Robert’s Comments (group member since Dec 31, 2018)

Robert’s comments from the First Edition Reading Club group.

Sometimes narratives about slavery are traumatizing and difficult. But, Esi Edugyan's Washington Black manages to both show the deep level of trauma and expand to show a life lived during the remarkable age of scientific discovery. So well told. Highly recommended. Review here

So, the two books I read this week are completely different but share something in common. The first is Brene Brown's Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.. It's part business book, part self-help but better than most in either of those genres.
The second is Richard Wagamese's posthumously published novel Starlight.
Both talk about empathy, vulnerability, and developing strength in the human spirit. That's the weird synergy I found between them.
You can see my full reviews for Brown's book and Wagamese's novel.

Washington Black is on my to-read list. (I'm also waiting for the library on that one). Did you read her earlier one, Half-Blood Blues? I really enjoyed it. My review of that one is here

I was introduced to Mary Oliver by a friend a few years ago. I have really enjoyed her poetry. I didn't know she was considered "accessible".

Has anyone reviewed anything this week? You can find my review of Where the Crawdads Sing here

Diana wrote: "Maybe all it means is that we all become friends?" I guess I assumed at first that it would immediately post my reviews here and everybody else's and then we'd get to see in more detail than on FB what people are up to. Perhaps becoming friends would make more sense. I know that with my Goodreads friends, I see what they're reading and get many good suggestions (as I do from First Edition, except that on Goodreads, I get full-on reviews).

So, I just read Cherie Dimaline's The Marrow Thieves. It's considered "Young Adult" fiction. Sometimes I think there's some really good things happening in YA reading: Good story-telling, compelling writing, challenging themes. Here's my review of Marrow Thieves. Last year, I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and thought it was quite good too (not nearly as good as The Marrow Thieves). Does anyone else have recommendations in the YA vein--or am I just exposing my immaturity by reading these books?

Janet wrote: "I expect more in depth reviews of books"
Yes, that's what I'm hoping for ... I would love to see others' reviews, not just my own (which aren't that deep tbh.

Here's my review of Angela Saini's Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong—And the New Research That's Rewriting the Story. Has anyone else read this one? Agree or disagree? Other books that tackle questions of cognitive and social development?
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hello first edition folk. I'm not sure this Discussion group is going to work. So far, the only posts have been mine. In creating the group thought I was responding to a genuine interest on FE, but maybe not. Maybe checking in on FB is sufficient. Let me know in the comments.

On Beauty is my personal favorite."
It's on my list, now. Not sure how I missed her all these years. I think that in the early 2000's I wasn't reading very much, so probably missed a lot.

I just finished Zadie Smith's White Teeth. Here's my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Anyone else read this one? I'm now a fan. Looking forward to reading some of her other books this year.

So often on First Edition, people are talking about novels, and less often non-fiction. Anyone read poetry? What's your favourite for 2018? Mine is Padraig O'Tuama's Sorry for Your Troubles. It's not just for fans of Northern Ireland, but that doesn't hurt.