I love, love, love this book. David Goldhill writes cogently, comprehensively, matter-of-factly. He doesn't do that thing typical authors of the nonfiI love, love, love this book. David Goldhill writes cogently, comprehensively, matter-of-factly. He doesn't do that thing typical authors of the nonfiction do where he spits out one thesis in the prologue and spends the next 300 pages listing different examples illustrating how how that thesis is true. This book develops and tessellates with each page. I legitimately feel like my understanding of the health care system has expanded....more
This collection of stories are sososo pretty. Characters flutter in and out of each other's lives, grasping onto fleshy bodies in order to connect andThis collection of stories are sososo pretty. Characters flutter in and out of each other's lives, grasping onto fleshy bodies in order to connect and disconnect. I like the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle symbolization of eggs, and the weird doubling/patterning that materializes in the strangest ways. I was introduced to Tessa Hadley, like most others, from the New Yorker, and I adore the gasping, imperceptibly nuanced way she writes. It contains an exquisite movement to it and it's almost surprising that she's writing prose and not a beautifully elegiac dance....more
I "discovered" (using this term loosely) Saunders literally a week before Joel Lovell wrote that fawning (but deservedly so) profile of him in the NYTI "discovered" (using this term loosely) Saunders literally a week before Joel Lovell wrote that fawning (but deservedly so) profile of him in the NYT Magazine. Never looked back. I'm in love with his sad sack protagonists, his weirdo bureaucratic lingo, his affinity for artificial plastic streams and reenactments, his brief, bubbling, attainable happy ending that bursts in the last few paragraphs into a total mess. Dear George Saunders, let's hang out. Love, Jennifer. ...more
OK, time to attempt to coherently articulate why this is one of the best books I've read in a long, long time. In some sense, it's not really my genreOK, time to attempt to coherently articulate why this is one of the best books I've read in a long, long time. In some sense, it's not really my genre of fiction -- the plot mutates in the obvious ways that you expect a cheesy bestseller to: she's dead, she's not dead, maybe she will die, maybe she won't, etc. But I think what distinguishes this book is that the characters mutate along with the plot twists. You think you have someone pinned down, you side with Nick or Amy because of some ridiculous detail they've revealed about themselves early in the book, and then you realize that detail maybe wasn't 100% true, or some other detail was obscured which totally makes you reevaluate everything, until you're not exactly sure who anybody is, really. In the end the characters kind of seem like these tabula rasas, as if they're not really sure who they are unless they have some expectation to adhere to, which is a pretty fair evaluation of real life.
I love that you first think it's going to be this tragic love story, and then, flick, it's a murder mystery, then a feminist narrative, then a parable on identity, then it becomes ... everything.
Oh, and I'm in love the tone. The voice jabs at you; this prickly, brittle, enveloping dream of a voice. I'm almost hesitant to read more of Gillian Flynn because I don't want anything to mar that voice....more
Ok, I LOVE this book. There's no plot, sure, but who cares? When you have an ear for dialogue and the ability to create such lifelike, sparkling charaOk, I LOVE this book. There's no plot, sure, but who cares? When you have an ear for dialogue and the ability to create such lifelike, sparkling characters, who needs plot? If I were an almost 30-year-old, this book would be my life. It's sorority girl grown up; earnest Lena Dunham....more
I've really been missing out in all these years I haven't been reading Faulkner. The prose in this braided novel is so fever pitch, so intricate/intimI've really been missing out in all these years I haven't been reading Faulkner. The prose in this braided novel is so fever pitch, so intricate/intimate yet purposeful I die. When I read this, I'm drowning in beauty and tragedy and corporeal magnificence....more
