Lauren
I can talk a good game about both feminism and racism, I'm well-read in both. I'm an intersectional feminist, and though I have been for years, I'm growing daily. I thought I was secure in what I knew, but this book challenged me and pushed up against my sore spots and weaknesses in a way I haven't been confronted with in a very long time. Kendall doesn't hold back, nor should she.
Her writing is also very personable. She doesn't bore, she's frank and open and gifted. I vow to read more of her books starting today.
This is my 2nd or 3rd re-reading since I've discovered this book. This book is so lovely; it describes a bygone era I dream about. Anyone who is interested in the Louisiana wilderness (or cottage-core aesthetics) simply must read it. Having been born and raised mere miles away from the Atchafalaya Basin, it's very cozy for someone like me. It breaks my heart that running away into this life is so close within reach, but ultimately impossible to achieve today because large swaths of the River-Basin as described in the book are long gone. What remains is enough to tempt and tease the romantic and nostalgic reader.
WOOOOW You guys. Ok, I'm warning you - don't sleep on this installment.
I've been a fan of Kino no Tabi since high school - the least anime-like anime series out there, and more literary in nature. Each episode explores the downfalls of society with subtle depth through allegory, and though it becomes formulaic after a while, it's still a breath of fresh air. Some volumes of the manga have been rehashing episodes of the previous animes. This one, as far as I can tell, hasn't. And whoaHOLYSMOKES (no pun intended) did this volume knock my socks off. I definitely recommend that you keep pushing forward with this series.
Well, I'm not a “salesman,” but I am an introvert. While I don't think this book quite helped me in the way I was looking for, it did encourage me to keep bringing my personality into my work, though it feels like it's at odds with what management wants because clientele Do respond well to my warmth and genuine interest in them as people.
I mean, it's ‘aight.
Kinda bored with the troupe of unsurmountable trials that are easily surmounted within a couple of pages, but don't take my word for it. I'm more interested in how Maxim Maresh becomes the easily-ignorable and least interesting character in the Darker Shades series, and this volume didn't really build the ground for that.
I know at some point this essay is going to be included in a larger volume, but this did answer a long-held question of mine.
I've never been to a Sedaris reading (yet) but several of my friends have, and they've regaled me with stories about him - how in the book signing he will engage and talk to everyone. One couple said he asked them if they knew a good joke and the husband told his best one, to which Sedaris responded with an unamused: “Hmn.”
I've since imagined that this is par the course at a Sedaris reading and not part of a larger thing, so I'd been doing my homework just in case he ever asks me for a joke. Now I'm just hoping he asks me about my bra because I have more to report on that topic.
This book is, uh... Kinda a mess? You know, I'm the kind of reader who tries to stick with a book even if I'm feeling Luke-warm about it, in hopes that it turns a corner. I always try to make a good effort to see what the author is trying to really Say with their work, which I believe makes me an empathetic reader. Starless Sea is as much a mystery to me as my work desk and filing system is to anyone who isn't me.
I'd try to list the pros and cons, but really the only pro I can think of is that it wasn't Offensive, and that admittedly some of my cons are just personal biases.
For example, I never really liked it when authors try to name-drop - the worst offender in the history of literature being Ready Player One. We get it, the author is a nerd who Knows what Final Fantasy is and watches Marvel movies. NEATO. What do you want, a cookie?
Kinda riding on the coattails on that, this book is trying to be a homage to books and book lovers through every Pinterest Book aesthetic imaginable. I know some readers will feel seen and enchanted by that, but I just think it's tacky.
The most important thing I didn't like about this book is that it's so weirdly uneventful. All this world building, and it was simply half-baked.
I read this book for my book club. I'm to understand that it created waves in “Romancelandia” for being a historical romance featuring suffragettes, which is quite novel in itself! But did it live up to its hype?
Honestly, I'm the type of reader who has learned not to put trust in popularity. So that it mind, no it wasn't this searingly brilliant romance, but it's does easily stand out from the pack. It didn't have any of the problems I usually complain about in romance novels - that is, total lack of communication! (TALK THROUGH YOUR ISSUES PEOPLE!!! GAWD!!!!!) I was a little confused by the gravity of and didn't totally buy their obstacles, but who knows! Maybe there Is a niche piece of Victorian protocol that I didn't actually know about!
