Playground by Richard Powers

I can’t pick just one, but my favorites this year were North Woods, James, Same As It Ever Was and On Beauty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Am I the only one who finds “let me fix that for you” terribly annoying?

Not as annoying as perpetuating racism and harming people with ignorance though, is it?

You get more bees with honey.
People aren’t going to listen and learn when you write that. Much nicer ways to say it that will have a bigger impact than your self righteousness.

No need to be "nicer" in response to racism. In fact that approach has been part of the problem.

Very much disagree. Read the post at 4:13. You actually stand a chance of people listening to what you have to say and changing their approach if you phrase as that poster suggested. “Let me fix that” immediately puts people on the defensive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Am I the only one who finds “let me fix that for you” terribly annoying?

Not as annoying as perpetuating racism and harming people with ignorance though, is it?

You get more bees with honey.
People aren’t going to listen and learn when you write that. Much nicer ways to say it that will have a bigger impact than your self righteousness.

No need to be "nicer" in response to racism. In fact that approach has been part of the problem.

Anonymous wrote:Almost done with All Fours (late 40s female). I can’t wait to be done with it and on to the next read. I find her incredibly unlikable as a main character and didn’t particularly enjoy the writing.

Np I loved that book! It was bizarre in the best way. Just saw Babygirl and to me there were similarities. I don’t recognize myself in the characters as a whole but definitely with a certain longing and feeling lost as a mom, mixed thoughts on aging…

Re: enslaved person, I appreciate people saying “the current correct terminology is…” or something like that. Somehow the phrase “let me fix that for you” is off-putting.

Re: the topic of the thread, I loved “The House on the Cerulean Sea” and “How to Solve your Own Murder.” For nonfiction I didn’t read too much this year but liked “The Wager.” I also read “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” with my tween daughter and we both loved it. I’m at 38 books for the year, either read or listened to, so we’ll see if I hit 40 which is my goal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Am I the only one who finds “let me fix that for you” terribly annoying?

Not as annoying as perpetuating racism and harming people with ignorance though, is it?

You get more bees with honey.
People aren’t going to listen and learn when you write that. Much nicer ways to say it that will have a bigger impact than your self righteousness.

Couldn’t agree more. Saying slave is not perpetuating anything. Maybe in the mind of a progressive extremist it is.

+1. There is no difference between using the noun "slave" or the descriptive ohrase "enslaved person". none

Op and I don't really want to see this thread derailed further, but there is a difference. Slave is dehumanizing, while enslaved person focuses more on their humanity. The current appropriate term is enslaved person. We change terms all the time- why is this so bothersome to some?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Why so hostile?

To racism? To terms that hurt people? Oh, I don't know ... I guess I just find such things worthy of hostility?

Get off your high horses. You are not as nice as you think you are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Am I the only one who finds “let me fix that for you” terribly annoying?

Not as annoying as perpetuating racism and harming people with ignorance though, is it?

More annoying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Small things like These
Covenant of Water
Tell me Everything
The Wager

Tell Me everything by Minka Kelly or Elizabeth Strout?

Elizabeth Strout, I love her writing

One of my favorite writers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Am I the only one who finds “let me fix that for you” terribly annoying?

Not as annoying as perpetuating racism and harming people with ignorance though, is it?

You get more bees with honey.
People aren’t going to listen and learn when you write that. Much nicer ways to say it that will have a bigger impact than your self righteousness.

Couldn’t agree more. Saying slave is not perpetuating anything. Maybe in the mind of a progressive extremist it is.

+1. There is no difference between using the noun "slave" or the descriptive ohrase "enslaved person". none

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Am I the only one who finds “let me fix that for you” terribly annoying?

Not as annoying as perpetuating racism and harming people with ignorance though, is it?

You get more bees with honey.
People aren’t going to listen and learn when you write that. Much nicer ways to say it that will have a bigger impact than your self righteousness.

Couldn’t agree more. Saying slave is not perpetuating anything. Maybe in the mind of a progressive extremist it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Why so hostile?

To racism? To terms that hurt people? Oh, I don't know ... I guess I just find such things worthy of hostility?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Why so hostile?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:James, Percival Everett.
So well written, slyly funny, enjoyed revisiting this classic narrated from the point of view of a slave.

Let me fix that for you: *an enslaved person*

Am I the only one who finds “let me fix that for you” terribly annoying?

Not as annoying as perpetuating racism and harming people with ignorance though, is it?

You get more bees with honey.
People aren’t going to listen and learn when you write that. Much nicer ways to say it that will have a bigger impact than your self righteousness.