Finished reading Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford, a noir set in the city of Cahokia in an alternate 1922. The story ends up being a bit like one of Le Guin’s (explicitly so), ending up asking whether a utopia is worth the price; in the meantime, it explores cultural identity, racism, and economics, with all the elements of noir (a corrupt establishment, dirty police, a femme fatale, etc.). I loved this, another candidate for book of the year.
I’ve now reread the ending of Golden Hill two or three times, which I never do.
Finished reading Golden Hill by Francis Spufford. Set in 1746 New York, it felt Austinesque like the best Aubrey/Maturin stories, though without the nautical adventure. It started out as a fun romp; by the end it became something else, very satisfying but more melancholy. It’s early in the year, but I bet this will be one of my favorite books.
Finished reading Radiant Star by Ann Leckie, latest book in her somewhat loose Imperial Radch series. This was a banger from page one, although/and I kind of figured out what was going on about a third of the way into it. It was just what I wanted, is what I’m saying, and at this point I’ll pretty much read anything with her name on it.
Finished reading Trudeau & Doonesbury by Joshua Kendall, a biography of the fairly reclusive cartoonist. This was very interesting, especially as someone who read the comic fairly religiously in the ’80s and ’90s; the throughline of the book was Trudeau’s growth from callow prep school lad to thoughtful feminist and advocate for veterans.