Lifestyle
'This Great Hemisphere' tackles racism, classism, and political power struggles
Mateo Askaripour’s sophomore novel This Great Hemisphere is a sprawling speculative-fiction narrative that tackles racism, classism, and the perpetual power struggle of politics. But it also delivers a heartwarming story about a young woman learning to navigate the world.
Sweetmint is a young invisible woman living somewhat separated from the rest of her community in the relative calm of Forest Twenty-Six. She has done everything well in her life, and now finds herself about to interview for an apprenticeship with Croger Tenmase, known as “The Chief Architect” — and the Northwestern Hemisphere’s savior and leading inventor. When she gets the apprenticeship, her life changes.
Unfortunately the change is short-lived, as Sweetmint’s beloved older brother, who mysteriously vanished a few years ago, is rumored to not only be alive but he’s also suspected of killing the Chief Executive of the Northwestern Hemisphere. With authorities looking for her brother, Sweetmint must use her intellect to find him first. Meanwhile, the hemisphere’s elections are right around the corner, and those involved are willing to go to any lengths to acquire the power they crave.
This Great Hemisphere is a complex, expansive novel packed with too many elements to discuss here. Askaripour possesses a powerful imagination, and it is in full display. Besides the stark differences between the “Invisibles” and the DPs — the “Dominant Population” — the author delivers strange worlds and technology, bizarre rituals, and lush descriptions of places, things, and events. More importantly, Askaripour uses the Invisibles and DPs to explore otherness and racism in interesting ways. That the narrative will be about these topics is clear early on, when the prologue that sets up the story — which takes place in New York City in 2028 before the story jumps to the year 2529 – with a white woman harassing a Black homeless woman who is pregnant “to save a Poor Black Child™ from its Neglectful Black Mother™.” For the rest of the narrative, those who are invisible are second-class citizens — they don’t have the same jobs and opportunities and are called things like “vizzers” by the DPs. Besides the social critique on the surface, Askaripour shows that hatred and misunderstanding, along with the slurs that usually accompany those things, are so deeply engrained into society that even getting close to extinction doesn’t make people good to each other.
While This Great Hemisphere is rich, multilayered, and contains some dazzling passages, the narrative is not without flaws. Perhaps the biggest one is the way the author dedicates pages upon pages to things like painting rituals and politics but never really goes deeper into things like languages, the big changes the world has gone through, or how the invisible people came to be. This novel is, in part, an interesting blend of speculative elements that go from science fiction to fantasy. This means that the worldbuilding has to be there, and when it comes to that, Askaripour certainly delivers. However, the story is also a twisty political thriller with elements of crime and mystery — and those genres demand a faster, tighter pace, which the novel never delivers.
The sophomore curse is not an issue for Askaripour. Sweetmint is a memorable character, the world the author created for this novel is impressive, and the social critique is doled out in a way that it accomplishes what it sets out to do without ever becoming preachy or overpowering the rest of the elements that make up the narrative. Also, some of the things the author brings to the page are unique and show he paid a lot of attention not only to detail but also to the inner landscape of his characters. For example, the rumoya, “the life force flowing through all Invisibles, unique to each of them, influencing thought, feeling, and action” is so important that it emerges as another character in the novel, a ubiquitous presence that sometimes acts like a soul and sometimes like a sixth sense or an inner voice. Small details like that, which are sprinkled throughout the story, show Askaripour is a voice to watch.
This Great Hemisphere is large in many ways, which is good, but it’s clear that some of the important details that held this world together were lost somewhere between Askaripour’s gifted imagination and the page. The novel is sometimes touching, sometimes wildly engaging, and sometimes slightly disjointed and sluggish, which makes for an interesting reading experience in which some passages grab you and won’t let go and others make you want to quickly power through just to get to whatever is next. Despite these flaws, the strength of the novel and the clarity of its messages make it a recommendable read, especially for those who enjoy complex worldbuilding.
Gabino Iglesias is an author, book reviewer and professor living in Austin, Texas. Find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @Gabino_Iglesias.