Weirdly enough, my favorite Agatha Christie book isn't a Poirot. It's this one, because the tables turn quite suddenly on the protagonist and all of aWeirdly enough, my favorite Agatha Christie book isn't a Poirot. It's this one, because the tables turn quite suddenly on the protagonist and all of a sudden you see the narrative in a totally different way. Obviously this isn't an uncommon narrative technique but Dame Christie is an absolute magician at this sort of thing. Also I love this because the atmosphere is truly chilling. One of the only times where I think a poem really encapsulates the novel's entire being....more
I think there's something to be said about finishing a book less than a day after starting it, on top of work, on top of class, on top of MCAT studyinI think there's something to be said about finishing a book less than a day after starting it, on top of work, on top of class, on top of MCAT studying. But seriously - from the first word, I was riveted. Riveted by Lorrie Moore's fascinating, deep-cut, innocent, melancholic, lonely words dropping softly from the page into my brain. Riveted by the souls, these life-emptied strangers struggling to make a connection, steeped deep into each story's prose. My favorite thing about this collection is that though a lot of the stories are told in the same self-help advice giving format, they never feel repetitive. Rather, they echo off of each other, each whisper becoming ever the more resonant with each tessellation. Almost like they're talking to each other....more
This book is the best of its kind. The dialogue is hilarious, the events are tautly strung, and the heroine is the very definition of kick-assery. I dThis book is the best of its kind. The dialogue is hilarious, the events are tautly strung, and the heroine is the very definition of kick-assery. I definitely read this in the last month and it was just as great as I remember it....more
Oh man, the reason it took me so long to finish this book was because I ａｂｓｏｌｕｔｅｌｙ savored every page of it. I was introduced to Wanderlust by a bookOh man, the reason it took me so long to finish this book was because I ａｂｓｏｌｕｔｅｌｙ savored every page of it. I was introduced to Wanderlust by a book about readerly disobedience ｏn Sebaldian literature by Deane Blackler (which I ｄｏｎ＇ｔ ｒｅａｌｌｙ ｒｅｃｏｍｍｅｎｄ， ｈｅｒ ａｒｇｕｍｅｎｔｓ ａｒｅ ｐｒｅｔｔｙ ｓｉｍｐｌｉｓｔｉｃ）， ａｎｄ ｗｏｗ ａｍ Ｉ ｇｌａｄ Ｉ ｐｉｃｋｅｄ ｉｔ ｕｐ． Ｉ ｌｏｖｅ ｔｈｅ ｗａｙ ｔｈｅ ｂｏｏｋ ｉｓ ｓｅｔ ｕｐ， ｏｎｅ ｅｓｓａｙ ａｂｏｕｔ ｏｎｅ ｆａｃｅｔ ｏｆ ｗａｌｋｉｎｇ ｐｅｒ ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ： ｍｏｕｎｔａｉｎ ｃｌｉｍｂｉｎｇ， ｗａｌｋｉｎｇ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｃｉｔｙ， ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｓｕｂｕｒｂ， ｒｅｖｏｌｕｔｉｏｎｓ， Ｗｈｉｔｍａｎ＇ｓ ｔｒａｖａｉｌｓ． Ｉｔ＇ｓ ａ ｄｅｎｓｅ ｃｏｌｌｅｃｔｉｏｎ ｔｈａｔ ｄｏｅｓｎ＇ｔ ｒｅｐｅａｔ ｉｔｓｅｌｆ ｔｏｏ ｏｆｔｅｎ （ｗｈｉｃｈ ｉｓ ｒｅｆｒｅｓｈｉｎｇ， ｉｔ＇ｓ ｓｕｒｐｒｉｓｉｎｇ／ｆｒｕｓｔｒａｔｉｎｇ ｈｏｗ ｌｏｎｇ ａｎ ａｕｔｈｏｒ ｃａｎ ｂｌａｔｈｅｒ ｏｎ ａｂｏｕｔ ｏｎｅ ｔｏｐｉｃ ｓｏｍｅｔｉｍｅｓ）， ｗｈｉｃｈ ｔｒｕｌｙ ｅｎｃａｐｓｕｌａｔｅｓ ｗｈａｔ ｉｔ ｍｅａｎｓ ｔｏ ｔａｋｅ ａ ｗａｌｋ．
This book is the definition of everything I love about literature - the jungle cat streets of Toni Morrison's Jazz, the ｓｏｃｉｅｔｙ ｏｆ ｐｒｏｆｅｓｓｉｏｎａｌ ｄｒｅａｍｅｒｓ ｉｎ Ｗｅｒｎｅｒ Ｈｅｒｚｏｇ＇ｓ Encounters ａｔ ｔｈｅ Ｅｎｄ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ Ｗｏｒｌｄ， ｔｈｅ ｊｕｉｃｙ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｈｅｒｏｉｎｅｓ ｏｆ Ｊａｎｅ Ａｕｓｔｅｎ＇ｓ ｏｅｕｖｒｅ. Ｔｈｅｒｅ ａｒｅ ｔｈｅ ｍｏｍｅｎｔｓ ｏｆ ｐｏｐ ｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ， ｏｆ ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ， ｏｆ Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｃａｎｏｎ， ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｎ （ｍｙ ｆａｖｏｒｉｔｅ）： ｔｈｅｓｅ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｉｎｊｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ ｏｆ ｐｈｉｌｏｓｏｐｈｙ， ｔｈｅ ｃｏｎｆｌｉｃｔ ｏｆ ｎａｔｕｒｅ ａｎｄ ｍａｎ ｗｒａｐｐｅｄ ｔａｕｔｌｙ ａｒｏｕｎｄ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｒａｔｈｅｒ ｍｅａｓｕｒｅｄ ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙｓ ａｒｏｕｎｄ ｈｅｒ ｈｏｍｅｔｏｗｎ．
The writing style is deliberate, well-paced, and very clean. And mind you, I'm not usually one to compliment a writing style because it seems a little elementary to do so, ｂｕｔ ｔｈｅ ｆｏｒｍ ｖｅｒｙ ｍｕｃｈ ｃｏｍｐｌｅｍｅｎｔｓ ｔｈｅ ｃｏｎｔｅｎｔ．...more
