It was a good month overall. Below are some stats and my favorite books of the month.
Feb 2023
General Info Feb Total (Including my current read) (Avg per book - 242)
Books Read - 12 23
Pages Read - 3400 6060
Pages Breakdown
< 250 6 13
250 - 350 3 5
351 - 450 2 4
> 450 1 1
Ratings
5 - star 3 4
4 - star 5 10
3 - star 2 6
2 - star 2 2
No Rating (NR) 1 1
Gender
Female 5 10
Male 7 13
Other
Genres
Horror
Fiction 1 2
Mystery 4 6
Sci-Fi 2 3
Non-Fic 1 3
Classics 3
Young Adult 2 3
Thriller 1 1
Poetry 1 1
Plays
Top 3 Books
"I began my journey with The March trilogy by American Member of Congress, John Lewis in August of 2022 when I discovered the first book in my local book store. Each chapter covers another portion of his fascinating life and his work with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) as he worked to get equal rights for American negroes, especially in the South.
Each story was powerful, educational, striking in its emotional impact. I think this third book, March: Book Three was the most powerful of all, as it covered the bombing of the Sixteenth Baptist Church in Birmingham Alabama, which resulted in the deaths of four young girls; Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley and Denise McNair. It also covers the murders of the three civil rights workers in Mississippi, and that of Malcolm X. But that is the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the crimes perpetrated against the Negroes in the South as the struggled for equality.
This last book also covers the friction between the various civil rights organizations, John Lewis's SNCC, Martin Lewis Kings Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) as they sometimes competed for the same cause. The efforts to have Negro representation from Mississippi at the 1964 Democratic Convention is also covered. Of course the final chapter is the march between Selma and Montgomery where Mr. Lewis was so brutally attacked by Alabama State troopers.
It's history in action, riveting, terrifying, featuring peaceful, loving bravery in the face of armed opposition and hatred that sends chills down your spine. The fact that there are Governors in the US to this day that don't want this story told is sad and dispiriting. Those people who would keep this history from their citizens, because they don't want to be 'embarrassed' by it, shows that these people are the new George Wallace's and Sheriff Clarks, maybe put in nicer suits. The story should be read and told. (5.0 stars)"
Took my breath away.
When I look at myself in the mirror and then at my bookshelves, The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo probably had everything going against it.
Mystery? Nope
Sci-Fi? Nope
It's poetry! I've said many times that my relationship with poetry is a troubled one, albeit, in the past few years, it has improved somewhat.
So let's continue.
Is the story about a senior citizen? Nope
A grey haired, bearded older gentleman (using that term loosely)? Nope
A white, sort of Anglo / Franco mixture of a guy? Nope.
Someone who lived a fairly normal life with a reasonably mild family life? Well....
It's a story told by a young high school girl of Dominican / American descent who can't deal with her overly religious mother and hides behind her poetry. Yup, that's definitely me. Not!
Ok, with all of those caveats, I have one thing to say. Wow! This book just took my breath away. Beautiful writing, easy to grasp poetry, powerful, breath-taking story. By the end, my heart was beating quite loudly, as I turned page after page, hoping that things would turn out better for Xiomara and her twin brother both dealing with an overbearing, strict mother. I'll let you read it to find out.
Read it! Read it! Open your minds and hearts. Such a rare talent. (5.0 stars)"
Gibson's take on Sci-Fi, like Philip K Dick and others is unique. Idoru is a wonderful mix of Sci-Fi and excellent, sympathetic characters and just a downright excellent story. I won't say I understood all of the technology, but what the heck, for such a great story, it didn't matter. I just sort of swam in it and enjoyed the ride.
Let's see, the story in brief. Two characters, teenager Chia and middle-aged? man, Laney find themselves in Tokyo. They are there for different reasons but their lives will become intertwined. Chia is a rep from the American fan club for an experimental internettish band, Lo-Rez who has been sent by her club to find out what's the what with Rez, the band's leader. It seems that Rez has fallen in love with an internet, hologram, the Idoru and they plan to marry. Laneey used to work for a ... um.... public relations sort of company, Slitscan, but was fired after a girl he was tracking online (he uses nodal research... see what I mean about technology??) committed suicide. Laney is trying for a new job working for Rez's security team, using his nodal abilities to find out about Idoru.
So, that's it, sort of. There are a few little twists. Mary Alice, who flies to Tokyo on the same flight as Chia, slips some kind of contraband into Chia's backpack, without Chia realizing. This will bring the Russians, the Kombinat, and Mary Alice's boyfriend into the picture as they try to find Chia. Laney's old boss, Kathy, is after him, trying to blackmail him to helping them get Rez.
There are fantastic characters in this story. Besides, Laney and Chia, there are Blackwell, the Aussie man mountain who protects Rez. There is Mr. Yamazaki, the mild assistant to Blackwell, who will make another appearance in All Tomorrow's Parties. There is Masashiko, brother of one of the Tokyo fan club members of Lo-Rez, who is a member of The Walled City, a 'free' internet site who will assist Chia so very much. My favorite character is Arleigh, who works for Blackwell as well, and who, while a reasonably minor character, helps Laney so very much. She's just lovely, common sense, brave... Even Mary Alice is nat. Not to forget Chia's fan club member Nona Rosa, a troubled character whose story, such as it is revealed, will hit you in the heart.
It's such a well-crafted, drawn story. Future Tokyo is fascinating, the story moves along at a steady, attention-grabbing pace, each chapter alternating from Chia to Laney's storyline. As their lives become more intrinsically linked, thanks to the Idoru, the pace picks up and your involvement with the story and characters will deepen. Fascinating, excellent story. Loved it so much. It reminded me of why I enjoy Sci-Fi so very much. Thank you, William Gibson (5.0 stars)"
