Pretty much every character in this book is utterly unlikeable. Also, I feel like Ferber relied on too many literary tricks to cover for her rather la...morePretty much every character in this book is utterly unlikeable. Also, I feel like Ferber relied on too many literary tricks to cover for her rather lackluster writing and story — playing with the timeline, cliffhangers that are barely resolved. The book is certainly compelling but I just didn't love it. Would still love to see the movie though.(less)
This book came into my life at an oddly serendipitous time when I had death on my mind a lot. Maybe that's why it took me so long to read it. In gener...moreThis book came into my life at an oddly serendipitous time when I had death on my mind a lot. Maybe that's why it took me so long to read it. In general, it was pretty good, if not a bit repetitive, and you also get the idea Didion is white-washing the details a bit — her daughter was a serious drunk who died not long after the book was published. Some critics have speculated that a lot of Quintana's health problems were a result of her alcoholism, which is NEVER mentioned in this book.(less)
Marginally entertaining. The most interesting part of this book is the plot structure. The writing itself is quite average and the theme that everyone...moreMarginally entertaining. The most interesting part of this book is the plot structure. The writing itself is quite average and the theme that everyone seems to think are so revolutionary actually seemed quite cliched to me. I won't write more because there is something to be said for discovering the stories for yourself, but don't expect anything moving or life-changing form the content.(less)
This book came into my office (I work at a newspaper) just a few days after I'd returned from a trip to Amsterdam. Despite having never heard of the a...moreThis book came into my office (I work at a newspaper) just a few days after I'd returned from a trip to Amsterdam. Despite having never heard of the author, I read the cover and it seemed relevant to my recent interests, so I decided to take it home.
To say I was disgusted by the first chapter — which begins with a public hanging described in graphic and raunchy detail — would be an understatement. Seems like Jesse Bullington is known for this kind of thing. But after a few chapters... I just couldn't put it down.
It's not a great book, in terms of literary value or moving you emotionally. The author also takes some liberties with a deus ex machina. But it is continuously entertaining and has value even beyond a trashy beach read. I would definitely read another of his works.(less)
Though his premise is to write a "researched" recovery memoir (Carr is currently a journalist at the New York Times) this book does little to elevate...moreThough his premise is to write a "researched" recovery memoir (Carr is currently a journalist at the New York Times) this book does little to elevate it above the wave of drug memoirs that already exist. I do like the idea of attempting to beat the fallibility of memory by sourcing multiple memories from others involved, and as a journalist myself, many of Carr's musings on the trade were valuable, but unless you're a fan of the recovery memoir there's not much else here.(less)
Have had this book for years on the advice of a friend who loved it, but haven't been motivated to start reading it until I saw the trailer for the ne...moreHave had this book for years on the advice of a friend who loved it, but haven't been motivated to start reading it until I saw the trailer for the new movie. Which, by the way, if you can't film a movie without depending on CGI for all the effects, maybe that movie shouldn't be made. Just sayin'. Anyway, will reserve my judgement unti I'm actually done with the book.
I was incredibly bored with the first section of the book and almost didn't get through it. By the time I got to the shipwrecked section I was a lot more invested reading it, and by about 3/4 of the book I was feeling very attached to Richard Parker. It's hard to review this book without giving spoilers, but for all but the last few chapters I had the annoyed feeling that the book couldn't quite be sure what kind of story it wanted to tell: a biography, and adventure story, a fable or a fantasy. It turns out there is a reason for this flip-flopping around, and the ending is one of the biggest WTFs I've ever encountered in print. Still can't say for certain whether I loved or hated this book, but it will be sticking with me for a very long time.(less)
I wasn't prepared to like this book as much as I did, even after seeing Smith perform a reading from it a few years ago. But it's nearly impossible to...moreI wasn't prepared to like this book as much as I did, even after seeing Smith perform a reading from it a few years ago. But it's nearly impossible to not fall in love with Smith's innocent, wide-eyed path towards artistry and self-discovery, and even those with the slightest of creative tendencies will connect with Smith's breathless insecurity and honesty as she tries to find her way in the world. One of the most charming things about this book, much like Keith Richard's memoir Life is the reverence both artists hold for their idols. Beautifully written and well worth a read, even if you aren't a fan of either Smith or Mapplethorpe.(less)
Though I knew somewhat how the book ended, thanks to an overzealous English professor, it was still a good read and the foreshadowing is amazing. But...moreThough I knew somewhat how the book ended, thanks to an overzealous English professor, it was still a good read and the foreshadowing is amazing. But what really struck me was how involved I became in the war story section of the book. Books about war are generally not my thing (or maybe they are? I seem to love movies about war) but the descriptions in this novel were riveting. Very much worth a read, if only as the ultimate example of the unreliable narrator.(less)
I've been wanting to read this for a long time, and now, 6 months after my first marathon, my running has waned. It feels like work. I'v...more(10/52 — 2012)
I've been wanting to read this for a long time, and now, 6 months after my first marathon, my running has waned. It feels like work. I've read mixed reviews of the book but one thing I've heard is that it brought joy back into running for many of my friends. So I am reading it in hopes of that change of perspective.
