“We have an oral culture,” he said. “People get nervous when you write. Writing also leaves proof. If you don’t write notes the world can be made different. People’s memories can always be questioned, molded.” Holy hell, this book. While I may have gripes with the author here and there, Bad News: Last Journalists in a Dictatorship captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of journalism in Rwanda. Sundaram opens the book with a story of traveling down a road in Kigali and hearing an explosion. When he goes to investigate, he witnesses a clean-up in progress, shards of glass being swept from…
16 CommentsReading the End Posts
The Forcening begins! Whiskey Jenny Forcens me to read Chad Harbach’s The Art of Fielding, and you can see for yourself how that goes. But first, we recap a few of the things we didn’t get to in 2015. You can listen to the podcast in the embedded player below or download the file directly to take with you on the go. Episode 56 What We’re Reading Sister Mine, Nalo Hopkinson (because of how much I liked Falling in Love with Hominids) Spectacle, Pamela Newkirk City on Fire, Garth Risk Hallberg What We Missed in 2015 The Jinx (HBO series) Oreo,…
4 CommentsEmily Asher Perrin (writer of the superb Harry Potter Reread series on Tor.com) has some thoughts on JK Rowling’s constant expanding of the Harry Potter universe, and most of them are also my thoughts, so go see what you think. The controversial Professor Bhaer: An investigation in five parts at the Paris Review. Bros writing about southern food (& why it should be more ladies), over at a website I newly love, The Bitter Southerner. This piece by Kiese Laymon about Bill Cosby and minimum standards of human decency is so, so good. The stories you have the right to…
9 CommentsMan. If this were any of the last three years, I would have failed at Comics February. But this year is Leap Year, and I am squeezing this post in just under the wire, because I want you to read Genius. And, I mean, I love Comics February as well. Just mainly I cannot understand why Genius hasn’t gotten more (and by “more” I mean “all the”) attention. Genius, Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman, and Afua Richardson Shitdamn, this book was good. I’ve had a medium reading year thus far — nothing that I’ve hated (although see below re: puppy), but…
26 CommentsConfession: When I was reading the lyrics to the last few songs of Hamilton to decide on a post title, I teared up. I could hear Philippa Soo’s angel voice in my head, and I am not made of stone. This section served up a whole bunch of things that broke my heart into tiny pieces, and I guess I might as well just lay them out for y’all so you can be heartbroken too. Feeling poorly, Kent retired early to bed. Anxious about his guest, Hamilton tiptoed into his room with an extra blanket and draped it over him…
22 CommentsThe Hatening continues, except that I am a failing failure who failed to choose a book that Whiskey Jenny would truly despise. We talk about Hamilton (yes, again), the books that we’re currently reading, and Emma Newman’s Planetfall. You can listen to the podcast in the embedded player below or download the file directly to take with you on the go. Episode 55 Books/Links Discussed (in order of appearance) Hamilton crushed it, of course, at the Grammys. As if there was ever any doubt. Also, because it’s charming, a Got Milk? Hamilton spoof for you to enjoy. What We’re Reading Consider the…
8 CommentsHaving ironically missed out yesterday’s BBAW topic, which was “how do you stay connected to other bloggers?”, in favor of dedication to my Alexander Hamilton readalong (so close to done!!), I now return to talk about burn-out! Day 5 One of the unfortunate side effects of reading and blogging like rockstars seems to be a tendency toward burnout. How do you keep things fresh on your blog and in your reading? I cleverly avoid this whole thing by not being a blogging rockstar. I AM SMALL BEANS AND THAT IS HOW I LIKE IT. You’re welcome for that sage advice!…
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