It's a good look at baseball in 1969 -- and while none of the revelations are particularly surprising (baseball players drink! and chase women!), Bout...moreIt's a good look at baseball in 1969 -- and while none of the revelations are particularly surprising (baseball players drink! and chase women!), Bouton is an interesting guide. I like it when he veers off a little and starts thinking about race and Vietnam and other issues, but there are some great baseball stories, too.(less)
Man, it's hard even to pick out the craziest part of the story of the Beatles. Is it the incredible briefness of it -- about 6 years in the spotlight,...moreMan, it's hard even to pick out the craziest part of the story of the Beatles. Is it the incredible briefness of it -- about 6 years in the spotlight, in which time they went from lovable moptops with (brilliant) straightforward rock songs to mustachioed counterculture icons writing pyschedelic music? Is it the odd hangers-on? I got the biggest kick out of Magic Alex, an "inventor" with big visions (and little apparent talent) who got the Beatles to give him a great deal of money. Or is it the interplay of the band members? On this last point: turns out it's really, really hard to figure out the personalities of the band members (particularly John and Paul), which leads to a lot of quasi-psychoanalyzing. I'm convinced that Spitz did a rigorous job of sourcing these things, but there's still no absolute truths about why the Beatles were the way that they were. My other main complaint was that the book started somewhat slowly -- I liked getting the Liverpool atmospherics and enjoyed the story of the band's surprisingly long struggle to get noticed (did you know they once were called Johnny and the Moondogs?), but still felt that this part was a little slow. On the whole, though, this book did exactly what I wanted it to -- it walked me through the history of the band in a straightforward and entertaining fashion, and taught me a ton about the Beatles. Oh, and now I know who I blame for the band's breakup. There's blame to go around, but I think John deserves the biggest share of the responsibility. But Yoko sure didn't help matters.(less)
Tremendous -- funny, sweet, and cleverly constructed. Pascuale and all the other characters are multi-dimensional and relatable, and the extended came...moreTremendous -- funny, sweet, and cleverly constructed. Pascuale and all the other characters are multi-dimensional and relatable, and the extended cameo by a real-life star of stage and screen is a highlight of the book. The parts set in 1962 Italy are probably the best, but there are enjoyable detours not just to the present day but even to the history of the Donner Party. (I would not go see Donner!, I do not think.) Really glad I read this one. The last chapter, with a sort of all-encompassing present sweeping together the elements of the novel from varied chronological places, was quite affecting and effective. A book I hope to revisit in the future.(less)
From page 126: "I didn't go to sleep right away. I lay there and thought about how life was like a Littmus Lozenge, how the sweet and the sad were all...moreFrom page 126: "I didn't go to sleep right away. I lay there and thought about how life was like a Littmus Lozenge, how the sweet and the sad were all mixed up together and how hard it was to separate them out. It was confusing." And that's this marvelous book in a nutshell: a beautiful exploration of the sweet and the sad and how they are, inextricably, tangled together...(less)
It was interesting to dig into the Rhee experience in DC -- even though I closely followed the entirety of her tenure, I learned a good deal of new in...moreIt was interesting to dig into the Rhee experience in DC -- even though I closely followed the entirety of her tenure, I learned a good deal of new information. The book left me with a lot of questions, and I don't know if it was able to capture the whole story, but it's a valuable addition to the story of current ed reform.(less)
Another genocide book I assigned for school...I ended up liking this one, though it was also disturbing. More violence, often very disquieting violenc...moreAnother genocide book I assigned for school...I ended up liking this one, though it was also disturbing. More violence, often very disquieting violence, and it just continues this all-out assault on my tolerance for human ugliness -- is violence the answer to violence? A question I'm pondering -- makes me think I should turn back to William T. Vollman's Rising Up and Rising Down (the abridged version I was able to make it through, anyway) and look at his moral calculus about when violence is justified. Should you be able to assassinate a repressive, awful dictator like the Dominican Republic's Trujillo -- this is dicey stuff. Props to the book (my first exposure to Alvarez) for teaching me about the Dominican Republic, for being an interesting read, and for leaving me with questions.(less)
