How anyone could give this less than 5 stars, I have no idea. Strikingly honest, beautifully written. A window into how our minds and bodies can trip How anyone could give this less than 5 stars, I have no idea. Strikingly honest, beautifully written. A window into how our minds and bodies can trip us up, to put it mildly. And a way into empathy. Brave and extraordinary: we should all read. Author does a great job reading audiobook....more
Thank you, Dr. Gagne, for allowing me into the living room of your mind. I need this reminder that none of us is completely good or evil. The earlier Thank you, Dr. Gagne, for allowing me into the living room of your mind. I need this reminder that none of us is completely good or evil. The earlier in kids� lives we recognize that, the better. Superimposing ideas of how people should be, rather than striving to see one another for who we truly are, is disrespectful and destructive to all involved. Now how can non-sociopaths avoid getting duped and worse by sociopaths?...more
What makes Olive so lovable? To my mind, because never before have I read stories of an elderly crotchety woman who's simply human, not a monster by aWhat makes Olive so lovable? To my mind, because never before have I read stories of an elderly crotchety woman who's simply human, not a monster by any means.
Strout shows us again and yes, "Olive, Again," that we're all fragile and strong, lovable and awful. Moreover, in this sequel to "Olive Kitteridge" she illustrates how a really good life isn't about perfection -- it's about how the more we know, the less we know we do, and the beauty & pain within that awareness...
Btw, I had the good fortune to see Strout speak shortly after her first Olive book was published. It was good to see her speech to writers and readers was as generous of spirit as one would hope of Olive's creator.
Merged review:
What makes Olive so lovable? To my mind, because never before have I read stories of an elderly crotchety woman who's simply human, not a monster by any means.
Strout shows us again and yes, "Olive, Again," that we're all fragile and strong, lovable and awful. Moreover, in this sequel to "Olive Kitteridge" she illustrates how a really good life isn't about perfection -- it's about how the more we know, the less we know we do, and the beauty & pain within that awareness...
Btw, I had the good fortune to see Strout speak shortly after her first Olive book was published. It was good to see her speech to writers and readers was as generous of spirit as one would hope of Olive's creator....more
Curtis Chin is my new author-hero - his "Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant: A Memoir," which he superbly voices in the audiobookCurtis Chin is my new author-hero - his "Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant: A Memoir," which he superbly voices in the audiobook version, is far more than a memoir. It's an intelligent, fun, loving, and deeply moving trip beyond generations and culture, all of it colored by the politics of cities, cultures, sexuality, and more....more
A week later, I'm still reeling by how deftly Deesha traverses our weird, weird selves, in ways that anyone with a skin color and a beating heart can A week later, I'm still reeling by how deftly Deesha traverses our weird, weird selves, in ways that anyone with a skin color and a beating heart can relate to. The church ladies who populate her short stories are neither good nor bad � they’re a seesaw of both and a rainbow of in between. Try illustrating human nuance in a way that’s all at once sexy and sad, entertaining and confusing, and above all else, thought-provoking. These are fiction, but you could have fooled me. As if that weren’t nirvana enough, audiobook narrator Janina Edwards (who graced us with this guest blog post), layers on her extra amazing-ness....more
Edgar’s autobiographical essays demonstrate how essential each of our voices are, no matter who we are. His writing is so courageous, funny, and touchEdgar’s autobiographical essays demonstrate how essential each of our voices are, no matter who we are. His writing is so courageous, funny, and touching, that I pity anyone who can’t relate to his observations about how complex individuals and relationships are.
His writing sure, his memories vivid, he walks us through a life filled with reprimands for he isn’t and little appreciation for who he is. How have we arrived to live in a world angry about who has sex with who, who loves who, who wears what, and who wants to do what with their own bodies?
