June 18, 2007
The Gift of Fear
I picked this book up because Sars of TomatoNation.com keeps recommending it, and I am now going to recommend it to everyone I can. It's hands-down the best book I've read on intuition and how society trains us to ignore it, and it offers a lot of very practical advice that you can use. He writes about the difference between needless fear and justified fear, and how to tell which one you're feeling. He writes about the cases he's handled as a security consultant. This really is a cross between a self-help book and a psychological thriller, and it succeeds on both fronts. I know I'll be listening to my intuition a lot more -- and knowing when it's sending me signals based on solid information and when it's reacting to the fearmongering so prevalent in our society. Good stuff.
One of my favorite bits in the book is this one, which I feel really explains why women in America are so afraid all the time:
I want to clarify that many men offer help without any sinister or self-serving intent, with no more in mind than kindness and chivalry, but I have been addressing those times that men refuse to hear the word "no," and that is not chivalrous -- it is dangerous.When someone ignores that word, ask yourself: Why is this person seeking to control me? What does he want? It is best to get away from the person altogether, but if that's not practical, the response that serves safety is to dramatically raise your insistence, skipping several levels of politeness. "I said NO!"
When I encounter people hung up on the seeming rudeness of this response (and there are many), I imagine this conversation after a stranger is told no by a woman he has approached:
Man: What a bitch. What's your problem, lady? I was just trying to offer a little help to a pretty woman. What are you so paranoid about?
Woman: You're right. I shouldn't be wary. I'm overreacting about nothing. I mean, just because a man makes an unsolicited and persistent approach in an underground parking lot in a society where crimes against women have risen four times faster than the general crime rate, and three out of four women will suffer a violent crime; and just because I've personally heard horror stories from every female friend I've ever had; and just because I have to consider where I park, where I walk, whom I talk to, and whom I date in the context of whether someone will kill me or rape me or scare me half to death; and just because several times a week someone makes an inappropriate remark, stares at me, harasses me, follows me, or drives alongside my car pacing me; and just because I have to deal with the apartment manager who gives me the creeps for reasons I haven't figured out, yet I can tell by the way he looks at me that given an opportunity he'd do something tht would get us both on the evening news; and just because these are life-and-death issues most men know nothing about so that I'm made to feel foolish for being cautious even though I live at the center of a swirl of possible hazards doesn't mean a woman should be wary of a stranger who ignores the word "no."Whether or not men can relate to it or believe it or accept it, that is the way it is. Women, particularly in big cities, live with a constant wariness. Their lives are literally on the line in ways men just don't experience. Ask some man you know, "When is the last time you were concerned or afraid that another person would harm you?" Many men cannot recall an incident within years. Ask a woman the same question and most will give you a recent example or say, "Last night," "Today," or even, "Every day."
Still, women's concerns about safety are frequently the subject of critical comments from the men in their lives. One woman told me of constant ridicule and sarcasm from her boyfriend whenever she discussed fear or safety. He called her precautions silly and asked, "How can you live like that?" To which she replied, "How could I not?"
...
It is understandable that the perspectives of men and women on safety are so different -- men and women live in different worlds. I don't remember where I first heard this simple description of one dramatic contrast between the genders, but it is strikingly accurate: At core, men are afraid women will laugh at them, while at core, women are afraid men will kill them.
Book 12 in 2007.
My Life with the Spirits
by Lon Milo Duquette
Whatever your take on ceremonial magic is, this account of Duquette's adventures in magic and life in general is a hoot and a half. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is an excellent storyteller. I highly recommend this book!
Book 11 in 2007.
