This is my first novel by Mario Vargas Llosa, and well, I am a little lost for words here. I cracked open “The Feast of the Goat” relativUh. Ok. Wow.
This is my first novel by Mario Vargas Llosa, and well, I am a little lost for words here. I cracked open “The Feast of the Goat” relatively ignorant about its subject matter. I knew that the Trujillo regime had been a brutal dictatorship that had kept the Dominican Republic in a state of terror for many years but that was about it, really. Consider my ignorance remedied now, as I constantly looked up events and people featured in Vargas Llosa’s novel.
“The Feast of the Goat” is a beautifully, intricately written work of historical fiction that explores these thirty years of Dominican history through the eyes of Urania Cabral, the daughter of one of Trujillo’s disgraced (and fictional) senators, and through the story of the conspirators who took part in the plot to assassinate the Generalissimo. After thirty years abroad, Uriana comes back to visit her now-incapacitated father, and her return to the Dominican Republic brings up memories of growing up in a strange time and place. Uriana struggles with reconciling what she perceives as contrasting facets of her father’s personality, knowing fully well that for many years, he sheltered her from the horrible things that happened to other women (wives or daughters) who were close to the Trujillo family, and yet worked to keep people he knew were capable of monstrous acts in power – often by being complicit to many atrocities himself. Intertwined with her recollections are the stories of a handful of men who made the decision to put an end to El Hefe’s rule in the only effective way they could think of, and what strange and often violent pasts brought them to this point. In a third story line, some events are seen from the perspective of Trujillo himself, as he looks back on some of the most infamous moments of his dictatorship while coming to grips with his failing health and the unavoidable end of his reign.
The non-linear narrative, which brings together the present moment and vivid memories is seamless, the prose both gorgeous and heartbreaking. As mentioned, I knew very little about the history of the Dominican Republic, and this eye-opening narrative brought that history to life in a deeply affective and personal way. The multiple points of view give a very rich and layered portrait of what it was like to live in what was then Ciudad Trujillo, and how the aftermath of the assassination upended the characters’ world. Vargas Llosa describes the brutal corruption and acts of great violence very graphically – but do not for a minute think that this is done gratuitously. He shows the horrible power of blackmail and manipulation, the way power itself is given and taken away in such a cruel and decadent setting to warn readers of the dangers of absolute power and misplaced loyalties.
Using Trujillo’s voice for one story line was also a clever move on Vargas Llosa’s part, because while the other two narrations serve as a testimonial that some things should never be forgotten lest history repeats itself, we also need to remember that despots and narrators often think of themselves as saviors and well-intentioned people. It’s not easy to summon empathy for Trujillo, but we see here a terrible dictator who is, also, a bitterly disappointed parent, an insecure old man who can feel his death hot on his heels and someone who let his thirst for power and control override his capacity to be empathic. I’m not sure I felt sad for Rafael Trujillo, but I felt sad for the pathetic old man on the page.
This novel is unusually gripping for historical fiction, as the events escalate into a shocking climax that brings all three narrative lines together. I saw that another reviewer was reminded of Roth’s “Human Stain” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) while reading this, because it is just as intimate, perhaps strangely, as the story of Coleman Silk, and similarly engineered into a beautiful clockwork that delivers a devastating bang at the end. Stunning is really the best word I can think of to describe this book. Everyone should read it.
Merged review:
Uh. Ok. Wow.
This is my first novel by Mario Vargas Llosa, and well, I am a little lost for words here. I cracked open “The Feast of the Goat” relatively ignorant about its subject matter. I knew that the Trujillo regime had been a brutal dictatorship that had kept the Dominican Republic in a state of terror for many years but that was about it, really. Consider my ignorance remedied now, as I constantly looked up events and people featured in Vargas Llosa’s novel.
“The Feast of the Goat” is a beautifully, intricately written work of historical fiction that explores these thirty years of Dominican history through the eyes of Urania Cabral, the daughter of one of Trujillo’s disgraced (and fictional) senators, and through the story of the conspirators who took part in the plot to assassinate the Generalissimo. After thirty years abroad, Uriana comes back to visit her now-incapacitated father, and her return to the Dominican Republic brings up memories of growing up in a strange time and place. Uriana struggles with reconciling what she perceives as contrasting facets of her father’s personality, knowing fully well that for many years, he sheltered her from the horrible things that happened to other women (wives or daughters) who were close to the Trujillo family, and yet worked to keep people he knew were capable of monstrous acts in power – often by being complicit to many atrocities himself. Intertwined with her recollections are the stories of a handful of men who made the decision to put an end to El Hefe’s rule in the only effective way they could think of, and what strange and often violent pasts brought them to this point. In a third story line, some events are seen from the perspective of Trujillo himself, as he looks back on some of the most infamous moments of his dictatorship while coming to grips with his failing health and the unavoidable end of his reign.
The non-linear narrative, which brings together the present moment and vivid memories is seamless, the prose both gorgeous and heartbreaking. As mentioned, I knew very little about the history of the Dominican Republic, and this eye-opening narrative brought that history to life in a deeply affective and personal way. The multiple points of view give a very rich and layered portrait of what it was like to live in what was then Ciudad Trujillo, and how the aftermath of the assassination upended the characters’ world. Vargas Llosa describes the brutal corruption and acts of great violence very graphically – but do not for a minute think that this is done gratuitously. He shows the horrible power of blackmail and manipulation, the way power itself is given and taken away in such a cruel and decadent setting to warn readers of the dangers of absolute power and misplaced loyalties.
