Court
Often short story collections are a mixed bag, but none of the stories in this collection were weak. There were very few that I felt were somewhat average or just didn't strike my fancy, but none in the collection were bad. I loved the writing style, the words he selected (I happily looked up many words), the emotional tone. Some stories spoke of optimism, love, acceptance, forgiveness.
Read: https://www.yoonhalee.com/?p=667I understand that this is flashfiction but ummm was something missing? Maybe it'd make more sense to me if I read [b:The Cold Equations 22856889 The Cold Equations Tom Godwin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591013038l/22856889.SX50.jpg 1804993]
As I was reading I made notes about the chapters.
Ch 1 Pets 3 starsCh 2 gum 5 ⭐️ Gum as a metaphor for an ex-boyfriend was really goodCh 3 quitting 3-3.5 stars less relatableCh 4 therapy HATED the comparison of therapy to petting a flower but loved the rest of the chapter 4 ⭐️Ch 5 space dust about making friends as an adult 4.5 Did great with starting the chapter off about looking at meteors/shooting starsCh 6 long con 4 about imposter syndrome Ch 7 oldpocalypse 4 relatableCh 8 grass on the other side 4.5-4.75 going for her dream job, hey that's in my backyard
How the Crown Prince of Jupiter Undid the Universe, or, The Full Fruit of Love's Full Folly
Some bon mots that I enjoyed:
“Are we not all slain by the self-same arrows of true love?” answered the Prince. Which, of course, was not any sort of answer, except to a young man in love.He had addressed her as “Lady” because, of course, he knew better than to name a witch out loud.Because there is no magic without sacrifice, Prince. And no love without it, either.
Read at: https://www.tor.com/2022/10/12/how-the-crown-prince-of-jupiter-undid-the-universe-or-the-full-fruit-of-loves-full-folly-p-h-lee/
I thought that it was great genre work; a wry romp of a fictional Biden in position of an amateur detective or PI. This had parts that made me laugh: Joe likes ice cream (which I believe to be true), Jill likes reading harlequins/bodice rippers (not sure if true, but fun to picture). There's also mention of “Orange Mocha Frappuccinos”, which I can't help but read and hear as it's said in Zoolander, attempts at fist bumps, diners (I thought the Waffle Depot was play on Waffle House, but there might be one in VA), and a high speed chase.
There are a few oblique references to the 45th president such as “Tweeter-in-chief” and at the end of the book it's hinted at that (fictional) Biden considers running again -- which was why there was some tension between him and Obama. Obama wanted to give him space in case he was running, but Biden mistook it as their friendship was fading.
I was so happy when Biden mentions Malcom Gladwell: ‘Getting the legs moving supposedly has a synergistic effect with brain synapses (that's what Malcom Gladwell told me once).'
I thought that the part about "That's what happens when you take a sandal to a stiletto fight" was hilarious.
read at: http://popcultureandamericanchildhood.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/CisnerosBarbieQ.pdfOh Sandra Cisneros of [b:The House on Mango Street 139253 The House on Mango Street Sandra Cisneros https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348245688l/139253.SY75.jpg 2000351] fame, I think you're lovely and amazing. In searching for this short story online I also came across some analysis that I want to save here so "By putting Barbie as the symbol of white Anglo Saxon American female in in- group and the burned Barbie (Barbie-Q) as the symbol of Latinos in out-group, Cisneros shows the hegemonic ideology that tries to subordinate and dominate the social groups marginalized by the dominant/powerful class.""The central idea of this story is how easy it is to conform to social pressure in society of by pretending that life is perfect, hiding emotions, and hiding one's true self ." I guess.
I've been wanting to read this for years.
Thanks Hoopla.
Great premise with what feels like quintessential McKean art.
Liked McKean's dark palette and way the mixed medium was layered and overall aesthetic.
Gaiman serves thought provoking topics and themes: health, mortality, end of the world, art, being known, communication.
To connect the brainstorm:
Through art we can communicate, even after death, which gives the artist value and a sort of celebrity thus lending a quality near immortality.
Usually when a book is hyped this much I run from it, I also don't care for romance as a genre, but it was selected for bookclub so I gave it a go.
I was hoping/expecting realistic fiction since it's tagged historical fiction and feminist. I tried adjusting my expectations, telling myself ok it'll just be straight up fiction, but I was just so annoyed by this book. There were a few moments where I felt that it might have been a three, but in addition to rubbing me the wrong way I feel that since it was so exacting that it deserved to be nit-picked. I didn't think it was funny, even though it's marketed as a rom-com (cringe).
