Delia reviewed Reckoning by Magda Szubanski
Brilliant
5 stars
Powerful biography, more for Magda’s dad than her, and yet she weaves hers and his life story together poignantly and powerfully.
Reviews and Comments
Pakeha New Zealander, trying to read more and be a bit more grounded in the real. Huge Goodreads fan but also a fediverse fan and keen to try this thing out. Grateful to the volunteers with their ethos that have established all this.
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Delia reviewed Ancestors by Alice Roberts
Engrossing
4 stars
I loved in particular, the end of this book, where she stretched out a view to the magnitude of our interconnectivity- the vast numbers of anscestors we have, how dna gets lost in generations within lineage, what it means to be alive now. It was so inclusive and fascinating. I loved the “make no assumptions” approach to deep history, and the many different pictures of worlds then. The image of a Neanderthal era human buried with flowers (maybe) and the view of flowers maybe as technology (how do we mark the passing of our loved ones, how does our mind broaden to the possibility of beyond?) just really interesting. I think starting “searching for magic eels” on the back of this book really highlighted how much science is underestimated by those who think of science as fixed dry facts rather than a process. Alice’s audiobooks are very good and easy …
I loved in particular, the end of this book, where she stretched out a view to the magnitude of our interconnectivity- the vast numbers of anscestors we have, how dna gets lost in generations within lineage, what it means to be alive now. It was so inclusive and fascinating. I loved the “make no assumptions” approach to deep history, and the many different pictures of worlds then. The image of a Neanderthal era human buried with flowers (maybe) and the view of flowers maybe as technology (how do we mark the passing of our loved ones, how does our mind broaden to the possibility of beyond?) just really interesting. I think starting “searching for magic eels” on the back of this book really highlighted how much science is underestimated by those who think of science as fixed dry facts rather than a process. Alice’s audiobooks are very good and easy to listen to- my partner falls asleep to them, which is a happy peaceful thing and possibly not what Alice was after, but nonetheless in this household, high praise.
Delia reviewed Hunting Magic Eels by Richard Beck
Did not finish
1 star
I so wanted to love this book. I like eels, and I love theology (I think). First up, very few eels in this book, but that’s okay. The authors arguement is fairly sound and I agree with it, that in seeking more concrete foundations to the view of our world; and letting go of or dismissing mysticism, we have lost wonder and have been more inclined to let go of God. Where he lost me, first started with describing time as sacred; suggesting that there was some time in history where hours were marked by prayer at certain points, as it still is in some monastic societies. Describing this is factual, for sure, but it was never the case for the whole of humanity; and for cultures where it was in place, it was not present for all in that society. I feel like in valuing that element of liturgy …
I so wanted to love this book. I like eels, and I love theology (I think). First up, very few eels in this book, but that’s okay. The authors arguement is fairly sound and I agree with it, that in seeking more concrete foundations to the view of our world; and letting go of or dismissing mysticism, we have lost wonder and have been more inclined to let go of God. Where he lost me, first started with describing time as sacred; suggesting that there was some time in history where hours were marked by prayer at certain points, as it still is in some monastic societies. Describing this is factual, for sure, but it was never the case for the whole of humanity; and for cultures where it was in place, it was not present for all in that society. I feel like in valuing that element of liturgy and rhythm, he devalued the encounters people had and have with God without these. This sense was further impacted by suggesting that considering red woods as just a configuration of atoms devoids them of any magic or enchantment. I don’t know how others “do science” but my experience is that the focus on the detail and the interaction of biology and chemistry and physics etc is driven by wonder and enchantment and (even by his own arguement) science does not necessarily undermine faith. By the time he was arguing that all people hallow things and suggesting “even most atheists pray”, and describing traditions, some of which are wrapped up in intense colonialism, I just felt like his view and outlook was so small for such a vast topic and I couldn’t listen anymore. I couldn’t figure out what he was trying to say. I may be being overly harsh but I think ultimately I’m not the audience for this text and I am happy letting it go.
Delia reviewed Supergirl: Last Daughter of Krypton by Michael Green (Supergirl)
Great introduction
4 stars
Not usually a comic book reader but enjoyed this; also read the second in the series (with a laughable but fun Irish superhero), I think it sets up well for future stories and am looking forward to the rest of the series.
