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Maus by Art Spiegelman
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- Written by: FDD10
- Category: Literature
- Hits: 67
What a great story of contrasts -- and the vast gray areas that many of us spend our time in. The Holocaust is a terrible chapter in humanity. It is a struggle to figure out how the world gets into a state where these actions are tolerated and engaged in. Mr. Spiegelman tells two stories of his relationship to an aging father, and his parent's navigating of Holocaust Europe of the 1940s.
As a first generation American, the scenes between the author and his father were relatable and hit home. It's difficult to balance care for one's parents and striving to build a home, career, and life as a standalone person. The Holocaust scenes were ... horrific. Not just the concentration camps, but life in a situation where peoples loyalties change and personal integrities are tested. Who will you work for? How much would you give?
The comic-book style made reading the story easy. It balanced giving the reader an image of what things might look like as well as leaving room for one's imagination to finish the thought. A good balance between movie and text literature.
It's a shame this book is on the 'banned' list in many juristictions. I found nothing in it objectionable; and not having a background in this terrible chapter would indeed be objectionable.
Enough by Cassidy Hutchinson
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- Written by: FDD10
- Category: Literature
- Hits: 60
Expectations for many things (e.g. media, products) have been increasing -- constantly raising the bar. I read Enough, Cassidy Hutchinson's biography. I talked to someone recently who listened to the audiobook (from a pirated source). Ms. Hutchinson was in the program my son was at Christopher Newport University. I wished there was more detail regarding the professors, classes, and seminars there.
I enjoyed the book. It reminded me of living in DC in the nineties. Being young and struggling to juggle work and social lives in a busy metropolitan area. Frantic fun. Surrounded by periods of couchtime. I was amazed at how little the chief of staff for the chief of staff (and others in the executive administration) are paid. I remember being in dinner club with Capitol Hill staffers and thought they must be raking it in. They certainly attended interesting parties! Looking back, I believe we all struggled to pay our way.
It was good to get more background on the January 6th, 2021 events -- and those surrounding the last few months of the Trump administration. Most of my knowledge came from television -- whether news or prime-time dramas. It didn't change my opinion about many of the priniciple characters; maybe made some more human. It was comforting to know there are people (including, but not just Ms. Hutchinson) who put country before party. I was proud of my son's association with CNU and hope when a test is given he passes as Ms. Hutchinson does.
Review: The Hornets Nest by J. Carter
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- Written by: FDD10
- Category: Literature
- Hits: 64
The Hornet's Nest is a historical fiction which takes place during the American Revolutionary War. Primarily focused on Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, the narrative considers how events in England and New England affect the characters. Much of the book revolves around Ethan Pratt a frontiersman, and his wife Epsey.
Ethan farms but has blacksmithing and carpentry skills. An inspirational hero. In the early 1770's he sees the injustices forced upon him and his neighbors by an uncaring government. Solutions are sought for, but unsuprisingly, are met with violence.
As with war, the pace of things is unbearably slow; until they become incredibly fast. Due to his skills, Ethan has opportunities and is better suited to uncertainty than others in the book. Even in today's environment, there are characters who's opinions about how things ought to be are outweighed by their ability to make their neighborhood's more perfect.
When in elementary school, I learned American history from a North-Eastern perspective. The battlefields of Boston and New York loomed large on the syllibi. This book made me appreciate the Southern perspective. The naval tactics and their implications. I'd previously hadn't considered who the American Indians supported in the war and why. With many recent movies and books I've been exposed to, I've gained an appreciation of the multi-faction disruptions. I'm thinking of the Expanse where three groups -- Earthers, Martians, and belters hold a fragile peace -- until there's war. It's interesting to see the different factions among the American frontiersmen. There are those that are going to fight for the principle. Others, who will fight because their family have much to lose. And others, who spy for the other side who's morals and belief systems are more akin to theirs.
Review: How to do Nothing
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- Written by: FDD10
- Category: Literature
- Hits: 66
How to do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy
by Jenny Odell
I recently read this book and enjoyed the idea of learning more about the social networking industry and how to counteract it's addictive nature. I think I have a reasonable balance in the amount of time I spend with technology, but I suppose, that's what someone who has disengaged from his/her local environs might say.
The book was a collage of the author's influences (influencers?). It was not a how-to guide or an exposition of how the industry has affected local communities. Some of the influencers mentioned were:
* David Hockney, a collage artist
* Martin Buber, who authored the idea of an 'I-it' versus 'I-Thou' perspective of others.
* Devangi Vivrekar, who authored a research paper – Persuasive Design Techniques in the Attention Economy. I enjoyed reading this section as it explained the layouts and design choices of popular social media apps.
I put Blindspotting by Daveed Diggs in my Netflix queue. I heard his interview on Bullseye. Based on that and Ms. Odell's writing, I realize San Francisco is rife with local history and culture.
I had to look up the Angel of History by Paul Klee and American Progress by John Gast. I need to research Nextdoor.com, and other software to better support the local groups I'm involved with.
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