![]() Book name: The Song of Achilles Author: Madeline Miller Genre: Classics, Historical Fiction/fantasy Goodreads: <Link> Storygraph: <Link> I'm usually a bit hesitant with reading modern adoptions of historical events or well-known tales such as the events surrounding the Trojan War depicted in Homer's Illiad, but when it comes to Song of Achilles which was the first book written by Madeline Miller, I was pleasantly surprised by how the author managed to tell a compelling and fresh tale around this very popular story. The novel describes the life and times of Achilles and Patroculus told from the perspective of Patroclus. The novel takes a bit of time to get off the ground where in the first few chapters which depict the lead up to the Trojan war and the time Patroclus is sent into exile and meets Achilles for the first time, the duo doesn't appear to be particular likeable where Patroclus appears Star-crossed while Achilles comes across as Cold and aloof. But once you get to the point where they spend time training with the Centaur Chiron the story really comes into its own and you find the characters quite endearing. This may have been deliberate in order to show the growth of both characters where with their experiences during the war you see how Achilles is transformed from a very sensitive and trusting boy to a cold and calculating killing machine. "I watched them marching, rank on cheerful rank. I saw them dreaming of the plunder they would bring home, and the triumph. There was no such dream for us." The relationship between Patroclus and Achilles is at the heart of the story, and while there are some differences in the nature of the relationship between Patroclus & Achilles from the social context of the time, where the relationship had a more ritualistic dimension to it. The author might have been done to make it more relatable to a modern audience, as well as to show how the nature of the relationship between the two evolves over time due to their experiences. “May I give you some advice? If you are truly his friend, you will help him leave this soft heart behind. He’s going to Troy to kill men, not rescue them.” ... “He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.” The same can be said for many of the secondary characters such as Odysseus and Agamemnon where even though they are make only brief appearances, the author presents them as multi-dimensional characters. For instance, Odysseus is depicted not just as the Wiley/ Endearing character, but also as a cold and calculating person willing to apply violence if the situation demands it. Similarly, the novel briefly shows Agamemnon's prowess with a spear, suggesting that he is not just a general who stays behind and lets his men die for his Greed. The novel also introduces character such as Briseis's, but the story doesn't delve too much into her character in order to keep the focus on the two main protagonists. See my review of for the most beloved where you see more stories of her and the other women of Troy. "The men too became less like dozens of different armies, and more like countrymen. These men, who had left Aulis as Cretans and Cypriots and Argives, now were simply Greeks— cast into the same pot by the otherness of the Trojans, sharing food and women and clothing and battle stories, their distinctions blurred away.. Even years later this camaraderie would remain, a fellow-feeling so uncharacteristic of our fiercely warring kingdoms”. The depiction of the war and how it evolves over time feels very authentic, and shows the depth of the authors research. An interesting point that is brought up was how the war helped to unite the Greeks, which was is a way one of the motives for Homer who wrote the Illiad to depict a Golden age of Greek civilization where they were united under a common cause. “Give us both peace. Burn me and bury me. I will wait for you among the shades. I will— But already he is waking. “Patroclus! Wait! I am here!” Even though going into this book, most readers would be familiar with how the two characters meet their tragic end, the last couple of chapters is simply devastating and provides a very emotional climax for the entire story. One thing I caution is that although the novel can be read by someone with only a vary vague idea of the story and about Greek Mythology , some of the details presented may come across as strange or unfamiliar to a reader who is completely new to the story. However, even for those who are well versed in the story, the novel offers a fresh take on it and allows you to really appreciate the depth of the authors research in staying true to the source material and bringing these characters. Overall would highly recommend it and looking forward to checking out some of the other works by the author. Quotes “She wants you to be a god,” I told him. “I know.” His face twisted with embarrassment, and in spite of itself my heart lightened. It was such a boyish response. And so human. Parents, everywhere.”. “Look at how he will be remembered now. Killing Hector, killing Troilus. For things he did cruelly in his grief. Perhaps such things pass for virtue among the gods. But how is there glory in taking a life? ..Let the stories of him be something more”.
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![]() Book name: The Perks of Wallflower Author: Stephen Chobsky Genre: Novel Goodreads: <Link> Storygraph: <Link> I remember this book being extremely popular a decade back around the time of the release of the film by the same name, but I never got around to reading it until it was picked for this months TNBC book pick. The novel is told in the form of epistles written by Charlie, a 15 year old high school student where he writes to you, the reader about his high school friends and experiences. Throughout the novel, Charlie describes his experiences with his two friends Patrick and Sam and the various social situations they find themselves in from football games, high school proms & parties and the associated experiences from falling in and out of love to anxieties over college and the future in general. “He's a wallflower. You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.” Alongside these experiences, the novel touches on a wide range of serious issues including abortion, drug abuse, sexual violence, generational trauma etc. While these issues don't receive equal