stormkeeper_lovedoris

Non fiction:

Coming Home by Brittney Griner

We Were Once a Family by Roxanna Asgarian

Victory. Stand! By Tommy Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile

I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt by Madeline Pendleton

README.txt by Chelsea Manning

Beyond Power by Marilyn French 

Be a Revolution by Ijeoma Oluo 

Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You by Becky Holmes 

The Confidence Men by Margalit Fox 

Fiction:

The Wolf Den trilogy by Elodie Harper

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger 

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

Matrix by Lauren Groff 

Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough – A series of essays by a remarkable woman who was raised in The Family (horrible patriarchal sex cult), joined the Air Force and was kicked out, survived on low-wage jobs, did a stint in jail, had mental health issues, and is a lesbian. Her writing is riveting. As one reviewer said, “fiercely honest, funny, brazen, brilliant.” I quoted a piece of her writing on my FB, just because it seemed very trenchant when thinking about US voters: “We (Americans) fetishize poverty, as though it makes you a better person. The truth is all it does is make you mean. The constant stress of it. The never-ending f** shame of it. It makes you angry and hateful. You’re not jealous of those who have more. You’re just exhausted by the *** humiliation they will not hesitate to throw at you. There’s a world of opportunity you’ll never reach. College. Jobs. A network of contacts ..” Grade: 8

There is No Ethan by Anna Akbari – Wow. I could not put this book down. It’s a real-life account of three women who uncovered and unmasked a catfisher. Truth really is stranger than fiction, and I had to keep reading to see what would happen. (I even did some googling after finishing the book to see if there was any follow-up). Grade: 8

Loot by Tania James – This is a very interesting novel. Set in 18^th century India, it tells the story of young Abbas who is a master woodworker, and who comes to the attention of the sultan. It’s one of those books that is well-written and engaging enough, but I suspect that in a year or so, I won’t remember it. Grade: 6

Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make – and Keep – Friends by Marisa G Franco – Solid, well-researched book about the importance of friendship. There’s nothing surprising in here but it’s a good reminder. Friends are just as important as romantic partners! Full disclosure: the topic was awesome but the book wasn’t always that compelling and I may have skimmed a few parts. Grade: 6

Rest in Power by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin – This book is written by the parents of Trayvon Martin and is about their struggle for justice after his murder. I got it from a Little Free Library. I think I will write more about my reactions to the book than the book itself. First, racism and police brutality are still as bad as ever. “Stand Your Ground” is still law in Florida, and in fact it was changed several years after Trayvon’s murder to make it even easier for the shooter to justify his actions. (wtf) Trayvon’s killer is still free, and according to Wikipedia he is making shittons of money selling crappy confederate “art”. A racist is set to take the highest office in the land, in January. What the hell is it all for? Yet the book seems to suggest that the fight for justice is still the right thing to do, even if it seems like justice is never attained. While reading this book, I did do a post on FB asking for ideas. My post basically said: I’ve read a lot of books about racism but how do I do more?? Me reading books doesn’t feel like it changes anything. I asked the AI at work for ideas. First it listed more books to read. I said that I already read most of them and I wanted to take more action. So then it gave me a bunch of ideas on conversing with people on the topic. But that poses some problems too, such as the fact that most of us live in bubbles and rarely interact with a diverse range of people. (As I said on FB, come on I have 3 friends, and all of them feel the way I do on this topic). So then the AI gave me ideas on how to get out and socialize more. Which I can do, but again I live in a big city and you won’t find many folks here saying that Stand Your Ground is a great law or copping to purchasing confederate “artwork”. I feel like I landed back at square one in terms of my activism goals: keep canvassing and campaigning for candidates who support racial justice.  (Again, apologies that this review is more about my reactions and actions, but I am assuming that anyone reading this report already knows at least a bit about Trayvon and the events surrounding his murder. Grade: 8)

Coming Home by Brittney Griner – Memoir by the famous athlete who spent 292 days in the Russian prison system before being allowed home in a prisoner swap. Griner had forgotten to remove some vapes from her bag when she headed to Russia; apparently the combined amount of what was left in the vapes wouldn’t have gotten a person high, but it didn’t matter. There was no due process, nothing that could’ve been considered fair or reasonable with the way Russia treated her. Imagine being imprisoned by a scary, confusing, inconsistent, cruel system. With no way of knowing how long you will actually be there. (At one point, she has to constantly tell herself she’ll serve her entire 9 year sentence, as it’s the only way she can keep from breaking down. The conditions in the places where she was kept were all terrible). The book was a page-turner. Grade: 8

Dusk Night Dawn by Anne Lamott – Got this book from a Little Free Library in Wisconsin, and I am never letting it go! It is a series of essays that was published a few years ago, and every word completely resonates, especially now. Lamott writes about living in challenging times and struggling to find hope and joy. The book is like a gentle hand in the pitch dark, making you feel that at least you are not alone. I am struck that this book came into my life right at the time of this horrific election result. Grade: 8

