What is the point in Nanowrimo if you use AI…?

It’s recently come to my attention that the actual organisation Nanowrimo is shady af. Annnd they also came out in support of AI, because they have a deathwish as a writing platform and want to go the way of the dinosaurs. Here’s their (original) bonkers post on AI:

Yeahhhh no one would’ve thought they’d whip out the “you’re ableist” if you don’t agree with the use of AI, but that’s where we’re at. Apparently, the people who run this platform have to resort to namecalling in place of actually developing an argument. Clearly, they’re just used to playing the *insert your favourite “ist” term here* whenever they are asked their opinion. But for the record, no, it is not classist or ableist to criticise using AI. Not only is it phenomenally patronising to imply people with disabilities are incapable of writing without AI chatbots, but it’s also flat out wrong. One has to assume the person/team that wrote that original post has no idea how writing actually works. I mean, if you don’t have the means, you don’t even need a computer to put pen to paper and you can also get feedback without spending a penny (heard of writer’s groups?? And *newsflash* these can even take place offline). If you want to use AI, the likelihood is you need a lot more tech (and money) to do so. It’s not the poor unfortunate souls who are succumbing to AI- it’s people with money to purchase a cheat-sheet.

Naturally, Nanowrimo did what every mature company would do in the face of this scandal… and gave a non-apology, going with the line “Not being more careful about our wording was a bad decision on our part.” Soooo despite the backlash from actual artists, they won’t be taking back this terrible take any time soon. Which is why it falls to the likes of me to point out the goddamn obvious: AI MAKES NANOWRIMO POINTLESS. There, I said it. Using AI defeats the object of actually writing. And, ironically for a programme designed around *challenging yourself* to write a novel in 30 days, it also removes the actual *challenge* part of the equation (unless you’re one of those dude-bros who thinks plugging some keywords into a search engine makes you a genius). I mean, I guess Nano would rather not make the statement: “hey, if you’re lazy and want to fake write a novel, we’ve no actual way of stopping you, so be my guest” (JK they’re using the message boards, which have their own fair share of scandals, as an excuse for this statement, because apparently coming out loosely in favour of AI will calm everything down lol… again, I’ve got absolutely no idea why they didn’t just keep their mouths shut).

Look, I get it, sometimes people like cheat codes more than playing the video game. And if a virtual badge is super important to you (or the merch you get to buy if you “win”) then nothing I say is going to persuade you otherwise. That said, using AI for Nanowrimo goes right up there as one of the dumbest uses of AI. Right alongside using AI to generate your ideas in the first place. Yeah, that’s right, I said that too. Because I am not sold on AI as a way to generate “ideas”. Again, for the obvious reason, what is even the point??? Not only will your ideas be stale/stolen/unoriginal, but if you don’t like writing or coming up with stories, why are you pretending to yourself you even want to be a writer? And don’t give me rubbish about AI being good for problem solving. Are you telling me you aren’t capable of critical thinking? And you think that relying on AI will help with that? As I’ve said in a previous post, AI is not known for its critical thinking capabilities, so I hate to break it to you but you’re looking for inspiration in the wrong place.

And that leads me onto another huge issue: and that’s YOU CAN’T ACTUALLY TRUST AI. When it comes to research, I have to reiterate that AI is not the way to go. Not only are you not able to see what sources most AI chatbots are using, but the information can also be wrong (again, without sources, there’s no way to verify this). For me, doing a search with AI on Google is like going into a library and asking for a book and some random guy in the back yelling at you “hey I know what you’re looking for” and just yelling information at you. Now this guy could be a professor in the particular subject you’re looking for… or they could be some drunk dude who loves conspiracy theories, you’ll never know! Recently, I was looking into witches in the Spanish Inquisition (for my review on The Familiars), and on the one hand I had AI telling me “The Spanish Inquisition preferred to focus on heresy, and discouraged witch trials in Spain proper.” Vs a fully researched dissertation on the Basque witch trials (the AI also contradicts itself further down: “The Inquisition rarely used the terms “witch” and “witchcraft” in court, instead preferring “sorcerer”, “trickster”, and “superstitious practices””). Suffice to say, I was already sceptical and wasn’t going to just go with the AI explanation, but it’s all too easy to just take what the chatbot says at face value… especially when it’s the first thing you see! Sadly, the very people screeching about disinformation are promoting the worst kind of disinformation. So watch out- if you use AI for research you could end up spending a lot of time rewriting… or looking foolish.

