Tom - Bookrastinating replied to Tom - Bookrastinating's status
Book reading goals make me sad, so I set unreasonable ones. Fuck ... that... noise.
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I read a book or two... when I get to it.
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Tom - Bookrastinating has read 1 of 12,000,000 books.
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Tom - Bookrastinating set a goal to read 12000000 books in 2024
Tom - Bookrastinating reviewed Long Game by Rush Doshi
Good US/PRC primer
5 stars
This text attempts to encapsulate the United States relationship and competition with the People’s Republic of China. It uses all kinds of authoritative texts as sources. I am often one who wishes to read primary sources, but in this case, I think the reader benefits significantly from being able to have all of these primary sources summarized. Anybody looking for a pretty thorough analysis of the competition between these two nations historically and extrapolations about the future would do well to read it.
Tom - Bookrastinating stopped reading
A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester
William Manchester's A World Lit Only by Fire is the preeminent popular history of civilization's rebirth after the Dark Ages.
Tom - Bookrastinating reviewed Famous Men Who Never Lived by K. Chess
A work of multiverse art. Amazing debut novel
5 stars
Content warning I talk about the plot a bit... nothing outlandishly spoiling
Do I recommend: Yes, if you like sci-fi, if you don't ... you should.
I was browsing the stacks at my library and looking for those lovely blue "Science Fiction" stickers found on volumes of that ilk. Many SciFi authors on the shelf are prolific and have over their careers produced many works which are on the shelves, but this one stood alone. Its clever title also stood alone in ALL CAPS.
I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the style of writing. It's all a fantastic modern work of art. It may be that K just hits my brain in the sweet spot or maybe it's a fantastic novel. Either way, I recommend it!
The plot centers around characters from one dimension very similar to our own who are marooned here in our world as refugees. Think the 1990's TV show "Sliders" but there are more than 150k of them and they can't go back. Their world, it's culture, the people, the technology are tenuously linked to this world by their memories, and the items they brought with them here. These refugees react in very human ways and the author explores their emotions and the limits of their adaptability to their new home.
Tom - Bookrastinating started reading Famous Men Who Never Lived by K. Chess
Just started this one... a real page turner so far.
Tom - Bookrastinating reviewed The Party by Richard McGregor
"with Chinese characteristics"
5 stars
Although not quoted directly in this text, Art 1 Sec 1 of the Constitution of the PRC weighs heavily over this text. "The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. "
This is a great primer for the way the party/state/economy of China functions and how the party maintains that "leadership" across the years.
Review of: The Death of a President
5 stars
This text is a hyper detailed accounting of the events of the assassination of JFK and the days before & after. I was transported... and consequently I feel as though I can now share in some of the original emotion and shock of the world at this tragedy.
One of the great things about the text is the diagrams of the key locations which help you build a firmer mental picture of the events.
Tom - Bookrastinating rated Three Miles Down: 5 stars
Three Miles Down by Harry Turtledove
From New York Times bestselling author Harry Turtledove, the modern master of alternate history, a novel of alien contact set …
Tom - Bookrastinating finished reading Three Miles Down by Harry Turtledove
Three Miles Down by Harry Turtledove
From New York Times bestselling author Harry Turtledove, the modern master of alternate history, a novel of alien contact set …
Tom - Bookrastinating finished reading Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham
Journalist Adam Higginbotham’s definitive, years-in-the-making account of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster—and a powerful …
Lots of details and insight. Worth the read.
A history of the first millennium of the Roman Empire.
1000 years in the blink of an eye
5 stars
Dr. Mary Beard ( DBE, FSA, FBA, FRSL) brings together in this small volume an immense amount of history. I have been exposed to a fair amount of Roman history in dribs and drabs over the years, but this narrative brings it all together from what we know of the kings, through the republic and empire until the 1.0 version of the empire created by Octavian ceased to be what it once was after a dozen first citizens.
My favorite piece of this is the up to date (to 2015) scholarship and archeology and what it tells us about the everyday human beings who lived in that world. A pleasure to consume
Tom - Bookrastinating reviewed The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones
In late August 1619, a ship arrived in the British colony of Virginia bearing a …
Know better; do better
5 stars
Angelou's quote about knowledge and action that I borrowed for the title of this review was not quoted during this text, (as far as I can recall) however it was on the top of my mind throughout my reading of it. Part of being able to make a just society is to educate the ignorant portions of that society to the the injustices inherent in it. This text does that. My own ignorance of the depth of inequality in the US, established and perpetuated by the self interest of the powerful as expressed through racist policy was vast. This compilation of great work inspires me to dig deeper, and to do more.
Tom - Bookrastinating finished reading The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones
The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones, The New York Times Company
In late August 1619, a ship arrived in the British colony of Virginia bearing a cargo of twenty to thirty …
Tom - Bookrastinating reviewed Peace That Almost Was by Mark Tooley
History of the transition
4 stars
Did I like it? yes Could it use some work? very much so Good parts first, I love transitional history. The events that happen at the seams always pique my interest. This text takes us primarily to Feb 1861 and the events surrounding a conference held in Washington DC called by Virginia and chaired by former president Tyler which attempted to develop and propose amendments to the US constitution that would prevent the pending civil war. It failed in its primary purpose but had the side effect of keeping VA and some border states from hitting the secession button until after Lincoln's inauguration.
Criticism: The author spent a lot of time zooming in on the men who said prayers at the opening of each day of the conference. It wasn't relevant and could easily have been left out. Also the author dealt too charitably (in language used) with enslavers and …
Did I like it? yes Could it use some work? very much so Good parts first, I love transitional history. The events that happen at the seams always pique my interest. This text takes us primarily to Feb 1861 and the events surrounding a conference held in Washington DC called by Virginia and chaired by former president Tyler which attempted to develop and propose amendments to the US constitution that would prevent the pending civil war. It failed in its primary purpose but had the side effect of keeping VA and some border states from hitting the secession button until after Lincoln's inauguration.
Criticism: The author spent a lot of time zooming in on the men who said prayers at the opening of each day of the conference. It wasn't relevant and could easily have been left out. Also the author dealt too charitably (in language used) with enslavers and gave limited agency or role to the men, women and children enslaved by the southern aristocracy.