I bought this book in Russia when I was in sixth grade and since then I've read it 10+ times. It's pretty much everything I look for a in a fiction noI bought this book in Russia when I was in sixth grade and since then I've read it 10+ times. It's pretty much everything I look for a in a fiction novel - pulpy, lovesick drama, betrayal, sickness with a hint of TB, lust triangles. This book is so incredibly Russian, so hot n'cold with its passion. The translation I have is great, it really picks up on the subtleties of language (or lack thereof)....more
Oh my gosh, this book kills me. It just KILLS me. (Sorry for the ill-placed pun.)
I read a lot of medical memoirs, and this is by far the most cogentlyOh my gosh, this book kills me. It just KILLS me. (Sorry for the ill-placed pun.)
I read a lot of medical memoirs, and this is by far the most cogently written, metaphorically moving, originally rendered one I have ever read and probably will read in the future. The interweaving of personal narrative with scientific-come-poetic jargon, the semi-detached but inherently anguished tone, the implicit desire to combat the ills of health care but the recognition of the gradual decay nevertheless. Everything he says I agree with, everything he says I want to write down and paste into my life.
I suppose a minor complaint would be that I thought he could have gone a lot further with the cogitations on life and deterioration, in almost a literary sense. But I feel like all doctors have this straightforward-ness bred into them, in that everything is told just so. No waffling, like in the literary world....more
Gawande has the tendency to get very, very longwinded in his descriptions (that essay about microbial agents or whatever was particularly excruciatingGawande has the tendency to get very, very longwinded in his descriptions (that essay about microbial agents or whatever was particularly excruciating) - but his subject matter is so incisive and thoughtful, I can more than handle a little self-indulgence. I love so many of the things he talks about in "Better" - the stuff about the death penalty, the lawyers suing the doctors, the OB-GYN argument of the C section. In this one, he definitely goes a step deeper into the health profession, talking not only about doctors but also the culture that surrounds them, and the people and events that they affect, however indirectly....more
There's a lot of anthropological study that can be unpacked in this play, which I did to some extent in one of my papers. But more importantly, I thinThere's a lot of anthropological study that can be unpacked in this play, which I did to some extent in one of my papers. But more importantly, I think what really attracted me to this was watching the venerable Emma Thompson perform it on HBO - the sheer emotion, the yearning, the simplicity associated with ordinary things, like eating orange popsicles together, a few hours before her death....more
Second time reading this, and it's just as amazing as I remember. Atul Gawande doesn't just write about medicine - he writes about how to treat othersSecond time reading this, and it's just as amazing as I remember. Atul Gawande doesn't just write about medicine - he writes about how to treat others while foreseeing to a high quality of life, how to be a good and ethical person, how you must sometimes operate in a system that's inherently flawed but twistedly works, how to admit your mistakes graciously and learn from them....more
Okay, so while I am semi-embarrassed that I love this book so much (especially when people several years my junior spot my adult-sized body crouched sOkay, so while I am semi-embarrassed that I love this book so much (especially when people several years my junior spot my adult-sized body crouched so comfortably in the TEEN READS section of Borders), I cannot help it and I cannot lie. The Clique is GREAT. In all my life I look for in literature the real bitch, that girl that will plow down anything that dares trespass her territory despite any consequences that come her way. Massie Block is a real bitch, ranking right up there with Mrs. Danvers, Iago, and the Marquise de Merteuil....more
