*sniffle*

[sqbr]

Recently I've felt in need of something to read, and to that end reserved some books at the library. Today they all came in at once. So now I have to read:
-Pride of Baghdad, about a pride of lions who escaped from Baghdad prison at the beginning of the Iraq war. Sad parable.
-"In our time", a memoir of feminism. Longish nonfiction, likely to be emotionally intense
-"The parable of the Talents", confronting sff about slavery and the collapse of civilisation. (Sequel to The Parable of the Sower)

..in two or so weeks. (I read pretty quickly, but am a sook about emotional intensity. That's why I already reserved and read all the happy stories I wanted to read ages ago)

I just read "Pride of Baghdad", it was very good but so sad! *sniffles again*

Also, added a few books to Library Thing last night to see if I liked the book recommender (it looks promising) and was reminded of how many cool books I already own and haven't read in a while. It never rains but it pours!

I think I'll go watch some "Angelic Layer" now.

EDIT: Have read maybe an 8th of "In Our Time", it's certainly very readable and interesting but is definitely a memoir rather than an unbiased account. Also, having recently heard a bunch of complaints about the erasure and dismissal of non-white feminism and feminist history I have to say I was a bit skeeved by her "feminism was entirely an invention of white women from the civil rights movement" and the way she (to me) portrays the exclusionary radicalism of civil rights groups as scary and mean while from feminists it's brave and necessary (part of an overall bias towards any group she was part of) Still, whatever her tone may imply about their merit, she does try to get across all the different POVs, and the necessity of a little against-the-grain reading aside, so far it's a fascinating portrait of the complex history of the movement, and the conflicts both internal and external.

Comments

[flyingblogspot.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're finding it interesting! It's very much one woman's personal account throughout - I found quite a lot of things that bothered me about her position and that of her faction, but enjoyed understanding their historical context in relation to other groups.

so far it's a fascinating portrait of the complex history of the movement, and the conflicts both internal and external

You are good at summing things up - this really articulates what I enjoyed about it.

[alias_sqbr]

I find I'm enjoying it a lot more now that it's past her summing up stuff she wasn't there for. It's pretty exctiting really :)

[banksiapossum.livejournal.com]

Hi Alias_sqbr,

I previewed the 'Pride of Baghdad' because of your recommendation. It looks a very interesting book. I love the art. I can see why it appealed to you.

I'm glad you are reading feminist theory and history.

I'm currently reading 'Cultural Amnesia' by Clive James. It is about C20 culture and it is like Clive James taking you through his library of biographies and histories and conversations he has had and telling you what he thought about it all. He says that it took him 40 years to think and take notes for the book. On that alone I wanted to read it. Whenever someone has a life project that long then it is insightful to read it.

I also just finished 'Stone Gods' by Jeanette Winterson. It didn't grab me at the start, but a little way into the book it became more interesting. She has a lot of political commentary about the environment and the War of Terror.


Cheers,
Michelle

[alias_sqbr]

Isn't it pretty?

Hmm, those sound like interesting books.