book
Rated The Great Depression and the New Deal: A Very Short Introduction 6/10
Not a lot I didn't know already, but nicely done - efficiently walks through the major points while still having room for a little analysis of what did and didn't work.
Really delightful book by a theoretical particle physicist about some of the latest developments in science, especially the Large Hadron Collider in Europe - but sine it's a couple of years old there have been some developments since then. Especially useful as a window into how scientists think about problems. If I had any reservations it's that some of it is really well above my head ore super-technical and I had to skim it - there are certain things about particle physics I'm just never going to really understand with my limited scientific/mathematical background although Randall is very game to try and explain genuinely weird stuff like super-symmetry and very small extra dimensions.
Wants to read The Unknowns by Gabriel Roth
Rated 21st-Century Yokel 10/10
I loved this immensely. More thoughts soon.
Rated The Spirit of Aikido 8/10
not the best writing but a good quick intro to the history and principles/practices of aikido.
Rated Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Holiday Special: Time Out of Mind 8/10
Fun. Liked the art.
Wants to read The Cabinet
Rated NW 8/10
A story-suite more than a novel - extremely vividly drawn, emotionally rich as Smith’s books always are, doesn’t quite all fall together as intended. As usual, her focus is on the lived experience of racial, cultural and class divides among a diverse cast of Londoners. Not as gripping as White Teeth or Swing Time but if you liked those you’ll appreciate this one.
Wants to read 1Q84 Book One and Book Two [Hardcover] Murakami, Haruki
Rated Finbar's Hotel 8/10
Ah, collective loneliness and anxiety about life. Enjoyed this. Worth returning it late to the library.
Rated The coup / John Updike 6/10
Hmmm. Enjoyable, but ultimately kind of slight; beautifully written but too in love with its own language; too queasy-making about race and touched through with whatever the Africa version of "Orientalism" would be. Recommended with reservations - I haven't read much Updike but have to assume this is regarded as a lesser work.
Wants to read [(Selected Stories)] [Author: Alice Munro] published on
Rated A Master of Djinn 8/10
<div>While sometimes the writing style wasn't for me — a Me problem, as I like my descriptions unfussy — I was still very much invested in this book. I liked the alternate-history-Cairo setting, where magic is real and its particulars legislated on a variety of planes, and the characters were all very distinct from one another. I'm interested in reading more, which works out nicely, since I have a novella set in this universe too.</div>
Wants to read A Queer History of the United States
Finished reading The Silmarillion
Wants to read A Line Made By Walking