Right, I’m a masochist neck-deep in figuring out who, what, and why. Except for Wings of Fire; that’s my connection to my young’un.
Yes, I’ve been trying to fight against nihilism by reading things that expand my perspective, but it really hasn’t helped.
I’ve been meaning to pick up A People’s History of the US. I loved Wretched of the earth, although I think Fanon was a little too idealistic.
Many of these books have just turned me into a more jaded individual, and yet I wouldn’t unread a single one:
Holy… you had a tough reading year.
Slaughterhouse Five, Flowers for Algernon, Starship Troopers, Catch-22, Infinite Jest, and Blood Meridian — in ONE year!?
Blood Meridian, alone, took me almost a year to read, toward the end of the Obama years. Flowers for Algernon I finished just before COVID. Slaughterhouse Five and Catch-22 I read in the 'aughts. I havent read Starship Troopers or Infinite Jest yet.
I tip my hat to you, friend. I wouldn’t unread a word either.
Starship Troopers is perhaps one of the worst books I’ve ever read.
Infinite Jest is secular scripture for the modern age, and it was immediately my second favorite book OAT, right behind Moby Dick.
Not pictured is the Brothers Karamazov, which I finished right after the turn of the new year. TBK was lovely; I really enjoyed the theology and unique culture explored in it.
Perhaps read some Cory Doctorow. He has the right amount of fire to inspire me without feeling burnt out. Just my .02!
Any books you’d recommend specifically? I can add them to my reading list!
Off the top I would say:
- Walkaway
- The Lost Cause
- Red Team Blues
- Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
- Pirate Cinema
Ranked roughly in order. Enjoy!
I think Radicalized hits the perfect spot between being concerned with real issues and enjoying a good sci-fi story.
How was 1984 Julia? That looks interesting.
I was surprised by it. It took me the first third to settle into it. After that, it really humanized and gave me much more insight to the original work. Not a must-read but I’m glad I read it.
Thanks. Hmm, lukewarm praise. But if I see it in the public library I’ll definitely check it out.
Radicalized was a great book, and I’ve got several of these on my reading list for this year!
I dunno Absolute Batman’s a banger
I don’t generally read Batman, but this one had some pretty solid re-imagining.
Ender’s Game was my favorite book for about a decade and I read every Orson Scott Card book I could get my hands on, even the ones he asks you not to read.
Throw it into the ocean and read Some Desperate Glory instead.Algospeak by Adam Aleksic @etymologynerd would fit right in here.
