I loved following J.F. Penn's Instagram as she walked pilgrimage trails in England and Scotland during the Pandemic. When I backed this book on KickstI loved following J.F. Penn's Instagram as she walked pilgrimage trails in England and Scotland during the Pandemic. When I backed this book on Kickstarter, I was hoping to recapture that sense of adventuring through her, but this is more of a nuts-and-bolts, boots-on-the-ground encouragement to walk the pilgrim trails yourself. Not what I was looking for, but hopefully she will keep having adventures, keep following the old trails, and will someday write the beautiful memoir hinted at in this book. If you're looking for a companion on your own pilgrimages, she offers lot of advice and resources....more
MacFarlane travels through Scotland, England, and Wales, searching for wilderness. Along the way he sleeps in the dunes, climbs mountains by moonlightMacFarlane travels through Scotland, England, and Wales, searching for wilderness. Along the way he sleeps in the dunes, climbs mountains by moonlight, and swims in icy streams. His meditations are fascinating and beautifully written, as was The Old Ways, the only other book of his I've read so far. I've already purchased Underland....more
I read this book in a gulp while waiting in an airport for a delayed plane. It was a perfect page turner. In retrospect, there were things I was disapI read this book in a gulp while waiting in an airport for a delayed plane. It was a perfect page turner. In retrospect, there were things I was disappointed by: when the main character ceased to be the center of her own story, for instance. But while it might be a well-constructed book, it is beautifully written. It was good company on my trip....more
This was the book I needed to read as my dad faces the end of his life. Medicine brought him miracles over the 30-year course of his illness, but we aThis was the book I needed to read as my dad faces the end of his life. Medicine brought him miracles over the 30-year course of his illness, but we are past the reach of miracles now. I've known for a long time that he didn't want to die in a hospital bed, intubated and paralyzed, but I didn't know how to advocate for him.
Dr. Gawande talks about his journey as a surgeon, learning to face his patients as they grapple with what is possible and what is likely. I found that very comforting, although it did sometimes bring me to tears.
This is the sort of book that you should buy now and save to read for when you need it....more
This was a perfect book to read on a plane. I devoured it and was sad when we landed because I had a handful of chapters still to go! The characters aThis was a perfect book to read on a plane. I devoured it and was sad when we landed because I had a handful of chapters still to go! The characters are perfectly described, the monsters are CREEPY, and the Hollywood film world is fascinating. So much fun!
There are a couple of loose ends that didn't get wrapped up, so I sure hope there's a sequel. Also, I agree with the other reviewer's suggestion: Netflix, we need a series right now!...more
I misread the title, expecting a book about so-called dark tourism: exploring battle sites, holocaust relics, and torture museums. Because of that, I I misread the title, expecting a book about so-called dark tourism: exploring battle sites, holocaust relics, and torture museums. Because of that, I was more intrigued by Chris's explorations of cemeteries in Oaxaca and the Japanese oni and namahage festivals than by her adventures joining the paintball warriors fighting "zombies" and going backstage at spook houses around the world.
In fact, reading about Chris's love of live haunts, I had to take a moment to investigate why I don't find interacting with people dressed up as serial killers entertaining. I realized it dates back to a Halloween haunt I went to in high school, where the actors grabbed and groped me. Not fun, not consensual, and not going to entice me to ever set foot into another building where I need to face live actors again.
