What I’ve Been Reading Lately…

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“Wanderlust: A History of Walking,” Rebecca Solnit

   The best thing I can say about this book is that I believe every book deserves to be read, because it is a piece of each author’s soul and who they are. That being said, this book was very different from what I expected. It is basically a history of walking–white walking. Of course, with the author being white, it makes sense that she deals mainly with white people. But I think we can and should expect more of not only authors, but everyone to be inclusive. Solnit barely mentions people of color, and when she does, she comes off as insensitive at best, and racist at worst. Talking about Manhattan and the many people who walk there: “…the slower strollers in the squares, the dark-skinned nannies pushing pallid babies before them through the gracious path of Central Park.” Seriously? Only people of color are nannies? Doubtful, and this only contributes to damaging stereotypes that we would be better off without. I will be reading another book by Solnit in the near future, and I am hoping with time and the evolution of racial politics, she has become a bit more aware. We will see.

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“Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus,” Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

   Quite possibly one of the least understood books (we all know what I’m referring to), Frankenstein tells the story of a young man named Frankenstein who creates a being, and instead of having compassion for, and caring for, what he has created, calls it a monster and runs from it, in turn destroying his own life. I think what present day readers can learn from this gothic classic is that a little bit of love, kindness, and compassion can go a long way to creating the world, and the future, we want to have.

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