I read this over the course of five months or so, taking it piece by piece, which is probably the way to do it. It's a book for meditation. Some entriI read this over the course of five months or so, taking it piece by piece, which is probably the way to do it. It's a book for meditation. Some entries resonated like a tuning fork, and others (the denser poetry, mostly) I found baffling. I loved "The Eft," the gym (Christian Wiman, Planet Fitness member), the Lucille Clifton essay, and the "Cancer Chair" essay, among others....more
I'm a fan of the podcast - and if you followed that pretty religiously (as I did) - you'll find a lot of overlap here.
But, I liked the thematic clustI'm a fan of the podcast - and if you followed that pretty religiously (as I did) - you'll find a lot of overlap here.
But, I liked the thematic clustering for the book - and do feel like the final chapter (Big Feelings) ties everything together (as in the end, the whole project really is deeply tied into Harvilla's own life - which is why it's interesting). ...more
Don't do drugs. Seriously. I can't help but feel that this is the main message of most musician memoirs/biographies, intentionally or not (the Margo PDon't do drugs. Seriously. I can't help but feel that this is the main message of most musician memoirs/biographies, intentionally or not (the Margo Price one I finished earlier this summer definitely fits the bill). The downsides are obvious, and the upsides are difficult to identify.
(Listened to it as an audiobook - good for zoning out while doing chores - gossipy etc. - was a fun trip down musical memory lane) ...more
I'm not sure how I came across this book - but an engaging story of trying to get Sesame Street off the ground in post-Soviet Russia (along with some I'm not sure how I came across this book - but an engaging story of trying to get Sesame Street off the ground in post-Soviet Russia (along with some personal transformation). The postscripts provide a somber coda to the story (the show was eventually cancelled, Russia today is Russia today etc.) that I'm still thinking about. ...more
A study of loneliness, high performance, the struggle to become a self. I am not a huge tennis fan (although I did remember some of the matches descriA study of loneliness, high performance, the struggle to become a self. I am not a huge tennis fan (although I did remember some of the matches described) but I became engrossed. A great opening (although I would have cut 75-100 pages elsewhere). ...more
I really enjoyed this - a story of reinvention, cross-cultural ex-pat life, music, family/fatherhood. I picked it up at the library and started browsiI really enjoyed this - a story of reinvention, cross-cultural ex-pat life, music, family/fatherhood. I picked it up at the library and started browsing on a whim, mostly because I had vague memories of the author writing for SLAM magazine, and I was drawn in. I had an ex-pat childhood (my parents were missionaries), and when I returned to North America one of the ways I found my cultural footing was by reading SLAM (my bedroom walls were covered by SLAM posters and full page photos). So, maybe I was primed to enjoy Paul's story of cross-cultural engagement and middle-aged reinvention. ...more
Tales from when the magazine covers were glossy, everything was dusted with cocaine, and men were men (and they are mostly all men - something McDonneTales from when the magazine covers were glossy, everything was dusted with cocaine, and men were men (and they are mostly all men - something McDonnell acknowledges). I enjoyed it....more
I have found myself listening to a lot of Wilco this summer - something that I guess is just inevitable for a man of my age and musical taste. I reallI have found myself listening to a lot of Wilco this summer - something that I guess is just inevitable for a man of my age and musical taste. I really enjoyed this. There is probably a little too much time on the early years - would have liked a bit more on the actual creation of the later albums (the two Jays hover over the book too much). But, I really liked it - best stuff is on his family: creating music with his sons, for his wife etc. ...more
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