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Watchmen by Alan Moore, reviewed by PM
"Forget
the film--the comic book was the ultimate medium for this story. Moore
masterfully weaves multiple character developments through disparate
texts, shattering the stale superhero genre with deep explorations of
empire, nihilism, and utilitarianism. Gibbons mimics the pulp comic
style flawlessly. Comic artists and writers are still scrambling to
catch up."
We Who Are About To... by Joanna Russ, reviewed by Josh
"[This
book] will infect your thoughts like a virus and shake up your
assumptions about civilization and social life. Lying somewhere between a
fucked up Gilligan's Island episode and a Nabakovian literary
masterpiece, this brutal, nihilistic novel can't be ignored any longer.
Check it out!"
The Western Illusion of Human Nature by Marshall Sahlins, reviewed by Josh
"In
this concise little essay Sahlins traces the Hobbesian view of bestial
human nature (and modern genetic determinists as well) back to
Thucydides, proceeds to poke many a hole in the concept; shows us other
groups who thrive with important kinship relations. Questions the modern
state and opens the door to an anarchistic conceptualization of human
relations. Yahoo!"
What Can I do When Everything's on Fire? by Antonio Lobo Antunes, reviewed by Ak
"..a
dizzying parade of drag queens, drug addicts, and hallucinatory
visions, 'luminously' translated by Gregory Rabassa. It will transport
you to a dream world where things change in a moment and dark visions
abound."
Whipping Girl by Julia Serrano, reviewed by Fin
"This
is a powerful book for anyone interested in arming their critique of
the patriarchy and burning up the loosely woven threads of misogyny ever
present in societies representations of transexuality and femininity.
Serano illuminates the ways that the demonization of femininity shapes
our attitudes towards gender and sexuality as a whole. Julia Serano
writes with personal experience and razor sharp knowledge. We need this
book!"
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, reviewed by LS
"Having
never been to India I cannot speak to the veracity of this dark, dark
satire. More generally, this story is a thoughtful and funny rumination
on the moral frailty of humans and capitalist democracy. Kind of an
Indian Vonnegut.
The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho, reviewed by Cndr
"Truly an uplifting read! Coehlo has a knack for opening doors into parts of people that are often tossed aside or forgotten."
Wobblies and Zapatistas: Conversations on Anarchism, Marxism, and Radical History by Staughton Lynd and Andrej Grubacic, reviewed by Cndr
"Takes
you on a winding journey through radical history revealing direct
democracy and consensus based decision making around every corner. Lynd
is a wealth of knowledge...Grubacic is an anarchist
historian...together, they remind us that we are but seeds beneath the
snow."
Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy, reviewed by Stephanie
"Phenomenal!
Gripping fiction about Connie Ramos who's institutionalized and can
slip into an anarchic future (gender-neutral pronouns!) and has to fight
to keep it alive."
Women of Color and Feminism: Seal Studies by Maythee Rojas, reviewed by ER
"The
intro of this book clearly explains why this book is for everybody, not
just women of color. She lays out a comprehensive history in an
easy-to-read way. She talks about how feminist movements of color
connected with movements around class and homophobia and immigration and
international politics."
Work by Crimethinc, reviewed by FG
"While
not as poetic or dark as 'Expect Resistance,' 'Work' bluntly translates
all of the ways capitalism colonizes life. A good intro to
capitalism--more seasoned readers might have fun reading this in
conjunction with 'Society of the Spectacle' by Guy Debord.
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, reviewed by PM
"Weisman
lays out the result of his exhaustive research on the thought
experiment: What would happen to the world (flora, fauna, ecosystems,
infrastructure and buildings) in humans disappeared? Around this
centerpiece, Weisman reports on ancient underground cities, the
horrifying fate of plastics, little-known prehistories, and more. In the
end, this book is as much the story of humankind's disastrous rise and
the impact of our present presence as it is a hypothesis about the world
without us."
The Wrong Blood by Manuel de Lope, reviewed by AK
"Set largely during the Spanish Civil War, this novel brings human
experience during wartime to light with beautiful detail, infused with
sadness and mystery. This is a story of strangers helping each other
through tragedies and lost love. Excellent read!"