the refuge of books

I’m not well-versed in what to expect from a historical overview kind of book, tbh. This book was accessible to me in spite of that. I felt like I have takeaways from reading this, I was motivated to continue based on the writing style and subject matter, and I didn’t feel overwhelmed in the sense of losing sight of the big picture in favor of too many specific facts. The balance between overarching statements and anecdotes was well done, in my opinion.

Among many topics and themes, this book considers intersectionality as it relates to disability and addresses who defines disability/based on what (e.g., ability to engage in labor), activism, divisions and unity among people with different kinds of disabilities, and allies of disabled activists such as labor unions. I definitely learned new things about indigenous views on disability, immigration policies as related to disability, and activism prior to and leading up to key legislation in the US (section 504, IDEA, ADA). It does essentially conclude in 1990, and it’s interesting to think about what an update would look like and how a disability history of the past 30 years in the US would be described.

my friend got it for me on release day as an early bday present :) we’ve read and discussed r.f. kuang books multiple times so far this year, and i was floored by how thoughtful that was :) it’s also a gorgeous book.

she asked me to “take notes” lol and this time I chose bullets instead of waiting until the end to write a paragraph or two. going to just post that straight from the notes app 😂 most of these notes were written before finishing the novel btw:

katabasis thoughts

* I called it that Peter was chronically ill but didn’t call it that it would be Crohn’s…appreciated that and how it was represented tbh

* The flaky genius reputation but he crafted that facade to help get away with inconsistencies due to his illness without telling anyone? And he was studying and it wasn’t actually effortless as people assumed as well? Stellar

* RF Kuang…the poppy war and katabasis….self-sacrifice to save the protagonist….by her complicated relationship Person….OUCH

* Speaking of which…them getting closer until to BAM he’s DEAD he sacrificed himself!!!

* Alice of course he was planning to sacrifice himself all along though…he wouldn’t kill you….it was clear as a reader as least that’s not what “if Alice = ???” represented girl 😂😂😂

* The tropeyness and related imagery like ok the cat saves the day? Bone creature army? Sure lol. It’s like, indulgent, which is ironic in contrast since it’s fun and light but they’re in HELL people are dead and dying okay. Irony!

* ^borderline corny at points but oh well lol

* “Hell is a campus” lol. Well for them yes

* I loveeeee the word katabasis immensely. incredible title and I keep saying “katabasis!” to myself randomly

* Alice is so motivated by ambition (vs changing the world - however she seems to be coming around to this about 480 pages in - not changing the world but “making it count” and making a difference/something happen with her time..thanks to Peter) and having so much of the novel be Alice + Peter versus ensembles were different than usual experiences for me as a fantasy reader lol

* Thematically: included meaning of life - that it’s fleeting gives it more meaning, endless time would be meaningless ? little things + love and experiencing life for the sake of all its little wonders?

* Alice pondering ending it / she’s thought about it…that insight was resonant (don’t worry I’m ok)

* Societal commentary: I felt like this book dealt more with the patriarchy & feminism than r.f. kuang’s other work (if my memory serves, and I definitely thought other themes related to society were major in her other works - e.g., racism, classism) - being respected in academia as a woman, objectification/harassment - disagreed with Alice’s perspectives and desires at some points, like wanting to be alluring (to weaponize it essentially?) and also her looking down on others at times - but think that’s on purpose for the reader to go “huh-maybe not, alice”

* Update to the above: based on her interactions and resolution with elspeth, it seems that she progressed past some of those earlier views 👍🏻

* Her description of magnolia having it all and being the star, not her spouse, was cool (they orbit her)

* “You’re insufferable I love arguing with you about every little thing I’m in love with you” pipeline …so indulgent…I love it…Alice and Peter!!!!!! <3 And the “because you’re in love with me” - ah!

* Alice’s ultimate response to grimes and the ending were quite satisfying to me. But it felt fast like, “wait, it’s over?” - probably just because I rush when excited lol

* Overall I enjoyed the experience of reading this book. It took me a bit to get more into it and occasionally I was just slightly like “okay that’s where we’re going then? Sure” lol. I love r.f. kuang’s writing and craft of a novel, though I would say the poppy war trilogy is still my favorite :)