Let us put aside the premise of the novel. The world is overrun by some kind of creature that cannot open a door but can drive a person to homicideLet us put aside the premise of the novel. The world is overrun by some kind of creature that cannot open a door but can drive a person to homicide and/or suicide just by looking at them. A woman has survived four years with two children, Boy and Girl, and has barely left her house, training them to listen to the world of danger that surrounds them. Although the children are four years old, somehow they have the maturity of children more than double that age. Two pregnant women end up in the same safe house and end up giving birth simultaneously at the worst moment possible? People who are already crazy who defend the creatures and try to force the frightened people in hiding out into the open. It is absurd.
Once you get over the premise, this claustrophobic survivalist thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat and up late at night until you finish. Malerman moves the story forward in two timelines: the first months of the crisis and then four years later when she tries to get the children to safety by traveling downriver, blindfolded, in a rowboat. This was turned into a mediocre movie with Sandra Bullock that had an amazing opening and loses steam 15 minutes in, but the book maintains and heightens the tension with each short chapter by showcasing the growing paranoia of the characters, most of whom don't make it, and the helplessness of being blind. This novel dovetails nicely with other survivalist stories with zombies and the like.
A suggestion for anyone who enjoyed this is the brilliant Blindness by José Saramago, in which blindness is transmitted by a disease that spreads across the entire population, causing the collapse of society. ...more
What sets Babel-17 apart from others in this genre is that it is a poetic exploration of language—how it shapes our thoughts, our actions, and ourWhat sets Babel-17 apart from others in this genre is that it is a poetic exploration of language—how it shapes our thoughts, our actions, and our relationships—but is disguised as a sci-fi novel. The central character, Rydra Wong, is an accomplished poet whose work is adored across the five known galaxies, who is telepathic, a polyglot, and has a strong sense of self. The novel tangentially explores sexuality, body transformation, and interpersonal relationships. Although central to the plot the war with the Invaders who have created a language that can be weaponized feels like background. Similar to the dream-like Dhalgren, which is beautifully written but drifts slowly, the reader must constantly feel their way through this novel; it is not spoon-fed and many details are left out requiring you to fill in the gaps. Perhaps a second read may be required....more
What if you took elements from several of John Irving’s novels and threw them into one book? Would it knock it out of the park or be a murky stew? TheWhat if you took elements from several of John Irving’s novels and threw them into one book? Would it knock it out of the park or be a murky stew? The protagonist is Garp-like in his lack of direction and sexual compulsion. Patrick Wallingford is a handsome reporter who is unable to say no to the countess self-serving women who use him for sex, or his “seed” to have a child without needing to get married. Add a dash of pro-choice commentary from The Cider House Rules, a location from A Son of the Circus, and some background from A Widow for One Year... you get the point.
The Fourth Hand centers on a man who has lost his left hand to a lion while on assignment in India; the video goes viral. This transformative incident sets him on a course of questioning his empty life, livelihood as a "disaster-porn" reporter on a 24 hour news cycle, and lamely strives for some kind of fulfillment with the widow of the man who provided his unsuccessful hand transplant. She used Patrick for his seed and shows a waning interest in him once her late husband's hand is removed. Let's be honest... Patrick's unfortunate accident would be relegated to the memory dustbin shortly after, not make him instantly recognizable around the globe as the "lion guy" years later. He would not be placed front and center as a news anchor without his hand, even on a network that profits off stories of woe and misfortune. His awkward pursuit of the widow is increasingly pathetic and borders on stalking, and his lack of backbone in saying no to women who throw themselves at him for sex reads like an adolescent fantasy. Unlike many of Irving's creations, Patrick never becomes a full character, and most of the others, including the obsessive Dr. Zajac (who is quickly jettisoned from the main story after the transplant fails), are barely more than a list of quirks.
I was introduced to Irving through The World According to Garp which may be an imperfect first novel but has amazing staying power and memorable characters. I frequently quote Jenny Fields, “Everybody dies … The thing is, to have a life before we die.”A Prayer for Owen Meany is one of my favorites. An author cannot knock it out of the park every time, but I am very grateful to have several of his other novels to read instead....more
Maugham establishes himself as the narrator at the periphery of the intersection of lives starting with an endearing ex-patriot snob, ElliotMaugham establishes himself as the narrator at the periphery of the intersection of lives starting with an endearing ex-patriot snob, Elliot Templeton, whose life's goal is to be admitted into the highest circles of society. This relationship brings the author into Elliot’s family circle, including his niece, the emotionally conservative Isabel Bradley, and her charmingly distracted fiancé, Larry Darrell. What starts out as a “drawing room” novel grows into a philosophical exploration of how one should leads one’s life which this makes this quiet novel exceptional.
