Nelson Lowhim's Blog, page 74
January 5, 2020
A Strategic Loss
So there is talk that the US asked Iraq to invite Qassam for a parlay then killed him (and the Pentagon presented this option thinking he wouldn't do it... i mean wtf?!). This would mean an even bigger international crisis than previously thought. Thing is, the Iraqi parliament already has asked the US to leave. We'll see if that place ends up a battlefield (because some people also don't want Iran there either). But the real issue, now, is how the EU (will they try to help the deal? Doubt that. They are our vassals, essentially), China and Russia react.
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January 4, 2020
On it goes.
So there were more strikes by us at certain leadership. Seems that some who aren't directly influenced by the "Iranians" are targeted. Still, it would seem that the entire Quds leadership has been targeted. So this seems to have been more than just one opportunistic strike and instead is something a long time coming (or a complete goading of the Iranians).
btw, I've found the talk in the MSM (and worse on the right wing ones) to be quite useless. Reminds me too much of the lead up to the Iraq war. In fact, even on reddit there seems to be a concerted effect to push the main narrative this regime wants to out there[1]. So at least RT has a better product on this topic. Al Jazeera doesn't seem bad either, though. [2]
Still, what will happen? Of course, Iran can't actually fight us militarily. But we are backing them into a corner (or the regime is). Remember our sanctions are destroying their economy.
One thing is this will be a strategic loss (they have all the patience, while we, rightfully, won't, and Trump certainly won't). Killing a major general from a major nation-state, is not something anyone will take likely. What matters even more than what Iran does, is what other nations do. Even the Kurds have spoken out against this.
Protesters in Iraq were actually anti-Iran and with one swift action it seems that things have changed in Iraq as far as them being angrier about the US rather than Iran. If Iran gets the US out of Iraq that would be a large victory for them. We'll see, of course (the Iraqi parliament will .
Then there's the Middle East in general which won't take this well (see Kurds above). But China and Russia are the most important. They did some joint naval exercises with Iran and I'm sure they are growing tired of the actions of the US's actions (again crossing the Rubicon of killing a senior official of a country you're not at war with, seems to be the big one[3]) not only against Iran but themselves.
To that end, they might help Iran (though they too have been helpless in getting around sanctions), especially if Iran plays it cool (if Iran messes too much with oil supplies, I'm guessing they won't be willing to help as much).
What about you, what do you think?
[1] Again, commentators and others are trying to drown out reason (same things as before, to include, oh he's "bad") but the whole "immediate threat to American lives" as well as laying the blame of the embassy attack on him lack evidence and I wouldn't trust anyone from the Trump admin on that (and, again, lies for wars aren't a new thing, not even in this century). Even talk about "why was he in Iraq?" doesn't pass the smell test. Why shouldn't he? And it seems it was in the open. For all we know it could have been to talk down the militias (again, there's a give and take with proxies, especially Iraqi militias) and indeed he had done so previously.
Also few are talking about the legality of it.
[2] As always, if you see something you disagree with, please share (with facts).
[3] Remember it was our actions in Libya , and what we did to Qaddafi, that made Putin see us in more adversarial ways.
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btw, I've found the talk in the MSM (and worse on the right wing ones) to be quite useless. Reminds me too much of the lead up to the Iraq war. In fact, even on reddit there seems to be a concerted effect to push the main narrative this regime wants to out there[1]. So at least RT has a better product on this topic. Al Jazeera doesn't seem bad either, though. [2]
Still, what will happen? Of course, Iran can't actually fight us militarily. But we are backing them into a corner (or the regime is). Remember our sanctions are destroying their economy.
One thing is this will be a strategic loss (they have all the patience, while we, rightfully, won't, and Trump certainly won't). Killing a major general from a major nation-state, is not something anyone will take likely. What matters even more than what Iran does, is what other nations do. Even the Kurds have spoken out against this.
Protesters in Iraq were actually anti-Iran and with one swift action it seems that things have changed in Iraq as far as them being angrier about the US rather than Iran. If Iran gets the US out of Iraq that would be a large victory for them. We'll see, of course (the Iraqi parliament will .
