What are you reading? December 5, 2025

by Chitown Kev for Readers and Book Lovers

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Friday, Dec. 05, 2025 Friday, Dec. 05, 2025 at 4:30:10am PST

In WAYR?, I note what I’m reading and comment...you note what you are reading and comment. Occasionally, I may add a section or a link related to books…

I am reading:

Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris- One thing I like about the sort of “intellectual biography” that Obsession is would be that it can involve multiple readings and interpretations and can be written again and again. Morris, thoroughly examines the material and makes generous use of Butler’s journals to round out Butler’s own views of her work and Morris’ own evaluation of Butler’s work. An authority on Butler’s work but not the authority.

In 1978 she reflected: I am a dancing bear, a novelty, a black woman who writes successfully. I must be able to prevail whether blacks in general are in or out of fashion. That means I must always speak well and have something interesting to say. I must become a good storyteller— reach people on a level beyond color. At times, Octavia reminded herself that she must use standard English and avoid any slang because in her mind, As SF’s solitary black woman writer, I must relax in good English or be misunderstood.”

I think that this statement is as true today as it was in 1978 when she wrote it (although I do like some works that employ slang or Black English).

How to Travel with a Salmon and Other Essays by Umberto Eco

READERS & BOOK LOVERS SERIES SCHEDULE

DAY	TIME EST/EDT	SERIES	EDITOR(S)
SUNDAY	4:00 PM	Let’s Talk BOOKS	Angela Marx
	6:00 PM	Young People’s Pavilion	The Book Bear
(LAST SUN OF THE MONTH)	7:30 PM	LGBTQ Literature	Chrislove
MONDAY	8:00 PM	The Language of the Night	DrLori
TUESDAY	8:00 PM	Contemporary Fiction Views	bookgirl
	10:00 PM	Nonfiction Views	DebtorsPrison
WEDNESDAY	8:00 PM	Bookchat	cfk et al.
THURSDAY	8:00 PM	Write On!	SensibleShoes
(FIRST THURS OF MONTH)	2:00 PM	Monthly Bookpost	AdmiralNaismith
FRIDAY	7:30 AM	WAYR?	Chitown Kev
(OCCASIONALLY)	8:00 PM	Books Go Boom!	Brecht
	9:30 PM	Classic Poetry Group	Angmar
SATURDAY	Noon	You Can't Read That! or Paul's Book Reviews	pwoodford
	9:00 PM	Books So Bad They’re Good*	Ellid (*on temporary hiatus)

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