ASK Musings

No matter where you go, there you are.

Monthly Archive: October 2015

Saturday

31

October 2015

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COMMENTS

DC Trip by Sara Benincasa

Written by , Posted in Reviews

Ms. Benincasa is the author of two YA novels and one deeply honest and very entertaining memoir. This latest novel follows three high school sophomores and one very young teacher on a high school trip to DC. My local library somehow ignored the release date (November 3), and so yesterday I got told my hold notice was up. This book was so entertaining that I started it while working out this morning and didn’t end up putting it down (for real) until I finished it three hours later.

The book moves pretty quickly – the trip to DC is only two nights and three days long, so usually there wouldn’t be a ton of time to build the characters, and yet Ms. Benincasa manages to do just that. There are at least five, and more like ten characters that we are interested in learning more about, and we get, not the whole picture, but enough to not have them merge together in a blur of teenager-ness.

The main young teacher is very idealistic, and also romantically interested in the other chaperone. Every other chapter covers her being either a bit naïve about the students in her care or concerned about her interactions with her co-chaperone. Then there is a trio of sophomore girls whose story is covered in the in between chapters, seeking to have a little bit of extra fun while on their vacation. The convention of alternating chapters could have been a bit confusing, or taken the reader out of the story, but it works here.

There are moments when I was genuinely surprised at what happened, which, considering this isn’t a mystery novel, was a pleasant twist. And the characters weren’t caricatures, which could be easy enough to do with the storyline. Some were sexually experienced; some weren’t. Some were more politically aware and socially conscious; some weren’t. Not everyone was white, and not everyone was straight.

I’m pretty sure I’m always going to enjoy what Ms. Benincasa writes, and I’m looking forward to what comes next. She also holds a special spot in my writer heart, as she signed my notebook with the below message when I went to a reading and told her I was working on a book.

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Friday

30

October 2015

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COMMENTS

What’s Up?

Written by , Posted in Random

I need to get back to writing. For the most part this blog has consisted of Cannonball Read reviews, weekly lists of articles guaranteed to depress the heck out of folks, and the occasional rant about losing my hard drive (update to that: I paid a bazillion dollars and everything was recovered!). But I love to write, and I love policy and social justice, so instead of ranting into the wind, or in 140-character bites on Twitter, I think it’s time to get back to the blog.

Before I take an in-depth look at something horrible (the Republican primary contenders? police violence? racism? people who insist on incorrectly pronouncing ‘.gif’? SO MANY OPTIONS) I thought I’d share what’s been distracting me lately.

This fall has been challenging; there was a two week stretch there that was downright brutal. We put in an offer on a house (and lost), I went through three rounds of interviews only to come in second to a job I’ve wanted since college, and it all culminated in the Aurora bridge bus collision.

 

But things are looking up. I’ve got a plan to start looking for other work, and to also kick up my writing. I’m in my second round of edits to my book, and hope to start pitching it soon. And there is promising news on the house hunt front.

So, long way of saying: watch this space for more than book reviews and weekly wrap-ups.

excited-cat

Sunday

25

October 2015

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COMMENTS

What I’m Reading – October 25, 2015

Written by , Posted in What I'm Reading

Education

– “Translation: After controlling for socioeconomic status, white students essentially had the same test scores whether they went to a school that was overwhelmingly white or one that was overwhelmingly black.” The Evidence That White Children Benefit From Integrated Schools (via @NPR)

Election

– ““Obviously Al-Qaeda was responsible for the terrorist attack of 9/11,” Tapper said. “But how do you respond to critics who ask if your brother and his administration bear no responsibility at all, how do you then make the jump that President Obama and Secretary Clinton are responsible for what happened at Benghazi?” The younger Bush had no coherent answer.” CNN Anchor Asks Bush To Explain His Double Standard For Benghazi And 9/11. It Doesn’t Go Well. (via @ThinkProgress)

Government Abuse

– Multiple Articles: The Drone Papers (h/t @austinkelmore)

– “Investigators with the department are seeking to obtain information from clinics in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas including patient records as well as billing and personnel information related to the donations, according to Planned Parenthood.” In raid of Planned Parenthood offices, Texas officials seek confidential patient records (h/t @thelindywest)

