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perfect_leaves's reviews
452 reviews
In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives by Steven Levy
4.0
The last chapter and epilogue were lackluster, but it was an otherwise good book. Not a fan of Levy's writing style but he makes the information presentable
Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar: A Student's Guide to Correct Structures and Common Errors by Larry Herzberg, Qin Xue Herzberg
3.0
This book is an excellent supplement but shouldn't be used as the end-all, be-all book to learn Mandarin. I'm on my 4th year of Chinese study, and I thumbed through this book to review some of the earlier grammar rules I'd forgotten. It was short and to the point, which was nice, but it assumes a basic level of understanding. I'm also not a fan of the pinyin first format. I prefer to have the characters above the pinyin so my eye will be drawn to them. I found myself just reading the pinyin in the book, though all of the characters are very basic.
Unexpected Art: Serendipitous Installations, Site-Specific Works, and Surprising Interventions by
3.0
A colorful, easy read. Each piece of art is accompanied by a short artist's statement and a quick description of the art and the context. At the end of the book, there's a biography of each artist/group.
Nothing spectacular, but nothing awful.
Nothing spectacular, but nothing awful.
Raise the Red Lantern: Three Novellas by Tong Su
2.0
RTRL was one of those books that made me regret my life decisions. I appreciate the translation (I wish I made a not of who translated the novellas) ,but that's about where the goodness ends. The writing was plain, the symbols were heavy handed, and the plot was thoroughly unenjoyable. I frequently found myself bored while reading. I only finished the book because so many people have been writing rave reviews about it for so long. The content of the novellas is pretty intense, to be fair, but the rambling nature of the writing and the forced symbolism killed the stories for me.
The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom by Helen Thorpe
3.0
Let me preface this by saying that I also teach English to speakers of other languages. I should also say that I'm writing this review several months after finishing the book.
The Newcomers was okay, but it didn't teach me anything new. It seemed more like a performative way to *prove* refugees "aren't all bad." The book exploits the children's trauma and is constantly highlighting their otherness ("oh that's so different from what I'm used to" is a pretty common thread). At the same time, Thorpe tries hard to say the kids are "just like us." It's paradoxical but Thorpe somehow manages to emphasize both their differences and their sameness.
Thorpe ties the children's stories to her own Irish-American upbringing about half a century ago, but her struggles-- though valid-- are incomparable to what these children face. She came to the US already knowing English, and she came at such a young age that the US is the only country she really knows. The brief discussion of how Irish immigrants were treated was fairly interesting, I guess. I'm not saying one struggle is harder than the other, they're just very different situations. I wish the author had talked less about herself and focused more on Mr. Williams and the children.
I appreciate that Thorpe took the time to talk to the children directly, and did not force anyone to participate. I also appreciate that she tried to integrate herself into the classroom and the children's lives, providing assistance when needed and when possible. Some of the children's struggles are simply the struggles of people in poverty in the US, some of their struggles are specific to their backgrounds.
After reading The Newcomers, I was annoyed Thorpe chose this particular image as the cover. The girl (I can't remember her name anymore) only wore her hair covered for a short period of time, so it seems misleading to display this picture of her. Considering the comments Trump was making about Muslims at the time of publishing, it seems like she used the image for shock value. She effectively confirmed what many Americans (not just islamophobes, trust me) already believe: Muslims come from other countries (i.e. they are not and cannot be American) and if they cover their hair, it must be because they haven't adjusted to American culture yet. The girl's story, and her reason for wearing, then removing her scarf if interesting, but it's not the main idea of the book. I would have preferred a cover image with the children in the background placed front and center.
All in all, the book is worth the read simply because it provides another perspective of American life. It's also helpful for TESOL and ELA teachers, because they can glean some ideas from it. I would not, however, deem this book the end-all, be-all. It should be treated as one of many perspectives.
The Newcomers was okay, but it didn't teach me anything new. It seemed more like a performative way to *prove* refugees "aren't all bad." The book exploits the children's trauma and is constantly highlighting their otherness ("oh that's so different from what I'm used to" is a pretty common thread). At the same time, Thorpe tries hard to say the kids are "just like us." It's paradoxical but Thorpe somehow manages to emphasize both their differences and their sameness.
