5 SECOND REVIEW

* this story is the hardest way anyone has ever tried to "fake it till you make it"

* just wow

* imagine being able to convince seasoned business men, politicians, career military men, to give you literally hundreds of millions of dollars for what essentially amounted to science fiction, and just... take your word for it that shit works

* it's like go big or go home, but on an enormous scale and with serious consequences that can potentially affect patients' lives

* this whole story is astounding to me and i can't believe it Actually Happened

* i mean, genuinely, Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos went unchecked for YEARS, managing to dodge everyone who ever raised a modicum of concern, and got to the point where the company was valued at $9 BILLION, and the machine they were advertising wasn't even an early stage prototype, like... how do you manage to do this

* anyway, this was 👌👌👌👌

* 5/5 ⭐️

The turnover rate at Theranos was so high this book could probably have gotten away with a dramatis personae before every chapter

Critics Don’t Carry The Bag

Those distant from decisions often have many opinions to offer. Sports journalists tell team managers what they should have done in yesterday’s game and what trades are worth making for the second half of the season. Political pundits tell elected incumbents how to vote on legislation if they want to be reelected and opposing candidates what to include in their platforms. Business columnists…

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Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Went in to the office today after being gone for a few days.

Worked on the Unnameable West Coast Theme Park which is having mysterious issues.

Also worked on a new activation for the Super Cool Museum.

Finished reading Bad Blood by John Carreyrou.

Helped Bryan move a frankly ridiculous amount of mulch from the driveway to the backyard.

Watched the last episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Hello!! Book ask! 1 and 3???

How many books did you read this year?

...120 💀 in my defence i listen to a ton of audiobooks at work And have a 4h total daily commute

3. What were your top five books of the year?

Dawn by Octavia Butler

Adulthood Rites by Octavia Butler

Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky

The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco

(does it feel weird putting the horny bi polyam vampire book on the same list as octavia butler? yes. yes it does. however i came to octavia butler and rin chupeco for very diff things and i cannot deny they both delivered exceptionally akjndgkjfnk)

the girlboss has officially fallen

This week's deep dive rec is Wall Street Journal reporter John Carreyrou's investigation into infamously fraudulent biotech start-up Theranos and its founder and CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, which conveniently comes in both book and podcast format. Podcast summary:

She was once the world's youngest self-made female billionaire. Now Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the blood-testing startup Theranos, stands accused of leading a massive fraud, and lying to investors, doctors, and patients about the capabilities of her technology. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison. But Elizabeth may be able to sway a jury with her charisma, highly unusual defense strategy and the fact that key evidence has gone missing. John Carreyrou broke the Theranos scandal. Now he’ll take you into the courtroom as he examines Silicon Valley’s fake it-til-you-make it culture, and the case against Holmes.

Episodes 8 and 9 are particularly interesting looks into how Theranos secured funding and partnerships using faked demos, and how this strategy fell apart when potential clients pressed for more technical details. Episode 8 summary:

Elizabeth Holmes wowed investors, board members and journalists with live, in-person demonstrations that made it seem like her blood-testing machine worked. But most of these demos were faked. Behind the scenes, the blood samples were tested either manually or on third-party lab equipment. It's an astoundingly bold deception that was enabled by a software application Sunny Balwani wrote.

Episode 9 excerpt:

NARRATOR: The DOD contingent pressed for more information on how the black box that looked like a big desktop computer tower even worked. Holmes and Edlund refused to answer. That was a trade secret, they repeated. Frustrated, one member of the DOD delegation blurted out, "I'm starting to believe the device is just a box of Palo Alto air." Sensing that they were fast losing credibility, Holmes and Edlund made a small concession. They agreed to pass around the white rectangular cartridge containing the blood sample that slotted into the front of the device. Wagar asked what was inside the cartridge beside the blood sample. WAGAR: And they're like, we're not going to tell you. And so when I got to me, I reached into my pocket and pulled my Swiss army knife out and I started to try and cut it apart because you know, I'm curious and that really wigged them out. Um, I think they kind of jumped over the table to take it back from me. And I laughed at them and I said, you know, you realize that if you actually let this thing out into the wild, the first cartridge, people are going to tear it apart to see how it works. You know, you can't nondisclosure the entire Department of Defense.