Am about 25 pages in so far and I really do not want to put it down. The characters that start off the book are so compelling. I can;t wait to find out what's going to happen next. That's not to say some of the sciencey stuff can't be taken with a grain of salt. Running is different for everyone, and that's part of what makes it so amazing.
FINISHED:
I really loved this book. So much resonated with me about the zen of running, and so much reminded me of how far I've strayed from the pure joy of running. As with running, you'll either get this book or you won't. Even the scientific stuff was interesting.
Another thing that was weird is that there are so many mentions in the book of dangerous lifestyle Micah True led, by choice. Reading after his death was somewhat bittersweet. But I'll be keeping his mantra in my mind next time I'm out: easy, light and smooth.(less)
Somewhat entertaining book, but if you're looking for serious history, look elsewhere. At first I was pretty put off by the author's writ...more(9/52 — 2012)
Somewhat entertaining book, but if you're looking for serious history, look elsewhere. At first I was pretty put off by the author's writing style — he seemed more interested in cracking jokes than telling the stories of the characters. Eventually his stupid jokes faded into the background and I learned to skim for the interesting details about each person's life. Kind of a shame, because if you're writing a book and how Prostitution is a normal, if not noble, profession, you shoot yourself in the foot by attempting to belittle everyone you write about.(less)
I love Spalding Grey and I'm still saddened by his suicide. I've always been a fan of his monologues — this will be the first fiction of...more(8/52 — 2012)
I love Spalding Grey and I'm still saddened by his suicide. I've always been a fan of his monologues — this will be the first fiction of his I've read. Just in time for mother's day.
Finished it. I pretty much loved it until the very end. Or maybe a few chapters before the very end when it becomes first monotonous and then just falls apart. It's a pretty thinly veiled account of Gray's actual life, from his travels to experimental theater to his work in porn. Speaking of which — there is a lot of sex in this book, which I didn't expect but kind of really loved.
Mostly, though, I prefer his monologue work, where he doesn't have to pull some narrative together at the end. Worth a read, for sure, but not his best writing, by far.(less)
(20120 — 7/52) Have had this slim little memoir for quite a few years. Picked it up after reading Bastard Out of Carolina, which I liked but didn't lo...more(20120 — 7/52) Have had this slim little memoir for quite a few years. Picked it up after reading Bastard Out of Carolina, which I liked but didn't love. The preface to this says it was written as a monologue so that has piqued my curiosity.
I didn't dislike "Bastard Out of Carolina," and I can say I didn't expressly dislike this either, but as a memoir, her language is a little to flowery to make it feel completely genuine. One of the things I recall loving about BOC is the plainness of the language — while here she seems to obscure the greatest truths with poetic turns of phrase and metaphor. Thankfully, the memoir isn't too long, and there are brief moments of honesty in which I, as a reader, feel able to connect with Allison without some sort of pretext. But otherwise, it just feels like theater.(less)
Have wanted to read this for a very long time. It's nice to read something not work-related for once. Only about 40 pages in but so far I...more(2012 — 6/52)
Have wanted to read this for a very long time. It's nice to read something not work-related for once. Only about 40 pages in but so far I'm very invested.
