This is my first Elmore Leonard and I LOVED IT. A righteous Polish melon farmer and a hot Chicana union organizer beat a bunch of gangsters and make tThis is my first Elmore Leonard and I LOVED IT. A righteous Polish melon farmer and a hot Chicana union organizer beat a bunch of gangsters and make the cops look totally lame with nothing more than a shotgun, a deer rifle, and a Ford F-150. It's written perfectly -- clear as glass, immaculate pacing, totally cinematic. I feel dumb, like I waited until middle age to start reading Stephen King. Oh well! That's books for you -- always something great out there that you haven't tried yet. ...more
I don't really care about the Rolling Stones, but the people in their circle are interesting, they were at the center of a lot of hot nonsense, and thI don't really care about the Rolling Stones, but the people in their circle are interesting, they were at the center of a lot of hot nonsense, and this is a fun, huge, long listen with Audie award-winning narration from Joe Hurley. Just the ticket for escaping late September and Early October 2020.
I finished the whole thing and found it pleasantly disreputable all the way through. Now I can rank the members of the Rolling Stones with authority from best to worst. 1. Charlie Watts by far 2. Keith Richards tho I wish he hadn't done all that heroin with my man Gram Parsons 3. Mick Taylor, the one who made the best records and quit. 4. Ronnie Wood for being game and also from The Faces who were actually cool. 5. Bill Wyman for only having one gross story in this book and apparently making terrible tea. 6, Mick Jagger really sounds like a jerk. 7. Brian Jones seems like a real psychopath, plus short. ...more
Enjoyable on audio with the little musical flourishes here and there. I enjoyed the Winston Salem/UNCG/Chapel Hill history aspect the most, since I alEnjoyable on audio with the little musical flourishes here and there. I enjoyed the Winston Salem/UNCG/Chapel Hill history aspect the most, since I also trod a path from Winston to GSO to the Triangle. I bet piano players and music majors will like other parts. Anyway, reasonably illuminating and reflective without too much "and that's why I fucked up, which I would never do now, as a mature adult."...more
This is giving me very specific M.E. Kerr 70s self-loathing LGBTQIA YA vibes and I love it for that. I don'tBe gay, do crimes: the book! Get into it!
This is giving me very specific M.E. Kerr 70s self-loathing LGBTQIA YA vibes and I love it for that. I don't normally read psychological thrillers, so I can't judge it on plot, but 5 stars for lovingly rendered damp wool and suede elbow patches atmosphere....more
Good grief, I love an oral history of an underground icon, and this is a great one. Best book about the Dreamlanders I have read besides John Waters' Good grief, I love an oral history of an underground icon, and this is a great one. Best book about the Dreamlanders I have read besides John Waters' own. Tons of photos, well-designed, and *contains Cookie's astrological chart*. If you don't like this, I don't like you. ...more
What a life! Bravo to Francois Clemmons for generously sharing his vibrant, complicated journey. Recommended for music majors, Gen X, Oberlin and MiddWhat a life! Bravo to Francois Clemmons for generously sharing his vibrant, complicated journey. Recommended for music majors, Gen X, Oberlin and Middlebury alumni, and students of civil rights and LGBTQIA history. ...more
Cullinan was doing psychological suspense with multiple perspectives and flawed female characters before it was cool. I read this after seeing the CliCullinan was doing psychological suspense with multiple perspectives and flawed female characters before it was cool. I read this after seeing the Clint Eastwood movie, which spoiled the suspense. However, I enjoyed wallowing in the thick Virginia atmosphere and the writing was actually quite nice. I wish Mattie the enslaved housekeeper in the book had been more like Matie the enslaved housekeeper in the movie, but (spoiler) she is not.
Anyway, if you are down for a slow burn, super sick Civil War Facts of Life situation, and can endure a fairly dumb portrayal of an enslaved woman, you might like this one too!...more
I'm not exactly sure what the author was getting at by combining her memoir of working with local teens in 2009 with the story of a double murder in 1I'm not exactly sure what the author was getting at by combining her memoir of working with local teens in 2009 with the story of a double murder in 1980. Something about toxic masculinity? Outsider/insider experiences in Appalachia?
Anyway, none of it was actively offensive and I appreciated the author's examination of her own privilege, soooo two stars! ...more
ALT's memoir is a courtier's diary of late 20th and early 20th-century high fashion. An insider who is nevertheless always acutely aware of his positiALT's memoir is a courtier's diary of late 20th and early 20th-century high fashion. An insider who is nevertheless always acutely aware of his position at court, as well as his humble roots, Talley provides a double (triple? quadruple?)-consciousness perspective on this exclusive, tiny, and high-flown world ruled entirely by taste that absolutely no one else could provide. Essential fashion, publishing, and North Carolina history.
Also, the sentence "My favorite retreat was the city library in downtown Durham, North Carolina" pierced my heart, as somebody who worked there with hundreds of beautiful, creative, and fierce kids like ALT. ...more
Lovely production design elevates this one, but it wasn't particularly revealing or insightful about what it was like to be the coolest girl in the woLovely production design elevates this one, but it wasn't particularly revealing or insightful about what it was like to be the coolest girl in the world at one of the coolest times in recent history. Good work to the editors and designers who put it together, tho! Definitely one to read in hard copy; I like this trend (see also: Beastie Boys Book) of including ephemera in memoirs....more
The improbable life story of Daniel R. Day, an actual chaos wizard who turned the odds his way time and time again. This memoir manages to capture theThe improbable life story of Daniel R. Day, an actual chaos wizard who turned the odds his way time and time again. This memoir manages to capture the richness of his life experiences and utterly unique perspective.
--Bonus to librarians--
To paraphrase his life philosophy: 'There is no problem I can't read my way out of.'