Family members of those killed during America’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan spoke onstage at the Republican National Convention in an emotional moment … and they took the current president to task.
Gold Star family members — relatives of the 13 American service men and woman killed during withdrawal from the Middle East three years ago — took the stage and contrasted their interactions with Joe Biden and Donald Trump … slamming Biden for his administration’s response to their killed family.
The major moment kicked off with a video of Biden checking his watch at Andrew’s Air Force base after the bodies were returned from Afghanistan … and, in confessional interviews, they said it seemed like he had better things to do.
Alicia and Herman Lopez — the parents of Corporal Hunter Lopez who died during the evacuation — then spoke onstage, adding when the 13 servicemembers’ bodies were returned to the U.S.A., Biden met the plane, but they claim he made the moment about himself.
Instead of focusing on their tragedy, they say Biden kept mentioning his son Beau Biden — who passed from cancer — and didn’t focus on their losses … a moment of disconnect that’s staying with the family members.
Another grievance … the families criticized Biden for never publicly naming their loved ones and claimed as recently as the debate no one died during the withdrawal — with Christy Shamblin, mother-in-law to Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, saying when they met Trump, he knew all their family members’ names.
As you may know … 13 U.S. service members and around 170 Afghanistan civilians were killed at the Kabul Airport by a suicide bomber — a tragedy the Department of Defense has said wasn’t preventable at a tactical level.
Still, Biden’s been criticized for his admin’s handling of the situation — especially the self-imposed August 31 deadline.
The names of all 13 military personnel killed in the incident were read onstage and the family held their pictures too … with the crowd showing the families a ton of love after they spoke with shouts of “U.S.A.” and “Never forget” reverberating throughout the room.
Certainly a powerful moment onstage … and, one Trump supporters won’t soon forget.
Jeremy Allen White in The Bear.
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Jeremy Allen White in The Bear.
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The nominations the Emmy Awards were just announced, and it was a good day for The Bear, which set a new record in the comedy category. And plenty of our favorites also got Emmy nods, including Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Shōgun, Reservation Dogs and What We Do in the Shadows. We’ll help you unpack this year’s the notable nominees and snubs.
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I know my way around a facial. I have well-formed opinions about collagen face masks and laser treatments. I planned a trip to Seoul, in part, so I could visit a famous spa known for its advanced skin care techniques and K-drama celebrity clientele. So when I saw a TikTok video that described a local L.A. treatment as “gua sha on steroids,” I couldn’t resist.
The $108 service is offered at JY Beauty in San Gabriel. Owner Yajing Lu opened the shop in 2021 after she cut her teeth in local salons for six years. Before launching her own business, Lu traveled to China to gather inspiration, incorporating ideas like Bojin, a traditional Chinese technique that stimulates facial muscles, into her spa’s offerings. On the menu, it’s listed as “face tendon,” which, as Lu explained to me through a translator, is a direct translation from Chinese.
Lu said the facial contours the face, firming and lifting the skin. It can also reduce the appearance of pores and minimize wrinkles like marionette lines, which go from the nose to the mouth. Overall, she said, it reduces signs of aging.
This is all pretty close to the claims of face sculpting, another beauty trend that promises at least temporarily tighter-looking skin. But Bojin goes beyond face sculpting and relies on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices that focus on manipulating the body’s energy pathways.
Different facial products used by JY Beauty, where Bojin facials are on the menu of offerings.
Yajing Lu massages the author as a nourishing facial mask sets on her face during a Bojin facial at JY Beauty.
In TCM, these pathways, known as meridians, are believed to channel qi, or life energy, throughout the body, according to Dr. Elizabeth Ko, an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine and medical director of the UCLA Health Integrative Medicine Collaborative.
“A central credo in TCM is that blockages in meridians lead to imbalances in health, including illness or pain,” Ko said. “Like acupuncture, which uses fine needles, Bojin is a method of unblocking stuck qi using a pointed tool made of stone or horn.”