***
I really liked this book. If I could, I'd give it 3.75 stars, because, though I found it very hard to put down, there were still some flaws. Most are the characters are... not exactly one-dimensional... but either all-good or all-bad. And while there are several interconnected storylines, I found the most compelling to be the two children, a boy and a girl, coming of age in 1950s Cuba. I LOVED Everly. Loved her. I think part of the reason this book appealed to me was that much of it is about expat life, the pitfalls of which are near universal no matter the time or place. I was most interested by the stories of people earning to carefully navigate a new environment and culture, both the external culture of their new country and the internal culture of the expat community.
The storyline about the spies seemed a little hokey. And everything just kind of fizzles out in the end. In fact, the last 30 pages are packed with action that could have been better drawn out throughout the entire novel instead of told via retrospection.
But still, this novel was very vivid and compelling and has only increased my desire to travel to Cuba. I'd love to see what Rachel Kushner's second effort is like.(less)
(2012 — 5/52) Read this for work. It was actually more charming than I expected, though 17-year-old Dolly certainly was opinionated. Kind of sad to he...more(2012 — 5/52) Read this for work. It was actually more charming than I expected, though 17-year-old Dolly certainly was opinionated. Kind of sad to hear about what happened to her father later in life. I'm no possum, but there are plenty of practical types for all types of people.(less)
(2012—4/52) Reading this for work. Hope it goes by fast.
Not a fan of her blogging, and not a fan really of her writing, but after learning about her a...more(2012—4/52) Reading this for work. Hope it goes by fast.
Not a fan of her blogging, and not a fan really of her writing, but after learning about her anxiety disorder her non-seq over-dramatic style makes a bit more sense. Fans of her blog will love this though.(less)
(2012—3/52) Always had a thing for dandy Mick Jagger until seeing "Ladies and Gentlemen...", which turned me into an unabashed Keef fan. Have wanted t...more(2012—3/52) Always had a thing for dandy Mick Jagger until seeing "Ladies and Gentlemen...", which turned me into an unabashed Keef fan. Have wanted to read this book since it came out. sister got it for me for Christmas, so no excuses now.
Good grief. It took me three whole months to read this book. It *is* almost 600 pages, but that also shows how little of my life is dedicated to leisure these days.
Parts of the books were kind of slow and tedious. But if you're a music-lover you'll enjoy the parts where he gets into gear, tunage and stringing of his guitar. I was more fascinated with his descriptions of the Stones songwriting process. As Tom Waits says, "You're not writing it, it's writing you. You're it's flute or trumpet. You're it's strings. That's real obvious with Keith."
At times his bitching about Mick gets a little tiresome, but that's balanced out with his respect and admiration for the "little people" who have had a hand in the Stones' success all these years. He remembers names and details few others would remember and it comes off as super classy that he gives those people a chance to have their voices heard.(less)
(2012 — 1/52) My absolute favorite series of travel books. Too bad they only make them for a few states. I've lived in Texas for years and I still use...more(2012 — 1/52) My absolute favorite series of travel books. Too bad they only make them for a few states. I've lived in Texas for years and I still use the Texas version regularly to explore and discover new unknown places. Downloaded the Kindle version of New Mexico (the paper version was impossible to find) for a recent unplanned 10-day road trip and bookmarked more sites than we could fit in.
The same company also does a series of mountain biking books, which I'm sure are excellent if you're into that.(less)
**spoiler alert** (2012—2/52) I've wanted to read this for a while, mainly because of the discussions I've read on it. I am currently 75 pages or so i...more**spoiler alert** (2012—2/52) I've wanted to read this for a while, mainly because of the discussions I've read on it. I am currently 75 pages or so in, and thought I find myself eager to get back to the story, so far I'm unimpressed, and even a little annoyed, at Gaiman's use of language. This book reads like a simplistic dimestore detective novel. I realize maybe there is a reason for this, as it's becoming clear to me that the mythological concepts the book is leading up to addressing are pretty complex, but still. I am not a dumb reader and I hate being treated like one.
Finished (SPOILERS): Wasn't crazy about this book. It was compelling enough but the writing still felt like a detective novel and not formal fiction. Even if you're a fantasy writer, writing a fantasy novel, your fantasy world still has to have rules, and you as the author still have to stick to those rules. You can present mystery upon mystery for the characters and the readers over 500 pages of work, and then sum up those mysteries by saying "this is just the way things are" with no reasoning or explanation.