I love 6:30, he might be the best thing about the book, but he's also the biggest reason why it's not realistic for me. Loved that he was being taught words, but attempting to have telepathic conversations with a dead man and a fetus was too much for me. An inner monologue would have been fine. Oh and of course Elizabeth straps goggles to him and has him operate equipment a few times.
I accept that Elizabeth's cooking show was pedantic, and I don't mind it since I love Alton Brown. During the bookclub discussion another woman and I discussed how we didn't love that Elizabeth was so good looking, nearly impossibly good looking. I reminded them about how she didn't even sweat under the set lights – would have like a chemistry explanation for that one. Another bookclub member said, “Maybe she's so good looking so that way it wasn't an excuse to not have her on television?” I then reminded her of Julia Child, whom I have respect for and also had a technical/scientific background (shark repellent) but she's not a knockout.
Also speaking of the cooking that Elizabeth does, I looked it up and from the multiple sources I read, making coffee (not espresso) with distilled water will taste flat and not as appealing. If you're going to be fastidious throughout the book then get it right.
The way that Elizabeth brushes off the audience member's vegetarianism made me cringe.
I nearly exploded when she tossed the can of soup away because it had too many chemicals in it. Um WHAT?! Everything is literally made of chemical substances, NaCl, table salt is a chemical. Which chemicals are you referring to here? This was a huge opportunity lost to educate the audience.
It was cool to learn about the high flammability of pistachios.
Elizabeth didn't want to get married, that's fine. I just didn't think that her argument about a name change was convincing since she mentions “Einstein's wife” and I doubt that Elizabeth knew who she was even talking about because Einstein had two wives, the first of whom Mileva Marić, the physicist and mathematician, hyphenated her last name and when they divorced went back to her original name, and Einstein's second wife was his cousin, she was born an Einstein but since Albert was her second marriage she took his name, or would that count as changing it back to her maiden name? Elizabeth also mentions First Ladies as “Mrs. George Washington” and “Mrs. Abraham Lincoln”. I stopped on my walk to work, paused the audiobook and yelled, “Who doesn't know them as Martha Washington and Marry Todd Lincoln?!” Then again I'm a nerd so maybe I'm in the minority.
I get that she wants to keep her own identity, but I wish that she had expressed that more clearly. I don't see why she couldn't have kept her name or hyphenated, I know that it wouldn't have been traditional, but she isn't traditional and she's headstrong so she could have made it happen. She could also have gone with the argument that “Mrs.” is based off the word mistress and I accept that “Ms” was not available to her in the mid/late 50's.
I was also disappointed that Elizabeth didn't address becoming property, maybe because she knew Calvin would poo-poo the notion or not understand.
Additionally, for someone who is concerned about being publicly conflated with him she's making quite a scene at their place of work rather than ‘let's talk about this at home'.
In chapter five Calvin and Elizabeth discuss their familial backgrounds. This was a decent sentiment, “When raised on sorrow it's hard to imagine others having a similar portion.” Because yes, they both have ridiculously tragic backgrounds, like if Matilda had a crush on Klaus of the Baudelaire orphans. When you hear someone's brother died due to suicide do you ask for details? If the person was my romantic interest, I'll admit yes, but with a preamble, the utmost sensitivity, and reassurance.
Elizabeth can't swim and doesn't mention it when she goes rowing with Calvin even though she knows there's a likelihood that the boat will capsize or that she could fall out. I'm surprised she didn't talk about natural buoyancy.
I did like the rowing parts. Even though the rower member of out bookclub doubts that Elizabeth would be able to keep up with the physically bigger people I accept that she could have worked out the physics or something. I liked that rowing was a metaphor or thematic for teamwork, acceptance, having a shared interest, putting work into a relationship, etc. This was touched on in the interview with the author at the end of the book.
The doctor who's a rower is the only competent man in the book, well maybe Reverend Wakely, he struggles with his chosen career but he acts decently.
I can't make up my mind about Mad. Some of the kiddos that I've worked with are hyperlexic, but that's not what Mad is, at least not in the clinical sense of the word because Mad was taught how to read. I think in the interview with the author she mentions that Mad is not a genius but rather a really good observer. I think I struggle with Mad not because it's not that she's impossible but because she unrealistic and I was hoping for a realistic book.
