It’s going to be a day for Andrew. He carries anxiety with him, but hopes he never has a full blown panic attack at school. Oh shoot. Sorry, Andrew. IIt’s going to be a day for Andrew. He carries anxiety with him, but hopes he never has a full blown panic attack at school. Oh shoot. Sorry, Andrew. I think I will give this a 3.5. I appreciated how it handled the issues around anxiety and particular the panic attack, but the bully was over the top awful and I always knock off for that....more
Quag’s summer is nothing like he expects when suddenly he is thrown in with a bunch of Drama Geeks in an Art Camp at the YMCA in his small upstate NewQuag’s summer is nothing like he expects when suddenly he is thrown in with a bunch of Drama Geeks in an Art Camp at the YMCA in his small upstate New York town.(view spoiler)[ But then, his mother, in a full manic spin, barrels her car up on the sidewalk and absorbs Quag into her fevered ride west - across most of the plain states - landing him on the side of the Interstate with nothing but his mother’s big yellow purse - and no mother in sight. (hide spoiler)]
With echoes of Gary Schmidt in both the writing style and character arcs, I kept trying to remember the full title of this book and kept coming up with, Quagmire Tiarello is Ok for Now. Larsen is not Schmidt, no one is, but she is an author, I will seek out from now on. I don’t remember Schmidt ever covering mental illness. I like to say that my least favorite types of books are kids dealing the with fallout from their parents issues, but then a book like this comes along that is exactly that. It is also so much more. Quagmire feels so genuine - his anger, his evasiveness, his humor. While frustrating, I couldn’t help but root for him....more
I was only a bit into this one when I questioned if I wanted to finish. I struggle to read about self-destruction. There are so many uncomfortable parI was only a bit into this one when I questioned if I wanted to finish. I struggle to read about self-destruction. There are so many uncomfortable parts and Brett’s self-hatred is hard to witness. the Overeaters Anonymous was particularly horrendous. I did find the character’s voices to be more authentic than most issue books that have characters talking in platitudes. I don’t love visiting teen boy vulgarity, but it added a layer of genuineness and often humor. Overall, I’m not sad I read it, and the fat-splaining portions at the end felt less lecturey than other books I’ve read.
52 Book Club24: #42 - Author debut in second half of 2024...more
I love a book, where a group of kids have a plan to pull off some sort of espionage or heist or set the world to rights. This was fairly decent, with I love a book, where a group of kids have a plan to pull off some sort of espionage or heist or set the world to rights. This was fairly decent, with the kids mostly sounding like kids and not a voice for the author to prove their point. I enjoyed the setting. I have transferred I-90 many, many times, and the truck stops at North Bend are indeed well placed. I also felt it did a good job dealing with a parent suffering from depression. No easy answers but lots of hope and love. ...more
Tess, an avid baker, follows in her father’s footsteps. Will grief, a new move, and her intestinal tract get in her way? An honest look at someone livTess, an avid baker, follows in her father’s footsteps. Will grief, a new move, and her intestinal tract get in her way? An honest look at someone living with a chronic disorder. I just wish the book had included recipes.
52 Summer mini: 17) TEAM PURSUIT: Featuring a group of friends...more
That person sitting next you, jabbing you in the ribs, pointing out how horrible and stupid most people are, is often myself. They are also this book.That person sitting next you, jabbing you in the ribs, pointing out how horrible and stupid most people are, is often myself. They are also this book. Reid is a master at characterization, I adored SUCH A FUN AGE. This book is just mean-spirited and left me wanting in so many ways. At my age, i do not need a reason to dwell on the flaws of humanity. I need more hope.
Popsuger24: #3 - A book about a 24-year-old
52 Book Club: #35 - Title matches lyrics from a song (There are a number of songs with this ubiquitous title. One where Selena Gomez roils about and sashays through fields of flowers. I’m going with the 1969 song, written and produced by Paul McCartney, and released by Badfinger.)
