Sarah Dzida's Blog - Posts Tagged "books"
Do I Have a Diverse Bookshelf? Part 1 - Geography
Before ALL THE THINGS of what is 2020 happened, I did a thorough Marie Kondo of my bookshelf because I was finally ready to admit:
> that I needed more book space
> that the only way to obtain that space meant finally acknowledging I probably wasn't going to read that book I bought X years ago
> OR I probably really didn't need to keep that book I read once and would never read again even though I loved it A LOT that one time.
After the whole process, I had over 10 bags of books to part with. It was very cathartic.
So like any normal bibliophile, I admired my newly organized shelves, and then I began to wonder about the diversity of the books I decided to keep.
Whether we like to admit it or not, what we decide to display in our shelves is much like an online social profile. It lets people know who we are, what we value, what we know and what we might be interested in.
And outside of those shallow reasons, it's also important to just be a curious reader who isn't afraid to traverse all the different types of books out there. When you do (I know I do), you get exposed to different cultures, ideas, perspectives, lifestyles, historical periods, contemporary subjects, etc. You also learn about different forms of expression, creativity, genres, languages, etc. You just expand your awareness of EVERYTHING, and that's just fun!
So to help me out, I did a quick Google search and found this blogpost . It's was originally about children's books, but I made it work for me.
First up is ....
GEOGRAPHY
According to the post, reading books about different geographic locations is a must. It helps us become more aware of the world but also about the dangers of generalizations. These books represent the diversity of communities and cultures across place.
Here are 5 titles I still have that apply:
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
I first read this title in elementary school when I didn't necessarily understand that Maniac was white while the Beales are black. I'm pretty sure I also understood there were disparities in wealth and lifestyle, too. What I did love about the book was that Maniac needed a family, and the Beales gave him a home. He runs aways from a dysfunctional household to a functional one, across lines that people don't seem to be able to cross and into the arms of people who do. I've since reread it as an adult; it's lovely.
Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet and Sour Memoir of Eating in China by Fuschia Dunlop
I randomly picked this book at a local bookstore because I wanted to read more travel writing. Even 10 years later, I still think about it! Dunlop writes about 1990s China when foreign students are just beginning to be allowed inside. She really breaks down how much we culturally define and confine ourselves to our gastronomic identities. It's fun and eye-opening. It's made me a braver traveler at the dinner table.
A Personal Matter by Oe Kenzaburo
This is the book that taught me how the post-WW2 literature of Japan is BLEAK . Oe is one of Japan's 2 Novel Prize winners. The book is a dark, unsettling and intensive study of a man, Bird, who must determine whether he wants the responsibility of fatherhood at all.
Love, Anger, Madness: A Haitian Triptych by Marie Vieux-Chauvet
Gifted to me by someone who knows I'm an adventurous reader, this was another dark collection of novellas by the exiled Haitian writer Vieux-Chauvet about life under tyranny. At one point, I needed a break because the abuse described was just too much. The reason it's still on my shelf is because the book really made me consider how it's important to read and acknowledge the reality and trauma imposed upon generations by a violent dictatorship. Overall, what I took from the story was this: If the trauma runs so deep, what if any triumph might truly heal or even ease the scars?
Campfire Stories: Tales From America's National Parks Edited by Ilyssa and Dave Kyu
I rarely love anthologies, but I love this one. The editors traveled across six national parks in the USA to collect short stories, personal anecdotes, poems, songs and other facts. It's a wonderful collage of the history, culture and people who have shaped our parks. It made me want to visit more of them!
So let's end on that uplifting note!
Next up? Part 2 - Holidays and Festivals.
> that I needed more book space
> that the only way to obtain that space meant finally acknowledging I probably wasn't going to read that book I bought X years ago
> OR I probably really didn't need to keep that book I read once and would never read again even though I loved it A LOT that one time.
After the whole process, I had over 10 bags of books to part with. It was very cathartic.
So like any normal bibliophile, I admired my newly organized shelves, and then I began to wonder about the diversity of the books I decided to keep.
Whether we like to admit it or not, what we decide to display in our shelves is much like an online social profile. It lets people know who we are, what we value, what we know and what we might be interested in.
And outside of those shallow reasons, it's also important to just be a curious reader who isn't afraid to traverse all the different types of books out there. When you do (I know I do), you get exposed to different cultures, ideas, perspectives, lifestyles, historical periods, contemporary subjects, etc. You also learn about different forms of expression, creativity, genres, languages, etc. You just expand your awareness of EVERYTHING, and that's just fun!
So to help me out, I did a quick Google search and found this blogpost . It's was originally about children's books, but I made it work for me.
First up is ....
GEOGRAPHY
According to the post, reading books about different geographic locations is a must. It helps us become more aware of the world but also about the dangers of generalizations. These books represent the diversity of communities and cultures across place.
Here are 5 titles I still have that apply:
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
I first read this title in elementary school when I didn't necessarily understand that Maniac was white while the Beales are black. I'm pretty sure I also understood there were disparities in wealth and lifestyle, too. What I did love about the book was that Maniac needed a family, and the Beales gave him a home. He runs aways from a dysfunctional household to a functional one, across lines that people don't seem to be able to cross and into the arms of people who do. I've since reread it as an adult; it's lovely.
Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet and Sour Memoir of Eating in China by Fuschia Dunlop
I randomly picked this book at a local bookstore because I wanted to read more travel writing. Even 10 years later, I still think about it! Dunlop writes about 1990s China when foreign students are just beginning to be allowed inside. She really breaks down how much we culturally define and confine ourselves to our gastronomic identities. It's fun and eye-opening. It's made me a braver traveler at the dinner table.
A Personal Matter by Oe Kenzaburo
This is the book that taught me how the post-WW2 literature of Japan is BLEAK . Oe is one of Japan's 2 Novel Prize winners. The book is a dark, unsettling and intensive study of a man, Bird, who must determine whether he wants the responsibility of fatherhood at all.
