A lot of eeriness and a teaspoon of tenderness set in various psychology playgrounds. My favorite stories were "Escape from Spiderhead" (will linger wA lot of eeriness and a teaspoon of tenderness set in various psychology playgrounds. My favorite stories were "Escape from Spiderhead" (will linger with me for a long time), "Victory Lap," and "The Semplica-Girl Diaries." ...more
I enjoyed Commonwealth more than I expected to. When discussing it with my best friend, we both compared it to a Jonathan Franzen novel, except less nI enjoyed Commonwealth more than I expected to. When discussing it with my best friend, we both compared it to a Jonathan Franzen novel, except less neurotic and with a soul. Great writing, memorable characters, a bit of a winding / long-winded story line, but very enjoyable overall....more
I'm not sure how to describe this book, but it affected me powerfully and I'll be thinking about it for a long time. Reading The Vegetarian is a visceI'm not sure how to describe this book, but it affected me powerfully and I'll be thinking about it for a long time. Reading The Vegetarian is a visceral experience. It opens up so many questions and answers virtually none of them. I loved it.
My rating is based on my own experience reading this collection, not a judgment of Kleeman's abilities. I think Intimations is an inventive, unusual, My rating is based on my own experience reading this collection, not a judgment of Kleeman's abilities. I think Intimations is an inventive, unusual, eerie collection of "stories," and probably deserves of a lot of praise for the technical aspects of the writing. But I can't say I enjoyed reading it or felt moved by it. I found myself searching the text for hidden meaning, lamenting not being a cooler, hipper, better reader. There were times I felt like I might as well have been reading an instruction manual for a microwave oven. ...more
"When in French" is a fun and funny exploration of linguistics theory through the experiences of a first-time French learner. As an American francopho"When in French" is a fun and funny exploration of linguistics theory through the experiences of a first-time French learner. As an American francophone (and an American dating a Frenchman), it was pertinent and personal. Stylistically, I thought the book was overwrought and overweight with frilly vocabulary. But I enjoyed reading about her romance with Olivier and the French language, and appreciated the linguistics and history lessons sprinkled throughout. ...more
2021 Update: I agree that this review was unnecessarily harsh. I wrote it at a time when I wrote harsh reviews, partly because I was in a crusty mood 2021 Update: I agree that this review was unnecessarily harsh. I wrote it at a time when I wrote harsh reviews, partly because I was in a crusty mood because I’d gone through some very dark sh*t, also because I was sure no one would ever, ever actually see them. Most of my reviews are written for my own benefit because I tend to forget things the moment they leave my field of vision and I’d like to remember what I did and didn’t enjoy about the things I read.
2016 review:
I was hoping for insight, warmth, compassion à la Cheryl Strayed of Dear Sugar. But this is not Tiny Beautiful Things. This is all the hashtags: #whitegirlproblems #firstworldproblems #millennialproblems.
The funny thing is that I embody all those hashtags too. I should have loved this. I should have felt like it spoke to me directly. But I feel like I’m from an different planet than the people who write to Dear Polly.
I often say that it’s senseless to compare degrees of suffering. But reading about wedding drama and crushes on strangers and the angst of “wannabe Buddhists” made me want to shake these people and scream “LOOK AROUND YOU AND WEEP WITH GRATITUDE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE every single day you wake up and take another breath, you spoiled brat. Suck it up, stand up for yourself, move on.” 90% of what's written about in this book struck me as trivial and selfish. I wish I hadn’t wasted the money. Sorry. :-/...more
Much to say about Hillbilly Elegy, but first and foremost: Mamaw is a goddamn rockstar, and this book would not have been as interesting or memorable Much to say about Hillbilly Elegy, but first and foremost: Mamaw is a goddamn rockstar, and this book would not have been as interesting or memorable without her in it.
Vance's memoir was released around the same time as a number of other books addressing directly or indirectly the topic of "white grievance" (haven't read them yet, but I'm thinking about "White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America" and "White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide"), most of which are written by historians, political scientists, sociologists, etc. While the timeliness of the topic will likely boost his book sales and earn him a number of interviews on the Trump phenomenon, Vance's intent was never to tackle this subject academically.
