Andrew Benesh > Recent Status Updates

I like the style of this book a lot. The use of the pivot chord metaphor is exciting. I appreciate the emphasis on multiple model modalities, but I do wish there was more variety of model shown; then again this was written 30 years ago so I can cut it some slack.

Forgot to update this last night. "Red Dirt Witch" is fantastic. The insidious way the story reveals the supernatural elements is brilliant as a tool for framing the sinister nature of racism. The duality of progress and cost, and the persistence of hope are themes I'm greatly enjoying.

The City Born Great had a great kinetic feel, but it doesn't resonate much for me. That says, I don't know New York in the way the author seems to, and that would make a big difference.

That first story is incredible. I've read entire books that have had less compassion, critique, and power than those 11 pages.

Done! The rest is bibliography and footnotes.

The discussion of the development of Dubai is fascinating.

The more I read, the more Haze is entirely too familiar to me.

"All kids are guilty of bad ideas, and it is completely dependent on their level of privilege hope irreversible and harmful those ideas end up being."

Actually doing the Bass version, which isn't in Goodreads. Not my normal approach, but the e-book was on sale for dirt cheap.

The accounts of the families are all too familiar, as are the attempts to make the it the child's individual responsibility to overcome the systemic and intergenerational problems that they're totally unequipped to handle.

A light Sunday morning read....

Done! This quote sums it up perfectly:

"If your unicorn shifts disconcertingly between a goat, a horse, a rhinoceros, a marinemammal from the North Atlantic, assorted Tibetan ungulates and a six-eyed ass whoseears will terrify, the work of this book is almost done."

Realized I haven't updated this recently. The species sleuthing is very impressive.

The comedy of errors in the early histories and subsequent theological works is fascinating. To go from a disliked two horned goat to a one horned manifestation of divinity (or evil, depending) is quite a shift!

I almost feel bad for Ctesius. The discussion of actual animals is interesting; I appreciate how they go past narwhals and into probably origins of result accounts in known hoofstock.

I really liked the detail on the SSRI variations.

Done! It definitely has a dated feel and some serious colonialism issues, but the overview of the early history of the site is well presented and to ready to follow. The author does seem aware some interpretations are more speculation than anything else, to which helps. I'd recommend more recent guides for more detail and less racism.

This is a lot shorter than I thought. I appreciate that the author is recognizing the importance of pottery, but there still a strong "men's work is the only important work" vibe.

I have to remind myself that this was written in 1956, because they're is no shortage of racially problematic commentary. It is interesting to see Pope get the basics of Bering Strait immigration and Clovis points right. I appreciate the historical photos of past excavations of the mounds.

Done! That was intense. I appreciate the afterwords and detailed commentary from the folks who stepped in after Michele's death.

Overall, this book excels at capturing the humanity of everyone involved in a way that true crime often fails to. The book is about GSK, but it's really about everyone impacted by the crimes.

This is as fast read, but it was probably a mistake to start it this close to bed.