I didn't LOVE any of the stories, but I liked all of them, and I really liked "The Chaser" and "The Masker". I think I'dI'm rounding it up from a 3.5.
I didn't LOVE any of the stories, but I liked all of them, and I really liked "The Chaser" and "The Masker". I think I'd have appreciated "Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones" better if I had eye read it and been able to sit with it more. I enjoyed "Stag Dance". It just seemed to drag a bit from time to time, but then in the end, I also think I'd have benefited from eye reading it and sitting with it more.
I could feel the parallels to Covid-19, particularly in the descriptions of empty streets.
It's good. It's an interesting period of history - one whichI could feel the parallels to Covid-19, particularly in the descriptions of empty streets.
It's good. It's an interesting period of history - one which is surprisingly relatable. The characters are multi-dimensional, and their interactions and relationships are good. The sense of religious persecution is heavy. The various threats feel real. There's a sweet, somewhat rushed love story, but it is one developing in a time of plague, so I can imagine it unfolding more quickly.
I do love Jason Todd. I do not love the art style. I appreciated getting to learn about the training and lead-up to Jason becoming Red Hood. I just ulI do love Jason Todd. I do not love the art style. I appreciated getting to learn about the training and lead-up to Jason becoming Red Hood. I just ultimately found myself wishing I was reading a full-stop Red Hood comic instead. Nice to see Talia, though. I've not read much of that character despite being familiar with her lore....more
I don't know what to say. It's THE classic that launched a thousand ships. The language is beautiful; the story is tThe DRAMA. The ANGST. The POETRY.
I don't know what to say. It's THE classic that launched a thousand ships. The language is beautiful; the story is tragic and ridiculous (from a modern, non-teenage perspective). I fully understood we were making mistakes that were going to end in death, and I still found myself metaphorically leaning over the balcony.
Romeo is just so ridiculously funny. We meet him, and he is DYING over Rosaline. He's got some lines about Cupid's arrows pinning him to the Earth. His friends are trying to cheer him up, and he's essentially like, "Please just leave me here to die." This is on the way to the party where he meets Juliet, mind you. Then he sees her and suddenly, he's never known love before. He SEES her. I was rolling my eyes. I knew how it would go, and it still went sillier than I thought. Teenage hormones are something else.
Juliet. I don't know. She's thirteen. She's going to be married to Paris, and she doesn't like him (apparently). So I guess I'll give her a pass for throwing herself headfirst into a marriage with a complete stranger. Again, she's thirteen. She wasn't just moaning about how Cupid had pinned her heart to the ground.
These people are just super sensitive, and it gets them all killed. Needlessly. I loved Mercutio. I'd have loved him more with dummy translations for his witty banter. I hated to see him go, but his death wish could not have been clearer. Still, I think he'd be so fun on stage in a good production.
The Capulets had me rolling my eyes as well. Juliet tells them she doesn't want to marry Paris like maybe a day after her beloved cousin dies. That's DISRESPECTFUL. They are fully ready to throw her out on the street. Then, like maybe the very next day, when they think she's dead - WOW. Their hearts have never known such sorrow. Recently saw "& Juliet" in which they were VERY accurately portrayed.
So yes, as someone who is not a teenager and is living in the year 2025, I did have some issues with this, but damn, I still had a really nice time, mostly due to the absurdity as well as the famously beautiful text. Shakespeare knew how to woo.
Also, the key takeaway before I forget: COMMUNICATION IS KING....more
This is not a bad book. I saw someone say there is a Pollyanna vibe, and I do agree with that, but it's well written, and the audiobook is well narratThis is not a bad book. I saw someone say there is a Pollyanna vibe, and I do agree with that, but it's well written, and the audiobook is well narrated. The main issue for me is that I just did not find the subject matter, which largely consisted of work-life balance and law as interesting as I'd like to.
I admire how Ketanji discusses the shared sacrifices she and her husband have made to raise their children while also pursuing high-pressure careers. It's a lovely look into marriage as a partnership. I also really enjoyed hearing about her experiences with speech and debate and how she feels they contributed to her future.
I do feel like the career focus was less than the family one, but I'm not sure that I mind that. I'd have liked to have gotten a greater feel for her take on controversial topics, but I suppose I could review her history at large and get a picture....more
The only thing bad about Saga is waiting for it to release.
I'm so happy. I love this series. The art is great. The story is GREAT. The narration is exThe only thing bad about Saga is waiting for it to release.
I'm so happy. I love this series. The art is great. The story is GREAT. The narration is excellent. The characters are lovely. It's so human while also being so fantastical. I continue to love the focus on mental health. I really want to do a series reread soon, as I know I've forgotten a few of the referenced storylines. Can't recommend it enough....more
I enjoyed this significantly more than I expected to. I liked the story well enough, but Pip's narration is the real highlight for me. I found myself I enjoyed this significantly more than I expected to. I liked the story well enough, but Pip's narration is the real highlight for me. I found myself smiling often and laughing more than once, which was definitely a surprise. I loved reading his interactions with Joe, and I LOVED Miss Havisham. I locked onto her immediately, and she helped me to get through the first few chapters. I just love the drama of literally everything about her.