With that in mind, where do I stand on Nano? I’ve lost all respect for the company. I can’t say I was a big supporter, never having done it officially or used the actual platform (I didn’t realise for years there was an actual platform behind it, I just thought it was a fun thing on the internet). Going forward, I won’t be mentioning the company (unless they do more shady shit). When it comes to my writing, I’m just gonna rely on my good old-fashioned methods, of ya know, actually writing 😉

And that’s all for now! What do you think of Nanowrimo’s stance? Do you think they needed to make a statement on AI? Do you agree or disagree with their stance? Let me know in the comments!

Monthly Monkey Mini Reviews – OH WOW, it’s October 2024!

Hello all! WHOA! That month was crazy! Sorry for being MIA, September was really busy, with lots of ups and downs. First things first, I need all the good wishes for my poor puppy who hurt his paw 😭

He’s recovering well, but he could definitely do with any love you send his way!! Other than work, my time has been taken up with vet visits and making sure he gets all the cuddles, treats and TLC he deserves!

Before Charlie’s accident, we did get in some good walkies, and hopefully we’ll return to form soon!

I was also lucky enough to go to the Monet and London Exhibition- which was 120 years in the making!! (I should turn this series into a “Monthly Monet Mini Review” 😉) Being a Londoner, I was astounded at how I didn’t just imagine myself walking in the scenes he painted, but could also feel the palpable emotions leaping off the canvass. Monet captured the sense of London as awake at all hours and the joyous pulse of the city. I also liked learning that Monet thought London weather was “crazy” as the rest of us- and that the curator new his audience well enough to include that titbit 😅

Finally, as it was my birthday, I have some lovely book haul photos to share too!

Mother’s Instinct– ach I should’ve listened to my instincts with this one, because I didn’t like the topic, but I thought I’d give it a go anyway. Annnd that was a mistake ☹ Apart from the unpleasant subject matter, the plot is telegraphed in this paint-by-numbers thriller. I mean, let’s see if you can decode the plot:

Main character with history of mental illness (aka no one’s going to believe her) + former-nurse nemesis (ie can kill people in a way no one will suspect) = dead bodies and gaslighting.

While the 60s aesthetic was pleasant, it didn’t actually help the narrative, because it just made the twists all the more obvious. In fairness to the actresses, they did a great job. It just wasn’t helped by the bland cinematography and dull storyline. Definitely give this one a miss!

Arcane– *wow* just *wow*!!! I watched this thanks to a recommendation from a friend- BUT I WAS NOT PREPARED! Edgy, original, gorgeous- I got shivers just from the opening. What a story! What a piece of ART! And it doesn’t waste a second, with the story progressing and evolving with every episode. Brilliantly crafted, friend and foe are mirrored in perfect synchronicity. Relationships are mapped out across the series and grow in unexpected ways. When I finished this, I just sat in silence. The only complaint I have is that everything I tried to watch afterwards paled in comparison. The upside is that I waited so long to watch this I (thankfully) only have a month or so to wait for the next (and final) season! Honestly, I wish every adaptation was this. goddamn. good.

Wild– I didn’t expect to like this, but it wound its way into my heart. Reading this at a crossroads in my life, I appreciated the boundless and resilience Strayed showed over the course of her trek. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is just put one foot in front of the other. And then you can let the healing power of nature do the rest (incidentally, I strongly recommend listening to the audiobook while walking, like I did 😉). I will say, as I have some experience hiking, don’t take this as a literal guide- some of her choices are really poor and she was very, very lucky to come out on the other side. With that in mind, I’ve also no idea why I need this level of detail about what she packed (the joke she’s making is lost somewhere in the weeds). Still, much of her story is very moving, and definitely worth checking out.

Rating: 4/5 bananas

Where the Dark Stands Still– I’m getting stuck trying to put my finger on why I didn’t fall for this book the way I expected. Much as I appreciated the magic and mythology of this Russian inspired Beauty and the Beast retelling, I found it a little lightweight. Unfortunately, it starts from the lacklustre motivation of the main character, venturing into the woods, and selling herself into servitude. I could not find that spark of connection with the protagonist’s arc, finding her little dull despite her holier-than-thou aura. Because I never took a shine to her, I wasn’t sold on her quest and I didn’t like that the solution to her problems was realising that *she had the power in her all along* (honestly, this might be one of my least favourite tropes ever). I will say the writing style was very polished and pretty, even if the story left a lot to be desired.