Maugham keeps himself at arm’s length to the other characters as their lives overlap, tracing the rise of Elliot into the superficial social stratosphere only to be cast out when he becomes infirm, Isabel’s conundrum of being in love with Larry while being married to the earth-bound Gray Maturin, but it is Larry’s endless pursuit of the absolute truth that makes this novel fascinating. Maugham keeps himself in the corner as a skeptic, which allows Larry’s story to feel more genuine and not like a life lesson forced onto the reader. Larry lives his life in humble simplicity, financed by his inheritance, and takes time to explore religion, philosophy, and the physicality of being human--discovering his place in the universe--and a life we might all aspire to. It is also a journey of the generation following WWII, who were forced to re-prioritize their lives after so much senseless death. Experiencing life brings us happiness, not material things.
However, one might argue that Maugham found a way to bridge the material and the immaterial worlds with a comfortable life, literary success, and relationships with those he finds interesting. He steadfastly keeps this center course through the novel, aging gracefully on his own terms, without all the twists and turns of his characters. A remarkable book....more
Chance is a handsome man with no background, identity, or exposure to the outside world except what he sees on TV, which informs him of every humanChance is a handsome man with no background, identity, or exposure to the outside world except what he sees on TV, which informs him of every human interaction. He is an orphan who has been sheltered in his employer's garden his entire life, but is thrust into the world without any understanding of the complexities of human relationships, economics or politics. A serendipitous accident with a rich and well-connected woman, who is the first to make presumptions based on his looks and hand-tailored clothes, believes him to be a man of means and rescues him. She installs him in her home where her ailing husband is a business leader and king maker. This accident leads to a series of events in which Chance's opaqueness and blunt honesty ("I can't read. I don't write.") is consistently misinterpreted. He becomes Chauncey Gardiner due to a mishearing of "Chance, the gardener". He is a blank slate that others project the wisdom of economist, statesman, business leader, man of letters and lover upon; a mirror that reflect back only what they want to see. Their cumulative mistakes become self-enforcing. His very lack of background only confirms their belief that he is more than meets the eye.
This reminds me of the true story of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, who with her connections, an idea, and a dream was able to gain millions of dollars in funding for a product that didn't exist... her supporters wanted to believe and that was enough. So too, Chance rises from homeless introvert to potential US Vice President on the dreams of others. This satire was faithfully transferred to the screen with Peter Sellers in the title role. ...more
Takei has positively leveraged his fame as Hikaru Sulu to help make our world more like the inclusive universe of Star Trek. He has been a humanTakei has positively leveraged his fame as Hikaru Sulu to help make our world more like the inclusive universe of Star Trek. He has been a human rights activist for decades, notably on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.
They Call Us Enemy chronicles his family’s forcible internment following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when American’s reactionary fear of Japan turned against anyone of Japanese descent. Takei’s family was part of the 120,000 Americans and Japanese immigrants who were jailed without cause or trial. This graphic novel is depicted in effective black and white panels, shuttling between the author's childhood and his misperception of the events as an adventure (thanks to the fierce protection of his parents who shielded their children from the trauma) and his adulthood in which he can reflect back on the bravery of his parents, his father’s sacrifices to help other members of their community, and the power of unifying to make positive change in spite of the circumstances. His family was forced to sell all of their possessions and his father’s business for pennies on the dollar, housed in horse stables and a camp in Arkansas, watched by armed guards, and surrounded by a barbed wire fence. Over years this life became the only one that the children understood, and they feared leaving the safety of the fence when they were unceremoniously evicted after WWII ended. Takei, as he grows into an adult, learns that this chapter of history was missing from the records and used this book, and the musical that was based on the book, to ensure it was not forgotten.
He comes full circle to deliver a talk about the internment at the home of President Roosevelt, who was responsible for the law being put into effect. He also took part in pressuring the government to apologize and give reparations, which came more than 40 years later. African-Americans are still waiting for theirs.
