Couldn't put it down. Happily, I was sick, and alone, so I didn't really have to. When I picked it up from the library yesterday I said I knew there wCouldn't put it down. Happily, I was sick, and alone, so I didn't really have to. When I picked it up from the library yesterday I said I knew there was a list waiting for it, and I would read it quickly and return it.
Assuming I feel okay to drive tomorrow I'll be keeping that promise....more
A great mood-lifter, on par with a ballpark full of puppies. Hunger does a great job of explaining her work, her experiment, further research that is A great mood-lifter, on par with a ballpark full of puppies. Hunger does a great job of explaining her work, her experiment, further research that is needed, etc. In a way that is scientific and accessible. Quality communication, this hits criteria I could not have guessed would develop around the idea "perfect work of nonfiction."
Not finished yet, but I am also glad McCurdy's mom died. Also, it troubles me that parents can pocket 90% percent of a child's earning19 January, 2023
Not finished yet, but I am also glad McCurdy's mom died. Also, it troubles me that parents can pocket 90% percent of a child's earnings. Either 100% goes into trust or let's admit that child actors (models, athletes, etc.) are being trafficked by their parents for our entertainment. How is it the agent should earn more than the child who has lost an educatio, their health, and the less tangible qualities of childhood? It disturbs me that there are still children supporting their families, despite how badly this ever turns out. Just as I am disturbed by what a breathtakingly poor job we do looking after minors as a society.
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21 January 2023
McCurdy is a damn good writer: funny, compelling, insightful. Her backstory is horrible, but she pulled herself out of that train wreck, and made good art from it. The best I can wish for her is that the rest of her life is good. She's earned it.
Very sweet. Props to Murphy for never making the obvious choice, for representation of so many kinds, for plugging into the zeitgeist so perfectly, buVery sweet. Props to Murphy for never making the obvious choice, for representation of so many kinds, for plugging into the zeitgeist so perfectly, but especially for dealing head on with the trauma of getting the parents out of the way. The book is a delight, enough to overcome my distaste for Disney's global colonization of all the things
**spoiler alert** There are many books about books, roo many about writers, quite a few about bookstores and libraries and book clubs, but book publis**spoiler alert** There are many books about books, roo many about writers, quite a few about bookstores and libraries and book clubs, but book publishing: not so much. There's got to be some, but I can't think of any off the top of my head. This is a good one, showing the drawbacks, to a job in publishing, particularly for the damn few POC. But also, the joys. Plus there's the Beauty and the Beast easter eggs, so many easter eggs. As a fan of the Disney animated film I wouldn't say barely just enough of those, but every single magical one made me smile, despite my antipathy for the entertainment behemoth itself.
Be sure and check out the cover in larger-than-thumbnail: Alex Merto nailed it! It look so very much like a late 70s "true" horror paperback original.Be sure and check out the cover in larger-than-thumbnail: Alex Merto nailed it! It look so very much like a late 70s "true" horror paperback original. The gaping bat mouth is perfect with the font and the foil. Plus the house is so delightfully pointy. Just picking this up made me happy. Probably I should save it for Halloween Bingo, but I can't wait.
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I was previously unaware of this beauty with the tiny little house. And now there's a movie I must see.
This morning is blusterous and mostly cloudy with rare sunbeams breaking through to highlight the forsythia here in bloom, or the flowering quince, or a Japanese magnolia, or a single tuft of new intensely green grass. There are many tiny birds flashing in and out of sight, able to hide amid all the lingering browns of winter. The brilliant colors and movement of early spring in NC have nothing to do with horrors in CA, but it's working for me.
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As I was reading, I left little sticky flags scattered, marking places where I felt the text said something quotable that spoke to my reaction to that section. Because there are several different sections and they are very different from one another in damn near every possible way.
But I'm not going to share any of those quotes because, while they spoke to my impressions at the moment, none of them felt germane to the totality of the thing. And I cannot tell you what that is. It's not like anything else I can think of, and it turned out to never go anywhere I anticipated. It's good, it's enjoyable and intriguing and insightful and very attuned to a time and a place (Milpitas CA in the 80s), and it's reflective of satanic panic and moral handwringing about the kids those days, and, and, and....it's a lot and it is more cohesive than I have the skill to convey, and there is too much going on to reduce it to a tagline.
A year from now I expect it will still be vivid in my mind, and I might rate it more highly or lower: and I can't even make a reasonable guess at which of those is more likely. Thirty-six hours after finishing it and I am not certain of anything about it. Which, damn, you know, I've read a fair few books: it's hard to really surprise me.
