A bit of a mixed bag, as you'd expect — some pieces interested me more than others, but all were well worth reading. What surprised me more than anyth...moreA bit of a mixed bag, as you'd expect — some pieces interested me more than others, but all were well worth reading. What surprised me more than anything were the number of books I came out of this wanting to read, and the fact that they were mostly non-fiction. Crowley is always a pleasure.(less)
This is a John Crowley book, so I will read it again and again, each time finding I have more to learn, and love. I found this slow going despite the...moreThis is a John Crowley book, so I will read it again and again, each time finding I have more to learn, and love. I found this slow going despite the short length, but that is typical of Crowley at least in my experience - more a reflection of my desire to relish his writing than any difficulty in the reading. Having typed that, I look forward to re-readings and catching all of the nuances I'm sure I missed this time around. Post-apocalyptic, beautiful and devastating.(less)
I really love Hand's work but was concerned about this one, which may explain how I've managed to avoid it for nearly a year after pre-ordering. For s...moreI really love Hand's work but was concerned about this one, which may explain how I've managed to avoid it for nearly a year after pre-ordering. For starters, there is an amazing mp3 of the first chapter up at her website that gives you a pretty clear idea of just how unlikeable main character Cass Neary is. There is also the lack of fantasy to factor in - a first for Liz. I generally like to read books about people I don't hate, and also I like there to be some element of magic involved. So this one seemed like a bit of a risk.
Speculation aside, I loved Generation Loss - and I appreciate the fact that many of the qualities I loved were quite different from those found in her other books. There were some wonderfully unexpected similarities, too; though this book takes a very different route to get there, it explores some of the same ideas about art as Mortal Love. Wonderfully realistic characters and setting, and I was impressed with both the plotting and pacing. This must have been exhausting to write and even more draining to revise, but it was pretty exhilarating (and terrifying) to read. And beautiful, too.(less)
Glad to be able to finish this one finally - I had to read Daemonomania and Engine Summer before I could delve into roughly half of this book of essay...moreGlad to be able to finish this one finally - I had to read Daemonomania and Engine Summer before I could delve into roughly half of this book of essays, which was particularly enlightening with regard to the latter and rather gratifyingly served to reinforce my impressions of the former.
I finish each of Crowley's books in the mood to discuss the strange world from which I've just emerged, so I'm thrilled that this collection even exists. A bit disappointed, though, to know that I'm probably going to have to buy an updated edition in the next year or so that includes responses to Endless Things, Aegypt as a whole and perhaps The Evening Land.(less)
I spent so many hours as a kid reading Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley and all of the horse-related books I could find. I memorized all of the bree...moreI spent so many hours as a kid reading Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley and all of the horse-related books I could find. I memorized all of the breeds listed in The Noble Horse and their characteristics, and obsessed over horse racing for years. My grandmother and I used to take the train down to Del Mar. I had a crush on Trevor Denman's race-calling. And somehow I never managed to read this book.
(Actually, I'm kind of glad.)
This is my mom's childhood copy, which she kindly sent at my request a few months ago. It's a classic for a reason - beautifully and thoughtfully written and filled with believable characters. At times Ken reminded me so much of my fiancé that I had to read bits aloud to him. (He concurred.) I loved it and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.(less)
Wonderfully written and thoroughly enjoyable, although I found myself filled with equal parts exhilaration and despair from page to page. ("We grow to...moreWonderfully written and thoroughly enjoyable, although I found myself filled with equal parts exhilaration and despair from page to page. ("We grow too soon old and too late smart.") It's incredible not how little I know personally - that's actually to be expected - but how much we overlook as a species, particularly on a societal level. It makes me want to study ecology.
You can read an excerpt on the OBOD site here.(less)
Excellent but too-brief survey written in an engaging, accessible style. Glad I finally purchased one of Godwin's books and look forward to reading mo...moreExcellent but too-brief survey written in an engaging, accessible style. Glad I finally purchased one of Godwin's books and look forward to reading more in the future.(less)
The amount of information available to anyone planning a wedding is ridiculously bloated to the point of being downright unhelpful. I picked up this b...moreThe amount of information available to anyone planning a wedding is ridiculously bloated to the point of being downright unhelpful. I picked up this book from Amazon on a whim and am really glad I did; it's been a great reminder to focus on what matters to Chris and me and let the stress inherent to the other details fall by the wayside. Lots of great advice and inspiring ideas as well.(less)
I picked this up on a whim last month, half-hoping it wouldn't simply become another book in the pile I need to read, have been meaning to read, proba...moreI picked this up on a whim last month, half-hoping it wouldn't simply become another book in the pile I need to read, have been meaning to read, probably won't ever read. Not only is it eminently readable - thanks in part to Godwin's translation - but it's also the kind of story you can spend ages contemplating. You read it in full awareness that there are multiple levels, and finish realizing that you've only picked up on a fraction of them. McLean's commentary (which comprises nearly half the book) is remarkably helpful and lucid despite the slightly rocky, combative start.
