Reading Wednesday 24/10

Recently read:

Aru Shah and the end of time by Roshani Chokshi. (c) Roshani Chokshi 2018, pub 2018 Disney Hyperion, ISBN 9781368012355

I read this because Judith was excited about it, and rightly so, it's the best YA I've read in ages. The basic plot is that a 12yo girl turns out to be the reincarnation of a hero from the Mahabharata, and she has to go on a quest. I love the characterization and particularly the interplay between Aru and her magical sister Mini. I love the vivid descriptions of all the different characters and creatures and situations they encounter on their quest. I'm always a sucker for stories based on Hindu mythology, and this really does a great job with the source material. The plot is really great too; yes, it's a completely standard quest plot, but there are some really interesting twists. Even as an adult reading a book intended for kids, it was exciting throughout. I definitely recommend it if you like YA or know anyone who does.

Diversity is a dangerous set-up by Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein. There's a lot to mull over in this essay; it's the first argument for affirmative action which I've found at all convincing, though I'm still not sure it's the right solution, at least not in Europe. Prescod-Weinstein is discussing a complex theory of racism and racial justice proposed by Jonathan Kahn, whom I should probably check out directly. The insight that appealed to me particularly was that not all bias is implicit and our discourse about minorities is fundamentally flawed if a central tenet is protecting members of the majority from feeling guilty about racism. The legal history stuff is US-specific, but the general ideas seem really important. Basically, you should read the essay, because it's really dense and I can't do it justice by summarizing.

On a lighter note, I really enjoyed this piece by Jo Walton on Genre pacing. Walton often has fascinating and original things to say about genre and this recent piece is no exception.