Shawn > Recent Status Updates

Learning about His wife, Khadijah, & the dreams she had about Him. Not quite sure I understood the connection to the mother, the aunt, Fatimih, & Khadijah. Anyway I'm benefiting from reading this. There's a surplus of time these days, EUSD continues on, only I hardly work. Can't quite wrap head around what's happening: it all feels forced in, as if we had no informed consent at all, & the media...the news, "news".

The story of the beginning of this New Era never gets old!

Interesting opening, liked 1st quote, then thought the story had begun, only to read more quotes. I've been reading much from authors who are women. Going to take this read a bit slower than the previous weeks' for I aim to finish a couple other ones as soon as possible.

It's flowing along, did not realize how rusty my spanish has gotten, & the great percentage of words that I just never knew! Jeez. But having committed now to easing up on the sci fi & fi & to complete my open-ended reads (this one, in Spanish, the other in Japanese). It shouldn't be too straining, & I do derive substance from the content, it ain't just an exercise in translation.

somehow I thought that I could read Spanish! boy oh boy, my dictionary’s ready

Gonna ease up, enough for today, I've another ~36 hrs to finish. It's not really what I go for. Reminds of Neil Gaiman or "Kraken" by China M. Never read Lovecraft, not sure that I will; it's hard to take seriously b/c anything goes. lt could've been a lot shorter had it cut out the grouping together. Nice to have Hong, & Paulo, & some exposition, rather than florid encounters. Have yet to really FEEL the city tho.

hong kong, cool

Just trying to finish, now. Story's mildly interesting, flows like tv episodes, redundant tendrils, same view from diff ppl. Surprised this book's 400+pgs. Still unclear relevance of Sao Paulo. Woman in White, so not believing any of it. There never appears danger or crisis, never a moment of suspense, it all whooshes through images & adjectives, loopy & loony action, strange & queer behaviors.

This last chunk was decent, readable, it was fine. I like Bronca/s perspective, not so much Brooklyn's. Realizing that Staten Island hasn't received much attention so it'll probably be a good 5% on her coming up. Appreciating the NY, it reminds of myself, wanting to hide, deliberately. When cornered I can say mean things. But mostly I evade & run.

This last chunk was decent, readable, it was fine. I like Bronca/s perspective, not so much Brooklyn's. Realizing that Staten Island hasn't received much attention so it'll probably be a good 5% on her coming up. Appreciating the NY, it reminds of myself, wanting to hide, deliberately. When cornered I can say mean things. But mostly I evade & run.

The Threat somehow worked its way to front & center w/out my ever really understanding what it is. Is the city gonna blow up? Are the avatars gonna die? What is going on? They just have to find each other, & then what?

It reads slightly above YA. Things are moving fast, characters seem to quickly grasp what's going on despite their never having experienced it. Now there are about a dozen names to keep track of, the main ones plus their friends. It's all way too fantastical for me. Too cartoony. Anything goes in this world, & now there's some danger/plot/plan/agenda of a sudden. Not sure what the danger is. It certainly needs explai

Tuned out a bit, guess it isn't as unpredictable as I mentioned: Bronca goes through the same weird distortion of space, it feels repetitive, or at the least, why have us go through the same introduction for every borough/character? I'd rather the plot drive straight forward, or hear more of the dialogue than get yet another description of the distortion of space & the cartoony effect from the angle of yet another --

Has come to be engaging & palpable. Beginning to appreciate it though ot altogether sure I like it. But everyone has a unique & vivid portrait. None dry, predictable, or cardboard. Can't anticipate Jemisin's storytelling. W/Bronca is a vibe entirely different to Aislyn's.
Con: not buying tendrils & their numerous descriptions; redundant; an synonymous-adjective-exercise on follicles, tentacles, etc. (filler/fluff)

Grew favorably since 17%! Beginning to catch the rhythm & pulse. The more I see of Manny the more I'm cool w/him, & Aislyn fits a certain type as well as Brooklyn. The scene in the park was weird but made for an impression. Not sure if Bel'll return, his character is tangential & unnecessary. The style is one which doesn't beg me to meditate & dig deep for meanings. It all flows w/a quick pace. A modern urgency.

Not sure that I've the taste for this book. Don't like how it 'tries' to push all boundaries. Of course Manny's roomie's not a straight-forward heterosexual b/c the author's a woman, & wants to be LGBTQIA. Yea, folks in NYC might gay, might not be, but w/this book I almost expected/wasn't-at-all-surprised that men would be homo- & that women would be fiercely independent. Unconventional becomes conventional.

初め気づいた！

I tried to find the English version but it's unavailable. I'm fine w/the challenge of reading the Spanish version; I need only a better 'reader'. I've a pdf version & it's pretty terrible reading it thru iBooks.

Not sure that I've the taste for this book. Don't like how it 'tries' to push all boundaries. Of course Manny's roomie's not a straight-forward heterosexual b/c the author's a woman, & wants to be LGBTQIA. Yea, folks in NYC might gay, might not be, but w/this book I almost expected/wasn't-at-all-surprised that men would be homo- & that women would be fiercely independent. Unconventional becomes conventional.

Almost finished, been an informative read, it's apparent the chronology & the consequences. Not sure that there are solutions being provided, it's so complex, but I suppose the sterilization & the distraction of attractants might be promising. Overall the book paints a bleak picture: the chems are ubiquitous. Do we get affected by laundry detergent? Or dish soap? Such strong chems all around us.

Resistance

Beginning now to enjoy this one, I like the city atmosphere, it's certainly lending itself to my fondness for NYC. Maybe someday I'll be able to, IDK, what do I want? How? I started my comments of this book wondering why the MC was gay, I thought this book'd be alot about that, but it isn't, although I'm wondering just what type of 'young black man' he is. I don't have much time between this loan & the Silent Spring.

OK, so I've covered ~20% today, it's a read that needs to be taken in one long 'take' b/c it's filled with statistical information, & it all spells one long word: nature being spoiled, hazards to human & animal & insect & plant life, hazardous to life. Amazed at how much research Carson did. Infuriated when the voices for regulation & caution are muted for the sake of commercial gain.

Whew, this is a heavy read.

This book isn't new but remains relevant. I feel a bit depressed in reading it, mad at giant companies & their juggernaut agendas, how they can hire out scientists to refute claims of victims, bulwark their own plans, & how no blame can placed on one single person. I've bird feeders for the first time this year & would be upset if the birds that came round suddenly began dying off.