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calarco's Reviews (760)
If you are looking for a resource on U.S. - Indian policy and law then you will be hard-pressed to find a better source than Stephen L. Pevar’s The Rights of Indians and Tribes (4th edition). An update to the 3rd edition which was utilized as an ACLU guide, this volume contains invaluable information on treaties, Congressional acts, executive orders, civil law, criminal law (federal, state, and tribal), as well as so many other pertinent topics.
While this probably will not be for the casual reader as it contains a great deal of legal jargon, the one major takeaway is that Indians have specific legal rights due to treaties signed (and historically broken) by the U.S. government; any notion that they receive “special” rights as a “gift” is laughably false and detrimental. Furthermore, being both U.S. citizens and members of sovereign nations, many tribal members have a ridiculously messy and complex legal system to navigate if they want justice.
A recurring theme in this volume surrounds access and control of land and resources. The goal of nearly all treaties signed between Tribes and the U.S. was for the U.S. government to obtain Indian land in post-warfare negotiations. Hunting, fishing, water rights, gaming, taxing practices and other activities on reservation land (and outside it) are expanded upon. The pros and cons surrounding the practice of putting land into federal trusts is also explored. More so though, I found the sections on criminal justice, or frequent lack thereof, to be especially compelling.
“A study by the Department of Justice in 1999 found that violent crime occurs more than twice as frequently per capita on Indian reservations as elsewhere, with sexual abuse against women occurring three times as frequently, and that violent crime in Indian country is increasing while decreasing nationally” (131).
While there is a long and complex history of violence against Native Americans in the United States that have systemic ripple effects still felt today, Pevar frequently cites Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe (1978) as a major cause for harm. On an Indian reservation if someone commits a crime, depending on the crime they could be subject to federal, state, or tribal law. In what was already a legal minefield, Oliphant further complicated things by rendering Indian tribes unable to prosecute non-Indians for crimes committed on a rez without Congressional consent (and Congress has not consented to this type of tribal jurisdiction).
Grant it, while Tribes could not prosecute Major Crimes (e.g. murder, rape, manslaughter, etc.), this ruling still presented a major hurdle at arbitrating justice on tribal land. Oliphant grants non-Indians something similar to diplomatic immunity that can only serve to strengthen sentiments of indigenous dehumanization.
This is what leaves many to believe that they can get away with crimes against Native Americans, and they often do. Just last year (2018) news broke in Alaska about the man who strangled and sexually assaulted a 25-year-old Native American woman. He was identified and confessed. He was charged in state court. He served zero jail time because the judge felt it would negatively impact his life. Sometimes it seems like the justice system fails, except now I know that it’s working exactly the way it was intended, which is even more unsettling.
In terms of providing essential legal information, this book may be unprecedented. The only reason I don’t rate it higher is that the law is constantly changing and as a result there are key rulings that are not present. For instance, while Pevar is rightly critical of South Dakota’s attempts at voter suppression, as this volume was published in 2012 it is missing the controversial voter suppression law passed by North Dakota and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 (which resulted in a Republican winning a Senate seat). Pevar cannot be expected to be a fortune teller, though the years of legal precedent he lays out sure won’t leave anyone feeling shocked by poor rulings made in the future.
Overall, I learned so much and will continue to refer back to this book as a reference in the years to come. If you are interested in any of the aforementioned topics I 100% recommend this volume.
Rating: 4.5 stars
While this probably will not be for the casual reader as it contains a great deal of legal jargon, the one major takeaway is that Indians have specific legal rights due to treaties signed (and historically broken) by the U.S. government; any notion that they receive “special” rights as a “gift” is laughably false and detrimental. Furthermore, being both U.S. citizens and members of sovereign nations, many tribal members have a ridiculously messy and complex legal system to navigate if they want justice.
A recurring theme in this volume surrounds access and control of land and resources. The goal of nearly all treaties signed between Tribes and the U.S. was for the U.S. government to obtain Indian land in post-warfare negotiations. Hunting, fishing, water rights, gaming, taxing practices and other activities on reservation land (and outside it) are expanded upon. The pros and cons surrounding the practice of putting land into federal trusts is also explored. More so though, I found the sections on criminal justice, or frequent lack thereof, to be especially compelling.
“A study by the Department of Justice in 1999 found that violent crime occurs more than twice as frequently per capita on Indian reservations as elsewhere, with sexual abuse against women occurring three times as frequently, and that violent crime in Indian country is increasing while decreasing nationally” (131).
While there is a long and complex history of violence against Native Americans in the United States that have systemic ripple effects still felt today, Pevar frequently cites Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe (1978) as a major cause for harm. On an Indian reservation if someone commits a crime, depending on the crime they could be subject to federal, state, or tribal law. In what was already a legal minefield, Oliphant further complicated things by rendering Indian tribes unable to prosecute non-Indians for crimes committed on a rez without Congressional consent (and Congress has not consented to this type of tribal jurisdiction).
Grant it, while Tribes could not prosecute Major Crimes (e.g. murder, rape, manslaughter, etc.), this ruling still presented a major hurdle at arbitrating justice on tribal land. Oliphant grants non-Indians something similar to diplomatic immunity that can only serve to strengthen sentiments of indigenous dehumanization.
This is what leaves many to believe that they can get away with crimes against Native Americans, and they often do. Just last year (2018) news broke in Alaska about the man who strangled and sexually assaulted a 25-year-old Native American woman. He was identified and confessed. He was charged in state court. He served zero jail time because the judge felt it would negatively impact his life. Sometimes it seems like the justice system fails, except now I know that it’s working exactly the way it was intended, which is even more unsettling.
In terms of providing essential legal information, this book may be unprecedented. The only reason I don’t rate it higher is that the law is constantly changing and as a result there are key rulings that are not present. For instance, while Pevar is rightly critical of South Dakota’s attempts at voter suppression, as this volume was published in 2012 it is missing the controversial voter suppression law passed by North Dakota and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 (which resulted in a Republican winning a Senate seat). Pevar cannot be expected to be a fortune teller, though the years of legal precedent he lays out sure won’t leave anyone feeling shocked by poor rulings made in the future.
Overall, I learned so much and will continue to refer back to this book as a reference in the years to come. If you are interested in any of the aforementioned topics I 100% recommend this volume.
Rating: 4.5 stars
“No matter how much I crave peace, the gods have other plans.”
Normally I’m weary of contemporary books with a lot of hype, and I don’t think I’ve seen many books more raved about on this website than Children of Blood and Bone. Well, now that I’ve actually read it, I too can jump right in and add my voice the rabid fanbase. This book is great! I can’t believe it was only Tomi Adeyemi’s debut, what a page turner.
Perhaps because parts of the early story structure reminded me a great deal of Avatar: The Last Airbender, by midway I felt I could predict what would happen next. What a mistake, instead absolutely nothing goes in any predictable manner. Without spoiling anything, I will say that even though the main characters are quite young, their actions have very adult consequences that are at times exciting and others heart-wrenching. I was literally on the edge of my seat flipping through the final pages.
Given that this is a YA book and its main characters are only teenagers, amongst the magic and lionaires, this is still very much a coming-of-age story. Zélie, Amari, and Inan each have a unique outlook on a pretty brutal world that they grew up in following an event akin to near genocide. More so, their choices have greater consequences that not only impact others' lives, but work to shape the very world around them.
I won’t say anything other that I enjoyed this book, I recommend it, and why does December 3rd feel so far away?
Normally I’m weary of contemporary books with a lot of hype, and I don’t think I’ve seen many books more raved about on this website than Children of Blood and Bone. Well, now that I’ve actually read it, I too can jump right in and add my voice the rabid fanbase. This book is great! I can’t believe it was only Tomi Adeyemi’s debut, what a page turner.
