Welcome to Litsy!

I treated myself for my birthday. As well as some great books (of course) the shop was selling the beautiful "Books are my Bag" tote: straight in my online basket!

https://www.foxlanebooks.co.uk/product-page/pre-order-bookshop-day-22-limited-ed...

I can‘t say I disagree with anything the author writes. Definitely a rewarding book for me.

I had much higher hopes for this. Typically essay collections are my jam —I love learning bits and pieces in this format, especially current issues/cultural critiques. For whatever reason, I found it difficult to connect to these essays about Joan Didion, TV shows I‘ve never seen, and Castillo‘s experience at a liberal university in the UK. I love to be exposed to different lives and ways of seeing the world, but this fell flat for me.

“When artists bemoan the rise of political correctness in our cultural discourse, what they're really bemoaning is the rise of this unexpected reader. They're bemoaning the arrival of someone who does not read them the way they expect--often demand--to be read; often someone who has been framed in their work and in their lives as an object, not as a subject."

#IndelibleMoments Day 7: Definitely one of the most #PowerfulBooks(s) I have read this year. Searing and unapologetic and pulls no punches.

#ArtfulAugust Day 30: This would perhaps qualify as my #FavBOTM - if it means favourite book of the month. Absolutely brilliant. Elaine Castillo is on fire. I would read anything she writes.

#ArtfulAugust Day 21: An #Eclectic array of topics have been covered by Elaine Castillo in this powerfully written set of essays on decolonial reading - from Wes Anderson‘s novels to Wong Kar Wai films to eviscerating Joan Didion at one go. This is a must-read.

Castillo looks at book and pop culture literacy from the standpoint of a minority, and more specifically Filipina, author and consumer. She writes about being an “unexpected reader” when the often the “expected reader” is white. As a Californian, she lays particularly hard into Didion, especially her novel Democracy, which I have not read, and its problematic depiction of Asians. I enjoyed her essay about The Watchmen as well. Lots to think about.

#ArtfulAugust Day 15: Looking forward to knowing the #Key on how to read now. Loving the fire in these essays by Fil-Am novelist, Elaine Castillo.

It's Chanukah in July! The Millions has published its preview for the second half of the year:

https://themillions.com/2022/07/most-anticipated-the-great-second-half-2022-book...

So much here to be excited about.