treatment throughout the novel while some only getting a cursory mention, this may have been a deliberate choice on the part of the author in order to to appeal to a wider audience, where even if the reader hasn't experienced the specific situation the characters are going though, the reader can pickup on and related to aspects that resonate with them. In my case, being an introvert and the weird & awkward kid in school, I very much fit into the mold of the "wallflower'' which is a reference to Charlie who is someone who observes wha'ts goes on around him and internalizes it. “The inside jokes weren’t jokes anymore. They had become stories . Nobody brought up the bad names or the bad times. And nobody felt sad as long as we could postpone tomorrow with more nostalgia.” One interesting point that came out from the discussion of the book is that your experience with reading the book very much depends on how close you were to your teenage years given the context and type of issues discussed in the book which might be the typical anxieties of teenagers. For those who read it during their formative years, this book has a special resonance and has become a cultural touchstone to their experiences similar to books like Catcher in the Rye from a previous era, which this book is compared to. But even if you read it sometime later as I did, there are alot of interesting points of discussion one can pickup from the novel. Another interesting point about the novel is that even though is set in the early 90's and written in the late 90s seems to transcend time and is not speaking about the experiences of a particular generation. The references made to literature such as On the road, Fountainhead, Naked lunch which Charlie's English teacher recommends and pop references to the Rocky Horror picture show and Fleetwood Mac seems to be speaking of an earlier era. “Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” The novel is filled with a diverse cast of characters going through varied experiences, from Charlie and his family, his best friends Patrick and Sam and the circle of friends around them, to Charlies English teacher who recognizes Charlie's talent and encourages him. One point brought out during the discussion which sets the novel apart is in terms of the experience of an LGBTQ character such as Patrick who is gay where Charlie and his immediate circle of friends are fully accepting of it and where Patrick's issues and trauma is is not defined by his identity and not made the centre of attention, which makes the novel standout in that respect. "I just wish that God or my parents or Sam or my sister or someone would just tell me what’s wrong with me. Just tell me how to be different in a way that makes sense. To make this all go away. And disappear." A number of characters in the book including Charlie are going through mental trauma's which the book highlights the varied symptoms of it in a very effective and realistic manner. This also makes Charlie and unreliable narrator, which, given the structure of the novel, means that as the reader you may fail to pickup on certain cues on an initial read of the novel and hence some developments in the novel might seem very unexpected. “It's strange because sometimes, I read a book, and I think I am the people in the book.”. One issue I felt in the novel was with respect to the voice of Charlie which seemed more 'kid like' and didn't seem to match up with his experiences and his age. But this simply might be because that's really the level of sophistication of a Teen's thoughts at that time! Overall the novel has an interesting story and makes for an interesting novel to discuss and would quite recommend it. ![]() Book name: The First Crusade: The Call from the East Author: Peter Frankopan Genre: History, Non Fiction Goodreads: Link Storygraph: Link "Charge at top speed, like a brave man, and fight valiantly for God and the Holy Sepulchre, for you know in truth, this is no war of the flesh, but of the spirit. so be very brave, and become a champion of Christ. Go in peace and may the Lord be your Defence!" - Bohemond of Taranto Have always been curious to learn more about the events surrounding the crusade and Peter Frankopan’s book provides a very rich and detailed look at the events leading upto, during and the aftermath of the First Crusade which took place between 1096 and 1099 which saw the arrival of Western forces with the stated objective to ‘recover the Holy Land’. While the book is very detailed, it comes in at just over 200 pages and is written in a very compact and engaging manner which makes it accessible and an interesting read even for someone with only a very vague notion of the incidence. Not only is the book comprehensive, the subtitle of the book ‘The call from the East’ underlies Peter Frankopan’s thesis which challenges the established traditional view of the crusade which has a Western Bias that the Crusades was something led and direct by Western Europe under the leadership of the Pope Urban II and the Latin church. The author convincingly argues that this was in fact something that was conceived and engineered by the Byzantine Emperor; Alexios I to shore up the Eastern half of the empire and recover lost territories which at that point was under constant threat of being overrun. The book details how the Emperor convinced Pope Urban II to galvanize support in Europe for a Crusade and made extensive use of ‘relic diplomacy’ by distributing holy relics which were in the possession of Constantinople as a way to gain favour with Western Leaders. The pope whose position was weak at the time where he faced threats from Rival claimants was only too happy to oblige and he found a willing audience amongst the Western leaders who due to a combination of religious fervor and opportunities for material gains set out on this task. The book details the careful logistical steps taken by the emperor to ensure that the Crusader army was kept happy while at the same time ensuring that they won’t be a threat to the empire itself. Alexios then using traditions that he knew were appealing to Westerners bound the key leaders of the crusade such as Raymond of Toulouse, Geoffrey of Boullion and Bohemond of Taranto where he got them to swear oaths of fealty, thus establishing himself as the leader of crusade while at the same time ensuring that any territories