Perhaps because parts of the early story structure reminded me a great deal of Avatar: The Last Airbender, by midway I felt I could predict what would happen next. What a mistake, instead absolutely nothing goes in any predictable manner. Without spoiling anything, I will say that even though the main characters are quite young, their actions have very adult consequences that are at times exciting and others heart-wrenching. I was literally on the edge of my seat flipping through the final pages.
Given that this is a YA book and its main characters are only teenagers, amongst the magic and lionaires, this is still very much a coming-of-age story. Zélie, Amari, and Inan each have a unique outlook on a pretty brutal world that they grew up in following an event akin to near genocide. More so, their choices have greater consequences that not only impact others' lives, but work to shape the very world around them.
I won’t say anything other that I enjoyed this book, I recommend it, and why does December 3rd feel so far away?
Long on my radar, I'm happy I finally got to read Howl's Moving Castle. Diana Wynne Jones' fairytale can solidly be characterized as whimsical and free of cynicism, appropriate for children of all ages.
At the story’s start, main protagonist Sophie, the oldest of three sisters, would seem to be fated to lead an uneventful life managing a hat shop. That is until one day a witch shows up and curses her, turning Sophie into an old woman and putting her on course to cross paths with the seemingly conceited (and definitely perplexing) wizard Howl. She enters a moving castle, as well as a world of unexpected turns.
“As a girl, Sophie would have shriveled with embarrassment at the way she was behaving. As an old woman, she did not mind what she did or said. She found that a great relief” (64).
What I enjoyed most about this story is that at its heart lies an exploration of identity. Unlike her sisters, Sophie is passively resigned to make the most of her fate, and does not exert much agency until her transformation. Only when she’s free of society’s expectations is she then truly free in mind and spirit. In fact, none of the characters are really who they seem to be, with the ultimate reveal of their true nature driving most of the story’s plot.
That said, while I really did enjoy this tale and would even rank it above similar stories like Stardust, I still felt like something was missing when I reached the final page. The content of the story is more than quality, the ideas are great, but the presentation felt lacking. Specifically, my issue is that I like the Miyazaki film adaptation more than the source material. I know it’s like a cardinal sin to like the movie more than the book, but it was my first Ghibli film and I can’t change how I feel. Oh well!
Overall, Howl’s Moving Castle is a solid read and I still definitely recommend it… But I would also recommend the film, it too is super delightful.
At the story’s start, main protagonist Sophie, the oldest of three sisters, would seem to be fated to lead an uneventful life managing a hat shop. That is until one day a witch shows up and curses her, turning Sophie into an old woman and putting her on course to cross paths with the seemingly conceited (and definitely perplexing) wizard Howl. She enters a moving castle, as well as a world of unexpected turns.
“As a girl, Sophie would have shriveled with embarrassment at the way she was behaving. As an old woman, she did not mind what she did or said. She found that a great relief” (64).
What I enjoyed most about this story is that at its heart lies an exploration of identity. Unlike her sisters, Sophie is passively resigned to make the most of her fate, and does not exert much agency until her transformation. Only when she’s free of society’s expectations is she then truly free in mind and spirit. In fact, none of the characters are really who they seem to be, with the ultimate reveal of their true nature driving most of the story’s plot.
That said, while I really did enjoy this tale and would even rank it above similar stories like Stardust, I still felt like something was missing when I reached the final page. The content of the story is more than quality, the ideas are great, but the presentation felt lacking. Specifically, my issue is that I like the Miyazaki film adaptation more than the source material. I know it’s like a cardinal sin to like the movie more than the book, but it was my first Ghibli film and I can’t change how I feel. Oh well!
Overall, Howl’s Moving Castle is a solid read and I still definitely recommend it… But I would also recommend the film, it too is super delightful.
Cultures and Globalization: Heritage, Memory and Identity
Yudhishthir Raj Isar, Helmut K. Anheier
Initially, I got this academic anthology for a heritage course in grad school. A couple of years later, I still find myself going back to it for resources, and (inadvertently) finished the collection. If you have an interest in the heritage field, especially as it pertains to cultural memory and identity, then I can definitely vouch for this edited volume.
Including a number of perspectives from around the globe, contributing researchers take a stab at the tedious process of trying to define heritage. From the tangible to intangible, sedentary to diaspora, and local to global, there is a great deal of content covered here. While there are specific case studies, this volume serves best as a resource for heritage theory.
The definition I most agree with is presented in the final chapter, “From the Tower of Babel to the Ivory Tower,” by David Lowenthal. He exclaims, “Most heritage is about personal or communal self-interest. Things are valued as my heritage or our heritage. Even a shameful past may earn self-admiration for facing up to it. In celebrating symbols of their histories, societies in fact worship themselves. Exclusive to us, our past is unlike anyone else’s” (282).
I find this to be the most pragmatic outlook of the field. Heritage can be self-indulgent, but it is precisely this reality that makes it such a powerful tool. Groups from the smallest communities to the largest nations build a collective sense of identity based on the stories, artifacts, buildings, artistic traditions, and national narratives that are valued and preserved. So why not dissect why we value what we value? Or my favorite question – why not examine who benefits most from what is valued? That’s where this book is helpful.
Overall, I must warn that this volume is more academic than accessible, so unless you have a keen interest in the field this (text)book may not be worth it. However, if you already have some base knowledge and want to learn more, then by all means this is pretty useful.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Including a number of perspectives from around the globe, contributing researchers take a stab at the tedious process of trying to define heritage. From the tangible to intangible, sedentary to diaspora, and local to global, there is a great deal of content covered here. While there are specific case studies, this volume serves best as a resource for heritage theory.
The definition I most agree with is presented in the final chapter, “From the Tower of Babel to the Ivory Tower,” by David Lowenthal. He exclaims, “Most heritage is about personal or communal self-interest. Things are valued as my heritage or our heritage. Even a shameful past may earn self-admiration for facing up to it. In celebrating symbols of their histories, societies in fact worship themselves. Exclusive to us, our past is unlike anyone else’s” (282).
I find this to be the most pragmatic outlook of the field. Heritage can be self-indulgent, but it is precisely this reality that makes it such a powerful tool. Groups from the smallest communities to the largest nations build a collective sense of identity based on the stories, artifacts, buildings, artistic traditions, and national narratives that are valued and preserved. So why not dissect why we value what we value? Or my favorite question – why not examine who benefits most from what is valued? That’s where this book is helpful.
Overall, I must warn that this volume is more academic than accessible, so unless you have a keen interest in the field this (text)book may not be worth it. However, if you already have some base knowledge and want to learn more, then by all means this is pretty useful.
Rating: 3.5 stars
No matter how you slice it, The Lord of the Rings is amazing fun. Even though this was my first read through of the fantasy epic, it nonetheless felt super nostalgic as Tolkien still had a massive influence over my formative years. The Fellowship of the Ring was the first DVD I ever owned, and with it I would lose myself in Middle Earth almost every day after school as a kid, even if it was a version rendered through Peter Jackson's eyes.
While Jackson did a great job, having read the original I can now join the chorus of nerds who exclaim that the book is better. It really is. No one would accuse Tolkien of skimping on detail, and with his powers of verbosity he crafts a truly beautiful and impressive world; a magic that few others have been able to emulate. Now, as this series splits six books over three publications, like with my review for The Bible, I'll share my thoughts book by book before tossing out my final two cents down below.
The Fellowship of the Ring
Book 1: This one has the daunting task of picking up where The Hobbit left off, leading the reader out of the light-hearted Shire and into the grittier reaches of Gondor. For me, the segue works seamlessly both narratively and tonally.
"The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out." - Gildor (83)
Similar to its prequel, this tale opens in the Shire to a new gaggle of hobbits: Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin (amongst numerous others). It’s whimsical hobbit business as usual until Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday when he gifts Frodo the Ring and role as new lead protagonist. The wise Gandalf then appears shortly thereafter to deliver quotable exposition and act as Tolkien’s moral, sagely mouthpiece.