I read books! Sometimes, I remember to talk about books!

Here’s a roundup of some of my favorite things I read in 2023. I'll put half of this under a cut to save the timeline.

Middle Grade:

When Life Gives You Mangos by Kereen Getten - This is a sweet story about friendship, grief, and family set in a close knit community in Jamaica following a young girl who can't remember anything that happened the previous summer. I don't read middle grade often so I wasn't expecting to be on the edge of my seat during this book, but I sure was!

Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulson - An anthropomorphic village of vegetables - what more could you ask for? When the village learns a vampire moved into a nearby castle, they decide Garlic has to be the one to face him. A cute, wholesome graphic novel - and the sequel Garlic & the Witch was also lovely!

Nonfiction:

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott - This is a collection of essays by an Indegenous author covering a wide range of topics including race, gentrification, parenthood, and mental illness. I annotated the shit out of this book... which is always a sign of a well loved read in my house.

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou - A fascinating account by the journalist from the Wall Street Journal who broke open the case against Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes. The entire story is absolutely bananas and made for a wild read.

Excellent on Audio:

How to Be Perfect by Michael Shur - If you watched and enjoyed The Good Place, this audiobook should be required listening. Pretty much everyone from the cast pops in at random times to narrate something. It was also just a great, thought-provoking book. I actually read this for a work book club and it prompted me to finally finish The Good Place. Most successful book club pick ever.

Finding Me by Viola Davis - She won a Grammy for the narration of this book (and earning her rightful place as an EGOT) and it was well deserved. I'm not usually one for celebrity memoirs, but Viola's life was incredibly interesting and her narration was amazing.

Thriller/Horror:

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas - This is a Mexican, historical, gothic horror novel set after the Mexican War of Independence. It features a secluded, potentially haunted hacienda and a priest who might actually be a witch. Atmospheric vibes are peak here. Highly recommend listening to the spotify playlist the author made while you read!

No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole - The official blurb says "the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning" and that about sums it up. It also compares it to Get Out and that's a pretty good comp, in my opinion.

Poetry:

Artemis Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer - I'm not gonna lie, this poetry collection and the one in the series before it (Aphrodite Made Me Do It) were absolutely cover buys. The cover art is stunning! but luckily the inside is good too.

If My Body Could Speak by Blythe Baird - This collection deals a lot with the feminine experience, how we relate to our bodies and its traumas. Definitely check the trigger warnings for this collection first before picking it up.

Romance:

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert - I'm not one to read a ton of romance books but I did enjoy a couple this year. This one was definitely the most explicit but also wholesome and something has to be said for being able to do both. Fun tropes include: fake dating & grumpy/sunshine.

Glitterland by Alexis Hall - While this is still a romance book at its core, it also deals heavily with depression. Fun tip with this book: definitely get the re-released edition with this cover because it has author annotation notes! It was very fun to read those at the end of every chapter.

Short & Quick Reads:

The Appendix by Liam Konemann - This is a very small little pocket book, part of the 404's Inklings collection. In it, Liam is reacting to transphobia he encounters through various media, but also discussing how he navigates being a gay trans man in today's culture.

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh - I think I would best describe this as a queer forest fairytale. I'm a sucker for any story that can transport me to a mythical forest and while this one clocks in at a little under 115 pages, it packed a good plant magic punch.

Misc Books I Couldn't Find a Category For:

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat - I never thought I would read this series, but I stumbled into the first one and then devoured the entire series in the span of 2 days. While I know the core of what people love about this is the love story... the political intrigue happening absolutely gripped me!

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore - Another trope/plot device I love is time travel... or whatever weird timey wimey mess you would consider this: Oona faints after she's about to turn nineteen and awakens 32 years in the future in her 51 year old body. She learns that after each year completes, she'll leap to another age at random. It's as messy and complicated as it sounds but never a dull moment.

Use of Time in Narrative (Or, Defending the Artistic Merit of your Vampire Smut)

Hello! Our April episode is here!

