Religion

Given the importance of this weekend (Friday, March 30^th to Sunday, April 2^nd) to the Christian faith and the coming week to the Jewish faith (Passover, Friday, March 30^th to Saturday, April 7^th) I felt today was I good day to post about religion.

Religion is a sometimes-touchy subject. But it is something that differentiates people and it is worth keeping in mind. It may be worth noting that Gen Z (young people born between 1999 and 2015) are more likely than their predecessors to identify as atheists. Citing political issues for their turning away (Atheism doubles among Generation Z, 2018). There is a school of thought that there is a difference between religious and spiritual. Austin Cline wrote Religion vs Spirituality – What’s the Difference? in 2017 it raises some interesting points on both sides. I will leave it up to you to decide where you stand.

Nicole Sweeney presents a series on topics from a sociological perspective for YouTube channel CrashCourse. Her presentation attempts to remove the passion and God from the situation and look at religion’s role in society. CrashCourse (like vlogbrothers) is aimed at a younger audience so it can be useful for a simpler perspective while still being educational and engaging. No single religion is singled out, it is about how they influence society, their impact on equality and what is a religion (with helpful definitions).

The vlogborthers have a video On Religion too, John Green this time rather than Hank. It’s not as funny as some of their others though it does raise a good point as to why people don’t talk about their own religious beliefs.

It can be difficult to talk about religion without bringing your own prejudices into it. Many of the videos I looked at including on this post were prejudicial against religion, considering it quaint, out of date, out of touch or dangerous. That is not a message I agree with or will promote (hence no references to the videos). It is a good start if you are working in a situation where it may become a topic of public discussion or if you are regularly exposed to different religions to examine where your prejudices lie and why they are so. Be conscious of them. If you are in a position where you can have input into collection development try to encourage an inclusive collection with a variety of religious views in both fiction and non-fiction. Allowing people some introduction into the lives of people with a different view or an introduction to a specific religion if that is what they want. This is another form of diversity where respect is key, understanding of yourself helps the process.

References

Atheism doubles among Generation Z. (2018). In Barna Group. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from https://www.barna.com/research/atheism-doubles-among-generation-z/

Cline, A. (2017). Religion vs spirituality: What's the difference? In ThoughtCo. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from https://www.thoughtco.com/religion-vs-spirituality-whats-the-difference-250713

CrashCourse. (2018, January 8). Religion: Crash course sociology #39. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIgb-3e8CWA

vlogbrothers. (2011, June 20). On religion. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXlI8Wn8J3Q

Finding Nevo Review

Finding Nevo by Nevo Zisin (2017)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Not all men sexually harass, but all men need to be taught not to. - Nevo Zisin

I have only ever been me. Sometimes, I have been more authentically myself, but I have only ever transitioned from me to a better version of me. I don't identify with the words "female" or "male". They are not my words. The space in which I have felt gendered female and transitioned to gendered male has been in the ways people have treated me. - Nevo Zisin

This is a book that I think needs to be available to all young adults in public libraries and school libraries. For people who are questioning their gender or sexual preference, or allies of them. It is so readable, so confident. Nevo reminds people that it is okay to be yourself, that it is okay to take time finding yourself. Nevo is a personal and intriguing mix Jewish, trans, queer, polyamorous, Australian. It is the journey this is fantastic.

There are a few wonderful pieces of writing in Finding Nevo. After their chest surgery Nevo wrote a letter to their breasts, it is incredible. The afterword is brilliant. The whole book is so quotable too, Nevo has a wonderful style. Nevo has in a way seen the world from both sides of the gender divide that makes this a brilliant book for that. With the whole book feeling like it could have been either extremely cathartic or extremely stressful to write. I’m glad they wrote it; young people need something written in a young perspective for all things but especially development topics.

Nevo wrote their autobiography at 20, while that sounds very young they have lived a story that needs to be told. One that in a time of LGBTQIA+ discussion is especially relevant. They provide a perspective on life as an LGBTQIA+ person, finding themselves and meeting of the communities we all belong to. Family plays a big role both positive and negative. They challenge us all as readers and people to be more than amazed and touched, they challenge us to become activists and make the world a safer, less scary place for people like them. That challenge is firmly accepted.

Finding Nevo is probably a 4.5 star book. I liked it and the glossary, the resources and the suggested readings are so valuable. I just felt something was missing, not sure what I can’t put my finger on it but I can’t find it in me to give it 5 straight.

My reading experience in a gif:

I have been fortunate enough to see Nevo speak on a panel with Alison Evans. Both are wonderful, inspirational people. If you ever have the opportunity don’t turn it down. And yes, Nevo’s sense of humour does translate from written form to performance and visa versa.

Crossposted from Goodreads

References

Cover for 148876014682. (n.d.). WalkerBooks. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1488760146825.jpeg

McPherson, C. (2018, March 24). Catherine McP's review of Finding Nevo. Goodreads. [Goodreads Review]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2334659990

P!NK. (n.d.). Trouble bar brawl gif. [Image file]. Retrieved from https://media.giphy.com/media/3owvKhdimLNHKmMFB6/giphy.gif

Zisin, N. (2017). Finding Nevo. Newtown, Australia: Black Dog.

