Reading as resistance: 6 books for fighting fascism / Whimsy on camera (tiny blogs 3 kinda)
Heyyyyyy guyssss.
So there’s obviously so much to say. I remember writing a post LAST January, and never uploading it because I thought, “It’s the inauguration and Target is pulling back its DEI. No one wants to hear about my resolutions! No one wants my 2025 ins and outs list.” I was too angry, even then, and I felt guilty for wanting to blog at all.
My solution at the time was to try and write something encouraging, so I drafted a book list, but I gave up and I wrote nothing instead. I still feel that frustration from last year, but now its actually much more, somehow. I carry so much grief and anger for my city, all caused by ICE bringing terror to the streets of Minneapolis. Though (smashing pumpkins moment) DESPITE ALL MY RAGE LOL kidding. Anyway, despite it all, I’m leveled out by the immense levels of community and hope all around me!
I have these conflicting feelings on publishing anything besides the news right now. Like, how are some people out here making Tiktoks and reels, just pretending this isn’t happening? I just really feel like silence is complicit, and inaction only favors your oppressors, and says a whole lot about where you stand. So… I figured if I came back, I had to voice my anti-ICE thoughts, first and foremost. So yes, know I haven’t been here, but I plan on coming back, starting with this post!
Here’s a not-so-tiny edition of Tiny Blogs. This edition is is all about books to read that fight fascism, and to toss in a little of that old fashioned 2026 whimsy, because in case you weren’t aware, We now all tell ourselves that any normal happy thing we do now is actual whimsy. heh. heh. /sigh. WELL, anyway? The whimsy today comes from my new camera gadgets and how much I’m enjoying them!
Fighting Fascism with Literature!
This is pretty clear, but some people really didn’t pay attention in English class, and woopsies, may have fallen for blatant propaganda! It's okay, it happens sometimes, and you can always get your awareness back by reading good books! Reading is and always will be an act of resistance, and we should all be hyper-vigilant by continuing to learn through the written word. Here are a few books I’ve read that help keep me fighting against fascism for a better world!
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
By Timothy Snyder
I read this book last year in a book club my close friend started online. This is essentially the handbook for knowing the signs of fascism, and how to avoid sliding into their grasp. One key thing I took from this book that I carry with me everyday is the rule “Don’t obey in advance.” because authoritarian governments hope that you’ll obey in advance to push their agenda.
Basically as soon as something pushes against democracy, we must call it out and never normalize, because it helps the regime if you obey in advance. This book helped me learn to stand more firmly against the little pushes from a government trying to take away rights. A great example of “obeying in advance” is Target pulling back DEI in fear of the government bringing the hammer down on them. We do NOT obey in advance!!
Source: Biblio
The Handmaid's Tale
By Margaret Atwood
I read this book back when the show’s trailer came out. I’m one of those people who will suddenly read the book right when it becomes hyper-relevant. I just wanted to know what was going to happen, and well, it was sad? And I thought at the time, “This could never happen! So dystopian!” and so many things from the book and the show have already happened. They pulled back Roe V Wade, the Capitol was stormed, many protesters standing up and using their first amendment rights have been executed in the streets. Like we are living this right now, like… GET ME OFF THIS RIDE. THIS IS GILEAD.
Anyway, read this book, because Margaret was unfortunately right, and I’m terrified!
Source: Penguin Random House
The Fire Next Time
By James Baldwin
This is part autobiographical, and also a mix of two essays explaining the racial tensions throughout the US in the sixties. James Baldwin really has a way with words, and I read this book alongside the audiobook. I was really amazed by his optimism and his never-ending defense of radical hope and love. James Baldwin’s words are so easy to take in, and long lasting. This was also my first and only Baldwin read, but I might also read Giovanni’s Room sometime in the near future, because I’m just completely obsessed with the way he words things. I’m native, and not black, but even as a native woman listening to him, I was like “Yessss! James, you’re SO RIGHT” like over and over again.