What is most tragic is that despite our understanding that stealing everything a family owns and then jailing them based exclusively on their genetic heritage is wrong, yet the 45th President of the United States with the full support of the Republican Party has repeated this moment in history to jail families of immigrants escaping the gang and drug violence of Central America, as well as intentionally banning religious groups from our country. However, They Called Us Enemy is inspirational, aside from the loving tribute to his parents, because in spite of their experience they maintained the belief in the possibilities of an inclusive America. Takei stands as an example of the benefits of immigration and how this has helped our country prosper and be a beacon to democracy. We, he reminds us, have the choice to choose the world we live in. Intolerance and fear versus acceptance and love. We could use more Americans like him to stand up and make a positive difference....more
People have been shanghaied and enslaved for centuries, a practice that continues today, particularly with women emigrating from undevelopedPeople have been shanghaied and enslaved for centuries, a practice that continues today, particularly with women emigrating from undeveloped countries. Northup’s personal account of his plight and the years he spent in enforced servitude, the tortures he faced from his “owners”, and the injustice of his position is a reminder that the United States and other developed nations were built by slave labor. Their disenfranchisement was the determined solely by the color of their skin. People should never be owned by others, or treated like (or worse) than livestock. Sadder still is witnessing a smart and resourceful human being who was incapable of contributing his full value to the embitterment of his life, his family, and his community. ...more
Sexual awakening can be complex, but is especially so for people who fall outside of what society considers "normal". Same-sex attraction is naturalSexual awakening can be complex, but is especially so for people who fall outside of what society considers "normal". Same-sex attraction is natural and is found across all species. The only thing unnatural about Clementine's love for Emma is the swift rejection she faces from her family and friends; this only causes her to suffer and question her identify. Clam's story is sadly all too common, even today. Trying to keep your love a secret for fear of reprisal (or jealous girlfriends) can be detrimental; lying about something so critical to your identity is destructive. Unfortunately her story jumps far into the future and rushes to a conclusion, when this could easily have been broken up into a series. Look forward to seeing the movie...
The Bone Clocks opens up in the middle of an argument between Holly and her mother. The reader is often thrust into the center of the action withThe Bone Clocks opens up in the middle of an argument between Holly and her mother. The reader is often thrust into the center of the action with little context. The first two thirds of the novel move along steadily enough, though you will ask, "Where is this going?" a few times before you hit the middle section. The abrasive one-hit wonder, Crispin Hershey, is reminiscent of another author with anger-management issues that makes an appearance in Cloud Atlas... but the dog's dinner of the final two sections blows up like an overproduced superhero movie. It is so all over the place you will be begin to wonder what wasn't included. I stuck through it to the end... but will recommend reading any other novel by this author....more
The world is populated with zombies. The ragtag remainders of humanity are holed up in a prison behind a fence, but it offers no protection from eachThe world is populated with zombies. The ragtag remainders of humanity are holed up in a prison behind a fence, but it offers no protection from each other. The group has been under pressure to survive and has not only lost several of their members to tragedy, but are on the verge of losing their shit. In this episode everyone turns on each other. But honestly, is there any reason to treat the female characters like this? The misogyny runs throughout this series targeted to a young male reader, but seems especially transparent in volume 4 where women are bitchy, suicidal, crazy, and there to serve men's needs. Doesn't help much to come together as a group and only reinforces toxic masculinity....more
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” – John F. Kennedy
Kennedy’s oft-repeated quote appears in one of the final chapters of The Value of Everything and captures the spirit of Mazzucato’s vision for the future of our global economy. Following an overview of the history of accounting and what has been considered “productive” vs “unproductive” over the centuries (determined by the viewpoint of the era in which it was measured), the author outlines the difference between making and taking value. Over the last few decades a class of economic vampires has emerged to extract value from the economy, including financial firms that gamble on risk and are bailed out by taxpayers, private equity firms that secure excessive loans to pay themselves first when they buy and sell companies that eventually fail from debt, venture capitalists who step in at the right moment to reap excessive rewards after the hard work has been completed, along with big-pharma, patent trolls, and other economic plunderers who have earned their criticism.
This short-term approach, she convincingly argues, extracts value from the economy because of quick timetable to gain profit as the only outcome. These profits are increasingly being funneled into the hands of a smaller number of individuals, who do not reinvest them in continue growth but horde them, often offshore in tax havens. This has created economic disparity on an unprecedented scale and has negatively impacted our long term prospects since they have less to invest in research and development (“R&D”) to create new value. Instead companies routinely pay back their shareholders and CEOs. These companies also do not include the expense of externalities, for instance damage to the environment, which tax payer dollars are stuck paying for. Seeking money for its own sake has skewing the economy into a new gilded age. She uses real life examples to show how austerity has had the opposite of what the IMF and World Bank suggested and has destroyed GDP because the government cuts back funding when it is most needed, which in turn restricts long term growth, further shrinking the economy.