Rating: 3½/5 bananas

Thornhedge– it’s the little things that cement this writer as brilliant- and this brief fantasy is the perfect example of that. Combining Princess Frog with Sleeping Beauty, this is a tangle of fairy tale retellings, twisted into an intricate narrative. Even with a knight and a changeling child locked in a tower, this isn’t simply an adventure story. Rather it is a psychological drama, dealing with some pretty heavy philosophical discussions. It’s a sharp take on classic themes.

Rating: 4/5 bananas

All This Twisted Glory- I’m torn over this book. As much as I don’t mind a languid pace, the story was so sloooowww and didn’t progress the plot of the series at all. I’m concerned a trilogy turned into a five book series is a mistake, because the narrative hasn’t progressed much in not one book, but two! Much of the plot was a repetition of the prophecies of the previous book and more of that blasted love triangle (which thankfully was gracefully resolved by the end of the book… hopefully for good!) I also would like to see Aliza change a little in more. Much as I get she’s a messianic figure, I need her to at least be affected by what she’s going through, but she barely ever even emotes when she’s in life-and-death situations. All of this implies I didn’t like this book at all- and that’s really not the case. I really do love spending time in this mythological world and I had a good time revisiting this story, it’s just sadly the weakest in the series so far.

Rating: 3½/5 bananas

The Story of a New Name– there was nothing all that new in this sequel to My Brilliant Friend, but it does offer some decent payoff for the setup of the first book. Weirdly, this was both more gruesome and more lovely than its predecessor, showing how women can be crushed by circumstances, but also claw their way to out of hardship. Personally, I felt that the successes and failures were dealt out a little more unevenly in this one, which is a shame, because I do not wish to see one woman rise, while the other falls. That said, it’s made me curious to see what’s going to happen in the rest of the Neapolitan novels.

Rating: 4/5 bananas

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay– well I think there’s a reason Ferrante is viewed as one of the best authors of her generation. The DEPTH in these books is phenomenal. And the characters feel so real to me- even if I don’t always like them. There’s simply something infinitely compelling about this series. Again, this is about the barbs you swallow as a woman and how that can poison you up from inside. I will say I was a little less invested in this book, because the story is always better when the women are in each other’s lives, and the distance in this book was probably the greatest. I also think her work is best when she shows failure- partly because you learn the most from it (and when you expect to succeed you often fail and when you expect to fail you often succeed 😉).

Rating: 3½/5 bananas  

The Story of the Lost Child– OOF this was probably the most emotionally heavy-hitting in the series- and that’s saying something! I mean, bringing in a mystery like that at the end, how could you Elena??? It also happens to be the cruellest kind of mystery- because it is the kind that is never resolved- yet sadly that also makes it true to life. Heartbreaking and complexly human, I was compelled to read to the end without stopping (and this is a hefty book!!). Returning to the form of the earlier novels, the mirroring between the women was more pronounced and didn’t pull any punches. The painful magnetism of Lila ensnared me more than ever, growing with her suffering. Weaving through the streets of Naples, I felt more lost and yet more at home in Ferrante’s world. A spectacular end to a spectacular series.

Rating: 4½/5 bananas 

The Familiars- no one expects the Spanish Inquisition! And this book was certainly unexpected. Stories of Marranos are rare, which is why there is all the more reason to tell this story. Sadly though, the plot hinged on a magical tournament, which I’m not sure this was the way to go with this story. Now, part of the problem is that I’m not into competition fantasy anymore, however I took even greater issue with how this clashed with the setting. To put it bluntly, I don’t understand the decision to make the inquisition host a magical tournament. It makes literally no sense. Much as I’m not an expert on the topic, I’m confident that Catholics in the 16^th century weren’t big on witches. And, while there’s an argument that witches weren’t the big focus for the Inquisition, a quick google search will tell you that the Basque Trials, where more than 7000 witches, took place between 1609-1614 (only 20 or so years after this book takes place, since we are told this occurred shortly after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588). I just found it too hard to suspend my disbelief that this would even happen in the first place (though, *spoiler alert*, she does get accused of witchcraft by the end, but why does it even get that far?!) It didn’t help that the magic system was as flimsy as the history. Personally, I preferred her power at the beginning, where her power was made familiar and a little mundane. I really feel like this could’ve focused on the main character being in hiding, with a mission to escape Spain, whilst trying to control her uncontrollable magic (which would’ve paralleled the Jewish story). Still, I have to judge this book as it is, and there were some real positives. Once I got past the book I wanted to read, I was able to forgive a lot of the issues, because it was so beautifully written, with a dazzlingly drawn ensemble cast. I also loved the ending and felt there was a powerful fairy tale wrapped up in the peculiar choice of plot. Though I am a little torn about parts of the narrative, ultimately I was won over by Bardugo’s brilliance.

