Emily Bernard penned her personal essays in the hospital. A mentally ill white man stabbed her stomach. Whether writing about her violent encounter, interracial marriage, adoption experience, motherhood of the Ethiopian twins, or tension with her grandmother, Bernard is a candid, eloquent storyteller. On race, in particular, she is open, daring, and unexpected. An important, informing read on race in America.
This year I read 20 books less than last year, but I read several thicker books, which I set out to do for 2019. For example, I read Isabel Wilkerson’s 640-page The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, David W. Blight’s 912-page Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, and Jill Lepore’s 960-page These Truths: a History of the United States. I loved these three books.
I read mostly nonfiction in English and fiction in Vietnamese. I tried to switch back and forth between English and Vietnamese, but I could not get my hands on new Vietnamese books this year. As a result, I read more English than Vietnamese. Before the break, I went through all the Vietnamese bookshelves in Fairfax public libraries and just pick out any book I find interesting rather than the release date.
My goal for 2020 is to continue to read as much as I can. Reading has been a way for me to stay relax and focus, especially after a long day of work and taking care of my kids. I still prefer paper book over electronic. I still have two books on my phone that I haven’t finished for almost a year. Somehow putting my head down on a physical book seems less guilty than glueing my eyes to my phone. I still carry a book with me everywhere I go. When the kids napped in the car, I have a book on hand to keep me company. Waiting in line is less irritating with a book. With a book, I can go out without my phone and it is liberating. I am not sure if my interest in reading with fade in the future, but for now I enjoy my reading life. It is such a wonderful privilege.
Qua tạp bút được biết Phiên Nghiên cùng quê quán tôi nhưng đáng tiếc rằng cô không viết nhiều về Mỹ Tho. Cô cũng đam mê nhạc Trịnh nhưng cũng không viết nhiều về lời nhạc của ông. Tuy nhiên cô viết về những món ăn Việt Nam khiến tôi chảy nước miếng. “Nguồn ngọn…” có đề tài thú vị. Những bài khác thì cũng được nhưng hơi bị ngắn nên không diễn đạt được hết.
Tập truyện ngắn mở đầu với câu chuyện “Thằng Bờm” đầy thú vị. Dựa vào truyện dân gian nhưng tác giả cho chúng ta một Thằng Bờm rất mới mẻ và bất ngờ. Những bài viết còn lại thì tôi không mấy hiểu. “Con lại bố” đáng lý ra cũng dễ đọc nhưng phần cuối chẳng hiểu tại sao. Đến bài tựa đề tôi hoàn toàn bị thất lạc. Lỗi tôi tiếng Việt còn quá kém cỏi.
Demi Moore had a rough childhood. She grew up in a destructive family. Her parents were alcoholics. Her father committed suicide in his 30s. Her mother whored her for $500 when she was a teenager. Moore became alcoholic and drug addict herself. She had difficult relationships with men including Bruce Willice and Ashton Kutcher. Despite her success as an actor, Moore had been through so much as a mother, wife, and a public figure. With the help of Ariel Levy, Moore penned a beautiful, heart-breaking memoir.
In his latest book, Professor Michael Eric Dyson dissects JAY-Z’s lyrical genius. In three parts, Dyson breaks down JAY-Z’s hustling spirit, poetic inventiveness, and political savvy. Dyson also unveils the nuances underneath JAY-Z’s braggadocious rhymes and clever wordplay. As a long time fan of JAY-Z’s lyricism, I was skeptical of this book at first, but I thoroughly enjoyed Dyson’s concise, engaging, and thoughtful examination of JAY-Z’s work.
This has to be most heartbreaking book I have read this year. Snyder’s deep reporting and compelling writing shed light on the deadliest corner of domestic violence. She recounts stories of men controlling, beating, and killing the women they claimed to love. In her meticulous research, Snyder busts the myth of reasons women don’t leave their abusive partner even though they know that they have put themselves in danger. They take the beatings to protect themselves and their children when the system fails to protect them. In familicide cases, the men kill their wifes, kids, and themselves. Snyder’s research also shows that gun is the deadliest cause in domestic violence. It takes the bargaining power away from the victims. As a father of four sons, I now have a new responsibility: making sure they never put their hands on women, particularly the ones they love.
Light on text but load of editorial design examples using typography, grid, and imagery. One of the magazines stood out to me was Format Wars simply because its main text is set in Fira Mono, which seems like an odd choice for a print publication. I would love to have a physical copy to see how Fira Mono holds up for long-form text. Most projects showcased in this book are good to drawing inspiration from for students and graphic designers.
Based on one of David Reinfurt’s graphic design courses at Princeton University, this book examines the history of visual communication through people who practiced design. Reinfurt focuses on typography, gestalt, and interface with brief profiles of practitioners, and highlights of their work. It is an informative read for students learning graphic design. Even though students can get hands-on practice with the assignments throughout the book, they will benefit much more in a classroom environment with feedback from their professor and peers.
The first 70 pages of this book provides historical background of graphic design and typography in the Weimar period. The dense writing and the names are a bit hard to follow if you are not familiar with German—like me. I love the typesetting. Avenir Next, designed by Adrian Frutiger and Akira Kobayashi, is simple and readable. I now know where to take my design for the next iteration of this blog. The rest of the book is filled with stunning graphic design examples using modern typography.