Love, Anger, Madness: A Haitian Triptych by Marie Vieux-Chauvet
Gifted to me by someone who knows I'm an adventurous reader, this was another dark collection of novellas by the exiled Haitian writer Vieux-Chauvet about life under tyranny. At one point, I needed a break because the abuse described was just too much. The reason it's still on my shelf is because the book really made me consider how it's important to read and acknowledge the reality and trauma imposed upon generations by a violent dictatorship. Overall, what I took from the story was this: If the trauma runs so deep, what if any triumph might truly heal or even ease the scars?
Campfire Stories: Tales From America's National Parks Edited by Ilyssa and Dave Kyu
I rarely love anthologies, but I love this one. The editors traveled across six national parks in the USA to collect short stories, personal anecdotes, poems, songs and other facts. It's a wonderful collage of the history, culture and people who have shaped our parks. It made me want to visit more of them!
So let's end on that uplifting note!
Next up? Part 2 - Holidays and Festivals.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 2: Holidays & Festivals
Per the blog that we’re referring to, books about holidays and festivals introduce children to cultural heritage, religious customs and holidays, and important events in history. This is because the original post is about how parents might diversify the books to which their children are exposed. So it makes sense that having books about Ramadan or Dia de Los Muertos or Christmas should be considered.
However, as we get older, it’s rarer to encounter books so on the nose. So for our purposes, I’m going to focus on books that revolve around one or more of the items listed above.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Even though this book is about a time-traveling man who even spends some time in a space zoo, it is a fictional retelling of the author’s experience of the allied bombing of Dresden in WW2. Vonnegut even writes in Chapter 1 how he spends his whole life after the war working on his book about Dresden and failing. And how he considers even the magnificent Slaughterhouse-Five a failure, and we remain lucky to have it at all. Po-tweet-tweet!
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
This is another book I read in elementary school, which I didn’t appreciate for it’s historical significance until later. Annemarie Johansen chronicles the takeover of Copenhagen by the Nazi regime in Denmark. Her family becomes embroiled in the escape of their Jewish neighbors. When I was young, it was a thrilling read about a heroine who saves her best friend. And as adult, I appreciate even more how much Lowry imparted about friendship, personal values, identity, love and grief.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
This is a fictional account of the Mirabal sisters—five resistance fighters against the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic during the mid-1900s who were martyred for their cause. Today, they’ve become feminist symbols of social justice. The book details how their lives led each woman to this dangerous path. It’s a very engrossing account; I’ve reread it often.
Searching for Tamsen Donner by Gabrielle Burton
The ill-fated Donner party is part of our pop culture lexicon; it’s pretty synonymous with cannibalism. However, this memoir/historical fiction really made me revisit all that I thought about pioneers especially the women and the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s. When I first read it, I thought it was fine. But even years later, I still recommend it to people. Burton makes visible the lives and work of countless women through her writerly search to uncover all she can about the life and tragic death of Tamsen.
Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog
When I was in college, I had to take a course called American Studies. I was confused by it because it just seemed like a literature class. But in hindsight, I now understand that our teacher wanted to expose us to different American voices. In that class, I read a memoir by an (ex)-gangster, a poetry hybrid by Leslie Marmom Silko, short stories about our American internment camps for the Japanese, and this memoir by Native-American activist Mary Crow Dog. In it, I learned about the forced reeducation of native children and her involvement in the 1960s-1970s resistance movements against the US government including their stand at Wounded Knee. It’s very powerful, and as I get older, it’s interesting to see these how tactics were used in the past (i.e. against the Irish by the British) in other countries (i.e. the aborigines of Australia even in the 1900s) and most likely will be used in the future.
However, as we get older, it’s rarer to encounter books so on the nose. So for our purposes, I’m going to focus on books that revolve around one or more of the items listed above.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Even though this book is about a time-traveling man who even spends some time in a space zoo, it is a fictional retelling of the author’s experience of the allied bombing of Dresden in WW2. Vonnegut even writes in Chapter 1 how he spends his whole life after the war working on his book about Dresden and failing. And how he considers even the magnificent Slaughterhouse-Five a failure, and we remain lucky to have it at all. Po-tweet-tweet!
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
This is another book I read in elementary school, which I didn’t appreciate for it’s historical significance until later. Annemarie Johansen chronicles the takeover of Copenhagen by the Nazi regime in Denmark. Her family becomes embroiled in the escape of their Jewish neighbors. When I was young, it was a thrilling read about a heroine who saves her best friend. And as adult, I appreciate even more how much Lowry imparted about friendship, personal values, identity, love and grief.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
This is a fictional account of the Mirabal sisters—five resistance fighters against the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic during the mid-1900s who were martyred for their cause. Today, they’ve become feminist symbols of social justice. The book details how their lives led each woman to this dangerous path. It’s a very engrossing account; I’ve reread it often.
Searching for Tamsen Donner by Gabrielle Burton
The ill-fated Donner party is part of our pop culture lexicon; it’s pretty synonymous with cannibalism. However, this memoir/historical fiction really made me revisit all that I thought about pioneers especially the women and the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s. When I first read it, I thought it was fine. But even years later, I still recommend it to people. Burton makes visible the lives and work of countless women through her writerly search to uncover all she can about the life and tragic death of Tamsen.
Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog
When I was in college, I had to take a course called American Studies. I was confused by it because it just seemed like a literature class. But in hindsight, I now understand that our teacher wanted to expose us to different American voices. In that class, I read a memoir by an (ex)-gangster, a poetry hybrid by Leslie Marmom Silko, short stories about our American internment camps for the Japanese, and this memoir by Native-American activist Mary Crow Dog. In it, I learned about the forced reeducation of native children and her involvement in the 1960s-1970s resistance movements against the US government including their stand at Wounded Knee. It’s very powerful, and as I get older, it’s interesting to see these how tactics were used in the past (i.e. against the Irish by the British) in other countries (i.e. the aborigines of Australia even in the 1900s) and most likely will be used in the future.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 3 :Social Justice & Activism
Our reference blog refers to these types of reads reveal how environmental factors, school, and family background play a large role in what children become passionate about and in how and why people fight against violence and discrimination.