Using Trujillo’s voice for one story line was also a clever move on Vargas Llosa’s part, because while the other two narrations serve as a testimonial that some things should never be forgotten lest history repeats itself, we also need to remember that despots and narrators often think of themselves as saviors and well-intentioned people. It’s not easy to summon empathy for Trujillo, but we see here a terrible dictator who is, also, a bitterly disappointed parent, an insecure old man who can feel his death hot on his heels and someone who let his thirst for power and control override his capacity to be empathic. I’m not sure I felt sad for Rafael Trujillo, but I felt sad for the pathetic old man on the page.
This novel is unusually gripping for historical fiction, as the events escalate into a shocking climax that brings all three narrative lines together. I saw that another reviewer was reminded of Roth’s “Human Stain” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) while reading this, because it is just as intimate, perhaps strangely, as the story of Coleman Silk, and similarly engineered into a beautiful clockwork that delivers a devastating bang at the end. Stunning is really the best word I can think of to describe this book. Everyone should read it....more
Yoga has certainly become a bit of an obsession for me, with the lockdown significantly restricting the range of physical activities I could enjoy. ItYoga has certainly become a bit of an obsession for me, with the lockdown significantly restricting the range of physical activities I could enjoy. It gave me a great opportunity to move, but also to stop moving, which at times, was just as necessary. And as I got more and more interested in the physical practice, but also its history and the place it now has in culture, I started getting curious about the various schools of thoughts and types of practices. My personal practice is a Iyengar type of Hatha Yoga, and while I kept seeing posts and hearing all kinds of things about Ashtanga, the only descriptions of it I could find left me more puzzled than anything else. I had read Kino MacGregor's "Get Your Yoga On" (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), and I knew she had a very clear and straight-forward style, so I figured that if anyone could help me understand what exactly is Ashtanga Yoga, it would be her.
This book is an extremely informative introduction to Ashtanga, and while I'm not sure this is the type of yoga practice I am ready for (at least not right now), reading this book will have enriched my personal practice in a few different ways.
The section on Ashtanga philosophy is very interesting, and quite applicable for any serious yoga student - not just for those interested in this specific style of practice. It is a very rigorous physical practice that is paired with rather strict lifestyle guidelines, but the system as a whole is a very coherent and holistic approach to yogic philosophy: it demands dedication and discipline, and is definitely not for people who think of yoga as a hobby or merely an exotic workout, so it can comes across as very serious and rigid. Yet MacGregor explains it with an approachable language and flexible attitude that I really appreciated. In some ways, it reminded me of Zen practice, which is often perceived as almost militaristic, but is in fact based in straightforward compassion and clarity.
The description of each asana in the primary series is very detailed so that yogis can approach them safely and understand exactly what they are doing with their bodies. I have made adjustments to the way I approach some asanas after reading this book, and I have definitely felt the difference. I have also used the sequencing of the primary series as inspiration in my practice with really great results. Some of those asanas still baffle me, and are way beyond my current level, but it's still interesting to be informed about them, and are good long-term goals to set for myself.
This is a great book that I would recommend to anyone interested in Ashtanga yoga; I imagine it would be a great complement to anyone taking classes, as well as being a useful reference to add to a curious yogi's library....more
This book is exactly the kind of book I wish I’d had at hand when I started doing yoga again two summers ago: a book that is clear, approchable, incluThis book is exactly the kind of book I wish I’d had at hand when I started doing yoga again two summers ago: a book that is clear, approchable, inclusive but also challenging and honest.
This book explores the 30 foundational poses (after a while, you realize a lot of asanas are variations or evolution of other poses – so if you know that set, working towards the more advanced or funky versions is a lot more intuitive), and how to go from the beginner’s to the more advanced way of doing it. And to be fair, sometimes, no matter how long you’ve been doing yoga, you get a tired or off-balanced day and your body just won’t do that pose it’s been doing for years.
MacGregor reminds readers that the asanas themselves are tools, and not goals. At the risk of sounding exactly like my dad, the super-hippie-yoga-teacher, working towards the full asana is a journey you take with your body as you explore and push back the limits of your strength, balance and flexibility, but it can’t really be rushed – something many yoga books (or classes) do not emphasize enough. In that spirit, she sets realistic expectations: it may take months (and yes, sometimes years) to completely master some poses, and trying too hard and too fast does nothing but lead over-eager students to frustrations and injuries.
I loved seeing the poses demonstrated by diverse models – not just skin tones, but shapes and ages, as well. It’s easy to be intimidated by advanced asanas in yoga books, but it’s just as discouraging never to see people that look like you in those books, and I am very happy that the trend of tiny blond contortionist yoga models is finally making way for a more realistic representation.
It’s not a perfect book: since it’s clearly aimed at beginners, I wish it had also included a little section about warm-up exercises (which are just as important as a gentle approach and modifications to prevent injuries) and a recommended reading list to direct students towards works that explore the other limbs of Yoga a bit more deeply, but regardless, this book will be very useful and very motivational people who are new to asana practice, or who want a fresh perspective on the foundational poses....more
“In its purest form, done right, watching an experimental film is the closest you can come to dreaming another person’s dreams. Which is why to watch “In its purest form, done right, watching an experimental film is the closest you can come to dreaming another person’s dreams. Which is why to watch one is, essentially, to invite another person into your head, hoping you emerge haunted.”
So, that one was a weird reading experience. I’ve loved the Gemma Files short stories I have come across in various weird fiction/cosmic horror anthologies I’ve read over the past few years, and considering how much I love films (when they are made to be more than vapid entertainment, that is), I figured this would be a good pick to wrap up my Spooktober marathon. I didn’t count on a few elements hitting as close to home as they did, which left me a little shaken before I’d even gotten to the part where there’s a ghost story.
