Vollmann nonfiction covering global warming, the energy economy (fuels, generation, useage, waste), the modern industrial economy in general, & the Fukushima Daiichi disaster. Also asks some philosophical questions around the energy economy; specifically, the morality of externalizing the costs of pollution, and of ignoring the future costs of our economy & way of life.

The part of the book the "No Immediate Danger" title comes from is kind of a travelogue through Fukushima Daiichi's fallout, & including conversations with the people who live with it. Full of data comparing fuels' economy, global warming impacts, & radioactivity measurements in various locales, including Sacramento, Washington DC, & the Fukushima Green, Yellow, & Red Zones.

While No Immediate Danger is full of great information, & asks important questions, it could have been organized better, & the style was odd, to say the least. I think it was good that Vollmann didn't shy away from including himself & his own place in the global economy & the climate crisis, & it was fine his observations of Fukushima & Hanford took the form of 1st person travelogues, I think they could have been done better. Vollmann could have cut out 75% of his self-flagellation over his participation in modern transport, consumerism, & energy usage, & still conveyed the urgency of the climate crisis. The constant apology for his personal consumer choices distracted from the real political reasons we are in the midst of a climate crisis. Additionally, Vollmann presented himself as a sort of bumbling confused "Sitcom Dad" character as he toured the contaminated zones near Fukushima Daiichi, interviewing officials and evacuees. Was his idea that by affecting the perspective of a fool, he would ironically expose the foolishness of official calculations of risk & cost-benefit? Did he think he would give the readers some chuckles? Strangely, he often noted (whether in Sacramento, London, Tokyo, or Fukushima) when he noticed "pretty" or "beautiful" women, & he mentioned that A radiation detector makes a sound like his "sweetest girlfriend's" climax. Again, I have to wonder what Vollmann was attempting. What was the editor thinking? (I joke, books don't have editors anymore.) These odd narrative & language choices were off-putting, and detracted from a book otherwise full of good information & valuable perspectives.

Since No Immediate Danger was full of important info & ideas, I'll probably try to find the companion Volume "No Reasonable Alternative", although I do not relish finding out where next Vollmann will make an amusing gaffe, or where he will tell me he spotted a pretty girl.

Sequel that lives up to Bear and the Nightingale. It's always hard for me to judge a sequel in the middle of a series. All any sequel needs to do is keep me going in the series, & any judgments I might have will only come out when I'm reading the last book in the series. I would say that The Girl in the Tower surpasses that (admittedly low) bar by quite a bit. It kept me guessing, without seeming contrived. I liked all of the historical and legendary references. It makes me want to read up on the history some more. Also illustrates well how gender rules that limit what women do & where they go, also limit what they can imagine. Suggests that rigid gender rules/roles help gender transgressors pass as normal, because who can imagine a woman stepping out of her role, let alone doing so and appearing as a man?

A memoir of the author's coming of age and coming to terms with her family, who sound like they are crazy in some of the least fun ways (no antics, just denials). Makes me wonder if being raised by a career impostor is more likely to give you impostor syndrome or have the opposite effect. Sandell does not directly address this; she showed pretty normal levels of acceptance of her successes. Does it heighten or diminish one's tolerance for BS? Maybe there's no definite answer to these; Sandell indicates that her sisters tolerate it well, and herself less so. I noticed Sandell also wrote a book about Bernie Madoff's family, and based on the synopsis, & I kind of want to read it just to see all the parallels to her own story.

fitting ending for the series. Wrapped up the series and tied it into actual Russian history and lore without going off the rails. I would have liked if more threads had been tied up at the end, but overall I liked the ending. The book never dragged, and it remained believable for me (character-wise). This trilogy makes me want to read more about Russian folklore and history, and to watch the Soviet-era movie Morozko. I want to see if the magical horses are a common part of Russian fairy tales, or if the author is just into horse stories. I can't wait for the graphic novelization by Lisa Hanawalt (fingers crossed).

Primer of worldwide fascist & anti-fascist movements of the past 100 years. I would like to read a comprehensive history of this topic, but this book is a good starting point that raises questions that point the way to further research (such as the hows and whys of the rises and falls of the various movements). I feel the stylized anti-fascist art is very fitting for this moment in history.

Reminded me of Goldie Vance in many ways. Like Goldie Vance, its set in what seems to be an alternate version of a previous era (the late 90s, in this case) that doesn't suck as much as the real thing. Also, there's mystery, and a business that is a front for solving mysteries. Perhaps a bit more of a super-hero story than Goldie, and there don't appear to be Russians.

Would make a good intro to religion textbook. The art has quirky charm. The Author's personal history of Buddhism was kind of humorous.

humorous & real portrait of SF in 2014. Made me want to visit SF & see the Bison, which I never knew about, despite visiting SF many times & having many ties there. Also reminded me I haven't visited in a while, despite living only a couple hours away by transit. The part about the library made me want to visit a Library (despite having just gotten this book from one). I could read this book again right now. With all that's happened in the Bay Area just in the past 5 years, wonder how different MacNaughton's portrait would be if she drew it now?

Book length essay about the history of British India from the perspective of what the British took from India vs what they provided. Also speculates just a bit on what courses Indian history could have taken without British domination. Uses & quotes many primary sources from the colonial era. Points out that (as with many other colonies & empires) ethic, religious, & caste divides were fostered & hardened by the British for the purposes of divide & rule. Tharoor argues that much of our modern conception of the caste system's hierarchy & immutability is largely a British creation. Demonstrates pretty conclusively how Britain's Indian Empire was routinely treated as a piggy bank for Great Britain, and that many of the visible relics of the colonial era were built for the British, & not the Indians. An easy read.

Generational immigrant story with many unexpected twists. Couldn't put this book down. I was really interested in all the sad lonely characters. Makes me want to read about the Naxalite movements & modern Indian history. Also makes me want to read up on Trams in Kolkata.