Then there's the Middle East in general which won't take this well (see Kurds above). But China and Russia are the most important. They did some joint naval exercises with Iran and I'm sure they are growing tired of the actions of the US's actions (again crossing the Rubicon of killing a senior official of a country you're not at war with, seems to be the big one[3]) not only against Iran but themselves.
To that end, they might help Iran (though they too have been helpless in getting around sanctions), especially if Iran plays it cool (if Iran messes too much with oil supplies, I'm guessing they won't be willing to help as much).
What about you, what do you think?
[1] Again, commentators and others are trying to drown out reason (same things as before, to include, oh he's "bad") but the whole "immediate threat to American lives" as well as laying the blame of the embassy attack on him lack evidence and I wouldn't trust anyone from the Trump admin on that (and, again, lies for wars aren't a new thing, not even in this century). Even talk about "why was he in Iraq?" doesn't pass the smell test. Why shouldn't he? And it seems it was in the open. For all we know it could have been to talk down the militias (again, there's a give and take with proxies, especially Iraqi militias) and indeed he had done so previously.
Also few are talking about the legality of it.
[2] As always, if you see something you disagree with, please share (with facts).
[3] Remember it was our actions in Libya , and what we did to Qaddafi, that made Putin see us in more adversarial ways.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
January 2, 2020
Welp, Odds are SHIC Is Looking to Start a War
Shit head in charge decided to do this. Things are probably going to escalate and fast. Note, I've been wrong before. Russian and Turkey patched things up pretty quickly. And I thought Trump was smart enough not to get into a quagmire. But here we are. A revered general killed (and then it was boasted about on Twitter) as well as arrests carried out (so perhaps some elements of the Iraqi government were fine with this?)... We'll see how it goes.
NOte that talking to a few Iraqis (not just Sunnis) people don't like the Iranian influence or the militias they back (in terms of politics and economics–they have flooded their goods in Iraq because of our sanctions) and some are celebrating. (Im also hearing that it was the same militia that shot Iraqi protestors? I'm not sure about that one, though it wouldn't surprise me). [1]
This doesn't mean that Iran won't escalate (here's some mil members talking on it, a few too many rah-rah types, me thinks), because they kinda have to at this point (remember sanctions, another act of war, is tearing their economy apart). Because what's the endgame for them (and also history tells us that things like this don't always work out rationally)
[1] Note that some of these militias might get some things from Iran, but that doesn't make them loyal dogs, so it's hard to say if Qassam actually gave orders for some of these actions.
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NOte that talking to a few Iraqis (not just Sunnis) people don't like the Iranian influence or the militias they back (in terms of politics and economics–they have flooded their goods in Iraq because of our sanctions) and some are celebrating. (Im also hearing that it was the same militia that shot Iraqi protestors? I'm not sure about that one, though it wouldn't surprise me). [1]
This doesn't mean that Iran won't escalate (here's some mil members talking on it, a few too many rah-rah types, me thinks), because they kinda have to at this point (remember sanctions, another act of war, is tearing their economy apart). Because what's the endgame for them (and also history tells us that things like this don't always work out rationally)
[1] Note that some of these militias might get some things from Iran, but that doesn't make them loyal dogs, so it's hard to say if Qassam actually gave orders for some of these actions.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
December 31, 2019
The World's on Fire
So there've been plenty of stories about the fires in the Amazon and Australia. And as bad as those are (some man made, the others not so much), there are the fires in northern Africa that I'm thinking about right now.
See this map.
Africa is much worse than anywhere. Now, some of this could be a seasonal burning of the grasslands and that's fine (and can be carbon neutral, apparently), but I was also wondering if this plays into the ever expanding Sahel? If so it can't be good.
Online, it seems that the question isn't exactly answered. Some are saying the main thing is the Congo (and the rainforest) and the risk that the fires might spread there. We'll see. But I'm guessing the main thing is the ever expanding Sahara desert
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See this map.