In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) delve into the use of time in narrative, focusing on techniques such as flashbacks, foreshadowing, and non-linear storytelling. Lani discusses her approach to incorporating time in her fanfiction, emphasizing the importance of moments of emotional intensity. They explore the use of non-linear narrative structures, discussing how they can enhance character development and mirror immersive thinking. They also share our strategies for handling transitions and overcoming challenges when incorporating time-related elements into fanfiction.

This week, we mention: 

Books: He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly

Fandoms: Harry Potter, Silk (BBC)

Fics: Maps to the Stars’ Homes by Lizbee, The Atoners by copper_dust, The Seam Between by copper_dust, Check the Spindle by copper_dust, castles by pebblysand, Children by pebblysand, Merry Men by copper_dust, Seven Simple Machines by fluorescentgrey, the fault in faulty manufacturing by pebblysand, ce ne sont que des cailloux by pebblysand

Film: Memento, Inception 

Previous episodes: [BONUS] Wattpad & Platforms with @MyLittleDuckies (Or, Please, Save Your Works!)

Your recommendations for this week are:

The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (and the Bad Blood: The Final Chapter podcast)

You can find us online at:

The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi

Lani (@copper-dust): tumblr ; AO3

Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

im trying to expand my reading list and im hoping you could help me out. do you have any favorite books or authors that you could recommend to me?

yees :D here are ”a few”

fiction:

- kafka on the shore (haruki murakami)

- invisible planets (ken liu)

- the martian (andy weird)

- passage (justin cronin) if u like ”last of us”; the concept/world in this is very similar

- sweet bean paste (durian sukegawa)

- the queen’s gambit (walter tevis)

- the goldfinch (donna tartt)

- no longer human (osamu dazai)

- a little life (hanya yanagihara) big TW for this one

non-fiction:

- bad blood (john carreyrou)

- future crimes (marc goodman)

- algorithms to live by (brian christian)

- behave (robert m. sapolsky)

- packing for mars (mary roach)

classics:

- lord of the flies (william golding)

- brothers karamazov (fyodor dostoevsky)

- catcher in the rye (j.d. salinger)

- the picture of dorian gray (oscar wilde)

- the great gatsby (f. scott fitzgerald)

in finnish

- O (miki liukkonen) tho there’s also a french translation to this

my fave author is Miki Liukkonen, but yeah that’s finnish (except that french translation of ”O”) so that’s not (probably) useful to many lol

"Bad Blood" by John Carreyrou.

"Bad Blood" is a gripping non-fiction book written by John Carreyrou that delves into the rise and fall of Theranos, a Silicon Valley biotech startup. The book chronicles the incredible story of Elizabeth Holmes, the charismatic founder and CEO of Theranos, and the fraudulent practices that ultimately led to the company's downfall. Carreyrou, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal, meticulously investigates the claims made by Theranos about their revolutionary blood-testing technology. He uncovers a web of deception, false promises, and a culture of secrecy within the company. Through extensive interviews and research, Carreyrou exposes the elaborate scheme that fooled investors, board members, and even government officials. He reveals how Theranos misled the public and put patients' lives at risk with inaccurate and unreliable test results. The book sheds light on the toxic work environment at Theranos, where employees were pressured to prioritize growth and profitability over the well-being of patients. Carreyrou highlights the bravery of whistleblowers who risked their careers to expose the truth. "Bad Blood" is a compelling and meticulously researched account of corporate greed and the dangers of unchecked ambition. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of transparency, ethical practices, and rigorous scientific validation in the healthcare industry. Carreyrou's writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex scientific and legal concepts understandable to readers. The book offers a fascinating inside look at the world of startups and the consequences of prioritizing hype and appearances over substance. "Bad Blood" received widespread acclaim for its investigative journalism and its impact on exposing the truth behind Theranos. It won the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award in 2018, solidifying its status as a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of technology and healthcare. In conclusion, "Bad Blood" by John Carreyrou is a captivating and eye-opening account of the rise and fall of Theranos, shedding light on the dangers of corporate deception and the importance of integrity in the pursuit of innovation.

The Aldhani rebel crew consisting of the Waif/Anne Neville, future Doctor Who companion, Vitus, young Alan Turing, and John Carreyrou is kind of delightful

Top or favorite 5 books?

