One Los Alamos discussion

Kyle’s reading has been on other fronts lately: To the Temple of Tranquility...And Step on It!, “hilarious, so sad,” and, I might add, confusing, too, because Madhavi did a real-time search on Goodreads and came up with a completely different, entirely unrelated book with a remarkably similar title. And Plainsong, “lovely book, [...] I would read more by him.”

Madhavi agreed with Ellen’s description (at our last get-together) of Witch of Wild Things as “fluffy” and recommended it as a light read. James she recommends wholeheartedly, “written masterfully, literary, poetic.” Goldilocks-level discussion ensued: one reader “did not like it at all” and DNF’ed it, another felt it needed a grain of salt. [Editor’s note: star ratings aren’t enough. We need some sort of stick-with-it guidebook, not spoilers but “yeah it’s slow/annoying/confusing but try to read until page XYZ before you dump it and this is why.” It’s 2024, we all have flying cars, why don’t we have a guide like this?] Anyhow, Anita de Monte Laughs Last was a “good book, not a literary masterpiece,” themes of being taken seriously (or not) as a Woman of Color. Madhavi found the audiobook reader “over the top” in terms of drama. Ed, who has the hardcopy on his to-read pile, is now dying to listen to the audiobook instead.

Jenni expressed mixed opinions about Thinking in Numbers: “some parts were interesting, some I had to push myself. [...] I’m not enough into mathematics to appreciate it.” The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, she tried twice to start, “couldn’t stomach it.” (See editor's note above). Her praise focused on The Three of Us, touching on Nigerian immigrants to England, cultural expectations from each of their parents, and friendship. “Great [book] for vacation.”

Angie “really had a hard time with the first hundred pages” of I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself — the astute reader may by now be sensing a pattern — “then it got really good” with themes of a dystopian near future, families, relationships, queerness. Stephanie expressed a similar reaction, commenting on the first part, dwelling on grief, “sucking your soul out.” Stay True, too, dealt with grief, also guilt and trauma and “friendship ... how our experiences shape us.” Then on to Dublin, a multigenerational saga covering Ireland from late pagan days through Henry VIII, with strong female characters. “Liked it; fun book,” some discussion on how it compared to Michener.

Ed really loved She Who Became the Sun and He Who Drowned the World — the first one more than the second — with themes of strength, overcoming obstacles, gender identity, moral ambiguity, compassion and cruelty. And in a similar Fantasy vein, Roanhoarse completed her trilogy! Mirrored Heavens was gripping, beautiful, suspenseful, and above all satisfying. Hangman fell squarely in the Wish-I’d-DNFed bucket (another argument for a stick-with-it? guide); The Saint of Bright Doors went direct to DNF: religious fanatics and persecution and cults, bleagh. (If anyone does finish it, I welcome your advice). Mother Island, difficult, uncomfortable, dealing with trauma, cultural identity, toxic masculinity, all with a strong tone of bitterness.

Stephanie called The Covenant of Water “really good”; said at first she “wasn’t sure” (it's a big tome) but then “loved it.” “Beautiful characters, lovely scenery, lots of medicine, wish there was more food.” The MDs in the group swapped experiences and opinions on the art of physical exams, a prominent theme of the book. And she reflected back on Happiness, with themes of surviving trauma and growing past it. And of course Crow Talk, she “really enjoyed,” as did all present who’ve read it.

Thank you all! Thank you PEEC for beautiful cool space on a hot summer day.

Thank you Ed for arranging , the accurate commentary and the food! You are awesome!