Andrew Benesh > Recent Status Updates

The analysis of the potential for well designed spaces to reduce crime and violence is fascinating. Why are we not using this sort of evidence based policy more often?

A solid introduction into implicit bias, and the need to treat it with the same seriousness as overt racism. The author does a good job defusing the issue of blame - EVERYONE has implicit bias that really from societal messages - while maintaining the need for action and agency.

The chapter on libraries was brilliantly written, and had me questioning why we aren't using libraries to provide mental health and social support services to the community. Needless to say I have some calls to make in the morning.

The first chapter makes a compelling case for the history of legal discrimination. It's good to be able to vote specific court cases and federal law, but it saddens meeting to see the evisceration of Title VI protections as discrimination became less overt. I look forward to chapter 2!

A strong introduction that makes a compelling case for the need to examine social infrastructure development. I appreciate the authors use of the Chicago example, and attempts to bridge political divides. The recognition of failed efforts is important, add is the need for public investment rather than reliance on private charity.

I've been looking forward to this since a colleague recommended it. Attending to how racism and implicit bias result in health disparities is one of three biggest challenges in modern systems of care, and this book promises a robust analysis.

Done! I really appreciated the ending good Ahab, Bartleby, and Mavis - they felt very right. This now I read Arabella, the more I see Vastra, Jenny, and Strax from Dr. Who. I do wish we got more resolution to the manticore, as her tragedy just sort of stopped. I appreciated hope Harrow didn't fully grasp the true evil he was fighting, even in the end. His growth is limited by his worldview, not the reader's need.

Gabriel remains a bit of an enigma. Sharde is an interesting commentary on race and paternalism. I kind of wish we saw a bit more of him coping with change. Madi is awesome.

The presence of multiple authors confounds things, as does Malbaster's unique form of authorship. The commentary on power and rhetoric are quite pointed. The revision of the books and voyages line to cover agency is potent.

I like how Ishmael continues to play with it the boundaries of reality in giving Harrow the characters. The Crystal Palace fight felt too brief.

I like how the conversation about race is getting more overt, and Harrow is being confronted about his privilege and ambivalence. The siren story seems to foreshadow some unpleasant ending. There's something brilliant about the characters willingness to take on supernatural villains, but not the larger oppression that wields them.

The boundaries of reality continue to wobble; the book is an elaboration, but ghosts and manticores are real. The push towards the new Big Bad is progressing nicely. I like how Ahab is accepting of other's hostility towards him - the discussion where Madi described leaving him to die was fascinating.

I'm really enjoying the use of language. Ahab is at wonder terrifying and pitiful. The layers of wordplay and metacommentary are impressive.

Done! The ending brings things together really well, and had a strong setup for the third book. The plot rhymes are really strong here, but I do wish we got more closure for some characters. I kind of wish the final betrayal was worse - perhaps an ongoing connection with Earth or Mansfield. I suppose there's still room for that to happen. I looked Krall as a last minute character addition, and hope we see her again.

This escape feels very cinematic. I'm hoping Simon is really dead. Riko's loss is unfortunate, but probably the most compassionate ending that characters could receive. The new details on cobweb provide interesting context to book 1; I suspect there is at least one more twist coming there. As always Virginia is the best.

Simon has gone in a direction I did not anticipate. The reunion had been satisfying. I'm not suspecting Delphine of being a VERY bad person. I'm hoping Virginia is about to pull a Deus Ex Machina, because otherwise the Mansfield situation is going to get bad. It's nice selling Riko in a new light.

I really like how Virginia is stepping up, and Delphine is now my favorite new character. I feel like the Genesis plot is being relegated to the background really overtly, which is actually kind of strange. Abel's reflections on the problems of emotions are relatable.

It's interesting how Gillian is becoming a more primary antagonist than her father. The revisiting of old contacts is nice, and I'll hopeful they'll be taking some actions behind the scenes to help - I can't see them going along with Abel's do not interfere directive.

I'd forgotten how detached Abel's perspective can be. It's humorously absurd, but also fairly tragic. Noemi's foster parents are frustrating; you can see they try, but fail. The return of cobweb seems a likely plot driver for a reunion. I'm appreciating the callbacks to Casablanca and it's metaphor in the last book.

I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoyed the first book in this series. It's good to retrieve to characters written with so much depth and internal conflict. It's Saga meets Blade Runner, and I'm here for it.

Done! I feel like Damon got off too easy, even though he was too some degree a victim. The final showdown felt like it was faster than the last time, but still had a good punch. I'm curious about the potential directions for Paul and Arlene now that things are out in the open. I worry that even though Atlanta send to be growing, she's also getting more callous to her own violence. It's not a sustainable path.

Things are certainly heating up, and I suspect we're approaching the final conflict. With the return of the squirrel gun, the stakes are pretty dang high. I suspect Damon is not as innocent as he seems.

And now most of the pieces are on the board. Atlanta is barely holding things together, and I suspect it's going to get worse before it gets better. Paul has some explaining to do; I suspect so does Damon. Whitey is the best dog.

And then things escalated. The dynamic with Paul is interesting, as is Atlanta's slow progress on addressing her PTSD. It's remarkable to me how open everyone is about all of the crime and violence.

Are there any non-predatory adults in this town?

This has some of the best descriptions - in particular the bacon is magic piece, and the fighting bullies speech.

The place is definitely thickening.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, and thus sequel feels promising. Atlanta's rage is still palpable, as is the pain and fear that it masks.

The opening chapter's handling of gender identity felt right; there's an elegant inelegance in Atlanta's total acceptance and lack of sophistication that's not ready for writers to achieve. The recaps of book one were well integrated as reminders.

Done! I appreciated the return to the there's of being present and mindful; they are universal challenges and always worth attending to. The reminders to say "I don't know" and to not talk when you're not in the right mental space are important.

The guidance on open ended questions and avoiding getting lost in the weeds are golden.

I really enjoyed the chapter on nondefensive curiosity. The brevity chapter, ironically, could have benefited from more length.

I really enjoyed the chapter on setting expectations; it reminded me a lot of the problems that often plague bad seminars. The recognition of our own biases and the power of apology is written from a place that's deep and resonant; I feel both like I'm reading about what I do daily and that there's a great deal of work to be done. Then again, I supposed that's why I picked this up.