The Oxford History of Mexico

 Hmm. I am having a little trouble understanding how I feel about this book. I am certainly glad I finally got the chance to read it. I cannot stop thinking that my prior knowledge of the history of Mexico was really useful when trying to better understand it. Not that I knew much. What I am trying to say is that, in my opinion, this might not be a book for complete beginners. At the same time, this is also not an in-depth perspective on the history of Mexico. As perhaps no single book that covers such a large period of time can be.
  I am grateful that I got to learn many interesting details of history, and that I got to read the opinion of several people who have devoted much of their time to studying the history of my country. Yes. I am glad.
  Simultaneously, though, I am somehwat... dispirited. Is that how I feel solely about the book? Or could my feelings be inevitably mixed with the thoughts I get when I look around me?
  Meditate on this, I will.

The Historian

 It has been a few months since I finished reading this book, I finished reading it in February this year, but I have been procrastinating writing this entry. Like several pilot episodes of a series, this book had an excellent start. The first chapter was just thrilling. Unfortunately, the rest of the story monotonically drecreases in quality, until one starts wishing that the dragging on of the plot would simply end. I wonder if some people would be discouraged from reading the book based solely on that. I will say this: if you already have it in your bookshelf, like mine was for many years untouched, read it. Otherwise, you might want to consdier a different book.

The Kite Runner

 Wow, I truly do not know what to think of this book. Afghanistan has been in my thoughts recently after reading about the United States's evacuation of that country. Even though I am taking this book to be fiction, I am also taking the story to be a description of events that very well could have actually happened. That thought can be overwhelming. So overwhelming, in fact, that I believe it could be easy to fall into despair and lose hope that the problem might ever be solved. Therefore, I would like to quote a small bit of The Queen's Christmas speech of 2016: "[I]t's understandable that we sometimes think the world's problems are so big that we can do little to help. On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice. But the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine."
  I have to believe that is true. That thought inspires me and helps me keep going on. It also brings me inner peace.

My Name Is Red

Unfortunately I did not really enjoy reading this book. Perhaps what I thought was its most interesting aspect was that the story was told from the different points of view of each of the characters. I also wanted to say that I think this might be the second book that I am aware I have read that contains a character whose name is the same as the author's. The other book being The Divine Comedy. I disliked all of the miniaturists' philosophy on art, and their corrupt adulation of blindness. I also thought the story was weak and simple. Towards the end I did get the sense that the book might have been inspired by historic events, and I was glad to see that a chronology was included as an appendix. But that still was not enough to make me think this was a book worth recommending.

Aztec

I did not like this book. My mother recommended it to me. She said it was one of her favourites. I just... did not like this book. It was so uncomfortable to read. I suppose reading this book is similar to watching Gaslight (1944) except the book does not have a satisfying ending, it is all just uncomfortable.
  From Mixtli we get so much classism, sexism, racism, homophobia, and arrogance. What makes it worse is that I am not sure we are meant to think of him that way. I think he is supposed to be a likeable character. He certainly does not seem to be aware of any of his prejudices.
  Sure, I did learn many new things I did not know about some of the indigenous Mexican civilizations. But I wish I had read a history book instead. Which, I guess, is the only positive aspect of reading this book. It has made me want to read more about the history of Mexico. If I can save someone from reading this book by saying which books I have decided to read, then please know that I intend to read The Oxford History of Mexico (William Beezley, Michael Meyer) and Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs (Camilla Townsend.)

The City and the Pillar

I wish I knew the name, so that I could thank him properly, of the handsome young man who lived in Powell Hall and took me to West Sands one night in October 2020 and recommended this book to me. He was so intellectual, and seemed like a devoted athlete too. I told him of Harvard's uncencored version of The Picture of Dorian Gray, and he said he thought Gore Vidal was like the Oscar Wilde of our era. I think I can see what he meant by that.
  I think this is a good book. There might be some interesting ideas in it. But I also think that I truly did not like the religious interest that Jim had for Bob. It remined me of Love in the Time of Cholera. At the time I really liked the religious interest that Florentino had for Fermina. But I was 16 years old then. Now I truly understand what Fermina meant when she exclaimed "Pobre hombre" when she saw Florentino again after many years of not seeing him. That idea of love is one that I now no longer find desirable. I was also surprised at how monosexual Jim seemed to be. I guess that is how most people think of themselves. Except, for some reason, I was expecting Jim to be... different.
  I do recommend this book. It might be the best I have read of its genre, whichever that might be.

"Everyone is by nature bisexual," said the gray-haired man. "Society, early conditioning, good or bad luck—depending on how you were told to look at it—determine the result. Nothing is 'right.' Only denial of instinct is wrong."
  (Vidal, G. The City and the Pillar. p. 200. United States of America: Vintage Books, 2018.)

The China Study: Revised and Expanded Edition: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health

 An extremely interesting book that is the next best thing to directly reading a scientific article on nutrition, though there are many of those cited in the references should one wish to go to the sources.
  I highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially to those interested in a plant-based diet. Regardless of one's philosophical point of view on life. My diet was already plant-based before I started reading this book, but I am now seriously trying to follow a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet, though I have not been perfect.
  Every time I start doubting myself, I remind myself of the many undeniable accomplishments I have achieved since changing my diet, and I can now also remind myself of everything that is said in this book.
  Thank you to everyone who made this book possible. Let me take a moment to remember Isaac Newton. "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."