Okay this was HARD, I have so many favourite books that just choosing five (5) was actually painful, so I cheated a little bit and made a list of my top 5 fiction books and my top five non-fiction books. Thank you for the ask!!

Fiction:

The Woman in White (1861) by Wilkie Collins

Children of Time (2015) by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Rebecca (1938) by Daphne du Maurier

Misery (1987) by Stephen King

The Secret History (1992) by Donna Tartt

Non-fiction:

Bad Blood (2018) by John Carreyrou

DisneyWar (2005) by James B. Stewart

Batavia (2011) by Peter Fitzsimons

Antisemitism: Here and Now (2018) by Deborah Lipstadt

Entangled Life (2020) by Merlin Sheldrake

2023

Best books I read for the first time:

Orwell's Roses - Rebecca Solnit

Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes - Rob Wilkins

Guarded by Dragons - Rick Gekoski

The Blue Book of Nebo - Manon Steffan Ros

Bad Blood - John Carreyrou

Needle - Patrice Lawrence

Stateless - Elizabeth Wein

Best gigs I went to/music I got into:

Kris Drever

Siobhan Miller

BBC Radio 3 (especially when presented by Kate Molleson)

Other new favourite things:

If Books Could Kill (podcast)

Dropout TV

I joined an online quiz league!

When I was a kid, I desperately wanted to be an archeologist and adventurer discovering lost ruins across the world. I also wanted to be a librarian, a police officer, a writer. The list was inspired by the books I was reading and the television I was consuming at the time, changing almost every other day as I acquired new information.   

What’s striking when reading ‘Bad Blood’ is that when Elizabeth Holmes was asked the question about what she wanted to be when she grew up, the answer was not about a particular field or job role. She wanted to be a billionaire. The term doesn’t describe much about what a person with this status would do day-to-day but when we think about the term there are a few obvious names that come to mind.  

Inspired by Steve Jobs, Elizabeth set out to change the world with an idea that would revolutionize the medical field.  

Theranos was the next Silicon Valley “Unicorn” - experiencing a meteoric rise gaining attention and investments from the rich and powerful. Everything was in place for Elizabeth Holmes to realize her dream of becoming a billionaire, the only problem? The technology didn’t work.  

‘Bad Blood’ is the triumph of investigative journalism – it was John Carreyrou’s articles in the Wall Street Journal that exposed the fraudulent claims made by Elizbeth Holmes and Theranos. This book is fast paced and breathtaking, after each chapter you will find yourself asking why no one had caught on as the years went by.  

Even though the heart of the book is one case, the story points to a much bigger issue with attitudes and investment within Silicon Valley. In an attempt to chase the next gold rush from new technology corners were and due diligence forgotten while real patients were put at risk.  

As a side note, I’d also highly recommend ‘The Smartest Guys in the Room’ by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind if you enjoy reading about corporate fraud!  

So what are each librarian's favourite fiction and favourite non fiction books and why?

My favorite fiction book, hands-down, is Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. I love the Discworld setting, I love Tiffany Aching, and I love the very human relationships and emotions at play in the book-- even with the non-human characters.

Hamlet is a very close second, but as much as I love Shakespeare it's such a slog to digest his verbiage, and also I feel conflicted about listing a play as a book.

I don't do as much non-fiction reading as I probably should, but The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language helped ignite my love of linguistics, so... probably that?

-- Steven

YA books, especially YA romances, are my guilty pleasure, so it's really tempting to list one of them here. But honestly Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi has captivated me ever since I first read it in school, and I feel like not listing it would be cheating. I guess I could also count that as my non-fiction book, but for completeness's sake, John Carreyrou's Bad Blood and Bethany McLean's The Smartest Guys In The Room are great insights into Theranos and Enron, respectively.

-- Rebecca

I don't know if I could pick a FAVORITE book, per se, but I've been re-reading Osamu Tezuka's Black Jack manga and really enjoying it, so I'll say that's my favorite as of now. As for non-fiction, much like Steven's answer, Randall Munroe's What If books really helped me understand some key scientific concepts when I was younger that I wouldn't have been able to grasp otherwise and I can't thank it enough for that.

-- Adam.