Africa is much worse than anywhere. Now, some of this could be a seasonal burning of the grasslands and that's fine (and can be carbon neutral, apparently), but I was also wondering if this plays into the ever expanding Sahel? If so it can't be good.
Online, it seems that the question isn't exactly answered. Some are saying the main thing is the Congo (and the rainforest) and the risk that the fires might spread there. We'll see. But I'm guessing the main thing is the ever expanding Sahara desert
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
December 30, 2019
Best Books of the 21st Century. Redux.
Two long decades and here we are. That's a solid 2/5 of the century done with. So what were the best books of the century? Well, I wrote up a list 5 years back (adding a few notes to it), and in going over it, I'm really looking at having become a different man, aren't I?
Well, I will try to focus on the few qualities that actually make a classic [1] and hope to pick books that will last in the future [2]. Note that these books were published this century. If they were translated this century that does not count (initial publication date does, so Abyssinian Chronicles by Isegawa, though brilliant, and easily a best of the 20th century doesn't make the list because it was originally published in 1998 and only in 2000 was it published in the US).
Oh yeah, and this is for fiction. I'll add other books in another post.
Human Acts by Han Kang. Still brilliant and still a testament to brilliant writing and seeing what happens after trauma.
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. Also a brilliant and epic novel that wraps around several histories still ongoing, but mainly the destabilization of countries because someone wants to help the poor.
Half a Yellow Sun by Adichie. Really, it's just brilliant and about a civil war not many people know about.
The Iraqi Christ by Blasim still hangs in here, though I would like to see his new work. We'll see I suppose.
Open City by Cole is a great book. It makes it to this list.
Honorable Mention:
The Road by McMarthy. It's a good book, and in many ways still points to the kind of hopelessness we seem destined to rush towards. Nevertheless, until I reread it, it won't be in the final list because, I don't know, it hasn't really stuck in my mind as all that brilliant. This may sound unfair, but it is what it is.
2666 by Bolano. Again, an epic book, but one that ends up dancing too much and not showing us enough of the horrid world around us. Does that make sense? Probably not. But it has fallen far in my estimation.
Dream of the Celt has also fallen in my estimation. Again, the filter of time and experience has changed my initial love for this book.
Shalimar the Clown by Rushdie. The man says stupid shit in public, but this book is still worth a read, I'm just not sure if it's a finalist. I don't if that's fair, but it just seems that way.
Breath by Winton is also good and worth reading, but doesn't have the depth or global view I think classics now require [3].
Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi (who, in a just world, would have the fucking Nobel Prize, but we all know why he won't get it). Great book, just not the same as his prior insta-classics. I liked it, and laughed, but something was missing.
Coetzee's work has also dropped in my estimation. No longer worth being on this list (either section).
There are a lot of books on many 21st century lists that I have read and don't think much of. I'll try to write about that later. For example DFW won't make any of my lists ever. I've talked about suburban ideology (and that includes Saunders) and don't enjoy it in my books, no matter how well crafted.
I also understand the male-bent of my list. I'll try to remedy that and read even more.
[1] Rather than the forces that sometimes make a classic. That is, books that are pushed into the current bestseller lists or books which are the literary establishment's darlings (not always bad, of course).
[2] Partially a fool's errand since, of course, many of these books will be subject to the forces in [1]
[3] Yes, yes, I know, the more local the more universal, or so people say. I'm not from that school, nor do I speak the language.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
Well, I will try to focus on the few qualities that actually make a classic [1] and hope to pick books that will last in the future [2]. Note that these books were published this century. If they were translated this century that does not count (initial publication date does, so Abyssinian Chronicles by Isegawa, though brilliant, and easily a best of the 20th century doesn't make the list because it was originally published in 1998 and only in 2000 was it published in the US).
Oh yeah, and this is for fiction. I'll add other books in another post.
Human Acts by Han Kang. Still brilliant and still a testament to brilliant writing and seeing what happens after trauma.
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. Also a brilliant and epic novel that wraps around several histories still ongoing, but mainly the destabilization of countries because someone wants to help the poor.
Half a Yellow Sun by Adichie. Really, it's just brilliant and about a civil war not many people know about.
