A place of wildly diverse book reviews sprinkled with frequent swears, opinions, and general nerdery
Speak by Louisa Hall was a complex, layered story about Artificial Intelligence, told from multiple points of view that spanned from the 1660s to the 2040s. I found it to be challenging in its discussion of subjects involving AI, such as “what makes something alive?” or “what are the ethics of creating this kind of life vs a machine?” or “can a machine truly be alive if it is only programmed with responses to various input?” It was fascinating. Continue reading “Speak”
Recently, my daughter needed to cull her books, because, at five years old, she is a very good reader and has long outgrown many of the board books and younger story books that cluttered her bookshelves. So together, we sat down and went through them, using it as a wonderful opportunity to teach about giving to others because not everyone is as fortunate as we are to have a small home library of their own, and that some other child might really love getting her board book versions of Jane Eyre and Dracula or the 48 point font version of Pixar’s Brave. She had long since mastered those. Then we came across a book that she hadn’t read in ages, but could technically have kept but decided she wanted to get a new book instead, so she opted to part with it in return for a new one. It was The Poky Little Puppy. Before it went into the pile for Goodwill, she wanted to read it again one last time because she loves puppies. Fair enough. We settled onto the couch for a reading.
I remembered then why I never read that book to her. Continue reading “I Really, Really Hate The Poky Little Puppy”
By Carl Sagan
I enjoy science, although I am the first to admit that I don’t know as much as I’d like to about it. I think I know a little tiny bit more than the average schoolchild, at least. So since I am in no way expert on the subject, I can only say that I truly enjoyed this book.
I thought Sagan did a good job discussing the subjects in layman’s terms without dumbing it down entirely, and without talking completely over my head. It took me longer to read this book than it normally would for one this size. It was a bare 400 pages, but there were a few places that I had to read a couple three times before I felt I had a real grasp of what he was saying, but I think I got a handle on it. Except the part with Maxwell and the equations. I tried. I really did. But about all I got out of that section is that 60 mph is not a vector, but 60 mph due north on highway 1 is, and I am relieved that there are plenty of others out there who understand the whole thing. I feel proud that I got that much about the vectors.
Sagan is skeptical and debunks a lot of common myths in this book, which I appreciate. But he is incredibly compassionate about it. He understands, even if he doesn’t necessarily agree with, the human need to believe in something, whether it is a religion or little green men. I tend to take a more hard nosed approach to faith, but Sagan has managed to find a very good balance between the world of science, skepticism, and real facts vs. the world of faith and belief. I really liked his section on logic and critical thinking, the section he labeled the art of baloney detection, or something to that effect.
I wish this was compulsory reading in high school. I agree that our school curricula have been dumbed down unforgivably and that entire generations not only do not know how to think, but they aren’t even aware that they don’t know how to think. I also wish for everyone who has faith in something, such as a religion, would read this and PAY ATTENTION to it. I read a review on Amazon of this book where the reviewer said he wished he could simultaneously give this book 5 stars and 0 stars–5 stars because it made him think and re-evaluate many things in his life, and 0 stars because it created in him a crisis of faith. I think that is perfect–if one’s beliefs do not hold up under actual scrutiny, where aspects are not adhered to simply because we *like* them, then those beliefs *need* to be re-evaluated. This book is an excellent starting point for that re-evaluation.
Win the lottery – the big one – and not have to work and lead a totally hedonistic and self-indulgent lifestyle! Yes. This. Because I want to just write, and work is interfering with my ability to do the writing things, because I have to, like, get up and go to the work place right during my most creative and productive hours. This is a solid life choice, right?
3.5 stars. Honestly, Goodreads, why can’t you give us half stars?
Let me first start by admitting I am woefully ignorant of Baba Yaga myths. So I’m not even going to touch on that, nor on whether this was a good/accurate/interesting addition to the body of Baba Yaga legends or not. I know my best friend recently read this and fucking loved it, and she does love Baba Yaga stories, but beyond that, I got nothing. For myself, I am indifferent in that regard. Continue reading “Uprooted”
The Wild Girl was an unexpected delight. I loved Forsyth’s Witches of Eileanan series, and I loved the Rhiannon series even more. But those were both fantasy and she could do whatever she wanted in those worlds. I was a little bit alarmed? taken aback? Maybe even a bit worried? To see that she had turned her pen to historical fiction. Would her research be thorough? Would the tale be interesting, or would it fall flat, as happens with so many historical fiction novels? Would it plain old boring? Worst of all, would it be such an inaccurate history that it would actually make me love her fantasy novels less for it? I’d be lying if I said these thoughts hadn’t all crossed my mind.
Here be spoilers….
A formerly well-known practice in times past (and still well known now, in certain circles) was the practice of keeping a commonplace book. These books, which are not to be confused with journals, contained bits and pieces of phrases, sayings, ideas, speeches, formulae, even recipes, each according to the various interests of its owner. They were particularly common to writers, a repository for thoughts and phrases they wished to use in their own works. For readers such as myself, commonplace books are invaluable for helping to remember things I’ve read, quotes I especially liked, and concepts I wish to explore in more depth. Continue reading “Commonplace books”
The Unquiet Bones by Mel Starr was a fun, light read. Nothing too dark or gory, which doesn’t generally bother me as long as it doesn’t involve kids anyway, but having just come off a long string of Harry Bosch novels, it’s a refreshing change all the same. I also missed the Middle Ages. Continue reading “The Unquiet Bones”
So, I started participating in a book-a-thon I read about on a couple blogs I follow (Viper & Plum and awayinneverland) and decided I probably ought to update. It is a good challenge for me, because between full-time work and a very active four-year-old, I don’t read as much as I used to. I still read every day, far more than many people I know, but by my own standards, it is fairly abysmal. Right now, I’m just reading a Star Trek brain candy novel, which is fun and much-needed. But I am also going to start digging in to A Distant Mirror, which I haven’t read since I was in college. So far, I’ve read a grand total of 8 pages in it, the intro, and am ready to tackle chapter one. Woo.
I always knew I was a huge nerd. However, I was reminded just HOW big a nerd I am when I recently unearthed a long-forgotten paper comparing Thomas More’s Utopia to Star Trek that I had written, and actually submitted, in a college class. Yes, I wrote an actual paper about Star Trek! I am highly amused! I make the excuse that it was an assignment for a mere 200-level course, so perhaps the atrocious writing can be forgiven. I was still a baby student. I make no excuse, however, for being a life-long, rabid Trekkie.
So now, in all its unedited, non-MLA-compliant, unadulterated crappiness, I present to you my Star Trek paper. You’re welcome.
Her Grace's Library 