Survivors by R. L. Grayson
sci-fi and military short stories about survivors
What It's About: this quick read is a collection of ten short stories based around the concept of survival. mostly they are science-fiction or military based and suspenseful.
My Thoughts: full disclosure here, the author is my dad. some of the stories already felt familiar, because i’ve heard him talk about creatures or parts of the stories that came from his own life experiences. it’s not my normal genre to read - you all know i stay away from scary and suspenseful things. the plots move quickly (a result of the short stories) and it’s easy to get carried away in the moment. during the scary parts, i found myself reading quickly to get through it or shying away, so i think the writing really brings the plot to life.
my favorites are the florist and the war of the dead. i really hate zombie stories (too much night of the living dead as a child…) but after reading the book, it’s one of the chapters that i can remember vividly.
Category: Fiction
Copyright: 2006
sci-fi and military short stories about survivors
What It's About: this quick read is a collection of ten short stories based around the concept of survival. mostly they are science-fiction or military based and suspenseful.
My Thoughts: full disclosure here, the author is my dad. some of the stories already felt familiar, because i’ve heard him talk about creatures or parts of the stories that came from his own life experiences. it’s not my normal genre to read - you all know i stay away from scary and suspenseful things. the plots move quickly (a result of the short stories) and it’s easy to get carried away in the moment. during the scary parts, i found myself reading quickly to get through it or shying away, so i think the writing really brings the plot to life.
my favorites are the florist and the war of the dead. i really hate zombie stories (too much night of the living dead as a child…) but after reading the book, it’s one of the chapters that i can remember vividly.
Category: Fiction
Copyright: 2006
The Failures of Integration: How Race and Class Are Undermining the American Dream by Sheryll Cashin
exploration on race in america
What It's About: georgetown law professor examines how integration hasn’t solved the race problem in america. she discusses how segregation is results from private and public choices we make, particularly when we chose where we live. to solve inequality, we need to focus on reducing housing discrimination and break up ghettoes with varying socioeconomic tenants.
My Thoughts: the book is a slow read, as it’s very research oriented filled with statistics. i didn’t learn a lot of new things personally - it was more of a reminder of how much farther society has to go before equal opportunity exists. i liked her solutions. there’s a lot we can do as individuals (like go outside our comfort zones and live with people ‘different’ from us), but there’s a lot of things the government can do as well. public housing can be zoned in different areas, there can be incentives for ownership in high-poverty areas and expand school choice. to me, being a member of society means giving up a little of our own prosperity so we can all live better. on a basic level, that’s all we need to do to live in a better world. i’m optimistic today. :)
my favorite quote:
"the majority of americans say they support integration. but this is not the reality that the majority of us actually live. most of us do not share like space with other races or classes. and we do not own up to the often gaping inequality that results from this separation because, being physically removed from those who most suffer the costs of separatism, we cannot acknowledge what we don’t see."
Category: Social/Cultural Studies
Copyright: 2004
exploration on race in america
What It's About: georgetown law professor examines how integration hasn’t solved the race problem in america. she discusses how segregation is results from private and public choices we make, particularly when we chose where we live. to solve inequality, we need to focus on reducing housing discrimination and break up ghettoes with varying socioeconomic tenants.
My Thoughts: the book is a slow read, as it’s very research oriented filled with statistics. i didn’t learn a lot of new things personally - it was more of a reminder of how much farther society has to go before equal opportunity exists. i liked her solutions. there’s a lot we can do as individuals (like go outside our comfort zones and live with people ‘different’ from us), but there’s a lot of things the government can do as well. public housing can be zoned in different areas, there can be incentives for ownership in high-poverty areas and expand school choice. to me, being a member of society means giving up a little of our own prosperity so we can all live better. on a basic level, that’s all we need to do to live in a better world. i’m optimistic today. :)
my favorite quote:
"the majority of americans say they support integration. but this is not the reality that the majority of us actually live. most of us do not share like space with other races or classes. and we do not own up to the often gaping inequality that results from this separation because, being physically removed from those who most suffer the costs of separatism, we cannot acknowledge what we don’t see."
Category: Social/Cultural Studies
Copyright: 2004
Dreams of My Father by Barack Obama
story of obama's childhood and relationship with his father
What It's About: the book is an autobiography of barack obama’s life as he grows up in hawai’i and indonesia. he talks in depth about the strange relationship with his father, whom he met once. the story also follows his life as an organizer, which show the beginnings of his political life as it develops.
My Thoughts: i really like the book. he’s honest and doesn’t hide things like drug usage or internal feelings that aren’t what you’d consider to be ‘correct’ for a political candidate. i think these days we expect candidates to be whitewashed and perfect, when we know they aren’t. also, i appreciated knowing his background better - it helps me understand him more as a politician and a normal human being. plus, i like his writing style. he really captures the essence of a setting.
Category: About Life
Copyright: 1995
story of obama's childhood and relationship with his father
What It's About: the book is an autobiography of barack obama’s life as he grows up in hawai’i and indonesia. he talks in depth about the strange relationship with his father, whom he met once. the story also follows his life as an organizer, which show the beginnings of his political life as it develops.
My Thoughts: i really like the book. he’s honest and doesn’t hide things like drug usage or internal feelings that aren’t what you’d consider to be ‘correct’ for a political candidate. i think these days we expect candidates to be whitewashed and perfect, when we know they aren’t. also, i appreciated knowing his background better - it helps me understand him more as a politician and a normal human being. plus, i like his writing style. he really captures the essence of a setting.
Category: About Life
Copyright: 1995
Brownsville: Stories by Oscar Casares
touching stories about life on the texas border
What It's About: nine short stories chronicle life in brownsville, tx. i’ve never been there, but i know many people with experiences there.
My Thoughts: the imagery and characters are really captivating. even now, months later, i can still recall some of the stories because they were so vivid. you’ll laugh, you’ll get nervous and you’ll experience joy. it’s a colorful portrayal of life in brownsville.
Category: About Life
Copyright: 2003
touching stories about life on the texas border
What It's About: nine short stories chronicle life in brownsville, tx. i’ve never been there, but i know many people with experiences there.
My Thoughts: the imagery and characters are really captivating. even now, months later, i can still recall some of the stories because they were so vivid. you’ll laugh, you’ll get nervous and you’ll experience joy. it’s a colorful portrayal of life in brownsville.
Category: About Life
Copyright: 2003
Yo! by Julia Alvarez
follows the adventurous life of yolanda garcia from the dominican republic
What It's About: this novel follows a woman throughout her life from various perspectives. each chapter is told in a different voice from family members to workers to boyfriends, and they all paint a colorful picture of yo.
My Thoughts: i really like the book and it was a fast read for me - i turned it around in a weekend. the different perspectives really drew me in, as you only learned about yo in pieces - discovering her personality and past through others’ eyes. alvarez is a great writer and her smooth writing gives you a taste of what’s yo’s writing must be like - sensual and very real.
Category: Fiction
Copyright: 1997
follows the adventurous life of yolanda garcia from the dominican republic
What It's About: this novel follows a woman throughout her life from various perspectives. each chapter is told in a different voice from family members to workers to boyfriends, and they all paint a colorful picture of yo.
My Thoughts: i really like the book and it was a fast read for me - i turned it around in a weekend. the different perspectives really drew me in, as you only learned about yo in pieces - discovering her personality and past through others’ eyes. alvarez is a great writer and her smooth writing gives you a taste of what’s yo’s writing must be like - sensual and very real.
Category: Fiction
Copyright: 1997
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