Mercury Starlight

A book for everyone who has ever interacted online

Revisado: 04-22-22

Beautiful, touching, funny, relatable, and sobering all at once. A must-read for internet humans.

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A Must-Read for Trauma Survivors and Therapists

Revisado: 06-25-18

Warning: If you have any sort of trauma history, I can basically guarantee that this book WILL trigger you at some point. It contains graphic descriptions of war/violence, rape, incest, and child abuse of every stripe, just to name a few. It also has detailed descriptions of survivors' emotional and behavioral reactions to those traumas, some of which can also be triggering (self-harm, eating disorders, etc). Take care of yourself and plan accordingly, but please do try to read as much of it as you can. You'll be glad you did.

This book is a comprehensive, all-angles approach to the study, treatment, and experience of trauma. It traces the study of trauma-related illness and behavioral disorders, from the 1800s (possibly earlier?) to the 2010s. Dr. Van der Kulk does an excellent job of organizing and presenting this material in a way that is both enlightening and engaging, even as much of it is incredibly heartbreaking. Although this is an audiobook, the phrase, "I couldn't put it down" definitely applies here. I found myself putting off my regular podcasts and music-listening habits in favor of finishing it, which is very unusual for me.

The book goes from a history of trauma research, to an extended case-study of survivors and their symptoms, to explorations into treatment options. In the end, it's a book about hope, and the chance for true recovery, which is not something I previously thought was possible. The text is accessible from start to finish. At no time did I feel lost in terminology or jargon, even when diving into complex neurobiology. I highly recommend it to, well, everyone! Survivors, care providers, even those without any history of trauma, can all benefit from the wealth of knowledge this book provides. I think the former would find it comforting in some sense, while the latter would find it enlightening about the behavior of those around them. I might go so far as to say it should be required reading in even entry-level college psychology classes.

Reader Sean Pratt does an excellent job of conveying Dr. Van der Kulk's words. His reading is expressive, engaging, empathetic and easy on the ears. This is difficult subject matter in several different ways, and Pratt handles it all with grace and poise. His reading is professional without being cold, objective without being heartless. He has a deep, soothing voice that makes the listener (or at least, this listener) feel at ease. He was a perfect choice for this book.

On a personal note, I exhibit multiple complex-PTSD symptoms and behavior patterns, after enduring nearly 30 years of my mother's covert narcissistic abuse and neglect. I'm 35 now, and in the middle of my recovery journey. A lot of the time, I feel like I've stalled in treatment. This book illustrates the possible reasons why in clear, plain language, and includes multiple suggested solutions. I'm feeling more hopeful about treatment going forward, and have a host of new things to explore in therapy. I'm very grateful to Dr. Van der Kulk for this amazing resource.

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Nuanced and Even-handed, But Still Lacking

Revisado: 05-15-18

A well written and surprisingly deep summary of the culture wars' evolution over the last 20 years. Still, I can't help but feel like the author misses the point at times.

The look into the Right's even harder right-turn was interesting and, from an outsider's perspective, very accurate. But the inaccuracies and distorted presentations of some (certainly not all) of the Left's counter culture participants makes me question how well she represents the Right as well.

Like others, I was startled to hear the author seemingly gloss over the existence of TERFs, which have been active in feminism since the Second Wave and are not by any means a myth or minor issue. Germaine Greer, mentioned by name and a pioneer of the Second Wave, is a notorious anti-trans bigot whose hateful language is readily accessible to anyone with a computer, and the author's dismissal of her criticizers as somehow reactionary or frivolous is baffling, not to mention the implication that the liberal community criticizes her for views she held 20 or 30 years ago - Greer's most recent (honestly, really vile) comments against the idea of trans women being women were made in 2018! Yet the book suggests that to label her a Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist is to hurl invective or insults without merit. To be entirely honest, it makes me wonder what the author's own views on transgenderism are, and whether they color her perspective on the validity of the Left's position.

The book raises several issues vital to the survival of the Left as a political ideology, which I do not dispute. Fascism is indeed in the rise among both the Left and Right, and it's important to the future of humanity as a whole to fight fascism wherever it spreads. However, the book also draws a common false equivalency, suggesting that neo-nazis and anti-fascists (people who are invested in preventing neo-nazism from spreading) are somehow two sides of the same coin. Also, to my point above, I would argue TERFs and other exclusionary/separatist leftists are the main problem we on the Left should be fighting, not college students refusing to listen to Milo Yannopolis. Censorship is an important issue, but so is contributing to a culture where Trans women are murdered with such regularity that there is an annual day set aside to remember them.

All in all, I think this was a valuable read, but one to be considered with a very critical eye.

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I wish Neil Gaiman could always read me stories

Revisado: 01-08-18

These tales are fascinating and entertaining, and made even more so when read by Mr. Gaiman. Highly recommended for mythology fans and fairy tale fans alike.

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Most fun book about murder and death ever!

Revisado: 12-15-17

This book feels very much like a modern fairy tale or folktale. Fanciful, delightful, engaging and fascinating. By the end I find myself very attached to the characters and wishing I had more time with them.

Excellent voice cast and sound effects as well. Well worth a listen!

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Better than the first

Revisado: 10-25-17

A beautiful contemplation on belief, science, human relationships, and eldrich horrors. I love the first one, but this one flows better, had more laugh out loud moments for me, and ties in beautifully with both the podcast and the first novel.

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Reading is jarring, book is amazing

Revisado: 10-08-17

Brooklyn accents for Midwestern characters; odd choice. Narration aside, book's a great read. Buy it.

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Always a Fan

Revisado: 05-29-17

I love the world of Night Vale, and this novel fits right in. In re-listening to the series in reaction to the fandom-shaking episode #108 - Cal, I decided to re-listen to the novel in sequence with the podcast (just before episode #75), and I found I enjoyed it best this way, with the rest of the series preceding it fresh in my mind.

Highly recommended!

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A Must-Read For Liberals and Conservatives Alike

Revisado: 04-24-17

Hayes' take on the intersection of criminal justice and race in America is spot on.

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