captured by the crusaders would revert to the Byzantine empire. As the Crusader army advanced, the emperor's representatives made sure to take the crusaders on a circuitous route to the Holy land, that were planned and would serve as bases for further conquests to be launched in the future. The book details some of the key battles and events of the first Crusade, touching on some of the factors that led to at times the unexpected success of the Crusaders despite being outnumbered and ill equipped in many circumstances. The book details that this came down to some of the military tactics of the Western forces which effectively deployed heavy cavalry where they hid from view and charged at the right moment to ambush the enemy, while the high discipline allowed them to hold the line which caused confusion and spread panic when faced with vastly larger group of enemies. Another factor was the sheer luck and the propitious events such as during the siege of Antioch, the discovery of what was thought to be the Holy Lance which galvanized the faith of the Crusaders. At the same time, the book doesn’t shy away from the horrendous conditions that the Crusaders faced in terms of starvation, hostile and unfamiliar climate as well as the fate that awaited those subjected to the crusader’s violence such as the wave of Anti-Jewish massacres that took place along the way as well and when they captured Jerusalem. In the aftermath, the leaders of the Crusade became heroes and gained unprecedented prestige where even minor knights and nobles gained renown and was popular subjects of Western popular literature. Pope Urban's power had been cemented and even though he died a few weeks after the taking of Jerusalem, the Latin church which had been suffering from infighting at the time had been strengthened and increasingly came to occupy a central role in the politics of Western Europe. Alexios and the Byzantine empire that had instigated the whole thing reached a new level of stability in terms of its security and wealth. Interestingly though the success of the Crusades also set the stage for the Western powers to look greedily at Byzantine and its wealth and set the stage for future crusaders some of them were explicitly targeted at Constantinople and the rest of the empire. In fact, Bohemond of Taranto one of the famous figures of the Crusade who Alexios had though would be his champion and representative in the field turned against the emperor forswearing the oaths and in fact waged war against him. As a result of these, medieval western historians turned against the emperor and was portrayed as a traitor which was a convenient way to justify the crusaders keeping possession of key cities such as Antioch which should have reverted to the Byzantine empire. Overall, would really recommend the book for any fan of history as a very accessible book while providing a very rich and vivid retelling of the events. Looking forward to reading the authors much more ambitious book ‘The Silk Road’ which provides a new history of the world. ![]() Book name: English Patient Author: Michael Ondaaje Genre: Novel Goodreads: <Link> Storygraph: <Link> “She entered the story knowing she would emerge from it feeling she had been immersed in the lives of others, in plots that stretched back twenty years, her body full of sentences and moments, as if awaking from sleep with a heaviness caused by unremembered dreams.” The English Patient primarily revolves around the story of a couple of unlikely individuals ; Kip; a Sikh sapper attached to the British army, Caravaggio an Italian-Canadian thief turned spy and Hana a Canadian army nurse who stays back to care for the ‘English Patient’ the mystery man referred to in the title of Michael Ondaatje’s novel whose body has been burnt beyond recognition cloaking his identity. The characters find themselves in a crumbling Italian Villa during World War II where the plot of the novel revolves around the characters living their lives and recalling the past. I found the novel to be written in a very poetic way where the plot of the novel was very sparse and times difficult to follow as the plot jumps back and forth in time in their narrative of their lives. At the heart of the novel is the mystery of the English patient’s identity who’s story comes out in bits and pieces amidst the morphine the patient and Caravaggio are addicted to for dealing with the physical pain they both face. The English patient’s narrative comes across as being a very stream of consciousness style of writing which at times makes it difficult to follow as at times he switches between referring to him in the 1st person or in the 3rd person. This might be deliberate to throw the reader off about the English Patients identity and also might be a result of the tremendous pain he is going through. “The desert could not be claimed or owned–it was a piece of cloth carried by winds, never held down by stones, and given a hundred shifting names... Its caravans, those strange rambling feasts and cultures, left nothing behind, not an ember. All of us, even those with European homes and children in the distance, wished to remove the clothing of our countries. It was a place of faith. We disappeared into landscape.” While the start of the novel is sparse on plot, it really starts to pickup when the English patient narrates his experience as part of an archaeological expedition in the 1930s in the desert around North Africa. The tone of the novel takes on a new sense of vibrancy and activity tone at that point compared to the present and the melancholy of life in the villa. This shift in tone might have been deliberate choice of the part of the author in order to make that the centerpiece of the novel as well as to show the contrast between the vibrancy of the desert in its unspoiled state compared to the scenes in the Villa which takes place during the war where the glory of the villa has faded or can only be viewed through a lens of constant danger as in the case of kip who admires the frescoes of the Sistine chapel through the scope of a rifle. The descriptions of the desert, the Bedouin Camps & cities, the pre historic caves they discover were very evocative and were parts of the novel that particularly appealed to me. Was interesting to also learn that some of the characters and events mentioned are loosely based on historical events and