Lois Cairns is not in a great place: unemployed, struggling with caring for her autistic son and with her own mental health issues, she scrapes a living reviewing indie films – which is how she becomes intrigued with a few frames sampled in a short film, “Untitled 13”. The frames seem to be part of a collection of films lost at the turn of the 20th century, when film technology was still in its infancy, and this collection is in its turn linked to the disappearance of a mysterious socialite who was obsessed with the occult – specifically with an old legend from the Balkans.
Creepy ghost story aside, the protagonist gave me quite a punch to the gut. The way Lois thinks about her family, her work and its relevance echoes thoughts that I’ve found hiding inside my head with uncomfortable accuracy, so obviously, I was instantly sympathetic to her anguish, her guilt, her curiosity and her frustrations, and I was completely invested in her story. I was very impressed with the way Files built this character: people who have personality traits that put them right on the edge of the autism spectrum are naturally interested in, if not fascinated with, the language of media like movies, television, comic books and novels (think Abed in "Community"). They are comforting, obey certain rules, which makes them easy to understand and navigate, as opposed to unpredictable and confusing human interactions. That someone like Lois would be a film scholar makes perfect sense, her interactions with her son, who's condition is much more difficult than her because he can't socialize, are also extremely realistic - as are her interactions with her mother.
There was also something wonderfully and quaintly Canadian about the whole thing. Not just because they routinely hang out at Tim Horton's, but because everyone has mixed cultural background they are very aware of. Canada, like the US, is full of people whose family emigrated here a few generations ago, but it seems to me like people in Canada feel strongly about preserving their cultural patrimony, as where people in America often tend to leave that behind and try to homogenize.
If you like clever story building and slow-burn ghost stories, this book will not disappoint....more
It is a rare thing, a fantasy series that keeps on getting better and better with every book. I am so impressed with the Books of Babel, which has eveIt is a rare thing, a fantasy series that keeps on getting better and better with every book. I am so impressed with the Books of Babel, which has everything I could possibly want in a story: rich and complex world building, a cast of characters that is both diverse and layered, and who evolve in the most interesting way, and plot developments that keep surprising me in the best possible way.
After Thomas Senlin and his crew made port with the Sphinx (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), they are now sent back to the Tower with a mission to accomplish for their new ally. The novel follows three different storylines: Senlin, Voleta and Edith go their different ways with the same goal, infiltrating the port of Pell to get information the Sphinx needs to save the Tower from Luc Marat's plans of revolution. But each of them goes in with very different information, and very different results.
Each novel in this series builds beautifully on the foundations laid down by the previous book, and while the central thread of Senlin looking for his wife Marya remains constant (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), new threads are added to this tapestry as we explore the intricate world created by Bancroft.
I mentioned the characters being a strength of this series, and I must say that it's such a pleasure to read the stories of characters who don't fit any of the genre's usual stereotypes, to see this baroque and intricate world through their eyes and to get attached to all of them (though Byron definitely steals the spotlight whenever he's there).
If you love urban fantasy and steampunk but are tired of the same old stories and the same old clichés, you should check out these books: they will surprise and delight you at every turn.
I am so excited for the fourth installment this November!...more
I have been a little obsessed with Ouija boards lately: I am not really interested in using one, but I find them to be rather beautiful and fascinatinI have been a little obsessed with Ouija boards lately: I am not really interested in using one, but I find them to be rather beautiful and fascinating objects. When I saw this little collection, edited by Ross Lockhart, it was impossible to resist getting a copy.
As you might have guessed, the theme of this anthology is spirit boards, but also all and any kinds of divination. Some stories are silly and fun, while other are more dramatic and emotional. But as with most anthology, this one is a bit of a mixed bag – that nevertheless contains a few stand out pieces that make the less exciting stories worth it.
The absolute best of “Tales From a Talking Board” for me was Orrin Grey’s “Haruspicate or Scry”. I have seen his name before in other collections I have enjoyed (namely “The Children of Old Leech” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)), and now I think I will pursue his work more seriously, because his little story definitely struck a nerve. Sure, part of it is about communicating with the Other Side, but mostly, it’s a story about the social pressure to be a mother, the weight of having such a decision imposed on you and the resulting trauma. I felt very strongly for the nameless protagonist, and while creepy, I enjoyed the conclusion.
Other stand outs were “YesNoGoodbye”, “Grief”, “Deep Into the Skin” and the rather hilarious “Questions and Answers” – which gives a whimsical explanation about who is moving the planchette when you use a Ouija board.
Overall, a fun little Spooktober read with just enough good stuff to keep it interesting, and one shining gem tucked in at the end....more
With this collection of interconnected short stories, I feel like Laird Barron pushed the envelope of his weird, cosmic horror even further. The way hWith this collection of interconnected short stories, I feel like Laird Barron pushed the envelope of his weird, cosmic horror even further. The way he had played with non-linear narrative in "The Croning" (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) is kicked up a notch with "Swift to Chase".
Mostly set in his native Alaska, these stories are loosely centered around Jessica Mace, a rather enigmatic dame who flees the isolation of Anchorage, the complications of a fractured family... and the notoriety of having survived a strange mass murder. Barron gives us a glimpse of her formative years, but also of her parents' teenage involvement with a party gone wrong and the long-reaching fallout of said-party.
While Barron plays with classic tropes like werewolves and the Huntsman, his own mythology is all over these stories: the Children of Old Leech, the Tooms family (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), mad scientists and secret service agents lurking around... It's noir, it's pulp, but with the creep factor on 11. He does not paint a very nice picture of either growing up or living in Alaska, and plays up how unsettling a desolate landscape can be if you have a morbid imagination.
