The day that was

Today I was a monster of crankiness. I also read and wrote reviews for two books. These facts are not necessarily related.

Tomorrow I should work on my thesis, instead of reading fiction. Probably I will go visit my grandmother and then find myself with no will to work. Such is life.

Books 2013: reviews, research, and other things that begin with R

Books 2013: 9-11


9. John Scalzi, Redshirts. Tor, 2012. Review copy from Vector.

A shallow, disappointing novel far too in love with its own meta and conceit.


10. Angélica Gorodischer, Trafalgar. Small Beer Press, 2013. Translated from the Spanish by Amalia Gladhart. Review copy courtesy of the publisher.

Luminous. Delightful. Magical realism for science fiction. Short incidents related conversationally, linked by the character of Trafalgar Medrano. Fantastic. Go read it.


11. Arthur Kleinman, M.D., The Illness Narratives: Suffering, Healing, & the Human Condition. Basic Books, 1988.

Read for research. A very readable book on chronic illness, life-worlds of the patient, and the physician-patient relationship. Most interesting and quite applicable.