September Book Roundup
I hit a bumper crop of books I enjoyed this month. A big dose of fantasy, a smidge of historical fiction/mythology, a book on how being more curious can help almost every aspect of your life, and why staying small = staying sane in business.
Fiction:
Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller. I was partway through this book before I realized I’d read it before! I don’t know why I forgot it - perhaps because I’ve read other books about the Trojan War since then - but I love the lyricism of the prose, the power of the love and tragedy that pulses on every page in this retelling of the story of Achilles, from the point of view of his friend and lover, Patroclus. We see them going from boyhood companions to the Trojan War, where Patroclus’ death seals Troy’s fate as Achilles vows revenge - and becomes a victim of his own weakness at last in turn. (Sorry if there are spoilers here, but if you aren’t already familiar with the story, this book probably won’t interest you!)
Jade City - Fonda Lee. Book 1 of the Green Bone saga. The island of Kekon’s economy is dominated by one thing: Jade. This jade is special, and bestows incredible powers on certain of the island’s people, known as Green Bones. The story follows the family fortunes of the Kauls, one of two powerful clans that dominate the island. Told from the perspective of several different clan members and outsiders, it intersperses street gang wars among Green Bones and political maneuvering. The Asian-inspired fantasy is at once old-world and very modern: they may fight with swords, but they drive cars and have business degrees. The characters are vivid and compelling, and the fight scenes fantastic; the story never gets too bogged down in the economics and politics, but gives enough framework to understand what is going on. I found it fresh and original, and look forward to reading others in the series.
The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson. This was fantasy month for me, not by design, and this book, which clocks in at over 1100 print pages, was the reason I read fewer books overall this month. It is the first in the Stormlight series, a proposed 10-book sequence that is being compared to The Wheel of Time in scope and complexity (and since Sanderson was the one who ultimately finished that series, he has some experience). It’s hard to summarize in a paragraph, but this book uses the perspectives of many different characters to take on big themes such as class, race, what it means to be a warrior, what it means to be a leader - even intercultural issues. The Alethi are in the middle of a years-long war against the XXX, an enemy they hardly know, much less understand. The Parshendi killed their king hours after signing a treaty with them, but have given no reason for their action. There are other intimations of Darkness approaching - and scholars, warriors, kings, and lowly spearmen will have to figure out what is happening and how to stop it. The book held my interest, and left lots of questions unanswered, but I’m not compelled to jump into the next book. I may get back to it eventually, but it didn’t quite grab me in that way I need to in order to get through another 1,000+ page book right now.
In fact, I’m planning on doing a reread of Dorothy Dunnett’s The Lymond Chronicles after this. It is my second-favorite series in the world, after The Lord of the Rings - and it couldn’t be more different, being fiction but based on real historical events and people. There are six books, and they are dense and long, so I figure that will likely occupy me well into the new year. Fair warning: I fangirl hard for these books. You’ll either be sick of them, or compelled to read them, by the time I’m done.
Nonfiction:
A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life - Brian Grazer and Charles Fishman. Curiosity is a superpower, if you use it right. Celebrated Hollywood producer Brian Grazer talks about how curiosity has propelled him throughout life (he got his first job in Hollywood from overhearing a conversation) and how he uses Curiosity Conversations to learn more about, well, anything he finds interesting (there is an extensive list of the hundreds of people he’s talked to over the years, from people like Oprah to the chief of LA police to political activists. He discusses how curiosity can be used in different ways: in developing creative ideas, in nurturing relationships, and encouraging greater empathy and awareness of the world around us. Some reviewers have found the book repetitive, but I enjoyed the subtle distinctions he makes about the different kinds of curiosity, and even how to use anti-curiosity when you really don’t want further input, but need the time and space to nurture your idea.
Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business - Paul Jarvis. As a solopreneur myself, I was particularly interested in Jarvis’ take, which is so different from Rachel Rodgers’ (I read her book, We Should All Be Millionaires, last month). Her idea is to grow, expand, hire more people, earn more money, make a bigger impact. Jarvis, on the other hand, advocates for the small-scale business. Far better, he says, to do one thing excellently, to know your audience, and to earn enough to live well - and still have time for life outside your business. You don’t have to aim for an IPO to be successful; all you need is to solve a problem for a particular group of consumers, and do it well enough to gain a passionate following. This appeals to me on many levels. While I appreciate what Rodgers says, I don’t want a business with a bunch of employees I have to manage, I don’t want to work all the time, I don’t want a huge house and a staff for it. Jarvis not only makes a compelling case, but also gives lots of questions and ideas for making it work. Staying sane while building a business? Yes, please.