I love Barron's work and recommend him to everyone, but this one is not a good place to start: I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it had I not already been familiar with his strange world-building - and the post-modern, non-linear storytelling adds a layer of complicated that might confuse readers who aren't used to his weird style. But if you have enjoyed any of his previous short story collections (such as this one: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), do not skip "Swift to Chase"! I am already planning on re-reading it, as I am sure a second visit will let me pick up on a few details I might have missed on the first pass....more
I basically inhaled Nathan Ballingrud’s first collection, “North American Lake Monsters” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), earlier this montI basically inhaled Nathan Ballingrud’s first collection, “North American Lake Monsters” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), earlier this month, and I was still craving more of this man’s dark, weird work. So I ordered a copy of “Wounds” and waited by the mailbox until it showed up and immediately cracked it open.
The theme of this collection is Hell, and while many authors have explored the subject before, my own readings on the topic have been limited to Dante (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). Let me tell you, this is no touristy stroll with Virgil! Because Ballingrud, unlike Dante, is not there to preach at you: he is here to scare your socks right off. So he doesn’t simply describe Hell, he also tells you why and how his characters end up there…
“The Visible Filth” was the basis for the movie “Wounds”, which I watched immediately after wrapping up “North American Lake Monsters”; and it was amazingly weird, disturbing and strangely human – and I couldn’t wait to read the original material (to which I must say, it is very faithful). The novella is the heart of this collection, and I found it to be a perfect horror story: a bartender finds a cellphone left behind by a customer after a brutal bar fight and absentmindedly takes it home - and the text messages he starts getting and the pictures he finds on it derail his life in a horrifying way. The character of Will, an unwilling participant in a Hellish experiment, is very finely drawn, and how real he feels makes his story just as heartbreaking as it is creepy. Just for that story alone, the book is well worth adding to one's library.
The collection is bookended by two loosely connected stories, "The Atlas of Hell" and "Butcher's Table", and I loved how gritty and original they were. In the first story, a rare book dealer must retrieve a particularly dangerous book from the bayou outside of New Orleans for a crime boss, and the second is the most hair-raising pirate tale I've ever read.
"The Diabolist", "Skullpocket" and "The Maw" are strange and well-crafted little stories but they didn't have me as glued to the page as the other three - hence the 4 star rating for the overall collection. But do not let that deter you: Ballingrud has an amazing gift for bringing together the strangest horror elements and the most visceral human emotions, especially love, but also grief, greed, loneliness and despair to make his stories rich and upsetting.
If you enjoy literary horror, this is an author you should absolutely be reading....more
“Do you think it’s possible for something beautiful to come out of an awful thing?”
Holy. Cow.
I had seen this book bounce around my GR feed for a while“Do you think it’s possible for something beautiful to come out of an awful thing?”
Holy. Cow.
I had seen this book bounce around my GR feed for a while. It had caught my eye because of the title: I do love lake monster stories, but I think I was a bit miffed this wasn’t a compendium of such stories, and ignored it for a bit. Then, I saw Laird Barron blurbed it, and because I am basically a sucker for books my favorite authors recommend, I put a copy on my Spooktober pile. And now I am sitting here, a little stunned and in awe of the beautiful writing and bone-chilling stories I have just read.
I love that Ballingrud only gives his readers a tiny glimpse of the supernatural in these stories: monsters are scary, sure, but the fucked up things that dwell in the human heart and mind are way, way more terrifying – and he knows that. His protagonists are usually the working poor that America wishes it could hide better, and the bleak lives they lead, where desperation and fear pushes them into the darkest corners of their being. What is a monster, really, if not a person who’s humanity was stripped away slowly over time until they can’t even see themselves as human anymore?
As pointed out by some reviews, there is a recurring theme of masculinity, or rather what does it mean to be a man in some extreme circumstances: aren't they supposed to be strong, to protect, care for and provide for their families and friends? What does it mean when they can't do that?
The prose is beautiful, the atmosphere of each story cloying and claustrophobic, the characters' anxieties palpable, the open endings deeply unsettling. Thank god these are short stories, because dragging them on any longer would give you road rash. If you like bleak stories, existential horror and enjoy the kind of stuff that Thomas Ligotti, Laird Barron and John Langan write, do yourself a favor, and get a copy of this book immediately. 5 dark, devastating stars.
**
I watched the Hulu series "Monsterland", based on and inspired by the stories in this collection, and if you enjoyed this book, you should definitely check it out. There are few exact adaptations to the stories ("You Go Where it Takes You" and "The Good Husband" are adapted fairly faithfully), but the other episodes are just as powerful, bleak and disturbing as the Ballingrud's writing. The use of the supernatural as a simple highlight of the human monsters is used skillfully in every episode, from the one about how easy it is to radicalize disenfranchised young people online to the one about the oil magnate responsible for a devastating spill. The villains are human, and the creatures are only there to make them realize it. This show is not always easy to watch (it gets graphic and some of the situations are incredibly depressing) but it is beautiful in the same way these short stories are, because they are raw and intense and force you to think....more
So, I love yoga. And honestly, my personal practice has been a lifeline this year, and it has taken a much bigger place in my life than it had before So, I love yoga. And honestly, my personal practice has been a lifeline this year, and it has taken a much bigger place in my life than it had before (partially due to being a convenient way to keep my body active whilst sheltering in place in my apartment for over 6 months…), to the point where I have started thinking about doing yoga teacher training when such things are safe again. But there are weird things about modern Western yoga culture (or MWYC, as abbreviated by one of this book’s contributors) that always gave me pause: there’s a lot of aggressive consumerism, a lot of emphasis on weight-loss and beauty, an almost competitive edge between practitioners, a sometimes troubling lack of diversity in how it’s represented and a sort of happy delusion that picking up yoga will automatically make you a million times healthier and that you will become a “better person” for practicing it.
