KayTo
The Hours Are Long, But the Pay Is Low
I'm not really a memoir gal, and I usually steer away from first-person nonfiction, but despite all odds*... I really enjoyed this. The writing was so readable (even if it took me more than a week to read the book), and the tone was immensely Midwestern. He kept saying he isn't educated about music history, but man, the connections he draws throughout beg to differ.
It also explains the voice of Bloodshot, which I literally never realized was his goddamn voice. The random stories shared were all top notch. And where he could have leaned into the truly awful (a few artists had really bad shit; some staffers weren't the least lascivious or most honest people around; the double-demise of the original label), his attitude of, "Welp, you just keep going" was heartwarming instead of tell-all. (He'd probably hate being called "heartwarming".)
Overall, such a fantastic (as in, great, but also as in, how the hell did they pull it off for so long, especially since there had been such deep, hidden issues for so long?!) story or time capsule of a quietly but immensely important label and its artists.
*Okay, full disclosure - some odds were on the "she'll enjoy it" side -- I worked for Bloodshot as an intern, then as the hourly person paid to get their back catalog uploaded to the swath of streaming services. But I never got to know Rob because he was doing it all from the only single-person office room [conveniently across the hall from the single shared bathroom], and my impression of him was shy, smart, sarcastic, and way more interested in literally any other aspect of the business than the metadata and file conversions required by each digital library.
Based on the few direct references to streaming, yup, I wasn't wrong.
I'm not really a memoir gal, and I usually steer away from first-person nonfiction, but despite all odds*... I really enjoyed this. The writing was so readable (even if it took me more than a week to read the book), and the tone was immensely Midwestern. He kept saying he isn't educated about music history, but man, the connections he draws throughout beg to differ.
It also explains the voice of Bloodshot, which I literally never realized was his goddamn voice. The random stories shared were all top notch. And where he could have leaned into the truly awful (a few artists had really bad shit; some staffers weren't the least lascivious or most honest people around; the double-demise of the original label), his attitude of, "Welp, you just keep going" was heartwarming instead of tell-all. (He'd probably hate being called "heartwarming".)
Overall, such a fantastic (as in, great, but also as in, how the hell did they pull it off for so long, especially since there had been such deep, hidden issues for so long?!) story or time capsule of a quietly but immensely important label and its artists.
*Okay, full disclosure - some odds were on the "she'll enjoy it" side -- I worked for Bloodshot as an intern, then as the hourly person paid to get their back catalog uploaded to the swath of streaming services. But I never got to know Rob because he was doing it all from the only single-person office room [conveniently across the hall from the single shared bathroom], and my impression of him was shy, smart, sarcastic, and way more interested in literally any other aspect of the business than the metadata and file conversions required by each digital library.
Based on the few direct references to streaming, yup, I wasn't wrong.
A fine collection - always some hit or miss pieces for me. This was no exception to that, but I expect that going in. No standouts for me this time (though "Presenting" was a joy to read!).
A fine collection - always some hit or miss pieces for me. This was no exception to that, but I expect that going in. No standouts for me this time (though "Presenting" was a joy to read!).
I checked this out from the library simply because it was available and I'd seen it so hyped. Turns out I really really loved the writing. Yeah, a bit ridiculous, and yes, maybe some people who have had suicidal ideations would think this is a blase take, but... I thought it was pretty great. All it took was less than a week in a different place to allow multiple characters to come to terms with aspects of themselves that they'd been afraid to confront. I love that simplicity - and truly, the wit was just so great.
I checked this out from the library simply because it was available and I'd seen it so hyped. Turns out I really really loved the writing. Yeah, a bit ridiculous, and yes, maybe some people who have had suicidal ideations would think this is a blase take, but... I thought it was pretty great. All it took was less than a week in a different place to allow multiple characters to come to terms with aspects of themselves that they'd been afraid to confront. I love that simplicity - and truly, the wit was just so great.
Fully liked this one again (no weird issues with one of the mains). I can't say I enjoyed the use of "sweatheart" (whyyyyyy use a pet name thing???), but otherwise, solid.
Fully liked this one again (no weird issues with one of the mains). I can't say I enjoyed the use of "sweatheart" (whyyyyyy use a pet name thing???), but otherwise, solid.
Because I'm human, I'm comparing this to Lovelight Farms, and I shouldn't be... but since I am, it's just shy of being as lovely of a read for me. I think it was Evie's influencer gig, and Beckett's "honey" (jarring, everytime). But if I hadn't read the first book, this would have almost certainly been a solid 5 stars!