June 12, 2007
Blood Rites (Book Six of the Dresden Files)
by Jim Butcher
Black Court, and White Court, and Red Court, oh my! There are plenty of vampires to go around in this book, of different sorts. This is the first time we really get to see the White Court in action, and while they're less inhuman in appearance than the other vampires, they're no less dangerous. Harry Dresden is hired by Thomas, a White Court vampire, to investigate a series of mysterious deaths in the entourage of a pornography producer. As usual, Harry winds up in over his head - a Black Court vamp is in town and gunning for him, and before he knows what's happening he winds up embroiled in the Machiavellian politics of the White Court. Good stuff. The fight scenes in this are terriffic, and we get to meet Lt. Murphy's family, which gives a bit of insight into why she is the way she is. I can't wait to read the next book again! (I read it first by accident, but figure it'd be a good idea to keep reading the series in order. Besides, I want to postpone running out of Dresden Files as long as possible.)
Book 10 in 2007.
Death Masks (Book Five of the Dresden Files)
by Jim Butcher
Poor Harry Dresden. When it rains, it pours. There's a war going on between wizards and vampires, and he's right in the middle. Worse, a vampire assassin is convinced that if he and Harry duel, it will end the war -- which isn't so good for Harry, since he has almost no hope of winning if he accepts. Plus, the Shroud of Turin has been stolen, and Harry has been hired to find it. Harry has to call in every favor from every friend he's got to survive, and even then his odds don't look so good. This is a solid entry in the series and a lot of fun to read. Harry is never more enjoyable a character than when he's up to his ears in trouble, and "Death Masks" has that in spades. Good stuff.
Book 9 in 2007.
June 07, 2007
Summer Knight (Book Four of the Dresden Files)
By Jim Butcher
I really dig the version of Faery in Butcher's books. The fey cannot tell a lie, for example, but don't have to tell you the truth, either, which makes them very interesting characters. This book follows Dresden's efforts to figure out who killed the Summer Knight, the human champion of the Summer court of Faery, and why. He's under pressure from the Winter Court (whose queen stands suspected of the murder) to solve it, and from the White Council of Wizards to broker a deal with the Winter Queen -- they need her as an ally in the brewing war between wizards and vampires.
This is a politics-heavy book, but Butcher balances the politics with humanity very well. Dresden is a good guy who has done some bad things in his time, and he has to come to terms with them. Good stuff. I'm taking a little break from the Dresden Files - I'm halfway through the series now and don't want to rush through 'em only to find myself whining about how long Butcher is taking writing new ones.
Book 8 in 2007.
Grave Peril (Book Three of the Dresden Files)
By Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden has a knack for facing up against baddies who are way out of his league. He's a powerful wizard, sure, but he's only one guy and there are significant limitations to the magic he can do when under attack. In Grave Peril, Harry is up against very, very powerful undead forces - ghosts, vampires, you name it. He has to survive repeated attacks while figuring out what is going on, and those two goals keep him very busy.
Butcher uses some cliched techniques for keeping us interested - dropping statements at the ends of chapters so we'll keep reading, that sort of thing. But they're cliched techniques because they work. I whipped through this (like the other books in the series) and had a lot of fun. Dresden is a great character, and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
Book 7 in 2007.
Fool Moon (Book Two of the Dresden Files)
By Jim Butcher
Book Two of the Dresden Files doesn't disappoint after the promising start in Storm Front. This time, Harry is up against werewolves. And not just any sort of werewolves, either: this one is a particularly nasty, powerful sort called a loup garoux that makes the regular sort look like cute puppies. Add cranky Chicago Police and local mob boss Johnny Marcone to the mix, and our hero has quite a headache. Butcher never lets Harry off easy, and it makes for yet another page-turner in the series. Two thumbs up from me.
Storm Front (Book One of the Dresden Files)
By Jim Butcher
This is a surprisingly good debut novel. It's a real page-turner, and lays down the exposition and introductions without being too heavyhanded doing so. Harry Dresden, wizard, is more Sam Spade than Gandalf. He's a classic gumshoe who happens to have magical powers. When the Chicago Police come to him to help with a strange case, Harry finds himself facing down both an incredibly powerful magician and the incredibly powerful mob boss in town. It's a cross between hardboiled detective fiction and classic high-magic fantasy that works surprisingly well. Butcher has a great authorial tone and has created a terrific reluctant hero in Harry.