I think a lot of the books I mentioned in Part 2 would count in this category. However, what I’m going to do here is list books that continue to show me there is inequality in this world, how and why it happens and how I can understand it better. And as such, how I can be more aware of and do what I can to support the push against it.
Originaria: Antología de once mujeres poetas en lenguas indígenas
In this anthology I picked up at a reading in Mexico City, 11 poets of the many indigenous people in the country come together to share their work. The poems are presented in the indigenous tongue and Spanish, which I can read. In all my reading and encounters with original people and many minorities, it’s clear that their work—especially if it’s written in their native language—is a political act whether they intend it or not. It’s a wonderful anthology. Hopefully, it will make it to English one day.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Really the whole quartet is about activism and social justice—the fight for love, light and the essence of every person’s humanity in the whole universe. In this first book, fraidy-cat Meg Murray is dragged into a fight for all our individuality against her will. In addition, the qualities that she sees as flaws will prove to be her strengths. I think a lot of social justice literature is also about the author coming to accept their identity in spite of all the ambiguity and mixed messaging that the world throws at them. That’s another reason this book belongs here.
Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
In the States, we know that racism and discrimination exists. And yet, it remains mindboggling how much it still distorts our interactions. In this hybrid poetry novel, Rankine reaffirms the racial distortions that still affect all of us from the backlashes against Serena Williams to the continued police shootings of black men. Powerful. Provocative. It’s a mix of memoir, art, poetry, journalism and history.
Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
This novel is definitely considered a classic, but probably is rarely thought of as a work of social justice or activism. However, I still feel so much anger over the gendered violence thrown upon our heroine at the hands of her father, male relations and husband. It’s all about them - boo hoo! I think it’s always telling when you can read a book about rural England in the 1800s and see clear modern examples of how women’s purity, sexuality, beauty and social position are still used against them. It’s an amazing book. But I will never forgive Angel Clare ever! What an idiot!
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
This is probably another questionable title here. By modern “woke” standards, the Scarlet Pimpernel is a man of privilege who is larking about Revolution-era France for the spirit of adventure. But I wanted to end this list on a positive note. The reason I’m including this book here is because while the first part is true, the band of the Scarlet Pimpernel is also interested in saving innocents from the guillotine. Yes, the aristocracy was complicit in their degradation and subjugation of the peasantry. However, does that give anyone just cause to take an eye for an eye? I’ve actually read all the books in the series. And the Scarlet Pimpernel risks life, limb and love with just his wits to save aristocrats, peasants, innocent bystanders, children from the blood bath. It’s all very adventurous and thrilling, and it’s nice to know that sometimes the good can triumph.
I think a lot of the books I mentioned in Part 2 would count in this category. However, what I’m going to do here is list books that continue to show me there is inequality in this world, how and why it happens and how I can understand it better. And as such, how I can be more aware of and do what I can to support the push against it.
Originaria: Antología de once mujeres poetas en lenguas indígenas
In this anthology I picked up at a reading in Mexico City, 11 poets of the many indigenous people in the country come together to share their work. The poems are presented in the indigenous tongue and Spanish, which I can read. In all my reading and encounters with original people and many minorities, it’s clear that their work—especially if it’s written in their native language—is a political act whether they intend it or not. It’s a wonderful anthology. Hopefully, it will make it to English one day.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Really the whole quartet is about activism and social justice—the fight for love, light and the essence of every person’s humanity in the whole universe. In this first book, fraidy-cat Meg Murray is dragged into a fight for all our individuality against her will. In addition, the qualities that she sees as flaws will prove to be her strengths. I think a lot of social justice literature is also about the author coming to accept their identity in spite of all the ambiguity and mixed messaging that the world throws at them. That’s another reason this book belongs here.
Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
In the States, we know that racism and discrimination exists. And yet, it remains mindboggling how much it still distorts our interactions. In this hybrid poetry novel, Rankine reaffirms the racial distortions that still affect all of us from the backlashes against Serena Williams to the continued police shootings of black men. Powerful. Provocative. It’s a mix of memoir, art, poetry, journalism and history.
Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
This novel is definitely considered a classic, but probably is rarely thought of as a work of social justice or activism. However, I still feel so much anger over the gendered violence thrown upon our heroine at the hands of her father, male relations and husband. It’s all about them - boo hoo! I think it’s always telling when you can read a book about rural England in the 1800s and see clear modern examples of how women’s purity, sexuality, beauty and social position are still used against them. It’s an amazing book. But I will never forgive Angel Clare ever! What an idiot!
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
This is probably another questionable title here. By modern “woke” standards, the Scarlet Pimpernel is a man of privilege who is larking about Revolution-era France for the spirit of adventure. But I wanted to end this list on a positive note. The reason I’m including this book here is because while the first part is true, the band of the Scarlet Pimpernel is also interested in saving innocents from the guillotine. Yes, the aristocracy was complicit in their degradation and subjugation of the peasantry. However, does that give anyone just cause to take an eye for an eye? I’ve actually read all the books in the series. And the Scarlet Pimpernel risks life, limb and love with just his wits to save aristocrats, peasants, innocent bystanders, children from the blood bath. It’s all very adventurous and thrilling, and it’s nice to know that sometimes the good can triumph.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 4: Gender & Equality
Protagonists—whether they be human, animal or inanimate—are overwhelmingly male according to our reference blog. In the last post, I mentioned that many minority writers write politically whether they mean to or not. And I think that’s true of gender; it is about social justice, and that social justice deals a lot with sex. However, since I already touched on some gender inequality in the last post, in this one, I’ll focus on titles with protagonists who strongly identify as women or LGBQT. Or I’ll add books by authors who are seriously discussing the condition of being a women or being LGBQT.
