jdobzynski Book Recommendations & Book Mentions

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2022 - 117 - “Understanding Kurt Vonnegut” by William Rodney Allen A literary review of Vonnegut’s novels through Bluebeard, helping the reader to understand the influences and themes at work in each. Many references to Allen’s collection of interviews with Vonnegut. https://t.co/c9dI59C5W0

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2022 - 59 - “Beloved” by Toni Morrison The best, and most difficult, ghost story I’ve ever read. Morrison captures the true terror of generational trauma, based on one of the more disturbing slave narratives. Also the best novel about post-emancipation I’ve ever read. https://t.co/4ZGgtJfOrG

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2023 - 002 - “Ulysses” by James Joyce Anyone who completes this book should get college credit. Unfinished it twenty years ago. Made it this time after reading Homer, Aristotle, etc. Foundational for many literary movements, but quite dated for social/cultural reasons. https://t.co/HIzudqh12b

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2022 - 70 - “Parable of the Talents” by Octavia E. Butler Sequel to Parable of the Sower. A very eerily prescient look at the rise of christian nationalism, complete with censored education and child separation. Truly feels like today. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! https://t.co/JC7ai8uZ7o

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2023 - 001 - “South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation” by Imani Perry A reflective, insightful look at how the black experience has shaped our country and how our country has shaped black experience here and abroad. https://t.co/Icd3U3tgV2

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2023 - 010 - “Nothing Personal” by James Baldwin Baldwin’s essay based on Richard Avendon’s images is stripped of the pictures and presented by itself introduced by Imani Perry. Concisely sums up a great deal of Baldwin’s insight, much of which is still relevant today. https://t.co/EwrKTibyXY

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2022 - 118 - “Sula” by Toni Morrison A wild ride through the politics of race, sex, and relationships in Ohio in the early half of the 20th Century. Centered around Sula, an enigmatic character that may be considered a hero today, as Morrison through Sula predicted. https://t.co/TGTUHLlxGT

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2022 - 119 - “Seveneves” by Neal Stephenson Probably the hardest science fiction about orbital mechanics that I have ever read, or maybe ever will be written. Loved the story even though many will not. And as usual with Stephenson, an ending that sort of trails off… https://t.co/P28drP2K9g

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2023 - 013 - “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf A nice companion piece to Jacob’s Room using characters previously found in The Voyage Out. Considers the social milieu post-WWI London in the same way Jacob’s Room considered the social milieu of pre-WWI London. https://t.co/VDEXiNHJuG

jdobzynski

#BooksRead2022 - 104 - “Constitution of Athens” by Aristotle Aristotle’s history and explanation of the Athenian Constitution at the time of his writing. Fascinating history beginning with Solon, along with the two wars (Xerxes, Peloponnesian) that intervened. https://t.co/KAfs15CiWf

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