Sam M > Recent Status Updates

the absolute worst part of being sick is the fatigue; not just physically, but mentally. i havent been able to read in like 3 weeks but this morning, i forced myself to read a couple chapters. the writing is so efficient, never retreading steps but always very clear and explanatory. its also interesting seeing all the similarities between then and now concerning automation in the workplace

(i was on 47 last time, not 57—oops!!)

just finished George Mellor’s introduction; loving the use of the great comet of 1811 as a bad omen for the industrial revolution: burns bright and strong, though it helps absolutely nobody underneath. short section but i just wanted a short read anyways since its bene 16 days!!!! since i last read anything

intro done! we learn about Ned Ludd, the man who ignited the fire in every anti-machinists heart, Edmund Cartwright, a clerical poet obsessed with automating work, Richard Arkwright, who also brought forth a lot of machines that reduced manpower, among a few others. reading about everyones unified rage against these new machines is knd of reassuring but in turn twice as horrifying modern day, knowing we prob wont win

great stuff so far; incredibly insightful. i think this will b something im more likely to refer back to as opposed to just reading it once over. i like the writing, plus mayo is so easy make! who knew!!

very smart decision by the author to release something so applicable like this; he truly seems intrigued by the causes and results of the Luddite revolution, and already i can tell this is going to be a great read. you wouldnt have thought automated machines raking jobs away wouldve been an issue nearly 300 years ago, but it was! its crazy stuff, and i was also surprised to seeLord Byron and Mary Godwyn in the intro!

daguerreotypes finished! this was a large chunk of the book and interesting in the sense that the entire thing is different notes and photos not shown, but described in its entirety and accompanied by sardonic explorations of the implications of each action discussed. it’s very interesting, going back (briefly) to the 6th century, and now it’s time for the epilogue!!!

didnt read far this time, just practicing reading out loud to work on my speech but the whole thing about importing labor is nuts!

ch2! we met Benny Profane last chapter and this one is all about the other side of the same coin: Sidney Stencil. Profane doesn’t seem to care much about anything, and Stencil seems hyperfocused on finding V.. I love how Pynchon is def a jazz guy!!! anytime he talks about bands and music is dope

the Shah steps his game up; Mossadegh is killed; Ayatollah Komeini is arrested following his criticism of the Shah; a slaughter follows his detainment; brutality of the Savak; distrust caused by Savak’s inhumane procedures

wow, lots of information! i’ve never read anything that’s just descriptions of photos and other documents, but it helps attribute to its unbiased character.

ch1! Profane’s a weird little guy: he’s inexorably clumsy, and now he’s going to hunt alligators in the sewers with Puerto Ricans!

i finished all the poems! i’ll probably reread them after or while reading the notes. absolutely gorgeous work, mind boggling that this was thousands of years ago. Sappho is a tru Lover

(wrong %)

a new experience reading-wise! this is a collection of the surviving poems of Sappho, delicately put together in a way that presumably resembles the original work in a modern presentation. already the first poem is woefully romantic (“Who, O Sappho, is wronging you?”)

i love the brackets as indicators for illegible or destroyed text; it genuinely does elevate the experience a tad

partway thru ch1! already great, i love the dialogue here (especially Benny’s drunk dialogue with Rachel) and it’s just a nice bit of silliness so far!

fuuuck. just finished… immediate thoughts:
no bride? damn.
rip franky and his monster!
a shockingly tragic ending: by immersing ourselves into franky’s story, i was expecting the hunt to come to a close either through his creation or Walton…

basically a great book; without the islamophobia it wouldve been perfect!

ch22!!! home stretch!!

… he married his cousin. not surprised!

ch21!! ri-fuckin-p Henry!! Victor’s regretting is officially at his lowest; new plan is kill his creation! his dad came to him in ireland which was sweet. his dad’s always been a great father to him, his brothers, and his cousin.

ch20!!

Victor’s regretting it!! he destroys the experiment, tries to kill himself, fails, ends up in ireland (uh oh!!!)

ch18/19!!

Victor’s sad, traveling through Europe and gathering the tools for his new creation; Henry’s usually happy, traveling with Victor. it’s a little slow after the past few exciting chapters, but necessarily so. it’s almost time for the creation’s companion!

ch17!! Frankenstein’s creation convinced his creator to create a new creation: woman!

ch15/16!

the relocation of the French cottagers; the shattering pain of death and its tools; the pure, depressing shade of rage. these two chapters were the last part of Frankenstein’s creation’s story, and i’m shocked that he so bluntly admitted his acts of violence, though it’s understandable to a certain length. great bit!

ch13/14! short chapters!!

not sure how to read Shelley’s interpretation of Turks and Arabs; seems quite stereotypical, we have a cunning and flat-out evil father and a mother who spent her whole adult life enslaved, the father isn’t even given a name and instead is just referred to as “the Turk”.

besides that iffy little moment, it’s been nice! Safie arrived at the cottage. the creature is learning.

ch13! the creature’s fixation upon the cottagers. i enjoy reading about his insatiable desire for knowledge, just like his creator Victor.