This was probably things just being convenient to the plot but I thought that it took Elizabeth an uncharacteristically long amount of time to come for Calvin's boxes. Around the end of chapter 22 Elizabeth is at the office for the boxes and while there she and Miss Frask befriend each other because they've both experienced SA? They've exchanged first names but still call each other miss + last name. (I can't recall Miss Frask's first name.) This is because of the sisterhood, I guess. Miss Frask was trying her hardest to tear Elizabeth down, but she had recently been slighted (again) by male management and discovered they have an unfortunate commonality, so she acts helpful. I do like that Frask grows, but it could have been better executed.
Hated the “meet cute” of Calvin vomiting on her.
Liked the exchange of letters with Wakely and appreciated the fairy tale viewpoint vs religion.
Was surprised at Elizabeth using the word soulmate several times. I get that atheists can believe in spirits and souls it just didn't feel like it fit; I'm also not a fan or a believer in soulmates, at least not in the romantic sense that there is only one soulmate intended for each person.
Liked the update of the audience member perusing a medical career.
Whew it felt good to get that out of my head.
I waited about ten years to finally read this, thank goodness for interlibrary loans.
I thought it was well written and illustrated, an interesting life at an interesting time.
I liked hearing Isadora Duncan's opinion on ballet, her travels to Europe and Russia, her tragic loses and how she persevered.
As the essays went on I attempted to record thoughts, things I liked, or topics so that I could better recall the content:Really liked what he said about people not being able to describe themselves, especially the part about how cynics would almost never describe themselves as cynical rather they'll assert that they're pragmatic—personally I'm used to hearing ‘realist'. Always some road construction – as someone who lives in the Bay Area I feel thisDave Eggers tried to get on Real World!! Wha..?!Lots on the SIMsBilly Joel great but not coolComparing Marlyn Monroe and Pamela AndersonGuns & Roses tribute bandsDoesn't like soccer, coached little league – I was super confused about the phrase “Midget baseball” but it's also known as intermediate or junior leagues. I think he has a point about soccer, however I think that soccer is more of a sport than baseball. An athletic friend said that he considered baseball to be the least of sports because the most one ever does is run 90 feet.Celtics v Lakers, related it to region and raceCereal, the Kellogg brothers, sex and coolness20 (some odd) Questions—was awesome, laughed about some of them with my dad(https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/hb9u8/chuck_klostermans_23_questions/)Saved By the Bell, Tori Paradox which when he talked about it made sense to meStar Wars. It's odd to me because I don't love Star Wars, but I liked it a little more as an adult, although that's probably because my sweetheart and I are watching it in order. As a kid I thought it was really confusing and especially got confused about the relations, but also my cousins and I often fell asleep to these during late night get togethers. I also hated (and still hate although a little less so) Jarjar Binks and C3PO, for my dad it was the Ewoks. I think that what he had to say about Han Solo and Skywalker were on point. “What does it mean to know a serial killer?”Zodiac serial killer, cowboy Michael Bray; prostitutes as victims, hitchhiking, Jeffery Dahlmer, John Wayne Gacy who I've learned he sent out mail questionnaire of 52 questions. Celebrity status of killers. OJ Simpson, Timothy McVeigh Goodreads has recommended [b:My Friend Dahmer 12959045 My Friend Dahmer Derf Backderf https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1325285515l/12959045.SY75.jpg 18116420] to me, I'm not sure if I'll read it.Feeling lost, religion, Left Behind book seriesPro Sports especially NFL being religious Left Behind series, Born agains are cool because of their verveAs I was listening to this book I attempted to keep a running list of cultural references, obviously I did not catch them all.Music: Sid & Nancy, Jack White & Meg White, Judas Priest, Ted Nugent, Billy Joel, Jane's Addiction, T-rex (band), The Eagles, James Taylor, Carol King, Bruce Springsteen, Morrissey, REM, Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Coldplay, Radiohead, Whiskeytown, Creed, Japanese