all those clumsy things

September 2017 Theme: Hispanic Heritage

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! 

“Hispanic Heritage Month, whose roots go back to 1968, begins each year on September 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period.” Learn more here. 

Please join us in celebrating Hispanic and Latinx authors’ wide and wonderful contributions to literature! Tell us about your favourite underrated books by filling out the info below: 

Title: Author: Genre: Publisher: Year of Publication:

Synopsis: What did you like? What didn’t you like?

Rec it or forget it? Star rating: Recommended follow-up (optional):

In a recent post, The Trouble with Tolkien and Me, I admitted that I haven’t read The Lord of the Rings, which proves a bit of a problem considering my recent appointment as vice president of my uni’s Tolkien Society.

Well this summer, I’ve set out to remedy that. What follows is a LOTR-film-lover’s reactions to reading The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time:

1. Why is this so painfully relevant?

‘Always after a defeat and respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.’

”I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

2. Merry and Pippin are smart and competent?

Very cool! I like their clueless comic relief in the movies, but it’s great to see them as more than two mischievous friends that get caught up in Frodo’s journey by accident. In fact, by nature, Merry seems the most adventurous of the next generation of hobbits – including Frodo. And he and Pippin secretly plan to accompany Frodo for months before the group departs.

3. Tom Bombadil!

Finally, I can stop smiling and nodding blankly while my friends complain about his absence from the films! But seriously – who the is he and will he ever turn up or be important again?

4. How is it that I’m halfway through this book and they’ve barely left the Shire?

The pacing is so different; the films cut out most of the first half of Fellowship. Which is probably okay, because while it does eliminate Tom Bombadil and some other interesting scenes, it’s mostly a whole lot of:

5. Wait – Boromir has dark hair? Weird.

And where was this iconic line? 

6. Who is this Glorfindel and where is Arwen?

I liked Arwen’s rescue of Aragorn and the hobbits in the movie. That moment demonstrates that, while soft-spoken and gentle in temperament, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Without it, she seems a perfect embodiment of the beautiful, passive, sad-girl trope. I’m hoping that will change in The Return of the King…

7. And finally-

Yes. Here it comes. You tell that Balrog, Gandalf. YOU. SHALL. NOT– what?

WHAT? No.

I know it’s just one line, but come on! You shall not pass (command) sounds so much more badass than You cannot pass (statement)!

Of course, if this was the biggest disappointment in a book I loved, that’s probably okay. It’s proved such a treat to read this for the first time (although I do think moments like Gandalf’s fall in Moria would have had a bigger impact if I didn’t know what was coming later on). I just finished The Two Towers last night, so look for a reaction to that soon!

5/5 stars. (What does this mean?)

This book. 

The Song of Achilles slipped through the cracks of my To-Be-Reviewed list a few months ago. I lent it to a friend (who loved it – even more than I did, actually), which delayed me, and by the time I got it back, other reads were fresher in my mind…

Excuses aside, I really liked this book, and I still want to share it – so here’s a quick review of what sticks with me!

About

Title: The Song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

Published: 2011, Bloomsbury

Blurb

In the age of ancient heroes in Greece, Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’s mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfil his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

Highlights

Historical LGBT+ rep; it’s funny how people might think this pairing revisionist or a reach now, but it totally wasn’t in Ancient Greece

Lovely prose

Retells a well-known story (Homer’s The Iliad) through a lesser-known interpretation/from the perspective of a lesser known character

Poignantly and relevantly questions how far one will go and how much damage one will do to preserve/promote one’s ego

Favourite Character

Patroclus. Maybe it’s a cop out to choose the narrator, but I loved his thoughtful, steadfast, and kind nature. I also found his character arc the most relatable – particularly his need to reconcile what he loves and what he wants to be true with what is right and what he knows to be true.

Most Memorable Scene

The scene that resonated with me most ties directly into that arc. Patroclus witnesses an injustice that Achilles has the power to make right, but Achilles refuses to act, prioritizing his own agenda. Patroclus wrestles with his rage towards and his love for Achilles, all while working out how he can take matters into his own hands and make a difference.

“A tilting vertigo, as if I were drunk. I could not speak, or think. I had never been angry with him before; I did not know how… My mind is filled with catacylsm and apocalypse: I wish for earthquakes, eruptions, flood. Only that seems large enough to hold all of my rage and grief. I want the world overturned like a bowl of eggs, smashed at my feet.”

Rec it or Forget it: Rec it!

That awkward moment when all your friends assume you’ve read the 20th century’s landmark work of fantasy…

He’s a really smart lab, he learned all the commands, but he just has an affinity for doing them whenever he wants

So this lady’s dog literally turns on-off lights, opens doors, opens the fridge, etc… at his own wishes.

🚨 The internet needs you 🚨

You’re up again, Tumblr. 

Back in 2015 you demanded that the FCC adopt strict net neutrality rules and establish a free and open internet. And you won. 

That should’ve been the end of it. But apparently not.

The new head of the FCC wants to undo the net neutrality protections you fought so hard for.

His proposed changes open the door to your web traffic being slowed down, or even blocked altogether. You could be forced to pay extra to use your favorite apps. You could even be prevented from getting news from the sources you trust.

Title II protects consumers and democracy by ensuring all voices can be heard.

You know the drill. Here’s what to do:

The FCC is taking comments from the public, and dearfcc.org is making it as simple as possible for you to make your voice heard.

Go there now 👉 dearfcc.org ✌️

You’ll just need to provide a name, an address, and then say a little bit about why rolling back Title II protections is a bad idea. If you’re not quite sure what to write, here’s something to get you started:

I’m writing to urge you to keep our Open Internet rules based on Title II in place. Without them, we could lose the internet as we know it.

The proposed changes to FCC rules would allow fast lanes for sites that pay, and force everyone else into slow lanes. We’ve already seen access to streaming services like Netflix, popular games like League of Legends, and communication platforms like FaceTime slowed down, or even blocked. Conditions like this hurt businesses large and small, and penalize the users who patronize them. 

The changes also open the door to unfair taxes on internet users, and could also make it harder for blogs, nonprofits, artists, and others who can’t pay up to have their voices heard.

Please leave the existing existing net neutrality rules based on Title II in place.

Thank you!

If you need more ammo, feel free to quote these experts from our net neutrality Issue Time. TechCrunch and Battle for the Net also have some good starters.