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
How can I not start with this one? For those who don’t know, this essay collection begins with an anecdote by Solnit of a party. At the party, she is talking to a man who continually tells her to read a book he hasn’t read but heard about. Another partygoer (she) tries several times to explain that Solnit is the actual author of said book. But the man doesn’t hear or acknowledge them till more than 4-5 attempts later. As Solnit describes: “And then, as if in a nineteeth-century novel, he went ashen.” The situation is awkward for everyone. When feminists talk about gender equality, it includes situations like this—of women not being heard for our perspectives and wisdom. Of how often women seem to be required to just listen and validate a male perspective or train of thought. Remember the purpose of a diverse bookshelf is to help broaden our understanding of the experience of others. For women like me, stories like this validate our own humiliating like experiences. For others, it makes them visible. It declares they are real, and they are not cool! Also, it’s very humorous even if the topic is grim.
Plant Dreaming Deep by May Sarton
A professor gave me this book to help with my own writing, and I fell deeply in love with May Sarton’s style. For the purposes of this list, Sarton identified as a lesbian and lived her life as such. However, her famous journals of which this is the first are about being human, about being a poet, about living life through the years. They’re about friendships and even love (of which she doesn’t hide the fact that her loves are women). They’re about change and how we move through time. They’re very very beautiful. Don’t miss out!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
I used to read a lot of fantasy series as a child, but as I grew older I tired of them. One reason is there is a LOT of violence against women in them even if there is a heroine protagonist. As such, much like in Game of Thrones, sex is ugly. It’s not about mutual love or being a good partner. It’s about power and how people weaponize it. In contrast, what I love about the Kushiel series is how much Carey turns typical fantasy tropes on their heads. The hero is a courtesan. However, the culture doesn’t denigrate her; instead the culture is built around the sacred religious tenet of love as thou wilt. This means that courtesans are akin to priests. And because of that, typical societal sins: nonmonogamy, homosexuality, BDSM and sex work are treated as normal since they are consensual. What would be salacious in other fantasy stories is just culture here. And Carey does an amazing job showing how consensual sex and personal preference is sexy whereas weaponized sex is not. But go read it; the whole book is really about how our heroine needs to save her country from invasion by her wits alone. Quite adventurous and filled with political intrigue.
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
This nonfiction book is many things, but its back bone is relationship between the author and artist Harry Dodge, who is transgender (she to he). There is so much beauty and love and thoughtfulness in this exploration of so many things. I’m an avid Maggie Nelson reader. She’s a genre-bender so dive into her work!
Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
Known as one of the great novels of American realism, Dreiser recounts how young country girl Carrie moves to Chicago in the late 1890s. She’s in pursuit of the American Dream, and for a woman, that involves becoming the mistress of several men who seem more powerful and then ending as an actress. Because Carrie lives against societal mores, the author had to fight against censorship attempts at the time. Today, it’s praised for its accurate portrayal of the human condition. For my part, I don’t know if I like Carrie, but I admire her grit. And unlike many other classic novels with female protagonists who end up badly in their bid for independence because of MEN and SOCIETY (i.e. Portrait of a Lady, Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, etc.), Carrie gets exactly what she wants and thrives.
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
How can I not start with this one? For those who don’t know, this essay collection begins with an anecdote by Solnit of a party. At the party, she is talking to a man who continually tells her to read a book he hasn’t read but heard about. Another partygoer (she) tries several times to explain that Solnit is the actual author of said book. But the man doesn’t hear or acknowledge them till more than 4-5 attempts later. As Solnit describes: “And then, as if in a nineteeth-century novel, he went ashen.” The situation is awkward for everyone. When feminists talk about gender equality, it includes situations like this—of women not being heard for our perspectives and wisdom. Of how often women seem to be required to just listen and validate a male perspective or train of thought. Remember the purpose of a diverse bookshelf is to help broaden our understanding of the experience of others. For women like me, stories like this validate our own humiliating like experiences. For others, it makes them visible. It declares they are real, and they are not cool! Also, it’s very humorous even if the topic is grim.
Plant Dreaming Deep by May Sarton
A professor gave me this book to help with my own writing, and I fell deeply in love with May Sarton’s style. For the purposes of this list, Sarton identified as a lesbian and lived her life as such. However, her famous journals of which this is the first are about being human, about being a poet, about living life through the years. They’re about friendships and even love (of which she doesn’t hide the fact that her loves are women). They’re about change and how we move through time. They’re very very beautiful. Don’t miss out!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
I used to read a lot of fantasy series as a child, but as I grew older I tired of them. One reason is there is a LOT of violence against women in them even if there is a heroine protagonist. As such, much like in Game of Thrones, sex is ugly. It’s not about mutual love or being a good partner. It’s about power and how people weaponize it. In contrast, what I love about the Kushiel series is how much Carey turns typical fantasy tropes on their heads. The hero is a courtesan. However, the culture doesn’t denigrate her; instead the culture is built around the sacred religious tenet of love as thou wilt. This means that courtesans are akin to priests. And because of that, typical societal sins: nonmonogamy, homosexuality, BDSM and sex work are treated as normal since they are consensual. What would be salacious in other fantasy stories is just culture here. And Carey does an amazing job showing how consensual sex and personal preference is sexy whereas weaponized sex is not. But go read it; the whole book is really about how our heroine needs to save her country from invasion by her wits alone. Quite adventurous and filled with political intrigue.
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
This nonfiction book is many things, but its back bone is relationship between the author and artist Harry Dodge, who is transgender (she to he). There is so much beauty and love and thoughtfulness in this exploration of so many things. I’m an avid Maggie Nelson reader. She’s a genre-bender so dive into her work!
Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
Known as one of the great novels of American realism, Dreiser recounts how young country girl Carrie moves to Chicago in the late 1890s. She’s in pursuit of the American Dream, and for a woman, that involves becoming the mistress of several men who seem more powerful and then ending as an actress. Because Carrie lives against societal mores, the author had to fight against censorship attempts at the time. Today, it’s praised for its accurate portrayal of the human condition. For my part, I don’t know if I like Carrie, but I admire her grit. And unlike many other classic novels with female protagonists who end up badly in their bid for independence because of MEN and SOCIETY (i.e. Portrait of a Lady, Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, etc.), Carrie gets exactly what she wants and thrives.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 5: History & Religion
Per our reference blog, historically accurate books that don’t whitewash the facts are influential in shaping people’s worldview. I’ve read some amazing books in this category that I recommend often. But do I own any still?