The Iraqi Christ by Blasim still hangs in here, though I would like to see his new work. We'll see I suppose.
Open City by Cole is a great book. It makes it to this list.
Honorable Mention:
The Road by McMarthy. It's a good book, and in many ways still points to the kind of hopelessness we seem destined to rush towards. Nevertheless, until I reread it, it won't be in the final list because, I don't know, it hasn't really stuck in my mind as all that brilliant. This may sound unfair, but it is what it is.
2666 by Bolano. Again, an epic book, but one that ends up dancing too much and not showing us enough of the horrid world around us. Does that make sense? Probably not. But it has fallen far in my estimation.
Dream of the Celt has also fallen in my estimation. Again, the filter of time and experience has changed my initial love for this book.
Shalimar the Clown by Rushdie. The man says stupid shit in public, but this book is still worth a read, I'm just not sure if it's a finalist. I don't if that's fair, but it just seems that way.
Breath by Winton is also good and worth reading, but doesn't have the depth or global view I think classics now require [3].
Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi (who, in a just world, would have the fucking Nobel Prize, but we all know why he won't get it). Great book, just not the same as his prior insta-classics. I liked it, and laughed, but something was missing.
Coetzee's work has also dropped in my estimation. No longer worth being on this list (either section).
There are a lot of books on many 21st century lists that I have read and don't think much of. I'll try to write about that later. For example DFW won't make any of my lists ever. I've talked about suburban ideology (and that includes Saunders) and don't enjoy it in my books, no matter how well crafted.
I also understand the male-bent of my list. I'll try to remedy that and read even more.
[1] Rather than the forces that sometimes make a classic. That is, books that are pushed into the current bestseller lists or books which are the literary establishment's darlings (not always bad, of course).
[2] Partially a fool's errand since, of course, many of these books will be subject to the forces in [1]
[3] Yes, yes, I know, the more local the more universal, or so people say. I'm not from that school, nor do I speak the language.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
December 29, 2019
Good poets.
Not a huge fan of poetry, but sometimes things like Rankine's Citizen come along and change all that.
Recently I read Illegal Citizen which is, indeed beautiful. Check it out sometime.
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Recently I read Illegal Citizen which is, indeed beautiful. Check it out sometime.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
December 28, 2019
ANd so it goes.
Was reading an article on Climate Change. It wasn't the best one, and doesn't seem to talk about deaths outside of air pollution (which really muddies the issues), but nevermind that. I've kinda disconnected from the internet and moved away from the arguments because it seemed like it was many of the same arguments over and over.
And what do I see in the comments are the same faulty arguments over and over. [1]
It gives fuel for my view that the truth doesn't win out, but the loud ones do.
Now, the likes of Krugman have called these "zombie" ideas [1], in that you kill them with facts but they keep coming back from the dead.
But, like I said, this ignores the reason behind them. They haven't been killed (maybe for a few people actually using reason, like me) but are there to mark a tribe and to out shout people. You plant these ideas enough and sooner or later you change minds enough.
So propaganda, essentially. Sown by witting or unwitting agents.
[1] I heard and believed many of these in the 90s, but now? Come on. They include: scientists lying for that sweet grant money, you can't predict weather 10 days out so you can't do so 100 years out, ice age cycles, sun spots, UN communist plot to steal money, and many other such hits.
[2] He calls another idea cockroaches, in that you stomp out one version of this idea and another one comes out.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
And what do I see in the comments are the same faulty arguments over and over. [1]
It gives fuel for my view that the truth doesn't win out, but the loud ones do.
Now, the likes of Krugman have called these "zombie" ideas [1], in that you kill them with facts but they keep coming back from the dead.
But, like I said, this ignores the reason behind them. They haven't been killed (maybe for a few people actually using reason, like me) but are there to mark a tribe and to out shout people. You plant these ideas enough and sooner or later you change minds enough.
So propaganda, essentially. Sown by witting or unwitting agents.