In contrast, Chris's lack of fear while facing "scary" situations, as well as her bravery in couch-surfing around the world, was thoroughly fascinating. If anything could make a live haunt fun for me, it would be traveling with Chris. This book is the next best thing....more
I found the natural history of the islands much more interesting than the human history that the author had to piece together from fragmentary sourcesI found the natural history of the islands much more interesting than the human history that the author had to piece together from fragmentary sources. I wish there had been more description of the archaeological digs and -- of course -- a whole lot more information about the graveyard(s) on the islands and less explanation of subsistence farming during the 19th century, but the parts that I liked were absolutely fascinating and the rest was interesting enough. I liked the new afterword too, for the additional context it provided....more
This classic about a man whose dreams change reality as his court-mandated psychiatrist demands hits a little differently in a year that's brought us This classic about a man whose dreams change reality as his court-mandated psychiatrist demands hits a little differently in a year that's brought us war in Ukraine, nuclear tests in Korea, the repeal of Roe, omicron, etc. ad nauseam. When I got to the part of the novel where overcrowding was solved by a plague, my blood turned cold. I was expecting science fiction and got a horror novel, but that has more to do with the world these days than with the text....more
I started reading this while waiting to get my Covid booster and couldn't put it down. Maybe it was a strange choice to read while riding out the boosI started reading this while waiting to get my Covid booster and couldn't put it down. Maybe it was a strange choice to read while riding out the booster's shakes and fevers, but it is ultimately a very hopeful book. I found it strangely comforting, anyway....more
John Baxter leads tours of Paris. This book is his second in the Great Parisian Neighborhoods series. Having read it, I would love to read more of hisJohn Baxter leads tours of Paris. This book is his second in the Great Parisian Neighborhoods series. Having read it, I would love to read more of his Neighborhood books -- and take one of his tours. He's a great storyteller, explaining the history in a way that builds and interlocks all the stories and characters. While this is a perfect armchair travel read, it makes me want to go back to Paris and wander.
My only complaint -- and this is probably just me -- is that it doesn't spend enough time in graveyards....more
The Prologue, about the fire at Notre-Dame and how historians and politicians across France heard the news, brought me to tears several times. The samThe Prologue, about the fire at Notre-Dame and how historians and politicians across France heard the news, brought me to tears several times. The same is true for the chapter about the cathedral's bells, which were replaced in 2013. Unfortunately, the rest of the book only sketches in the cathedral's nine centuries of history. Interesting things are mentioned in passing, while things going on outside of the cathedral get explored in depth. Clearly the author can write with passion but for some reason chose not to. Was her deadline too tight?
I clearly need another book on Notre-Dame. After reading this one, I have a lot of unanswered questions....more
I don't know how I'd missed reading this sooner, but it hit me a just the right time. Kleon redefines influence not as something the influencer does bI don't know how I'd missed reading this sooner, but it hit me a just the right time. Kleon redefines influence not as something the influencer does but something the recipient takes and that hit me like a bolt of lightning. I mean, it seems obvious -- most of what Kleon writes in his books does -- but by thinking of influence as something I can choose and manipulate as I need to is immensely inspiring. I'm not a product of my influences but a collaborator with them. That's just neat.
The rest of what this books says strikes me as common sense: write the book you want to read, share your work, be nice. But I can see how other people may need to absorb that as much as I needed the insight into influence.
I think Show Your Work has more usable advice but it was fascinating to see where this all began....more
Reading this book is a challenge, even if you're as fascinated by Bowie I am. It spends a huge amount of time on his childhood, schooling, and educatiReading this book is a challenge, even if you're as fascinated by Bowie I am. It spends a huge amount of time on his childhood, schooling, and education, which I dutifully slogged through. Finally, in chapter 13 (page 175), we get to Ziggy Stardust.
I took the book on vacation, so I was trapped in a hotel room with it. That turned out to be the best way to read it, gulping down chapter after chapter while listening to a Bowie playlist on my phone.
Would I recommend it to someone else, who's not researching a story? Probably not. To be honest, I think the music tells you all you need to know....more
With a title taken from a gospel song by Blind Willie Johnson, this collection of horror stories by Angel Leigh McCoy runs from "Oral Tradition" -- abWith a title taken from a gospel song by Blind Willie Johnson, this collection of horror stories by Angel Leigh McCoy runs from "Oral Tradition" -- about a granddaughter inheriting her grandmother's curse of storytelling -- to a ghost story set in a battlefield hospital in World War I called "Nurse Magdaleine."
