Jordan Mattox

1. My Brilliant Friend Elena Ferrante This one, the first in a series referred to as the Neopolitan quartet, has been sitting on my shelf for a year or so now. I had heard that this series of books is one of the great works of modern fiction and, at least for this first opening salvo, the work lived up to the highest recommendations. This opening work is the story of two friend’s relationship in southern Italy, watching them grow up and apart in love, education, and family. The writing is beautiful and propulsive. I cannot wait to start the second one.

2. The Tyranny of Merit Michael J. Sandel I’ve wanted to get through this book for a while now, and finally got the audiobook. Sandel teaches the famous Justice class at Harvard. His work never really interested me, but this book had been recommended to me by multiple people, so I finally gave in. Sandel attacks the system of merit and the growing educational divide in the US that in part led to Trump. Probably the strongest and most interesting argument is that the system of merit makes those who are not successful feel personally responsible for their outcome as opposed to a system that arbitrarily rewards certain industries, as opposed to an aristocratic system that, despite its injustice, at least gives people a more accurate picture that success, or lack thereof, is less to do with effort than the arbitrariness of genetics and environment. Fascinating read. Recommended. 

3. The Last Best Hope George Packer Packer wrote this long essay during the pandemic about inequality, COVID, and the way forward. I’ve liked Packer’s work and this feels like a continuation of things he’s written before for the New Yorker. But, to be honest, I thought it was just a little trite and a lot of the themes that he explores feel a bit recycled. I do think his prognosis that inequality made our COVID situation worse is accurate. 

4. The Right to Sex Amia Srivivasan This book is being heralded as the new feminist tome of the 21st century and the book certainly has its high points. The sections on porn and “fuckabilty” were interesting. But really it’s the work on intersectionality that was most poignant and the challenge to the predominately white and upper middle class feminists that have controlled the discourse so long. Fascinating read and must read if you are interested in these issues (let’s be honest, we all should be). 

5. Saga Volumes 2-5, Brian K Vaughan and Fiona StaplesI am continuing this series and enjoying it more and more as I go along. I’ve really enjoyed the art, the creativity, and the messaging so far. My only critique is that the number of subplots can often leave you confused as to where you left off and what you are jumping into. I should have it finished by next month and have some kind of summative assessment.