what is the last book you read?

[Bring4th_Austin]

Since my last post:


The Disposessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. Loved it a lot. About a man from a small planet with a system of Anarcho-Communism visiting a world of pretty extreme capitalism. It sheds light on the dynamic of the two, exploring benefits and drawbacks of both. Seems like Le Guin favored the anarchy side of things. Highly recommend.

Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon by Bronwen Dickey. Great book about the history and social dynamics surrounding "pit bulls." It was highly enlightening to see how socioeconomic and class factors influenced the perception and treatment of pit bulls. Well-researched and a balanced perspective. Recommended for anyone interested in dogs and pets, especially the cultural and systemic facets.

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Easy fantasy, a bit shallow, geared towards young adults maybe. I enjoyed it, but grew very tired of the main character and it didn't engage me in any deep way. It has a really interesting aspect of inter-dimensional realities.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling. I never read Harry Potter, but have seen the movies a lot. I really like the whimsy and depth of the Harry Potter world, but since I'd seen the movie so much I found the book a bit boring. I'd probably get more out of the later entries in the series but didn't keep going.

What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather. Sort of like a memoir for Rather, I really enjoyed his reflections on the nature of American patriotism and how it has shaped his life and worldview. It was a fresh perspective for someone like me who is a bit cynical when it comes to the idea of patriotism. It's also really neat to read the reflections of an elder who has lived through a lot recent American history, including WW2, the civil rights movement, Viet Nam, etc., especially from the perspective of a journalist. I found his perspective balanced and compassionate. Recommended for anyone who's interested in the idea of patriotism and America in general.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I never read this or anything else from Bradbury. I had to keep in mind that it was first published in 1953 in a much different cultural climate. Prescient in a lot of ways, but I didn't find it as engaging as I was expecting given the high praise. Still enjoyable and gives food for thought.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Filled with fun and interesting information, easy to read, but also a little too much packed into one book. The topics moved so rapidly that it was hard to retain anything really, but it was definitely entertaining and informative. Some of the modern science is outdated since it was published in 2003.

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. I love Brandon Sanderson. This was my least favorite of his books that I've read, but I still liked it. It was geared more towards young adults, but it didn't stray from solid themes like the brutality and callousness of war, the manipulation of social classes, and what it means to be brave or cowardly. About a girl on a planet besieged by a mysterious alien force who wants more than anything to be a pilot to fight in the war. Sanderson just has a knack for great engaging action sequences and interesting, winding plots.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. She wrote Eat, Pray, Love. After finishing this I read up on her and found out that a lot of people hate her. I liked the book. It's basically her personal philosophy on creativity and how to manifest it. It addressed a lot of my own insecurities around pursuing creative outlets and was really inspirational. A bit fluffy but I got a lot out of it. Recommended if you're struggling with putting yourself out there creatively, but maybe not for everyone.