Outstanding! Funny, with complex relationship dynamics between thoroughly enjoyable characters. All three relationships are given adequate time to be Outstanding! Funny, with complex relationship dynamics between thoroughly enjoyable characters. All three relationships are given adequate time to be developed, which makes the bizarre story work perfectly. Daring sexual politics for the time. Provocative, not in a banal shock-value way, but rather in a clever, engaging, thought-provoking manner. ...more
Engaging! Wish it had more information about the actual Dahlia case, but the central figures are really interesting and the story twisty and fun. WillEngaging! Wish it had more information about the actual Dahlia case, but the central figures are really interesting and the story twisty and fun. Will check out more of the books in this series, particularly LA Confidential (due in part to adoring the film). ...more
Her writing is gorgeous. While I loved hearing some of the hits, I was particularly moved by several lesser known works, ones I had never heard of befHer writing is gorgeous. While I loved hearing some of the hits, I was particularly moved by several lesser known works, ones I had never heard of before, ones not often discussed. Her poetry is simple and so full of emotion and imagery. I can both picture the objects and feel the abstract emotions. I want to swim in her work....more
Absolutely outstanding. I was quite moved. After not thinking terribly much of Stanley in Brighton Beach Memoirs — I liked him fine, but he wasn't allAbsolutely outstanding. I was quite moved. After not thinking terribly much of Stanley in Brighton Beach Memoirs — I liked him fine, but he wasn't all that memorable or noteworthy — he became the best character in this one. The dialogue is so sharp, the characters so well-drawn and nuanced. The discussion of the ethics of using your own family and history in your art, in a play based on the writer's own childhood and life, is just the right amount of self-aware and meta-textual without being too cute or embarrassed about what type of story it tells....more
Funny, moving, authentic. A fascinating look at barracks life from the perspective of a writer. Epstein was my favorite character, a wildly nuanced anFunny, moving, authentic. A fascinating look at barracks life from the perspective of a writer. Epstein was my favorite character, a wildly nuanced and fascinating figure. Thoroughly enjoyed. ...more
Absurdly charming! Just wildly cute, with excellent characters and amazing chemistry. It leaps off the page. The audiobook I heard was excellent, withAbsurdly charming! Just wildly cute, with excellent characters and amazing chemistry. It leaps off the page. The audiobook I heard was excellent, with a perfect cast. Makes perfect sense how this play has become a modern classic....more
Sad, funny, authentic. The type of play only Neil Simon could write. He's outstanding. The voice cast was amazing.Sad, funny, authentic. The type of play only Neil Simon could write. He's outstanding. The voice cast was amazing....more
A charming, moving family portrait. The characters are well-drawn and real. The play feels very genuine, but there's a lovely sweetness to the dynamicA charming, moving family portrait. The characters are well-drawn and real. The play feels very genuine, but there's a lovely sweetness to the dynamic. Equal parts funny and sad, it's a very effective play. Cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy....more
Interesting and quite sad. Compelling characters and drama. Solomon was such an excellent character, so funny in a witty and clever way, very at odds Interesting and quite sad. Compelling characters and drama. Solomon was such an excellent character, so funny in a witty and clever way, very at odds with the other figures, but in a way that allowed him to stand out while still suiting the narrative. The voice cast of the audiobook was excellent in general, but especially Richard Dreyfuss as Victor. ...more
Depressingly relevant. Written in the 90s, set in the 30s, but could be straight out of the 2020s. The antisemitic violence abroad and its subtler demDepressingly relevant. Written in the 90s, set in the 30s, but could be straight out of the 2020s. The antisemitic violence abroad and its subtler demonstrations in the US is heartbreaking.
It takes a weird turn midway through; focusing on the sexual component seems to be a huge mistake compared to the far more compelling historical and religious aspect. Thankfully, though, he finds a way to meld the Jewish identity questions and the sexual dysfunction in the marriage. Really interesting, and clearly quite personal.
The voice cast in the audiobook is excellent, especially Sylvia.