All the same, the book tackles the romance with maturity and the gimmick with intelligence.
I know I'm in the minority here, but I just don't care for Gaiman. I've heard it over and over again to keep giving him a try, but gosh, I've got his number by now and I'm just Tired and bored. It's not that I think he's a bad writer, I just think if you've read one of his works you've basically read them all. Again - some readers Want that. I just think there are a million writers who can do just as well.
So really I'm here for Colleen Doran's absolutely ravishing artwork.
I read this book per the recommendation of my sister-in-law. And sure enough, Flavia de Luce was delightful. She is a precocious child with a passion for chemistry and, as luck would have it, a knack for sleuthing. Literary children who fall under the umbrella of “precocious,” personally irritate the junk outta me if they're not played right. Flavia's saving grace is that she's also an impish little sister. And that's something I can relate to very much.
Because this is the first book in a fairly long series, it will be hard to review them on individual merits. So far I found the book engaging enough, and I'm excited to continue the series.
This book should be required reading for anyone who is currently feeling too happy and wants to bring it down a notch and physically throw a flaming minivan into a wall. But I mean this as a good thing. (Maybe?)As frustrating, infuriating and yet ultimately validating as this was to read, I have a tiny bit of hope that this book will have a simular legacy as [a:Rachel Carson 15332 Rachel Carson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397487410p2/15332.jpg] and [b:Silent Spring 27333 Silent Spring Rachel Carson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442353674l/27333.SY75.jpg 880193] had on the world in the 60's and beyond.
This, Uhm, certainly was a book, wasn't it?
In the vein of Dream Daddy and Hatoful Boyfriend, My Boyfriend is a Bear is perhaps for a very niche audience. Or maybe I know too much about what's out there regarding weird, niche hentai and anime. Not that this book isn't anything but PG, but for this reason, I think I read between too many lines, asked too many questions and made too many assumptions to have been charmed by the book the way a lot of the readers were.
I was due to do a reread - in part because of the new movie adaptation, but more importantly, because I decided to give this book to a tween on her birthday and I wanted to be sure first that it was the right choice.Rereading it as an adult, I realized a few things. Yes, Stargirl is what we now call a classic example of a “manic pixie dream girl,” and it's considered a bad thing even if I'm still kind of attracted to the troupe.Because I'm willing to over-look negative connotations, here's what I love about Stargirl.⭐ Leo loves Stargirl. Yes, this book is a romance, but to me, this is one of the most authentic romantic and healthy relationships I've seen in fiction. Let me explain. To Leo, Stargirl/Susan is one of the most perfect and flawless people he has ever met. He's completely dazzled by her. At First. Does he romanticize her? Sure. But as a reader, I'm a little head-over-heels for her myself. The thing that keeps him grounded and her human is that he eventually gets irritated by some of her quirkiness. Wither because of outside influences or because the varnish of a new crush is starting to fade. 1. Leo thinks to be normal and popular is more important than being an individual, even though being an individual is what attracted him to Stargirl in the first place. Before long, Stargirl can't keep up the act anymore and reverts back, though not completely form having learned some things.2. Before and after the Oration rally, Stargirl is a little in-her-head about how her school will praise her for winning, and in essence, finally accept her. Leo knows better and tries to talk her down from it. A good partner can do this without having to be a b**thole and be supportive without having to say "I told you so" and be there to help clean up the mess afterward. ⭐ Stargirl is wonderful. She's my hero. She's a wholesome individual and completely unabashed by this. Stargirl/Susan's sole purpose is to make people feel special, even at the sacrifice of her own reputation. There are times when she really is too naive to see that this isn't always a good thing. (In particular, that is something I have in common with her. Sometimes my strict morality ends up hurting myself and others, though my intentions are genuine.) But she pays attention to the little things and celebrates that. She is selfless and appreciative. In [b:The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts 23878688 The 5 Love Languages The Secret to Love that Lasts Gary Chapman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1432487272l/23878688.SY75.jpg 832090] Stargirl's love languages would probably be Acts of Service & Gifts.