(no subject)

Home!

Where it feels like south Florida, what with the (comparative) humidity and heat. Steamy, tropical 60 degrees.... I guess i adapted to the cold. Friday morning in Ohio was balmy at 32 degrees.

The impacts of poor driving on 101 in the rain is more significant than poor driving on I-40 between Raleigh and Durham in the snow, given the traffic getting home last night.

This morning, as i was just getting my tea -- My Teapot, the second or third best thing about being home!! -- my sister called, devastation in her voice. One of the three NC family dogs, Speckles (on the upper left in the photo) was let loose from my grandparents' patio, and took off to find my parents, who had gone to Disney. She was struck and killed.



This is the second time my sister has called, devastated, and my heart has vanished in worry that it is the kids or her husband, and i've been relived to find it was not that. The relief tends to overwhelm the sorrow for the actual news, and i find myself vibrating between shock and relief as i comfort her and try to respond.

Today i followed up with my aunt, also in tears at times, as she had somehow managed to get the animal control truck to stop so my folks could recover the still warm body. Then i tracked down my folks, forewarned of their sleepless night and their own heartbreak. L is going over to my folks' house to dig the grave. My Dad shared that they planned to show the body to the two dogs, hoping the dogs would understand Speckles was gone and not lost.

One lesson for me is the nature of my mother's speaking of others: she's never said much about her love for this dog, and does far more grousing about Speckles as trouble than anything else. Knowing how broken hearted my mother is now, it's a frame to have in mind when i listen to her grousing about my father.

Entertainments

I found only two Tiptree award winners at Audible, both by men.

The first novel i listened to was _The Knife of Never Letting Go_, by Patrick Ness. I would recommend this book even to someone who wasn't looking for science fiction, but was interested in a suspenseful coming of age book, and who might be intrigued by the way gender and Christian fundamentalism, the stress of survival, war crimes and complicity. The first handful of chapters had me wondering why this book was recognized for examining gender, but eventually the treatment became clear. Listening to the book, written as a present tense, first person narrative by the protagonist was fascinating. Given the suspense and the incessant running of the characters it was much better to listen to on the treadmill at the hotel instead of trying to settle before sleep. The physical stamina of the protagonist and partner did lead to occasional moments of disbelief, but it was matched by the horrific persistence of the antagonist.

I found the book incredibly captivating and loved it to the moment when the narrator intoned the cursed words "end of book one" leaving me on a narrative knife edge. I didn't think to check and see if "The Ask and the Answer" was on Audible: i wish i had. (The last two books are available.)

The second novel i listened to was _Camouflage_, by Joe Haldeman. Like this reviewer i did not find the treatment of gender to be in any way compelling. Unlike the reviewer who suggests, "There must be subtleties that the Tiptree panel found here but I missed," my reaction was to think, "Geeze, it must have been a dismal year if this was the most compelling work." I think the novel suffered in comparison to _The Knife_. The protagonist of this novel was not particularly compelling and became sympathetic only as its desire to learn about itself and human nature was thrown in contrast with the antagonist. I think i would have enjoyed the book much more if i had read it, because it was very much an intellectual examination of two alien natures albeit ending with somewhat stereotypical human characterizations. (Why did the antagonist seem so familiar? Oh, he's an psychopath, got it.) Listening was not particularly engaging.

Finally, i was trying to watch the BBC series Merlin. I understand the narrative need to make magic an "underground" and outlawed ability: this way Merlin can mature with the amazing power he has. But, listening to Uther Pendragon -- not the most sympathetic character, but played by Anthony Head -- go on about how the sorcerous disease was terribly undermining of the crown's power because people would turn to magic for a cure if the physician can't stop it... i was perplexed. It was a little too close to social commentary on current issues, but i wasn't sure i found the framing comfortable at all. It's quite possible the episode ends with some framing that makes it clear you should get your vaccines, but i think it was going to hurt my head listening.