I never read you much in The Tribune but I love reading every word of The Picayune! Your discussion with the transgender lawyer was great. Thank you for asking questions that many of us are wondering about.
Novel ideas: it’s been over 20 years, but “The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse” remains the finest novel I’ve ever read. My FAVORITE fiction is Lord of the Rings, but Little No Horse is a better-written, more thought-provoking novel.
"Station Eleven" is a book about how art and community saves your life. The dystopian setting merely frames the message to make sure you're paying attention. I have read it many times, and it was the first novel I read after the initial shock of the 2020 shutdown wore off. (Faded? Didn't throw me into a panic every moment of the day? Not sure.) I knew it would help fortify me for the long journey through COVID and it did.
I don't recommend the HBO mini-series based on the novel, mostly because I don't think it was dire enough. The apocalypse is not for the faint of heart.
I am a voracious reader, and once upon a time, an English teacher. The pandemic has crushed my fiction reading ( too busy reading epidemiology studies) and I’m trying to jump back in, too. One book I expected to love, and didn’t, was The Midnight Library by Haig. So selfishly, I would love to get your take on it. It would help me to gauge if my brain has short circuited.
My teenage daughter gave me The Midnight Library for Christmas. It's given us much to talk about. Great premise. Thoughtful but brisk read. Highly recommend it.
“I have been faithfully reading fiction for at least 10 minutes every day in 2022 per the resolution I made about a month ago. I realize this is not all that impressive, but consider that I’ve already surpassed my fiction reading for all of 2021 and it’s starting to feel like a habit.”
--Zorn
Funny, I have turned the Zorn 10-minute rule into a habit for, after washing them, folding and putting away all my clothes, but not only has the indomitable pile stayed unmoved, it has grown much, much larger! I’m not easily deterred, though, and will see if another few weeks of the rule doesn’t do the trick.
Good on ya Eric! The whole Stout series is a winner in my opinion. I found "A Gentleman" at a book sale after reading it several years ago and I'm going to join you and start it today. It was human, humane, epic, and historical (on that last part I will likely do a bit more research this go round). I was one who recommended TLH-haven't read any of the others but enjoyed it so much I listened to it after read it--a few characters had some powerful narratives in places. It's just lovely. Cheers
The Betts editorial was perfectly consistent with the UIC administration handling of Prof. Kilborn. Betts would certainly not agree with any part of your point, as attacking the white power dynamic is an essential part of anti-racism. Regarding the reading excerpt from Prof. Kilborn, I suspect UIC would say the reference in the reading was referring to a white person, and so is not the same and not traumatizing. The training is also not for a general or diverse audience but is specifically for educating racist white people that need to be confronted by their bad behavior. It would be great if the professor could share more of his required reading, and the specific ideas that he is required to adopt.
Fascinating and frustrating dialogue with Wimmer. I urge folks to take the leap over to the website. I relate to this statement you made there: "My identity as a male is, aside from birth biology, rooted in stereotypes and expectations that double back upon themselves." Agree completely. I see myself as having a male identity mainly insofar as I have a male body (such as it is). If gender identity is in the mind, what can it be -- whether male, female, fluid, non-binary, or whatever it is -- other than a statement of who you are by reference to gender stereotypes?
Do you think she really confronted that question? Is it a stupid or mean or pointless question? I don't mean to minimize or discount gender dysphoria at all -- and I, like so many people, know trans people who are much happier post-transition. I'm just worried about a cultural conversation that reifies and reinforces gender stereotypes, after so much success (not done) in making a world where people can feel free to disregard them.
p.s. Completely agree on her Wilt Chamberlain analogy; it's an argument for the elimination of women's sports. I don't think she confronted that either.
With regards to Michael Connelly, the first book I read was "The Poet" which really got me hooked on his books. If not that one, then read the first Harry Bosch book - Black Echo I think. You can also catch "Bosch" on Prime - he is quite a character.
I don't know anything about Mr. Doucy. I am also not surprised or particularly concerned that politicians have personal opinions and emotional reactions to journalists. They are humans, under stress, often feeling 'under siege'. But the question was no different than thousands of ' Will 'x' hurt you in the campaign, election, congressional vote, etc' type questions that are asked all the time. The President might have been thinking 'obviously it will hurt' but the usual response is 'no, the voters will see the big picture, wisdom of our actions, mitigating factors, etc'. And ignoring him is also pretty normal for pols that don't want to talk about a topic at the moment.
Totally agree with your view on waiting for an actual court nominee before paying attention. Way too much of 'news' coverage is actually speculation about the future that is of no more than entertainment value. But politicians also know that the media are happy to 'float trial balloons' for them to help gauge reactions from various constituencies. It is also a way to use the media to set the 'narrative',
I never read you much in The Tribune but I love reading every word of The Picayune! Your discussion with the transgender lawyer was great. Thank you for asking questions that many of us are wondering about.
