WWW Weds: Reading Classics with a Modern Perspective is Complicated
A weekly meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.
What Did I Recently Finish Reading?
I got all caught up on this sci-fi Kindle Vella serial. It’s by Eric Dabbs, a writer I’ve been keeping up with since all the way back in 2015 when we both used to write on Channillo.
This story is an incredible science fiction that is also a Biblical Allegory. God is a bit of a nefarious figure, so it’s really giving me Paradise Lost vibes. There are only 10 episodes posted so far, but Eric Dabbs is one of those organized writers who keeps to an update schedule
I finished my reread of Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis.’ This is a novella I’ve read many times and I spent a lot of time during my M.A program exploring this story and writing different papers about it.
It’s probably my favorite novella of all time.
If you’re interested, I did read the book aloud in a livestream (I’m aware my audio is shit). The book is in the public domain, which is why it’s okay to read on youtube.
And I read the first episode of Down Dockside, an erotic furry visual novel in pre-alpha launch. It was made by my friend Nik and I’m super proud of him and all the hard work he put into it! It’s been really popping off in the furry community.
The game is free to download on itch.io if you want to check it out here.
Lastly, I finished another Zoe Chant book.
And I also have a video about Zoe Chant, if anyone cares.
What Are You Currently Reading?
This is a really interesting secluded horror story. It’s set in a historic sanatorium, which is a neat deviation from the standard asylum setting.
I’m still working my way through this massive book. Really enjoying Kaladin’s arc so far. The life of a bridgeman is really sad and brutal.
I’m almost done with the 3rd story in the collection.
Everyone be mature, I’m gonna type out the name of the story. I tried to figure out all kinds of ways to say it without saying it. The title of the story is “The Nigger of the Narcissus.”
……………………………………………………………
This is not great.
I wish Conrad would have uncomplicated my upcoming review of this book by just NOT using such a harmful racial slur throughout the text.
Because the black character, James Wait, while an antagonist, is actually a truly complex and interesting character. Maybe other readers will have another take, but I’m not seeing any racist undertones in the text (like I see so clearly in Conrad’s most famous work ‘Heart of Darkness.’)
Jimmy (as the other men on the ship come to call him) is a pain in the ass, and he’s selfish and whiney. But he’s also eloquent and a skilled manipulator-these traits give him power. He is treated with respect as a character and given power-as the primary antagonist-within the text.
Criminey, could Conrad lay off the racial slurs though?
We all know what the book community is like. How in the hell am I gonna review this thing?
And I’m reading yet another Zoe Chant firefighter book. Chase’s dynamic with Connie is so adorable 
My friend Emily Hurricane got one of her short stories published in a magazine, so of course I have to check that out! Here it is.
And I have a lot of arcs and blog tours to get caught up on.