[1] I heard and believed many of these in the 90s, but now? Come on. They include: scientists lying for that sweet grant money, you can't predict weather 10 days out so you can't do so 100 years out, ice age cycles, sun spots, UN communist plot to steal money, and many other such hits.
[2] He calls another idea cockroaches, in that you stomp out one version of this idea and another one comes out.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
December 25, 2019
Best Book of the 2010s.
That I read in this decade, that is.
So you know I have my list every year. But now I'm going back and seeing which ones stand out from that list alone...
Abyssinian Chronicles : Okay, it's about Uganda, and many of you may think, fuk do I care about that small nation (assuming you can even point it out on a map)? But this is about so much more, to include colonial and post colonial and refugee and populist and religious and you name it strands of thoughts and the power behind them on an individual and national and international basis. I moved it to my best books of the 20th century list . Yeah, it's that good. Check it out.
Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth : Raw and to the point. Makes me love poetry. Check it out, it's worth it!
Citizen by Rankine is a beautiful mix of poetry and thoughts that gives some more outlines to the current chaotic zeitgeist we all feel but perhaps don't understand.
Kolyma Tales by Shalamov. Here's a solid collection of stories on the gulags that killed millions. Worth a look because looking into the eye of evil is never easy. And when bureaucratic it's especially interesting.
Tell me How it Ends . Very short but worth it! About the problems at our southern border before it was the topic du jour of our gnat-minded press corps. Yes, even Obama was bad (not to the same degree the current occupant is) with regard to this.
Jamaica Kincaid. Read all her work. That I just discovered her is something I can only blame on myself. Don't make the same mistake I did. A Small Place is a brilliant expose of the island she grew up on. At the Bottom of the River is likewise brilliant work (a collection of stories). I'm not even sure about what to say. Just buy and read her work. Now.
Eichmann in Jerusalem: a Report on the Banality of Evil. Not much to say about this classic. It's well thought out (not without it's holes, and one should definitely read the counter points to what she says here) piece on what evil is. Mainly, it's a joy to read Arendt and gain access to her thought process. It is this that inspires one to at least think outside the normal track. And though there are no Nazis out there today, given the strife it should be noted that it doesn't take much to lurch towards evil (and thus our need to be vigilant).
Human Acts . One of the best books of the century. Yeah, I liked it that much. About how the South Korean government shot students and the aftermath of that on the fabric of society. Really worth it for the calm hand with which Kang describes this world.
The Sorrow of War. The Vietnam war as told from the other side. Raw to the point of excess. Can't say much more than that. But it should be read for the experience alone.
A Universal History of Iniquity. I'm a huge Borges fan, so reading this was a no-brainer. It's even more concise than his other works, and perhaps a little less fantastical. But it's worth the ride. And as a writer I always find some inspiration in his words. The way the stories are pruned, the way they show a large section of the world, makes this a global and multicultural novel. In that sense, it makes it relevant to today.
Calvino's Italian Folktales
.
Go Tell it on the Mountain. I was inspired to read this book when I saw a quote by Baldwin mocking his government for their reaction to the Palestinians. I knew then that such a contrarian would at least have bold words (better than most these days, isn't it?). I was not disappointed. In fact this book will be added to my greatest of the 20th century list soon enough (it has to sit a little more).
Hiroshima . Another classic. But with the doomsday clock getting closer to midnight, something we should all read. The book with which to read this is below:
Crazy Iris . You like used bookstores? Yeah, I do too. Love them really. No way to properly replicate that randomness in finding books anywhere else. Not at all. I found this book randomly. It's shorts about the aftermath of the nuclear attacks in Japan. Absolutely necessary reading, if you ask me.
Notes of a Native Son by Baldwin. I only read this because I loved his novel (see below). I sensed, from that piece of fiction, that he had something more to say. That he was full of energy and perhaps anger. And when that was combined with his eloquence, I had to read his essays, as they seemed like they would have some great insight. They did. The title essay and "The Stranger in the Village" have some of the most incisive, heartfelt, and wry words ever put to paper. It was inspiring in many ways too. As a writer I was moving towards including more essays in my repertoire (the fictional kind, or the non-fiction that turned into fiction) and this book invigorated that idea. Read it (and given what has happened today with regards to Ferguson and New York, it is still very relevant). I highly recommend it.