Library copy, and my apologies to the people waiting I'll return it tomorrow I promise but I just couldn't let it go before. Just in case...more
I adored Spoiler Alert, but I loved this even more. The fics, the group chat, the slow development, the banter, the dry wit. I love that ADHD is a conI adored Spoiler Alert, but I loved this even more. The fics, the group chat, the slow development, the banter, the dry wit. I love that ADHD is a condition, but not a disability. There's meaningful discussion of social issues and what good people do in the face of them, as well as the catastrophe which is the US social safety net and health care, and always from different viewpoints. But Dade clearly had such fun addressing tropes and castles and the never-ending popularity of the Pretty Woman shopping sequence and wish-fulfillment and food, and all of that is a joy to read. But there's also a pragmatic sensibility at work behind all the winking, such that the HEA doesn't just feel earned, but practical.
Three geeky friends in their last year of high school have the chance to attend SupaCon together, because one of them is a vlogger who landed a film rThree geeky friends in their last year of high school have the chance to attend SupaCon together, because one of them is a vlogger who landed a film role that went big. There is so much fandom in the best possible way: new friendships, new experiences, new romance. There are struggles, laughter, tears, etc., and lots of bonding. Unusually for a contemporary romance, we don't get two POV characters alternating their two versions of the same romance, but instead we get two POV characters who are best friends, alternating their two separate romances. But really, this is much more a romance between two young women and fandom-at-large. There's cosplay, and games, art, and comics, vloggers and big studio film promotions, writers and the adoring readers who stand in line for hours to get a signature. It's also very much a story about young women and the culture they have created and enjoy. It doesn't pass a reverse-Bechdel I don't think, which is such a refreshing change. Seriously it's the most girl-powery thing since Spice World and the same heady mix of empowering and just plain fun.
Review of the book: perfect. Reverse Pretty Woman is fun, the characters are interesting and different, the personal struggles legit hurdles, hotness,Review of the book: perfect. Reverse Pretty Woman is fun, the characters are interesting and different, the personal struggles legit hurdles, hotness, etc. all good, rich, multifaceted, and I love that the heroine is on the spectrum and doesn't have any friends, because I was asking for it.
Hoang displays marvelous empathy with her characters: she wants them to be loved and she shows how they are loveable, despite social awkwardness, inapHoang displays marvelous empathy with her characters: she wants them to be loved and she shows how they are loveable, despite social awkwardness, inappropriate statements, etc. And Esmeralda is the most worthy Cinderella for a story.
And although arranged marriage is maybe not my favorite trope, the dignity Hoang permits her characters to have is just the best. And now I am sad that there are no more Hoang books for me to read yet.
#5 in 365 Kids Books challenge and bid to get back on the Top 100 Readers list for full explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australi#5 in 365 Kids Books challenge and bid to get back on the Top 100 Readers list for full explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia
Gorgeous.I wasn't previously aware of Lopez' work, so I am doubly delighted: this isn't the only book he's illustrated. So yay, more books for the list. Telling the story through a focus on Mira makes it engaging for a young audience and keeps the story simple and metaphorical. And there's back matter giving the real story.
The only thing I could ask for is more on the community organizing aspect of the street art. Because who could read this and not want to start a similar project?
#3 in 365 Kids Books challenge and bid to get back on the Top 100 Readers list for full explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australi#3 in 365 Kids Books challenge and bid to get back on the Top 100 Readers list for full explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia
An age-appropriate way to address that governments will do cruel and inhumane things, things they will later regret, apologize for, and make reparations for. The idea of our republic is that we shall debate issues reasonably, fairly, giving careful thought. Theoretically we learn from past errors and then don't make them again. As this story reminds us, there are ways we can be kind individually when we are stupid and cruel nationally.
After hardly writing reviews at all last year, I am weirdly chatty this year. This doesn't bode well for my project.
Guillory creates delightful falling-in-love portions of her stories: the simple joy of getting to know someone and getting along so well. But she's evGuillory creates delightful falling-in-love portions of her stories: the simple joy of getting to know someone and getting along so well. But she's even better at creating a conflict that feels organic to the characters and, of course the insight and action necessary for not just reconciliation, but an improvement to the relationship that makes happily ever after believable. Also she writes about adults who have full, rich, complicated lives with friends, relationships, careers, and social engagement through volunteering. More importantly, there is a lot of snacking, pizza and burgers and so much cheese! Cakes and pies get their due, and taco trucks, and take out. A person who appreciates breakfast cake is going to be good at enjoying life fully.
