XJ Sally > Recent Status Updates

The section on the development of agriculture is very long and boring.

Just finished the chapter on Henry VIII. It’s hard to follow the kings before the Tudors. There are so many Henrys and Edwards. But the writing style is good and I enjoy reading it.

The importance of the domestication of plants and animals in the increase of population and the development of technology and political institutions. The difference between hunter-gatherers and farmers maybe greater than imagined.

I have heard of it before, but it’s the first time I read about the details of the capture of the last Inca Emperor by the Spanish colonists. It’s a very interesting encounter, happened without the invaded side knowing the meaning of it.

The first chapter is very academic in tone and thus a bit difficult to read. The idea is to find a theory to explain how peoples in Eurasia is going to have a more advanced technology than other peoples. It’s interesting but it can be boring at times.

The careers of Austen’s naval brothers were linked to the Empire’s colonialism, slave trade and wars. Frank Austen actually travelled to China and supposedly, made money from the opium trade. Having a complex feeling when reading this.

Chapter 10 is by far the best chapter in this book. I have always been moved by the fact that Austen defied expectations to remain single in order to continue her writing.

The book is organised thematically. I don’t think this works very well for Jane Austen’s life. But I do get some extra knowledge about Austen from it.

In this section, the author deals with the underrated female roles in agriculture and the design of the products that ignores women’s needs, especially smartphones and cars. The design of cars leads to women being more likely to injured in a car crash.

The author tackles the problems women faced in workplace, including unpaid works outside the workplace, the standards of promotion favoured males, the harmful effects of working conditions that get ignored, and the workplace violence faced most women regardless of the industry they are in. I’ve learnt a lot from this section!

It takes time to get the main ideas expressed in the book. The author emphasises the interplay between capitalism and printing technology that laid the foundation of modern states.

The author tackles the problems of gendered public facilities, especially public toilets and public transport. Very interesting!

The author tackles the problems of gendered public facilities, especially public toilets and public transport. Very interesting!

Elizabeth began to know more about Darcy. But sometimes the style of the book could be too romantic for me to enjoy it.

Very interesting. The hierarchical and disorderly society was depicted vividly.

It’s great at the beginning of the book, with the internal dialogue of Elizabeth and Darcy being illustrated vividly. But for now, the part after Elizabeth agreed to the proposal was a a bit dragged-out.

One thing learnt from this book so far: refraining from being too greedy and ambitious is important in maintaining your financial health. But the book is also very boring to read.

One thing learnt from this book so far: refraining from being too greedy and ambitious is important in maintaining your financial health. But the book is also very boring to read.

The chapter on landscape is boring. The second chapter on the people and the three estates is interesting and easy to read.

The content on Edward VIII is so difficult to read. He was such a despicable man with no responsibility whatsoever. Reading about his character and his relationship with various women made me feel unsympathetic to him.

It was hard to read the part of about the WWI, especially regarding the murder of the family of Nicolas of Russia. It’s an understandable but still tragic decision that the British Royal Family gave up on the rescue of these people.

When reading about the Delhi Dubar in 1911, I can’t help but feel the complex, imperialist hubris regarding India and its people…

It’s getting towards the end of the book! The story of how science, imperialism, and capitalism are correlated and reinforced one another and fuelled the rise of European empires in history is so fascinating.

I enjoyed reading about Mary’s early years and her relationship with Prince Eddy. But the book becomes increasingly boring after she became the Princess of Wales as many events are written with too many details. And her children really suffered a lot because of the way she and her husband treated them.

Interesting, eye-opening and easy-to-read. A great start!

Interesting, eye-opening and easy-to-read. A great start!

There’re so many similarities between Camilla & Kate that made them both suitable to live a royal life. Both are also lucky & clever that their marriages were between the Diana years & the crisis of Megxit & Andrew. The relationship between the Royal Family & media has always been complicated but the stalking & the hacking are a bit too much.

The Queen Mother is a spendthrift. She was lucky that she lived her life in an age of deference to the monarchy. The Royal Family is so out of touch with the people that they are so mean to the household staff who served them. Camilla got the last laugh and now she is ‘the Queen’, can’t tell how to feel about this.