The ending was quite unexpected but quite interesting. Really solidifies the themes of self-hatred and how it harms relationships and the others in our lives....more
Weird play, but outstanding cast on the audiobook. Brian Cox is an exceptional actor, and if anyone would try to make a moral case for bigamy just to Weird play, but outstanding cast on the audiobook. Brian Cox is an exceptional actor, and if anyone would try to make a moral case for bigamy just to suit his own selfishness it would be Logan Roy. Is this play intended to support the idea of bigamy? It feels like a gross male fantasy, where a selfish man can have his cake and eat it too, with no care about the pain he is causing the two women who adore him. The protagonist is a thoroughly despicable man who deserves none of the women in his life. Theo is such a tragic figure, so broken down and destroyed by her heinous husband. I’m disgusted by this character. Compelling, though....more
It didn't fully come together for me, bit I enjoyed it nonetheless. A sort of female Hannibal Lecter, but rather than just transposing the typical traIt didn't fully come together for me, bit I enjoyed it nonetheless. A sort of female Hannibal Lecter, but rather than just transposing the typical trappings of the high class serial killer, the specifically gendered experiences and identity of womanhood is omnipresent in the novel.
The first half is a touch over-preoccupied with the sex. For such a cultured protagonist with varied and deep interests, it's a little frustrating how her other opinions and passions are brushed aside to focus on the lurid. I get that sex sells, but Dorothy has so many varied passions and interests, it feels a shame to focus so much on the sex to the detriment of the food or her other cultural preoccupations. Thankfully, the latter half fixes this issue beautifully.
Her love of food, sex, the people in her life, and violence all are blended in a satisfying melange that intrigued and disgusted me in the best way. ...more
This book was absolutely atrocious. How is the book from Lo's perspective somehow grosser and more male gaze-y than Humbert's, her literal abuser? I wThis book was absolutely atrocious. How is the book from Lo's perspective somehow grosser and more male gaze-y than Humbert's, her literal abuser? I was hoping to get a perspective on Dolores's inner life, her survival, and her time away from Humbert, but the book was luridly obsessed with the sexual side and largely focused on that relationship. Somehow it managed to be both horrifying and dull in equal measure. The writing style was awful. Just so boring. This is one of the least-interesting and bad books I've ever read. I feel like the foreword should have told me everything I need to know to not read this book, especially after the disaster that was Roger Fishbite. But my adoration of the original and morbid curiosity got the better of me. The quotes at the start, however, were really interesting....more
Bizarre and beautiful. An interesting meditation of various ideas surrounding love. It's very specific to its time and culture, but has much that remaBizarre and beautiful. An interesting meditation of various ideas surrounding love. It's very specific to its time and culture, but has much that remains relevant and thought-provoking today.
I love the reminders that humanity has not changed in a substantial manner. Phaedrus's criticism of Aeschylus's interpretation of Achilles and Patroclus's romantic dynamics is straight out of an online debate.
I find Aristophanes’s idea of the split two-headed beings as the origins of humans and love is unbelievable but a gorgeous idea. Agathon’s part makes some of the most sense and has some of the most beautiful text. The Alcibiades section seems very different than the other sections, the rant of a spurned would-be lover. Fascinating and passionate, but so wildly different. ...more
This was so fascinating, wildly immersive and compelling. Could not put it down. I wish it was longer, not because there was anything more to say (I tThis was so fascinating, wildly immersive and compelling. Could not put it down. I wish it was longer, not because there was anything more to say (I think it was the ideal length) but because I wanted more time in this character's head and in this world. While I'm deeply curious about the answers to the central story, I'm really happy things remain enthrallingly ambiguous. ...more
This was such an entertaining book! I couldn't put it down. The mystery was twisty and entertaining, and came together really nicely! One of the twistThis was such an entertaining book! I couldn't put it down. The mystery was twisty and entertaining, and came together really nicely! One of the twists near the end didn't exactly do it for me, but it didn't ruin the experience either. Sometime, I'll revisit this book to see how the hints were laid out. Sad to know the Netflix adaptation was cancelled, and hoping someone else picks up the rights, because this would make an outstanding miniseries. ...more
I must be a masochist. There are two characters I care about, and two others I somewhat like (mostly due to their proximity to the aforementioned two)I must be a masochist. There are two characters I care about, and two others I somewhat like (mostly due to their proximity to the aforementioned two), and that's the only thing that kept me going. The prose and pacing are absurd, and the writer treats the worst, most annoying and poorly-developed character the best, as if she's the most special and amazing person to have ever existed. It verges on Mary Sue territory. The ending was wildly unsatisfying. The story could be confusing at times, not due to intelligent ambiguity but due to bizarre pacing and poor descriptions. Some of these characters had a lot of potential, so it's a shame the trilogy didn't treat them better. Callum deserved better by all three novels, the most interesting of the bunch. ...more
Absurdly charming! It's such a funny, cute play with outstanding characters. Some of Coward's best writing. The dialogue is sparking and the characterAbsurdly charming! It's such a funny, cute play with outstanding characters. Some of Coward's best writing. The dialogue is sparking and the characters leap off the page....more
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