A great example of how to integrate a fictional character into a complex real historical story. I had a very strong emotional response to the travailsA great example of how to integrate a fictional character into a complex real historical story. I had a very strong emotional response to the travails of the main character, and at times I felt it was veering into torture porn a little bit BUT I very much enjoyed learning about the process of writing the OED and everything that surrounded it. If you are a reader who becomes fascinated with the way language itself exists and functions, this is a book for you....more
**spoiler alert** Continuing my theme of reading book by/about sad Gen X being sad (full disclaimer, I *am* Gen X, so these books are pretty much tail**spoiler alert** Continuing my theme of reading book by/about sad Gen X being sad (full disclaimer, I *am* Gen X, so these books are pretty much tailor made for me) I went into this hoping to hear how one actually becomes a tv writer, how a writers room is run, and why someone may change their career path because they either burn out or find something better. What I read instead is that no education or training is seemingly required to write for TV, how the author may have severe anxiety issues that pervade and affect everything they do, and how quite possibly the author wasn’t very good at writing. While I understand not every job was detailed in this memoir, I find it hard to believe that every single gig after Freaks and Geeks was negative and unsuccessful. The message I also received towards the end is you can either be married and happy or writing for tv, and I’m not sure I’m about that life. I’m not sure anyone needed the confirmation how everything in media is a boys club, because that’s glaringly obvious in today’s world....more
Just like with Prince Henry's memoir this year, I just want to give a giant hug to Elliot and say that everything will be all right. Given the dumpsteJust like with Prince Henry's memoir this year, I just want to give a giant hug to Elliot and say that everything will be all right. Given the dumpster fire that are trans rights right now, I can't say that 100% truthfully though, but I do wish he was spared some of the pain and anxiety he went through. I did find myself wondering if taking a break to attend an all-women's college like my alma mater - an inclusive and supportive institution - would have made the process of self discovery Elliot undergone more cohesive and less traumatic. As a memoir, I would only give this 3 stars - it needs some editing, and the overall goal of storytelling is a bit unclear. But as a cultural moment and a personal story - 5 stars. I truly wish that somewhere in Nova Scotia or Halifax or Texas or Ohio there's a trans kid whose life will be saved by reading this, and that they will have the network to get the hell out of Texas or Florida. ...more
Here's how I would rate the quartet by quality in my opinion: Gathering Blue, Son, Messenger, and The Giver. I enjoy the worldbuilding but we only getHere's how I would rate the quartet by quality in my opinion: Gathering Blue, Son, Messenger, and The Giver. I enjoy the worldbuilding but we only get very narrow glimpses into the different communities, and into how the magic there works, as well as what may have happened to the world in order to develop it from the world we know now. I wish the Trademaster was expounded on more. Perhaps if I were to read these at 13, I would enjoy them a lot more....more
So much better than The Giver. Not a true sequel but a standalone book in the same world. I have some questions for character decision making, but oveSo much better than The Giver. Not a true sequel but a standalone book in the same world. I have some questions for character decision making, but overall quite enjoyable in world building and character development. I hear some things tie together in the next two books, so will continue this journey....more
**spoiler alert** To me, this book has 3.5 clearly defined acts: Demon until Coach, Demon until Oxy, Demon until Rehab, Demon after rehab. These neatl**spoiler alert** To me, this book has 3.5 clearly defined acts: Demon until Coach, Demon until Oxy, Demon until Rehab, Demon after rehab. These neatly follow the David Copperfield acts as well, though the order of events for some individual characters is shuffled. I enjoyed many aspects of this book despite two facts: some obvious anachronisms, and having to shoehorn the ending with Angus/Agnes to follow a 19th C ideal, which doesn't quite work for 2008-09. Having tried and given up on The Poisonwood Bible, this novel felt very fresh and true to life in its devastation. It's at once proof that plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose in 170 years since Dickens, and a detailed exploration of the opioid crisis. Perhaps the 2nd best novel of 2023 for me, the top being split between The Anthropocene Reviewed and I Have Some Questions For You....more
After being completely BLOWN away by The Fault in Our Stars, and then later discovering the Green brothers on the internet, therefore reading and LOVIAfter being completely BLOWN away by The