djwfyi finished reading Tasting Light by A. R. Capetta
An interesting collection of short stories that do, as promised, challenge perspectives. Glad to have read them.
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I'm a software tech writer by day. I enjoy reading sci-fi and fantasy, science, some philosophy, and anything else that looks interesting or challenging. Professionally, I need to learn a great deal about cloud native tech like Kubernetes, storage, AWS, and so on.
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djwfyi commented on Tasting Light by A. R. Capetta
The subtitle is science fiction stories to rewire your perceptions, and the stories are not disappointing. I just finished Walk 153, and it was a great story. Makes me want to walk more and pay attention better.
djwfyi finished reading All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
An ancient society of witches and a hipster technological startup go war as the world …
It was a good story, well thought out. Something about the ending didn't settle right, but I can't pinpoint what just yet. I enjoyed reading it and am glad I finished it, though. It's told from two perspectives, but it works well enough.
I picked the book up randomly at a bookshop based on the back cover description. As such purchases go, this one was quite good.
An ancient society of witches and a hipster technological startup go war as the world …
Boredom is the mind's scar tissue.
— All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (Page 156)
This line made me pause for a bit. I'll have to turn it over in my mind for a while.
djwfyi quoted In Transit by Dianna E. Anderson
For decades, our cultural discourse around trans and gender-diverse people has been viewed through a …
To properly and accurately discuss trans identity and trans formation, one must understand that it includes a history of being erased, excluded, and violently removed from history. Trans people have always existed; their presence in the community is not a new thing. We know that because some transgender people were not able enough that history actually wrote about them, which means there were many, many more with quiet lives who lived and died in communities without anyone ever noting their existence in the historical record. People who insist that trans people did not exist when they were growing up are simply demonstrating their ignorance.
— In Transit by Dianna E. Anderson, Emily Vanderwerff (Page 29)
History is always told by the victors. And it is always, always, always biased. So approach any history looking for the biases for the story it wants to tell.
I appreciate Anderson's brief survey and filling in of stories of trans people in history in this chapter.
djwfyi quoted In Transit by Dianna E. Anderson
For decades, our cultural discourse around trans and gender-diverse people has been viewed through a …
It is not that truth does not exist; it is that truth is hard to develop a communal definition of.
— In Transit by Dianna E. Anderson, Emily Vanderwerff (Page 18)
This quote comes at the end of the first chapter that begins the exploration of language and our terms man and woman and the sheer weight and baggage those bring with them in our culture and society. They are so engrained, and the engraining itself shapes how we view the world. How we even can view the world.
So the hard work is coming to an understanding communally of what truth is. Society rejected the idea that the earth revolves around the sun for a long time. But truth is worth it.
On to chapter 2.
djwfyi started reading In Transit by Dianna E. Anderson
For decades, our cultural discourse around trans and gender-diverse people has been viewed through a …
One title of a stack borrowed from the library to help me expand my understanding of gender and the bigger human experience.
I found Stuart's book exceptionally informative on many issues of gender and sensuality. I appreciated their humor and open invitation to make the world more open and welcoming for everyone, however they want to live and be in the world as themselves. I also really enjoyed all if the illustrations throughout the book.
If you are curious about gender expression and identity or just want to know more about what the pronoun fuss is all about, Stuart's book is a great entry.
There is some discussion about bodies (appropriate to tye topic and not lewd) and some use of language. I did not find it out of place or distracting.
What's beautiful is: when we realize so many different types of people and bodies do exist, we stop considering 'male' and 'female' to be normal. Allowing for a wider diversity of humans and life experiences lets people define for themselves what normal means. Being intersex or having different abilities and needs ... these aren't things that need to be fixed, or indicators of 'something wrong.'
These are parts of valid and beautiful humans who also deserve love and acceptance in this world.
Or at least the world I'm hoping we all want to create together.
— How to They/Them: A Visual Guide to Nonbinary Pronouns and the World of Gender Fluidity by Stuart Getty (Page 66)
Italics and bold in the original.
djwfyi reviewed Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
Pictures tell a 1,000 words that we didn't know at the time
5 stars
Hollis Woods, Josie, Beatrice, Stephen, The Old Man. Vignettes and portraits told in snippets as we see through eyes that maybe aren't ours (or aren't ours anymore) to see the details that are so easy to miss in the blur of living.
Giff tells a lovely story of being found and accepting who you are and what you can be when you let others in.
djwfyi reviewed Shakespeare's secret by Elise Broach
Named after a character in a Shakespeare play, misfit sixth-grader Hero becomes interested in exploring …
A necklace, a diamond, and a good finding place
4 stars
This story of finding and being found tells of a mystery. As Hero adapts to yet another new home and school, she uncovers surprising friends and an absorbing mystery. Might she and her friends reveal a centuries old secret?
A read aloud shared with our kids,vwe all enjoyed this story.
djwfyi finished reading Shakespeare's secret by Elise Broach
Shakespeare's secret by Elise Broach
Named after a character in a Shakespeare play, misfit sixth-grader Hero becomes interested in exploring this unusual connection because of …
djwfyi reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk & Robot, #2)
After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) …
Searching for meaning in the spaces between us
5 stars
What does it mean to be, to exist? How do we find satisfaction in simply being? Or does satisfaction come from contributing something back to others while having our own needs met by them? What do we need as people? As individuals? As a society? As a shared planet?
Chambers explores big questions, maybe even bigger ones in our second journey with Dex and Mosscap as when we first met them.
I left the first book wanting a friend to serve me tea. In leaving this one wanting to give and to be given to. For in that is life and meaning and contentment. Thriving and leaving space for others around me to thrive, too.
Five stars.
djwfyi finished reading A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk & Robot, #2)
After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) …
What does it mean to be, to exist? How do we find satisfaction in simply being? Or does satisfaction come from contributing something back to others while having our own needs met by them? What do we need as people? As individuals? As a society? As a shared planet?
Chambers explores big questions, maybe even bigger ones in our second journey with Dex and Mosscap as when we first met them.
I left the first book wanting a friend to serve me tea. In leaving this one wanting to give and to be given to. For in that is life and meaning and contentment.
Five stars.