⭐ There's a lot of depth in this book about healthy self-expression. Take the “happy wagon” for example - she uses this as a coping mechanism to deal with the slings and arrows that would hurt her. It's not that she doesn't feel pain or that she isn't unrealistic after all. It's just emotional baggage she tries not to carry around with her all the time. And guess what? Sometimes you can be so sad and hurt that dropping marbles in a jar (or pebbles in a toy wagon) can't express adequately, and sometimes you have to just cry and be hurt for a while - and that's ok! You get to do that and still be human.⭐ This book isn't just about individuality, but about banishing biases. Stargirl has a pet rat. 20 years after publication, there's still a whole lot of Americans who can't embrace rats as cute, smart, and clean little critters. We still sorta think that fictional cheerleaders have to be shallow b***hes. (I'm 32 years old and some of my favorite people today had been cheerleaders in high school - and guess what? I'm a weird, shy, nerd and always have been. People are three dimensional!) Stargirl wants to be a cheerleader because she literally wants to cheer for humanity.So yes, while some readers today will dismiss Stargirl, there's a lot packed into this wonderful book. Also, the audiobook is read by John Ritter, whose voice I can't believe how much I've missed after 17 years since his death. A beautiful surprise.
I feel like this is a necessary book for anyone socialized as a womxn to have on their shelf to reference often. It was satisfying, for me, to recognize a lot of the same coping skills I learned in my own work with a counselor over the years. That being said, we fall into the same patterns over time and need a refresher - that's why I think even someone who has managed their anger well or is just coming to realize that their anger is causing them problems now - should have this book in their collection at all times.
Wow, well admittedly I had no idea what this book was really about before I started reading it, which is my tendency.
I admit now that I was far more naive of the contents than I'd like. I knew nothing about North Ireland's completely bonkers street warfare and the intense hatred between Catholics & Protestants. Considering that it was before my lifetime and I'm from the American South where we have our own big problems with ingrained prejudices and corruption, I guess that shouldn't be surprising. So it was Very educational for me.
Still, though I went into this book blind, I was expecting more... True Crime. In the traditional sense, I guess, and with more details about Jean McConville. This surprised me if nothing else.
My English isn't colorful enough to describe how much I love Mo (in high school, I wasn't interested in boys my own age or conventionally attractive celebrities. No, my taste veered towards nerdy, witty, prematurely greying, homosexual - and therefore unavailable - Presidental History buffs, Sunday Morning Journalists, Havard Graduates & “Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me” contestants.) I've followed his career's ups and downs (I will never recover from the cancellation of “My Grandma's Ravioli” on The Cooking Channel) And I still have a copy of All the Presidents' Pets (someday it'll get signed)
Mobituaries, The Book, is a bit more of an elaboration of the Podcast, of the same name's, first season. At press time, we are in the 2nd season. While as far as podcasts go, it's not one I tend to recommend to my friends because it's obviously more journalistic than the podcasts we usually share with each other. The Podcast is obviously produced by some serious Suits at CBS. The Book, incidentally, is friendlier and more personal - looser. While some readers will enjoy hearing the interviews and sound bites in the podcast, I liked the book better just because I liked hearing Mo's personal stories.
I read this chapbook quickly - as chapbooks are meant to be read, I think.
It's incredibly beautiful, raw, and like Lauryn Hill once sang, “killing me softly.” I'm very grateful Hanson's words came to her to create this and share it with us all. This is the book I, myself, would have written years ago if I could put a name to the pain I'd felt. Though I've grown since it was cathartic to revisit those old feelings.
Besides some really important character development (Murphy is growing! Thomas is way more interesting!! We get to learn more about The Red Court Vampires!!!) I feel like this is one of the weakest books in the series yet. Not - as you might be tempted to think - because I disapprove of the pornos. I just think the pacing of the series has long since become formulaic. I might have fallen asleep on the book and missed nothing much important because I have the previous 5 books to refer to.