When I bring that sort of stuff up with the handful of people I know who practice or are interested in yoga, I’m often dismissed as cynical, so I must say it was very refreshing to stumble upon this book of essays. The contributors wrote layered and nuanced pieces about 21st century yoga: they know there are no easy answers and that a practice like yoga, that needs to adapt to the cultural context in which its practiced to stay relevant, means that some weird and complicated issues often arise and must be dealt with. Life-changing as it may be, yoga, just like anything else, needs to be thought about critically, and these authors did a fantastic job of doing that, and tackle almost systematically all the things that make me cringe about the way MWYC is represented and talked about. I made me feel relieved to read essays that dared to voice a lot of problems I have with the “yoga industry” that I have never seen addressed anywhere else that I could find.
Don’t get me wrong: these people love yoga, too. Most of them are yoga teacher or studio owners. But that puts them in the perfect position to identify problems and work towards addressing, and hopefully, eventually resolving them. That said, there are no definitive solutions offered here: the aim of this collection is more to spark the conversation and get interested people to think more deeply about their yoga practice but also what yoga’s place in modern Western society can and should be. The main themes explored are the significance of the body, the potential of healing with yoga (and the limitations of that potential), and the community and social awareness and engagement associated with yoga. With the exception of the last essay, which I admit left me scratching my head a little, every piece in this collection was excellent, thought-provoking and inspiring.
In many ways, this book reminded me of “Zen Radicals, Rebels, and Reformers” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), because it aims to address some things that we may have gotten a bit complacent about. If you are curious about the different issues mentioned in the previous paragraphs, this book is an excellent source of information and ideas that I’d enthusiastically recommend to anyone interested in the future of yoga culture....more
I’ll give it to R.F. Kuang: she keeps me on my toes. After reading “The Poppy War” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and falling in love withI’ll give it to R.F. Kuang: she keeps me on my toes. After reading “The Poppy War” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and falling in love with her amazing world building and unique coming of age tale, I was very excited to get my hands on the follow up installment – and she did not disappoint.
Rin is still recovering from the events of the first book, grieving for Altan and trying to keep it together despite an increasingly severe addiction to opium. But she is not given much time to recover: the Dragon Warlord is preparing a coup to overthrow the Empress Su Daji, and Yin Vaisra wants her to join his army in the oncoming civil war. While this would be a perfect way for Rin to exact revenge on the Empress, there is a price: Vaisra relies on help from the Hesperians, who are interested in examining Rin to try and understand her power, but they have their own agenda.
It’s impossible to summarize the story further without spoiling it, but trust me, this book is incredibly action-packed, emotionally devastating and very impressive in scope. Kuang addresses all the ugly aspects of war: the physical suffering, but also the psychological trauma, the impact on civilian life, the fickleness of allegiances and the heartbreak of betrayal.
I don’t even really like Rin, but her story had me enthralled, and the world she lives in, a thinly disguised version of early twentieth century China, is built in impressive details. Kuang is not afraid to show all the brutality of combat, the ugliness of colonialism and the devastating effects of violence of the psyche of young people.
I’m already looking forward to the conclusion of this story - even if I know it will probably be heart-breaking. A unique fantasy series for readers who aren't faint of heart....more
On the long list of TV shows I love, I think “Supernatural” gets the “guilty pleasure I love to binge” award: I won’t watch it for long periods of time and then out of nowhere, I’ll marathon three seasons and listen to a lot of Led Zeppelin (and the occasional AC/DC tune) for a month. It’s a show about two cute guys (predictably, I’m #teamdean) who drive around in a sweet classic car while blasting old school rock and roll and kicking the ass of all the bad guys folktales and urban legends have ever dreamt up. It’s often very funny, moving and even pretty spooky. What’s not to like? The fact that it constantly makes fun of itself and features a lot of smart, strong, take-no-bullshit female characters only adds to it’s appeal, in my opinion. My husband had never watched it at all, and we are, like a lot of people, slowly running out of new TV shows to watch in lock-down – so I dusted off my DVDs. And being a pop culture nerd, I also dusted off the copy of “TV Goes to Hell” I found in a used bookstore ages ago, and never got around to reading.
This is not really a companion book to watching the show, and considering the various subjects it touches on, it’s actually more targeted towards fans and people who are at least passably familiar with the “Supernatural” universe. But if you are one such person and are interested in analysing the show’s (brilliant) use of music, the way they create modern stories around classic mythology and folklore and the way gender is represented on the show, do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book.
OK, I’m going to geek out pretty hard now.
The richness of the essays in this book really shows that as silly as it sometimes gets (thank you, Ben Edlund, creator of “The Tick”, for bringing your wacky sense of humor to this show, especially season 4), “Supernatural” is a show that is created very carefully, thoughtfully, and has a lot of layers to dig through. You can’t have critical discussions and analysis like the ones in this book about a vapid show, after all. I used to watch it with a friend of mine who had a very thorough knowledge of occultism and mythology, and he was often impressed with how accurate and impeccably researched the various creatures and situations were in “monster of the week” type episodes. This meticulous attention to detail goes in every other aspect of the show. It couldn’t have lasted 15 seasons if it had not been a labor of love.
This deliciously geeky collection of essays looks at the distinctive elements of the show and explore them in depth. The comedy, the use of music, the representation of gender and sexuality, the reinterpretation of folklore and mythology, the main characters’ transient lifestyle and its inherent weirdness, their place on the gradient of the American class system, how angels have been represented through history and on the show, pop-culture references through the show and its relationship with its fans; there is also an great essay about all the classic 70s horror references that the show uses, and the meaning behind some of the symbols in those movies in relation to their historical and socio-cultural context.