The Certificate by Singer is about Jewish life in Warsaw right between World War I & II. It shows how people try to grasp for anything when old gods are being toppled ("when the wind picks up, garbage rises to the top").
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. This novel is epic in more ways than one and it really does a great job of essentially creating a host of characters, then clashing them together. Here you also get a glimpse of what imperial "destabilizing" does to a nation (and to the perpetrator). Definitely one worth reading.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
So you know I have my list every year. But now I'm going back and seeing which ones stand out from that list alone...
Abyssinian Chronicles : Okay, it's about Uganda, and many of you may think, fuk do I care about that small nation (assuming you can even point it out on a map)? But this is about so much more, to include colonial and post colonial and refugee and populist and religious and you name it strands of thoughts and the power behind them on an individual and national and international basis. I moved it to my best books of the 20th century list . Yeah, it's that good. Check it out.
Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth : Raw and to the point. Makes me love poetry. Check it out, it's worth it!
Citizen by Rankine is a beautiful mix of poetry and thoughts that gives some more outlines to the current chaotic zeitgeist we all feel but perhaps don't understand.
Kolyma Tales by Shalamov. Here's a solid collection of stories on the gulags that killed millions. Worth a look because looking into the eye of evil is never easy. And when bureaucratic it's especially interesting.
Tell me How it Ends . Very short but worth it! About the problems at our southern border before it was the topic du jour of our gnat-minded press corps. Yes, even Obama was bad (not to the same degree the current occupant is) with regard to this.
Jamaica Kincaid. Read all her work. That I just discovered her is something I can only blame on myself. Don't make the same mistake I did. A Small Place is a brilliant expose of the island she grew up on. At the Bottom of the River is likewise brilliant work (a collection of stories). I'm not even sure about what to say. Just buy and read her work. Now.
Eichmann in Jerusalem: a Report on the Banality of Evil. Not much to say about this classic. It's well thought out (not without it's holes, and one should definitely read the counter points to what she says here) piece on what evil is. Mainly, it's a joy to read Arendt and gain access to her thought process. It is this that inspires one to at least think outside the normal track. And though there are no Nazis out there today, given the strife it should be noted that it doesn't take much to lurch towards evil (and thus our need to be vigilant).
Human Acts . One of the best books of the century. Yeah, I liked it that much. About how the South Korean government shot students and the aftermath of that on the fabric of society. Really worth it for the calm hand with which Kang describes this world.
The Sorrow of War. The Vietnam war as told from the other side. Raw to the point of excess. Can't say much more than that. But it should be read for the experience alone.
A Universal History of Iniquity. I'm a huge Borges fan, so reading this was a no-brainer. It's even more concise than his other works, and perhaps a little less fantastical. But it's worth the ride. And as a writer I always find some inspiration in his words. The way the stories are pruned, the way they show a large section of the world, makes this a global and multicultural novel. In that sense, it makes it relevant to today.
Calvino's Italian Folktales
. Go Tell it on the Mountain. I was inspired to read this book when I saw a quote by Baldwin mocking his government for their reaction to the Palestinians. I knew then that such a contrarian would at least have bold words (better than most these days, isn't it?). I was not disappointed. In fact this book will be added to my greatest of the 20th century list soon enough (it has to sit a little more).
Hiroshima . Another classic. But with the doomsday clock getting closer to midnight, something we should all read. The book with which to read this is below:
Crazy Iris . You like used bookstores? Yeah, I do too. Love them really. No way to properly replicate that randomness in finding books anywhere else. Not at all. I found this book randomly. It's shorts about the aftermath of the nuclear attacks in Japan. Absolutely necessary reading, if you ask me.