I’m trying not to repeat books. So let’s see how this goes?
Letter Perfect: The Marvelous History of Our Alphabet From A to Z by David Sacks
The book explores the history of each letter in the English alphabet. It’s crazy to learn how the “A” traces its foundation to Egyptian hieroglyphs or that the “J” was one of the last letters officially added to the alphabet. I still quote facts from this, and it’s been over 15 years since I first read it.
Stealing the Mona Lisa by Darian Leader
I read this in a college class called “Fakes and Forgeries.” The book itself psychological and critical analysis of why we look at art and how we value it. But the really interesting part is how Leader uses the theft of the Mona Lisa to articulate his ideas. For young me, I had never thought the painting was that great. So it blew my mind to read how all our modern associations of the paintings importance come not from the artwork itself but its theft!
Wherever There's a Fight: How Runaway Slaves, Suffragists, Immigrants, Strikers, and Poets Shaped Civil Liberties in California by Elaine Elinson and Stan Yogi
I picked this up at a book reading in San Francisco, and the book thoroughly chronicles civil rights battles up to the present in California. The things I remember most about the read: how the US was really mean and discriminatory to Chinese immigrants. It’s really really horrible. How interesting it is to see famous names you find on buildings today as the antagonists in those fights. And how the book has examples all the way into the 1990s. We still have a long way to go!
Decreation by Anne Carson
Another genre-bending writer, Carson uses a lot of history to lay the groundwork for her poetry and critical essays. In this particular book, my favorite section is a three-part essay about the poet Sappho, the Christian martyr Marguerite Porete, and the 20th century philosopher Simone Weil. The work is mind-blowing, and then the leaps into an opera of everything just shared. Anne Carson is always factually correct even during her most poetic flights of fancy.
Women of Words: A Personal Introduction to Thirty-five Important Writers Edited by Janet Bukovinsky
I didn’t think I’d make it to five titles! But I’ve had this since I was a young girl. My family gifted it on birthday to encourage me to read and write.
I’m trying not to repeat books. So let’s see how this goes?
Letter Perfect: The Marvelous History of Our Alphabet From A to Z by David Sacks
The book explores the history of each letter in the English alphabet. It’s crazy to learn how the “A” traces its foundation to Egyptian hieroglyphs or that the “J” was one of the last letters officially added to the alphabet. I still quote facts from this, and it’s been over 15 years since I first read it.
Stealing the Mona Lisa by Darian Leader
I read this in a college class called “Fakes and Forgeries.” The book itself psychological and critical analysis of why we look at art and how we value it. But the really interesting part is how Leader uses the theft of the Mona Lisa to articulate his ideas. For young me, I had never thought the painting was that great. So it blew my mind to read how all our modern associations of the paintings importance come not from the artwork itself but its theft!
Wherever There's a Fight: How Runaway Slaves, Suffragists, Immigrants, Strikers, and Poets Shaped Civil Liberties in California by Elaine Elinson and Stan Yogi
I picked this up at a book reading in San Francisco, and the book thoroughly chronicles civil rights battles up to the present in California. The things I remember most about the read: how the US was really mean and discriminatory to Chinese immigrants. It’s really really horrible. How interesting it is to see famous names you find on buildings today as the antagonists in those fights. And how the book has examples all the way into the 1990s. We still have a long way to go!
Decreation by Anne Carson
Another genre-bending writer, Carson uses a lot of history to lay the groundwork for her poetry and critical essays. In this particular book, my favorite section is a three-part essay about the poet Sappho, the Christian martyr Marguerite Porete, and the 20th century philosopher Simone Weil. The work is mind-blowing, and then the leaps into an opera of everything just shared. Anne Carson is always factually correct even during her most poetic flights of fancy.
Women of Words: A Personal Introduction to Thirty-five Important Writers Edited by Janet Bukovinsky
I didn’t think I’d make it to five titles! But I’ve had this since I was a young girl. My family gifted it on birthday to encourage me to read and write.
Do I have a diverse bookself? Pt 6: Race & Ethnicity
Our reference considers these books as a tool to build radical consciousness for racial justice and to build awareness of the color-blind frameworks in our societies today.
So I’ll list books in which the authors or characters make that a priority.
Black Boy by Richard Wright
This is the author’s retelling of his upbringing in the South as a black boy and his eventual realization that his writing will be how he will reach the soul of humanity. What drew me most to this title when I read it as a teenage girl was Wright’s evolution into an artist. I would reread the parts where he described his hunger to put power into his words. I try to emulate that even today.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The characters are victims of colonialism and the Indian caste system—specifically Untouchables vs. Touchables. But Roy’s book makes a definitive argument for the injustice of it all. Much like Tess of the d’Urbervilles, I remember being so angry at the burden these characters had to bear because of SOCIETY. While reading, I knew forbidden love was going to happen. But I was still glad for it in spite of the consequences that came after.
Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks
In college, my playwriting professor introduced us to this play. Then I got to see it in real life. It’s about two brothers who are African-American named Lincoln and Booth. The play details their struggles with race, poverty, violence, women and their troubled upbringing. The stage is just a room, but it’s really America. It’s amazing.
Modern Irish Drama Edited by John P. Harrigton
When I studied abroad in Ireland, I learned that A LOT of Irish drama is political and race-based because the British colonized, subjugated and tried to “integrate” them for centuries. I also learned how a lot of famous writers I thought were English actually were Irish! Please include on the list: Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Bernard Shaw and W.B. Yeats.
Hymn for the Black Terrific by Kiki Petrosino
I heard the poet at a reading, and I wanted this book specifically for a set of poems. She coopts the degrading language written by Thomas Jefferson in his book Notes on the State of Virginia where he argues for the superiority of white Americans over their black slaves. Petrosino takes something ugly and turns it into something beautiful. Power reclaimed!