Because I'm human, I'm comparing this to Lovelight Farms, and I shouldn't be... but since I am, it's just shy of being as lovely of a read for me. I think it was Evie's influencer gig, and Beckett's "honey" (jarring, everytime). But if I hadn't read the first book, this would have almost certainly been a solid 5 stars!
Super accessible writing - not even trying to be "period". And a bunch of "suspend your knowledge of prior plot points here, please". Oh well. It was fine, fun enough, but not great. Won't read more from her.
Super accessible writing - not even trying to be "period". And a bunch of "suspend your knowledge of prior plot points here, please". Oh well. It was fine, fun enough, but not great. Won't read more from her.
Aww, not as much fun with the fonts, but the love of language s still there. Fake hating? Amazing. Just wish the very last chapter didn't have an unnecessary addition to the HEA - but I don't remember if the other two couples did, and that wasn't discussed, so yay?
[Just my eternal gripe about the damn 1+1=3]
Aww, not as much fun with the fonts, but the love of language s still there. Fake hating? Amazing. Just wish the very last chapter didn't have an unnecessary addition to the HEA - but I don't remember if the other two couples did, and that wasn't discussed, so yay?
[Just my eternal gripe about the damn 1+1=3]
I haven't read other reviews, though I am guessing some negative ones take umbrage with the depiction of multiple personalities as something chosen and controlled... But setting aside that, I loved this just like every other Oyeyemi book. She suspends reality while writing in a way that is just laced with the humor and irritation of reality, and truly, her brain is just so beautiful. I will always preorder her books.
I haven't read other reviews, though I am guessing some negative ones take umbrage with the depiction of multiple personalities as something chosen and controlled... But setting aside that, I loved this just like every other Oyeyemi book. She suspends reality while writing in a way that is just laced with the humor and irritation of reality, and truly, her brain is just so beautiful. I will always preorder her books.
I kept thinking, "how the heck is he going to stick this landing?" And he DID.
Loved the epic meandering storytelling (not sure how Landry put it exactly). Loved all the allusions to other things (MZD's other works, but also art and literature and mythology). Loved how everyone had a very specific death, and yeah, to encounter all those by the end of the book, it's like, okay, death is unique but also mundane.
Only one death was contradicted (that I noticed, because it happened within the same 2-page spread, which made me think, shit, was that intentional to show she was an unreliable narrator after all?). Only one big issue - Kalin never having a happy ending outside of his family. That's sad to me.
Otherwise, I'm so glad I took my time (but also so glad to be back to book monogamy!!).
I kept thinking, "how the heck is he going to stick this landing?" And he DID.
Loved the epic meandering storytelling (not sure how Landry put it exactly). Loved all the allusions to other things (MZD's other works, but also art and literature and mythology). Loved how everyone had a very specific death, and yeah, to encounter all those by the end of the book, it's like, okay, death is unique but also mundane.
Only one death was contradicted (that I noticed, because it happened within the same 2-page spread, which made me think, shit, was that intentional to show she was an unreliable narrator after all?). Only one big issue - Kalin never having a happy ending outside of his family. That's sad to me.
Otherwise, I'm so glad I took my time (but also so glad to be back to book monogamy!!).
Awww, this was such a great, mostly wholesome read. No depression, but a manipulatively abusive relationship (more palatable? Whatever that says about me...). Same humor as all Dade books, and all the characters were perfect.
Awww, this was such a great, mostly wholesome read. No depression, but a manipulatively abusive relationship (more palatable? Whatever that says about me...). Same humor as all Dade books, and all the characters were perfect.
A fun retelling of a good Shakespeare play (though I do feel like many general plots could be described as being a retelling of a Shakespeare play, whether intentional or not...). Normally I struggle with the family obligation thing, but I enjoyed this one - probably because the mains didn't stay paralyzed by that framework.
And the overall story was fun - the mini-whodunit thread was engaging. The only issue was the editing - there are a few slips that were jarring enough to pull me from the story.
A fun retelling of a good Shakespeare play (though I do feel like many general plots could be described as being a retelling of a Shakespeare play, whether intentional or not...). Normally I struggle with the family obligation thing, but I enjoyed this one - probably because the mains didn't stay paralyzed by that framework.
And the overall story was fun - the mini-whodunit thread was engaging. The only issue was the editing - there are a few slips that were jarring enough to pull me from the story.