"All this is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" - Gandalf (170)
Gandalf visits over a period of 17 years, and while this slower pacing may not be for everyone, I enjoyed the time to acclimate before launching full speed ahead into muddier waters. Something else I unexpectedly enjoyed was the wacky Tom Bombadil. Until meeting Bombadil, the Ring is presented as having an almost omnipotent draw, acting as a heavy burden or force of corruption for its bearer. This is not the case for Bombadil, who is neither effected nor affected by it.
Bombadil presents a perplexing complexity to how the Ring (and power) works in Middle Earth. The Ring grants power at the expense of exerting sway over the one who holds it. Whether that person is good or bad makes no difference, the Ring warps their mind with the promise of a sense of control, playing on weakness or desire. What sets Bombadil aside is an intense inner peace that he seems to have cultivated from within. While the other characters are still coming into their identities, Bombadil is "a moss-gatherer" as Gandalf would later put it, someone who is truly content with his sense of self and place in the world.
This book ends in Rivendell after a high-speed chase with the Nazgul hot on the hobbits and Strider’s heels; much suspense.
Book 2: This one is basically the Seven Samurai arc of the series. Fun fact, Akira Kurosawa’s samurai epic came out three months before The Fellowship was published. I doubt one actually impacted the other, but 1954 sure was an epic year for culturally influential stories centering on a ragtag group from drastically different walks of life teaming up for the greater good. Dope stuff.
"Don't adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story. Well, it can't be helped." - Bilbo (232)
This story opens with a meeting of the Council, where representatives of the different races share their intel, most notably Saruman’s betrayal, as well as their different takes on course of action. After deliberation, it is agreed that the Ring must be destroyed, and so four hobbits, two humans, one dwarf, one elf, and one wizard set out to save Middle Earth. (You know who they are.) They work together and make a plan to cross the Misty Mountain which ultimately fails, a recurring theme throughout this tale.
Instead they are re-routed and must pass through the mysterious, ancient dwarf kingdom Moria. This plan also starts to unravel as they find the place overrun by orcs. I won’t elaborate too much, but the battle and escape from Moria is one of the most suspenseful sequences of the series. Balrog of Morgoth haunted my dreams as a kid.
"Fly, you fools" - Gandalf (331)
Following the events of Moria, the group are down one sagely wizard, but they do get a moment of repose at Lothlorien. Galadriel’s pep talk and gifts hold especially meaningful sway with the gang. Even if Gandalf is not present, Tolkien always seems to have a wise presence waiting in the wing to inspire or explain (plot).
This book ends with Sam and Frodo breaking off from the pack following Boromir’s betrayal. If only Boromir had a bud like Bombadil, what a spin-off that would have been.
The Two Towers
Book 3: This one truly introduces the stakes of the impending battle(s), while stoking narrative tension with the introduction of exciting new characters. In summation, shit gets real.
This book explosively opens with Boromir’s demise, and Merry and Pippin being kidnapped by a gang of orcs. The two hobbits’ propensity for shenanigans do not exactly help them to outsmart the orcs, but they are able to escape when the Riders of Rohan swoop down in a raid. Following escape, the two hobbits come across my favorite race of the series: the Ents. Talking, sentient trees that protect the forest and produce draughts that make you grow in height was everything I ever wanted as a kid. I was a very short nerd.
More so, it was provoking to see these two races often left out of Middle Earth history recount their perspectives of the world and each other. The Ents also (finally) explain why the orcs and Mordor are so inherently evil, beyond them being on the other side of the conflict. The Ents explain that Saruman, ”…has a mind of metal and wheel; and he does not care for growing things, except as far as they serve him for the moment" (473).
Saruman and the orcs leech the earth of its resources, selfishly taking without renewing. While the Ents are made of the bones of the earth, the orcs create Trolls in mockery of the Ents. To me, this feels like an allegory for climate change, though I’ll be the first to admit it’s super doubtful this was Tolkien’s intension; global warming simply was not the issue of his time. But he did see many of his friends die in the carnage of World War I, a destruction that savaged an otherwise lush, green European landscape. It’s easy to see how Tolkien would compact earthly destruction with “evil” and peaceful sustainability with “good.”
"...my friends, songs like trees bear fruit only in their own time and their own way: and sometimes they are withered untimely" - Treebeard (486)
Beyond the forest, we are also introduced to Rohan and my favorite character: Éowyn. If there is one thing I could criticize Tolkien for is that the dude imagined a whole fantasy world, made up a whole language, but still could not think beyond a boring patriarchal social structure. But he does dream up Éowyn, who rebels against systemic oppression with a whole lot of grace. Her disappointment never falls to indignance, and while she’s frustrated with the passive role she must play (not getting to be a warrior) she is still contemplative and mature, grounding her character in an assumed sense of deeper truth.
"Far over the plain Éowyn saw the glitter of their spears, as she stood still, alone before the doors of the silent house" (525)
Like the hobbits and the Ents, the women of Middle Earth are also largely omitted from its main stories and history. However, as one of this story’s major themes is the journey of self-discovery, characters push well beyond what people assume and expect of them to become unlikely heroes. None of their stories are over yet; Isengard falls after all.
This book ends with a key victory and reunion, but then that derp Pippin touches the palantíri connecting him to the Eye of Sauron. Gandalf, who returned earlier in this book, then rides off with Pippin towards Minath Tirith, leaving the others behind to rally in Rohan.
Book 4: This one is where things get precious, if you know what I mean. Focusing on Frodo and Sam, we are returned to the action surrounding the Ring bearer(s). Not long into the story, the two happen upon Gollum. After capturing the emaciated, but threatening creature, Frodo and Sam have to make a decision.
"Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give that to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends." - Gandalf (615)
Also understanding the pull of the Ring, Frodo heeds Gandalf’s earlier advice and acts with mercy over might. The three then form an unlikely alliance to journey together towards Mordor. Gollum’s duality and inner struggles (which are still outwardly obvious), do not help to smooth over the innately tense situation. Things are further complicated when they are discovered by Faramir.
Having only seen Jackson’s films prior, Faramir’s characterization was thoroughly surprising to read on the page. He’s a truly honorable character and does not have his brother Boromir’s shortcomings when it comes the pull of the Ring. Faramir is a pretty chill dude; he even seems to feel pity for Gollum. This encounter is also intriguing in that as the hobbits recount events from their perspectives, leading Sam to say something revealing while defending Galadriel.
"It strikes me that folk takes their peril with them into Lorien, and finds it there because they've brought it. But perhaps you could call her perilous, because she's so strong in herself. You, you could dash yourself to pieces on her, like a ship on a rock; or drowned yourself, like a hobbit in a river. But neither rock nor river would be to blame" - Sam (680)
Sam’s account further serves to explain the underlying mechanisms of moral balance in Middle Earth. Tolkien wants his characters to discover themselves, to do better, but he also wants them to take personal responsibility for these personal journeys. Just because something or someone appears a certain way, an individual is still responsible for how they approach different situations. There is a certain zen in this outlook of understanding the world that echoes Taoism, Buddhism, and even Christianity (e.g. Ecclesiastes). But I digress…
After the trio parts ways from Faramir, they travel further and further into Mordor, even getting to the city of Minas Morgul. After ascending the steep staircase of the Cirith Ungol, rather than getting to indulge in sweet relief at the zenith, they are instead met with Gollum’s deception (not a shocker) and the giant spider Shelob (horrifying). Similar to the queen from Aliens, this creature is truly disturbing. Even with the help of the Phial of Galadriel and Sam’s burst of bravery, the situation is left in dire anguish.
"Don't go where I can't follow! Wake up, Mr. Frodo! O wake up, Frodo, me dear, me dear. Wake up!" - Sam (730)
I have like five feelings, but Sam’s grief and heartbreak will always get to me. Seemingly dead, Frodo is carried off by a couple of orcs following the conflict. Sam ninja’s behind them, exploiting the stealth of the Ring’s invisibility. The book ends with Sam overhearing that Frodo is paralyzed, not dead. Peak anxiety.