One passage actually made me laugh out loud: in the essay titled “Rebels, Rogue and Sworn Brothers”’ the author discusses the target demographic of the show (reasonably well-off women between 18 and 35 years of age) and then writes “Bearing this demographic in mind, we might wonder why these women are so invested in two non-middle-class men.” I mean, really, dude? How is that even a question.
I also facepalmed at myself when I got to one of the later essays, discussing Kripke’s love of Neil Gaiman’s work and the similarities between “American Gods” and the “Sandman” graphic novel series and “Supernatural”. Somehow, even though I basically worship Gaiman, those parallels had never occurred to me, and I felt very silly for never having noticed the huge overlaps between one of my favorite novels (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and a beloved TV show. Bearing the similarities in mind, no wonder I love them both so much. Gaiman has written about the mythical road trip in America, but also about unusual angels (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), apocalyptic showdowns (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) very messed up fairy tales and how myths interact with our lives by being just out of sight (with someone often accidentally falling through the cracks and realizing there is something out there much weirder than they could have imagined… https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). And he also liberally borrows from his predecessors, like Lewis Carrols, Rudyard Kipling, H.P. Lovecraft and Ray Bradbury. His homages are shameless and loving, and so is Kripke’s homage to Gaiman, in my humble opinion.
Warning: this is definitely academic writing, and not everyone has patience for that. To me, it was tasty brain-candy that I read as I enjoyed catching up with the seasons I hadn’t watched yet. Also, it was published in 2011, so the material discussed is only the first 5 seasons; no complaints from me – those are my favorite seasons, but that means the rest of the show’s story doesn’t feature at all in the essays. This was deliberate, as those seasons form one large narrative arc that concludes at the end of season 5. Perhaps now that the Winchester brothers’ saga is coming to a definitive end, there will be an updated edition? Does anyone know of a wishing well nearby?......more
What a wonderful breath of fresh air this book is! Over the past year, I have read and reviewed a big pile of yoga books, some good, some bad, some deWhat a wonderful breath of fresh air this book is! Over the past year, I have read and reviewed a big pile of yoga books, some good, some bad, some deeply puzzling. But none quite like “Every Body Yoga”. Part memoir, part Yoga-101 book, this little gem made me laugh, nod sympathetically, gave me a ton of great information to chew on and really inspired me.
If you don’t like cussing, stay away from this one: Jessamyn Stanley has a potty mouth, but so do I, and I really enjoyed her style – though I know it's not for everybody (in the same way that Brad Warner’s style isn’t for every Zen nerd – and he’s my favorite). Unlike yoga practice, which, she really wants you to know, is for every BODY and EVERYBODY.
Her answers to the questions asked by yoga newbies are down to earth, realistic and reasonable, and I really appreciated her very grounded honesty. She is also wonderfully reassuring and encouraging. Her clear and conversational style could make anyone feel motivated to hop on their mat and brush away the anxiety and self-consciousness – which are often bigger hurdles to overcome than lack of flexibility.
I loved the section explaining the differences between ancient yoga and modern yoga (as well as the pros and cons of both). She follows that with a quick but informative history of modern yoga and an exploration of the Eight Limbs as outlined in the Yoga Sutra. Her open-minded approach that suggests trying out many styles of yoga asana practice makes perfect sense to me, as different circumstances in life sometimes call for different levels of intensity and effort; I’m not a purist, and I think it can actually make a practice much stronger to borrow elements from a different style when you need to make adjustments or can’t quite seem to progress on a specific pose.
The following section is what she calls her asana ABCs; the basic poses to practice, that eventually unlock more advanced poses, followed by a series of personal stories and life-lessons she learned, paired with a sequence of poses linked to that lesson. It goes without saying, but it’s refreshing to see the various asansas she describes performed by non-stereotypical models. I love mindlessly scrolling through Instagram yoga posts, but sooner or later, they make me feel self-conscious, or wonder how these people survive on a diet of one kale leaf per day. Obviously, Instagram is not real life, fuck unreasonable beauty standards and viva la pizza – my point is, this book wants you to love your body because beauty, grace and flexibility do not require you to be rail-thin. And we need more books like that!
Anyone who has ever felt insecure about their bodies, wondered if theirs was still a valid yoga practice even if they couldn’t get into a peacock pose or was just annoyed with the saccharine New Age tone often used in yoga books will enjoy, learn and feel inspired by this little book. I especially recommend it for beginners!
(My only criticism of this book is that she often refers to Bikram yoga; given what we know about Bikram Choudry's organization and actions, I'm puzzled by the name-dropping. Why not just call it "hot yoga" and not endorse Choudry's crap?)...more
After finding “Yoga Anatomy” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) to be a really interesting read, I started looking for other books on the topiAfter finding “Yoga Anatomy” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) to be a really interesting read, I started looking for other books on the topic, to gain an even better understanding of all the physiological effects of my yoga practice. I find that aspect to often be under-explained both in books on yoga and in traditional yoga classes – and I know a handful of physical therapists who have all said that they get a lot of yoga-related injuries from people who do not understand their bodies well enough to try and put their legs behind their backs safely. So yeah, this review starts with a PSA: if you are going to do yoga, read an anatomy book first.
Now, the book!
“Science of Yoga” is, like most DK Publishing books, absolutely gorgeous to leaf through. Those guys have an amazing team of illustrators and graphic artists, who can layout a yoga book like nobody’s business (see “Yoga: Your Home Practice Companion” https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). I praise this aspect not just because it’s nice on the eyes, but because it is very important for a book like this to be both detailed and visually appealing.