That said, the absolute best parts of this book are the interludes where ancillary characters explain how various gods were carried to America by their believers. I could read a whole book of anecdotes like those.(less)
I don't know. I guess a lot of this is practical advice but a lot of the advice also seems a little weak. Getting people to automatically undo years o...moreI don't know. I guess a lot of this is practical advice but a lot of the advice also seems a little weak. Getting people to automatically undo years of negative imagery and messages from media, family and society on eating and weight standards seems like more than what a simple book like this can accomplish. It's also dry, boring and LONG, and yet, I felt somehow required to finish it.(less)
A quick but somewhat disappointing read. The concept sounds awesome in theory, but Ciment's execution is overly simplistic and general. I had almost n...moreA quick but somewhat disappointing read. The concept sounds awesome in theory, but Ciment's execution is overly simplistic and general. I had almost no feeling for the characters, whose interesting backstories are completely rushed, and I found the metaphors — seamstress who turns to the tattoo needle, Jewess marked not at the concentration camp, but by another tribe — to be a little light for my tastes. In fact, the story doesn't really get involving until the final chapter, when Sara returns to Western civilization after 30 years on a South Pacific island.(less)
50 pages in: I have been wanting to read this book for two years, since it was recommended to me by a friend. I am only about 30 pages into 500+ and I...more50 pages in: I have been wanting to read this book for two years, since it was recommended to me by a friend. I am only about 30 pages into 500+ and I am already invested. Jentz is a superb writer who's attention to detail and personal clarity have me hooked, even before we get to the nugget of the story. This book is classified as "true crime" but I think memoir is a more appropriate category.
Finished: the book is really good, and compelling, but I'm not entirely willing to give all that credit to Jentz. After all, the story if the crime itself is so compelling, as Jentz demonstrates with her many interviews with locals who continue to be obsessed with the crime, two decades later.
Parts if this book bother me. Pardon the unintentional pun, but it really seems as though Jentz has an axe to grind. Your first instinct might be to think "who wouldn't?" given the circumstances. But she spends a good deal of time repeating herself, fixating on minor details of crimes not involving her, and repeating the words of her interviewees immediately after quoting them, as if she somehow doesn't trust the readers to come to the same conclusions as she has. There is no reason for this book to be 500+ pages.
I have wondered, after she states multiple times that the crime is unprosecutable, why she doesn't take her alleged perpetrator to civil court. If the evidence against him is so strong, surely a civil jury would come to the same conclusions she has, and a finding of guilt in civil court would give her some closure, if not any monetary settlement. It just doesn't make sense for her to want to finger him in the book behind a thinly-veiled pseudonym, but not have a legally-binding judgement against him.
And then there's the question of Jentz's relationship with Shayna. Not once in the book does she reveal that she is a lesbian, and when she writes about her relationship with her travelmate it is always in circuitous and obscure language. This maybe a small point, but her unwillingness to be honest with this one detail called into question for me the legitimacy of many of the other claims and accusations she makes in this book. How can she criticize Ruby for not being forthright about Dirk when she herself is not forthright?
Other gripes: I originally checked this book out at the library, but then had to return it before a vacation trip. Having not finished, I decided to buy the kindle version for my iPad and iPhone. It's the first eBook I have ever read. The e version was rife with typos and mistakes. It was sooo annoying. I don't know if this is endemic with ebooks but I'm not sure I can handle reading them if it is.
Oh yeah: read the last half of this book while camping. Heh.(less)
I'm not going to say this was a bad book, but it sure took a long time to get moving or involving. I am not really a fan...moreGood grief that took forever.
I'm not going to say this was a bad book, but it sure took a long time to get moving or involving. I am not really a fan of sci-fi and yet I love Atwood's work for the most part. There are problems with this novel but overall it is a decent read. This review from the New York Times, though rather terse, sums up how I felt about the book: http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/09/03...(less)
I can't really stand the writing style or the author's stupid nicknames for things, and there's a lot more information to be found about going sulfate...moreI can't really stand the writing style or the author's stupid nicknames for things, and there's a lot more information to be found about going sulfate-free with your hair online, but this is a good stopping point. Example: I have been living my whole life with dry, wavy (not curly) unruly hair. But since I started on the no-sulfate (I refused to use the other term) method Massey popularized with this book, I have had perfect, shiny beachy waves. And who knew my blonde hair could be better off with products marked to Black women?
