New artwork: By the Gift and Power of God.
Blog
Booknotes 3.3
Nonfiction
- SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, by Mary Beard (2015). Quite good, learned a lot. In particular, I really liked the historiographical aspect, where she talks about the historical evidence (or lack thereof) for various things. Also, I want to note for posterity that I don’t think about Rome other than when I’m reading books about it.
- What Can a Body Do?: How We Meet the Built World, by Sara Hendren (2020), about disability and the design of the world around us (think curb cuts for wheelchairs). Good book, worth reading. Several different angles on disability, including mental health. This book made me want to be a designer again.
Fiction
- Made Things, by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2019, fantasy). Liked it a lot, especially the overall feel. I wouldn’t mind seeing more in this universe.
- Mightier than the Sword, by K. J. Parker (2017, fantasy). Also liked it a lot. Classic Parker, with faux antiquity and wit.
- Legends & Lattes, by Travis Baldree (2022, fantasy). I don’t drink coffee (don’t even like the smell of it), but this was an enjoyable, cozy read. Especially liked the mundane bits like the carpentry and adding new items to the menu.
Favorite books in 2023
My favorite reads this year, in the order I read them:
Nonfiction
- The Perfectionists, by Simon Winchester
- The Soul of a New Machine, by Tracy Kidder
- First, by Evan Thomas
- All the President’s Men, by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
- The River of Doubt, by Candice Millard
- Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson
- Convictions, by John Kroger
- Indigenous Continent, by Pekka Hämäläinen
- When the Heavens Went on Sale, by Ashlee Vance
- Let’s Talk About Race and Priesthood, by W. Paul Reeve
- Leadership, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Avid Reader, by Robert Gottlieb
- Ways of Being, by James Bridle
- In the Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson
Fiction
- Memory, by Lois McMaster Bujold
- The Justice of Kings, by Richard Swan
- The Goblin Emperor, by Katherine Addison
- Paladin of Souls, by Lois McMaster Bujold
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
- The Will of the Many, by James Islington
- In the Woods, by Tana French
- Blood Over Bright Haven, by M. L. Wang
- Cage of Souls, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Memories of Ice, by Steven Erikson
- The Return of Fitzroy Angursell, by Victoria Goddard
- Chosen, by Benedict Jacka
- Made Things, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Booknotes 3.2
Nonfiction
- Inside the Publishing Revolution: The Adobe Story, by Pamela Pfiffner (2003). I don’t particularly care about Adobe as it is now, but it was interesting reading the history of PostScript, digital typefaces, Illustrator, Photoshop, PDF, PageMaker, and InDesign. Particularly how uncertain PDF’s future was then, compared to how ubiquitous it has become.
- In the Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson (2011). About Berlin in 1933–1934 (roughly). I read it for book group. Fascinating book, compelling and interesting throughout. I wasn’t well versed in that time period, so the Night of the Long Knives came as a bit of a shock. Whew. The potential parallels to today are admittedly frightening. Looking forward to reading Larson’s other books. (I’ve also read Isaac’s Storm.)
Fiction
- Whispers Under Ground, by Ben Aaronovitch (2012, fantasy). Gritty, but other than that I liked it. Quite funny (much more than I remembered the series being), and I also enjoyed the London slang and the worldbuilding. Looking forward to the rest.
- Priest of Bones, by Peter McLean (2018, fantasy). Quite gritty. Outside of that, though, I liked it, tragic though it is (in my view, anyway). Interested to see where the series arc goes.
Merry Christmas! New artwork: Born Is the King of Israel! This piece has three different symbolic meanings (birth, atonement, death), which is something I haven’t done before, at least as far as I can remember.
New artwork: Where Two or Three Are Gathered.
New artwork: Ninety and Nine IV.
New artwork: And God Shall Wipe Away All Tears from Their Eyes II.
New artwork: Not of Me.
New artwork: Prepare Your Minds for the Morrow.