Thorpe ties the children's stories to her own Irish-American upbringing about half a century ago, but her struggles-- though valid-- are incomparable to what these children face. She came to the US already knowing English, and she came at such a young age that the US is the only country she really knows. The brief discussion of how Irish immigrants were treated was fairly interesting, I guess. I'm not saying one struggle is harder than the other, they're just very different situations. I wish the author had talked less about herself and focused more on Mr. Williams and the children.
I appreciate that Thorpe took the time to talk to the children directly, and did not force anyone to participate. I also appreciate that she tried to integrate herself into the classroom and the children's lives, providing assistance when needed and when possible. Some of the children's struggles are simply the struggles of people in poverty in the US, some of their struggles are specific to their backgrounds.
After reading The Newcomers, I was annoyed Thorpe chose this particular image as the cover. The girl (I can't remember her name anymore) only wore her hair covered for a short period of time, so it seems misleading to display this picture of her. Considering the comments Trump was making about Muslims at the time of publishing, it seems like she used the image for shock value. She effectively confirmed what many Americans (not just islamophobes, trust me) already believe: Muslims come from other countries (i.e. they are not and cannot be American) and if they cover their hair, it must be because they haven't adjusted to American culture yet. The girl's story, and her reason for wearing, then removing her scarf if interesting, but it's not the main idea of the book. I would have preferred a cover image with the children in the background placed front and center.
All in all, the book is worth the read simply because it provides another perspective of American life. It's also helpful for TESOL and ELA teachers, because they can glean some ideas from it. I would not, however, deem this book the end-all, be-all. It should be treated as one of many perspectives.
DayBlack #2 by Keef Cross
4.0
DayBlack follows the story of Merce, a slave-turned-vampire who's trying to survive in the modern world. Over the centuries, he has invented several clever tactics for staying alive undetected.
Volume 2 (issues 4-6) begins in a strange place. I spent most of Issue 4 trying to figure out what was happening. I didn't understand where Merce was or what he was doing, and his son seemed to have disappeared as well. I was satisfied in Issue 6 when his son came back, but just like in the first volume, his appearance was brief. DayBlack Volume 2 seems to be where Merce's backstory begins to mesh with his present day activities. Two characters reappear from his past, and the reader is trying to figure out who they are while Merce tries to figure out why they've arrived. In other words, Merce is just as confused as the reader. I was confused; then I was angry that my confusion wasn't being resolved. At the same time, Merce's confusion dissipates and his anger grows. By creating this emotional involvement with the reader, Cross evokes feelings of empathy for Merce.
Based on what we've seen of other vampires in the series, Merce seems to be decidedly more human (this volume introduces a potential reason for that). He experiences grief at the loss of a past lover. He experiences anger and lust and longing. Most importantly, he feels remorse.
While Merce may outwardly seem guarded and haughty to the characters in the story, the reader knows he holds himself to a relatively high moral standard. When he makes a mistake he feels guilty. He feels a sense of duty towards his son, even if his son should technically be his worst enemy. He tries not to kill people. When he does kill someone, he does it only to protect himself.
Other vampires kill gratuitously, and they make a mess of it in the process. The other vampires we've seen so far in DayBlack don't think twice about ending a humans life for even the smallest transgressions. The vampires manipulate humans, and when they're done they discard them. It's no wonder the vampire hunters are so intent on purging the Earth of this night-walking species.
We also learn one of Merce's vulnerabilities in Volume 2. It's not his kryptonite, but it's clearly something that causes him great emotional anguish.
Just like the first volume of DayBlack, this one is not for the faint of heart, and it's potentially NSFW. The scenes are more suggestive and more bloody. Partway through the volume, I actually started counting how many instances of barely-hidden nudity I saw. Male sex organs are generally covered by plants or by another person's limbs. Female genitalia are covered by similar means, but their chests are usually visible, even through clothing. There were a couple instances where nothing but a stream of blood "covered" a woman's nipples.
I don't particularly want to see the graphic scenes. In fact, I feel guilty because I feel like I should be filling my mind with other things. I'm so involved in the story at this point, though, that I almost feel obligated to continue. An invisible force is coaxing me to follow Merce until the end. Like it or not, I'm in this for the long run.
