Review: An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence

An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence by Zeinab Badawi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you, like me, are woefully ignorant about Africa's history and its people and civilizations, this book is the cure. It goes through the entire continent, both geographically and chronologically, and somehow it all works.

The book is all-encompassing, but also cursory, and I found myself curious about many points, such as the countries not mentioned, or more about the ones mentioned. For example, she covers the genocide in Rwanda, but not how they then became "the cleanest country in Africa", even banning plastic bags.

I also found myself very curious about so many of the historical figures she mentions, especially some of the women leaders. My one regret is that I listened to the audiobook without taking notes, so I can't remember the names of all the people I want to read more about.


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Review: Invincible and Righteous Outlaw: The Korean Hero Hong Gildong in Literature, History, and Culture

Invincible and Righteous Outlaw: The Korean Hero Hong Gildong in Literature, History, and Culture by Minsoo Kang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At this point the story, author and meaning behind Hong Gildong are so accepted that the author finds himself in the situation of having to basically prove a negative. He has to prove that Heo Gyun did not - and could not - write the story, and has to go into detail as to all the reasons why, as well as how the story fits the literature and society of 19th century Korea so much more than 16th century Korea.

Still, I loved the deep dive in the story of this Korean Robin Hood. I'd say this is THE definitive work on research into the origins and effects of the Hong Gildong story.




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Review: A Journey through Texas: Or a Saddle-Trip on the Southwestern Frontier

A Journey through Texas: Or a Saddle-Trip on the Southwestern Frontier by Frederick Law Olmsted
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The author of this book is a New Yorker (who designed Central Park) and took a trip to Texas, Mexico, and surrounding areas in the 1850s and documented his travels. This book is everything you could want and more. An outside gives his honest opinion of the people, places and of course the prejudices of the place. The prejudices are obviously on the side of the Southern white Americans, but also the author's, which become evident.

However, the author (and his brother) are very much against slavery, and you see their impression of slaveholders go from low to extremely low, especially after encountering the Germans, who tend to be against slavery (and are surprisingly many). I found myself going through Google and Google maps to follow along, so I was very happy to hear about the book "Spying on the South: An Odyssey Across the American Divide", wherein someone follows along the same itinerary, giving an update on everything covered in this book. I look forward to reading that as well.

Also very interesting to read about crossing the border into Mexico, and seeing how race relations differed there (they pretended to be German, since they felt it was dangerous to be American there, given the acrimony). Their encounters with native Americans at the time were interesting as well, and I found myself wishing there had been more.


A very pleasant surprise to have found this book, and I'm amazed it isn't more well-known.




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Review: Kappa Quartet

Kappa Quartet by Daryl Qilin Yam
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book started off excellent, but after a while it became too intertwined and a bit too unrealistic for me. I loved this author's other book Shantih, Shantih, Shantih, where there were odd connections between the characters, but I was able to keep track of them. Here I wasn't, which I suspect was actually the point. Maybe if I were able to let go of trying to do so I would enjoy this much more. I may try to re-read it one day in a more passive way.


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Review: Act of Oblivion

Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A true work of historical fiction. As the author states, all the characters are real save one (the bounty hunter). All of the major events are real, and Harris essentially fills in the gaps.

This is great insight into the United States as a British colony during the mid 1600's, and how it was progressing in relation to the continent.

It was also, incidentally, a riveting story.


Highly recommend, like all Robert Harris's books.


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Review: MONKEY New Writing from Japan: Volume 5: CREATURES

MONKEY New Writing from Japan: Volume 5: CREATURES by Ted Goossen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great collection of stories/poems/essays by some excellent authors.

The ones that stuck with me are:
Communications from a Wandering Planet, by Makoto Takayanagi, translated by Michael Emmerich.
Once again Sci-fi, a genre I don't usually enjoy, surprises me. This was excellent and thought provoking.

Cathedral, by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Ted Goosen.
All of Hiromi Kawakami's books feel like they are choc full of symbolism that I can spot, but don't recognize. This was no exception. Another example of the "reality-adjacent" style. I loved it.

Bearman, by Natsuki Ikezawa, translated by Chris Corker.
A new author for me who, apparently, is from Hokkaido. A great story. I'll be looking for more by this author.

To Abuse a Monster, by Kaori Fujino, Translated by Laurel Taylor.
Another new author for me. And quite a disturbing, but at the same time entertaining, story.

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Review: In Praise of Shadows

In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More of an essay than anything. An interesting read into the aesthetics and tradition of Japan vs. modernity and Western encroachment.


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Review: The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England

The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This reads like a Lonely planet guide to traveling to Elizabethan England, complete with which years to travel there in order to avoid the plague.

It also reads like a Travelogue in time. All in all a great and interesting read.




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