Sex Worker Rights

– Video: Debunking Myths about Amnesty International’s Policy on Sex Work (h/t @stavvers)

Social Interaction

– “It’s certainly worth considering how cell phones and social media divide our attention, and the viral success of these articles and photos and videos suggests they’re tapping into a common fear. The glaring problem with all this modern handwringing, however, is its presumption that the complex, wondrous worlds behind our screens aren’t real.” The Idea That Online Life Isn’t Real Is Trite – And Harmful (via @Wired)

 

Sunday

18

October 2015

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COMMENTS

What I’m Reading – October 18, 2015

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Facebook

– “Yesterday, the Memory you sent me was of the new kitchen in the house I was preparing for a heart-breaking sale. Today’s Memory was of my beloved little cat, Toddy, sitting in his litter tray as his kidneys began to fail. He died two days later. I know, Facebook, that it will only be a matter of time before you hit me with an image of my dear father, who passed away last year. Perhaps you will show me the photo I posted in tribute the night of his stroke. It is a happy picture of the two of us, laughing on a family holiday. But of course, your algorithms will pick up the smiles and the Likes and shove it in my face without a second thought.” This heartbreaking post explains why Facebook Memories needs to change (h/t @stavvers)

Gun Control

– “It has been absolutely fascinating that some folks seemingly feel threatened or angered at the thought of people carrying dildos around with them. They’re incredibly offended! So much outrage! They’re calling for my head. People want me dead for a dildo. It’s the type of reaction that we could only hope to see from them when they hear of a child being gunned down in a classroom. It’s a little scary and absurd, but it still sounds like progress to me.” ‘People want me dead for a dildo:’ UT alumna behind ‘Cocks not Glocks’ protest (h/t @andreagrimes)

Rape Culture

– “In doing all of this, George Lawlor has achieved one thing, and one thing only: he’s made himself look like a rapist. His short article and selfie have worked wonders in demonstrating a lot of the little hints I look out for, after years of the unfortunate experience of having encountered rapists. Men who display these behaviours, I now avoid. Here are the ways that George Lawlor has made himself look like a rapist.” George Lawlor looks like a rapist (via @stavvers)

Sex Worker Rights

– “It appears that some FIL organisers will not accept challenges to the Nordic model. After some consideration, I decided not to take up MAHM’s invitation to speak. I cannot tacitly endorse any politics that deny marginalised women labour rights. Labour rights are human rights. I’m happy to support MAHM in any other capacity, and I urge the organisers of FIL to listen to current sex workers on the topic of their own labour rights.” To Feminism in London re exclusion of Global Women Strike and Women of Colour GWS (h/t @melissagira)

Thursday

15

October 2015

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COMMENTS

Whatever … Love is Love by Maria Bello

Written by , Posted in Reviews

Three Stars

This is very sweet, very raw, book. I’m not sure what I expected from it, but I’m happy that I bought it.

You probably know Maria Bello because she is an actress. But this book isn’t the typical memoir that I’ve been reading as of late. Instead of the story of her life, Ms. Bello shares with us her search for meaning within her life. The point of the book is to explore the labels we put on ourselves and others, and question what those labels mean.

She jumps right in, with a section called ‘Am I a Partner?’, where she examines what it really does mean to be a partner – is it your spouse? Do you have to be having sex with someone to consider them a partner? Are we limited to just one? Other sections explore religion, feminism, and resiliency.

The book offers some interesting ideas. I can’t relate to everything she says – her Catholicism and strong belief in that idea of the divine factors into many of the discussions – but I found a lot of value in her writing. It got me thinking about how I view myself and others, and where I can find strength.

Ms. Bello is so vulnerable and open, but I never felt like she was sharing too much. I wouldn’t go so far as to say this is a must-read, but I’m certainly glad I read it.

Thursday

15

October 2015

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COMMENTS

Hmmm. I *might* be getting old.

Written by , Posted in Adventures

This afternoon I went to the cafe in the building where I work. Every day they have a little trivia question; if you get it correct, they take 10 cents off of your bill. It’s usually something fairly obscure, like the tallest mountain on another continent, or the first person to do something cool. I know maybe 20% of the answers? What I’m saying is that they aren’t gimme questions.