Rating: 4/5 bananas

Annnd that’s all for now! Have you read any of these? What did you think of them? Let me know in the comments! And I hope you all had a good month! ❤

Assessing The Examiner

By way of introduction, I have to say this academia-themed thriller is the perfect book to read in September. Set in a University, following students on a new art course, it presents a humorous take on academia, whilst also stressing you out in the way a great mystery should.

Personally, I loved how this reminded me of being back at uni- especially after my recent return to school. After a year on a masters, I laughed at all the references to Doodle (most unis in the UK use Moodle) and found the way the admin/course directors spoke to students to be on point (they always talk to you like you’re children… even if most postgrads are mature students 😅). For me, this is the first time since The Appeal that I’ve been truly amused by Hallett’s work and felt she played to her strengths with the parodic style. I also valued how this poked fun at educational institutions, whilst somehow managing to present some nuanced storytelling.

One of my favourites parts about this book was the eclectic range of students. Representing postgrads as they are, the characters all find themselves on this course for different reasons. And as you might expect on an art course, the clashing personalities make for a lot of drama. The fact that they were all larger-than-life caricatures really added to the comedy- but I have to admit some of them really acted like children and I wanted to expel them from the narrative at times. All I can say is thank goodness none of my cohort were like this!

As the narrative progressed, I appreciated the attention to detail more and more. Using the unusual format of collected emails and messages, Hallett’s signature style once again allows the reader to piece the mystery together- which works particularly well when you’re trying to school your reader with an academic mystery. It soon became apparent that the novel was about more than simply academic success- as is so often the case in the academic world, there was a lot of importance on money and politics. Because as is always the way with art students, it’s never really about art. I very much liked the inclusion of a “just stop oil painting” style group 😉

Much as I was swept up in the journey, I did feel there was room for improvement in the ending. Not to be super critical, but the conclusion wasn’t as good as it could be. Considering the way the rest of the book sent up the characters, I was disappointed that the end result was so sympathetic and dry. There could have been a more rigorous development of the characters and the threads could have connected in a more interesting way. Still, I did have my *mindblown* by a lot of the ideas here!

I’m not going to instruct you to read this- you’ll have to make up your own mind- yet I can highly recommend giving it a try. The Examiner won’t fail to give you a good time.  

So, have you read this book? Are you a student of Hallett’s work? Let me know in the comments!

I Do Believe It’s a Funny Story

Well, it’s funny how things turn out. After my miserable experience with Happy Place, I never expected to love this book, let alone think it was one of my favourite rom coms I’ve read in a while.

Considering this starts with the main character’s fiancé leaving dumping her for another woman, this shouldn’t have made me smile from the beginning… but it did! Because this book definitely manages to see the funny side, making me laugh out loud and cackle at the way the jilted bride gets her payback. And that, it turns out, is getting into a fake relationship with her ex’s new fiancé’s ex!

As a rebound relationship, it’s surprising how sweet this romance is. Of course, considering how much these exes SUCKS, anyone would seem good in comparison. I mean, imagine your partner of five years coming home from their bachelor party, only to dump you and chuck you out of your home so that they can run off with another woman. Yeah, they’re that level of bad. And that’s only what happens in the first few pages- because not only do they wreck two relationships and leave a trail of destruction in their wake, but both of the exes can’t bear to be seen as the “bad guy”, so they have to keep rubbing everyone’s noses in it and twist the narrative into “it was all kismet and not my fault at all”. Barf. (What’s *WILD* is that none of this seems remotely unrealistic cos we’ve all met people like this). And yet, the love interest in this story is genuinely a good guy. Not in a phony, fake way- but in a OMG-I-want-to-protect-this-cinnamon-roll way! As much as I wanted to throttle the exes, all I wanted to do was give this great big golden-retriever a hug!