Mazzucato argues that for the long term health of the economy and continued value creation that we investment in R&D, and underscores our government’s underappreciated role. Governments (specifically the US and UK, where the book stays focused) have historically funded long term projects including infrastructure, training the work force, public assistance, and social services like police/fire departments/mail. They also have the scale and resources to invest in long term projects that may take decades to develop, such as computer technology, the internet, GPS, space travel, and medical advancements; they often do this without reaping the same (or any) rewards that private investors do. Never mind that governments stepped in to bail out the financial industry and car manufacturers, for example, that had taken on too much leverage, but the government got nothing except a bad reputation for bailing out fat cats. This money helps move the economy yet is typically left out of the “productive” column of the spreadsheet. Looking toward the future, we can turn long term investment into new green jobs, help mitigate the impact of the climate crisis, and create new industries in the same way the space race did, and in doing so begin to equalize economic success....more
Any fan of Atwood’s will recognize some common themes: the power and powerlessness of women, the adherence and rebellion to strict social norms, andAny fan of Atwood’s will recognize some common themes: the power and powerlessness of women, the adherence and rebellion to strict social norms, and complex psychosexual relationships. Alias Grace is a fictionalized account of actual events surrounding an infamous Canadian double homicide in 1843. There are multiple threads that weave together including the exploitation of young immigrants, blurring class divisions, the misrepresentation of facts and sensationalism of gossip and the media, and the dark underside of eroticism. Most notably are the limited choices available to women of the time, especially for those without means, which called to mind Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth. That women stood on the brink of ruin by men who treated them so casually and faced no consequences for the same acts is especially relevant in the #MeToo era when men are, in some cases haphazardly, being held to account for their actions.
As a reader, I question Grace’s voice. An uneducated housemaid who has incredible powers of observation and astute awareness of the motives of her audience with a powerful and unflinching narrative with carefully selected details, yet naive in the ways of the world. This is especially disarming since she has only told portions of her story in the past. However, like Scheherazade Grace spins her tale to entertain while preserving herself and we become transfixed by her version of the events. What is truth? What is a lie? Who is Grace? Which of the various stories we are told, not only in her external and internal voices, but also all the conflicting impressions of the young woman and the events that occurred. However, the author, like Dr. Jordon, does not try to determine which version is the truth, or whether or not Grace is guilty or innocent. Instead she presents the various patterns, much like the quilts that run through the novel and title each section, and allows the reader to make what they will of the story. ...more
A statement without irony in this context, science evolves. Scientific method requires that for a new theory to be accepted by the community differentA statement without irony in this context, science evolves. Scientific method requires that for a new theory to be accepted by the community different source must obtain the same results. New evidence and technology continue to challenge what we know "for certain”. This point is underscored heavily in Who We Are And How We Got Here, which plots out the history of theories about the migration of ancient humans. It was once believed that homo sapiens left Africa, displaced Neanderthals in Europe, and then spread through the rest of the world. This implied that “humans” evolved in Europe and our African ancestors were left behind; ancient Europeans conquered the earth. This theory, based on available evidence of the time, has been revisited and revised with the study of ancient DNA which reveals a much more complicated story.
A new process to study mitochondrial DNA in tandem with the established average time it takes for mutations to appear in DNA have challenged previously held theories. For one, it appears that homo sapiens migrated from Africa much further back in time than previously believed, did so multiple times, spreading across Europe, Asia and into the Americas; others moved east to west across Europe into Africa. Humans were in the Americas and South Pacific earlier too. Using other evidence, including culture (types of pottery), the spread of languages and tools, and DNA obtained in studies from living people, Reich helps develop new theories about the migration of ancient humans. The process, described in detail in layman’s terms, studies sections of DNA. They compare the current DNA samples against each other, and against ancient samples. If the genetic sequences are long and unbroken, they compare favorably and establish a closer and recent relationship; if broken into shorter strings there is a more distant relationship. The bulk of the book traces not just the currently held theories about early human migration, but the evolution of the science itself.