The Return of the King
Book 5: This one is where the action crescendos and climaxes in Gondor. Tolkien has moved his chess pieces into play, and battles transform into what now feels like all-out war. At the start, bad dad Denethor introduces some high stakes political drama, but the best parts of this book are with the characters who are flying under the radar.
"Too often have I heard of duty... But am I not of the House of Eorl, a shield-maiden and not a dry-nurse? I have waited on faltering feet long enough. Since they falter no longer, it seems, may I not now spend my life as I will?" - Éowyn (784)
Éowyn is pretty much over it at this point. She wants to honor her position, but she knows she can take care of her people (and business) in a better way. Reclaiming her agency, she stealths into the army undercover as Dernhelm, and secretly takes up Merry to fight alongside her. Both Merry and Éowyn had been overlooked for the fight, so their stubborn determination is pretty solid, even if Merry does not know Dernhelm’s true identity at this point.
This arc meets its height when the two encounter the Lord of the Nazgul on the verge of snuffing out Theoden. Up until this point the Witch-king has been particularly terrifying because “no living man” can hinder or slay him. This is when Éowyn reveals herself in time to have what I would call her “Macduff moment.” In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the titular villain believes himself invincible as prophecy dictates he cannot be killed by any man born of woman. This does not account for Macduff who was, “from his mother’s womb untimely ripped” (aka: born via c-section), therefore technically bypassing the prophecy’s semantics.
"But no living man am I! You look upon a woman…You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him" - Éowyn (841)
Big bad Nazgul does not heed her warning, so Éowyn and Merry work together to take him out. I enjoyed this fight because it is not especially graceful, but the two are able to utilize their perceived weakness as strength to nonetheless to vanquish their foe. As Merry would later explain, "It's not always a misfortune being overlooked."
There is a lot that goes on in this and other battles, but what I like the most is that beyond the individual acts of valor, the war is won with unexpected collaboration. Yay teamwork!
Book 6: This one returns us to the hobbits’ final leg of their journey to Mount Doom.
"If it's too hard a job, I could share it with you, maybe?" - Sam (911)
This is also the one where Sam proves himself to be the true hero of this story. Sam is able to save Frodo from the orcs, and from that point onward acts as the main driving force of the mission both physically and emotionally. He puts up with Frodo’s Ring induced moodiness, gives up his food and water rations for Frodo, and even sympathizes with his cantankerous friend and superior. Sam understands that for Frodo, "...the growing weight of the Ring, a burden on the body and a torment to his mind”, is weight his friend down. Grounded in empathy, Sam gets it. And he’ll get the damn job done regardless.
"I'll get there, if I leave everything but my bones behind. And I'll carry Mr. Frodo up myself, if it breaks my back and heart. So stop arguing!" - Sam (939)
As they reach their destination, Gollum resurfaces to cause some last-minute mayhem. Even with their end goal in sight, Sam is still unable to strike down Gollum, because his heart feels for the creature, at this point personally understanding the burden of the Ring. But Gollum didn’t come to learn any lessons, he came to get his fix, and plunges to take the Ring from Frodo, finger and all. His addiction becomes his final destruction as he and the Ring plunge into Mordor’s fiery depths.
In a normal fantasy narrative, this is about where the story would end, but not for Tolkien! He’s a pedantic nerd who still has more than half a book to fill out. It is actually here that I can point out some of Tolkien’s shortcomings as a writer, like with his endless song lyrics. Some are truly great, but then there are others like, "Praise them! The Ring-bearers, praise them with great praise!". Praise be, why?
Tolkien is also laughably bad at writing romance, as seen with Faramir and Éowyn. While they actually do make sense as a couple what with them both being honorable and having daddy issues (so much terrible bonding material), the execution of the courtship isn’t what anyone will remember this series for. "And as they stood so, their hands met and clasped, though they did not know it." Oh Tolkien, he strikes me as the type of dude who would look away from two people kissing at a wedding ceremony because it would be too intimate for him to bare.
My nitpickings aside, what I like about the final chapters is how they address the realities of ending a war; it’s not a neat, tidy process. The hard part is over, the glory is got, but the hobbits still have to travel back home on their own and free the Shire from some “ruffians” who have invaded in their absence. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin lead an uprising of hobbits to take their home back, only to come upon Saruman in Bag End. In his defeat, even though Saruman has murdered and destroyed for pointless industrialization, the hobbits still opt to show him mercy.
"It is useless to meet revenge with revenge: it will heal nothing" - Frodo (1019)
The four have all grown, and not just from Ent-draughts. It’s easy to destroy, but terribly difficult to forgive and rebuild. Similar to Gollum, Saruman is blinded by shortsighted desires, still does not want any of it (mercy), and taunts Wormtongue into killing him. So ends the true final battle, the Battle of Bywater. All that remains is the tough part - healing and living. The story comes full circle.
My Final Thoughts
I loved this book, plain and simple. There were so many amazing characters including Gandalf as the moral compass, Treebeard standing in for the wisdom of old, and Sam acting as the heart of the story. I also enjoyed looking at The Lord of the Rings as an underrepresented history of the greater world, even if it’s a fictional fantasy one. Most fantasy stories written until this point were told from the perspective of valiant knights, so I’m glad the ones conventionally relegated as b-characters finally got their tale.
"Still, I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales. We're in one, of course; but I mean: put into words, you know, told by the fireside, or read out of a great big book with red and black letters, years and years afterwards" - Sam (712)
Sam and gang are now thoroughly entrenched in the cultural zeitgeist, and I do not see them falling out of favor any time soon. In all seriousness, I could not recommend this book more. I even ended up timing it so that I finished it on March 25th, the day Gondor was freed. It only seemed fitting; a totally normal thing anyone (ahem, any massive nerd) would have done. Anyways, this book is amazing, do yourself a favor and read it at least once.
Finally, I should at this point reveal some bias on my part; The Lord of the Rings was the last present my grandma gave me before she passed. The reason I waited so long to read this series is entirely due to wanting to have something from her to look forward to. It is also why it took me almost a year to finish; I just kept looking for excuses to hold on a bit longer. My grandma was my Gandalf, Sam, and Eowyn all in one person.
But finishing this story doesn’t mean I’m ‘finished’ with it; now I can look forward to reading it to my future kids, nieces, and nephews. Just because you go ‘There and Back Again,’ doesn’t mean the journey is ever truly over.
While Jackson did a great job, having read the original I can now join the chorus of nerds who exclaim that the book is better. It really is. No one would accuse Tolkien of skimping on detail, and with his powers of verbosity he crafts a truly beautiful and impressive world; a magic that few others have been able to emulate. Now, as this series splits six books over three publications, like with my review for The Bible, I'll share my thoughts book by book before tossing out my final two cents down below.
The Fellowship of the Ring
Book 1: This one has the daunting task of picking up where The Hobbit left off, leading the reader out of the light-hearted Shire and into the grittier reaches of Gondor. For me, the segue works seamlessly both narratively and tonally.
"The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out." - Gildor (83)
Similar to its prequel, this tale opens in the Shire to a new gaggle of hobbits: Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin (amongst numerous others). It’s whimsical hobbit business as usual until Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday when he gifts Frodo the Ring and role as new lead protagonist. The wise Gandalf then appears shortly thereafter to deliver quotable exposition and act as Tolkien’s moral, sagely mouthpiece.
"All this is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" - Gandalf (170)
Gandalf visits over a period of 17 years, and while this slower pacing may not be for everyone, I enjoyed the time to acclimate before launching full speed ahead into muddier waters. Something else I unexpectedly enjoyed was the wacky Tom Bombadil. Until meeting Bombadil, the Ring is presented as having an almost omnipotent draw, acting as a heavy burden or force of corruption for its bearer. This is not the case for Bombadil, who is neither effected nor affected by it.