The answer to today’s question was Wham! As in, the George Michael duo from the 80s. I have reached the point in my life where the folks most likely to be working as baristas and putting together tough trivia questions think that knowing what group George Michael used to sing with is not common knowledge.

Yikes.

 

Thursday

15

October 2015

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COMMENTS

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Written by , Posted in Reviews

Five Stars. OBVIOUSLY.

JennyLawson

Do you remember that commercial for Broadway from the 80s where the woman said ‘I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats!’

God, I hope you do. Well, that’s how I feel about this book. Now, granted, I actually hated the musical Cats, and walked out at intermission, so in theory that phrase wouldn’t be high praise. But I’m choosing to think that Cats means cats, as in kitty cats, as in my favorite animals. And even with that major adjustment, the phrase STILL applies to how I feel about this book.

That’s right, this book is better than kittens. I laughed, and I cried, and damn if I’m not seriously considering “It might be easier. But it wouldn’t be better.” for my next tattoo.

I listened to Ms. Lawson read her first book “Let’s Pretend this Never Happened” a couple of years ago, and loved it. I hadn’t known of The Bloggess before the book, but I subscribed to her blog immediately upon finishing it. I follow her on twitter, and am continually impressed by the way she supports people she’s never met. Her ‘Depression Lies’ … campaign? I don’t even know what to call it, but I know that it has helped and continues to help people.

This book is lovely. It is laugh-out loud funny – I had to read the felted vagina section out loud to my husband, because, I mean, come on – and painfully honest. It’s over 300 pages long and yet still ended too soon. I want to keep the book because I know I’ll enjoy reading it again, but I also want to give it to everyone else to read. But then she won’t get the money from the sale. What to do…

Surprise, friends! You’re all getting Furiously Happy for the holidays

Sunday

11

October 2015

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COMMENTS

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Written by , Posted in Reviews

Four Stars

MindyKaling

This was a delightful book to read. I laughed out loud more than a few times, and found myself staying up later than I probably should have because I wanted to finish it. I interrupted my husband more than once to read to him from the book, something I haven’t done in probably a year.

If you enjoyed Ms. Kaling’s first book – Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this one. It has much of the same tone, but doesn’t feel like a rehashing of the stories she’s told us previously.

She shares some more of her personal life with us in this one, including a pretty interesting story about her experience dating (maybe?) someone who worked in the White House. Honestly, I don’t even know if that chapter was fully true, but it read like it was, so I’m going to say sure, why not. Either way, it was entertaining.

There was really only one misstep, involving her imagining an alternate life where she teaches Latin at a prep school. I get what she was going for (I think), but I didn’t really find it that funny or interesting. But perhaps I’m alone on this one. And frankly, in a 200+ page book, it makes sense that there’d be at least one thing that I am kind of ‘meh’ about. Doesn’t mean it isn’t overall a worthy read.

I originally put myself on the waiting list to get this from the library, because I figured I’d enjoy it but read it quickly (which was true – I started and finished it yesterday). But in the end, I purchased it, because I like giving my money to talented, funny women writers, and Ms. Kaling clearly fills that bill.

Sunday

11

October 2015

0

COMMENTS

What I’m Reading – October 11, 2015

Written by , Posted in What I'm Reading

Guns

– “The next one struck just five weeks later, in Oregon. The 26-year-old man who murdered nine and wounded nine others at Umpqua Community College last Thursday had posted comments expressing admiration for the Virginia killer, apparently impressed with his social-media achievement: “His face splashed across every screen, his name across the lips of every person on the planet, all in the course of one day. Seems like the more people you kill, the more you’re in the limelight.”” How the Media Inspires Mass Shooters (via @MotherJones)

– “Probably the worst thing Ben has said is that “I never saw a body with bullet holes that was more devastating than taking the right to arm ourselves away.” Jesus. Can you imagine having this guy as your doctor? “Sorry, you have brain cancer. Yeah, I know it’s sad. But it’s not as sad as a waiting period to make a purchase at a gun show!” The thing that I find craziest about Ben is that he actually means what he says, unlike Donald Trump who clearly just says whatever he knows will get attention. When someone challenges Ben, he just shrugs and agrees with himself.” Ben Carson Prefers Dead Bodies to Gun Control (via @strangerslog)