It’s not all fun and games though. Underpinning the narrative is a poignant discussion about how childhood hurts can resurface in adult relationships. Still, much as the character’s choose partners that mirror the faults of their lousy parents, this is a story of hope, as both learn to move past their old pain, in favour of healthier choices.

Personally, I found this by far the best book by this author. I emotionally connected with it in a way I haven’t with any of her other stories. Though I’ve come close to falling head over heels for Emily Henry’s work before, this had me tumbling into a tearful territory. Which is why, as much as there is a divide with her fans over whether you’re a fan of the Book Lovers approach or People We Meet on Vacation style, I’m hopeful this delightful Funny Story will unite everyone with its greatness.

Rating: 5/5 bananas

So, have you read this one? Did you enjoy it as much as I did? Are you an Emily Henry fan? Let me know in the comments!  

Historical Fiction Featuring Women in War!

Considering my recent discussions about historical fiction, I thought it would be a good time to share some realistic depictions of women at war. Naturally, as these are based in historical settings, most of these women are not the typical Hollywood kickass stereotype, quite simply because she did not exist. However, that does not mean that these women are ordinary. In fact, whether these women were at home defending the hearth or in the line of fire, I’ve chosen heroines who are exceptional in different ways. Women who can be admired for their femininity, not just the typically heroized masculinity. And in that respect, a lot of these are stories about people making a difference. If you want to read purely about women suffering, then by all means, read the likes of Silence of the Girls.

The House of Bernarda Alba– okay, after all that preamble, I am going to start with a rather depressing example. That said, this story set in the Spanish Civil War does reflect on what it is like to be left behind and how war can tear you apart with grief. For all those who think war is easy for women, I urge you to observe the other side of human suffering.

Nightingale– since we’re on the topic of women’s hardships in war, I have to mention this harrowing historical fiction. Because it turns out that women did not have it easy just because they weren’t on the front lines. Using two sisters to show the two sides of the Occupation in France, this hugely emotional read will make you second guess every decision on their road towards survival.

The Salt to the Sea– Sepetys WW2 fiction similarly examines the tragedies for the women stuck in the middle of a conflict. Let’s just say it’s not plain sailing.

The King’s General– set in the English Civil War, Du Maurier explores being caught in the crossfire of a conflict. Stories like this show the devastating effects of a civil war, where whole families can be torn apart and it is difficult to tell your friends from your foes.

Little Women– and of course this list would not be complete without this behind the scenes look at the little women left behind. Showing the more human cost of war, this classic reveals the pain you often don’t see.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society– written in the epistolatory form, the narrative depicts a female character dealing with wartime PTSD in an authentic and moving way. Also, more impressively, the female protagonist is strong in a way that is not often depicted in fiction. She has a heart of gold, whilst not taking any prisoners. She also doesn’t need to resort to being rude (unlike in the film). Underneath all her verve, she has a sweetness that is often lacking in many leads. I really loved how this book is about rebuilding your life from beneath the rubble of the blitz!

Charlotte Gray– ah now this is another emotional read! On a secret mission of the heart, this is story of extreme endurance.

The Alice Network– I often overlook this in favour of the Huntress- because that’s a brilliant book- however this story about female spies in WW1 is also very well done. Tense as a thriller and realistic thanks to being well researched, Quinn has a real talent for bringing history to life.

Code Name Verity– OOF. Thinking about this feels like *torture* because it hit me in the feels *so hard*. Following the pilot “Verity” after she has been shot down and caught by the Gestapo, this is how to perfectly execute a female-led WW2 novel.

War and Peace– now Tolstoy’s masterpiece of course doesn’t just cover women in war- it is a book that examines every side of conflict. That said, Natasha Rostova is a diamond of classic literature, placed under immense pressure and yet continuing to shine from beyond the page for hundreds of years.

And that’s all I have for now! What do you think of the characters in these books? Do you have any female-led wartime historical fiction to add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

The Dangerous Preponderance to Rewrite History – Take 2: Romanticising the Past

And by that, I mean literally romanticising the villains. Yeah, I did not know this was a thing, but as a footnote to my last post, I have to refer to this video by Read With Cindy where she discusses the dark romance genre… which shockingly is about falling in love with Nazis and members of the frickin KKK! Yeah, we thought it was wild when girls were obsessing over werewolves and vampires- turns out they were the sane romantics. Shockingly, there’s more than one way to skew history- and that’s by skewering all good sense and morality, because for some reason evil is sexy?!?