Notes of a Native Son by Baldwin. I only read this because I loved his novel (see below). I sensed, from that piece of fiction, that he had something more to say. That he was full of energy and perhaps anger. And when that was combined with his eloquence, I had to read his essays, as they seemed like they would have some great insight. They did. The title essay and "The Stranger in the Village" have some of the most incisive, heartfelt, and wry words ever put to paper. It was inspiring in many ways too. As a writer I was moving towards including more essays in my repertoire (the fictional kind, or the non-fiction that turned into fiction) and this book invigorated that idea. Read it (and given what has happened today with regards to Ferguson and New York, it is still very relevant). I highly recommend it.
The Certificate by Singer is about Jewish life in Warsaw right between World War I & II. It shows how people try to grasp for anything when old gods are being toppled ("when the wind picks up, garbage rises to the top").
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. This novel is epic in more ways than one and it really does a great job of essentially creating a host of characters, then clashing them together. Here you also get a glimpse of what imperial "destabilizing" does to a nation (and to the perpetrator). Definitely one worth reading.
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December 24, 2019
self aware wolves
aka the conservative movement in a nutshell. Solid subreddit if you ask me.
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Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
December 23, 2019
Best books of 2019
Welp. It's that time again. Time to talk about the best books of the year. Not that which was published this year, but that which was read this year. By me. Which ones stand out in my mind? Well I'll list them here. In another post, I'm going to look at the list from years past and try to pick a best of list for all these. We'll see, right?
Here goes.
Well, if you've been reading here, the first book that comes to mind is:
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. This novel is epic in more ways than one and it really does a great job of essentially creating a host of characters, then clashing them together. Here you also get a glimpse of what imperial "destabilizing" does to a nation (and to the perpetrator). Definitely one worth reading.
The Certificate by Singer is about Jewish life in Warsaw right between World War I & II. It shows how people try to grasp for anything when old gods are being toppled ("when the wind picks up, garbage rises to the top"). In that sense it's like The Doll (below). A Treatise on Shelling Beans. Another novel I read on my trip to Poland. I found it not only to be interesting, but also
The Warsaw Ghetto by Heydecker. Mainly photos, but ones everyone should see. And though the author only writes a little, it packs quite the punch. Check it out as soon as you can (wrote about it here).
Uncivil Society: 1989 and the Implosion of the Communist Establishment by Stephen Kotkin. Good breakdown of what happened in Eastern Europe during the fall of Communism. Worth reading because, at least I, didn't know that it was austerity that caused this fall (and Gorbi saying he wouldn't use tanks). So these days with protests all over the world (some induced via sanctions or other forms of austerity upon the poor, like neoliberalism) one sometimes wants to hope, but in all reality, the no tanks/violence/coercion part of the equation is still there, isn't it? Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets Paperback – March 21, 2017 by Svetlana Alexievich This is a brilliant way of looking at history and helps to show how history is remembered (and that matters, this oral history) Toussaint Louverture: A Revolutionary Life by Girard. Worth it because the man it's about, though flawed, is quite brilliant. First successful slave rebellion in history. And after reading about Eastern Europe and their failed peasant rebellions, this one is a great contrast. White Rage by Anderson is a brilliant book on race relations in this country.
The Doll. Based in Warsaw in the 19th century, this is a dizzying novel with a great reach in terms of ideas and showing a set time. That being said, it meanders sometimes for too long, and I sense I liked it only because I was reading up about Poland. Again, I found out a lot about this time (to include how much Napoleon was loved by those trying to throw off their noble classes).
Honorable Mention:Here are some solid books, that should be on your list, but which I'm not sure should are in a must-read category:
Flights by Olga Tocarczuk is solid and it really aims for being a different kind of novel, and yet it really just falls short in my mind (how can anyone talk about travel in the age of Climate Change without mentioning what those "flights" are doing?).
