I’m re-reading “Devil take the hind most” by Edward Chancellor, a really good and revealing history of stock markets and bubbles. Long story short “Wait, it’s all bubbles?” “Always has been”.
I'm half way through The Devil's Chessboard by David Talbot after reading The Jakarta Method.
It's been really eye opening how deeply anti-communism ideology rules over the security agencies and the extent they go to flush it out.
Jakarta Method is brutal. It really makes every leftist think 'Hmm maybe I should start stockpiling arms'. Capital will come down like a hammer whenever threatened, and we're seeing tactics used internationally making their way to the good ol' USA. There is no real left to threaten capital now, but if there was we'd prob see NATSEC going after it with all intensity. We've already seen the right try and label BLM terrorists, libs and Dems will do the same to any kind of organized labor movement.
Really enjoyed Devil's Chessboard. Been a while since I've read it, and I think I'm gonna go back and re-read it. I'm reading Family of Secrets by Russ Baker right now, and it mentions a lot of international corporations, the CIA, how they've worked together, etc. Lotta talk about Dulles. If you like Devil's Chessboard, I'd recommend it.
Making my way through James Joyce's Dubliners and wow some of these stories hit hard. As an aspiring poet, "Little Cloud" was a bit too close to home. "A Painful Case" feels very real, and oddly applicable in the error of debatebro-ism on the internet. Cannot wait to read "The Dead," since I've heard so much about it. I've read Ulysses before, but this is a way more accessible intro to Joyce than that behemoth.
It's more accessible than Ulysses but I felt that the non-insanity of the prose left it feeling commonplace among works around the turn of the 20th century, almost like Dickens (whom I loathe). Maybe I should give the collection another try after your post. How did you feel this affects your enjoyment of the writing?
That's why Portrait is my favorite Joyce work, and probably my favorite novel of all time -- it's not completely off the deep end, but so uniquely Joycean, so tender with his characters and so poetic in his prose. One of the few books I've ever bothered to go back and re-read just for pleasure.
btw, if you write poems, you're no aspiring poet -- you are a poet. Believe in your work comrade! I believe in you!
Totally agree on that point, it's distinctively less crazy than Ulysses and I'm definitely enjoying it less because it's not as fun with the prose. It's very good, and still has that empathy for all characters involved, so I'm enjoying it but not as much as Ulysses. Haven't read Portrait yet, but I'll definitely get around to it. I'm Irish so I feel it's my duty to read Joyce, and he's great.
Also thank you! Yeah I've self published two books and everything, so I guess I am a poet and do write poetry but it's always strange because you never really feel like a poet, you know? Imposter syndrome all the way down.
As a fellow writer I simultaneously understand the sentiment and disagree with it -- in order to find inspiration in the world you must constantly seek out its poeticisms, regardless of how much time you actually spend at the pen.
Iron Gold by Pierce Brown and The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon.
Steady on my goodthem! Omnis vir lupus! (I love the red rising books)
I really enjoyed the first trilogy, a lot. I’m on the fence so far on this one.
I feel the ride coming, I’m just not sure I’m ready. Lol. Still going to finish it, regardless.
Reading Blood in My Eye by George Jackson right now. Next up is Trans Liberation Beyond Pink or Blue.
Got the chance to read a lot this week. Finished Guards! Guards! by Pratchett, finished Beyond Pink or Blue, and started Family of Secrets by Russ Baker. It's about the Bush's and their family history, etc. Really enjoyed it so far. Some depraved fucking people.
Capital city: Gentrification and the Real Estate State by Sam Stein
re-reading wage labour and capital; next in line is Trans Liberation
Keywords, The new topping book and just started the Jakarta Method
My 'read immediately' list:
- Guy Debord -- The Society of the Spectacle
- Mark Fisher -- Capitalist Realism
- Leslie Feinberg -- Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink or Blue
- Frantz Fanon -- The Wretched of the Earth
- Paulo Freire -- Pedagogy of the Oppressed
- Henri Lefebvre -- Critique of Everyday Life
- James Baldwin -- No Name in the Street
I might move Baldwin up some and add some Marxist feminist stuff in there to get a feel for all people's struggles.
I'm also getting J. Moufawad-Paul's Continuity and Rupture in the mail soon and have some other physical copies of the classics I'd like to (re)read such as...- Frederick Engels -- Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
- V.I. Lenin -- State and Revolution
- V.I. Lenin -- Imperialism
- Peter Kropotkin -- Conquest of Bread
- Peter Kropotkin -- Mutual Aid
Just started The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. I'm only two chapters in but it's making a good first impression.
I'm reading it because a friend is test reading my first draft of a novel right now and he said it has very similar vibes, so I wanted to check it out before I do my second draft.