Bombadil presents a perplexing complexity to how the Ring (and power) works in Middle Earth. The Ring grants power at the expense of exerting sway over the one who holds it. Whether that person is good or bad makes no difference, the Ring warps their mind with the promise of a sense of control, playing on weakness or desire. What sets Bombadil aside is an intense inner peace that he seems to have cultivated from within. While the other characters are still coming into their identities, Bombadil is "a moss-gatherer" as Gandalf would later put it, someone who is truly content with his sense of self and place in the world.
This book ends in Rivendell after a high-speed chase with the Nazgul hot on the hobbits and Strider’s heels; much suspense.
Book 2: This one is basically the Seven Samurai arc of the series. Fun fact, Akira Kurosawa’s samurai epic came out three months before The Fellowship was published. I doubt one actually impacted the other, but 1954 sure was an epic year for culturally influential stories centering on a ragtag group from drastically different walks of life teaming up for the greater good. Dope stuff.
"Don't adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story. Well, it can't be helped." - Bilbo (232)
This story opens with a meeting of the Council, where representatives of the different races share their intel, most notably Saruman’s betrayal, as well as their different takes on course of action. After deliberation, it is agreed that the Ring must be destroyed, and so four hobbits, two humans, one dwarf, one elf, and one wizard set out to save Middle Earth. (You know who they are.) They work together and make a plan to cross the Misty Mountain which ultimately fails, a recurring theme throughout this tale.
Instead they are re-routed and must pass through the mysterious, ancient dwarf kingdom Moria. This plan also starts to unravel as they find the place overrun by orcs. I won’t elaborate too much, but the battle and escape from Moria is one of the most suspenseful sequences of the series. Balrog of Morgoth haunted my dreams as a kid.
"Fly, you fools" - Gandalf (331)
Following the events of Moria, the group are down one sagely wizard, but they do get a moment of repose at Lothlorien. Galadriel’s pep talk and gifts hold especially meaningful sway with the gang. Even if Gandalf is not present, Tolkien always seems to have a wise presence waiting in the wing to inspire or explain (plot).
This book ends with Sam and Frodo breaking off from the pack following Boromir’s betrayal. If only Boromir had a bud like Bombadil, what a spin-off that would have been.
The Two Towers
Book 3: This one truly introduces the stakes of the impending battle(s), while stoking narrative tension with the introduction of exciting new characters. In summation, shit gets real.
This book explosively opens with Boromir’s demise, and Merry and Pippin being kidnapped by a gang of orcs. The two hobbits’ propensity for shenanigans do not exactly help them to outsmart the orcs, but they are able to escape when the Riders of Rohan swoop down in a raid. Following escape, the two hobbits come across my favorite race of the series: the Ents. Talking, sentient trees that protect the forest and produce draughts that make you grow in height was everything I ever wanted as a kid. I was a very short nerd.
More so, it was provoking to see these two races often left out of Middle Earth history recount their perspectives of the world and each other. The Ents also (finally) explain why the orcs and Mordor are so inherently evil, beyond them being on the other side of the conflict. The Ents explain that Saruman, ”…has a mind of metal and wheel; and he does not care for growing things, except as far as they serve him for the moment" (473).
Saruman and the orcs leech the earth of its resources, selfishly taking without renewing. While the Ents are made of the bones of the earth, the orcs create Trolls in mockery of the Ents. To me, this feels like an allegory for climate change, though I’ll be the first to admit it’s super doubtful this was Tolkien’s intension; global warming simply was not the issue of his time. But he did see many of his friends die in the carnage of World War I, a destruction that savaged an otherwise lush, green European landscape. It’s easy to see how Tolkien would compact earthly destruction with “evil” and peaceful sustainability with “good.”
"...my friends, songs like trees bear fruit only in their own time and their own way: and sometimes they are withered untimely" - Treebeard (486)
Beyond the forest, we are also introduced to Rohan and my favorite character: Éowyn. If there is one thing I could criticize Tolkien for is that the dude imagined a whole fantasy world, made up a whole language, but still could not think beyond a boring patriarchal social structure. But he does dream up Éowyn, who rebels against systemic oppression with a whole lot of grace. Her disappointment never falls to indignance, and while she’s frustrated with the passive role she must play (not getting to be a warrior) she is still contemplative and mature, grounding her character in an assumed sense of deeper truth.
"Far over the plain Éowyn saw the glitter of their spears, as she stood still, alone before the doors of the silent house" (525)
Like the hobbits and the Ents, the women of Middle Earth are also largely omitted from its main stories and history. However, as one of this story’s major themes is the journey of self-discovery, characters push well beyond what people assume and expect of them to become unlikely heroes. None of their stories are over yet; Isengard falls after all.
This book ends with a key victory and reunion, but then that derp Pippin touches the palantíri connecting him to the Eye of Sauron. Gandalf, who returned earlier in this book, then rides off with Pippin towards Minath Tirith, leaving the others behind to rally in Rohan.
Book 4: This one is where things get precious, if you know what I mean. Focusing on Frodo and Sam, we are returned to the action surrounding the Ring bearer(s). Not long into the story, the two happen upon Gollum. After capturing the emaciated, but threatening creature, Frodo and Sam have to make a decision.
"Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give that to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends." - Gandalf (615)
Also understanding the pull of the Ring, Frodo heeds Gandalf’s earlier advice and acts with mercy over might. The three then form an unlikely alliance to journey together towards Mordor. Gollum’s duality and inner struggles (which are still outwardly obvious), do not help to smooth over the innately tense situation. Things are further complicated when they are discovered by Faramir.
Having only seen Jackson’s films prior, Faramir’s characterization was thoroughly surprising to read on the page. He’s a truly honorable character and does not have his brother Boromir’s shortcomings when it comes the pull of the Ring. Faramir is a pretty chill dude; he even seems to feel pity for Gollum. This encounter is also intriguing in that as the hobbits recount events from their perspectives, leading Sam to say something revealing while defending Galadriel.
"It strikes me that folk takes their peril with them into Lorien, and finds it there because they've brought it. But perhaps you could call her perilous, because she's so strong in herself. You, you could dash yourself to pieces on her, like a ship on a rock; or drowned yourself, like a hobbit in a river. But neither rock nor river would be to blame" - Sam (680)
Sam’s account further serves to explain the underlying mechanisms of moral balance in Middle Earth. Tolkien wants his characters to discover themselves, to do better, but he also wants them to take personal responsibility for these personal journeys. Just because something or someone appears a certain way, an individual is still responsible for how they approach different situations. There is a certain zen in this outlook of understanding the world that echoes Taoism, Buddhism, and even Christianity (e.g. Ecclesiastes). But I digress…
After the trio parts ways from Faramir, they travel further and further into Mordor, even getting to the city of Minas Morgul. After ascending the steep staircase of the Cirith Ungol, rather than getting to indulge in sweet relief at the zenith, they are instead met with Gollum’s deception (not a shocker) and the giant spider Shelob (horrifying). Similar to the queen from Aliens, this creature is truly disturbing. Even with the help of the Phial of Galadriel and Sam’s burst of bravery, the situation is left in dire anguish.
"Don't go where I can't follow! Wake up, Mr. Frodo! O wake up, Frodo, me dear, me dear. Wake up!" - Sam (730)
I have like five feelings, but Sam’s grief and heartbreak will always get to me. Seemingly dead, Frodo is carried off by a couple of orcs following the conflict. Sam ninja’s behind them, exploiting the stealth of the Ring’s invisibility. The book ends with Sam overhearing that Frodo is paralyzed, not dead. Peak anxiety.
The Return of the King
Book 5: This one is where the action crescendos and climaxes in Gondor. Tolkien has moved his chess pieces into play, and battles transform into what now feels like all-out war. At the start, bad dad Denethor introduces some high stakes political drama, but the best parts of this book are with the characters who are flying under the radar.