Now, Cindy did bring up that there is a tendency in other genres, such as fantasy, to glorify falling in love with your natural enemy, including Nina and Matthias in Six of Crows. As Bardugo is a Jewish author, I have wondered how conscious she was of doing this, because the story does give me Chava from Fiddler on the Roof vibes.

Obviously, this is so much worse when stories end with conversion. I’ve mentioned recently how I am not a fan of the conversion trope, simply because it has been used historically to dehumanise Jews (for instance, Ivanhoe or Merchant of Venice, with the character converting only to be abandoned, because the whole point was just to lure them away from their families). It’s not exactly a journey of self-realisation or real-life redemption- and it makes me distinctly uncomfortable NB this is not about real life converts, just how the trope is handled in books, where it is all about seduction not spirituality (otherwise my position is the same as Larry David: “take em all, I don’t need em” 😉).

But all of this pales in comparison to the subtle humanisation of historical villains. While it is popular to write stories revolving around the “not all Nazis were bad”, it ignores historical facts. People currently like to play down the support the Nazis had, yet the Nazis were the biggest party in 1933 with over 17 million votes. And it doesn’t help matters that the number of righteous gentiles in Germany was just 641 (less than 1% of Germans). Needless to say, I’m not a big fan of when Jewish suffering is just there as window dressing for the German hero to learn something… when in actuality this was unbelievably rare. This subtle reconfiguration of events is far more dangerous- just like the subtle anti-Semitism of Fagin, seeping into the psyche, in a way that is more palatable than blatant blood libel (for normal people anyway, old school Jew hate is on trend right now😉).

Now, I don’t believe for a second the people writing Nazi redemption stories (ach that is such a hard phrase to write!) are straight up white supremacists (at least I hope not!) I reckon a lot of this comes from a desire to find light in the darkness and learn from our mistakes… HOWEVER, I think it is doing the exact opposite. Instead, of learning from the past, it is making a mockery of history and erasing evil actions from the collective memory. And, given the state of the world right now, that is genuinely terrifying. Between people who have decided Nazis aren’t so bad and the Osama Bin Laden groupies, we are so screwed. The past is a dark and scary place- but I’m beginning to fear for the present. Can we please go back to the days where the Nazi uniform immediately sparked fear and disdain? Let’s just try to stop romanticising the baddies, shall we?

Have to be honest, that was a tough post to write. But I want to know what you think? Do you think the past is being too romanticised? Let me know in the comments!

Rewriting History is Dangerous

Let’s get this out of the way: I love alternative history. Bridgerton- and more importantly Queen Charlotte– makes me happy. I usually don’t care about showing more diversity (within reason, sometimes the choices are actually not as interesting as they could’ve been, like BBC’s Troy, where they chose to erase the historically Persian characters). I’m also cool with showing women in different roles (again, within reason… it’s a pity so many shows lack creativity when they’re doing this).

However, I have a bone to pick with this obsession with rewriting history- and that’s the impact it’s having on education.

When it comes to history, in my experience as an educator I’ve heard it all, but my absolute favourite was being told that the Victorians were more progressive- particularly on gay rights. And yes, this is anecdotal, yet I’ve heard similar things from other tutors/teachers. And this is coming from different students from different schools and very different backgrounds. There’s just a lot of absolute nonsense being taught! Though, of course, as I mentioned a lot of this is coming from Hollywood. And just so I piss off the last of you who are still on board, it’s particularly noticeable in the portrayal of women warriors… when mostly that’s mythological or the exception to the rule. Obviously, this misinformation is opening up the door to even more misinformation (no redpillers, women not being warriors does not mean women have no stakes in war, because not being able to defend yourself is horrendous and if you think otherwise, you’ve never heard of the Rape of Nanking).

Fundamentally, it is an issue how poorly educated people are on history across the board. We are glitzing historical settings up far too much, to the point where we don’t get how awful it was (though no one in their right minds would choose to live in the 1830s, Taylor). Much as this perspective may be unpopular, we need to reconsider how we look at history. Until we teach the unpleasant realities of the past, aka that it was not a diverse utopia, we are doing a disservice to truth. And if we bury history beneath lies, we will never learn from it.

Ah I’m a little nervous to ask- but what do you think? Is rewriting history going too far? Or is it all good? Let me know in the comments!

Philosophical Picture Books- Stories for Younger Readers with Hidden Depths!