What a frustrating book to get through. You're not rewarded with neatly tied packages or once you get through The Rings of Saturn; you have to flip baWhat a frustrating book to get through. You're not rewarded with neatly tied packages or once you get through The Rings of Saturn; you have to flip back to the beginning and start anew again. It's because Sebald speaks with a lot of contingency, tangency - the "rings of destruction rather than the hemorraging core" - so the reader has to infer a lot of melancholy steeped in his prose. To read Sebald is to make a journey....more
You know, sometimes I am very embarrassed by the quantity of teen fiction I still enjoy, but I'm not by this one. I really do think this is Blume's moYou know, sometimes I am very embarrassed by the quantity of teen fiction I still enjoy, but I'm not by this one. I really do think this is Blume's most underappreciated, if not because it strikes a real chord with me. When I first read this book, I wanted to be Rachel Robinson. I wanted to be in super advanced math, to make out with a Jeremy Dragon, to have a lending library on my bookshelf that my friends could come and go when they pleased (I definitely tried this, too - didn't work). And when I read it again recently, it struck me how much I still aspire to be like Rachel Robinson. Though now, I totally get that the book is supposed to be about how overachieving is kinda difficult and sometimes you just want to be a normal kid absent of parental and peer expectations, and nobody in their right mind would want to be like Rachel Robinson. (In a oh-she's-so-perfect-but-not-really kind of way, it's like the bitchy cheerleader story all over again.)
But this doesn't entirely address the question. I think what Judy Blume hints at is that Rachel doesn't necessarily want to be in the same situation as her less-intelligent friends - she still wants to retain her brilliance and be the self she's always dreamed of being. Yeah, she's struggling with expectations of her teachers and parents to do super well but it's not like she doesn't want that either. But at the same time she doesn't want to be singled out for it, she doesn't want to lose friends or be labeled "the smart one" - she just wants to be and do. And that's where the conflict with her brother comes in. It seems that he has all the freedom in the world to assert his own personality, sans any consequences or judgment. He's like spoiled, hippie, middle-class Dr. Spock kid x 1000. And Rachel is so, so jealous of it. There's an implicit tension between their relationship because Charles embodies Rachel's secret desires, while her mother embodies all that she ought to be....more
A great summer book, pulpy enough to be a page-turner but surprisingly rich in analysis, if you look for it. I honestly don't think there's a better nA great summer book, pulpy enough to be a page-turner but surprisingly rich in analysis, if you look for it. I honestly don't think there's a better novel in the genre....more
Okay, so I haven't read enough Joyce to judge, but there's a lot of be said about the themes jam-packed into this tome. Religion, language, water andOkay, so I haven't read enough Joyce to judge, but there's a lot of be said about the themes jam-packed into this tome. Religion, language, water and hot and cold, sex, father, fat - I love how each section adopts a different sort of tone, abbreviating the different stages in Stephen's growth....more
Oh Jazz, why do I love thee so? Let me count the ways. 1) Your beautiful, uncertain narrator 2) You tackle African American oppression without being tOh Jazz, why do I love thee so? Let me count the ways. 1) Your beautiful, uncertain narrator 2) You tackle African American oppression without being too didactic 3) The fantasy interlude of Golden Gray 4) The setting of 1920s Harlem: fashion, music, tension 5) Your call-and-response style of jazz music 6) Skinny Violent Violet 7) Dorcas's death scene 8)"Say make me, remake me. You are free to do it and I am free to let you because look, look. Look where your hands are. Now." 9) Haunting, melancholic, sweeping city imagery than cuts behind the bone 10) Love, violence, men, women, death - resonate....more
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