Arlene Whitlock > Recent Status Updates

It sure is dragging out, but I keep coming back.

… and 200+ chapters!!

Seems like a book that has used all the ‘tricks’ for bestsellers have been pulled out: quirky teenagers who are both outsiders and legends(see Demon Copperhead)with a chip on shoulder and out to prove something; major crime including kidnapping, serial killer with sex thing and history as backstory. Because all these tricks are employed, characters seemed contrived and uninteresting. I’ll try to continue…

It’s OK, but very much like The Personal Librarian. As such, not as compelling.

Excellently written and in contrast to other readers, I like Omelogor. And yes the characters are flawed, hypercritical, snobby and I blanched at the negative descriptions of American culture and language It is hard sometimes for Americans to accept that our ways aren’t the center of the universe. The novel, I think, is fiercely feminist, but with a Nigerian twist.

It’s OK. Some of the stories were intriguing. I like the one about the chicken! I wondered why the author chose children often as center characters. The dialogue she employed with children didn’t sound like children, but what adults pretending to be children.(I am a teacher… children don’t sound like this!)

Interesting, but agree with most that perhaps the title should be Stormise’s Crossing.

The books started off ok, but began to flounder the last quarter of the book. I like that the story grappled with having a child with a disability and the nuances of racism.

I am slogging through. I want to give up, but hate starting something and not finishing.

Interesting. It’s like Legally Blonde but in the science industry. Entertaining, but too many predictable gimmicks. Beach read for sure!

This was as compelling as I thought it was going to be. It is more of a guidebook. It would have been more interesting if there were more real-world examples of forgiveness. It would have had more depth if it detailed the processes people ensured in struggling with forgiveness.

I think one has to be familiar with the altered dialogue of ‘signifying’ between African Americans who migrated North. The plot can be compared to A Raisin in the Sun. I can hear my parents, grandparents and other family members in the dialogue. It’s like being at a Afr Amer cookout as a fly on the wall. There is a plot: the striving do better life despite overwhelming circumstances.

OK, the ending was rather abrupt. Also, I really wanted the FBI investigation of Winn to wrap up.
The writing suggests that there was an underlying current between Liselle and Winn’a marriage. The alternating time sequences were quite effective between Selena and Liselle. Liselle settled despite overwhelming nag in her heart and soul. It was a good ending because it all led up to the return of Selena.

It is a fairly decent discourse. I agree that there are some presuppositions. I appreciate the initiative to start the conversation. I do try to read many perspectives for discourse and not judgment. Judgment hampers discourse. Yes, particulars and biases need to be pointed out constructively. Yes, I’ve read Kendi, Anderson, Wilkerson, Wright, Oluo, Rothstein and others…

…and book describes both Trump and Biden are on record exaggerating their collegiate academics

The ideas expressed somewhat confirmed what I perceive to be true. Hard work does not always guarantee success and bad things happen to those who’ve done good. Again, nearly half way in, the author equally mentions politicians who are either Republicans, Democrat,Libertarian or other as perhaps unwitting proponents of meritocracy— good or bad. I don’t see it as bashing politicians, but an examination of merit.

I don’t see this about bashing Trump, but the tyranny of merit. He mentions Obama’s placating or the idea of you work hard you’ll be successful and Clinton’s claiming she won 2/3rds of college-educated women and minorities(I.e. the meritorious). He also attempts to bolster his argument by referring to Plato’s philosopher-king government and Confucius’ idea that the meritorious should govern.