Source: Penguin Random house
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States
By Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
I’m not gonna lie, friends– THIS BOOK IS DENSE. Like I had to switch to the audiobook version so it just sounded like a conversation on history. But this may just be biased, because I am Ojibwe, aka Indigenous Native American? I felt ignorant on the history of other tribes throughout history, and I read this in order to educate myself. I was so inspired by the resilience, and the resistance of the Indigenous throughout history. I think, especially if you’re not native, this book is worthy of reading. And if you’re like me, and dense academic writing is intimidating, then please do the audiobook version on Libby, because it really helped me dive in!
1984 AND Animal Farm
By George Orwell
Okay these are just a given, right? Like we all know to read 1984, but I have to say, I did the audiobook of 1984 last year for the book club, and this year I did the audiobook for Animal Farm, and they are EERIE in today’s world. We know what we’ve seen with our eyeballs, and these books do a great job explaining how authoritarians or dictators will literally lie to your face. Whether it’s changing the rules for the Animal Farm and the farm animals accepting the rules, or the Big Brother in 1984 telling people 2+2 is 5, and accepting your government telling you blatant lies and accepting them as truths. These books are like fairy tales with clear warnings and messages, and I wish so deeply that they were fictitious, but here we are.
“The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” -Orwell
Believe your eyes and your ears. They will tell you that you’re mistaken, but don’t obey in advance! TELL THEM, we KNOW exactly what we SAW. Don’t let them tell you what to think. That’s all I can offer today. These books are ALWAYS free on the library app, Libby, so PLEASE, do the audiobooks if you want to do chores around the house, and soak it all in, so you can learn the warning signs.
Tiny camera things
This will be all about two camera-y things I recently acquired and my general overview of these items!
Today we’ll be talking about the Kodak Charmera, and the Instax Square Link.
Kodak Charmera blind box keychain camera
I recently purchased a Kodak Charmera keychain blind box. I really wanted a small camera to inspire me to take photos for fun again. Phones are fine for this, sure, but I really wanted something a little more intentional. I considered getting a tiny children’s digital camera, and on a search for a tiny camera, I saw a video reviewing the Kodak Charmera. It’s got “charm” in the name, so I was obviously obsessed.
Unfortunately, it sold out over the holidays, and scalpers were re-selling the Kodak Charmera on eBay for like 60-100 bucks! Stubborn and holding out hope for a deal, I just kept checking the Kodak Retopro website until it was restocked. Finally, they restocked, and I got my hands on the camera. It’s a mystery which design you’ll get, but I’ll tell you which one I got…
SURPRISE– I got the yellow version!
Kodak Charmera general specs (I’m no expert)
1.6 megapixels
35mm fixed lens
f2.4 Focal length.
Video capabilities
With a 16gb microSD card, you’re able to store about 15,000 photos.
Though the photos quality is quite low, I do love the analog digi-cam kind of vibe, and I’m obsessed with the filter settings. My favorite filter is the Black & White, because it’s the most crisp and pro-looking filter the camera comes with. My second favorite is any of the high-contrast black and yellow/red/blue filters for their punk rock look. Here are some photos I’ve taken so far, and sorry it hasn’t been much, because taking silly photos for fun hasn’t been top of mind lately.
Instax Square Link
This isn’t exactly a camera, but instead, a printer of polaroid-styled photos by Instax. Obviously, the word “square” in the title means it prints the square shaped polaroid film. This was a Christmas gift from my brother, Will, and he was so correct for buying me this, tbh. I printed my first image, of my cat Bruce, and the quality was great. Definitely an upgrade compared to the standard Instax Mini photo capabilities.
(Here’s a photo montage of the photo I took with my phone, and the results on an Instax square photo. )
There is an app involved in using this printer, but the app is easy to use! You point a phone at your subject, snap a square image, and if you like it, you tap a button to print it. You can also modify images with AR, or customizations as well. T
hese are easily the sharpest Instax photos I’ve ever captured. I’m considering using it for wedding stuff.
Thanks for reading!!
And thank you for giving me a chance to bounce back after some tough weeks. I know this isn’t the normal blog stuff, but I’m trying to add some important literary resource, and some photographic whimsy. Being on always is a fast track to burn out, so please take time offline, support a local business, and check in on your favorite people!
Solidarity, and be safe, friends!
-C