Really powerful, like all the reviewers have said. Boo does a remarkable job of immersing us in the life of a Mumbai slum -- from dramatic events to m...moreReally powerful, like all the reviewers have said. Boo does a remarkable job of immersing us in the life of a Mumbai slum -- from dramatic events to mundane events, you get the rhythm of what goes on there. And while it's human and sometimes powerful, it's also incredibly depressing, too. In addition to the material deprivation, official corruption is a constant presence in the book. So is a lack of effective public institutions. Reading the book, I was astonished at how many ways the lack of an effective centralized state affects people's lives for the worse every day. Conservative or liberal, we in the States basically take it for granted that government actors will be generally competent and at least not actively and destructively corrupt -- this book demonstrates the consequences of a state that doesn't function in that way. I could talk more about the book, but urge you to read it. It's up there with Random Family and There Are No Children Here in terms of powerful books that really show the complexity and humanity behind systemic poverty.(less)
Not too much to say that I haven't yet...I'm running out of different ways to describe why I like Wodehouse. Great stuff. Fun plotting, great prose, a...moreNot too much to say that I haven't yet...I'm running out of different ways to describe why I like Wodehouse. Great stuff. Fun plotting, great prose, a good cast of characters...(less)
I listened to this book on my iPod over the last few months, and at first I was disappointed. Yet as I kept listening to the stories, Murakami's seduc...moreI listened to this book on my iPod over the last few months, and at first I was disappointed. Yet as I kept listening to the stories, Murakami's seductive writing style and engaging examination of life and its mysteries just kept drawing me in more and more...There are a few stories that I ended up loving, and the whole book ended up being one I really enjoyed. I particularly recommend "Birthday Girl," "Tony Takitani," "A Shinagawa Monkey," "The Kidney-Shaped Stone That Moves Every Day," and especially "Hanalei Bay."(less)
Highly enjoyable -- I love Collins's books, and this one did not disappoint. I learned that the printer of the First Folio is the one man who we have...moreHighly enjoyable -- I love Collins's books, and this one did not disappoint. I learned that the printer of the First Folio is the one man who we have documentary evidence of Shakespeare disliking (who knew?) and enjoyed wandering through the stories of Dr. Johnson (I didn't know it was an honorary doctorate!), the birth of both the Shakespeare cult and the Folger Shakespeare library, manuscript-comparison technology, Shakespeare in Japan, and many other topics. Fascinating -- though not as brilliant as Collins's essay on Shakespeare forger William Henry Ireland (you have to see the tremendous book Banvard's Folly for that one).(less)
Full of beautiful pictures of other beautiful books, this book tells a thorough history of the development of what we know of as the Bible. I learned...moreFull of beautiful pictures of other beautiful books, this book tells a thorough history of the development of what we know of as the Bible. I learned a ton -- about the invention of printing, about the Protestant Reformation, about the ways the Bible was used, particularly in western Europe -- and appreciated De Hamel's clear prose and excellent research.(less)
A look at Tina Fey's life (sometimes) and opinions (sometimes real, sometimes jokey, mostly a combination of both). Pretty funny -- and I definitely a...moreA look at Tina Fey's life (sometimes) and opinions (sometimes real, sometimes jokey, mostly a combination of both). Pretty funny -- and I definitely agree that Amy Poehler is always funnier than Chris Kattan in a dress.(less)
I tried to read this book when I was much younger (maybe 8th grade?) and couldn't get through it. Now I know why -- it's not a book for a 13-year-old....moreI tried to read this book when I was much younger (maybe 8th grade?) and couldn't get through it. Now I know why -- it's not a book for a 13-year-old. It's about aging, and disappointment, and nostalgia, and its very good at exploring these emotions through the lens of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the early 1950s. I enjoyed the baseball very much, and also liked the way Kahn wove in both his own life story and the stories of several players, as athletes and as people. It's striking how much the tale is shot through with race relations in general and the heroism of Jackie Robinson in particular -- even as I learn more and read more I'm still astounded by how fundamental race (and particularly white racism against blacks) has been at so many stages of our nation's history. I think it says something that that was my takeaway about both this book of baseball nostalgia and Joseph Ellis's Founding Brothers about our nation's early history...but it's nice in this sad, complicated story to have some real heroes like Robinson fighting to help our country become better.(less)