– “I don’t want guns anywhere near me, and that includes gun-toting shitlords who think it’s their right and obligation to “save” me, but might end up killing me instead.” More Guns! (Said No Sensible Person Ever) (via @shakestweetz)

Police Violence

– “To authoritatively examine the issue in Washington, The Times used public-records requests, death certificates, interviews and other research to collect, measure and analyze a decade of killings by police in the state’s 39 counties. The numbers of people killed by police from 2005 to 2009 averaged 16 deaths per year. From 2010 to 2014, it averaged 27 per year. Shielded by the Law (via @SeattleTimes)

Prison Violence

– “After HRC published its report, the organization mailed Jacobs a copy to his cell at SCI Dallas. Correctional officers intercepted the document and read through its allegations. Then they used the names of contributing prisoners as a checklist. Within days, the threats began. “This time, we’ll break your teeth,” a guard allegedly warned Kelly. On April 25, according to the inmates, guards began denying Kelly food.” What Happens When Inmates in Solitary Confinement Blow the Whistle on Their Abuse? (via @mollycrabapple)

Racism

– “Depending on which counties you count as being in Alabama’s Black Belt, either twelve or fifteen Black Belt counties soon won’t have a place to get a driver’s license. Counties where some of the state’s poorest live. Counties that are majority African-American. Combine that with the federally mandated Star ID taking effect next year, and we’re looking at a nightmare. Or a trial lawyer’s dream. When the state passed Voter ID, Republican lawmakers argued that it was supposed to prevent voter fraud. Democrats said the law was written to disenfranchise black voters and suppress the voice of the poor. Maybe, maybe not. Voter ID and driver’s license office closures black-out Alabama’s Black Belt (h/t @RadleyBalko)

– “The British feminist experience with race was somewhat different—but it was still fraught. As Vron Ware, author of Beyond the Pale: White Women, Racism and History, said in a Playboy interview, “The British movement for women’s rights that emerged in the second half of the 19th century was closely aligned with the imperialist project of bringing ‘civilization’ to colonized territories.” People in the colonies were characterized as inferior, or in need of civilizing, because of what was seen as their poor treatment of women. At the same time, white women in Britain were figured as a civilizing force, and as a result could sometimes obtain jobs or opportunities in the colonies that were unavailable at home.” We Need to Talk about Those Suffragette ‘Slave” Shirts (via @hoodedu)

Reproductive Health

– “Indeed, even Fiorina’s super-PAC’s effort to manipulate the grossly manipulated and misleading Center for Medical Progress videos—videos that have been conclusively debunked—with its own YouTube version of the Fiorina claims surprised me. The video uses spliced footage from the Grantham Collection, an unsourced image of a stillborn, and a CMP image of a Pennsylvania woman’s stillborn baby, used without her permission.” Carly Fiorina’s Big Lie (h/t @JamilSmith)

– “I’ve also noticed that because I’ve decided not to have children, my time is considered less valuable. I work in accounting and my hours recently changed so that I’m now working later into the evenings. In conversations, I’ve had several people ask me, “Well, what did you do with that free time anyway? You don’t have kids.” Let’s be clear on something: Just because I don’t fill my time with picking up children from day care, taking them to swimming lessons and birthday parties, and packing lunches until 11 p.m., does not mean that my time is misspent.” Why a couple chose to be childless (h/t @nothavingababy)

– “After five days it showed no sign of improvement, so I started looking for alternatives and came up with Planned Parenthood. I had never considered Planned Parenthood before, and I didn’t want to then. The last thing I needed en route to yet another doctor was a horde of protesters brandishing photographs of aborted fetuses and screaming at me. But I gathered my wits and called. I was seen the same day.” Planned Parenthood saved my vagina (via @millicentsomer)

– “Why the intense focus on the activities of an organization that hasn’t broken the law, and on the compensation of someone who makes a fraction of what the executives of Lockheed Martin and JP Morgan take home? Mr. Cummings’s answer: “This whole defunding fight is just a pretext for the real Republican agenda” — to “take away the constitutional right of women and their doctors to decide what is best for them.”” Republican Hypocrisy on Planned Parenthood (via @nytimes)

