I've enjoyed Pam's blog for years and was excited about this book! Pam's talent for voice and observation is limitless, and the details in her memoir I've enjoyed Pam's blog for years and was excited about this book! Pam's talent for voice and observation is limitless, and the details in her memoir are so rich that it's a sometimes a surprise these are events that occurred 30 years ago and not more recently. The description of a cow standing in city traffic in India is sublime. There's so much devoted here to the exterior journey that I wish the interior journey had been given the same diligence. It's not easy to write about abuse of any kind, but I would have liked to have seen more exploration regarding the dynamics with the English boyfriend. I had so many questions as I read, and felt like more detail was given describing a museum or a landscape than the complicated dynamics of a couple traveling the world together. The abuse sometimes felt like a footnote. That said, pages are packed with action and engagement. This isn't another over-the-top, navel-gazing Eat Pray Love or Wild, thankfully, but a raw reflection on what's ugly and beautiful in this world. ...more
The writing here is just gorgeous, page after page after page, from beginning to end. The scene where the sharks save the boy is stunning and indeliblThe writing here is just gorgeous, page after page after page, from beginning to end. The scene where the sharks save the boy is stunning and indelible, and I reread that a few times. That magic realism is reminiscent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Louise Erdrich. I struggled with the pacing in the middle, finding things slow. And Noa's disappearance/death almost felt like it happened off-stage. A main character who deals regularly with death just vanishes?? Why don't we hear from him from the Beyond? From the Other Side, whatever or wherever that is? Noa's "creation" is part of the opening chapter, and his rescue is why the book jacket has such an awesome design to it. This part of the narrative and the book's structure felt under-developed to me, which is why I'm giving this book 3 stars instead of 4 or 5....more
That I choked up over a book where a man talks to his camel is a testament to Obreht's gifts. I said this on Instagram: she is a 21st century Gabriel That I choked up over a book where a man talks to his camel is a testament to Obreht's gifts. I said this on Instagram: she is a 21st century Gabriel Garcia Marquez with the way she weaves the dead and the living. The structure and complexity of the language and dialogue are sublime, with a mix of f-bombs, ain'ts, and $65,000 words that flow like snow melting off a mountain. I would have liked to have seen more of the Native American presence integrated into the story since these were white settlers on Native land. That said, anyone who cares about language should read this....more
I absolutely loved this book for its takedown on marriage/sex/sexism/gender/work/feminism/identity/parenting/work-life-balance politics! More books onI absolutely loved this book for its takedown on marriage/sex/sexism/gender/work/feminism/identity/parenting/work-life-balance politics! More books on workplace sexism, please! I have told friends who in the past have said to me "My husband talks to me like I'm one of his employees" to read this book. And I love TBA's observations on money and power because they're true. I have recommended this book to my friends because many women over 40 are feeling all of this.
That said, the narration and structural choices of this book drove me nuts, as did the repetition. How many times does a reader have to read the sentence "So Rachel ordered lo mein because fuck it." I actually flipped back pages thinking I had lost my spot in the book. And that the narrator is a men's magazine writer/unhappy suburban mom in NJ who knows all the salient sex details (doesn't matter who is having sex in the book--this Jersey mom knows), who knows what Rachel's facial expressions are like while on a flight from LA to NYC, etc etc, did not feel credible and was downright distracting. Had an unknown writer chosen this narration approach in a debut novel, agents and editors would've been like "Wait, what? Who's talking here? How does this person know all this stuff? Why would she know all this stuff about Rachel when the narrator and Rachel weren't even really friends?"
That said, after 14 years in the Jersey burbs myself (and leaving for LA last year), everything this narrator says about the Jersey burbs is true: the moms are all chunky and domineering; the dads servile and clueless. ...more
I truly enjoyed this book, bought felt like the patients were all people/characters I had met/seen/read about before. They all sounded very middle-uppI truly enjoyed this book, bought felt like the patients were all people/characters I had met/seen/read about before. They all sounded very middle-upper class, which is fine, and perhaps this reflects that usually the middle and upper classes are the ones who can afford therapy. I was impressed by the author's patience with the patient named John. The first time he called her Sherlock, I would've thrown him out of them room. I guess that's why I'm not a therapist. :)...more
The first half had a good deal of personal narrative and the latter half felt like straight-up reporting. Also, I found it strange that Fox referencedThe first half had a good deal of personal narrative and the latter half felt like straight-up reporting. Also, I found it strange that Fox referenced "a dark skinned man" when talking about the Washington State-Canada border when throughout the book, he didn't comment on skin color. For some reason, that jumped out at me. ...more
Beautiful writing!! This book clearly reflects thoughts and vibes of new motherhood, and I can tell because I was once a mom to a newborn, and moms ofBeautiful writing!! This book clearly reflects thoughts and vibes of new motherhood, and I can tell because I was once a mom to a newborn, and moms of newborns notice everything and feel the fragility of everything. While I enjoyed this book immensely, I would have liked to have seen more edge to character development. The widower prepping for the end of the world had some edge going on, but otherwise, he's in a town surrounded by nice people doing nice things for one another. There were times when I thought characters seemed only mildly anxious given the gravity of what was going on around them, and I kept wondering: Why aren't the Xanax prescriptions flying off the roof at this point? Why is everyone so chill?...more
I read more than halfway and had to return this to the library. I enjoy Antrim's writing but he kept talking about how his mother was "terrible" and II read more than halfway and had to return this to the library. I enjoy Antrim's writing but he kept talking about how his mother was "terrible" and I kept waiting to see "terrible" show up. If he thinks what he grew up with was terrible, then he might have some white male privilege to unpack....more
Memoir is really not my usual choice but this book read like a reproductive medicine thriller, and I inhaled it in a day and a half. Could not put it Memoir is really not my usual choice but this book read like a reproductive medicine thriller, and I inhaled it in a day and a half. Could not put it down. ...more
I love Hamid's writing, and I enjoyed the magic realism used to convey migration. However, the random stories about characters other than the two loveI love Hamid's writing, and I enjoyed the magic realism used to convey migration. However, the random stories about characters other than the two lovers threw me off a bit. I kept expecting something to materializing with these characters. ...more
Unapologetic writing like tons of tiny razor blades cutting away all at once. Totally brilliant though was a really thrown when Romy fantasized about Unapologetic writing like tons of tiny razor blades cutting away all at once. Totally brilliant though was a really thrown when Romy fantasized about having that teacher take on her son. Seemed a bit out of the blue....more
Learned a lot about my new hometown. Also, would someone like D.W. Griffith make it in 21st century Hollywood? I don't think so.Learned a lot about my new hometown. Also, would someone like D.W. Griffith make it in 21st century Hollywood? I don't think so....more
Whoa, this took stamina, and the research behind this book should be a course in how to research a novel. I have enjoyed opera but not to an aficionadWhoa, this took stamina, and the research behind this book should be a course in how to research a novel. I have enjoyed opera but not to an aficionado level, so there were passages I skimmed.
