🆕 blog! “Book Review: The Doors of Opportunity”
★★★★★
Did you know that a Suffragette invented the UK's electrical plug? Dame Caroline Haslett was an electrical engineer who foresaw the way that electricity could be used to remove domestic drudgery from women's lives. There is a slim biography of her, written by her sister, which is sadly out of print. Luckily, the book is […]
Dame Caroline Haslett was an electrical engineer who foresaw the way that electricity could be used to remove domestic drudgery from women's lives. There is a slim biography of her, written by her sister, which is sadly out of print.
It is a curious book. It dwells on her faith as much as her technical prowess. Her waistline is the subject of wry amusement. There's also the (naturally) dated views of the day to contend with along with an odd segue into spiritualism.
And, of course, you'll see nothing much has changed in the last 100 years.
With the Women's Engineering Society safely launched, Caroline found that she had two recurring types of problem with which to contend. The first was to deal with the difficulties that arose at factory floor level from the intrusion of women into what had been traditionally a masculine preserve, difficulties which she herself had area to admirably tackled by the enlightened management of the Cochran Boiler Company.
The second, and probably the more important task, was dealing with the problem posed by the steadily increasing number of highly trained women competing with men for managerial posts in the world of engineering. She was not interested in the problems merely for their own sake, but in the people behind the problems and in the whole field of industrial relationships.
It isn't enough to merely launch a product or service. It takes years to embed knowledge, experience, and desire into users. Haslett's power was recognising that the advantages of electricity weren't self-evident. It took a sustained campaign of education to get the public to understand the why and how of a new invention.
If you want to understand how the development of domestic electricity use in the UK happened, this is an interesting and useful book. It perfectly demonstrates how one headstrong person can influence the world.
It is a stunning look at how feminism directly influenced industrial policy.
Caroline herself wrote a book - "Problems Have No Sex" - which is completely unavailable as far as I can see. If any readers know where I can obtain a copy, please leave a comment.
1911, on a winter's night in arid New South Wales wool country, mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins discovers the bodies of three young people. They are scions of the richest family in the district...
Young dragon lovers will love this extraordinary tale about courage, determination and the power to stay true to ourselves despite the circumstances.
Strong is an inspiring story with beautiful illustrations. I loved the sweet atmosphere and the strong will of the main character. It is a great read to remind young ones how special they are.
My #bookreview is brief/won't spoil, to spread good, great, & spectacular #horror#books far & wide.
WHEN THE DEVIL is a novelette from Emma E. Murray that packs many horrors inside of its compelling, feverish intensity. Libby's world is dark and cruel, and any peace, joy, or deliverance comes with a price. Devils abound, but sometimes the fruit they offer makes the damnation worth it. (Shortwave Publishing)
New: Laura R. Samotin's queer grimdark fantasy The Sins on Their Bones.
Set in a Jewish folklore-inspired reimagining of 19th century Eastern Europe, this queer dark fantasy debut pits two estranged husbands and a daring spymaster on opposite sides of a civil war. Perfect for fans of Leigh ...
... first novel featuring DI Nyree Bradshaw (BETTER LEFT DEAD is now available), set in the upper north island region of New Zealand, with idyllic scenery, pockets of poverty, a strong, tight knit Māori community, and a lot of fractious relationships.
STYLISH CALIFORNIA THRILLER keeps the energy high with action and hot romance. Vivid details and strong characterizations make this a glossy rollercoaster of a read. B PLUS
This book was absolutely unhinged. That’s the best way I can describe it. The main character was unhinged, the way the book took a turn and nearly became a horror novel was unhinged. The way it ended was unhinged. I was getting so enraged at the main character’s behavior that I was live reacting as I read in a mutual’s DMs who had just finished reading the book the week prior.
Would I read this book again? Probably. Not anytime in the near future though. Aside from the insane plot line, this book touched on themes like interpersonal racism, discrimination, identity and authenticity, representation, cultural appropriation, and cancel culture.
🆕 blog! “Book Review: The Glass Hotel - Emily St. John Mandel”
★★★☆☆
This book didn't really resonate with me. I enjoyed both Station Eleven and Sea of Tranquillity, so I think I was expecting something in a similar vein. Instead of ethereal sci-fi, this is a tangled tale which feels like a mish-mash of half a dozen movies. The central premise of a Ponzi scheme which warps …
Book cover for the glass hotel.This book didn't really resonate with me. I enjoyed both Station Eleven and Sea of Tranquillity, so I think I was expecting something in a similar vein. Instead of ethereal sci-fi, this is a tangled tale which feels like a mish-mash of half a dozen movies.
The central premise of a Ponzi scheme which warps the lives of those around it - which leads to a jumbled cast of characters, none of whom really get a chance to be fleshed out. The pivotal mystery at the start of the novel is resolved in such an inconsequential way that it feels mostly pointless to include.
It is beautifully written, charmingly constructed, but I felt like I was reading too many stories weaved together without a definable purpose.
"Despite all this, renewable electricity generation is expanding. Christophers forensically dissects the economics, showing that 'market forces' have played little or no part in this."
My review of Conan the Barbarian #10 just went up at Grimdark Magazine. The current arc is fun. but I wouldn't mind moving on from the black stone storyline.
A SCANDALOUS 1865 DIVORCE case offers a window into New York high society—the defendant was a cousin of Edith Wharton, no less—and the time’s changing attitudes about marriage, women’s rights, and sexuality. Great balance of gossip and context. B PLUS
Dante's new series revolves around the mystery of the journal that was discovered in “The Rough Edges” series. a fast-paced, action-packed story that's filled with suspense and surprises... I highly recommend “The Collector.”