We was Eight Years in Power. Coates is brilliant. And this book is as good as any with regard to domestic politics in the US and the Obama years. I recommend it wholeheartedly. The House at Ujazdowskie 16 Interesting book about a building where Jewish people lived, but it's not well laid out (goes back and forth too much). I get why the author did it, but that took away a lot of the book's punch. Still worth a read if you want it. Finks: How the C.I.A. Tricked the World's Best Writers is a good book, and quite possibly a paranoid inducing one. Still, it ended up being very dense and hard to get through. Worth it if you want to see how the CIA had influence over our American literary landscape. (to that end you should see this post and the link at the bottom which takes you to a piece on how someone like Algren was basically blacklisted into obscurity). Freshwater by Emezi. Book was solid, but it didn't stick to my mind. I do look forward to what the author will create next. Mr. Potter by Kincaid. I love Kincaid. Think she deserves the Nobel (so of course she won't win it), but I'm of the mind that this book is very much unlike her. Instead of being sharp and succinct, it's long meandering and repetitive. I do not recommend it.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
Here goes.
Well, if you've been reading here, the first book that comes to mind is:
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. This novel is epic in more ways than one and it really does a great job of essentially creating a host of characters, then clashing them together. Here you also get a glimpse of what imperial "destabilizing" does to a nation (and to the perpetrator). Definitely one worth reading.
The Certificate by Singer is about Jewish life in Warsaw right between World War I & II. It shows how people try to grasp for anything when old gods are being toppled ("when the wind picks up, garbage rises to the top"). In that sense it's like The Doll (below). A Treatise on Shelling Beans. Another novel I read on my trip to Poland. I found it not only to be interesting, but also
The Warsaw Ghetto by Heydecker. Mainly photos, but ones everyone should see. And though the author only writes a little, it packs quite the punch. Check it out as soon as you can (wrote about it here).
Uncivil Society: 1989 and the Implosion of the Communist Establishment by Stephen Kotkin. Good breakdown of what happened in Eastern Europe during the fall of Communism. Worth reading because, at least I, didn't know that it was austerity that caused this fall (and Gorbi saying he wouldn't use tanks). So these days with protests all over the world (some induced via sanctions or other forms of austerity upon the poor, like neoliberalism) one sometimes wants to hope, but in all reality, the no tanks/violence/coercion part of the equation is still there, isn't it? Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets Paperback – March 21, 2017 by Svetlana Alexievich This is a brilliant way of looking at history and helps to show how history is remembered (and that matters, this oral history) Toussaint Louverture: A Revolutionary Life by Girard. Worth it because the man it's about, though flawed, is quite brilliant. First successful slave rebellion in history. And after reading about Eastern Europe and their failed peasant rebellions, this one is a great contrast. White Rage by Anderson is a brilliant book on race relations in this country.
The Doll. Based in Warsaw in the 19th century, this is a dizzying novel with a great reach in terms of ideas and showing a set time. That being said, it meanders sometimes for too long, and I sense I liked it only because I was reading up about Poland. Again, I found out a lot about this time (to include how much Napoleon was loved by those trying to throw off their noble classes).
Honorable Mention:Here are some solid books, that should be on your list, but which I'm not sure should are in a must-read category:
Flights by Olga Tocarczuk is solid and it really aims for being a different kind of novel, and yet it really just falls short in my mind (how can anyone talk about travel in the age of Climate Change without mentioning what those "flights" are doing?).
We was Eight Years in Power. Coates is brilliant. And this book is as good as any with regard to domestic politics in the US and the Obama years. I recommend it wholeheartedly. The House at Ujazdowskie 16 Interesting book about a building where Jewish people lived, but it's not well laid out (goes back and forth too much). I get why the author did it, but that took away a lot of the book's punch. Still worth a read if you want it. Finks: How the C.I.A. Tricked the World's Best Writers is a good book, and quite possibly a paranoid inducing one. Still, it ended up being very dense and hard to get through. Worth it if you want to see how the CIA had influence over our American literary landscape. (to that end you should see this post and the link at the bottom which takes you to a piece on how someone like Algren was basically blacklisted into obscurity). Freshwater by Emezi. Book was solid, but it didn't stick to my mind. I do look forward to what the author will create next. Mr. Potter by Kincaid. I love Kincaid. Think she deserves the Nobel (so of course she won't win it), but I'm of the mind that this book is very much unlike her. Instead of being sharp and succinct, it's long meandering and repetitive. I do not recommend it.
Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.
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