But.
Months later, I still remember the exchange between Lilliet and one of her lovers when he asks "How many women are you?" and she replies "A legion." Bliss....more
Very relatable, and the writing was fantastic. The ending was a mix of surprise and a little cliched, but yes to this book. How many women have felt tVery relatable, and the writing was fantastic. The ending was a mix of surprise and a little cliched, but yes to this book. How many women have felt this way?...more
I studied Native American literature in the 1990s when Louise Erdrich was the big name then (she's still big, obviously), and it's so cool to see her I studied Native American literature in the 1990s when Louise Erdrich was the big name then (she's still big, obviously), and it's so cool to see her influence in Tommy Orange's novel. Congratulations to Tommy for bringing the stories of urban Native Americans to our bookshelves. The writing is stellar and imaginative, and the ending is downright profound. ...more
The writing is evocative, crisp, and consistently engaging. Nothing lags anywhere. Gorgeous, gorgeous stories. I brought this book to Iceland with me The writing is evocative, crisp, and consistently engaging. Nothing lags anywhere. Gorgeous, gorgeous stories. I brought this book to Iceland with me even though I had finished it, just to have it physically nearby because the stories have so much presence. Can't wait to see what Loskutoff writes next. ...more
I hesitated with this book because I think the constant self-examination of the writer's life has been, well, way over-examined. But the writing was sI hesitated with this book because I think the constant self-examination of the writer's life has been, well, way over-examined. But the writing was so snappy and funny, though I found Arthur boring (maybe he's supposed to be?). My favorite is this long graph opening the Moroccan chapter about camels, and the best line where I actually laughed out loud was: "Not her fellow camels, to whom she shows the disdain of an heiress forced to fly coach." I was on a camel catamaran recently in Australia, and this rang true. Camels just do not care. The narration threw me off initially, but in the end you see what's going on. This is a fun, sweet book though I'm not really clear on why it won the Pulitzer. ...more
I found this delightful 1st edition book displayed at the South Congress book store in Austin, and grabbed it because the book jacket matched my dressI found this delightful 1st edition book displayed at the South Congress book store in Austin, and grabbed it because the book jacket matched my dress and I loved the title. I had no idea who Corinne Griffith was, or that her heyday had been the silent screen era. I started flipping through and was immediately captivated by the writing. It's like a celebrity cookbook of the 1950s but instead of splashy photos of Corinne shaking hands with all the important people she meets, you get witty, vivid vignettes about her meeting the Prince of Wales (later, the disgraced Duke of Windsor) or meeting Eisnehower at his inauguration. They don't write cookbooks like this anymore. Plus, at least a third of the recipes feature "Philadelphia cream cheese." A treasure!...more
I know others remarked this was a quick read but I had to take it in smaller bites because the emotion and pain were sometimes overwhelming. Also, I lI know others remarked this was a quick read but I had to take it in smaller bites because the emotion and pain were sometimes overwhelming. Also, I like that Mailhot writes about her child abuse as memories, snapshots. They are written in a fragmented way is if attempting to recall a dream, and I appreciate that not everything is overtly spelled out, as is so common....more
This is a quick and enjoyable read. Having been to Japan gave me a greater appreciation on where Sasaki was coming from. I've been into minimalism sinThis is a quick and enjoyable read. Having been to Japan gave me a greater appreciation on where Sasaki was coming from. I've been into minimalism since my 20s (ask my college friends who called me "Spartan"), and met a ton of resistance to it, especially from my husband's family, and to a lesser degree, my own, who insisted on giving tokens, stuff, latest sales, whatever as a way to express themselves. I can't tell you how much of this stuff went to the Salvation Army. It felt like (and sometimes still feels like) a constant uphill battle. Reading Sasaki's book made me feel less alone in this regard. However, I disagree with Sasaki's take on bright colors, calling them "visual noise." Give me Frida Kahlo's house any day and the colors of Mexico! I'm also not a fanboy of Steve Jobs, but appreciated Sasaki using Jobs as an example. My biggest criticism of the book is the photos in the front: it's easy to show minimalism when showing spare rooms; why not show minimalism in action, with the single guy using his minimalist kitchen or the couple, parents, kids, etc, using their space? Empty rooms don't tell the whole story. ...more
Loading...
