book
Rated Swing Time 8/10
There's so much going on in this story it's hard to do it all justice - it starts with the treacherously close friendship of two biracial girls growing up in London and spirals out into the wider world, taking in Parliament, the Gambia, and pop stardom even as the memory of their friendship has a gravitational pull over the whole story. Really well-done in terms of rich characters, pacing, emotional depth, political insight and vivid detail; there's maybe 10% too much plot but it still all hangs together well. Highly recommend!
Rated Canto yo y la montaña baila 10/10
Finished reading Het Dossier
Reading The Physics of Filter Coffee
Rated Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War 8/10
Very Mary Roach-y, which I mean as a compliment; her writing is very clever and her curiosity is contagious. As she notes in the preface, this is very much not about the science of weapons, but rather a series of essays on how scientists attempt to keep the troops clothed, fed and healthy in both normal and dire circumstances. There are poignant moments and funny ones, but the former are somewhat underplayed relative to the latter given the weight of the subject matter. Not my favorite of her books but a good, quick and thoughtful read.
Added Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Harper Perennial Modern Classics) to Want to Read
Rated A Parade of Horribles 7/10
Rated A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking 8/10