characters while the locations such as the cave of swimmers is an actual site in the Sahara which has Neolithic pictographs showing humans that seem to be swimming which suggests that part of the world used to be much greener than what we see today. Another aspect of the novel I like is alot of the characters in the novel are very distinct, having very colourful personalities and don’t fall into a particular stereotype. While this might seem somewhat unrealistic it might also reflect the author drawing on inspiration from his own upbringing and family history which he draws on for a lot of his novels. Apart from the English patient, another character who is talked about a lot is Kip; the Sikh Sapper who does not get as much screentime in the movie adaption and so was interesting to read of his story about his family in India and his experiences in England where he trained in bomb disposal. I felt that the scenes where Kip is diffusing bombs is presented in a very authentic manner while also creating the tension without it being overly dramatic as it usually is the way they are depicted in films. Was very interested to read about the thought process that goes into diffusing bombs where its almost like a cat and mouse game between the bomb’s creator and the diffuser where both seem to have a grudging admiration for each other’s work. It felt like the author had done very in-depth research into this topic. "We were German, English, Hungarian, African - all of us insignificant to them, gradually we became nationless. I came to hate nations. We are deformed by nation-states". While at the centre of the English Patients story is a story of romance, and aspect that I felt was overlooked particularly in the film’s depiction is that at least in my reading it seems to have a strong anti war message. This comes out in terms of the impact it has on natural beauty such as the beauty of the desert which has been tarnished where it has become a theatre or human creations such as the Frescoes and art works such as that in Italy which has throughout various points of history come under threat. The anti-war message also comes out strongly in terms of the experiences of the characters at the Villa have been traumatized by the war and are finding ways to escape from it. The characters who are drawn from different backgrounds, age groups, religions, ethnicities and political views share a sort of common bond through the common losses they feel whether its a father, a father figure, a lover or a loss of a body part and piece of your identity. At one point, this peace is put to the test at one point when Kip learns about the U.S bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki and where Caravaggio reflects that wouldn't have been done to a white nation. Overall, would say this is a very meditative novel and with its poetic language and limited plot and might not appeal to everyone. However personally I quite liked it for its themes, the memorable characters and evocative language which I feel there are a lot of nuances I’ve missed out on a first read. Would be interested to revisit the novel something as well as read the authors other novel ‘In the Skin of the Lion’ where the backstories of some of the other characters featured in the novel are covered. ![]() Book name: They Called us Enemy Author: George Takei Genre: Graphic Novel Memoir Goodreads: Link Storygraph: Link They called us Enemy is a Graphic Novel memoir of George Takei where he talks about his childhood experience in the Internment camps where over 120,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated for the duration of WWII where they were looked upon as enemy Aliens. While we mainly see the novel from George’s eyes who was a child during the period of internment, we also see the reactions of his parents and the complicated feelings they had about the country they had chosen for a better life. As a fan of history and the events surrounding WWII, sadly this was an incident I had rarely come across in books and films of the period. Even my awareness of the event was really triggered by the character of Mr. Miyagi in the 'Karate Kid' film where in a very moving moment in the film Mr. Miyagi narrates his personal tragedy where while fighting in the 442nd infantry on the side of the allies which mostly consisted of people of Japanese ancestry (which was also one of the most decorated regiments in U.S military history) his Wife and son died in the Japanese internment camps. The actor himself; Pat Morita was interned at a camp along with parents as well. The memoir is structured in a similar way to other graphic novels such as Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis where the reader gets to experience a life changing event from the perspective of the child. The memoir offers a good balance of George's personal story alongside the background information on the events that were taking place which makes it very accessible to the reader. The artwork was really great, and I particularly liked how the art style changes to reflect the different time periods in George's life. George and his brother were taken into the camps at an early age and hence the feeling they have at the camp is mixed with both childhood wonder of new experiences mixed with moments of sadness which makes for an interesting read. The theme of Patriotism is a key theme that shows up in the novel, where the Japanese were the citizens of Japanese Ancestry was incarcerated on the issue of loyalty. Was interesting to see the impossible question that was put to those in the camp and the stance that George's parents took. The novel offers a very nuanced view of patriotism where patriotism does not mean that you blindly follow or agree with the governments policy. This is brought out in a very interesting way in terms of the conversations George has with his father while although the father rightly feels wronged by the steps taken by the government, he is able to look past it and see the opportunities that the U.S open society has brought for him and his family. George also makes clear the distinction between actions taken by individuals both positively and negatively and avoids condemning anyone based purely on group affiliation. For instance, he points out the white American lawyers and lawmakers responsible for the incarceration of Japanese Americans while at the same time