I am enchanted by Sayed Kashua’s books. He is a journalist, but also writes stunning fiction. His first novel, Dancing Arabs, was fabulous and drew me to read his next work, Exposure. Kashua weaves nuanced plots with complex characters who explore their Arab identity in Israel. I subsequently started learning Arabic. Also noteworthy, is Why Jesus? by Ravi Zacharias. … More Get Lit with Kit – February 2019
Sometimes I write short stories. Here’s a brief glance. In the Bedroom I can’t hear what they’re saying, but it doesn’t really matter. I snuck up to my bedroom when they started yelling at each other and hid in the closet with Rusty. But daddy knows all my hiding spots. And I can’t see the … More A Collection of Short Fiction
I read a great collection of short stories, Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh. If you’re a fan of Joyce Carol Oates, you’ll enjoy this American author as she explores the dark side of human nature. Also consumed was Robert Green’s Laws of Human Nature, a fascinating dissection of psychology and power dynamics. I particularly relished Green’s … More Get Lit with Kit – Best of January 2019
I’m torn. I don’t believe men are inherently bad. I think some of them are misinformed. I think some of them have been misguided. I think many of them would do well to read 12 Rules for Life, reclaim their strength, and redefine their manhood. I don’t believe women are naturally helpless. I think some … More Bad Boy, Good Girl
“Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.” -Jean Paul Sartre The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde proffers a prescient warning about the evils of human nature. In it, the protagonist, Dorian, sits for his portrait painted by the talented Basil Hallward. The young man is admired for his unblemished physical … More Black, White, and Dorian Gray
Beginning with books…it was a powerful few weeks. Primo Levi’s The Drowned and the Saved topped my list as it chronicled experiences in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp and the subsequent psychology of World War Two survivors. Also significant, and saturated with humor, is Eddie Huang’s Fresh off the Boat. It’s a tongue in cheek memoir of his early … More Get Lit with Kit – Best of September 2018
“Why do you not commit suicide?” – Viktor Frankl How can one escape the depths of despair and not rejoice? In exploring the horrors of Auschwitz in his book The Drowned and the Saved, Primo Levi ruminates, “I might be alive in the place of another, at the expense of another; I might have usurped, … More Release Me: How Past Pain Subdues Man
“Chinese people don’t believe in psychologists. We just drink more tea when things go bad.” – Eddie Huang Eddie Huang has created a modern masterpiece with his memoir Fresh off the Boat (also a TV show!). The deviant cum lawyer cum chef cum TV producer epitomizes the quintessence of Asian wisdom as he chronicles the … More Chasing the Dragon (and dinner)
I read Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education by Michael Pollan (name pun!!). It fascinated and inspired me to comment in my blog. Check out my piece Earthly Entitlements, then delve into Pollan’s work. I also enjoyed The Collected Stories by Alexandr Pushkin. There’s something about those Russians…It was a good way to cool down during this hot summer. 😉 A final … More Get Lit with Kit – Best of August 2018
“There is no fate but what we make.” – Terminator 2 The hope for someone who was predisposed to development of disease due to early stress/trauma is emphasized through the concept of neuroplasticity and human ability to adapt throughout life. Exploring epigenetic mechanisms of the reconsolidation process has led to the understanding that “repeated [memory] … More Red Pill, Blue Pill