I haven't read enough in this area to feel confident about giving a five-star rating, so four it is!(less)
As someone who struggles with anxiety far more frequently than I'd like to admit, I actually thought this was quite good. Bourne and Garano take a hol...moreAs someone who struggles with anxiety far more frequently than I'd like to admit, I actually thought this was quite good. Bourne and Garano take a holistic approach to dealing with worry that is intuitive and helpful in large part because it is so rooted in common sense. Its effectiveness presumably is dependent on the reader. There's little in this slender book that you can't figure out on your own, but I suppose anyone who's got it all down already isn't suffering from anxiety issues. It makes for a compact, straightforward reminder.(less)
I actually really enjoyed these stories. There were a couple lackluster pieces in the bunch, some pretty predictable mythic retellings - nothing supre...moreI actually really enjoyed these stories. There were a couple lackluster pieces in the bunch, some pretty predictable mythic retellings - nothing supremely memorable - but overall I enjoyed her writing style a great deal more this time than during the two weeks in 2005 when I read Jonathan Strange. The recommendation came from my boyfriend's ex, of all people, and everyone I encountered during that period got an earful on the subject. I did, however, complete the book, and I find it in my thoughts surprisingly often for a tome that annoyed the crap out of me while I was reading it. Why did I bother with her short stories, you ask? Charles Vess! I love his art and this is a beautiful book. Glad we found a cheap copy downtown, and glad I gave it a shot.(less)
Okay. My mom got this for me - she found it at Anthropologie and couldn't resist. I have become increasingly sappy with each passing year, crying at N...moreOkay. My mom got this for me - she found it at Anthropologie and couldn't resist. I have become increasingly sappy with each passing year, crying at NZ Post ads, so I really appreciate the sentiment. My mom is basically the greatest mother ever and also one of my best friends, so I had to read it. Right?
Summary:
1. I don't know why this book was printed in green and blue, but it is totally unnecessary and, as far as I can tell, unrelated to anything except perhaps Stoddard's apparently awesome interior design skills... for children's rooms.
2. She actually makes some great points in many of the chapter/essay headings - finding work you love, thinking positively, embracing change and learning to do your best without worrying about the details over which you have no control. There are, of course, some exceptions. My personal head-shaking favorites are "Travel Heavy," "Learn to Style Your Own Hair" (as a metaphor, it would be more effective if she didn't mention her own difficulty in abiding by this maxim), "The Five-Hour Rule," "Be More A Generalist Than a Specialist" and "Have Your Own Independent Financial Adviser." There are also some contradictions. She doesn't want to be weighed down by technology or emotions, but insists on the right to accumulate collections of physical items that please her in some way and haul masses of clothing around the world whilst jet-setting. Way to love yourself more than the planet. It's true that this book is aimed at her daughters rather than grandchildren...
3. The main thing is that I could not get through a single essay without wanting to punch this woman in the face. I'm sure she's a nice person, but spewing watered-down Eastern thought mixed with selective areas of Western consumerism does not a contemporary philosopher make. It is entirely possible to get your point across without being sanctimonious or discussing details of your private and very privileged life. Remember that, by being self-centered, you may also not be benefiting the world.
I'm sure this is a very rewarding and inspiring read for the right person, but I'm obviously not the target audience. I love my mom and am sure that she only skimmed this before sending it my way. I'm also thankful that she is nothing like Alexandra Stoddard.(less)
My partner recommended this to me, saying Dillard's writing reminded him of mine. What a compliment! I enjoyed her accounts, observations and memories...moreMy partner recommended this to me, saying Dillard's writing reminded him of mine. What a compliment! I enjoyed her accounts, observations and memories thoroughly and wanted to escape to my own cottage in the wilderness.(less)
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