highlighting the kindness shown by other White Americans towards them. The novel also offers an interesting perspective on the U.S president Franklin D Roosevelt who is typically portrayed in a heroic manner in a similar light to Churchill, where the novel shows that he signed off on the act to incarcerate the Japanese citizens. Again, George's fathers attitude is very telling that even though he has a right to be very restful, he also admires the leadership demonstrated during the war and the policies enacted in the post-war reconstruction. George during a talke he makes at the FDR house also acknowledges this paradoxical attitude that characterises the U.S. While the novel focuses on George's childhood, the real hero of the novel is really George's parents who really in their own way tried their best as all parents do to shield them from the harsh realities of the world while also speaking out against the injustices which had a strong influence on George and shaped his own activism later in life. The book also underscores the point that such an event is not merely a historical incident but is an ever present danger which can resurface in different forms as it did in 2018 where the same policies used on the Japanese Americans formed the legal justification used by Trump to ban immigrants based on race & religion and hence the message of the book is on the important to speak up to the injustices caused whatever form it takes. Overall, a really well written book where it is written in away that details George and his families personal experience while also providing the broader picture of the events presented in a very accessible manner. It also deepens my appreciation for George as an actor where it is clear that his activism and the role he played in Star Trek as Captain Sulu where he helped reshape the portrayal of Asian Americans in Mainstream media was not merely an acting role for him but is something that comes from a much deeper place which has been shaped by his personal experiences. Quite recommend the book! ![]() Book name: The Missing Wife Author: Sheila O'Flanagan Genre: Fiction, Mystery Goodreads: <Link> Storygraph: <Link> While at first brush, the novel maybe dismissed as a typical 'airport novel' which has some typical tropes you would expect from such a novel in terms of a protagonist with a mysterious past set in an idyllic location with some potential romance thrown in the mix, 'The Missing Wife' by Sheila O'Flannagan touches on a non standard topic for such a novel. The content of the book was interesting in that it dealt with a toxic relationship between the protagonist; Imogen who at the opening of the novel is on the run from her abusive husband; Vince where the nature of the abuse was mental rather than physical and the book highlights that this can be as or even more dangerous as physical abuse. It was interesting to see how something that at first seems like reasonable or an endearing quirk such as being overly particular about being organized and methodical can when taken to an extreme become a form of abuse. The author seems to have done her research well in terms of the depiction of the mental abuse faced by the characters which feels very authentic and believable. The novel is also structured in a very engaging way as early on in the novel you are left guessing as to the real motives as to why Imogen has left and the mysterious past that she hints at. The author has made a good choice to present it from the perspective of a 3rd person narration which allows for there to be some uncertainty and mystery to the developments that are taking place while also offering some insights into the mindset of both Imogen and Vince. The novel is set in a picturesque part of France and is very atmospheric. This has complemented by a a really great ensemble of colourful characters that range from a hospital attendant who doubles up as the apartment handyman, a pair of helpful Australian twins and a flirtatious real estate manager as well as characters from Imogen's past just to name a few. There are also not just added for embellishment but places an active part in the plot development by becoming Imogen's allies which ties into the way Imogen is able to escape from the nature of the abuse she faced where she was being isolated by her abuser and made to depend solely on him. It was also funny how Vince in his attempts to find his missing wife was being thwarted by his own miserliness and need to exert control! It is also interesting that the novel also uses the cast of characters to presents a more healthier model of a similar type of relationship that is taking place between two characters Imogen encounters who while they have their own issues, the relationship they have is presented in a much more constructive manner. One slight weakness of the book might be that it is leaning very heavily into stereotypes such as the French being very romantic, Person working in life Insurance is being very methodical and conscious of money. But this might be because its playing into the more romance aspect of the novel which the novel is constantly teasing with its cast of characters. Given this, I felt the novel could have ended on a slightly different note or included a short epilogue to highlight the transformation Imogen has gone through over the course of the novel Overall was a surprisingly enjoyable book and would recommend it for a casual read. ![]() Book name: Delusions of Gender Author: Cordelia Fine Genre: Non Fiction Goodreads: Link Storygraph: Link "The gender inequality that you see is in your mind. So are the cultural beliefs about gender that are so familiar to us all. They are in that messy tangle of mental associations that interact with the social context. Out of this interaction emerges your self-perception, your interests, your values, your behaviour, even your abilities" This relatively short book by Cordelia Fine is a very readable and approachable book that draws on various studies and examples to delve into the relationships between gender, neuroscience and the wider society that reinforces gender stereotypes and attitudes. In very broad terms, the book highlights that in the case of females, the gender biases created has very real consequences in terms of job roles and opportunities and pay gaps while in the case of males it leads to pressures in terms of expectations of their role as an individual and in the family which informs job roles and attitudes. Even though the book draws heavily from Psychology with many different studies being quoted, the book is written like a primer on the topic and is quite accessible for even someone like myself who is not familiar with the details of psychology and sociology studies. The first part of the book which looks at how gender stereotypes are formed in our society was was very insightful and it brought to my notice some aspects of where these stereotypes can occur which I hadn't considered before. The role of Stereotypes in job roles and the gendering of toys and the popular media and their impact on children's attitude was something I found particular interesting. The Role of Stereotypes in job roles ‘personality traits that are typical of a given profession often are mistakenly thought to be necessary to the practice of the profession.’ One aspect of the book I found very eye opening was about stereotypes about job roles which have been created such as the 'Geek factor' when it comes to STEM jobs can lead to gender imbalances in certain career roles. The book discusses the harmful aspects of this for both genders where in the In the case of females, this has very real implications when it comes to shutting them out of opportunities in the workplace leading to a lack of representation and gender pay gaps. In the case of males the book highlighted that it was sometimes actually a struggle for men to stay in the more-feminine roles that they preferred due to powerful gender stereotypes built into certain job categories. Some of the points came up during our book club discussion was that in the case of Sri Lanka, a number of these seem to be due to outdated labour laws and cultural norms that have influenced these stereotypes. One interesting example that was brought up during our book club discussion was even how norms about the workplace dress code can affect your career progression. In the case of males as well, these stereotypes create pressures for certain expected patterns of behaviour which are in no way relevant job role and is something I have experienced myself in the past. Neurosexism: Gender vs the Minds "What we experience and do creates neural activity that can alter the brain, either directly or through changes in gene expression. This neuroplasticity means that, as Kaiser puts it, the social phenomenon of gender ‘comes into the brain’ and ‘becomes part of our cerebral biology’." The second part of the book I found a bit more challenging to read, as my knowledge of biology was very limited. However, an interesting point that was brought up was that even though society particularly in more developed countries has shifted towards a more science based approach for the organization of society, in the face of such gender stereotyping that is taking place, people fall back to arguments that its to do with biology which the book demonstrates is in no way valid arguments. The book cites where even educated parents who are keen to raise their children in a gender neutral role fall into this trap. This discussion also ties very nicely with the final part of the book where the implications of this was demonstrated in terms of parents raising children and the near impossibility of bringing up children in a gender neutral environment. Gendered toys and pop culture and their impact on Children "In the young child’s world, gender is the social category that stands out above all others, right from the start. Conventions of clothing and accessories mean that gender is extremely obvious visually, and boys and girls may be regularly labelled and organised by gender, especially in early education settings." The other aspect I found really interesting was about how these gender norms impact children's attitudes towards gender and seems nearly impossible to break out of. The influence seems to start even before the children are born where the author cites studies about how knowledge of the child's sex seems to have an impact on the parents interaction with the child. Once they are born there is a strong need felt amongst children to categorize everything based on gender which is reinforced by the society and popular media as that is the key identifying factor that the children relate to. The author highlights that this is because as is the case with adults, the sense of belonging to a group/community is quite important and in the case of children, gender is the most visible expression of community as they maybe unable to at a young age to form more complex identities along ethnic, beliefs and religious lines which they would develop later. As a result of this inherent trend, the response of economic forces is to create heavily gendered products which has led to trends such as the 'Pink princess trend' becoming so ubiquitous that attempting to break out of it seems to be almost a Sisyphus endeavor as highlighted by some of the examples highlighted in the book of how parents went to great lengths to raise their children in a gender neutral way. As a fan of Lego's this is something I have personally experienced with the extreme gendering of Lego play sets to the point that Lego's aimed at 'Males' almost exclusively contain Male mini figures despite having themes such as Lego sets depicting varied job roles such as Firefighters, Police Personnel, Rescue workers etc where there is no call for gendering of it. In contrast, the very limited Lego sets aimed at 'Females' seem to have a more mixed gender which is something I was drawn to despite them having very limited variety in their themes where almost none of them had a career oriented focus. "Cross-gender behaviour is seen as less acceptable in boys than it is in girls: unlike the term ‘tomboy’ there is nothing positive implied by its male counterpart, the ‘sissy’." Relating to this point, another aspect that was brought up in the book is that its mostly females who do the crossing of gender boundaries and hence there is no male characters in the popular culture for Males to aspire to for those who buck gender norms. Even in the context of the current mainstream pop culture where the need for greater gender balance and diversity is being embraced, this is an aspect that seems to be still underrepresented and hence leads to the reinforcement of certain gender norms. Recommendation One