He doesn’t merely tell us, he shows us how soul-crushing hypocrisy can be. It’s not enough when those close to us say they love us, yet scorn who we genuinely are....more
Bravest women, brave reporter. Thank goodness my initial qualms were proven wrong -- I worried Ronan would be just another privileged white man exploiBravest women, brave reporter. Thank goodness my initial qualms were proven wrong -- I worried Ronan would be just another privileged white man exploiting women, in this case using their abuse by Harvey Weinstein for his own hype. Indeed the women who spoke out are heroines, as is Ronan who all risked their lives and careers to bring this story to light....more
Her meditation on creativity is equal parts her own experiences, those of others, and society’s evolving relationship to it.
A key point I took away weHer meditation on creativity is equal parts her own experiences, those of others, and society’s evolving relationship to it.
A key point I took away were that their creative careers are best regarded as checker boards, rather than ladders. Another is that happy creatives are flexible, given how art constantly evolves.
Don’t confuse “And Then We Grew Up: On Creativity, Potential, and the Imperfect Art of Adulthood� by Rachel Friedman for a self-help book. However, it indeed helped me see creativity a bit more sanely. Jennifer Rubins did a great job narrating the audiobook version....more
Surely Elliot Page’s print version of his autobiographical “Pageboy� is riveting, but he does such a completely amazing job reading it aloud, that I cSurely Elliot Page’s print version of his autobiographical “Pageboy� is riveting, but he does such a completely amazing job reading it aloud, that I can’t imagine it any other way. His account about how, from early on, he felt more male than female, is as personal as one might imagine. His lessons about gender, however, are universal.
It took navigating childhood, parents, celebrity, and life in general to arrive where he could fully embrace his genuine self. He describes how we’re conditioned from the time we’re born. The same as out and out aggression hurts us, micro-agressions work so subliminally that they can be impossible to see and to overcome.
As a cisgender heterosexual woman, Elliot’s experiences brought to mind conversations I’ve had with my husband. If someone were to attack my honey or any of his loved ones, he’d have absolutely no problem with lashing out to the extent of murder. That’s how he was raised. Because I was raised to be “nice� above all else, I seriously doubt I’d be able to do anything better than run. That’s if I didn’t simply freeze. And that’s with me fully aware that I should fight.
Before I married, the men I dated were chosen foremost by whether they might harm me. Especially during my 20s, I found that if I didn’t have a boyfriend, quite a few men regarded me as an open target, one who they had no problem needling regardless of how obnoxious they became. Sadly, movies portray men who persist as love-struck, rather than as the stalkers they often are. I could go on and on about the many ways society is shaped by our early gender messages.
Elliot helps us regard others and ourselves with more compassion, something the world needs more of....more
My first week in, and experiencing the magic already! “Write for Life,� Cameron's newest creativity workbook of many, is a scant 6 weeks long, half ofMy first week in, and experiencing the magic already! “Write for Life,� Cameron's newest creativity workbook of many, is a scant 6 weeks long, half of her typical 12-weeks. By the second night after I started it, I awoke at 3am with my eyes seeing differently. Besides other things, Cameron assigns the mainstays of daily writing, weekly outings, and a couple of weekly walks. My, oh, my, I can be so truly grudging about doing them, every single time only to be absolutely blown away by how much they help me. So far they’ve never failed to bring fresh insights....more
Be it people or food, are individuals best defined by where they were born? Or by where each ingredient within them originated? Charmaine Wilkerson’s Be it people or food, are individuals best defined by where they were born? Or by where each ingredient within them originated? Charmaine Wilkerson’s thoughtful family saga is as much a melding of Chinese, Caribbean, British, American, and Italian, as it is a world history injustice illustration, from class, skin color, and nationality, to sexual preference and gender. Lynnette R. Freeman’s audiobook narration elevates this wonderful novel to a remarkable level....more
This celebration of the senses is as much an ode to the nose as it is a love letter to friendship, forgiveness, and emancipation. Just before the vaccThis celebration of the senses is as much an ode to the nose as it is a love letter to friendship, forgiveness, and emancipation. Just before the vaccines were released, I came down with COVID-19. For the ensuing two years, I despaired that my proper sense of smell would never return. At times it was nonexistent, at others everything smelled like skunk, and sometimes only some scents registered correctly. Sneha Mathan adds a lush audiobook dimension to the trio....more