This gives one of the most realistic portrayals of an actor I've ever read, and that's a huge part of what makes it work so well. I fell in love with This gives one of the most realistic portrayals of an actor I've ever read, and that's a huge part of what makes it work so well. I fell in love with April more quickly and more thoroughly than Marcus, which is saying something. Dade has clearly written the story to show that fat � unlovable, and I'm totally okay with that. There's lots of representation here of many kinds (folksingers!?) and mostly positive. Fanships at large will probably enjoy the hell out of this, along with nearly anyone who's ever attended a con, posted or read fics, cosplayers, actors, film crews, fight masters and choreographers, etc. Very sweet, but also providing some useful scripts for people setting boundaries and asking for what they want. Plus I really loved the fics and the horrible plots/writing/titles of movies.
And I know I'm not the only one thinking what a fun movie it would make except for the very high probability that the actor hired to pay April would only be fat by Hollywood standards.
Well that was fun to read. I came to it cold: all I knew was that Hank Green had written a book for adults, and since he fucking loves science there wWell that was fun to read. I came to it cold: all I knew was that Hank Green had written a book for adults, and since he fucking loves science there would probably be some of that.
Unexpected, but definitely playing to his strengths, the pace is zippy, the puzzles interesting. Super keen to get my hands on the sequel: that's some fortuitous timing.
A pleasure to read during a period when picking a book back up is nearly impossible. I could put it down, with reluctance, but was very keen to resume.
L. Frank Baum was not a good storyteller: he didn't want kids to be worried, so as soon as any sort of conflict would arise in the plot, he had it insL. Frank Baum was not a good storyteller: he didn't want kids to be worried, so as soon as any sort of conflict would arise in the plot, he had it instantly resolved. If the purpose of fairy tales is to teach us that dragons can be killed, Baum's stories are a particular failure, because the heroines don't get to fight, or even think up a possible solution. They lack all agency. Anything you like about the Wizard comes from the movie, not the book.
But this now, this is a thing of beauty. A modern California surfer girl and her fierce talking cat? That's the dream. The art is gorgeous, a little art nouveau, a little Arthur Rackham, a strong stylistic distinction between the world above and the one below. If you've seen Return of the Dapper Men you'll understand that Janet Lee is brilliant.
And the story. Amy Chu has taken Baum's work, updated it, made it interesting and relevant, given it cultural depth by connecting it to Vietnamese folklore. Modern surfer girl. Talking cat.
Together they have made something truly Wonderful.
This has been hanging out on my virtual shelf, half read for a month. The first half took me three weeks to get through, and why wasn't I loving it? There was a lot I liked: the recurring Step (until Yang pointed it out). The biographical material was great: there aren't a lot of sports stories told by non-jocks. Plus the way Yang's childhood experience of racism flows naturally into his perception of it in the sport. The decision to address racism head on was a strong choice. The adult biographical stuff was interesting too. The public at large doesn't realize that the vast majority of writers don't earn enough to live on, so good public service. Plus including the family was cute and fun.
Nonetheless, meh.
This morning Libby notified me that my borrow time was almost up, so I figured maybe I could finish. It sucked me in and I managed to finish before work. It was zipping along pretty well when Yang's wife came to chat with him. She says something like "I'm not real" and turns into Yang who stops to break the fourth wall and explain why he left the former lauded coach out. Then after explaining, and trying to be neutral on it, he lets the new coach of the men's team give a strong and supportive message, the gist of which is how a single, unidentified former student made an accusation of assault after more than 30 years, and no one else had a bad word to say, but now the guy is a pariah, his life and legacy tarnished, blah, blah, blah, no one else ever had a doubt, never saw anything, the usual.
Then we move on to the big game, everyone is there, the women's team that won the state championship the day before is all there, and families, faculty, staff, ESPN, it's huge.
It wasn't until jotting down a first draft of the review that I got what bugged me. We've been through all of missed family stuff, and his job angst and all, which he frequently discusses with his wife. But she's not real. We don't know anything about her. Just as we know absolutely nothing about the women's team except they also won. Maybe they always do, maybe it was a fluke: the only thing we know is they won and turned out to support the men. The author included his wife and kids and a state-championship-winning women's team and failed the Bechtel test. The women got to be supportive to the men and otherwise returned to the void.
It's not that an author has to give equal time or whatever, it's that he was doing such a great job trying to address the racism, but he failed the intersectionalism. Turns out I was bored because he wasn't talking to me.
He's a good writer and a well-meaning guy, so maybe he'll do better next time. I'm willing to see.
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