It also goes a bit deeper than “Yoga Anatomy” because it looks at all the systems that are included in human anatomy: the musculoskeletal system is obviously an important anatomical aspect of yoga practice, but asanas also influence your cardiovascular, digestive, lymphatic, nervous systems, and all the other ones I’m not naming. There is a chapter devoted to each, providing detailed image and explanations, as well as useful notes discussing how various bits and bobs are called upon when you are in downward-facing dog. If you understand said bits and bobs better, you understand your yoga better.
The second part of the book is a collection of illustrations of the various asanas – mostly the good old basic and classic poses – often illustrated from many different angles so that you can clearly see what is happening under the skin. Each illustration shows you which muscles are engaged, which are stretching (or both!), alignment instructions and with some, what is going on with your organs while you’re holding the pose.
The final section, of frequently asked questions, helps the reader understand how the physical benefits of yoga and meditation are documented and studied – and most importantly, there is a whole section on various physical conditions and injuries explaining which asanas to avoid, and which to favor to help with healing and relieving pain. This is not information often found in yoga books, and yet it is very important so that people curious about the practice don’t exacerbate aches and pains they may already be experiencing.
Overall, I found “Science of Yoga” to be the most accessible and comprehensive book on the anatomy of yoga practice I have read so far. I now understand what it means to have well-lubricated joints, why twisting poses are good for your belly, why healthy quads are linked to longevity and how drishti (or focal point) helps you with balancing poses (and that wobbling in those poses actually means you are building stabilizing muscles!). It is also nice to read that while traditionally, inversions are not supposed to be performed during menstruation, there’s no scientific basis for that restriction, so you should simply do what you feel your body can handle, regardless of your cycle. This is an invaluable reference for any serious yogi. I recommend it paired with “Hatha Yoga Illustrated” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and “The Heart of Yoga” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...).
Yoga definitely has a ton of physical benefits, but one of the most significant effect it has had on me was to give me a new, more comprehensive understanding of my body, a greater awareness of how I use and treat it, and a much better relationship to it. Even if you are just in it for the exercise aspect, redefining how you see and use this fantastic machine that carries your brain around has life-changing potential. A book like this one is essential if you want to strengthen the relationship to your body fostered by yoga practice....more
My grandfather was a monk (before he married my grandmother, obviously), and he once told me: “We had to take three vows: chastity, poverty and obedieMy grandfather was a monk (before he married my grandmother, obviously), and he once told me: “We had to take three vows: chastity, poverty and obedience. Chastity isn’t great, but I managed. Poverty, I didn’t mind at all. Obedience, well, that was a big problem.” He got quite a few lectures about being stubborn and insubordinate (jeez, I wonder where I got those charming personality traits myself…) and ultimately left the Church because he was sick of people who put politics above faith in a supposedly religious institution. I thought about him a lot as I read those stories of Zen masters who had rejected the traditional structures of their religion and practiced, taught and lived in their own unique – and equally valid way. I think he would have liked them.
When you read about the history of Zen, you almost always hear stories about Boddhidharma, Dogen, Joshu. They were very important in the history of Zen, of course, but there were a lot more we don’t see mentioned in books, and “Zen Radicals, Rebels and Reformers” does for the Zen weirdos what “Zen Women” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) did for, well, Zen women. It won’t come as a surprise that I have a special affection for the weirdos: when I bought this book, I had no idea that Brad Warner had blurbed it, but it makes sense: he is kind of a radical himself, after all! Mostly, I wanted to know that it was possible to be an unconventional Zen nerd, and that the traditional path isn’t the only one that worked.
The life of each “Crazy Cloud” selected by Besserman and Steger is put into detailed socio-historical context, so the readers can understand how and why their rejection of rules and conventions was significant. Whether it was pointing out the corruption of the temple, teaching women (gasp!) and laymen, questioning the validity of Dharma transmission (when it could basically be bought), denouncing the elitism of the institution, these guys went against the grain, ruffled some feathers but nevertheless practiced authentic Zen, had followers, Dharma heirs and obviously left their mark on the history of their religion.
Bessman and Steger make it very clear that such wild Zen practitioners are not to be emulated lightly: these weirdos had a deep and thorough understanding of the traditions they subverted and did not make their moves out of caprice: they saw inconsistencies, contradictions and intellectual laziness creep and take root into the practice that they loved and knew that this wasn’t right, it wasn’t what the Buddha had told his followers to do. The epilogue brings the Crazy Cloud's legacy into a modern context in a most interesting way.
I loved reading about those unapologetic men who gave Dharma talks in a language that could be understood by anyone (not just by highly educated aristocracy), who welcomed women, rice-farmers and foreigners into their circle of followers, who refused to be “certified” by a process they didn’t trust. The historical details provided in each chapter also paints a fascinating picture of medieval Japan, a time and place not often mentioned in Western history book. There’s often a certain orientalism with Western Buddhist students (and I’ve definitely gotten caught in that myself a few times), who have a very highly glamorized image of the day and age of the Zen masters of old: it’s refreshing to be reminded that there was so much social and political unrest, civil wars, assassination attempts and coups…
If you are interested in the history of Zen Buddhism, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up a copy of this book!...more
Perhaps it’s because I had a late start getting interested in graphic novels, but I hadn’t heard about Doom Patrol until last year, when I came acrossPerhaps it’s because I had a late start getting interested in graphic novels, but I hadn’t heard about Doom Patrol until last year, when I came across the TV series and loved it. A dark, super weird and surreal group of fucked up “heroes” with very strange powers? Yes, please! This was just the antidote to the Avengers and Justice League (boooooring!) that I needed.
Grant Morrison’s ideas are really… out there, for lack of a better word. They are also totally genius. He weaves concepts like secret societies, occult religions, stream of consciousness writing, existentialism and dream sequences into the genre, giving a wonderfully bizarre flavor to the superhero schtick and I loved it!