I liked watching Pip come to appreciate the people around him, and I liked reading his relationships with his friends and associates, especially Mr. Wemmick. His trips to visit Wemmick and the Aged are great.
I think there are some really great quotes about love (which is very nearly obsession). I love how aware Pip is that Estella doesn't make him happy while also being consumed by the idea that being with her forever would. I love the ending, which feels unique for a classic.
The one thing I had trouble with was keeping straight the entire backstory for the convict and how it related to everything else. I know and can see the pieces, but I have to take time to put them all together, and I'm not sure I'm fully getting it when I do. It felt a little convoluted. I might just not have been paying enough attention.
I don't know if I will reread it, but unlike Oliver Twist, I can imagine a world in which I do....more
I own so many blank notebooks. This book made me want to go out and buy another (and ideally fill it).
I didn't know what to expect, but this is thorouI own so many blank notebooks. This book made me want to go out and buy another (and ideally fill it).
I didn't know what to expect, but this is thoroughly enjoyable. I learned a ton, and I started thinking about an item I have always used and had access to differently. I loved learning about the insights we have gained through examining old notebooks, including insights that are helping us to better understand the changes to our climate. I also loved learning about the benefits of keeping a journal, particularly as discussed in a chapter with a focus on trauma and another with a focus on health care.
It's just really interesting to learn how we have recorded information over time, why we have done so, and what information has been prioritized both at the time of recording and in historical reflection.
I can see where it might be compelling on stage, but it didn't interest me much as a read. I like the fear and doubt well enough. I don't know. I'm juI can see where it might be compelling on stage, but it didn't interest me much as a read. I like the fear and doubt well enough. I don't know. I'm just underwhelmed....more
I genuinely found it thrilling. I've always loved Jason Todd in theory, and this has me fully converted. I found myself so mad at Bruce while reading I genuinely found it thrilling. I've always loved Jason Todd in theory, and this has me fully converted. I found myself so mad at Bruce while reading this and actively rooting against him, which is wild. It's just so hard not to care and not to sympathize with Jason when you read his experience. It's heartbreaking, and I can fully understand his rage. I think it'd be difficult not to.
I loved seeing Jason and Bruce fight. I loved seeing Bruce piece together Red Hood's ID. I loved seeing Dick and Bruce fighting together. I loved reading Alfred's POV, and I loved seeing so many different heroes and villains in one collection.
This is really, really good. It's got a ton of action, but it's also very personal to the characters. I loved it....more
I've never watched Gilmore Girls, but I have cried on a public bus while reading about the creation of A Chorus Line, so you can imagine how excited II've never watched Gilmore Girls, but I have cried on a public bus while reading about the creation of A Chorus Line, so you can imagine how excited I was when I realized the first chapter details Bishop's experience developing that musical.
Happily, a fair amount of the book is focused on her theatre career, though her film and TV work are also very present. I've always vaguely wanted to watch Gilmore Girls and been put off by the sheer volume of it, and I still am, but this does really make me think one day I'm going to take the plunge. I think fans of the series will find plenty to enjoy in this.
I really liked hearing (I did the audiobook) about her personal life and especially about the struggle of balancing her career with her marriage during the years her husband was sick. I also liked hearing her speak about her stance on abortion and about not wanting to have children.
This is a pretty short read. If you're interested in her work, it's probably worth your time....more
I didn't know much about Nyle DiMarco going in. I knew he was on America's Next Top Model, and I had watched his finale dance on Dancing With the StarI didn't know much about Nyle DiMarco going in. I knew he was on America's Next Top Model, and I had watched his finale dance on Dancing With the Stars. That's about it. It didn't stop me from enjoying the book, which has a fairly large focus on Deaf culture in general. I really enjoyed learning more about Deaf history, which is really infuriating and upsetting. I also enjoyed reading about his journey with his sexuality. I think this is a really accessible book for anyone interested in starting to learn more about Deaf culture, and of course, it's bound to be an enjoyable read for fans of Nyle....more
The idea of reviewing this is WILD. I feel like I went on a journey with this one, and at times, I really did find myself wondering how we (myself andThe idea of reviewing this is WILD. I feel like I went on a journey with this one, and at times, I really did find myself wondering how we (myself and Milkman) got to be in the places and predicaments we did. This is going to be an odd statement, but more than once, I was reminded of the experience of watching Queer.
I don't know what to say. I liked these characters, even when I didn't want to. I liked the pace. I liked the emphasis on naming. I liked the way Milkman struggled (and also didn't) to find a sense of belonging. I liked the family dynamics. I loved his relationship with Guitar, who had some incredible moments. I liked the elements of magical realism. I liked the growth. I loved the writing. It really did draw me in.
As with Beloved, I wish I could have read this as a part of a class or group, as I know I'd benefit from a discussion....more
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