Really excellent. There's a lot to think about here -- one of many books that makes me wish I could sit around with a group of people and discuss it (...moreReally excellent. There's a lot to think about here -- one of many books that makes me wish I could sit around with a group of people and discuss it (maybe I should try to find myself a book club...) Five people die on a bridge, and a priest asks "why?" Were they particularly bad people? In a particular place in their lives where the collapse of the bridge somehow made sense? I enjoyed the priest's investigation and I enjoyed Wilder's sensibility throughout. There are no easy answers (spoiler alert, I guess?) but the intricacy yet straightforwardness of the story is really compelling. Here are five people -- really six, if you count the priest, or closer to 10 or 12 if you count the most important auxiliary characters who have rotated into the lives of the people who die in the bridge's collapse -- who have touched each other's lives in various ways and yet each live, somehow, fiercely independently. And the book sets up a world that seems quite real. Of course the lonely mother's letters become posthumously famous and required reading for Peruvian schoolchildren -- we can see why, but we can also see that this as-yet-unknown-to-her fact does not alleviate the despair or uncertainty that the woman feels as she is living the events and writing the letters. The endgame of the priest's investigation caught me totally off-guard but seems in retrospect inevitable. But this book is a powerful cry against unthinking acceptance or, really, over-simplicity. Life is messy, complicated, and beautiful, and love is what binds us together. Isn't that the secret message of all great literature?(less)
The characters are likable and the ending still packs a real punch, but as I read this book with some students I'm tutoring I found it a little slower...moreThe characters are likable and the ending still packs a real punch, but as I read this book with some students I'm tutoring I found it a little slower than I would have liked.(less)
It's always nice when you can learn a lot from a book (in this case about the horrors of the Trujillo period in the DR) while also enjoying deep chara...moreIt's always nice when you can learn a lot from a book (in this case about the horrors of the Trujillo period in the DR) while also enjoying deep characterization and a tremendously energetic narrative voice. I learned a lot of Spanish slang, also -- could intuit what some of it meant, had to just guess on others, shame on my umpteen years of Spanish study. A really good read.(less)
Full disclosure: co-author Peggy Kirby is a friend and colleague of mine. With that said, I thought this book was a straightforward and helpful account...moreFull disclosure: co-author Peggy Kirby is a friend and colleague of mine. With that said, I thought this book was a straightforward and helpful account of several practices of successful principals. It's hard to argue with most of them, and everything is presented clearly. I'd like even more practicality and implementation tips (as found in the very helpful Leverage Leadership) but the book provides a strong foundation of principles for principals.(less)
So, my one-year plan to read this book succeeded. I didn't end up reading exactly a-saint-a-day, but I read them all. Many of the stories were inspiri...moreSo, my one-year plan to read this book succeeded. I didn't end up reading exactly a-saint-a-day, but I read them all. Many of the stories were inspiring and most were interesting. Some were frustrating -- vigorously condemning heresy is not my favorite reason to elevate someone to sainthood -- and some were great (I'm a huge fan of little Benedict the bridge builder). Lots of common trends -- refusing to be a bishop (but later accepting) seems to be a sure step on the path to sainthood, as does (of course) martyrdom, and so does being against the right heresy at the right time (no Arians need apply). Lots of interesting stuff, and I do feel like it improved my spiritual life. In 2008, I'm tackling the big one-year project: the Bible. Here's hoping I finish that one, too.(less)
Some fun scenes, an adventurous main characters, and some solid writing made this book enjoyable. I couldn't totally get past the retrograde gender ro...moreSome fun scenes, an adventurous main characters, and some solid writing made this book enjoyable. I couldn't totally get past the retrograde gender roles and racial politics, though (even though I think the book was striving to be progressive on both topics...).(less)
Enjoyable...the pace is rapid throughout the book, and I like a Crusoe-esque tale of survival in the ocean and on an island. Some good character devel...moreEnjoyable...the pace is rapid throughout the book, and I like a Crusoe-esque tale of survival in the ocean and on an island. Some good character development and engaging prose -- would rather the menacing cannibals not been described almost solely by the color of their skin...(less)
Loading...
