Zack > Recent Status Updates

I like it, but it’s a little scattershot in it’s approach so far.

A sentence references “dreadlocks” in describing a plant another sentence in the same paragraph talks about a tree using vines as nooses. Yeaaahh sounds kinda racist to me. I think the Sphinx was referred to as having locks, but locks aren’t referenced much. I don’t recall nooses being referred to elsewhere in the original or this sequel series. Not explicit, but a relationship could be implied or implicit.

I’ve been enjoying the time at University, but the feud with Ambrose is just a dead horse the bully is paying his friends millions of talents to beat.

And I don’t know how I feel about Bast calling out the book on lack of female representation.

The school stuff is pretty good. Feels kinda like GRRM if they decided to follow someone that wasn’t a lord or a bastard.

A women in this book supposed to be quiet, competent, and beautiful?

Kvothe feels like Paul Atreides, but less whiny.

The Tehlin religion kinda grosses me out and maybe the author intended this, like “Let’s take the Christianity, but when Jesus arrives on the scene, screw that love thy neighbor shit, let’s make him just as vengeful as Old Testament God.”

The interludes are waaaaay more interesting so far. Maybe The Greatest Man will fail?

I’m pretty meh on this book at this point and I know that may cause some issues. The plot armor is probably the thickest I have ever seen. Not only is he the greatest at everything ever (hardcore male wish fulfillment), but the book is also The Superior Male telling his life story, so he’ll survive everything thrown at him.

Not sure if 2021 is the time for grimdark novels, especially when every sexual encounter so far has been problematic.

Hearing a candid account of a failing pioneer town is more interesting than I thought.

The novella section is pretty good. Brutal without being gratuitous.

Deep into the novella section of the book. It’s pretty good.

I know it’s an old book written about experiences over a hundred years ago, but a long passage detailing casual racism was really jarring. Like he seems to know it was wrong, but isn’t apologetic. Just a candid passage.

Interesting hearing about the history of the RNWMP and the Canadian perspective of the Plains Indians conflicts.

History of the US-Canada Boundary Survey was actually really interesting.

I do love Wallace Stegner, but this book is about as dry as you can get.

Today is the day I shelve my first book as "Did Not Finish." The plot wanders back and forth between super boring and gross patriarchy.

“Love your duties, sisters. What is your duty? It is for you to bear children, in the name of the Lord,...”

Yikes. I know this book is mostly from the perspective of a female character, but it certainly feels like they sacrifice way more than the men do.

It's interesting how accurately and specifically characters can prophesy. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the book being written decades later.

There are multiple times I have suddenly realized I have no idea what is going on. I'll have to go back a few paragraphs, sometimes a page or two. The boy just died in a flood, I had to go back a few times to find where he fell in.

I’ve been sticking around hoping Clory would bail, but I think she’s going to stick around. Getting some “Taming of the Shrew” vibes.

I made a DNF shelf in case that’s the direction this one goes.

A girl, age nine, is left when a couple while her father goes to fit in the Mexican-American War. He dies. Couple raises girl. She calls them Aunt and Uncle. Girl becomes her “uncle’s” third wife. She is super grossed out by the idea of sex with her uncle/husband. He’s tired of waiting for her to get over it. He “teaches her obedience.”

“There are sins such as apostasy and a woman’s transgression of her marriage vows... sins for which they cannot receive forgiveness... unless their blood be spilt upon the ground...” The ellipsis aren’t mine, but the author. This book is very cringey, but also old.

I had a feeling it was coming, but I wasn’t prepared for the spousal rape, or the victim blaming that came after, or “his favorite sermon was on the theory that behind every sin man ever committed you could find a woman...”

Plus some Lost Cause thrown in.

So close to completion!

"Democracy is not an efficient decision process." Yikes, I didn't realize it was supposed to be efficient. Feels like someone misses the pioneer-era theocratic benevolent authoritarianism.

You know when grandma is spilling the tea, but not really? Like tells you there is a controversy, but is too polite? Like "did you hear about Harriet? Oh, I can't tell you though, it would be rude."

Retail in WashCo. "Hurricane had 2 stores, Enterprise had 1. Now here's a list of every business and their owners in St George, EVER."

"The most noted violence in the county's history," Mountain Meadows got 2 more paragraphs, but was followed by several pages on the history of banking in the county.

Interesting to see the former Mayor of St George pretend to be impartial on the debate of growth in the county.

Nearly nine pages on a single planned community. It was a rough as it sounds.

Well, the section about Colorado City only referred to them as a "unique religious community." I wasn't expecting any discussion of the gender violence from there, but...

"These residents of Washington County have come to believe they are victims of one of the deadliest cover-ups in the nations history," is what they have to say about the effects of nuclear testing in Nevada. No discussion over alternatives. Yikes.

Frustrating at times. Refers to the Mountain Meadows Massacre as the most tragic event in Southern Utah history, but only gives it a little over two pages, the same number of pages as electrifying the county.

Is VERY St George centered. I recognize that its the county seat and is the most important city in the county, but it will list every member of some minor committee. Other towns, big events get nothing.