6 Comments

Hi Nina! I'd never read Octavia Butler before either but a few times when I had searched for fiction to borrow from the library, her books would come up. I also chose to start with Parable of the Sower, which is generally not something I would have picked up as sci-fi is not my cup of tea. I loved it! Couldn't put it down.

As for Google's search algorithm... GROSS! While I am not shocked, I am disgusted. I was wondering if you would mind if I shared what you wrote regarding this on Facebook so my friends could know about it? I will credit you and link to your blog.

Thank you for sharing your world!

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Hi Danielle! Thank you so much for reading. Parable of the Sower is impossible to put down. What a book, I'll be thinking about it for a long time. And yes of course please share about the Google search! It's so icky :/

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It doesn’t specifically address the Purdue Pharma thing, but you may want to read Safiya Noble’s Algorithms of Oppression’ for insight (if you haven’t already).

Also, I wonder how much Purdue University affects search results when you enter ‘pursue’ + anything.

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Lizz, thank you. No, I don't know Algorithms of Oppression but it looks really interesting and definitely related. Thanks for the recommendation! I wonder lots of things about the almighty algorithm...had forgotten there's a Purdue University too...

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Thank you for introducing me to Alex Cloville. Complex and comforting. Your description of Tom Gratton’s The Recent East reminded me of a film I saw at the Edinburgh Film Festival a number of years ago, A House in Berlin by filmmaker Cynthia Beatt. It follows a Glasgow woman as she deals with the inheritance of an old house in Berlin from her Jewish great uncle. The sense of place, the city of Berlin, is as strong as the narrative. A valuable discussion of Allen vs. Farrow.

Judy

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Wow, thank you Judy, I'd never heard of this film. And in spite of years of Soviet studies, until the Grattan book I didn't realize that the inheritance of ramshackle East German real estate was a thing after 89. Pretty fascinating. I just looked up the Beatt film and will try to watch. Thank you for reading! xoxoxo

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