Reading Roundup, February 2024
In February I finished four titles:
The Letter of Marque by Patrick O'Brian (Bookshop|Library)
Where The Reverse of the Medal feels to me like a "Jack" book, this one read to me as much more about Stephen. The story is an important one for Jack to be sure, as he works to (maybe) be restored to the Navy List and rediscovers his "Lucky Jack" persona, but Stephen's reconnection with Diana after several volumes and much miscommunication between the two of them is very moving. And the uncovering of the extent of his laudanum addiction as a part of the proceedings adds a lot to the texture of the story.
Zodiac by Ai Wei Wei (Bookshop|Library)
I'm only tangentially aware of Ai Wei Wei, but this was reviewed well so I thought I'd pick it up and learn more about him. Taking the Chinese zodiac as its framing device, this comic acts as something of a memoir/artistic thesis statement from Ai. I left with a greater appreciation for his life experience, as well as his philosophy of freedom of speech.
The Secret History of Bigfoot by John O'Connor (Bookshop|Library)
I saw a couple of interesting reviews about this one, and so I picked it up on something of a whim and proceeded to devour it. I mean, a well-reviewed book about bigfoot? I needed to see what this was about. Title aside, O'Connor's approach is not just a history of how bigfoot became a cultural force in America, but it also makes connections to psychology, politics, Native American mythology, science and religion - an intriguing mix of topics that make me want to explore each in more depth. Leave it to bigfoot to make me interested in pop psychology! Most reviews mention the humor - it's not written without humor, but I'd say skip it if that's a primary concern for you. And while the points O'Connor makes about various political groups in contemporary America were well-made, I couldn't help but feel that all of them would date this book and thus be a handicap in later years. Which is a shame because so much of it is so good and so worth pondering.
Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett (Bookshop|Library)
After finishing The Secret History of Bigfoot I couldn't wait to get started exploring more from Lisa Feldman Barrett. This one is deliberately shorter than her other work, and skips notes. Instead she attempts to boil down the current state of our knowledge about the brain and how it functions. A short book, but one that would bear re-reading, as there's a lot crammed into each chapter that someone could really sit with.