Reading roundup: September 2023

I had a bit of reader’s block at the beginning of the month. Then two people close to me read Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth respectively, and I realized I was craving something juicy and immersive like that. So I re-read the entire Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir! It was so satisfying and enjoyable, not unlike re-reading a mystery novel–knowing the end completely changes your perspective on some of the surreal things that take place, and there are clues and references deliciously layered in throughout: notes in Gideon signed by mysterious characters who don’t get fleshed out until Nona the Ninth, brief conversations that give rise to entrenched character traits, allusions to the world that precedes the Space Empire that now seem completely obvious to me. Now I can’t wait for Alecto the Ninth.

When I finished I was ready to read a book again, so I dove into Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood by Maureen Ryan. This was utterly absorbing, even when it referred to movies and television shows I didn’t know, even when it necessarily grew vague about the who/what/when/where of certain bad behavior for legal reasons. Reading it has changed what I understand about how shows get made, and immediately became a part of my viewing practice. (e.g. I just finished watching The Witcher season 3 with a friend, which we enjoyed despite or because of some of the truly baffling creative decisions; but like many other fantasy shows based on IP, storytelling by committee can drain a story of some narrative logic and emotional impact.)

The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller just didn’t do it for me. I kept reading because I was interested in how the author would resolve the impossible dilemma: a few strangers survive an apocalyptic pandemic in a hospital, but their supplies are running out. But the characters were not themselves very compelling, and the speculative elements (apocalypse, some kind of magical technology that lets you revisit your memories) are not well-married to the plot.

And I finally finished Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility edited by Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua. It was slow going because I wanted to underline and make notes, but a worthwhile read–I’m planning to write up and post some quotes at some point, partly because it would make for an encouraging and empowering reminder whenever my climate feels get overwhelming, but also because contributors come from a variety of nations and research fields and make for a powerful follow list for climate folks.

Elsewhere

I’m not terribly invested in recent discourse about marriage–it’s a settled issue for me, and I’m not interested–but I loved the poignant opening story of this essay by Rebecca Traister, and also her humorous takedown of a bad read on the Barbie movie.

I’ve had the opportunity to do a bit of learning about AI this month–I attended a webinar for climate tech marketers on whether and how to use AI, another webinar for instructors and TAs on university AI policy, and an afternoon-long conference for publishing professionals on how that industry plans to use AI. Here are some links I appreciated.
Why Silicon Valley’s biggest AI developers are hiring poets

Minutiae

I went to Baltimore to hear my gentleman give a talk, and we spent a beautiful day exploring at least four different independent bookstores, meandering through the parklike grounds and lovely halls of the (free!) Baltimore Museum of Art, and walking along the harbor, sated by breakfast at a diner that looks like a wing of the Visionary Art Museum. We then had a nightmare of a time getting home, hemmed in by street closures for a city-wide bike race; we missed our train, which made it an expensive visit, but I choose to think of Baltimore as a gracious city of bookstores and museums.

I went to New Jersey to help my college BFF throw a party, which we have honed to a comfortable science. Prepping is my favorite part, singing and working around each other in the kitchen, although it’s also pretty great when people exclaim over how delicious everything is. I had my tarot cards read by a gifted reader, who helped me articulate a need for retreat and reflection despite the urgency I feel to make a big change in my life.

I staffed a table for the Delaware River Festival, which has become one of my favorite environmental events. All the tables are staffed by organizations who work adjacent to my volunteer corps on water ecology and manageable; we all manage to swing by one another’s tables and learn, so it’s a wonderful networking event. But the best part is that the festival is attended largely by families from all over the city–one of the most diverse crowds we see at environmental events–and they all bring a great deal of curiosity. My table offers a simple game to help teach people what can be put down the drain and what shouldn’t; it’s quick and simple, but it always turns into great conversations because everyone has different concerns about water as a utility and a resource.

I planted a pollinator garden in my favorite park with my gentleman, and strolled around the open market afterward, snacking on fried bananas. I saw the new Poirot movie and did not love it. I started The Changeling with a friend and we are finding it very spooky indeed! I got my booster shot and my flu shot at the same time, which wiped me out for an entire weekend and cancelled quite a few of my plans. Fortunately or unfortunately, Stardew Valley was available for free on my console, so I spent those hours blissfully building my farm and raiding the mines for loot.