Because it turns out picturebooks can actually be quite deep. Here’s a small selection that will get those cogs turning- for both children and adults!

Why?- ah the power of a wordless picturebook! This is the kind of book that can make you think without uttering a word! A deeply reflective narrative, told entirely in pictures, it shows the beginning and end of conflict and all the messiness in between. It holds a vocally anti-war message, showing the dumbfounding results of aggression. While it is somewhat propagandistic, it subtly pictures the tragedy of war in such a way that is worthy of discussion.  

Cicada– and if you’re looking for another book that examines adult values, then this is a personal favourite. Critiquing the daily grind of the adult world, this book is surprisingly existential for a picturebook. And yet, in typical Tan fashion, the ending depicts a rebirth or apotheosis that is humorously optimistic (although, of course, another reading could lead you back to existential despair that the only escape is death… but we won’t worry about that for now 😉).

The Three Questions– instead, if you want to ask the big questions, then I recommend reading this beautifully illustrated story. As much as it’s aimed at small children, it’s largely a philosophical journey that many adults can’t get their head around aka the not so little issue of the meaning of life. Based on Tolstoy’s story, it’s a phenomenal foray into how we find meaning in our everyday actions. It is a truly gorgeous narrative that will inspire both old and young.

Death, Duck and Tulip– once you’re done dealing with the meaning of life, why not delve into the topic of death? A sombre story, it is a seemingly simple tale of life and death… and yet it is a path we all must walk. And yet, this story tells us, we don’t have to do it alone.  

I Am Henry Finch– of course, if we are tackling the big questions, we must eventually turn to the topic of who am I? And this is the most brilliant take on finding your own identity and standing out from the crowd… even if that means you risk everything to do so. (Also can we talk about how brilliant it is that the birds are all made of individual fingerprints??? How cool is that!?)

I Don’t Want to Be a Frog– quite an upbeat read, this has a lovely message about being comfortable in your own (slimy) skin. So, hop to it and read this as quickly as you can!

The Bear and the Piano– on the surface, this looks like your typical cute picturebook. And yet, there is a hidden depth here, showing that there is more to life than fame and fortune. And, even more importantly, how no matter how much you change and grow, you can always find your way back home to the people that care about you. I just think this is a lovely narrative about growing up and finding your way.

The Giving Tree– admittedly, this one depresses me a bit. However, this is a *classic* tale of growing up… even if it does make me feel really bad for how much we take advantage of the people (mothers) who give us everything. Either way, there’s no question this is rife for discussion.

Let’s Do Nothing– if you’re looking for something a bit more lighthearted, then I did really enjoy this funny picturebook from a child’s perspective. It turns out, it really is impossible to do nothing.

Knuffle Bunny– another book from a child’s point of view, and returning to books with limited speech, I love this funny and charming book from Mo Willems!

And that’s all for now! What do you think of these picturebooks? And do you have any more philosophical picturebooks to recommend? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Book Reviews Are Not Academic

I don’t know what possessed an academic to try gatekeeping reviews, but this is the world we live in I guess. There’s really not enough commonsense to go around. Basically some academic dude said in an interview that judging books by how much we enjoy them is wrong and reviews should be academic. Now, thankfully, the youtuber who runs the channel did put out a great response. All credit to Library of a Viking, he makes the point that there already are places where you can analyse books in an academic way. I mean, it’s not like there’s a billion-dollar industry of universities out there where you can study literature to your heart’s content 😉

Naturally, it doesn’t help that the basic assumptions are incorrect. Firstly, the internet is absolutely full of in-depth discussions- including on Youtube (for longer reviews of books, I recommend Unresolved Textual Tension). Secondly, the statement that no one has a literature degree online is incorrect- at least one booktuber in the thumbnail has an academic background in literature for instance. Not that this will influence whether people will choose to listen to an academic when they’re choosing what to read next. As the video mentions, academic study is far more focused on creating theories and how they apply, than how readers respond to it.

To expand on this argument, as someone who’s just spent the last year back in the hallowed halls of education, it’s not like academia is without its flaws. Much as I respect academics, there are as many negatives as positives. From navel gazing to ideological leanings, there are massive blindspots in academic analysis. Potentially, an academic angle could be interesting in a review, but since academic analysis is a different skill, I’d personally argue it’s as much a hindrance as a help. Academic study of course helps with understanding technicalities… and yet, I don’t actually value the academic reviews that are only interested in how things work on a technical level (although I could just be grumpy because reviews in academic journals led me to read bullshit books like Bull… let’s just say those recommendations never pan out). Basing reviews on criteria other than whether you like or dislike doesn’t actually improve the standard of the review- it actually misses the mark entirely. In short, it does not necessarily give you the information you are looking for when you read a review.