Combust the most harrowing things inflicted upon you, burnish them into self-hurt, then smelt them into strength� Acts of Desperation is so literate, Combust the most harrowing things inflicted upon you, burnish them into self-hurt, then smelt them into strength� Acts of Desperation is so literate, so raw, so intelligent that after I finished it in print, I couldn’t stop listening to Lauren Coe’s brilliant audiobook performance of it. Beyond a mere ‘later coming of age� by a young Irish author, it’s a nakedly honest take on how girls� and women’s place is culture still has a long way to go. Warning: could be triggering, though was worth it for me....more
Such a sweet fun that I almost abandoned it � I’m halfway through and so glad I didn’t! There’s something so cocaine-addictive about monster-ish creatSuch a sweet fun that I almost abandoned it � I’m halfway through and so glad I didn’t! There’s something so cocaine-addictive about monster-ish creatures un-besmirched by computers, phones, and electricity. Especially these ones who’ve just been blissed off their feet by their first tastes of giant killer-ess Viv and horned and tailed Tandry’s java, and furry little guy Thimble’s cinnamon rolls. Now that I’ve discovered Gaslamp Fantasy, I can’t wait to find another. Travis Baldree penned and illustrated his first book as a kid, went on to develop computer games and start a family, and has voiced so many novels (including this one) that surely story telling rhythm and form soaked into him....more
Goddesses help you if you're two grumpy neighbor ladies in South Africa, one black and one white, who started off on the wrong foot. With intelligenceGoddesses help you if you're two grumpy neighbor ladies in South Africa, one black and one white, who started off on the wrong foot. With intelligence, humor, and tenderness, Omotoso does an amazing job navigating the complexities of long-term friendship between women....more
You've got 4 half-siblings via a dad who fathered everyone via four moms. Haha, he calls himself a 'people person.' You don't have a relationship withYou've got 4 half-siblings via a dad who fathered everyone via four moms. Haha, he calls himself a 'people person.' You don't have a relationship with any of them, outside of your own mother, and the worst possible thing happens to you. Now what? Novelist Carty-Williams' madcap story is underpinned with a serious rumination on acceptance and forgiveness; who, how, and is it worth it? Danielle Vitalis is a wonderful narrator....more
How can anyone not fall in love with a protagonist who is an assasin-for-hire, 65-year-old woman about to be put out to pasture? Shame on her would-beHow can anyone not fall in love with a protagonist who is an assasin-for-hire, 65-year-old woman about to be put out to pasture? Shame on her would-be assigned murderers who underestimate her... Nancy Wu does a great job narrating. Adding to the intrigue is that the audiobook publisher is a division of Harlequin Romance despite this being anything but a romance novel....more
Stumbled onto this as I don't gravitate to romance genre, but was intrigued by the rare depiction of older romance. So glad that Gillory didn't disappStumbled onto this as I don't gravitate to romance genre, but was intrigued by the rare depiction of older romance. So glad that Gillory didn't disappoint. Though must admit that I was only able to appreciate the super gentle pace and low-level tension when I read an interview with Gillory, wherein she discussed her underlying the theme of 'consent.'...more
Love, emotion, and attachment contemplated through the eyes of a woman who resorts to submitting to a sociopath in order to pay her medical bills. WhaLove, emotion, and attachment contemplated through the eyes of a woman who resorts to submitting to a sociopath in order to pay her medical bills. What's it like to be a super star who's lost the ability for compassion? What's it like to be his girlfriend, a living mannequin following a script? Great premise and well written, but cynical in the worst victim-minded sense. Megan Tusing offers a validating audiobook performance....more
Love, family, politics, prejudice, our place in the world... Born to Korean parents who gave her away to anglo parents who raised her among only angloLove, family, politics, prejudice, our place in the world... Born to Korean parents who gave her away to anglo parents who raised her among only anglos, Nicole Chung's experience offers us a chance to ponder. From a practical viewpoint, she shares with it was like for her, first as a child and now as a mother. Relatable to anyone who has ever felt different, known a family, or experienced inequality. Janet Song does a lovely audio narration....more
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