Books I've read and my reviews
- Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer
*****
This book made me laugh, cry, and sweat a little. I listened to it on Spotify, and it was narrated by the author, which I think added to the whole book. The part where she described dropping her eldest daughter off at college you can hear her choke up, and it's a very emotional scene, much like the rest of the book. She's able to convey her sadness and grief at the loss of culture and the planet, but at the same time sweeten it with a little hope. It's made me reflect on my own attitude toward action and sustainability. I've personally given up on activism before I even start because I feel powerless. But what am I getting a biology degree for, if I will not use it to better the world, not just by being a public servant? How can I use my education to reconnect to the earth, and engage in reciprocity with the planet that raised me? It has made me more cognisant and grateful for the time I do get outside, and those that spend time with me. I already love nature, but now I view the plants and animals as my kin, not just something to marvel at. The writing style in this book also uses amazing analogy, whimsical description that still makes sense, and draws wisdom from different stories from indigenous cultures. Overall, I think this will be a book I read/listen to often throughout my life, especially as we start to see the effects of climate change and I understand science and my own spirituality more.
- Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson
**** I finished this book about a month ago. I liked it, but it left a sour taste in my mouth by the end. The gritty, choppy writing style was hard to get used to but flowed well after a while! I loved the plot and the incorporation of philosophy and mythology into a very high tech postmodern society. I think it also aged very well, unlike lots of cyberpunk media. Stephenson's vision of the future is certainly plausible even now, with the advancement of AI and VR and all that jazz. However, I think his sexualization of women, while in some cases relevant to the story as the plot kind of parallels to the more ancient, mythological tales interwoven in the book, was a little overdone and in poor taste. However, I think his intentions were good, and there were lots of great points about how people treat each other in the text. The major theme I picked up on was a world that no longer contained much empathy, which is becoming more and more relatable today. Overall, this book was great, if you can make it through the first few chapters and get used to the grit and writing style.
- The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel van der Kolk (INCOMPLETE)