The best reason to buy this book is probably for the home recipes in the back. You might never need to buy hair products again.(less)
It took me a long time to get into this book mainly because it took me a long time to get a vibe for the execution of Butler's concept: 240 word stori...moreIt took me a long time to get into this book mainly because it took me a long time to get a vibe for the execution of Butler's concept: 240 word stories chronicling a person's last thoughts in the 90 seconds following their beheading. Each story is one run-on sentence without punctuation or paragraph breaks, and the first two stories are so audaciously corny — a caveman beheaded by a sabertooth tiger, and Medusa — that it was a long time before I could move past page 18.
Some of the stories are heartbreaking, especially the ones that delve into childhoods and lost loves, and some are so outrageously goofy they don't even deserve the ink they're printed with, such as the Sunday chicken's forray across the road. Thankfully, these stories and the book itself move fast, no matter how awful or obvious.
My favorites were Anne Boleyn, Walter Raleigh, Pierre-François Lacenaire, Le Van Ky and Robert Kornbluth. Although Butler is a Pulitzer winner, I doubt I'll read another of his books.(less)
At first I could not stand this book, the theatrical language and the epistolary intro. Precocious is a word another reader used. But I took it to my...moreAt first I could not stand this book, the theatrical language and the epistolary intro. Precocious is a word another reader used. But I took it to my inlaws for the holidays and decided to give it a hundred pages or so before I gave up since I'd read so many good things about it. Now I'm much more interested and involved in the story and more reluctant to put the book down.
Okay, finally finished this book on a long rainy weekend. It ended up being much better than the first few chapters indicate. I wasn't so interested in the socio-political or academia themes, but I found the book's look into interpersonal relationships to be the most interesting and moving.
Two sex scenes, one utterly cringe-worthy and the other full of tenderness, were actually quite enjoyable to read, and I'm one of those people who thinks sex scenes in books are always, as a rule, awful. Towards the end, one portion of the book made me tear up a little. Always a good sign when a book can elicit that kind of physical response.
I really think the reason I liked this book so much is because it reminded so much of a favorite, Ali Smith's "The Accidental" — odd, because both were shortlisted for the Orange for these novels in 2006. That book is still in my Top Whatever Number List, but thanks to this one I'll definitely give Zadie Smith another try.(less)
Wanted to read this for a long, long time. Meant to read it during hurricane season, but better late than never.
I've come to the conclusion that I pro...moreWanted to read this for a long, long time. Meant to read it during hurricane season, but better late than never.
I've come to the conclusion that I probably don't really like nonfiction books. I wasn't crazy about Devil in the White City either, in spite of the rave reviews it got. Larson does a good job of painting the image of Victorian Galveston and I liked his background into historical accounts of hurricanes long before modern science, but there were many things about this book that annoyed me.
I'm sure it has something to do with his attempt to prove authenticity of the story — Larson did use hundreds of historical documents in his research, but I find it distracting that he uses proper names for every single character he mentions. By midway through the book, I can't keep straight who each person is, what they do for a living, how they might be relevent to the story, and whether of not they'll even show up again later. Ancillary characters do not need to be named. It just confuses things. And if Larson *is* attempting to prove how authentic his account is, why does so much of what he writes seem like speculation? "Isaac probably would have ..." It got to the point where I could no longer tell where Larson was inserting his own fantasy or relying on documents to fill out the story (and yes, the book has copious footnotes, but it is insulting to image the reader of your novel is going to jump to the appendix every other paragraph to see if what you've written is based in fact or not). He also skips around quite a bit timeline-wise, which is more a pet peeve than a roadblock to the story, but while I'm nagging I might as well add it.
Finally, after all the build up to the storm, the story just drops off at the end. The novel seems so top-heavy. I wanted more post-storm resolution, either in terms of the engineering that went into Galveston (beyond the construction of the seawall), or in the form of documents from Isaac himself — journal entries, letters, whatever. You never really get a feeling for how *he* felt after the disaster.
In all, I just had the impression that Larson was trying to woo us with all his fancy research without putting a whole lot of effort into making the book interesting. It is an important part of national history that often goes overlooked, but beating people over the head with meticulousness is not going to help the story become more accessible.(less)
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