REVIEWS

Wordslut by Amanda Montell

6/18/2022

Wordslut: a feminst guide to taking back the english language, by Amanda Montell.
Wordslut is not only fun to say, the book is a delight to read for its spot-on analysis of how words are used and abused in modern Western culture, and the author's facile bending and warping of the English language.

Favorite excerpts:

. . . gender isn’t something you are, it’s something you do . . .
. . . singular they was considered perfectly acceptable as a generic third-singular pronoun all the way up until the late eighteenth century. That’s when grammarians decided that people should start using the generic he instead.
. . . the inherent harshness conveyed by a word like chop or slap, the ooey-gooeyness of slither, and the coziness of velvet.
The legendary Betty White once said, “Why do people say ‘grow some balls’? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding.”
“What is needed is a new mythology, one which speaks about mutual exploration, communication, discovery, and pleasuring one another; where penetration is not an end unto itself, but one of the many possibilities for erotic enjoyment.

The joys of this book are many. Check it out from your local library or order online. Highly recommended!
Already a fan, or have your own fave feminist wordsmithing book? Please let me know!

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

6/13/2022

There are real gems in The War of Art IF you can get past the author’s macho attitude (he’s a former Marine) and dualistic Christian bias.
The author has good things to say about:

developing a strong work ethic and sticking to it (“Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”),
handling rejection (“That’s the price for being in the arena and not on the sidelines”), and
creating a fertile, receptive state for inspiration (“Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.”).

Worth checking out of my local library but not a buy for me.
I prefer On Writing by Stephen King (which also reinforces a strong work ethic), or Novelist’s Boot Camp by Todd A. Stone, which is a delightful romp and has many useful techniques to help focus a writing project.
Have a favorite writing craft book? Contact me and let me know.

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

6/13/2022

(Originally posted 5/2/2022)
Fevered Star is even better than Black Sun, the first installment in the series. The political intrigue is fascinating, the sorcery intriguing, the characters complex and human.
I found all of the viewpoint characters equally compelling:

Balam the dreamwalker is equal parts creepy, powerful, and flawed by his hubris.
Serapio, the broken tool of his god, is heart-wrenchingly human in his desire for love and connection.
Xiala, the grounded Teek sea captain, is less spunky in this installment, but her backstory is well handled. Okoa, the conflicted Carrion Crow warrior, may be the least intriguing character, but his simple values and desire to do what’s right lend a moral center to the narrative.
Naranpa the deposed Sun Priest. Her naivete in Black Sun was annoying at times, so it was a joy to watch her metal being tested in Fevered Star. Naranpa has a lot more grit in this book, and moved from my least to my favorite character.

If you like your books to have a definitive ending, this one may have too many loose ends. The narrative moves all of the characters to new places, but it’s a bit like a chess game with everyone lined up for a final confrontation. Small threads are tied off with Xiala, Naranpa, and Serapio, but the overall arc remains open for the sequel.
The only weakness was how characters kept missing each other: Xiala and Iktan the Knife, and Serapio and Xiala, but a small quibble in an otherwise fabulous epic fantasy.
More please!
What was your take on Fevered Star? Please share your insights with me.

The Four Profound Weaves by R.M. Lemberg

6/13/2022

(Originally posted 5/19/2022)
The Four Profound Weaves opens with a middle-aged weaver named Uiziya sitting in her tent resentfully waiting for her Aunt Benesret to return and teach her the fourth of the Profound Weaves.
A nameless man in the same encampment is upset when his grandchild sells their first weave to minions of the Collector, who will lock it away from the world. This nameless man, recently transformed by magic, decides Benesret can give him his name, and talks Uiziya into traveling with him to find her aunt.
The story sweeps from the Great Burri desert to the city of Iyar, where the Khana minority live rigidly divided by gender.
The author doles out the backstory of the two POV characters, Uiziya and the nameless man, as the story unfolds. We soon learn that Uiziya’s relationship with her Aunt Benesret is complicated and deeply troubled.
The magic is fascinating, if a bit obscure. It’s a wonderful parable exploring transgender experience in a secondary world. And the ending is pitch-perfect. I read it, then immediately reread the entire book to savor every nuance.
Highly recommended for an unusual read with magic and trans characters.
Have any favorite books exploring LGBTQ+ characters? Please share!
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Wordslut by Amanda Montell

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

The Four Profound Weaves by R.M. Lemberg

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