Plus, it’s not like academics are objective when it comes to their opinions. Not liking a classic does not mean the reader wasn’t “ready for it”- it might just mean the book wasn’t to their taste or heaven forbid it’s not all it’s cracked up to be (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people tell me I just don’t “get” As I Lay Dying and I need to study it more… and I’m over here thinking “dude where do you think I was introduced to that postmodernist crap?” 😂) Ratings and reviews are often somewhat based on quality- people don’t just dislike something for the fun of it. Honestly, it’s pretty childish to take it so personally when someone doesn’t enjoy your fave– and being an academic does not make your opinion sacrosanct or your opinions bulletproof. All I’m learning from this guy is that he isn’t aware of his own subjectivity.

So no, I don’t think reviewers should be academics. The best reviews will tell you why something did or did not work for them. Readers can then make an informed decision whether to read it- no more, no less. Anything else is just frills. Reviewing is a skill in its own right and should be respected. And if you have a problem with that, no one’s going into your place of work and trying to get you fired based on different job criteria (though sadly I’m not actually paid to do this 😉 ). And, if you want to read for academic purposes, then I recommend looking up academic reading lists.

But I want to know what you think! Should reviews be more academic? Is it an issue for ratings to be based largely on how you feel about a book? Let me know in the comments!

Thoughts on University in Literature

Well, it seems like a good time of year to talk about this, since many students will be readying their applications as of now… But this post is not designed to stress anyone out (or remind people of former stress). Rather, I saw an excellent video discussing university in TV and movies and I thought it was a really interesting one to discuss- particularly with regards to how this translates into literature.

The first point I really appreciated was how Amanda Todhunter draws attention to how *everyone* is depicted as getting into the TOP universities. And this isn’t just perpetuated in Hollywood films, where glossy futures might be forgiven, but in every. single. teen show ever made. My personal favourite and funniest example being in Pretty Little Liars- where admittedly the character is supposed to be very smart- but she still winds up going to an Oxford interview in London lol (I’m assuming none of the writers majored in geography 😉).  

In truth, the issue is that these representations are unrealistic. Characters in these stories would frankly have no time for romance or adventure or solving murder mysteries (*ahem* PLL!). They would be too obsessed with extracurriculars and applications and stressing about money… which of course no one has to do in the world of TV and movies, because they’re all either extraordinarily rich or able to get full scholarships that somehow cover everything. And, of course, don’t worry about your favourite characters getting in- they absolutely will (unless the network has decided to renew the show, in which case they have to make up a local college so that all the characters can be in the same place). I know portraying all of this truthfully would be less glitzy, but it would be realistic.

Now, it is somewhat the case in literature that there is an overrepresentation of top institutions- although with some caveats. Because a lot of this overrepresentation comes in service of two major subgenres: 1) the literary academic, which typically explores social class and fitting in (*yawns* because it’s so overdone) and 2) dark academia (ah yes sign me up).

Given that these representations of elite institutions are there to serve a purpose, I can forgive the lack of realism. HOWEVER, there is one huge difference with books to movies- that I think Hollywood could learn from- and that’s not everyone goes to top schools. People’s dreams can be smaller. For instance, the thing that really irked me about the whole Lara Jean Stanford plotline is that in the books it’s not about her not getting into the Ivy League school of her dreams, it’s about her not getting into a small liberal arts college that her mother went to. And when she doesn’t get in it is a HUGE DEAL for the character, not because she had her heart set on spending college with her boyfriend, but because it meant so much to her personally. She ends up going to a different liberal arts college that is better for her anyway… all of which suits her character arc and personality better! In turn, this helps her (and the potential reader) come to terms with getting rejected- because it’s not all sunshine and rainbows all the time- especially when it comes to uni applications. Personally, I think every part of this storyline is meaningful and important for anyone going through the process or who has been through it in the past.

So, yes, there is still some snob value when it comes to colleges in books, however I think this is one where the books do it better… but then, being a bookworm, I would say that 😉

What do you think? Do you think university is portrayed better in books or on screen? Let me know in the comments!