Trans Like Me: Conversations for All of Us by CS Lester  – I listened to this on audio, and it is read by the author who has a very mellifluous voice. Lester gives the basics of being trans and they easily refute the usual anti-trans arguments. As one reviewer said, the book is thoughtful, intelligent, and approachable. It’s also short, so anyone who drives and wants to listen to something should really check this out. Grade: 7

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross - Apparently for centuries there were rumors that a female Pope existed in the 9^th century, and that for a long time this was even taken as fact until the Catholic Church began a concerted effort to erase her existence. (The author admits there is no way to know for sure whether or not there ever was a female Pope, as the 9^th century is one of the most poorly-documented centuries). This is a well-researched novelization of her life. It was fairly compelling, though like not super well-written. There are mid-scene shifts in point-of-view, there’s info-dumping, and the last third feels like a rushed outline rather than a novel where events unfold and we get a chance to feel it and react. There are also too many tangents focusing on Joan’s nemesis, and these sections were boring – like, why pull the focus away like that? Still, it held my interest. Grade: 5

The Wind At My Back by Misty Copeland – This is the famous ballerina’s tribute to another pioneering ballerina, Raven Wilkinson. Wilkinson danced with major ballet companies in the 1950s, virtually unheard-of for a Black woman at the time. It’s a quick, easy read and a good one. I learned that when Wilkinson’s ballet company’s bus reached the south, KKK members blockaded the road because they learned there was a Black ballerina on it. Perhaps it was too much to expect that 70 years later this country would elect a Black woman as president. Grade: 7

We Were Once a Family by Roxanna Asgarian - The case made national news; even I had heard of it. Two white moms drove their SUV off a cliff, killing themselves and their six Black adopted children. One of the moms had been very active online, posting pictures of her son hugging a police officer at a BLM protest, advocating for good causes, though often sounding like she had “white savior complex”. And then the details started to come out. This wasn’t an accident, and evidence that the children had been abused was mounting. Asgarian is not drawn in by the psychological problems of the mothers; instead she seeks out the parts of the story that were made invisible: the children themselves and the system that seemed hellbent on taking them from their families and adopting them out, heedless of their own needs. And clearly what we see is a miasma of racism and a system that doesn’t really care about children or abuse. The children’s stories shook me to the bone. I read the book in two days, and this is an impeccable work of investigative journalism. Grade: 8

Boyfriend Materials by Alexis Hall – Contemporary novel where there’s a “fake dating that turns real” thing going on. Oh, and it’s two men. Cute and fun but it moved too slowly – especially given the genre here, I mean come on this is not “War and Peace -  and wasn’t that engaging. Grade: 3

Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob – Well the timing for me reading this graphic memoir was painfully right. I read it the day after election day. Jacob begins the memoir with her young son asking questions about race and racism. Jacob is Southeast Asian, her husband is Jewish, and her son is trying to make sense of prejudice. During the memoir we see micro-aggressions, 911, Obama’s election night, and the 2016 election night (including the fact that Jacob’s in-laws voted for Trump). Like I said, the timing was fitting….like I mourn for this country while also hoping Jacob’s son might be ok and maybe even help make this country a better place. Grade: 8

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian – I listened to this on audio. Alexis goes on a biking tour through Vietnam, with her boyfriend Austin. He goes missing, and Alexis soon learns there is far more going on with Austin than she’d dreamed. It held my interest. It won’t change your life. Which probably describes most of Bohjalian’s stories. J Grade: 6

Victory. Stand! By Tommy Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile – Two graphic memoirs in a row; I didn’t plan it, I swear. This one is Tommy Smith’s story. He won Olympic gold in 1968 and was excoriated for standing on the dais with his fist raised, in protest of the US’s racism. Before he got to that point, he raised in a family of impoverished sharecroppers. His story is brilliant and compelling, and the illustrations are pristine. The memoir talks about the backlash he faced for years, for taking this stand against racism. In the final panel, he says he would do it all over again – and I legit got tears in my eyes. Grade: 8