"Too often have I heard of duty... But am I not of the House of Eorl, a shield-maiden and not a dry-nurse? I have waited on faltering feet long enough. Since they falter no longer, it seems, may I not now spend my life as I will?" - Éowyn (784)
Éowyn is pretty much over it at this point. She wants to honor her position, but she knows she can take care of her people (and business) in a better way. Reclaiming her agency, she stealths into the army undercover as Dernhelm, and secretly takes up Merry to fight alongside her. Both Merry and Éowyn had been overlooked for the fight, so their stubborn determination is pretty solid, even if Merry does not know Dernhelm’s true identity at this point.
This arc meets its height when the two encounter the Lord of the Nazgul on the verge of snuffing out Theoden. Up until this point the Witch-king has been particularly terrifying because “no living man” can hinder or slay him. This is when Éowyn reveals herself in time to have what I would call her “Macduff moment.” In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the titular villain believes himself invincible as prophecy dictates he cannot be killed by any man born of woman. This does not account for Macduff who was, “from his mother’s womb untimely ripped” (aka: born via c-section), therefore technically bypassing the prophecy’s semantics.
"But no living man am I! You look upon a woman…You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him" - Éowyn (841)
Big bad Nazgul does not heed her warning, so Éowyn and Merry work together to take him out. I enjoyed this fight because it is not especially graceful, but the two are able to utilize their perceived weakness as strength to nonetheless to vanquish their foe. As Merry would later explain, "It's not always a misfortune being overlooked."
There is a lot that goes on in this and other battles, but what I like the most is that beyond the individual acts of valor, the war is won with unexpected collaboration. Yay teamwork!
Book 6: This one returns us to the hobbits’ final leg of their journey to Mount Doom.
"If it's too hard a job, I could share it with you, maybe?" - Sam (911)
This is also the one where Sam proves himself to be the true hero of this story. Sam is able to save Frodo from the orcs, and from that point onward acts as the main driving force of the mission both physically and emotionally. He puts up with Frodo’s Ring induced moodiness, gives up his food and water rations for Frodo, and even sympathizes with his cantankerous friend and superior. Sam understands that for Frodo, "...the growing weight of the Ring, a burden on the body and a torment to his mind”, is weight his friend down. Grounded in empathy, Sam gets it. And he’ll get the damn job done regardless.
"I'll get there, if I leave everything but my bones behind. And I'll carry Mr. Frodo up myself, if it breaks my back and heart. So stop arguing!" - Sam (939)
As they reach their destination, Gollum resurfaces to cause some last-minute mayhem. Even with their end goal in sight, Sam is still unable to strike down Gollum, because his heart feels for the creature, at this point personally understanding the burden of the Ring. But Gollum didn’t come to learn any lessons, he came to get his fix, and plunges to take the Ring from Frodo, finger and all. His addiction becomes his final destruction as he and the Ring plunge into Mordor’s fiery depths.
In a normal fantasy narrative, this is about where the story would end, but not for Tolkien! He’s a pedantic nerd who still has more than half a book to fill out. It is actually here that I can point out some of Tolkien’s shortcomings as a writer, like with his endless song lyrics. Some are truly great, but then there are others like, "Praise them! The Ring-bearers, praise them with great praise!". Praise be, why?
Tolkien is also laughably bad at writing romance, as seen with Faramir and Éowyn. While they actually do make sense as a couple what with them both being honorable and having daddy issues (so much terrible bonding material), the execution of the courtship isn’t what anyone will remember this series for. "And as they stood so, their hands met and clasped, though they did not know it." Oh Tolkien, he strikes me as the type of dude who would look away from two people kissing at a wedding ceremony because it would be too intimate for him to bare.
My nitpickings aside, what I like about the final chapters is how they address the realities of ending a war; it’s not a neat, tidy process. The hard part is over, the glory is got, but the hobbits still have to travel back home on their own and free the Shire from some “ruffians” who have invaded in their absence. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin lead an uprising of hobbits to take their home back, only to come upon Saruman in Bag End. In his defeat, even though Saruman has murdered and destroyed for pointless industrialization, the hobbits still opt to show him mercy.
"It is useless to meet revenge with revenge: it will heal nothing" - Frodo (1019)
The four have all grown, and not just from Ent-draughts. It’s easy to destroy, but terribly difficult to forgive and rebuild. Similar to Gollum, Saruman is blinded by shortsighted desires, still does not want any of it (mercy), and taunts Wormtongue into killing him. So ends the true final battle, the Battle of Bywater. All that remains is the tough part - healing and living. The story comes full circle.
My Final Thoughts
I loved this book, plain and simple. There were so many amazing characters including Gandalf as the moral compass, Treebeard standing in for the wisdom of old, and Sam acting as the heart of the story. I also enjoyed looking at The Lord of the Rings as an underrepresented history of the greater world, even if it’s a fictional fantasy one. Most fantasy stories written until this point were told from the perspective of valiant knights, so I’m glad the ones conventionally relegated as b-characters finally got their tale.
"Still, I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales. We're in one, of course; but I mean: put into words, you know, told by the fireside, or read out of a great big book with red and black letters, years and years afterwards" - Sam (712)
Sam and gang are now thoroughly entrenched in the cultural zeitgeist, and I do not see them falling out of favor any time soon. In all seriousness, I could not recommend this book more. I even ended up timing it so that I finished it on March 25th, the day Gondor was freed. It only seemed fitting; a totally normal thing anyone (ahem, any massive nerd) would have done. Anyways, this book is amazing, do yourself a favor and read it at least once.
Finally, I should at this point reveal some bias on my part; The Lord of the Rings was the last present my grandma gave me before she passed. The reason I waited so long to read this series is entirely due to wanting to have something from her to look forward to. It is also why it took me almost a year to finish; I just kept looking for excuses to hold on a bit longer. My grandma was my Gandalf, Sam, and Eowyn all in one person.
But finishing this story doesn’t mean I’m ‘finished’ with it; now I can look forward to reading it to my future kids, nieces, and nephews. Just because you go ‘There and Back Again,’ doesn’t mean the journey is ever truly over.
Ta-Nehisi Coates is a masterful modern-day cultural critic and author; few have their finger on the pulse of American socio-politics quite like him. Most well-known for Between the World and Me, he has also written a number of excellent articles as a correspondent for The Atlantic. In We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy he curates a collection of these articles from each of the eight years of Obama’s presidency.
While you could still read these articles on The Atlantic, and totally should if you cannot afford the book or your library does not have a copy (full disclosure, my copy is an xmas gift), the book is still worth reading because Coates provides commentary on his frame of mind when he wrote each article. This is really good, especially as some components of his earlier works like “This is How we Lost to the White Man” and “American Girl” that do not hold up to his own present-day scrutiny.
Coates’ goal at The Atlantic was to help build a community that he could bounce ideas off of, as well as learn and grow from, and it shows with these reflections over the eight year period. Partly why he is so good at writing about the American human condition as it pertains to race and politics is because of his willingness to learn and grow. His passion to push himself forward reflects in his prose and literary analysis.
This especially shows in his later articles (chapters) “The Case for Reparations,” “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration,” and “My President was Black.” Stating all of this, I think the Epilogue, “The First White President,” may be the most affective, especially as its analysis of why/how Trump got elected is largely the catalyst for this collection. It is so truthful it will punch you in the gut. Up until this point, while Coates’ writes a great deal about prevalent systemic racism and injustice, the presence of Obama still denoted a certain type of hope, even for a realist like Coates. But Trump and his support reconfirmed all of his most pessimistic assumptions; I know it did for me.
This is not a cheery or hopeful book, but it is an honest and real one. I fully recommend We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy for both the academic and casual reader.