I'm giving four stars to DayBlack: Volume 2, not because I found fault in it, but because I can't justify myself giving 5 stars for something so violent. That said, I enjoyed the story and I'm pleased by the art. I hope more comic artists follow in Cross's footsteps and create art that doesn't conform to European or East Asian standards. I cautiously recommend DayBlack: read at your own risk. It's so different from other comics, though, that I think it's worth the read even if it's not your style.
Volume 2 (issues 4-6) begins in a strange place. I spent most of Issue 4 trying to figure out what was happening. I didn't understand where Merce was or what he was doing, and his son seemed to have disappeared as well. I was satisfied in Issue 6 when his son came back, but just like in the first volume, his appearance was brief. DayBlack Volume 2 seems to be where Merce's backstory begins to mesh with his present day activities. Two characters reappear from his past, and the reader is trying to figure out who they are while Merce tries to figure out why they've arrived. In other words, Merce is just as confused as the reader. I was confused; then I was angry that my confusion wasn't being resolved. At the same time, Merce's confusion dissipates and his anger grows. By creating this emotional involvement with the reader, Cross evokes feelings of empathy for Merce.
Based on what we've seen of other vampires in the series, Merce seems to be decidedly more human (this volume introduces a potential reason for that). He experiences grief at the loss of a past lover. He experiences anger and lust and longing. Most importantly, he feels remorse.
While Merce may outwardly seem guarded and haughty to the characters in the story, the reader knows he holds himself to a relatively high moral standard. When he makes a mistake he feels guilty. He feels a sense of duty towards his son, even if his son should technically be his worst enemy. He tries not to kill people. When he does kill someone, he does it only to protect himself.
Other vampires kill gratuitously, and they make a mess of it in the process. The other vampires we've seen so far in DayBlack don't think twice about ending a humans life for even the smallest transgressions. The vampires manipulate humans, and when they're done they discard them. It's no wonder the vampire hunters are so intent on purging the Earth of this night-walking species.
We also learn one of Merce's vulnerabilities in Volume 2. It's not his kryptonite, but it's clearly something that causes him great emotional anguish.
Just like the first volume of DayBlack, this one is not for the faint of heart, and it's potentially NSFW. The scenes are more suggestive and more bloody. Partway through the volume, I actually started counting how many instances of barely-hidden nudity I saw. Male sex organs are generally covered by plants or by another person's limbs. Female genitalia are covered by similar means, but their chests are usually visible, even through clothing. There were a couple instances where nothing but a stream of blood "covered" a woman's nipples.
I don't particularly want to see the graphic scenes. In fact, I feel guilty because I feel like I should be filling my mind with other things. I'm so involved in the story at this point, though, that I almost feel obligated to continue. An invisible force is coaxing me to follow Merce until the end. Like it or not, I'm in this for the long run.
I'm giving four stars to DayBlack: Volume 2, not because I found fault in it, but because I can't justify myself giving 5 stars for something so violent. That said, I enjoyed the story and I'm pleased by the art. I hope more comic artists follow in Cross's footsteps and create art that doesn't conform to European or East Asian standards. I cautiously recommend DayBlack: read at your own risk. It's so different from other comics, though, that I think it's worth the read even if it's not your style.
Super Sikh #2 by Eileen Kaur Alden
2.0
I admit that I'm writing this mini-review several months after having read the comic and that starting at the second issue probably doesn't help matters, but I don't remember being blown away by Super Sikh. I asked my friend about the first one (she's Sikh, and her younger brother apparently likes the series) and our conclusion that it Super Sikh is overall pretty "meh."
Don't get me wrong, the art is beautiful. The dialogue, however, is lackluster and the plot relies on a few trope and stereotypes, which is ironic because Super Sikh is one of those comics with an underlying political message. It seeks to change people's opinions of Sikh people. Unfortunately, while in the process of exonerating Sikh people, the comic throws Muslims under the bus. Not Cool. Muslims are cast as the terrorists who are out to destroy America or American ideals or something like that, and because Deep is the superhero of the story, America's enemies become his enemies. Super Sikh quickly devolved into an "us versus them" (America versus Muslims, or Sikh versus Muslims) story.