shortcoming of the book is that the book doesn't go beyond the gender binary and does not really delve into the intersectionality of gender with other aspects such as the role religion, race, culture plays in affecting gender norms. This might have been a deliberate choice made by the author in order to keep the book more general and have a more universal appeal while also muddying some of the arguments which may deviate from the main message of the author which is that any perceived differences between the genders is not justified and non existent. Another aspect the book does touch on is the role the society plays in creating and reinforcing gender norms and this is mainly written from a western perspective with many of the studies highlighted in the book being drawn from U.S sources. Hence things such as consumerist culture, Scientific rationale and individual choices are given more emphasis than factors such as the role of the family, religion etc that might also have a dominant role in other societies. Despite this, overall the author managed to deliver some very insightful points on the topic in a readable and interesting way that is very accessible to someone not from a psych/sociology background and would highly recommend the book. The book ends with a hopeful note that given that the broad basis for a lot of these gender difference is due to societal attitudes and perception created in our mind which malleable, this offers some hope for the future. Our minds, society and neurosexism create difference. Together, they wire gender. But the wiring is soft, not hard. It is flexible, malleable and changeable. And, if we only believe this, it will continue to unravel. ![]() Book name: A Place of Secrets Author: Rachel Hore Genre: Mystery Goodreads: Link Storygraph: Link “It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.” Reading A place of Secrets, this quote by Sherlock Holmes was what came to my mind as the protagonist of the novel; Jude who works at a London auction house, finds herself in the beautiful countryside in Norfolk where she unexpectedly finds herself uncovering the story of an 18th century astronomer and his mysterious adopted daughter all of which is centered around a mysterious tower. The story reads primarily as a mystery novel where Jude has to find clues to solve the mystery of the past. But it also mixes elements from other genre's such as historical fiction, horror and even a bit of Fantasy which somewhat reminded me of Jesse Burton's the miniaturist. The latter is particular interesting and is a clever tool the author seems to have used in order to keep the reader invested in the story where even though it is an investigation of past events, it seems to have serious implications for Jude and the rest of the cast of characters digging into this in the present. The book is a bit slow paced and takes time to get started, and initially I had a very different expectation of what the book was about. But once Jude started to uncover details about the past I found it very engrossing where at times you feel you are reading a different book altogether. The book is also quite interesting for some of the little insights which provides a window into the world of various topics such as the unexpectedly cut throat world of high stake Antiquarian book dealings market, the creative process for a nature writer and just a bit too much about the behaviours of Moths! As a mystery novel I felt there was a just a bit too many neat coincidences and connections to the cast of characters while some of the characters which the author spent alot of time introducing played only a minor role in the stories developments. While this may partly have been deliberate and left as red herrings in order to keep the reader guessing about the mystery. Recommendation Overall found it an enjoyable book and if your anticipating a lazy Sunday read and want a peaceful and soothing book to curl up to and read, this might be a good choice for that! Quotes Those who study the stars come to know of how small and insignificant we are, like ants or beetles on the face of lonely rocks spinning eternally in infinite space. How the hand of fate might strike us in our futile insect purposes without warning or pity. - Anthony Wickham the 18th Century Astronomer She had hardly been beyond it, never seen Norwich and its fine Norman cathedral, never visited Yarmouth to see the herring boats come in, never seen the vast North Sea crash on the shingle. But she had surveyed some of the greatest secrets of the universe, had studied the infinite skies above all, seen other planets, seen stars winking at her from who knew how many millions of miles and millions of years away. She was young in years but old in knowledge and wisdom. She was a girl who’d lost her beginnings and might soon know her end. - Esther; Anthony Wickham's adopted daughter at the heart of the mystery Mark had gone, passed into the care of the Keeper of the Stars, but the stars were still there. And now, now there was Euan close beside her, waiting. -Jude seeks answers in the stars and deals with her personal struggles ![]() Book name: All Quiet on the Western Front Author: Erich Maria Remarque Genre: Novel/ War Story Goodreads: Link Storygraph: Link Young men of iron. Young? None of us is more than twenty. But young? Young men? That was a long time ago. We are old now. The famous title of this short Novel which comes from the 1930s film of the same name depicts the experiences of young soldiers on the German side during World War I. I Really like how they illustrate the experiences of the soldiers that have to go through the war through the Mundaneness of War which involves alot of waiting around and boredom which is punctured by sudden and unexpected bursts of horrific violence. This lends an air of authenticity to the novel which is directly drawing from the experiences of the author who was in a similar position and is quick unlike the typical plotline of a alot of popular war films which typically touches on a band of misfit soldiers accomplishing something daring or heroic. On the pointlessness of War ‘I think it’s more a kind of fever,’ says Albert. ‘Nobody really wants it, but all of a sudden, there it is. We didn’t want the war, they say the same thing on the other side – and in spite of that, half the world is at it hammer and tongs.’ The level of self awareness of the novel about the pointlessness of war which was written just over 10 years after the ending of World War I is really amazing and alot of its themes and key message continue to resonate today. From what I understand of World War I, it was a war of transition from more classical style of warfare which was dictated by this idea of 'Hand to Hand Combat ' and Cavalry charges all under this idea of 'gentlemanly conduct and rules of war' to something more colder and brutal which saw widespread use of poison gas, tanks and aeroplanes which has come to define modern warfare. The author really highlights and critiques the pointlessness and the resentment the soldiers who are on the front line felt towards things like practicing parade drills which served no purpose. The protagonist naively even suggests that the leaders who instigate the wars should just duke it out in a boxing match to determine the winner! While this seems naive it is also a critique of class based disconnect that was strongly visible during WWI where the officer class and command structure had a very different view of what warfare entailed compared to the harsh realities experienced by the soldiers in the trenches. For anyone interested in a film that explores these class relationships would recommend the French Film the 'The Grand Illusion' by Jean Renoir On survival We are free of care no longer – we are terrifyingly indifferent. We might be present in that world, but would we be alive in it? It is this naivetés of the protagonist who views the world in a very uncomplicated matter that makes the whole novel really endearing and relatable. It is also made clear that this seems to be the coping mechanism of alot of soldiers to maintain their sanity and survive where given the uncertainty they face, it is just too painful to even think about happier times or what they can do in the future. This is particularly the experience of the protagonist and his group who was caught up in the war while they were in their late teens and no nothing else than war. In essence the soldiers are not even given a chance to come to terms with their feelings and do not no how to process anything outside of their experiences in the war. This is highlighted really well where the portagonist goes home on leave but is unable to find joy in the mundane such as reading books that used to elicit so much joy as a youth . Finding beauty in the horror Never has life in its simplest outline seemed so desirable to us as it does now; the poppies in the fields near our base camp, the shiny beetles on the blades of grass, the warm evenings in the cool, half-dark rooms, black, mysterious trees at twilight, the stars and the streams, dreams and the long sleep. Oh life, life, life! While given the subject matter the novel is a grim, the author manages to incorporate moments of beauty and lightheartedness such as when the Soliders come across birds making nests and butterflies flittering around the Trenches or when they debate about the usefulness of their learnings in French Grammar in school when they are in France . At the same time the novel also brutally highlights the fickleness and uncertainties of war where a brief respite or even something approaching happiness is punctured by sudden and unexpected moments of violence. Overall would highly recommend this novel where alot of its themes and its message are as fresh and as urgent as ever. ![]() Book name: Return to Sri Lanka - Travels in a Paradoxical Island Author: Razeen Sally Genre: Travel Goodreads: Link Storygraph: Link Prof. Razeen Sally is mostly known as an Academic in Economics & trade and for his commentaries on economic policy, but this book shows a different side to him where he talks about hist travels in Sri Lanka the country of his birth and where he spent his childhood before subsequently returning and rediscovering Sri Lanka as an adult. His title alludes to the many paradoxes he comes across in Sri Lanka including but not limited to the long history of multiculturalism and tolerance that has prevailed since ancient times which contrasts against the racial and religious conflicts & intolerance that have plagued its recent history. The book is very approachable as it doesn't assume any prior knowledge of Sri Lankan history and where alot of the details are presented in a succinct and as small tit bits of knowledge. The book also offers insights into the socio-economic and political history of Sri Lanka which continues to evolve and shape Sri Lanka today. The book is a mix of travel log and Memoir where the author has taken care to highlight some personalities from different walks of life that he came across during his travels and which have been an inspiration to the author and the reader and which gives hope for Sri Lanka's future. Some of the interesting trivia highlighted in the book are: Mulkirigala - Temple in Tangalle where in 1826 the history minded George Turnor the government agent for Ratnapura discovered the Prose key for deciphering the Mahavamsa. Over the next decade he learnt Pali and translated the Mahavamsa first into English and then into Sinhala Hill club - Sri Lanka's version of St. James's club. Planters founded the club in 1876. Current building goes back to the 1930's. Club membership was European and men only till 1967 Kanthorodai renamed as Kathurugoda - This site in Chunnakam in the North is the centre of controversy as the Lilliputian like Stupa's which dates back to the 2nd -3rd Century B.C is used as evidence of Sinhala Buddhists in the Tamil heartlands. While it is difficult to say for certain, the consensus view is that this is evidence of Tamils who were Buddhists as well and illustrates the fluidity and mixing of different cultures & religions which was common at the time and which has given rise to the unique cultural heritage that is found in Sri Lanka Charles Austen - Jane Austen's problem brother who ran away to sea and was buried in Trinco Overall would quite recommend this book to anyone who is curious about getting a deeper understanding of Sri Lanka and its history. |
AuthorAvid reader of Historical fiction, High fantasy novels, Comics & Graphic Novels. Passionate about teaching & the future of education in general. Categories
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December 2023
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