Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here, and in today’s post, our writers share what they’ve been reading over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been reading, too, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things started with what I’ve been reading over this past month.
Kyra’s Poetry?
Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons is mostly poetry. Yeah. Let’s go with poetry. Leave it to Stein to create something undefinable. I would expect nothing less from the same writer who penned The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, which is a quasi-memoir by Stein through the lens of her partner, Alice B. Toklas. I highly recommend this book, too. Put simply, Tender Buttons plays with language. Just look at this short poem:
DIRT AND NOT COPPER.
Dirt and not copper makes a color darker. It makes the shape so heavy and makes no melody harder.
It makes mercy and relaxation and even a strength to spread a table fuller. There are more places not empty. They see cover.
Stein is on top of her literary game in Tender Buttons. She exhibits top-notch diction. The poetic rhythm is stellar. And the fact that she tackles mundane objects and makes them sing is outstanding. Tender Buttons is difficult to define. It’s not a beach read, and I don’t know if I’ll ever write anything like it, but I’m glad it’s in my collection. I love geeking out to it. And since Tender Buttons is in the public domain, there are plenty of free Tender Buttons PDFs available. Tender Buttons reminds us that the act of writing can be playful. And no subject is off limits. Have fun.
Kyra’s Nonfiction
I mentioned the Pocket Change Collective series of nonfiction books in a past Whatcha Reading post. Last time, I discussed Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon. This month, I read Adam Eli’s The New Queer Conscience. This short piece of nonfiction holds one important takeaway: Queer people anywhere are responsible for queer people everywhere. Eli shares two major identities: he’s Jewish and queer. He notes how the Jewish community came together over an outside group attacking one of their own, and during a similar timeframe, the same was not done within the queer community. And that should change.
I like how Eli shares his life experience. He doesn’t profess to know everyone’s lived experience and affords everyone space within the LGBT community. Eli’s lived experience lends him credibility and allows him to empathize with people who may not want to take a stand. As queer people, we’re raised to feel ashamed of our identity. But we can rise above shame to make a difference. Eli gives the reader actionable items, beginning with ten points to change one’s mindset and begin with what he likes to call The New Queer Conscience.
1) We approach all queer people with the principles of identification and kindness.
2) Treat newly out people with a particular kindness and understanding.
3) Allow people to come out on their own terms.
4) Recognize that the playing field is not equal.
5) The more privileged members of our society must rally behind the less privileged.
6) Ask “What can I do to help?” and listen to the answer.
7) LGBTQIAA+ people should work in solidarity with all oppressed people.
8) We have limited time and resources–let’s use them to lift each other up.
9) Support queer people whenever possible, wherever possible.
10) You can be closeted and still do this work. You can be straight and still do this work.
Adam Eli ends The New Queer Conscience with multiple support groups to get involved. I love it. The New Queer Conscience suggests ways to help the queer community while not getting preachy. This short nonfiction packs a lot of punch.
Kyra’s Fiction
I started reading Shakespeare’s tragedies and comedies this past month. Titus Andronicus is the first one, and it lives up to its billing as Shakespeare’s bloodiest play. So many hand amputations, tongues getting cut out, and there’s even a body or three cooked into pies. There were a few moments when I had to do a double-take. Did Titus just kill his own son? And poor Lavinia. From what I’ve heard, Titus Andronicus was written in a similar fashion to several of Shakespeare’s contemporaries. Revenge plays were in the rage.
But I also can’t help but view Titus Andronicus as an allegory for the fall of Rome. While Goths did raid Rome a handful of times, the empire crumbled from within. Something similar occurs at the end of Titus Andronicus. Ultimately, I can see why several critics don’t care for this play, but I can also see why other critics hail Titus Andronicus as one of Shakespeare’s best. It delivers an unflinching look at violence.
Those are all the titles I’ve read this past month. Let’s see what Skye’s been reading.
Skye’s Fiction
Y’all likely haven’t heard of A Burnt Offering. If I hadn’t had this chance encounter, I probably wouldn’t have either. A year and a half ago, I came across a quiet booth at a board game convention in western Iowa. Running the booth was the author themselves, S. J. Bostwick, an independent writer from Omaha, NE. They were nice enough to give me a free signed copy of A Burnt Offering. I’m happy to support local and independent writers, and finally started reading A Burnt Offering. The story is progressing at a moderate pace, and I’m intrigued by the details of how this world works. The only thing I’m a bit confused by is who the protagonist is supposed to be, but it’s still early. Hopefully, soon, it will be revealed.
Skye’s Non-Fiction
I’m still enrolled in an English Comp II course and happened across Everything’s an Argument. While not required reading, Everything’s an Argument was recommended to me by my professor. The material fascinates me. The nature of argumentation strikes my curiosity. Ever since hearing the title, Everything’s an Argument, I’ve realized how true that statement is. Of course, the book itself goes into more detail on the types of arguments we encounter in everyday life, how even offhanded statements can contain subtle personal values, and how to navigate our current system of untruths and alternative sources. Given the era we live in, I see these tools as invaluable. I’ll be using them in the future, and I want to make sure I use them correctly. You bet I’m taking notes.
Hey, hey. Kyra Kyle again. Those are all the books our writers have been reading this past month. Let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading this post, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
jkgeekly.com 