Fault in Our Stars, and then later discovering the Green brothers on the internet, therefore reading and LOVING The Anthropocene Reviewed, I thought I'd give a try to his other YA fiction. And y'all, I'm so disappointed. Maybe this hits different for a 16 year old, but I just COULD NOT BEAR Aza and her mental illness. It must have been SO EXHAUSTING to live inside John Green's mind while he figured out how to function within his anxiety and OCD, and while I absolutely have compassion for that, I just...don't want to hear about it for 8 hours? Knowing from Anthropocene that adjusting to life in Indianapolis was also a difficult thing for him, I am impressed by the amount of intimacy shown to that city in this book. But one other thing rang completely false for me, and it was this private schooled billionaire's son who is...kind? and empathetic? and artistic? and patient? none of which are traits i've ever seen in teens who grew up in extreme wealth, and i've seen a LOT of teens who grew up in extreme wealth. Read this at your own peril....more
Not my favourite memoir, but certainly a memorable one. While I question the severity of some of the accidents described, there is not really a good wNot my favourite memoir, but certainly a memorable one. While I question the severity of some of the accidents described, there is not really a good way to fact-check. Overall, there were quite a few things in the author's perception of the world around her and in her upbringing I related to, and it made for an enjoyable read....more
It took me forever to find the title of this book all these years later. This is a book that was the proverbial last straw in my relationship with booIt took me forever to find the title of this book all these years later. This is a book that was the proverbial last straw in my relationship with books about WWII. The life of Gulya was so real to me that despite all the other patriotic war stuff I've imbibed in my childhood, the story of her death left me devastated to the point where I no longer wanted to hear, see, or read anything war related afterwards. Beautiful life, beautiful book....more
Argh I wanted to like it. I LOVED Pachinko, but I think a lot of growth happened for Ms. Lee after this book came out. I honestly could not relate to Argh I wanted to like it. I LOVED Pachinko, but I think a lot of growth happened for Ms. Lee after this book came out. I honestly could not relate to almost any of the issues experienced by the characters, I found all of them extremely unlikeable, and this was exacerbated by the audio book narration in which the narrator consistently mispronounced ANY word of French origin. The length of the novel was not the issue, but I did not believe for one minute that decisions made by Casey at the close of the novel would stick with her in the long run. 2 stars because the prose was passable....more
No. I only finished this because of a book club. If I had to put her novels in order of appeal, it’s Goldfinch - Secret History - this. Two stars becaNo. I only finished this because of a book club. If I had to put her novels in order of appeal, it’s Goldfinch - Secret History - this. Two stars because the depth of descriptive language is amazing. Would give zero stars otherwise as I simply could not give a hoot about any of the characters, aside from possibly Grandma....more
I just want to give this man a hug. He has suffered some awful trauma, and did not choose the life he was born into. Therapy and finding a supportive I just want to give this man a hug. He has suffered some awful trauma, and did not choose the life he was born into. Therapy and finding a supportive partner gave him a way out, and I hope he can make the best of it moving forward. Regardless of whether or not this was ghost-written, the memoir is funny and moving and is told in his own words (the audiobook is quite good.) I am not a royalist, but I do enjoy a good celebrity memoir, and I was an adult when his mother died, so I recall quite well the collective shock over the events on Aug 1997. Most of the details of this book are all over the internet, but it's totally worth listening to it in Harry's voice....more
**spoiler alert** Full disclosure: I've never heard of Jennette McCurdy as I'm too old to ever have seen iCarly and have no children who might have ev**spoiler alert** Full disclosure: I've never heard of Jennette McCurdy as I'm too old to ever have seen iCarly and have no children who might have ever watched it. However, I'm a sucker for a celebrity memoir, especially if it involves dysfunction. And lord, do we get Dysfunction. What a humorous way to describe so many problems, and to know that she's come out the other side alive and functional. I did yell at the pages a few times: Narcissist, Jennette, she's an abusive narcissist! Codependence! Coercion! You were just raped! Manic, he's manic, and maybe bipolar! Can we laugh about it? Are we allowed? Is this the only defense mechanism? I think that every teen girl should read this book as a primer of how to recognize abusive behaviours before they happen to you. 100/100 recommend....more
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