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What I Read -- January 2019


“The Modern World” by Steph Swainston. I was nervous to start because I was afraid a sober Jant might be insufferable. I got a little thrill in a bookstore seeing the subsequent volumes. It’s like having a crush. So I put off starting this by reading everyone’s Christmas gifts first.
This book reminded me of “Forever War” by Joe Haldeman, where the soldiers grow increasingly out of touch with the people they’re protecting. Thinking about it after I started reading, I wanted more from a sober Jant. He’s still so flawed, but… I don’t know, maybe he should take up meditation or something? I think I wanted him to be insufferable. Then the ending, that was satisfying. The emperor is a piece of work, but I guess he’s giving Jant what Jant needs. Though I figure if Jant is expelled from the circle like ever, he’d just OD himself permanently into the shift. Would that be so bad?
One of the weird things about this world to me is, it seems like there are only two drugs: alcohol and cat. In cannabis-legalized Canada here where I am, it seems like there are way more alternatives for one such as him. I mean, short-term. 

LHC #25: “Autobiography of red: a novel in Verse” by Anne Carson. If memory serves, I’d read a poem by her that really took me, so I thought I’d try something else. Weird that I should pick another thing about a guy with wings just after that last one. When I was done I did a quick google to make sure I understood the book (seems like  I did). I should probably read more poetry because it makes me think about economy of sentences and also the right words.

LHC #26: “Data Science from Scratch: First principles with Python” by Joel Grus. So, I am not a programmer and I’m not interested in becoming one. Data, however, I’m very interested in. When I think about going back to school, if it’s not history, I’d probably study information science? I guess that’s why I put this on my list. Something to do with avoiding being manipulated by people with their data perhaps? It was kind of an empowering read. I’m developing a bit of receptive multilingualism for certain types of code I think. 

“A Burglar’s Guide to the City” by Geoff Manaugh. Research for Persephone. Fluke, but I read this at the perfect time. I'd just realized that I needed an insider for my heist, and (sitting in a meeting at work) wrote an outline of one of the plots, and then I read this and pieces kept falling into place. I hope it works... 

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