band (Pintacanto 5), Lou reed, David Bowie, Jeff Buckley, Trent Reznor, Guns & Roses, Elton John, Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Journey, The Police, Molly Hatchet, Tenacious-D, Meatloaf, Van Halen, Elvis Costello, Randy Newman, Steely Dan, Sex Pistol, The Clash, The Knack, The Moody Blues, Les Zeppelin, Don McLane, Dexys Midnight Runners, Miles Davis, Iggy Pop, Rufus Wainwright, Sloan (Canadian band), Elvis Presley, KISS, Thin Lizzie, Dave Mathews band, Oasis, Metallica, Yngwie Malmsteen, white Lion, Jewel, RUSH, Alabama, Brittney Spears, Madonna, Celine Dion, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, FISH, Dean Martin, Mariah Carey, Tommy Lee, David Lee Roth, Kid Rock, Quiet Riot, OutKast, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, They Might Be Giants, Pearl Jam, Sound Garden, Ice Cube, Eminem, Nickleback, Alice In Chains, Creedence Clearwater revival, AC/DC, Björk, Devo, Heart (70's band), Prince, Dio, Linda Ronstadt, Kim Deal, Ike & Tina Turner, Molly Hatchette, Dixie Chicks, Mötley CrüePlaces: The Waldorf Astoria, Sunset Strip, ApplebeesNetworks: HBO, NBC, FOX network, E! Network, Disney Channel, USA Network, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Lifetime, 700 club, NPRReality TV: MTV real world, Survivor, The Mole, Big Brother, Temptation Island, OprahTV shows: 90210, Seinfeld, Friends, Fonzie, The Man Show, Barney Rubble & Fred Flintstone, John Ritter, Save By the Bell, X-files, Life Goes On, Days of Our lives, Quantum leap, 15 (Canadian drama), Star Trek (says Trekies) & Spock, MASH, NYPD Blue, The Bold and The Beautiful, Dukes of Hazard, My So Called Life, VH1 Behind the Music, Price is Right, Growing PainsMovies & actors: John Cusack, Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, ‘When Harry Met Sally', Woody Allen, Tyler Durton (Fightclub), The breakfast Club, St. Elmo's fire, Bob & Silent J Strike Back, Roger Ebert, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, Pamela Andersen, Marlyn Monroe (Norma Jean), James Dean, Tim Allen, Apocalypse Now, Elizabeth Taylor, Cat hot tin roof, Jenny Mcarthy, Heather Lockleer, Mae West, LeVar Burton (referred to as Black guy from Reading Rainbow), Leonard Nimoy (in search of), Spike Lee, Crouching Tiger hidden Dragon, Ferris Bueller, James Spader, Shannon Dorety, Showgirls, Star Wars, George Lucas, Coppola, Scorsese, Depalma (Director), Mark Hamill, Rocky, Ben Stiller, Ethan Hawke, Winona Ryder, Reality Bites, Singles (Cameron Crow), Bob Newhart, Footloose, Patriot Games, Kevin Bacon, Micheal J Fox, Cameron Diaz, Robert Redford, Jim Hensons the dark crystal, The Rapture, Joe Pesci, The Omega Code, Armageddon, Freddie prince jr, Ellen Barken, Kate Moss (model)Historical events/figures: Rodney King riots, Korean Conflict, Challenger explosion, JFK's assassination, 9/11, JFK, LBJ, Osama bin Laden (in reference to Vader), Hitler, Stalin, Ross Perot, Jimmy Carter, the historical Celts (invading Iberia)Authors & books: Dave Eggers, Catch-22, Nick Hornby, Arthur Miller, George Orwell, Ayn Rand, Newsome parental advisory: music censorship, my friends dalhmer, Left Behind (11 books), Norman Miller, Anna KareninaVideo games and associations: SIMs, EA (electronic arts), Metal Gear, Elevator action, legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Atari, Nintendo, plasma TVClothing: Hot Topic, GAP, Esprit, Brute CologneAthletes & sports: Kurt Warner, Ted Williams (baseball), Micheal Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Derrick Jeeter, Barry Bonds, Bruce Jenner, Micheal Kwan, Evel Knievel, Joe DiMaggio, Buck Williams, Tom Landry, Marc Cuban, Oakland raiders (wonder how he feels about them moving to Vegas), Celtics, Lakers – and so many moreMore lofty references: Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, Oedipus Rex, postmodernism, social contract, patriotism, Sisyphus, zeitgeist, archetypes
I love the art style. I appreciate her feminist thoughts and struggles: French language's focus on the masculine, impostor syndrome, sexual assault, thoughts about men and one having children.
A few times I had to reread the cursive, that's a me issue though, most of the time it was fine.
This is not a linear or full memoir but it is about her, but it's also about other women. I like Tove Jansson, I had not known that before being romantically involved with women that she had had male lovers.
Learned that only male narwhals have tusks.
Almost shelved on my Nordic shelf due to her time in Helsinki and other areas of Finland, but decided not to.