Many of the stories are set in or inspired by the American South. One of my particular favorites was the Virginia Gothic called "The Haunting of Mrs. Poole." "Ardie Sue" struck me especially hard: caught out in a storm, the teenager has no one to protect her but an avenging ghost. In "Crack o' Doom," little Jeanie has no one to protect her at all.
McCoy spins words like she's juggling knives. She creates people so real that you ache when she reveals what happens to them. This beautifully written collection makes me eager to see where Angel Leigh McCoy will go next....more
Fun if a little too long. All the times Eric Carter gets the crap kicked out of him got repetitive. I was also uncomfortable that Santa Muerte chose aFun if a little too long. All the times Eric Carter gets the crap kicked out of him got repetitive. I was also uncomfortable that Santa Muerte chose a white guy to be her boyfriend, but this was published almost 10 years ago, so maybe that explains it. I am curious to read the second book, just to see how things develop....more
A very calming book, good to read before bed. His realizations are interesting if not earth-shaking. I was fascinated by his walks to the poles and hiA very calming book, good to read before bed. His realizations are interesting if not earth-shaking. I was fascinated by his walks to the poles and his slog through the sewers under New York, but those were only mentioned in passing, rather than fully explored. Maybe they're covered in other books?
I bought this book as an experiment and I did enjoy it, but I'd only recommend it to a very select audience. Is that you?...more
I discovered Julian Vayne's work through the classes he teaches for Treadwell's Books in London. His lectures are always so detailed and well-researchI discovered Julian Vayne's work through the classes he teaches for Treadwell's Books in London. His lectures are always so detailed and well-researched. He pulls together so many threads of magical history, theory, and practice that I am always in awe.
There is definitely some of the same of that breadth of knowledge on display in this book, but to be honest, the parts I liked the best were the magical memoirs, when Vayne puts his knowledge into practice. He writes so beautifully and with such passion that I would love to read a book just about his life.
Most of the rest of the book is comprised of lectures he's given to various mystical and entheogenic conferences. I found those interesting, but less captivating....more
I don't read true crime books, but I loved reading Bob Calhoun's column about the historical crimes in San Francisco. All that is my way of saying: I I don't read true crime books, but I loved reading Bob Calhoun's column about the historical crimes in San Francisco. All that is my way of saying: I came for the history but stayed for the true crime. In fact, I was disappointed that he didn't write about the Howth Street murders in my neighborhood, but I suppose in a couple hundred years of history, any place is going to have more murders than you could cram into one volume.
There's a strange tonal shift midway through the book where the reportage takes a turn for the gruesomely detailed and I started to wonder if maybe I shouldn't be reading while I eat. That said, the Hera and Bane dog-mauling case was much less horrific in these pages than it was in the newspapers of the time. I suppose if you know what you're getting into, it will be less a shock when the brain matter starts showing up in the text.
This collection opens with Yvonne Navarro's "Faceless," which seriously gave me nightmares. A woman wakes up to find someone watching her -- and eventThis collection opens with Yvonne Navarro's "Faceless," which seriously gave me nightmares. A woman wakes up to find someone watching her -- and eventually he's no longer content to just watch. I am glad that I read Alison J. McKenzie's "The Exit" in the brightness of an afternoon instead of after dark. Caves freak me out at the best of times, but this cave would have done me in. E.S. Magill's "And Not a Drop to Drink" was one of my favorite stories in The Haunted Mansion Project books. It's really nice to read it again here.
And then there are stories by Angel Leigh McCoy, Lisa Morton, Bill Bodden, and Weston Ochse. This slim volume is packed with chills. You should check it out....more
The photos are beautiful, but the text suffers from repetition. I would've preferred to hear more about what set each town apart and how they died. SoThe photos are beautiful, but the text suffers from repetition. I would've preferred to hear more about what set each town apart and how they died. Some of the euphemisms the author uses are dated, but in general, the history of the West isn't romanticized or sugarcoated. Still, this is a lovely memento of places that may have completely vanished since it was published in 1962. ...more
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