– “This is a dangerous problem, because while women of color are being ignored by many in the mainstream abortion rights movement, they are also being exploited by the anti-abortion movement. Prominent politicians like Ben Carson talk about “black genocide” with Planned Parenthood setting up shops in black neighborhoods to “control the population.” This talk is not new. For decades, anti-abortion activists have tried to manipulate black populations — and take advantage of white liberals’ desire to not seem racist — by implying that abortion rights are part of a vast racist conspiracy.” Women of Color deserve a voice in the debate over Planned Parenthood (via @IjeomaOluo)

– ““Look … she can have her own position about abortion, and people have deeply personal feelings about that. But you don’t get to lie about an organization. That has stunned me,” [Richards] said, inviting Fiorina to visit a Planned Parenthood health center to get more information. Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards blasts GOP ‘total lack of civility’ (via @politico)

Sexism

– “The media refuses to connect these dots. And the women who do are called man-hating hysterics, despite the fact that many of these men, like Christopher Harper-Mercer, participate in a public culture of violent misogyny in which entitled men blame women’s failure to fuck them for their woes and for their dysfunction and for their abusive behavior.” The Media Is Failing Women (via @shakestweetz)

War Crimes

– “Without directly mentioning the claims, MSF made clear it saw the contention was nonsense. “Not a single member of our staff reported any fighting inside the hospital compound prior to the US air strike on Saturday morning,” MSF said. The charity also pointed out the claims that the grounds around the hospital were used by Taliban fighters don’t stand up to scrutiny. On Twitter, MSF noted that the hospital itself was “repeatedly and precisely hit during each aerial raid, while the rest of the compound was left mostly untouched.”” Doctors Without Borders Says U.S. May Have Committed War Crime (via @slate)

Saturday

10

October 2015

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COMMENTS

One Year After

Written by , Posted in Reviews

Two Stars

I read the first book in this series during the Cannonball two years ago, so I went back to read my review before writing this one. Sadly, it seems that in the years that have passed between these novels, Mr. Forstchen has gotten more hyper-militaristic in his writing and a bit more willing to express a few bigoted viewpoints as well. And he continues to either relegate women to periphery roles, or, when granting higher-profile roles (the President is apparently a woman, the former Secretary of Health and Human Services – because of course, that’s the only cabinet-level position a woman would hold, right?), making them incompetent. Mr. Fortschen is all about guns, guys, and glory, and it’s obnoxious as hell.

A refresher: two years ago some EMPs were detonated in the US and other parts of the world, rending all electronics inoperable. Towns were cut off, people had to fend for themselves. The federal government was nowhere to be seen, and lead military vet John Matherson saved the day, but lost his daughter to lack of insulin. Pretty good, but also pretty militaristic.

Hoo boy, if Mr. Fortschen didn’t crank that up to 11 for this book. The thing is, so much potential lies in this story. And at times, I get a glimpse into what an awesome book he could have written. There are really interesting discussions about treating the wounded of the ‘enemy’ and of the morality of certain actions during war. But it all gets lost in some of the more absurd comments.

I recognize that authors can create characters that include complexities, but I also don’t think Mr. Fostchen is talented enough to infuse his main character with those complexities and not have them reflect the author’s true views. John finds the racism of his Civil War-loving buddies endearing, and scoffs at sexism while characterizing it as “basic politeness.” Ew. At one point, he gets really indignant about the federal government referring to people like HIM (a white dude) as terrorists, and waxes nostalgic about how this is just the outcome of the “political correctness” that kept the US from calling “real” terrorists (read: Muslims) terrorists after 9/11. Double ew.

But the real topper on this shit cake of ‘patriotism’ is when John complains about how much things have changed, and how much better the US was at being moral during war, especially during the Iraq and Afghanistan fights. If I’d been drinking, I’d have done a spit take. Perhaps the fact that the US just bombed an MSF hospital last week is coloring my vision, but this idea that the US is some moral arbiter when it comes to war and the military is just absurd, and I can’t stomach it even in a novel.

If there’s a third book, I won’t be reading it. And I’m guessing the author would be fine with it, because I’m pretty sure he’s not a fan of my kind (a woman, a pacifist, someone who isn’t a blind lover of all things USA).