As this volume is the first of a sort of reboot of the series, it assembles a “new” Doom Patrol, and brings together Cliff Steele (a race car driver's brain stuck in a big robot body), the Negative Spirit (who merged together Larry Trainor and Dr. Eleanor Poole in a single multi-gendered and multi-racial and radioactive energy being), Crazy Jane (a woman with dissociative identity disorder, and every one of her 64 distinct personalities have distinct powers) and Dorothy Spinner (the Ape-Faced Girl), under the guidance of Niles Caulder, the mysterious Chief (a know it all in a wheel-chair... where have I seen that before...). They reform Doom Patrol after fighting off the Scissormen (henchmen who cut you out of reality, literally) and Red Jack – and we get just a glimpse of Mr. Nobody, opening the door to their future antagonistic relationship.
The artwork is very 90s comic: a bit clunky, with faded colors, but the writing more than makes up for the visual style. That said, I’m not sure this is a graphic novel for everyone: it might be too literary, erudite (Zen koans in a graphic novel?!), baroque and dark for casual comic book readers, but if you enjoyed the series and are curious about where it came from (or if weird is never weird enough for you), I can’t recommend this enough!...more
"When I first started here, there was a detailed manual that taught me how to be a store worker, and I still don't have a clue how to be a normal pers"When I first started here, there was a detailed manual that taught me how to be a store worker, and I still don't have a clue how to be a normal person outside that manual."
This book is lovely, quirky and perfectly captures what it feels like to be slightly out of step with the world or the society around you. Keiko is a strange girl, obviously autistic, but that doesn't seem to occur to her family - they can only think of her as not normal. She always thought that people and their customs and interactions made no sense and could never really pick up on social cues. After many years, she figured out a way to fake them just well enough so that people wouldn't pester her or immediately think of her as a weirdo. After finishing school, she gets a job in a convenience store and in some ways, it's a revelation: the store's strict schedule and intricate functioning and the behaviors prescribed by the employee manual are perfect for her. She doesn't really know what to do with herself outside the store, but in the brightly lit sanctuary that she comes to see the Smile Mart as, she is safe, appreciated and efficient. She's the only person who doesn't think it's odd that she still works there eighteen years later...
This little novella about not fitting in a society drenched in expectations of conformity really charmed me. I deeply sympathized with Keiko, even when she tries to fake normality in order to get her sister and "friends" off her back (I tried that, the whole normal thing: totally overrated and deeply boring, I do not recommend it!). An usual little book that will be appreciated by anyone who has ever felt like a square peg in a round hole....more
Don’t let the size of this little book deceive you (or the horrible pun title deter you): it is packed with information that will explain (with facts)Don’t let the size of this little book deceive you (or the horrible pun title deter you): it is packed with information that will explain (with facts) the reasons to adopt a vegan lifestyle, but also give you plenty of tips and information on how to do that as successfully and easily as possible.
I think that most people with even a passing interest in veganism don’t need to have it spelled out for them: even if one ignores the whole animal suffering angle, meat farming’s impact on the environment is well-documented, and on the list of things individuals can do to minimize their impact on climate change, switching to a plant-based diet is the top point. For those who need extra convincing, the first section of this book should do the trick; otherwise, Nelson is preaching to the converted. But her preaching is gentle, not aggressive, and not a guilt-trip, which I appreciate a lot. She states facts, she gives numbers, she recommends documentaries and ask of her readers that they at the very least think about it and bear witness to those realities – which is more than fair.
The following sections, “Starting Out” and “Vegan Life” are good informative sections on how to transition from omnivore to vegan, in broad strokes. I like the section where she answers the questions vegans get asked all the time, and her emphasis on being calm and rational when faced with someone who wants to argue belligerently about your lifestyle choices. Few things are more aggravating than someone getting in your face about food (form any side of that debate). She also points out several time that being an angry vegan isn't very compassionate, which is the whole point.
I got occasionally frustrated with the layout of the book: every once in a while, the editor or whomever, thought it would be clever to have a grey page with one of the most “hard-hitting” sentences of the ongoing section in all caps taking the whole page up. This sort of thing bugs me because I hardly think anyone picking up a book like this needs to be preached at: they wouldn’t be reading the book if they needed convincing!! You can calm down and just use the regular font; put it in bold in the text body if it matters that much to you.
While a few facts jumped at me, I’m not sure I learned anything new from this book, but that’s not because it isn’t informative, it’s simply because I have been gradually working on my diet and lifestyle to bring it towards the goal of cruelty-free for ages. For anyone starting out, this little book is a great launching pad, written in a friendly and conversational way....more
“I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”
I don’t th“I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”
I don’t think I can say much about James Baldwin that hasn’t already been said. I love his work, even if it always seems to leave me heartbroken. I think we need to read him now more than ever, even if I find it infinitely sad that he is as relevant now as he was when his essays were fresh off the press. His writing is lean, insightful and angry. I kept looking at the picture on the cover of my edition, at the young man with crossed arms who looked away from the camera and I wish I could have held him for a moment.
Having read “Go Tell it on the Mountain” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), the titular essay was especially poignant, as it revisits characters and events Baldwin had described in that thinly veiled autobiography. I admire Baldwin’s nuanced reflection about a father that he spent many years hating, while understanding that his father’s behavior had causes that were beyond his control. He stands precariously balanced on the line between compassion and forgiveness and never quite crosses it.
The other essays eloquently describe his experience in Harlem, New Jersey, Paris and a small Swiss village and capture the always uneasy position in which he was. The injustice of the prejudices held against him at every turn sting painfully, and you can’t help but understand his bitterness and his cynicism.
Baldwin had an amazing mind, a razor-sharp intelligence and a stunning gift for writing. This book should be read by everyone....more
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