The perfect way in which to tell this story about a band with a big fat mystery at the center of it. Who named the band? How should Unknown Pleasures The perfect way in which to tell this story about a band with a big fat mystery at the center of it. Who named the band? How should Unknown Pleasures really sound? Why did Ian Curtis commit suicide? Who knows? I appreciate the kaleidoscopic lens approach for all these questions with no answers. Also, the graphics and photos fans have never seen before add tons of visual appeal.
I'm super interested in the mainstreaming of fanfiction, and what could be more mainstream than Happy Days? This was a weird read.
It was buttery withI'm super interested in the mainstreaming of fanfiction, and what could be more mainstream than Happy Days? This was a weird read.
It was buttery with tropes and references -- for instance, quasi-successful guy named Richie (Cunningham, not Tozier) leaves California to deal with his youth in (Milwaukee, not Derry), so it has some strong It undertones. He eats at Al's, shunning the Bennigan's next door. 80s references abound in general. There's some weird parallels to Ron Howard's life.
The author uses notable episodes of Happy Days as the characters' memories (and, of course, readers will remember them too). There's some kind of thin noir plot that's probably a noir reference I didn't get. And, most hilariously, the author draws a fair parallel between the Fonz and (view spoiler)[ Cormac McCarthy's Suttree (hide spoiler)].
This book wasn't stupid. It was pandering, but in kind of a self-aware way sometimes? Anybody raised by a TV in the 80s will feel a queasy familiarity with all of it. Whether or not they will enjoy that feeling is up in the air. ...more
Like most folks, I came to this thru Paperbacks from Hell. Plot-wise, it was just OK. The real appeal was Elizabeth's withering, jaded disdain for humLike most folks, I came to this thru Paperbacks from Hell. Plot-wise, it was just OK. The real appeal was Elizabeth's withering, jaded disdain for humanity. She started homeschooling to get away from incessant discussion of "menstruation and baseball", f'rinstance. She lovingly describes the worst thing about everyone she meets. Greenhall provides a psycho's eye view that is, let's face it, often funny if not quite relatable.
Look, this is the best book about readers' advisory I've read in AGES. No snobbery, utterly useful, filled with the joy of reading and book discovery.Look, this is the best book about readers' advisory I've read in AGES. No snobbery, utterly useful, filled with the joy of reading and book discovery. Take that, ALA editions! ...more
Great sense of time and place, interesting relationship between Armstrong & Charlie, pretty true-to-life about the preoccupations of sixth-grade boys.Great sense of time and place, interesting relationship between Armstrong & Charlie, pretty true-to-life about the preoccupations of sixth-grade boys. I found the (view spoiler)[ lizard torture (hide spoiler)] to be almost too much to take, but it does set up the (view spoiler)[utter villainy (hide spoiler)] of those guys well.
Like Last Stop on Market Street, this is a pretty great examination of privilege for young readers, and I'm super glad that it exists.
Like sitting at the feet of a real American princess as she recounts her fairy-tale life. (Bear in mind that American princesses are often faced with Like sitting at the feet of a real American princess as she recounts her fairy-tale life. (Bear in mind that American princesses are often faced with varying amounts of poverty, abuse, and racism.) All sorts of delightful folks show up in Pat Cleveland's life story, along with all sorts of delightful dresses, locations, and friends. Super cool. ...more
I think I just don't like Kate DiCamillo's writing. Sorry, universe. She seems like a nice lady. I think I just don't like Kate DiCamillo's writing. Sorry, universe. She seems like a nice lady. ...more
Totally pleasant collection of memories and anecdotes about famous friends and lovers from Burt Reynolds. His career runs from the late studio system Totally pleasant collection of memories and anecdotes about famous friends and lovers from Burt Reynolds. His career runs from the late studio system to Boogie Nights -- he was hanging out in 1950s NYC with Strasberg people, got advice from lots of classic stars, and emerged in the 70s as, you know, BURT REYNOLDS. The man is low key but honest about his unusual life and accomplishments.
Also, one whole star for revealing that Charles Nelson Reilly survived the Hartford Circus Fire when he was 13. ...more
OK, so I stopped reading and started flipping pages around 1980. But I really enjoyed all the stuff about Lydon's growing up as a poor kid who hung arOK, so I stopped reading and started flipping pages around 1980. But I really enjoyed all the stuff about Lydon's growing up as a poor kid who hung around at the library all the time and his no-holds-barred account of the beginning of punk. The guy is not a bit impressed with punk mythology or hagiography cause duh, he was there and is naturally contrary. Thus, many unflattering remarks about Vivienne Westwood. A bit windy, could have used a stronger edit, but worth a look if you find this time in history interesting. ...more
Pretty good! I got distracted and dropped it in the middle, but nothing against the book. If you would like to read a serious, literary book where thePretty good! I got distracted and dropped it in the middle, but nothing against the book. If you would like to read a serious, literary book where the main vampire visits both Studio 54 and CBGBs, this one is for you. ...more
Not bad, but a trifle more about the Henry brothers' affection for Richard Pryor than the man himself. I actually meant to read Becoming Richard PryorNot bad, but a trifle more about the Henry brothers' affection for Richard Pryor than the man himself. I actually meant to read Becoming Richard Pryor by Scott Saul. Whoops! ...more
Yeeks! Super emotionally intense MG debut novel that really hearkens back to like, Vera and Bill Cleaver, in that REALLY BAD things happen to very symYeeks! Super emotionally intense MG debut novel that really hearkens back to like, Vera and Bill Cleaver, in that REALLY BAD things happen to very sympathetic characters and you are along for the ride deep inside their hearts the whole time.
A bit windy for me -- I ended up skimming it -- and definitely a hard sell, but probably a goer for precocious kids who like SAD BOOKS. ...more
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