Hillbilly Elegy is a heartfelt memoir of the author's journey from an often unstable and abusive early family life, through rocky teenage years, to the Marine Corps, and finally to the alien landscape of Yale Law School, with social commentary and analysis sprinkled throughout. I really enjoyed reading it, perhaps because the story resonates with me for personal reasons and parallels. ...more
Emma Cline's debut novel hypnotized me. I tore through it, though in retrospect I wish I'd taken it slower in order to linger in Evie's world a littleEmma Cline's debut novel hypnotized me. I tore through it, though in retrospect I wish I'd taken it slower in order to linger in Evie's world a little longer. I didn't expect to be so impressed (and, many times, moved) by a summer blockbuster like this, a book that shows up in advertisements on Goodreads. But Cline is an expert world builder and she inhabited her narrator very well. I was a little disturbed by how many long-buried memories this fourteen year old character's commentary stirred up. How does she remember in such vivid detail what it's like to be that age?
My only (very selfish) critique is that I wish she'd injected a little bit of Stephen King, just a touch more horror. Looking forward to whatever Cline produces next!...more
There's a lot of beauty and wisdom in this small book. Despite being written in the midst of the Iraq War, so much of it still applies to the challengThere's a lot of beauty and wisdom in this small book. Despite being written in the midst of the Iraq War, so much of it still applies to the challenges we are facing today, whether it be the ideological wars or political rifts or the cluster of violent atrocities we've seen at home and abroad. Solnit is very firmly a leftist/radical/progressive (though she uses these descriptors with many caveats), more so than this shameful capitalist lackey who works in finance, but I appreciate (and am inspired by) her resilience, her hopefulness, and her poetry.
Her version of hope is one that I find very helpful right now, and I think others might too... That is, if they can make themselves comfortable with uncertainty.
"Hope is the story of uncertainty, of coming to terms with the risk involved in not knowing what comes next, which is more demanding than despair and, in a way, more frightening. And immeasurably more rewarding."...more
Very interesting and info-packed introduction to the latest research around the causes, expressions, and treatments of trauma. Van der Kolk discusses Very interesting and info-packed introduction to the latest research around the causes, expressions, and treatments of trauma. Van der Kolk discusses personal accounts with compassion, always upholding the dignity and humanity of his patients and subjects. ...more
Much to say about this book. I adored The Elegance of the Hedgehog and I still find myself thinking about its characters many years after having read Much to say about this book. I adored The Elegance of the Hedgehog and I still find myself thinking about its characters many years after having read it. I had high expectations for Barbery's most recent novel - because of my love of her earlier works and because ELVES - and was dismayed to see such terrible reviews accumulating. I emerged from the other end of this book amazed and confused by the harshness of those reviews.
I'm not sure how to judge the quality of Barbery's writing or the story as a whole, but I really enjoyed the experience of reading The Life of Elves. I copied pages and pages of descriptions that sparkled and moved me. I reread passages that stirred up childhood memories of long, lazy days in the woods, chasing magic in creek beds and whispering to deer. It may be over-written, but maybe I like over-written?
Looking forward to the second half of this tale. Until then, I will be thinking fondly about Maria and Clara and Petrus and his moscato....more
Most of this book is laugh-out-loud funny, some of it is raw and sad. I don't know how Lindy West (and so many other feminists who are exposed to any Most of this book is laugh-out-loud funny, some of it is raw and sad. I don't know how Lindy West (and so many other feminists who are exposed to any sort of publicity) withstand the fire hose of misogynist bile constantly pointed at them. I want to hug her. And go to happy hour with her....more
El-Erian argues that we are approaching a T-juncture, a fork in the road, at which our economy/society will take one of two vastly different paths: prEl-Erian argues that we are approaching a T-juncture, a fork in the road, at which our economy/society will take one of two vastly different paths: prosperity or recession (or worse). He implores political leaders to step in to influence the outcome, saying that Central Banks lack the tools needed to create sustained, inclusive growth (e.g., ability to invest in infrastructure).
At times this was a bit of a slog (probably could have been condensed), but it's a compelling message. ...more
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