Tag: Non-fiction

Why Dance Matters by Mindy Aloff

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Title: Why Dance Matters
Author: Mindy Aloff
Format: ebook (ARC)
Genre(s): Nonfiction, Arts
Rating: ★★★★☆

Why Dance Matters is part of the “Why X Matters” series from Yale University Press, and based on the blurb, I expected a more sociological analysis of the role dance has in our lives, and how dances from diverse countries and cultures both express and form a part of who we are. This impression was not accurate — although it does mention a variety of dances, the book primarily focuses on western concert dance (especially ballet and modern dance) and analyzes specific works, choreographers, and performances in detail.

If you enjoy western dance history and critique, and especially if you’re interested in the many ways that dance connects with pedestrian life (quite literally in the extensive analysis of walking and dance), this could be a good book for you. Aloff’s nuanced descriptions flow from one choreographer to the next, from one genre to another, and from anecdote to performance in a way that brings these dances to life. I remain disappointed that the book glosses over non-western and social dances, but the analysis that it does offer is well worth it as a deep dive into how these dances connect with the rest of our lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Yale University Press for providing an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Why Dance Matters comes out on January 17, 2023.

Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch

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Title: Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language
Author: Gretchen McCulloch
Format: Audiobook
Genre(s): Non-fiction
Rating: ★★★☆☆

As someone who loves language and once considered doing research among online communities, I was prepared to thoroughly enjoy this book but perhaps didn’t consider that I might be too familiar with the subject to be its target audience. I’d recommend this book if you’re curious about how the internet is influencing the English language and don’t know much about internet history or linguistics.

It was interesting to hear about things like the origins of acronyms like LOL and how their meaning has evolved over time or comparisons between punctuation online versus on postcards. But I found myself drifting off during the lengthy explanations about different online generations, and I was genuinely shocked when McCulloch mentioned that she had been entirely ignorant of the study of gesture. All in all, it was a fun book but definitely (as McCulloch herself describes it) pop linguistics — something that will leave you with interesting anecdotes about emoji and memes but doesn’t delve much deeper than that.

About the Audiobook

It may seem a bit odd to listen to a book about written language, and I’ll admit that yes, it sort of was. But McCulloch also has a popular podcast, Lingthusiasm, which made me more confident in her narration skills. She definitely didn’t let me down there; she was engaging and she adapted parts of the book for audio. That said, the chapters were a bit long for the audiobook format and I do wish I’d had the book so I could more easily skim the bits I didn’t need to hear about and more clearly remember the interesting parts.

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

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Title: The Radium Girls
Author: Kate Moore
Genre(s): Non-fiction
Rating: ★★★★★

This was one of the most captivating non-fiction books I have ever read, with the women and their stories coming to life (including in their own words) in a way that I rarely feel outside of fiction. Not surprising, then, to find out that Moore’s mission was to focus on the women at the center of this radium controversy.

It was deeply disturbing to read what happened to these women — women who contracted radiation poisoning while working with radium-infused paint — and how their suffering was minimized, ignored, or outright lied about in the name of profit. And it was incredibly moving to hear what they were willing to go through to get justice for themselves and for everyone coming afterwards. All in all, this was an enlightening read about an important part of the history of labor rights in the United States, told in a way that is sure to stay with me.