So I’ll list books in which the authors or characters make that a priority.
Black Boy by Richard Wright
This is the author’s retelling of his upbringing in the South as a black boy and his eventual realization that his writing will be how he will reach the soul of humanity. What drew me most to this title when I read it as a teenage girl was Wright’s evolution into an artist. I would reread the parts where he described his hunger to put power into his words. I try to emulate that even today.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The characters are victims of colonialism and the Indian caste system—specifically Untouchables vs. Touchables. But Roy’s book makes a definitive argument for the injustice of it all. Much like Tess of the d’Urbervilles, I remember being so angry at the burden these characters had to bear because of SOCIETY. While reading, I knew forbidden love was going to happen. But I was still glad for it in spite of the consequences that came after.
Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks
In college, my playwriting professor introduced us to this play. Then I got to see it in real life. It’s about two brothers who are African-American named Lincoln and Booth. The play details their struggles with race, poverty, violence, women and their troubled upbringing. The stage is just a room, but it’s really America. It’s amazing.
Modern Irish Drama Edited by John P. Harrigton
When I studied abroad in Ireland, I learned that A LOT of Irish drama is political and race-based because the British colonized, subjugated and tried to “integrate” them for centuries. I also learned how a lot of famous writers I thought were English actually were Irish! Please include on the list: Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Bernard Shaw and W.B. Yeats.
Hymn for the Black Terrific by Kiki Petrosino
I heard the poet at a reading, and I wanted this book specifically for a set of poems. She coopts the degrading language written by Thomas Jefferson in his book Notes on the State of Virginia where he argues for the superiority of white Americans over their black slaves. Petrosino takes something ugly and turns it into something beautiful. Power reclaimed!
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 7: Immigration & Refugees
Immigration is a hot topic, according to our blog, and therefore it is important to include books about the many different types of immigrant experiences in the world—refugees included. I’ve read some really good books in this category, but what do I still own? Let’s see.
Keys of the Kingdom by A.J. Cronin
Immigrant stories happen everywhere, and you can feel like an immigrant your entire life. This book is about Father Chisholm who is sent as a young Scottish priest to a remote China. It describes his life as he learns about the people and culture and how they learn about him. It describes the dissonance that occurs from his superiors who don’t live in China and from Chinese officials. It’s a book about faith, compassion and openness.
Fullblood Arabian by Osama Alomar
In the preface, we learn that the author was driven into exile from Syria and how he had to repatriate himself in the US. As the short story/poetry collection was published in 1999, this was before the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Anyway, this is a gorgeous book that bends several genres. It’s translated as well—and I always love a good translation. Oh! I wish I could post an excerpt! Check him out!
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
This is a nonfiction account about how everyone had the best of intentions and failed miserably in helping a young girl because of cultural misunderstandings. She, Lia, is a Hmong refugee in the United States with a medical condition. Fadiman is meticulous in outlining all the culture clashes—historical, political, religious, scientific, etc—that shape the outcome. Truly, this is a book I still think about and mention even if its been 20 years since I read it.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Here we see the American experience is an immigrant experience. The Trasks come from the East Coast to California. The Hamiltons come from Ireland to America and then Salinas. Lee and his family immigrate from China and his parents work the railroad to Salinas, CA. It’s a family epic that shows how generation upon generation builds on top of, continues and breaks cycles. I’ve loved this book since high school.
Magnetic Refrain by Nicky Sa-eun Schildkraut
I got this poetry book after hearing the author read at a conference. Adopted by American parents from her native Korea, the author’s poetry explores this life between two cultures. It’s an interesting read about how it’s hard to find out where and how you belong.
Keys of the Kingdom by A.J. Cronin
Immigrant stories happen everywhere, and you can feel like an immigrant your entire life. This book is about Father Chisholm who is sent as a young Scottish priest to a remote China. It describes his life as he learns about the people and culture and how they learn about him. It describes the dissonance that occurs from his superiors who don’t live in China and from Chinese officials. It’s a book about faith, compassion and openness.
Fullblood Arabian by Osama Alomar
In the preface, we learn that the author was driven into exile from Syria and how he had to repatriate himself in the US. As the short story/poetry collection was published in 1999, this was before the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Anyway, this is a gorgeous book that bends several genres. It’s translated as well—and I always love a good translation. Oh! I wish I could post an excerpt! Check him out!
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
This is a nonfiction account about how everyone had the best of intentions and failed miserably in helping a young girl because of cultural misunderstandings. She, Lia, is a Hmong refugee in the United States with a medical condition. Fadiman is meticulous in outlining all the culture clashes—historical, political, religious, scientific, etc—that shape the outcome. Truly, this is a book I still think about and mention even if its been 20 years since I read it.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Here we see the American experience is an immigrant experience. The Trasks come from the East Coast to California. The Hamiltons come from Ireland to America and then Salinas. Lee and his family immigrate from China and his parents work the railroad to Salinas, CA. It’s a family epic that shows how generation upon generation builds on top of, continues and breaks cycles. I’ve loved this book since high school.
Magnetic Refrain by Nicky Sa-eun Schildkraut
I got this poetry book after hearing the author read at a conference. Adopted by American parents from her native Korea, the author’s poetry explores this life between two cultures. It’s an interesting read about how it’s hard to find out where and how you belong.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 8: Disabilities
Oh, hmmm.... The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down from the last post would’ve counted here. Anyway onward! Here our blog says a diverse shelf also contain stories about people with disabilities. These stories help us understand that people with disabilities are normal. They have the same hopes and dreams. They can be heroes or villains like anyone else.
I’m a little worried about this category. Let’s see what I come up with.
[5 minutes later]
That actually wasn’t too hard. Let’s start with an obvious one:
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
I think Steinbeck is the first author to appear twice in my lists! Welcome! Many American read this book in school. It’s about two migrant workers George and his pal Lenny who is mentally disabled. The story is about people’s perceptions and how they get all tangled up. It’s a sad story. You’re going to cry.