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue Review

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (2017)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

No Major Plot Spoilers But I Do Discuss So Character Traits That Are Not Included In The Blurb. Read On At Own Peril.

"You haven't a choice in who you bed"
"No. I mean I haven't much a choice in who it is I want to bed."
"Of course you do. Sodomy's a vice—same as drinking or gambling"
"Not really. I mean, yes, I enjoy it. And I have certainly abstained from abstinence. But I'm also rather attracted to all the men I kiss. And the ladies as well." - Felicity Montague & Henry “Monty” Montague

What do you want me to say? Yes, I'm I'll. I'm an epileptic—that's my lot. It isn't easy and it isn't very enjoyable but this is what I've got to live with This is who I am, and I don't think I'm insane. I don't think I should be locked up and I don't think I need to be cured of it for my life to be good. - Percy Newton

First off I need to say I am epileptic and what convinced me to add this to my theoretical I-must-read-this-asap-like-yesterday list was one of the characters epileptic status. I have never read a book with epilepsy featuring as anything other than a throwaway thing, or a strict hurdle to be overcome, never read it as a key plot point. This is an accurate representation of life with epilepsy, the feelings, the emotions, the hiding in my reading (because lord knows not much has changed since the 1700s, no cure and we can still be social pariahs). It is so important for all people to have some sort of mirror a way to see themselves in fiction when needed. While The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue isn't perfect, as a representation of how an epileptic feels even now it is a masterclass. For that alone, it deserves and gets 5 stars.

Moving on to more brilliance I'm all for bisexuality in fiction and the problematic protagonist and narrator is bisexual, with his main interest being male. The whole story is his redemptive arc. But his starting point the insulting sexist rake is a bit much. Though very much of the time I guess. His shining lights are his devotion to his loved ones, his humour (the goblin...) and honestly his abused past. His past is a huge part of who he is, why he is the way he is, and sadly something that people might relate to and see another way. Percy is also relatable a half-caste (what is the correct term for that?) epileptic orphan, though to an entirely different set of people and he serves as a reminder to be yourself more than be better. Monty and Percy are two sides of the same coin or tarot card as is the case. During the course of the book, there is a tarot reading in which Monty gets the King of Cups reversed. The reader gives both the straight interpretation and the reversed interpretation the former describes Percy the later Monty. The primary female character is the intelligent, independent, feminist Felicity. The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy the next book in the series is hers and looks just as intriguing. Together the three characters work spectacularly well they are diverse and will all appeal to different people.

As for the story well the idea of a grand tour appeals to me. I'm going, to be honest, I didn't see the ending coming, I guess the signs were there but they aren't screaming at you. It is a tremendous amount of fun conveying all the enjoyment that could be had by a young adult on their grand tour. The writing is witty and paced well never falling into a rut. It is also quotable because t is so funny and relatable. Monty and Percy have a conversation fairly early on that deals with Monty's abuse, his father and the impact it is having on him, that 3-page conversation is possibly one of my favourite passages in the book. It is honest and brutal and the core of their whole deal. It is fantastic writing. The sectioning by location was a very clever way to break the book up, at over 500 pages it isn't small but the sections make targeted reading easy. The inclusion of brief notes on the grand tour, politics, epilepsy, race relations in eighteenth-century Europe and queer culture was intelligent helpful.

I'm going to refer to this in public as my purple pride or team purple book from now on. Purple is the colour of epilepsy awareness and has extremely strong meaning in the bisexual community. Gentleman's Guide flies the flag for both camps without fear and tells a young audience it is okay you aren't broken, there are others.

It is so easy to see why The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue has had so much praise, it is well written historical fiction for young adults dealing with a medical condition and diverse sexuality. This is one for the epileptics to read and enjoy (you will see something of yourself) and for anyone who wants to try to understand. There is definitely something here for historical fiction fans too, Ms Lee has done a wonderful job with her research while making it so readable.

My reading experience in a gif:

Crossposted from Goodreads

References

Bisexual pride flag. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 23, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexual_pride_flag

Cover for 9780062382801. (n.d.-a). HarperCollinsPublishers. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://i.harperapps.com/covers/9780062382801/y648.jpg

Home. (n.d.). In PurpleDay. from http://www.purpleday.org/index.html

jumblejeune. (n.d.). Edna evil laugh gif. [Image file]. Retrieved from https://tenor.com/view/edna-gif-9419864

The lady's guide to petticoats and piracy. (n.d.). In Goodreads. Retrieved March 23, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35430702-the-lady-s-guide-to-petticoats-and-piracy

Lee, M. (2017). The gentleman's guide to vice and virtue. New York, New York: Katherine Teen.

McPherson, C. (2018, March 23). Catherine McP's review of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue. Goodreads. [Goodreads Review]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2309874595