While you could still read these articles on The Atlantic, and totally should if you cannot afford the book or your library does not have a copy (full disclosure, my copy is an xmas gift), the book is still worth reading because Coates provides commentary on his frame of mind when he wrote each article. This is really good, especially as some components of his earlier works like “This is How we Lost to the White Man” and “American Girl” that do not hold up to his own present-day scrutiny.
Coates’ goal at The Atlantic was to help build a community that he could bounce ideas off of, as well as learn and grow from, and it shows with these reflections over the eight year period. Partly why he is so good at writing about the American human condition as it pertains to race and politics is because of his willingness to learn and grow. His passion to push himself forward reflects in his prose and literary analysis.
This especially shows in his later articles (chapters) “The Case for Reparations,” “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration,” and “My President was Black.” Stating all of this, I think the Epilogue, “The First White President,” may be the most affective, especially as its analysis of why/how Trump got elected is largely the catalyst for this collection. It is so truthful it will punch you in the gut. Up until this point, while Coates’ writes a great deal about prevalent systemic racism and injustice, the presence of Obama still denoted a certain type of hope, even for a realist like Coates. But Trump and his support reconfirmed all of his most pessimistic assumptions; I know it did for me.
This is not a cheery or hopeful book, but it is an honest and real one. I fully recommend We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy for both the academic and casual reader.
Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves is a weird trip, man. Multilayered in nature, this is a manuscript recounting a documentary of a family that lives in a house larger on the inside than the outside that was written by the blind Zampanò that is found and published by Johnny following Zampanò’s death and the final book includes Johnny’s reactions in footnotes; sometimes the footnotes have footnotes. It’s not exactly beach reading.
At times it’s emotionally evocative, and at others [ ]s undeniably convoluted. Having worked with manuscripts, I can attest that it can be thri[ ]ing to piece together someone else’s thoughts. More often th[ ]n not though, it is a boring process; and sadly Zampanò was not the best writer (may he rest in peace). His account it pretty boring, “pseudo-academic hogwash” as Johnny would put it. The Navidson family are also mind-numbingly dumb; throughout the tale I kept hoping one of the parents would die and end the repetitive suffering of their asinine lives.
That said, Johnny and his tale that creeps into the footnotes are fairly intriguing. As far as unreliable narrators go, Johnny is a solid dude, even if he is fa[ ]ing apart. His desire to understand and make sense of Zampanò is infinitely more interesting than Zampanò himself. It is almost as if he seeks to fill a hollo[ ] v[ ]id with this other pe[ ]son to feel o[ ]ay. Without the distraction, [ ]r sense of familiarity, only fear can seep into the empty pockets of his mind. To [ ]nders[ ]and the other, is to understand the self.
But, it’ll all work out.
I guess,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXTHINKXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWXXXXXXXXXXXHXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXAXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXRXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXYXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXUXXXXXX
to pass judgement, but our sentiments are our own. At least we are not in alabyrinth corn field. Corn is just an empty starch masquerading as food.
f = s = f = s = f = s = f = s = f = s
The game is ftill sun enough to play, so I digref. Perhapf the tired narrative can be excufed as the fentiments of ifolation are well portrayed.
Time can L
......................I
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..............................G
..................................E
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U
........ N
... S
..................... T
..E
.......... A
....... D
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or come to a grinding halt. Emotional truth can lurk in cadence, even when the words say otherwise. Just listen to a fucking song. Fuck. We can curse so Zampanò does not have to.
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . .XXX. . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . .XXX. . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . .XXX. . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]
Picture it, though it may help if you have synesthetes. No mater, this is all drawn out to create a sense of inevitability. Navidson is a fart, but the experience[1] is okay once you let yourself
F
A
L
L
Into it.
---footnotes---
[1] TLDR: Fun experience, boring central narrative. This book is more art exhibit than book. Style > Substance, but it’s still okay. Also, maybe stay away from cocaine[2].
[2] This meta footnote contributes nothing of substance, but neither do матрёшка. Pero si no puedes entender, debe parecer bien. Todas las palabras después de matryoshka no están en ruso, jaja.
仕方がない
-----
All that said, if you found this tedious, this book may not be for you.
At times it’s emotionally evocative, and at others [ ]s undeniably convoluted. Having worked with manuscripts, I can attest that it can be thri[ ]ing to piece together someone else’s thoughts. More often th[ ]n not though, it is a boring process; and sadly Zampanò was not the best writer (may he rest in peace). His account it pretty boring, “pseudo-academic hogwash” as Johnny would put it. The Navidson family are also mind-numbingly dumb; throughout the tale I kept hoping one of the parents would die and end the repetitive suffering of their asinine lives.
That said, Johnny and his tale that creeps into the footnotes are fairly intriguing. As far as unreliable narrators go, Johnny is a solid dude, even if he is fa[ ]ing apart. His desire to understand and make sense of Zampanò is infinitely more interesting than Zampanò himself. It is almost as if he seeks to fill a hollo[ ] v[ ]id with this other pe[ ]son to feel o[ ]ay. Without the distraction, [ ]r sense of familiarity, only fear can seep into the empty pockets of his mind. To [ ]nders[ ]and the other, is to understand the self.
But, it’ll all work out.
I guess,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXTHINKXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWXXXXXXXXXXXHXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXAXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXRXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXYXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXUXXXXXX
to pass judgement, but our sentiments are our own. At least we are not in a
f = s = f = s = f = s = f = s = f = s
The game is ftill sun enough to play, so I digref. Perhapf the tired narrative can be excufed as the fentiments of ifolation are well portrayed.
Time can L
......................I
..........................N
..............................G
..................................E
......................................R
U
........ N
... S
..................... T
..E
.......... A
....... D
................ I
L
......... Y
or come to a grinding halt. Emotional truth can lurk in cadence, even when the words say otherwise. Just listen to a fucking song. Fuck. We can curse so Zampanò does not have to.
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . .XXX. . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . .XXX. . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . .XXX. . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]
Picture it, though it may help if you have synesthetes. No mater, this is all drawn out to create a sense of inevitability. Navidson is a fart, but the experience[1] is okay once you let yourself
F
A
L
L
Into it.
---footnotes---
[1] TLDR: Fun experience, boring central narrative. This book is more art exhibit than book. Style > Substance, but it’s still okay. Also, maybe stay away from cocaine[2].
[2] This meta footnote contributes nothing of substance, but neither do матрёшка. Pero si no puedes entender, debe parecer bien. Todas las palabras después de matryoshka no están en ruso, jaja.
仕方がない
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All that said, if you found this tedious, this book may not be for you.
James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time should be required reading; it is so good I’m mad I did not read it at least a decade sooner. As the two essays in this volume are grounded in personal introspection, by the time Baldwin turns his gaze outward to the world, he does so with a rare and steady stare that yields insightful understanding.
“Any upheaval in the universe is terrifying because it so profoundly attacks one’s sense of one’s own reality. Well, the black man has functioned in the white man’s world as a fixed star, as an immovable pillar: and as he moves out of his place, heaven and earth are shaken to their foundations. You, don’t be afraid” (9)
In Baldwin’s first essay, “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation,” he writes these words to his nephew James. He lovingly speaks to the one who has inherited both his beautiful name and his country’s ugly systemic oppression. James wants the younger James to understand what has taken him a lifetime to reckon with, and he does so with elegant prose. Baldwin’s words continue to hold relevance as his perspective is nothing but honest and this work has inspired so many other iconic reads, most notably Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me.
“If the concept of God has any validity or any use, it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving. If God cannot do this, then it is time we got rid of Him” (47)
Baldwin’s second essay, “Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region in My Mind,” is an amazing critique of so many cultural elements, with a special highlight on organized religion. By the time of writing this essay, Baldwin found himself disillusioned with the Christian church that he participated in (even preached in) during his youth, as well as Elijah Muhammad’s isolationist form of Islam. There is much that religion can offer and Baldwin does not rebuke this. Rather, his critiques of religious groups are framed in how they can (or don’t) actually help black people, or advance the causes of disenfranchised individuals. He always hits up, never down.