Deerskin by Robin McKinley (Trigger Warning)
While I was perusing my bookshelf, I remembered that disabilities can be invisible, too! This is a fantasy story about Lissla Lissar a beautiful princess who is abused by her parents then sexually assaulted by her father; he rapes her. His actions almost destroy her, and she must find a way to find herself again. When I think about it now, this entire book is really about her recovery. And that’s a rare thing to see.
The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso
The author is a young woman in her 20s when she acquires an autoimmune disease. While trying to live life, she struggles with medical blood cleansings, collapsed veins, chest catheters, depressions and how to articulate what’s happening. This is a lyrical memoir—a mix of poetry and memory.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (Spoilers!)
The generally unsung sister of Charlotte and Emily, Anne also wrote books. And I was quite surprised by this when when I saw an adaptation of it. The miniseries sent me off to read the book. Written from the perspective of a young man, Gilbert Markham is intrigued by the mysterious and beautiful widow Helen and her young son. He later finds out she has run away from her alcoholic husband. A very contemporary novel about alcoholism, spousal abuse and parental trauma.
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
It’s Zimbabwe in the year 2194! General Mastika’s three children disappear from their house, and their parents call on three unusual detectives who have special abilities based on their disabilities. The Ear has super sensitive hearing, the Eye has great vision, and the Arm is super empathetic. The three embark on an adventure through wealthy hotels and the underground to get the children back!
Bonus Title: I have this as an ebook:
Deaf Lit Extravaganza Edited by John Lee Clark
I attended a panel of deaf and hearing-impaired authors and bought this book! Like all oppressed minorities, I didn’t realize society had tried to ban sign language for many, many years. There’s poetry, fiction, memoir and history in this anthology!
I’m a little worried about this category. Let’s see what I come up with.
[5 minutes later]
That actually wasn’t too hard. Let’s start with an obvious one:
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
I think Steinbeck is the first author to appear twice in my lists! Welcome! Many American read this book in school. It’s about two migrant workers George and his pal Lenny who is mentally disabled. The story is about people’s perceptions and how they get all tangled up. It’s a sad story. You’re going to cry.
Deerskin by Robin McKinley (Trigger Warning)
While I was perusing my bookshelf, I remembered that disabilities can be invisible, too! This is a fantasy story about Lissla Lissar a beautiful princess who is abused by her parents then sexually assaulted by her father; he rapes her. His actions almost destroy her, and she must find a way to find herself again. When I think about it now, this entire book is really about her recovery. And that’s a rare thing to see.
The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso
The author is a young woman in her 20s when she acquires an autoimmune disease. While trying to live life, she struggles with medical blood cleansings, collapsed veins, chest catheters, depressions and how to articulate what’s happening. This is a lyrical memoir—a mix of poetry and memory.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (Spoilers!)
The generally unsung sister of Charlotte and Emily, Anne also wrote books. And I was quite surprised by this when when I saw an adaptation of it. The miniseries sent me off to read the book. Written from the perspective of a young man, Gilbert Markham is intrigued by the mysterious and beautiful widow Helen and her young son. He later finds out she has run away from her alcoholic husband. A very contemporary novel about alcoholism, spousal abuse and parental trauma.
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
It’s Zimbabwe in the year 2194! General Mastika’s three children disappear from their house, and their parents call on three unusual detectives who have special abilities based on their disabilities. The Ear has super sensitive hearing, the Eye has great vision, and the Arm is super empathetic. The three embark on an adventure through wealthy hotels and the underground to get the children back!
Bonus Title: I have this as an ebook:
Deaf Lit Extravaganza Edited by John Lee Clark
I attended a panel of deaf and hearing-impaired authors and bought this book! Like all oppressed minorities, I didn’t realize society had tried to ban sign language for many, many years. There’s poetry, fiction, memoir and history in this anthology!
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 9: Socioeconomic Books
Reading books about people outside of the middle class can increase tolerance! So for this category I’m looking at books about people who’s lives are framed by their class and wealth.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
A story written about the “redneck” Bundren family and how all the family members cope differently with the death of the matriarch, Addie. Truly a literary masterpiece, this is my favorite Faulkner work. Each chapter is based on a different character’s perspective, and he makes each voice unique.
The Works of Jane Austen
I’ve reread these books so many times, and the stories are framed by the needs and distinctions of class. In the famous Pride and Prejudice, Austen opens the book with the famous lines, “a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of wife.” In Sense and Sensibility, the Dashwood sisters are disinherited by their brother and must move in with relations. In Persuasion, the heroine had to reject her love because he wasn’t rich, but she lives in a noble family who has no money. Characters do so many things because of how they are entitled or not by money!
Fences by August Wilson
This is a contemporary play about a Black family in PittsburghTroy struggles with his two sons and his wife over issues of race, class and generational struggles. I saw this on stage, too. It was a great production!
Pegasus in Flight by Anne McCaffrey
I used to own all of Anne McCaffrey’s books. Then I got rid of them, and now I own a few. This book is set in a future where X-men type people exist and because of overpopulation, the disparities between class are more acute. One of the main characters, Tirla, lives in a slum and navigates her way between multiple social classes and ethnic groups. As an adult, I appreciate how much the privileges Talents (X-men type people) can section themselves off from the chaos of Tirla’s world.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The quintessential American book about the pursuit of the American dream, class inequality and the Jazz Age. Gatsby was poor. Now he’s rich. Does that make him happy? Read to find out.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
A story written about the “redneck” Bundren family and how all the family members cope differently with the death of the matriarch, Addie. Truly a literary masterpiece, this is my favorite Faulkner work. Each chapter is based on a different character’s perspective, and he makes each voice unique.
The Works of Jane Austen
I’ve reread these books so many times, and the stories are framed by the needs and distinctions of class. In the famous Pride and Prejudice, Austen opens the book with the famous lines, “a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of wife.” In Sense and Sensibility, the Dashwood sisters are disinherited by their brother and must move in with relations. In Persuasion, the heroine had to reject her love because he wasn’t rich, but she lives in a noble family who has no money. Characters do so many things because of how they are entitled or not by money!
