Kaleb

Yes that’s a 1.5 star rating, but it was also laugh-out-loud funny and amazingly affirming and informative about the struggles of those who struggle with mental health (hint: I think that’s all of us).

Yet, for someone who knocks out audiobooks at 2x speed and normally enjoys every second of it, this took me months to finish. That might be a me problem as the hardest part was getting up the courage to look in the mirror, I mean listen to another chapter.

The plot line of Operation Bounce House and its crass middle-school humour were fresh in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, but this is more of the same disappointment. But wait…

Despite that, this book was an unreserved attack on the toxicity of certain gamer subcultures. More importantly though it was a clear denouncement of well-known fascist genocides of our time. Matt Dinniman laid bare the reality that the issue is neither Putin nor Netanyahu – it’s not even Trump. The issue is the passive tolerance that people of all walks of life seemingly embrace.

Revolution does not necessarily mean war, there are many forms of resistance. In this book he demonstrates some creative examples to make the point that in revolution all other options must be considered prior to resorting to violence.

I have myriad concerns with certain patrons taken by this author, but filtering them as merely noise revealed wisdom sorely missing in today’s agricultural dialog.

With a land ethic not so dissimilar to that of Aldo Leopold, but focused almost entirely on the agricultural use of land, Wendell Berry predicts – though he never knew it as this was published in 1977 – the unfortunate reality of 21st century farm and land management practices.

While the data set we have today is larger, the conclusions and solutions apparent today are essentially the same as when this was written. The primary difference is that in addition to applying the principals he advocated for, we have also to remediate the damage done over the latest five decades.

Where Wolves Don’t Die is a fantastic young adult book. As a non-Native person I can only imagine the positive impact this may offer Native youth, but as a parent I can confidently say this novel masterfully addresses key coming of age topics in ways I hope my own son will appreciate.

“Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask” could have been named “Everything You You didn’t Realize You Needed to Know About Indians”, but it’s clear that volition is important. I encourage you to ask the question ‘What should I know’ as well as ‘What do I think I know that may be incorrect’.

There are so many things that I learned from this book that I am saddened to admit I didn’t know before, despite the years spent in and around the territory of the Misi-zaaga'igani Anishinaabeg (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) in Northern Minnesota and the Mikinaakwajiw-ininiwag (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) in North Central North Dakota. In fact, I believe that it is this familiarity that led to never asking more questions.

Interesting story, but the storytelling was chaotic and dated.

Wow! Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a fantastic book. Easily believable and plausible science combined with the hope of cooperation.

Many similar sci-fi stories stimulate feelings of suspense, urgency, mission, and such. But few inspire hope; hope in humanity, in the cosmos, and in ourselves. Read in an era of rock-bottom emotions where hope is scarce, made worse by the fact that our own condition is nowhere as bad as it may become – Andy Weir presents a glimmer of hope, not because the story has anything to do with the issues destroying humanity today, but because so many other readers have also found solice and temporary escape in this book.

As John and Yoko said:

War is over if you want it!

It seems to me that there are many in this world who want collaboration, cooperation, and coexistence. Even if like the protagonist, we have been drug kicking and screaming to this point, let us have the courage to fight for what's right before it's too late.

#BookReview #Hardcover #Audiobook #HailMary #AndyWeir #Resist #Colaboration #Coexistance #Pluralism #Tolerance #Now

While Sword & Sorcery is not my favourite genere of fantasy, I must say this book gives even S&S a bad name. It it entirely unimaginative and predictable, with absolutely no character development beyond the typical tropes. While this may be acceptable for a young-adult fantasy novel, the unnecessary innuendo of pederasty and exclusively chauvinistic depiction of women precludes that purpose as well. In short, this was disappointing.

Edit: I apparently wrote this review too soon, it got worse in Chapter 41. It turns out that the only imagination this author seems to have is for brutality, but even that seems to be unoriginal following basic BDSM tropes.

Have you ever wondered about organ donation, or the history of cataract surgeries; maybe how ostomies work, or how gender affirming surgeries are done? This deadpan humorous look at the incredible human body and the efforts and advances in caring for those with all form of organ and tissue needs is incredible!

Chapters 5 and 6 – the vagina and penis, respectively – were the most enlightening for me. (Especially the candid look at the arrogance and ignorance of surgeons and the unintended consequence of the same with regard to gender affirming surgeries – know your options!)

Check out Replaceable You: Adventures in human anatomy

While a cynic as jaded as me should not be surprised by the disgusting apathy, shown by these dangerous elites, to the world-changing impacts of their choices, I was appalled! Sara Wynn-Williams is brave and credible. Her candour and confidence in Careless People is powerful.

I left the Facebook and Instagram platforms years ago because of the vitriol and lies the platform promoted, which I wrongly assumed were the result of incompetence rather than malice. Now, I wonder why it took me a full 14 years to grasp the willful inhumanity at work there.

Ever the skeptic, I wondered what embellishments might have made it into the book, but checking my cynicism against the indisputable reality of the power, influence, and control wielded by those involved I am reminded that the truth is dangerous enough for this whistleblower. The smallest lie would undermine the purpose of this release.

It’s difficult to express the joy this story gives given the extreme sadness that underpins it. The strength of the human will to survive, of love, and of community is so poignant.

Whether fiction or non, recognition of the powerful impact and courage of women throughout history is critical. This story makes me want to read more about the real heroines of the Packhorse Librarians and others who answered the call of the Works Progress Administration.

Many years after finishing the Aubry-Maturin series I had occasion to learn of another novel of Patrick O'Brian's, The Golden Ocean. Happily, Master O'Brian's excellence in storytelling was as powerfully wonderful in this as in so many of his other works.