“In the United States, violence and heroism have been made synonymous except when it comes to blacks… The real reason that non-violence is considered to be a virtue in Negroes—I am not speaking now of its racial value, another matter altogether—is that the white men do not want their lives, their self-image, or their property threatened. One wishes they would say so more often” (58-9)
Both timely and timeless, what Baldwin calls “non-violence” is now rendered in the current national dialogue as “civility.” While non-violence was used quite effectively in 1960s, a time when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was pragmatically employing a type of non-violent civility to strategically and successfully push for change, today I have heard many good arguments that counter certain components of this approach. Most specifically, there is something inherently unfair about placing the onus on the oppressed to humanize themselves in the eyes of their oppressors. All too often have I seen good arguments belittled and passionate advocates gaslighted because their delivery is not delicate enough for a more advantaged listener. Heaven forbid the privileged suffer minor emotional offense.
All said and done, The Fire Next Time is an amazing read that I could not recommend more. Furthermore, I write this review in 2019, the year that will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to what would become the United States. Just as Baldwin reflected on the century following emancipation, I think it is immensely important to reflect on the America’s unjust history and legacy, especially if we even want to hope for a better tomorrow.
“Any upheaval in the universe is terrifying because it so profoundly attacks one’s sense of one’s own reality. Well, the black man has functioned in the white man’s world as a fixed star, as an immovable pillar: and as he moves out of his place, heaven and earth are shaken to their foundations. You, don’t be afraid” (9)
In Baldwin’s first essay, “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation,” he writes these words to his nephew James. He lovingly speaks to the one who has inherited both his beautiful name and his country’s ugly systemic oppression. James wants the younger James to understand what has taken him a lifetime to reckon with, and he does so with elegant prose. Baldwin’s words continue to hold relevance as his perspective is nothing but honest and this work has inspired so many other iconic reads, most notably Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me.
“If the concept of God has any validity or any use, it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving. If God cannot do this, then it is time we got rid of Him” (47)
Baldwin’s second essay, “Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region in My Mind,” is an amazing critique of so many cultural elements, with a special highlight on organized religion. By the time of writing this essay, Baldwin found himself disillusioned with the Christian church that he participated in (even preached in) during his youth, as well as Elijah Muhammad’s isolationist form of Islam. There is much that religion can offer and Baldwin does not rebuke this. Rather, his critiques of religious groups are framed in how they can (or don’t) actually help black people, or advance the causes of disenfranchised individuals. He always hits up, never down.
“In the United States, violence and heroism have been made synonymous except when it comes to blacks… The real reason that non-violence is considered to be a virtue in Negroes—I am not speaking now of its racial value, another matter altogether—is that the white men do not want their lives, their self-image, or their property threatened. One wishes they would say so more often” (58-9)
Both timely and timeless, what Baldwin calls “non-violence” is now rendered in the current national dialogue as “civility.” While non-violence was used quite effectively in 1960s, a time when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was pragmatically employing a type of non-violent civility to strategically and successfully push for change, today I have heard many good arguments that counter certain components of this approach. Most specifically, there is something inherently unfair about placing the onus on the oppressed to humanize themselves in the eyes of their oppressors. All too often have I seen good arguments belittled and passionate advocates gaslighted because their delivery is not delicate enough for a more advantaged listener. Heaven forbid the privileged suffer minor emotional offense.
All said and done, The Fire Next Time is an amazing read that I could not recommend more. Furthermore, I write this review in 2019, the year that will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to what would become the United States. Just as Baldwin reflected on the century following emancipation, I think it is immensely important to reflect on the America’s unjust history and legacy, especially if we even want to hope for a better tomorrow.
In Race Matters, Dr. Cornel West addresses a number of race-related issues with a collection of eight thought-provoking essays. Published in 1993, many of these explorations focus on case studies of the period. That said, given Dr. West’s progressive analyses and sensibilities, his preponderances were quite ahead of their time.
“Race” may be in the title, but at the heart of each of these essays lies a desire to understand and dismantle any type of unjust power imbalance. Given this framework, in addition to an overview of racism in America, this collection also offers critiques of the black community including: (in)actions to Clarence Thomas, nihilism, what Dr. West considered a lack of black leadership (in the 90s), black conservatism, anti-Semitism, and any type of self-loathing that undervalued black bodies.
"My goal is to be as bold and defiant in my criticism of any type of xenophobia, as honest and candid about the need for civil responsibility and social accountability of each of us, and as charitable and compassionate toward any political perspective from which we can gain insight and wisdom to empower us." (109)
Dr. West is undeniably an academic writer; this combined with his straight-forward honesty makes this collection a compelling read. My only critique would be that given the broad range of topics he covers, I do wish that he would have expanded a bit more upon some of these prompts. This is not to say that anything is underdeveloped, I just wish there was more material.
Overall, this is a great collection that still “matters” immensely today. I definitely recommend it.
“Race” may be in the title, but at the heart of each of these essays lies a desire to understand and dismantle any type of unjust power imbalance. Given this framework, in addition to an overview of racism in America, this collection also offers critiques of the black community including: (in)actions to Clarence Thomas, nihilism, what Dr. West considered a lack of black leadership (in the 90s), black conservatism, anti-Semitism, and any type of self-loathing that undervalued black bodies.
"My goal is to be as bold and defiant in my criticism of any type of xenophobia, as honest and candid about the need for civil responsibility and social accountability of each of us, and as charitable and compassionate toward any political perspective from which we can gain insight and wisdom to empower us." (109)
Dr. West is undeniably an academic writer; this combined with his straight-forward honesty makes this collection a compelling read. My only critique would be that given the broad range of topics he covers, I do wish that he would have expanded a bit more upon some of these prompts. This is not to say that anything is underdeveloped, I just wish there was more material.
Overall, this is a great collection that still “matters” immensely today. I definitely recommend it.
Like the island terrain of this series, the short stories in Tales from Earthsea begin as isolated narratives that progressively meander into a greater magical and cultural record of this particular fantasy world. Specifically, if you have a desire to better understand how Earthsea’s magic works mechanically and sociologically, then you will probably appreciate this collection.
As with all of the books in this series I quite enjoyed the tone and world-building constructed in these narratives; Earthsea is one of my favorite fantasy realms. This collection also better clarifies the differences between witches/sorcerers and wizards, including a semi-historical map of the methodical and cultural split between these two practices. In general, the ways in which humans (real or not) define and separate themselves from others is something that Ursula K. Le Guin explores with great elegance.
My one critique of this collection would lie with the pacing of the short stories; this is especially the case with “The Finder.” That said, there is still a lot of solid content here. Of the tales, my favorite would be “Dragonfly,” which is both good fun and most adeptly ties into the previous books of the series. Overall, these stories are alright, though fair warning—you probably won’t enjoy them unless you’ve read the other books in the series.
I believe I’ve recommended every Ursula K. Le Guin book that I have read thus far; this one is no exception. Good stuff.
Rating: 3.5 stars
As with all of the books in this series I quite enjoyed the tone and world-building constructed in these narratives; Earthsea is one of my favorite fantasy realms. This collection also better clarifies the differences between witches/sorcerers and wizards, including a semi-historical map of the methodical and cultural split between these two practices. In general, the ways in which humans (real or not) define and separate themselves from others is something that Ursula K. Le Guin explores with great elegance.
My one critique of this collection would lie with the pacing of the short stories; this is especially the case with “The Finder.” That said, there is still a lot of solid content here. Of the tales, my favorite would be “Dragonfly,” which is both good fun and most adeptly ties into the previous books of the series. Overall, these stories are alright, though fair warning—you probably won’t enjoy them unless you’ve read the other books in the series.
I believe I’ve recommended every Ursula K. Le Guin book that I have read thus far; this one is no exception. Good stuff.
Rating: 3.5 stars