Novel ideas: it’s been over 20 years, but “The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse” remains the finest novel I’ve ever read. My FAVORITE fiction is Lord of the Rings, but Little No Horse is a better-written, more thought-provoking novel.
"Station Eleven" is a book about how art and community saves your life. The dystopian setting merely frames the message to make sure you're paying attention. I have read it many times, and it was the first novel I read after the initial shock of the 2020 shutdown wore off. (Faded? Didn't throw me into a panic every moment of the day? Not sure.) I knew it would help fortify me for the long journey through COVID and it did.
I don't recommend the HBO mini-series based on the novel, mostly because I don't think it was dire enough. The apocalypse is not for the faint of heart.
Late to the party, but re novel ideas: Just about anything by Anthony Trollope.
I am a voracious reader, and once upon a time, an English teacher. The pandemic has crushed my fiction reading ( too busy reading epidemiology studies) and I’m trying to jump back in, too. One book I expected to love, and didn’t, was The Midnight Library by Haig. So selfishly, I would love to get your take on it. It would help me to gauge if my brain has short circuited.
My teenage daughter gave me The Midnight Library for Christmas. It's given us much to talk about. Great premise. Thoughtful but brisk read. Highly recommend it.
Wow - this week's Tweet of the Week reads more like Best of (Any) Year. Everyone of them is great. Either that or my three lattes are kicking in...
Wow - this week's Tweet of the Week reads more like Best of (Any) Year. Everyone of them is great. Either that or my three lattes are kicking in...
The Connelly books are uniformly good but probably best to start at the beginning: "The Black Echo."
“I have been faithfully reading fiction for at least 10 minutes every day in 2022 per the resolution I made about a month ago. I realize this is not all that impressive, but consider that I’ve already surpassed my fiction reading for all of 2021 and it’s starting to feel like a habit.”
--Zorn
Funny, I have turned the Zorn 10-minute rule into a habit for, after washing them, folding and putting away all my clothes, but not only has the indomitable pile stayed unmoved, it has grown much, much larger! I’m not easily deterred, though, and will see if another few weeks of the rule doesn’t do the trick.
Good on ya Eric! The whole Stout series is a winner in my opinion. I found "A Gentleman" at a book sale after reading it several years ago and I'm going to join you and start it today. It was human, humane, epic, and historical (on that last part I will likely do a bit more research this go round). I was one who recommended TLH-haven't read any of the others but enjoyed it so much I listened to it after read it--a few characters had some powerful narratives in places. It's just lovely. Cheers
The Betts editorial was perfectly consistent with the UIC administration handling of Prof. Kilborn. Betts would certainly not agree with any part of your point, as attacking the white power dynamic is an essential part of anti-racism. Regarding the reading excerpt from Prof. Kilborn, I suspect UIC would say the reference in the reading was referring to a white person, and so is not the same and not traumatizing. The training is also not for a general or diverse audience but is specifically for educating racist white people that need to be confronted by their bad behavior. It would be great if the professor could share more of his required reading, and the specific ideas that he is required to adopt.
Fascinating and frustrating dialogue with Wimmer. I urge folks to take the leap over to the website. I relate to this statement you made there: "My identity as a male is, aside from birth biology, rooted in stereotypes and expectations that double back upon themselves." Agree completely. I see myself as having a male identity mainly insofar as I have a male body (such as it is). If gender identity is in the mind, what can it be -- whether male, female, fluid, non-binary, or whatever it is -- other than a statement of who you are by reference to gender stereotypes?
Do you think she really confronted that question? Is it a stupid or mean or pointless question? I don't mean to minimize or discount gender dysphoria at all -- and I, like so many people, know trans people who are much happier post-transition. I'm just worried about a cultural conversation that reifies and reinforces gender stereotypes, after so much success (not done) in making a world where people can feel free to disregard them.
p.s. Completely agree on her Wilt Chamberlain analogy; it's an argument for the elimination of women's sports. I don't think she confronted that either.
With regards to Michael Connelly, the first book I read was "The Poet" which really got me hooked on his books. If not that one, then read the first Harry Bosch book - Black Echo I think. You can also catch "Bosch" on Prime - he is quite a character.
I don't know anything about Mr. Doucy. I am also not surprised or particularly concerned that politicians have personal opinions and emotional reactions to journalists. They are humans, under stress, often feeling 'under siege'. But the question was no different than thousands of ' Will 'x' hurt you in the campaign, election, congressional vote, etc' type questions that are asked all the time. The President might have been thinking 'obviously it will hurt' but the usual response is 'no, the voters will see the big picture, wisdom of our actions, mitigating factors, etc'. And ignoring him is also pretty normal for pols that don't want to talk about a topic at the moment.
Totally agree with your view on waiting for an actual court nominee before paying attention. Way too much of 'news' coverage is actually speculation about the future that is of no more than entertainment value. But politicians also know that the media are happy to 'float trial balloons' for them to help gauge reactions from various constituencies. It is also a way to use the media to set the 'narrative',