The study of DNA is not without controversy. Scientists have obtained samples from indigenous peoples without consent, there are large gaps in ancient DNA owing to rarity of samples and governments that prevent access to remains, and the overwhelming Eurocentrism to the field gives a lopsided view. Several groups, particularly Africans and descendants of Africans, are barely included in the research. Tragically, DNA has been used to “prove” racial purity by the Nazis, white supremacists, and racists; although their "beliefs" have been debunked they have no less traction with people who want to believe in them. In truth, unless you are from an isolated indigenous tribe, there is no such thing as racial purity, we are all an admixture of humanity reaching back hundreds of thousands of years. However, there are some groups that have remained self-contained, like the Brahmans of India and the Ashkenazi Jews (the latter to which the author belongs); they have unique characteristics and diseases that are unlike most any other group.
This book is sometimes challenging for the uninitiated, and the author tries hard to show how the once prevailing theories (and especially those without empirical evidence) have changed or been challenged. However, this can be confusing at times and fraught with behind-the-scenes conflicts. Reich highlights the competitiveness in the field between differing schools of thought, especially in the later chapters, which for this reader were the most interesting. The chapter on sexual bias, in which certain men, most often in power/wealth, have contributed more of their DNA to humanity than others because of their stature. An example is Genghis Khan, who ruled much of Asia for a relatively brief period, but who appears to have left his genetic thumbprint on many people with Asian ancestry. Sex bias is often perpetrated by men in power over women without power or means, particularly in situations where one group of people is subjugated by another (i.e., slavery). This was the most eye-opening section of the book; is this the nature of humanity or a problem with society? Reich points to human history when we started accumulating goods to when this sex bias may have begun, suggesting that a society that allows a handful of men to control the wealth to also control the gene pool, protecting their offspring to ensure their genes are carried into future generations....more
In the final chapter of Fascism: A Warning, Albright suggests that some readers might find her book alarmist. “Good.” The former secretary of stateIn the final chapter of Fascism: A Warning, Albright suggests that some readers might find her book alarmist. “Good.” The former secretary of state uses history, her personal experience with several of the people she includes in her book, and her own family’s flight from Czechoslovakia to document how fascists rise to power legitimately, not with any abrupt shift, but in incremental steps. These individuals tap into a general unease, make promises they have no intention of keeping, point their finger at a single cause (i.e., immigrants), and use a divide and conquer strategy to gain power. Once in power they break down and disenfranchise democratic institutions, like the free press, and paint targets on their opposition. She builds her cause chapter by chapter, detailing the rise of Mussolini, Hitler, the Kim dynasty of North Korea, Putin, and other self-interested leaders who run their countries on their own cult of personality. These reminders of history should feel familiar; we are reliving them now in many of our nation’s current leaders, notably the 45th president of the US. This is not some partisan hit job, but a real call to Americans to protect our country from those who claim to love it but are leveraging power only for their own gain. You can't say you weren't warned.... Register to vote in 2020!...more
**spoiler alert** The Handmaid's Tale has long held a special place on my shelf. Atwood's groundbreaking novel drew attention to the hypocrisy and**spoiler alert** The Handmaid's Tale has long held a special place on my shelf. Atwood's groundbreaking novel drew attention to the hypocrisy and growing power of the religious right and the way in which religion was being perverted to suppress the rights of women. It is harrowing, especially considering how evangelicals have actually gained power to force their restrictive world view on the United States and other countries in the decades since the original publication. I enjoyed the Hulu adaptation of the book and how it grew beyond the novel--up to a point--and I was eager to see how the current environment of escalating restrictions on reproductive freedom, the power of the evangelicals, and the MeToo movement would play into Atwood's heralded return to Gilead.
Spoiler alert, they don't. That is perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this novel, which reads like Season 4 of the television series. Atwood picks up plot elements from the series including Baby Nicole and Aunt Lydia's earlier life as a teacher. The pacing is swift and it reads quickly because it is a thriller and less of a social commentary. We don't get much more background about the lives of women in Gilead, and only a bit of history from Aunt Lydia, but we do discover the Commanders preference for marrying underage girls (which happens in real life and could have been a great area for exploration instead of used as a plot device). We don't explore the nuances of the subjugation of women who are self-policing because the novel is almost entirely populated with women who find ways to retain control, self-determination, and power despite the circumstances. The "redemption" of Aunt Lydia as the secret leader of May Day feels forced, and the two other narrators are young women who are opposing sides of the same coin, but little is learned from the comparison; they are both flat. Whereas the nameless author of the original (known as June in the series), is a complex and flawed human being whom you can identify with, her daughters are teenage girl archetypes. What felt especially cheap was repeating the ending of the original with these manuscripts being found and taught in a lecture about Gilead. Although I still enjoyed reading Atwood's latest, it won't be joining the original on my shelf....more
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