Bojin involves the same tool as gua sha, another TCM technique that uses a flat, smooth-edged scraper usually made of jade or stone. Gua sha allows for targeted massage to release tension along muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia of the face and neck so that qi can flow properly through the meridians, thereby restoring balance. Bojin might allow for a more targeted and precise treatment, enhancing circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage, according to Yu.
“The benefit of skin care resides in skin clarity and health, and Bojin is a tool that might offer some benefit when combined with a comprehensive facial in the skilled hands of a trained aesthetician,” Ko said, adding that its risks are low beyond slight pain from the pointed tool used.
Beyond those benefits, Yu says she’s seen the treatment reduce dark circles around the eyes and brighten the skin for many customers. There has been a surge in interest in TikTok since the “gua sha on steroids” video from Jing Zhang, an L.A.-based beauty influencer who posted herself getting the facial in January, which has garnered more than 2.6 million views, bringing in new customers who Yu says often request the “TikTok facial.”
“A lot more people know about Bojin and love it,” Yu said about the video.
All of the 90-minute facials at JY Beauty include the usual facial steps, such as cleansing, extraction and moisturizing. There is also a lymphatic facial massage section, which includes the chest, neck and shoulders.
Frames decorate the entrance at JY Beauty.
Yajing Lu gives the author a facial and shoulder lymphatic detox massage.
Yajing Lu applies a nourishing facial mask on the author’s face during a Bojin facial.
The treatment began with me changing into a dressing gown that wrapped around just under my armpits, exposing my shoulders and upper chest. Then I lay down in a cozy room, where Yu quickly cleansed my face. She set up a steam machine to keep me hydrated and help open up my pores.
Yu then performed a facial lymphatic massage with her fingers, a process that focused not only on obvious areas like the muscles in my jaw, but also surprisingly tight areas, like under my eyebrows. The process made it clear that I have been woefully neglecting these parts of my face. She applied gentle pressure slowly down my face toward the lymph nodes in my neck and down into my chest. Beyond feeling wonderful, I had to keep swallowing, which can be a sign that lymphatic drainage is occurring, according to Yu.
To do the Bojin section of the facial, she took out two gua shas and worked the tools along my face and neck. This part was pretty gentle, but it still felt like part of the massage and despite Ko’s warning, there was no pain.
Then came my least favorite part of any facial: extraction, or the process of clearing clogged pores by pushing out blackheads and whiteheads. This part always feels like the start of a “Saw” movie, but maybe because the massage relaxed me this extraction was not that painful.
Next up was a hydrating serum. Yu pulled out a serum booster device, something I recognized from other facials, to supercharge the serum’s effectiveness. It was a nice cooling experience after the extraction.
Yajing Lu does extractions on the author’s face.
The author receives a red light treatment. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
After that, Yu put covers over my eyes before placing a panel of red lights around my face. A red light treatment can treat wrinkles, acne, scars and, most importantly for me at that moment, redness. While my face was getting blasted, Yu rubbed and moisturized my hands before putting them into warm mittens, a process that left me feeling like I was on a beach somewhere, snoozing in the sun.
JY Beauty also offers 30-minute eye and head Bojin treatments that can be tacked on to a facial. Yu demonstrated a few minutes of what the head addition would feel like. While it wasn’t not painful by any means, I was left wanting a good head scratch, but maybe there is just less tension there for me.
The finale was a cool, clay face mask thick enough to make me feel like a cake being frosted. While it dried, Yu rubbed my legs. The mask peeled off in one giant piece.
The author after receiving a Bojin facial from JY Beauty.
Finally, Yu rubbed some sunscreen into my face and finished the facial with some quick pats on the back. It was half-facial, half-massage, and all relaxation.
Post-facial, I asked Lu about my blockages. She gestured at my eyes, hinting that I might need that extra eye treatment next time. This is totally fair: I can feel my eyes ache even as I type up this article.
I’ll certainly be back to try it out. With my skin moisturized, and my qi unblocked, my skin glowed. I’m not sure I can go back to plain old facials or massages now that I’ve experienced this hybrid heaven.
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