I first read this book when I was in 5th grade. I remember at the time being thoroughly unimpressed and slightly confused. As with other books that I've gone back and re-read, I find my much-younger-self was pretty spot-on in her assessment. Today, I would still describe this book in the same way. As a child, I never liked children's stories. This book is so weird and random, I can only attribute its success to children who are just along for the ride and aren't worried about the how or why (obviously, this was never me).
The book has an annoying main character, they run around without reason, the descriptions are poor, the reasoning isn't well plotted, and the end is completely unsatisfactory. I didn't like this book then, I don't now, and I don't imagine I'll watch it get ruined into a movie.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
White Night - Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files, Bk. 9)
Another Dresden novel. Good, but not my favorite so far. I liked reading it.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Hidden Figures - Margot Lee Shetterly
I haven't seen the movie for this book, but I am so glad they did if only to draw more attention to this incredible story.
I know who Grace Hopper and Ada Lovelace are and what they did. But despite this, the modern narrative that computers and math are, and always have been, for (white) men is hard to break. I love how hopeful this book is. Instead of focusing on all the negative things, it captures the forward-looking excitement of the time as so many barriers, both personal, national, and world-wide, were broken. This book covers such a revolutionary period of history, from pencil and paper to computers, from the rarity of dark faces in math and science to having a whole wing of them at Langley, from believing women can't be engineers to men fighting over which women will be on their teams.
I highly recommend this book for everyone. It is a powerful reminder that all those societal rule that you can't achieve your dreams because of what's tucked between your legs or how much melanin you produce is total bullshit.
I know who Grace Hopper and Ada Lovelace are and what they did. But despite this, the modern narrative that computers and math are, and always have been, for (white) men is hard to break. I love how hopeful this book is. Instead of focusing on all the negative things, it captures the forward-looking excitement of the time as so many barriers, both personal, national, and world-wide, were broken. This book covers such a revolutionary period of history, from pencil and paper to computers, from the rarity of dark faces in math and science to having a whole wing of them at Langley, from believing women can't be engineers to men fighting over which women will be on their teams.
I highly recommend this book for everyone. It is a powerful reminder that all those societal rule that you can't achieve your dreams because of what's tucked between your legs or how much melanin you produce is total bullshit.
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