoses by their character development rather than insist that that is the case by constant asides. Ultimately, the children's diagnoses were mentioned so often that as characters, they were little more than their diagnoses.

The author's inclusive sentiments also hindered the plot. The children in the book form a para-military organization, which aren't known for providing a caring environment for their members. If, as the novel states, these children are the only people in the UK fighting the new regime, then surely, harsh discipline would have to be imposed to ensure they stayed on mission. Instead, the children are in constant quasi therapy sessions. At one point, the children are assaulting a base filled with clone soldiers, and there is a long aside as the squad leader discusses his friend's anger management issues. Is this supposed to be an accurate representation of how soldiers would act in that tense situation? Surely a far more accurate depiction would be the squad leader telling his friend that he understands that he's feeling stressed, but he has to shut up and follow orders, otherwise he'll be shot. That would have tested the character, and demonstrated that he is more than a diagnosis. The world of Underdogs, despite apparently being a dystopia, rarely imposed any psychological dangers on the characters- they are coddled by the author, which makes the tone incongruous.

I also felt that many aspects of the world building were incomplete. For example, at least in the first half of the book, no explanation was given about how this group of children have turned into skilled commandos, capable of assaulting military bases. This would be a stretch for any group of civilians, without even considering the fact that they are special needs children. This was a shame, as I was expecting some science fiction explanation that was never forthcoming, such as that the children's conditions enabled them to use experimental technologies or drugs. Furthermore, it is stated that they are the only people fighting back against the regime. I have no idea why this is- it seems implausible that no one else in the country is doing anything. Numerous other questions arise. How are the children getting food and water? What type of regime has been imposed? Are at least some people happy with it? The world seems colourless, which is another side effect of the author's focus on telling the reader that neurodiverse people are fine. Pretty much all I can infer about the regime is that it is bad because its henchmen refer to the children as 'retards'. There needed to be a lot more than that, which is also my conclusion about the book.



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Review- Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book seemed all about tone; after finishing it, I couldn't remember any of the characters' names. The protagonist is a struggling American author who has moved to Paris and lives his life amongst other poor people- the precariously employed, prostitutes, and various chancers. The writing is often written in a stream of consciousness style, although some section describe various escapades the protagonist gets up to, particularly concerning his companions becoming infatuated with prostitutes.

The writing is very stylish in places, but the reason I found the novel less than compelling is the problem that bedevils all fiction about decadence: the topic simply get boring, and quickly. Reading this book reminded me of works such as 'The story of O', or even those of the Marquis De Sade. The tropic of cancer doesn't have graphic sex scenes, but instead there are many similar descriptions of characters wanting to get ahead by marrying wealthy women, of being obsessed with prostitutes, etc etc. These things can be compelling as social satire, but when repeated, they soon start to feel tiresome. At 256 pages, the book felt very long for so little plot, and the value of the prose started to wane.

I can imagine some people would love the book for its dazzling use of language, whereas others would be put off by the subject matter. I would probably have really enjoyed the novel if it was half the length, but as it is, I don't feel compelled to read any more of Miller's work.



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