I don't think I need to list examples of Islamophobia in America (or in European countries) here, but I will mention the existing tension between Sikhs and Muslims. I'm going to be general with my following explanation and I know not everything I say is applicable to everyone, but I don't want to get into a long, complicated discussion in this blog post.
For some reason, a rather large portion of Sikh Americans (and Sikh Canadians) detest Muslim Americans and Muslim Canadians. I think the sentiment has to do with the partition of India. Sikhs see themselves as fundamentally Indian (with some choosing to elevate their Punjabi heritage) while Muslims, especially South Asian Muslims, are seen as traitors. According to the Sikh haters, Muslims dared to abandon India and go to Pakistan. This is obviously not true of all Muslims. Not every Muslims is South Asian, and there were Indian Muslims who decided to stay in India during the partition. Still, although Sikhs are fighting to end discrimination against their people in the Americas, some turn a blind eye to discrimination and violence against Muslims when we should all be fighting on the same side. The end goal is religious tolerance and the end of discrimination against all racialized people.
Anyway, Super Sikh's art was nice, but it wasn't nice enough for me to forgive the perpetuation of an unnecessary feud.
Don't get me wrong, the art is beautiful. The dialogue, however, is lackluster and the plot relies on a few trope and stereotypes, which is ironic because Super Sikh is one of those comics with an underlying political message. It seeks to change people's opinions of Sikh people. Unfortunately, while in the process of exonerating Sikh people, the comic throws Muslims under the bus. Not Cool. Muslims are cast as the terrorists who are out to destroy America or American ideals or something like that, and because Deep is the superhero of the story, America's enemies become his enemies. Super Sikh quickly devolved into an "us versus them" (America versus Muslims, or Sikh versus Muslims) story.
I don't think I need to list examples of Islamophobia in America (or in European countries) here, but I will mention the existing tension between Sikhs and Muslims. I'm going to be general with my following explanation and I know not everything I say is applicable to everyone, but I don't want to get into a long, complicated discussion in this blog post.
For some reason, a rather large portion of Sikh Americans (and Sikh Canadians) detest Muslim Americans and Muslim Canadians. I think the sentiment has to do with the partition of India. Sikhs see themselves as fundamentally Indian (with some choosing to elevate their Punjabi heritage) while Muslims, especially South Asian Muslims, are seen as traitors. According to the Sikh haters, Muslims dared to abandon India and go to Pakistan. This is obviously not true of all Muslims. Not every Muslims is South Asian, and there were Indian Muslims who decided to stay in India during the partition. Still, although Sikhs are fighting to end discrimination against their people in the Americas, some turn a blind eye to discrimination and violence against Muslims when we should all be fighting on the same side. The end goal is religious tolerance and the end of discrimination against all racialized people.
Anyway, Super Sikh's art was nice, but it wasn't nice enough for me to forgive the perpetuation of an unnecessary feud.
Lady Stuff: Secrets to Being a Woman by Loryn Brantz
1.0
This comic collection was super disappointing. To be honest, I requested it on NetGalley by accident, because I mistook it for Sarah Anderson's work. Once I realized this was something else entirely, I decided to roll with it. How bad could it be, right?
Apparently, very, very bad. The jokes felt tired and at times forced. I felt like I'd seen most of the comics online before. Brantz writes for Buzzfeed and has work featured in several children's novels. I didn't bother to find any of her other books, but I will say that adult comic collections are not her strong suit. Sure the situations are relatable, but the stories aren't told in a particularly interesting way. Most of the comics are one or two panels, and quite a few are "before and after" type drawings. I found myself yawning as I scrolled through the pages. I couldn't wait the for book to end. If any of my readers see Lady Stuff, move on. Sarah Anderson does a better job of showing us what it's like to be a lady.
Apparently, very, very bad. The jokes felt tired and at times forced. I felt like I'd seen most of the comics online before. Brantz writes for Buzzfeed and has work featured in several children's novels. I didn't bother to find any of her other books, but I will say that adult comic collections are not her strong suit. Sure the situations are relatable, but the stories aren't told in a particularly interesting way. Most of the comics are one or two panels, and quite a few are "before and after" type drawings. I found myself yawning as I scrolled through the pages. I couldn't wait the for book to end. If any of my readers see Lady Stuff, move on. Sarah Anderson does a better job of showing us what it's like to be a lady.