book review: Capital From Zero - Reading Marx in the Age of Climate Catastrophe by Kahei Saito

⭐️  5/5

Thank you Astra for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Kohei Saito’s Capital From Zero: Reading Marx in the Age of Climate Catastrophe is both timely and accessible. Though designed at its core as an introduction to Marx in an effort to make his work more approachable, this volume is valuable for readers with varied purpose, current stance on political theory, or familiarity with Marx. For those wanting to understand some of the terms being thrown around in political debates — such as capitalism, socialism, communism, neoliberalism, association etc. — Saito breaks down these concepts in layman’s terms. He thoughtfully outlines the viewpoints of not only Marx, but other important philosophers as well. This allows the reader to confidently participate in future discussions in a more knowledgable way, come to their own decisions whether they ascribe to some of the negative connotations attached to some of these terms, and whether some of the ideas may be a path forward, either in piece or in whole. It is a compelling standalone read for anyone just beginning to contemplate an option other than capitalism, as well as an excellent springboard for those planning to read Marx’s work.

book review: Retro by Jessica M. Goldstein

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4/5

Thank you Ballantine for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Retro is a refreshing spin on time travel that blends a whimsical, Wonka-esque atmosphere with a deeply relatable character study. We follow Ash, who, after losing her job, begins hosting tourists on trips to the past. As she moves between eras, she’s forced to weigh her own life and relationships against the snapshots of history and those in the present that seem to have achieved “success.” The conversational, rambling prose makes it easy to inhabit Ash’s headspace, and the 80s and 90s pop culture references are a total delight.

My only critique is that it was slow to build upon the strangeness Ash was noticing with her memory and relationships outside of Retro. Capitalizing on that eeriness closer to the midpoint of the book would have allowed for a stronger crescendo ending. Despite that, the history tidbits and relatable social themes carry it through providing a more than satisfying read. 

This is a perfect pick for anyone seeking a nostalgic, lighthearted coming of age story with a sprinkling of time travel.

book review: The Truth of Time by Bryan Whelan

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  5/5

Don't let the serious cover art fool you, this is a delightfully clever page turner that weaves a smattering of sci-fi with history and a whodunit into a complex wondrous tale. 

The author takes the reader on a jovial roller coaster ride of discovery alongside a fully realized diverse group of characters to a futuristic place, masterfully detailed points in the past, and then back to the future again. The worlds are incredibly layered and the magic is believable. The dialogue is sharp and the twists are so sophisticated they constantly caught me off guard. All told, this book was powerfully rendered, managing to be both fun and intellectually rewarding. 

I hope the author will decide to market this book, or a publisher will take notice and offer to take this book under their wing, because this book has so much potential and needs to reach more readers! I think pretty much anyone would enjoy this book - history buffs, sci-fi lovers, thriller cravers, and the casual reader. Its boundless imagination and fast pace make it a perfect 'crossover' hit for Young Adult readers as well.

Please consider this as your next read...sometimes the books you stumble upon are the best, as was my experience with this one!