Up by Up-Left is the video games research and writing blog of Ryan Zhao. Author of The Fundamentals of Video Game Literacy, one of the hosts of Cane and Rinse, Sound of Play, and Play;Write.
I am currently studying procedural humor in video games, so I intend to use this blog as a way of sharing some of the research I do along the way while forming solid enough frameworks to publish. It’s an open table for discussion on these topics; I invite you to share this research journey.
Otherwise, I’m sure I’ll write on some of the more general topics covered in my first book as well as writing some informal reviews and loose thoughts on games I play.
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A rule-breaking masterpiece distilling the entire human comedy into brief chapters
Month
March, 2025
Author and date
Machado de Assis, 1881
The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas, also translated as Epitaph of a Small Winner, is a novel by Brazilian writer Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis. The book presents the memoir of its protagonist, Brás Cubas, as told from beyond the grave.
The novel has a unique style of short, erratic chapters that shift in tone and style. Instead of the clear and logical construction of a typical nineteenth-century realist novel, it uses surreal devices of metaphor and playful narrative construction.
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How does the Booknest book club work?
Each month, we select a new book for our members to read. We start with a live discussion, share weekly posts for open conversations, and host interactive live sessions to explore comments. At the end of the month, we wrap up with a special live session to reflect on the book before moving on to the next one.
Do I need to be an active participant to join?
Not at all! You can engage as much or as little as you like. Whether you prefer reading along quietly, sharing your thoughts in the comments, or joining our live discussions, Booknest welcomes all kinds of readers.
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Our selections balance literary classics, modern gems, and diverse genres to keep things fresh and engaging. Members can also suggest books, and we occasionally hold polls to let the community decide upcoming reads.
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