In the end, I really appreciate what Bowling did in this story. I was put off initially by how harsh the bulling was. I mean, who bullies a kid becausIn the end, I really appreciate what Bowling did in this story. I was put off initially by how harsh the bulling was. I mean, who bullies a kid because they have asthma? But there was enough surrealism mixed in to make it work as a larger part of a metaphor. An Extremely difficult topic is embedded and handled at enough distance to cushion young readers who may not be ready for it. ...more
I finished this and saw the authors were Swedish and thought, “Of course, this is not American.� We don’t do hard topics without a lot of tragedy pornI finished this and saw the authors were Swedish and thought, “Of course, this is not American.� We don’t do hard topics without a lot of tragedy porn. Simply told from one brother’s POV, he is living with his brother, who is going through cancer treatment. Not only is it a book you can put in the hands of someone going through similar life events, but any child grabbing it from the shelf can empathize with the situation and even find joy and hope in the boy’s play and relationship. ...more
Tuberculosis is no laughing matter, particularly back in the 1930s. But in Betty’s MacDonalds hands you can still have a good time even if the ‘cure� Tuberculosis is no laughing matter, particularly back in the 1930s. But in Betty’s MacDonalds hands you can still have a good time even if the ‘cure� seems more torturous than the disease. After contracting TB, Betty is housed in a TB sanitarium for most of a year. It was both fascinating and horrifying to witness the extent that the medical profession would go to achieve wellness before antibiotics. Laying flat on your back for 23 hours a day. No talking. No activity. No reading. NO READING! It sounded so awful but MacDonald’s wry and snarky delivery gave up loads to laugh at.
Her characterization of the other patients were strongly realized. Particularly Kimmy, the Japanese-American teenager, with the most wicked sense of humor. A trip to Wikipedia midway through the book let me know that Kimmy’s real name was Monica Sone and she went on to become a writer /book/show/6.... I immediately put her book on my TBR.
This year John Green has a book out about TB. I’m so nor interested in reading about disease, but now I’m being tempted.
I emphatically let it be known I do not like memoirs. Most seem like elevated navel-gazing. After rereading THE EGG AND I a couple years ago, and remembering that I have indeed enjoyed a memoir or two from my past, I made a plan to read Betty MacDonalds other books. I’m looking forward to the others. Perhaps I can also fit in a few rereads of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle...more
In another life, I may have found this enjoyable, and truth be told, I did laugh out loud a few times. However, I find this sort of self-absorption miIn another life, I may have found this enjoyable, and truth be told, I did laugh out loud a few times. However, I find this sort of self-absorption mind-numbing.
Popsugar #36 - A book about divorce (Okay, so the divorce didn't happen, but the book swirled around the idea enough, and it still might)...more
The fact that I was explaining it to my husband, while we were in the middle of Apple TV’s THE CROWDEI found this book satisfying regardless of . . .
The fact that I was explaining it to my husband, while we were in the middle of Apple TV’s THE CROWDED ROOM. I was leaps and bounds ahead of him with that one, figuring out the unreliableness of the narrator. My husband spent more than a decade signing orders to hospitalize those who were a danger to themselves due to mental illness. I was attempting to make connections between Calvin and the TV show. He told me the book would drive him nuts. He’d been forced to step in many times times to help patients in the throws of schizophrenic delusions, and they were never as nice and self-aware as Calvin’s in this book. He claims it just doesn’t happen. Schizophrenia is paranoid, dark and scary for the victim. (Also, BTW, he think multiple personalities are a crock of shit, but he still appreciated THE CROWDED ROOM.) So, I’m happy to fully appreciate Calvin. ...more
I appreciated the historical context. I knew next to nothing about the uboat attacks. I found the folksy writing irritating, Louisa’s voice forced andI appreciated the historical context. I knew next to nothing about the uboat attacks. I found the folksy writing irritating, Louisa’s voice forced and granny-ish. Some of this might have been damaged by the very annoying reader of the audio....more
Loading...
