Wonderful, redemptive memoir of Lynda Barry's rough-and-tumble childhood, and all the ways she grew wise because of it. I recommend this to the moon aWonderful, redemptive memoir of Lynda Barry's rough-and-tumble childhood, and all the ways she grew wise because of it. I recommend this to the moon and back....more
If I met Brene Brown, I'm not sure I'd like her. Did she really run around and ask people whether others "did the best they could," and consider that If I met Brene Brown, I'm not sure I'd like her. Did she really run around and ask people whether others "did the best they could," and consider that a research question? What does that even mean? Is she really that freaked out about what she looks like in a Speedo? What she thinks is a big deal in life is so not what I think of as a big deal. And yet, she is willing to put her whole self on display here. I guess that's her vulnerability thing. And she does make some excellent points about honest communication and good boundaries that are applicable far beyond simply recovering from failures. So, in spite of my eye-rolls every time she talks about "The Rising Strong Process" as if there ought to be a tiny [TM] following that phrase, and despite her decidedly upper-middle-class, self-centered suburbanite attitudes, I did find myself nodding quite often as I read this book. Overall, I got a lot out of it....more
Barbara Kingsolver writes yet another gripping work of historical fiction--this time about a young man caught up in both the union unrest of the midceBarbara Kingsolver writes yet another gripping work of historical fiction--this time about a young man caught up in both the union unrest of the midcentury US and the socialist movement of Mexico. A wonderful, thrilling story. I loved it....more
The main characters have a reason for being in a well-constructed plot. What they do and who they are all pull together to create reasons for the protThe main characters have a reason for being in a well-constructed plot. What they do and who they are all pull together to create reasons for the protagonist to do what he or she does in the end. in a well-constructed plot, the main characters may have foibles and gallantries that are displayed and resolved or celebrated in various subplots, and there is some attempt at resolution for these subplots by novel's end.
Not in this book. We don't know what happens to the new teacher who comes to town who seems so important at the start of the book. We don't know what happens to the preacher who seems enamored of her. We don't know what happens to Tattler, or Marris, or Gladys. They just sort of . . . drift away. Why were they there in the first place? Morris and Gladys seem to fill us in with the backstory, and that's about it.
And then there's character development. Kate had her character developed more than the others--God knows why, since we never find out whether she succeeds, stays, brings her lesbian lover to live with her. Sadie Blue definitely has character development and growth the story. Billy seems to grow a spine in the story. Why not just make it about them?
Some of the characters are cardboard cutouts. Prudence is a ridiculously one-dimensional Prude. Roy Tupkin is, basically, Bill Sykes. Same with Gladys and Marris. And the local witch, walking around with a crow on her head--that's just goofy. I live out in the country. Do you know how big a crow is? Every time this detail was mentioned, I found myself distracted by it. But moreso by the lack of meat on many of the characters in the novel They are not complex.
What I did like about it? Since this is all told in the first person, from the points of view of various characters, the language is North Carolina mountain people. All folksy. All misspellings intentional. And that's okay with me. And the ending. I really loved the ending. It's just that we didn't need half the characters in the book to get us there.
James Doty should never have been able to achieve his goals, given his impoverished, dysfunctional background, but one visiting womMake your own magic
James Doty should never have been able to achieve his goals, given his impoverished, dysfunctional background, but one visiting woman taught him all he needed to know to create a life full of magic. A remarkable, feel good story. I feel so inspired!...more
Wow. Loved, loved loved this book. Snappy, tight, funny-as-hell writing and fascinating stories of our American quirk of amateurism. Bunch of fabulous
Wow. Loved, loved loved this book. Snappy, tight, funny-as-hell writing and fascinating stories of our American quirk of amateurism. From Ben Franklin to Kennewick Man to the Sidewalk Astronomers, and back to Ben, it is clear that amateurs are responsible for fueling the innovation and energy of our nation. Brilliantly written. Must read. Get it!...more
Can things get any more inspiring than "A Girl Named Zippy?" turns out that yes, they can. This is the story of Haven Kimmel's mom, who against all odCan things get any more inspiring than "A Girl Named Zippy?" turns out that yes, they can. This is the story of Haven Kimmel's mom, who against all odds, as a grown, adult, Indiana woman, gets the gumption to go make something of herself. I rooted for mom all the way. You will, too....more
Oh, I am so disappointed. I started out sure this was going to be a five-star. I was imagining a woman attempting to keep her commitments to her factoOh, I am so disappointed. I started out sure this was going to be a five-star. I was imagining a woman attempting to keep her commitments to her factory owner husband and to the struggling factory workers. I was imagining the Brit who comes to understand the factory ways of France, who maybe joins in the struggle. But it wasn't about that. In a few short paragraphs, it went straight to tawdry. It went right to the sex schtick. The world war one stuff is the only thing that saves this from one star. That stuff was good. But then, right back to the romance ridiculousness. So sad. This book could have been about something, but the author took the cheap way out. Just awful. ...more
I mostly liked Before Happiness. For the most part, Achor addresses different clinically-strategies for leaders as they attempt to create positive orgI mostly liked Before Happiness. For the most part, Achor addresses different clinically-strategies for leaders as they attempt to create positive organizations and teams that are likely to succeed. Most of this is extremely useful and applicable to many different types of groups.
I am a little creeped out by the "inception" portion, in which we can supposedly manipulate people to be more productive and happy. That feels a little icky to me--especially when one of his main examples are low-wage WalMart employees. Apparently, WalMart hired Dr. Achor to help with the intractable problem of their impoverished employees who are, for SOME reason, not as happy as they ought to be. Meanwhile, the Waltons sit on their stacks of billions, and it doesn't occur to them that maybe a decent living wage is a contributor to happiness . . . But, anyway, aside from that chapter, the rest of the book? Really, really helpful....more
Oh, so sad. This is oh, so sad. Beautifully written.*spoiler alert* Horribly sad story of two lonely older people who just want the warmth and intimacOh, so sad. This is oh, so sad. Beautifully written.*spoiler alert* Horribly sad story of two lonely older people who just want the warmth and intimacy of each other's company over night. Of course, the whole town starts talking. And the woman's family doesn't approve. And the sweetness sours. And it's just so terribly sad that their own relatives get in the way of their simple companionship. So, I loved this book, and I hated it. Because I just wanted them to be happy. I wanted to give it fewer stars because it broke my heart, but heart-brokenness is a sign of a well-done, five star book. So . . . *sigh!*...more
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