false 17 26 24 true 5918995 read 2 true 1538165 currently-reading 0 true 1538164 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73884777 January's review of Tearoom Trade: Impersonal Sex in Public Places (Observations)
by Laud Humphreys

How's this?? ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69987164 Cheryl's review of The Poisonwood Bible
by Barbara Kingsolver

Hahahahaha...I realize why I love you more and more all the time! =D ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70051415 to: A Million Little Pieces (Paperback) by James Frey
A little far out in some places, but a pretty good read. It's b/t 3-4 stars because I'm generous with my stars and because it kept me entertained. So the guy caught a lot of hell for making up stuff, but, to me, it was pretty believable. The addiction and withdrawals were believable to me, although I've never witnessed anyone with an addiction of that calibur. I totally understand how he traded his addiction for food, but I don't believe every guy in the cafeteria would've done that, as he depicted at one point. Also...I could've done without the cliche romance, but I'm a bit cynical or even snobby sometimes. I get it that people cling to one another during times like this...but I just feel like, c'mon, they're two addicts. You can't really put them together and expect everything to turn out pretty. I guess it could happen, but I bet the odds aren't favorable. Anyway, I did like the book overall, but I don't feel any need for a re-read. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20284090 to: Another Country (Penguin Modern Classics) by James Baldwin
How does JB do it? Insightful is an extreme understatement...

Upon finishing...ahh...how Baldwin leaves your head reeling... ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/61900528 Susan P~'s review of Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides

Three stars? Seriously?? ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56475855 to: Middlesex (Paperback) by Jeffrey Eugenides
I'm beginning to think I'm too liberal with my five-star distributions. This book is my favorite of the year...possibly of all, but I'm probably biased depending on proximity of reading...if that makes sense. Nicole told me that I might be bored in the beginning, but that was not the case at all. And considering my propensity for textual boredom, that says a lot. Not only does Eugenides have a knack for p.o.v. shift (I love how he uses 2nd) and crafting visual as well as emotional "images," his novel is cleverly circular, and brings us back to the beginning in the way that Kingsoliver's Poisonwood Bible does--without all the excess baggage. Sorry, Barbara.

For those of you who don't know, this is the story--and history--of a hermaphrodite. (Nic tells me it's a pseudo-hermaphrodite; I haven't done the research.) I felt like I was reading an autobiography. The adolescent emotions and experiences seem so true-to-life that you totally believe them. Having done the whole sexuality-discovering as a teenager (and beyond!), I can say that the author hits the confusion and need for societal acceptance pretty dead-on. As for the protagonist's ancestors...it's pretty amazing when a writer can take a situation that's pretty disgusting and make you feel a sympathetic connection with characters' experiences.

Gosh, why do I always get so mushy? Read it, werd nerds.

]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30444570 to: The Girl in the Flammable Skirt: Stories (Paperback) by Aimee Bender
I'm oscillating between three and four stars for this book. I like it, sure...but sometimes Aimee Bender is so over my head I'm just left thinking wtf!? I have to carefully choose a time to read these stories because they leave my head spinning with possibilities--which is cool most of the time. I'm always left torn between two ideas: 1-that her brilliance exceeds any realm that my poor gray matter will ever reach and 2-that she is purposely ambiguous and doesn't intend any real, concrete meaning and I'm not as dumb as I give myself credit for sometimes. I dunno. What do you think? ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/52562787 to: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe: A Novel (Hardcover) by Fannie Flagg
I loved this book because of it's southern flavor...and because I loved the movie! I expected and wanted more lesbian, of course, lol. There are some places that are a little unbelievable or maybe a little too much, and her writing style is occasionally lackluster...so I struggled between a three or four star rating simply because I fell in love with the characters and--like I said--southern fried style. It made me miss my Nana. A good, fast read. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49429043 to: The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star (Hardcover) by Nikki Sixx
Holy shit!!! This was pretty much fertilizer for brain mush, but it was fucking interesting. Sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll bursting hedonistic seams! I can't believe I borrowed this from a student--lol. And I certainly can't believe Sixx is still alive. This shit makes my habits look like sandbox fodder!! ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20284036 Jessica's review of Giovanni's Room (Penguin Modern Classics)
by James Baldwin

Philip wrote: "Oh and thank you for the reply. :)"

No need to thank--thank YOU for the suggestion! I'm always open for good suggestions. And I teach world lit, so Japanese is good! =) ]]>