Fences by August Wilson
This is a contemporary play about a Black family in PittsburghTroy struggles with his two sons and his wife over issues of race, class and generational struggles. I saw this on stage, too. It was a great production!
Pegasus in Flight by Anne McCaffrey
I used to own all of Anne McCaffrey’s books. Then I got rid of them, and now I own a few. This book is set in a future where X-men type people exist and because of overpopulation, the disparities between class are more acute. One of the main characters, Tirla, lives in a slum and navigates her way between multiple social classes and ethnic groups. As an adult, I appreciate how much the privileges Talents (X-men type people) can section themselves off from the chaos of Tirla’s world.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The quintessential American book about the pursuit of the American dream, class inequality and the Jazz Age. Gatsby was poor. Now he’s rich. Does that make him happy? Read to find out.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf Pt 10: STEM
Since I’m trying not to repeat titles, this is getting harder and harder. And while I’ve read many STEM books and am an ex-owner of a few that I liked ... We’ll I’m not sure what I’ll find on my shelf now!
Our blog defines STEM books as literature that helps children understand word problems and the vocabulary of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). For our purposes, I’m going to see if I have any titles that touch on those topics in particular. Actually now that I think about it, I’ll probably have a few professional books on the subject as I work in tech. Hmmm, I’m not sure if I should count scifi and fantasy science a la A Wrinkle in Time or His Dark Materials trilogy as one, too.
Onward!
Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire L Evans
I actually haven’t read this yet so maybe this choice is a cop out? But when I did my bookshelf purge, I put aside a small amount of books that I had never read but would finally make an effort to complete. (Currently, I’m reading Gogol’s Dead Souls). (2023 Edit: I read it! It's great!)
The Sirens of Mars by Sarah Stewart Johnson
I love this book! It's such a great reminder about how we are only so recent in our knowledge of the universe BUT that the universe and our planet is so old. It shows how discovery isn't an instance but a hundred million instances that with hindsight allow you to say AHAH! Learn all about how we as the human race learned/are learning about Mars!
The Musical Illusionist by Alex Rose
This collection of short stories I purchased after attending the debut reading of the author. It’s a fusion of science and magical realism. I honestly don’t remember much about this book but that I enjoyed it. In flipping through the pages, it looks like a scientific journal, but it’s hybridized with scientific images and poetry. Oh yes! That’s right: Each short story is catalogued in the Library of Tangents. So it’s like reading through the miscellany you’d find in an archive.
Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology by Lawrence Weschler
Speaking of miscellany, the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles is a wonderful example of it. The museum aims to provoke by disorientation, bringing us back to a time when museums weren’t about facts and science as more about wonder. The first time I visited, I was so confused. Weschler’s book explains the method behind the seeming madness.
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
The movie adaption is based on this book. Is it a memoir? Is it non-fiction? Is it a history? Who knows! But it’s wonderful. Orlean takes us deep into the lives and histories of the people who love and loved to cultivate and genetically modify orchids. I especially loved her descriptions of how the original Victorian adventurers were also orchid thieves.
Color Workbook by Becky Koenig
The science of color will make you question everything you thought you knew about color. This is a professional book I read while in design school. It broke my brain.
Bonus book because I haven’t read 1 of the books on this list:
My Mistress, Humanity by Chuck Rosenthal
So much real STEM work owes its inception to science fiction. This is a re-telling of Frankenstein set in a dystopian 2015 where the weather has gone crazy. The monster in question is a dragon.
Our blog defines STEM books as literature that helps children understand word problems and the vocabulary of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). For our purposes, I’m going to see if I have any titles that touch on those topics in particular. Actually now that I think about it, I’ll probably have a few professional books on the subject as I work in tech. Hmmm, I’m not sure if I should count scifi and fantasy science a la A Wrinkle in Time or His Dark Materials trilogy as one, too.
Onward!
Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire L Evans
I actually haven’t read this yet so maybe this choice is a cop out? But when I did my bookshelf purge, I put aside a small amount of books that I had never read but would finally make an effort to complete. (Currently, I’m reading Gogol’s Dead Souls). (2023 Edit: I read it! It's great!)
The Sirens of Mars by Sarah Stewart Johnson
I love this book! It's such a great reminder about how we are only so recent in our knowledge of the universe BUT that the universe and our planet is so old. It shows how discovery isn't an instance but a hundred million instances that with hindsight allow you to say AHAH! Learn all about how we as the human race learned/are learning about Mars!
The Musical Illusionist by Alex Rose
This collection of short stories I purchased after attending the debut reading of the author. It’s a fusion of science and magical realism. I honestly don’t remember much about this book but that I enjoyed it. In flipping through the pages, it looks like a scientific journal, but it’s hybridized with scientific images and poetry. Oh yes! That’s right: Each short story is catalogued in the Library of Tangents. So it’s like reading through the miscellany you’d find in an archive.
Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology by Lawrence Weschler
Speaking of miscellany, the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles is a wonderful example of it. The museum aims to provoke by disorientation, bringing us back to a time when museums weren’t about facts and science as more about wonder. The first time I visited, I was so confused. Weschler’s book explains the method behind the seeming madness.
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
The movie adaption is based on this book. Is it a memoir? Is it non-fiction? Is it a history? Who knows! But it’s wonderful. Orlean takes us deep into the lives and histories of the people who love and loved to cultivate and genetically modify orchids. I especially loved her descriptions of how the original Victorian adventurers were also orchid thieves.
Color Workbook by Becky Koenig
The science of color will make you question everything you thought you knew about color. This is a professional book I read while in design school. It broke my brain.
Bonus book because I haven’t read 1 of the books on this list:
My Mistress, Humanity by Chuck Rosenthal
So much real STEM work owes its inception to science fiction. This is a re-telling of Frankenstein set in a dystopian 2015 where the weather has gone crazy. The monster in question is a dragon.