Madam Speaker by Susan Page -  An 11 CD audiobook on Nancy Pelosi, and yet…it’s good? In fact, I am amazed at all that Pelosi has done, and her skill at doing it. I was interested to learn that Pelosi never actually had political aspirations though she came from a political family. Her father was a multiple-term mayor of Baltimore and the family grew up talking and understanding politics, but Pelosi herself had always planned to stay in the background, supporting candidates from the sidelines. She married and had 5 children in 6 years. But her trajectory changed when a dying Congresswoman told her to run to replace her. What a tenure she has had! She was (is) a master fundraiser, master strategist, she is tireless and fearless.  If it was not for her, we wouldn’t have Obamacare (which should be called Pelosicare) nor would we have had the measures that saved us from a Depression after the crash in ’08. The book is filled with some of the strategies she used. She didn’t allow “exit ramps” when working with Obama and Emmanuel on Obamacare. She calls in favors. She figures out who will influence a given Congressman and gets them on the phone with him. Obama was like this brilliant Harvard professor but he didn’t know how to play politics and get votes like Pelosi did. She always knows her numbers before she calls a vote. She filibustered once for 8 hours. Which meant she had to stand and talk the entire time, no breaks other than to sip water. She was 77 years old and she was wearing 4 inch heels. Why did she do it? To protect the Dreamers and DACA. She is progressive and yet practical too. And Pelosi is supportive of LGBTQ rights; she fought endlessly to get the AIDS memorial quilt on display in DC when all the organizers were hearing was ‘no’. She found a way to get them to say yes. I could go on and on but she is clearly one of the most effective Speakers ever. And I don’t know what will happen in the presidential election but….if Harris wins, it’ll largely be due to Pelosi making the final call that Biden had to step aside. Grade: 8 (I should add that parts of the book are a bit boring and I did skip thru a few tracks!)

Ten Lessons For a Post-Pandemic World by Zareed Zakaria – I started this report with two graphic memoirs in a row, and now here are two audiobooks in a row. (I spent much of October driving around Wisconsin, so that means – audiobooks!). This short book could have been painfully dry. And it starts out that way. Ugh, the guy is talking global geo-politics, diplomacy, China vs US, economics, and such.  But at times it’s really interesting? Like when he’s talking about AI or the rise of cities or even the divides like rural/urban or educated/non-educated which are even more salient with the upcoming election. I’d say if someone has time to listen to audio and wants to learn a little bit more about the world on a big scale, this is a good book. Grade: 7

The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper – This is the third in the trilogy I’ve been reading, which centers around a young woman in ancient Rome who is enslaved when our story starts.  What an ending to this trilogy! I couldn’t put the book down. It is fascinating, just like the first two books. Someone needs to make this into a TV series! The plot twists are expertly done. And such beautiful writing. The author has done her homework on ancient Rome. She describes it all with just the right amount of detail, tossing in a lovely metaphor here and there but never overdoing it.  Grade: 9

Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult by Michelle Dowd – Listened to it on audio. The author was raised in a cult; not The Family but kinda similar to it, called The Field. Right-wing Christian shit where the females are abused and taught to be submissive, though this one has the cool extra twist that they live on a mountain (in Northern CA I think) and the author’s mom teaches her all sorts useful things about foraging and surviving on a mountain. And the same mom looks the other way as horrific abuse happens, and doesn’t visit her daughter when she has to stay in a hospital for months. Please can stupid idiots who join cults and who don’t want to love their children please just stop having fucking children?? Well, a review says this is a “fierce and empowering coming of age story”, and I agree. Grade: 8

These Letters End in Tears by Musih Tedji Xaviere – Oh how I wanted to enjoy this novel! Taking place in modern Cameroon, the book’s main character is a lesbian who has to live in the closet and who has lost the love of her life. There’s a great storyline in here but it all unfolds slowly and I had to force myself to pick the book up. Grade: 3

The House With the Golden Door by Elodie Harper – Book two of a trilogy taking place in ancient Rome, starring a (formerly) enslaved woman named Amara who is just trying to survive. I don’t think anyone reading this report will ever read these books, but I’ll still avoid spoilers. This is SUCH GOOD historical fiction! It’s a page-turner and it’s well-researched, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the third book. Grade: 8

Wavewalker by Suzanne Heywood – A long memoir that I read in a few days. The author’s parents decided, when she was 7 years old, to sail around the world. So Suzanne spent 10 years on her parents’ boat. They mostly sailed around the South Pacific, her dad did stupid things and lost money, her mom was a cold-hearted jerk who viewed Suzanne as a servant. I was infuriated reading this: the parents had no interest in their kids’ schooling or social lives or anything. The mom in particular was horrible and needs to be tossed over the side of a boat. In any case the story is absolutely enthralling, and at least it has a happy ending though Suzanne had to fight tooth and nail to even get to somewhere where she could occasionally mail her correspondence courses. Grade: 8

 Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko - It’s not the kind of book you read cover to cover but I will include it here because it’s good. It’s a workbook with tons and tons of ideas on creativity, especially as it applies to work problems that you want to find a solution to. The book is dated (one section references using “a computer with a modem” lol) but there are so many suggestions and things to try when you need to problem-solve or need a dose of creativity, and I actually pulled a few for an actual work project, and….they worked! So I am keeping it. We do need to employ more creative problem-solving techniques in the business world – that’s for sure. Grade: 8