Delia reviewed Black and Blue by Veronica Gorrie
Harrowing
3 stars
I feel bad rating this so low when it is such an important story to have told. It reads like someone dumping data (as she describes later on) - this happened then this happened then this happened then this happened. I almost DNF due to the stacking nature of one awful thing after another, but persisted out of respect for the fact it’s a true story and the events weren’t told for shock or awe, but to bear witness.
Pity about lance and bill cosby…
3 stars
I confess I skim read through this - there were some stand out descriptions; of Paris during the Tour de France during lance’s pre fall from grace peak, or New York after September 11th, of what it feels like to have symptoms of PD square in the public eye. Michael J Fox is a great writer and his chapter on faith is wonderful and could potentially sit as a stand alone book. I enjoyed travelling back to the optimism of the early 2000s USA. Not sure if he has written anything since but I probably would read something of his again. Great dude.
Breaking the 4th wall constantly…
3 stars
A very clever, silly, book that is more about family than murder. I still can’t figure out who died on page 250 though (actually I think after a few days I’ve figured it out. The person doing it wasn’t speaking at the time though)
Delia reviewed Devotion by Hannah Kent
1836, Prussia. Hanne is nearly fifteen and the domestic world of womanhood is quickly closing …
Part historical fiction, part nature writing
4 stars
Gay AF (a bit too intense but I guess that’s what teenagers are like). Amazing descriptions of the ocean journey, to the extent that I think it could be a school text - in terms of understanding the white migration experience.
Delia reviewed A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern
A Different Kind of Power is a memoir by Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of …
Really excellent
5 stars
A love letter to growing up in NZ in the 80s and 90s… a timely moment to reflect on the trauma of March 15, White Island and how much Covid hurt New Zealand, even without the loss of life; this is a book about leadership, sure but also the deep worth of meaningful collaboration. Really excellent book and I highly recommend it.
Delia reviewed Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
In her #1 NYT bestsellers, Brené Brown taught us what it means to dare greatly, …
It’s not the squishiness, it’s the vagueness I find weak
3 stars
Brene browns approach to things is so revolutionary and effective at changing things that I think I am approaching this book in a context where things have already shifted somewhat and some of the excellent things she has to say is a bit “well, duh”. I found some bits really helpful, and took photos of pages especially with tips for being in the grunt of a hard conversation, but a lot of the book danced around a corporate world I’m just not familiar with. She also alludes a lot to her faith without naming what it is, which I am not sure is good or bad; just a little incomplete I guess? As a composite book with ideas from other books, I wonder if going back to the other books will be better. Glad I read it but not sure I’d recommend this specific book despite really backing her work.
"A resonant look at that most mysterious of fish, the eel--including their biology and epic …
A book so good I stole it from an island
5 stars
One of those bookshelves in a shared accomodation on an island in the hauraki.
Became a comfort book over the months afterwards- clearly written by someone who cared about the stories that he was being told. Has tapped into/made me low key obsessed with eels now…
Eels: an exploration of the world's most mysterious fish, from New Zealand to the Sargasso by James Prosek
"A resonant look at that most mysterious of fish, the eel--including their biology and epic migrations, unusual place in today's …
For hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors depended on wild plants and animals for …
I’m not sure we tamed ourselves…
4 stars
Really enjoyed this audiobook; only bit I lost enthusiasm for was the last couple of chapters where the thesis was that humans themselves were domesticated, and an argument that genetic engineering may help rewild again - I guess the fact that got my hackles up is more of an indication the book is written well but I wasn’t expecting that. Really interesting.
Delia rated Tamed: Ten Species that Changed our World: 4 stars
Tamed: Ten Species that Changed our World by Alice Roberts
For hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors depended on wild plants and animals for survival. They were hunter-gatherers, consummate …
Delia reviewed Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
In this exhilarating novel, two friends--often in love, but never lovers--come together as creative partners …
What a little life could have been if it were good
5 stars
Utterly immersive, and clever without you needing to be clever to follow along. First un-putdownable book I have read in some time. Insightful and complex and light and sad and happy. So glad to have read it.