A review by lizabethstucker
Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football, and Assorted Absurdities by Chris Kluwe
4.0
Chris Kluwe has brought together his thoughts on equality, gun rights, gay marriage, football, salaries, writing, religion, and so many other subjects. The essays are funny, thought-provoking, possibly offensive if you are sensitive to blue language. Above all, they are well thought out and honest to the point of pain. Chris pulls no punches.
Here are two favorite sections.
On inequality: "If you vote to restrict the rights of other people, you are trying to make them your slaves. You are telling them that the very birthright that makes us human, the right to free will and choice, the right to happiness and freedom, does not apply to them. You are flat-out stating that these people are no longer human beings, that YOU should decide what's best, with no care for independent thought, that YOU alone know the only way to do things."
On writing: "There's no such thing as originality in the components of a story {...} the originality comes from what you bring to the table, the perspective you look out on the darkness with, the way you wrestle that fog into a shape no one has ever seen before."
I honestly don't remember how I found this book, but I'm glad I did. If you are the person who recommended it to me, thank you! Kluwe is sharp. He has a way with language that is fascinating and refreshing. He truly understands how his mind works. He's also a science fiction and fantasy reader, an influence that sometimes weaves through his essays. I highly recommend it. 4.5 out of 5.
Here are two favorite sections.
On inequality: "If you vote to restrict the rights of other people, you are trying to make them your slaves. You are telling them that the very birthright that makes us human, the right to free will and choice, the right to happiness and freedom, does not apply to them. You are flat-out stating that these people are no longer human beings, that YOU should decide what's best, with no care for independent thought, that YOU alone know the only way to do things."
On writing: "There's no such thing as originality in the components of a story {...} the originality comes from what you bring to the table, the perspective you look out on the darkness with, the way you wrestle that fog into a shape no one has ever seen before."
I honestly don't remember how I found this book, but I'm glad I did. If you are the person who recommended it to me, thank you! Kluwe is sharp. He has a way with language that is fascinating and refreshing. He truly understands how his mind works. He's also a science fiction and fantasy reader, an influence that sometimes weaves through his essays. I highly recommend it. 4.5 out of 5.