Picked up from the library on a friend's recommendation and really enjoyed it. I like her perspective on assigning importance to objects and still beiPicked up from the library on a friend's recommendation and really enjoyed it. I like her perspective on assigning importance to objects and still being able to let things go when it's time. I look forward to implementing her approach on this next round of decluttering....more
Nonfiction adjacent, since the subject of the book left a very light trail of autobiographical information. I thought this was an interesting and wellNonfiction adjacent, since the subject of the book left a very light trail of autobiographical information. I thought this was an interesting and well-written take on the life of someone who was certainly a criminal, almost certainly the murderer of multiple family members, possibly more, as well as someone who inhabited the twilight world of “being of good birth� while being artistic and economically marginal. The author walks a fine line on making him relatable, but not particularly sympathetic, and creates a very different take on Regency-era history than most biographies of prominent figures of the time period. ...more
Worth reading, if a bit scattered and light on details in places where I wanted more. There are also fairly random pieces of information (why is thereWorth reading, if a bit scattered and light on details in places where I wanted more. There are also fairly random pieces of information (why is there a quote from musician Tom Waites? Is he an expert on Victorian mediums and seances? No idea. Why is there no context for the plot of an old movie that references characters and a plot arc from “Little Women� (never acknowledged by the author)? No clue.). It does work as a high level overview of Western seances and the ways in which talking to the dead evolved and changed over the centuries. And if you were interested in some of the lengths that people went to prove or disprove the power of mediums and psychics, this is a good jumping off point. ...more
I was expecting rather more pirates and rather less author travelogue. I have really enjoyed several of her mystery novels though, so I settled in forI was expecting rather more pirates and rather less author travelogue. I have really enjoyed several of her mystery novels though, so I settled in for the full book. Things I liked: the descriptions of the sea and the landscape, particularly right now when I haven't been able to travel for a few years. I also enjoyed the historical detail about the "herring lassies" and other women whose history she includes in the book. Things I enjoyed less: the various conjectures and projections onto the people she meets and the description of the VInland expeditions: one cannot simultaneously arrive in a country that is "uninhabited" and still have classes with the "natives." Really odd choice of both wording and positioning on that which made me wonder about the editing, among other things. I was also kind of baffled about why none of the other female pirates in other parts of the world merited a passing mentions. So a mixed bag, on the whole. ...more
I picked this up on the strength of the author's history of queer Brooklyn and found this to be another excellent history. I found this to be another I picked this up on the strength of the author's history of queer Brooklyn and found this to be another excellent history. I found this to be another well-written, informative history about an institution I already knew a bit about, but certainly not as much as I learned from this book. Ryan provides a lot of historical context for the House of D's historical significance, though some of that felt a little light in spots due to the lack of documentation that I think he was working with. Overall, highly recommended and I hope that it inspires more readers to think about how we treat prisoners and even those suspected of crimes, but never charged....more
It would be more accurate to say I liked parts of this book. The author’s definition of what constitutes “Gothic� stories and media is remarkably broaIt would be more accurate to say I liked parts of this book. The author’s definition of what constitutes “Gothic� stories and media is remarkably broad, to the pint of rendering some of his inclusions largely meaningless. Serial killers? Sometimes Gothic! Why? Well, there’s not much context since it’s much heavier on movie stills than text. I found disappointing for things I wanted to learn more about as well as for those I disagreed with. Very much of a mixed bag. But interesting photos, if again pretty random in the way the theme is interpreted....more
Well-written, nicely designed short primer for planning a small business startup. It was written before the Pandemic, so done things on the ground havWell-written, nicely designed short primer for planning a small business startup. It was written before the Pandemic, so done things on the ground have definitely changed, but I think it makes for a good jumping off point if you’re contemplating a side hustle or spinning up a business....more
Excellent resource for rethinking how writing workshops are taught. If you just starting to teach or looking for suggestions for better models, this iExcellent resource for rethinking how writing workshops are taught. If you just starting to teach or looking for suggestions for better models, this is a great place to start....more
Really interesting collection of essays about living with autism from the perspective of one of the best known public figures to be diagnosed with it.Really interesting collection of essays about living with autism from the perspective of one of the best known public figures to be diagnosed with it. Grandin is an excellent writer and a keen observer on how her particular type of autism affects her life on multiple levels. Really good intro if you’re looking to learn more....more
What a brilliant book! It took me several months to read because I tried to read it while I was outside to immerse myself in both the author’s words aWhat a brilliant book! It took me several months to read because I tried to read it while I was outside to immerse myself in both the author’s words and thoughts and my version of the nearby natural world. I found it to be a thought-provoking, often heartbreaking, read and one that everyone concerned about our natural environment should have on their reading list....more
An intriguing collection of renowned butch lesbian performer Peggy Shaw’s work. I’ve gotten to see her perform a couple of times and I think the book An intriguing collection of renowned butch lesbian performer Peggy Shaw’s work. I’ve gotten to see her perform a couple of times and I think the book and the biographical essay by Julie Dolan capture some of that energy. It’s also great to see a queer performance artist celebrated this way. Shaw’s contributions to American theater in general, as well as LGBTQ+ and feminist theater, are enormous and worth celebrating. I think both Shaw’s writing and Dolan’s essay do a nice job of discussing butch lesbian identity and aging in a way I haven’t seen anyone else do before. Highly recommended!...more
I think this works very well as a companion to the series - I got more of sense of the context and background for the events and relationships from thI think this works very well as a companion to the series - I got more of sense of the context and background for the events and relationships from the show. Apart from that, Anne Lister was fascinating in her own right and I have a tremendous amount of respect for the scholars who decoded her diaries. Definitely recommended if you are interested in Lister and/or LGBTQ history; Lister's story makes a fascinating addition....more
A friend recommended this book to me and I decided to give it a whirl. It is, ultimately, a book for someone in a different place in their lives and cA friend recommended this book to me and I decided to give it a whirl. It is, ultimately, a book for someone in a different place in their lives and creative process than the one I currently occupy, but I can definitely understand why people love it. It's well-written and often funny and I would pick up one of Gilbert's novels on the strength of the writing in this book and that, I think makes for a fine recommendation. I think if you are contemplating pursuing an artistic endeavor or, perhaps, returning to one you used to love, this book would be invaluable. And even if you just want some food for thought, it's a good read....more
Gripping biography of WWII spy and Resistance fighter, Virginia Hall, who along with all the obstacles facing a woman of her time period engaged in clGripping biography of WWII spy and Resistance fighter, Virginia Hall, who along with all the obstacles facing a woman of her time period engaged in clandestine work during a war, was missing one of her legs below the knee. The writing is positively cinematic and the tale is very, very exciting so I'm glad to see that there is a movie coming out about her. Hall was a very interesting woman and I hope the film does her life justice. Read the book first though, because it's quite good. ...more
One of the earlier anthologies that focused on the queer feminine. Some of the pieces hold up really well, others less so. It's also geared more towarOne of the earlier anthologies that focused on the queer feminine. Some of the pieces hold up really well, others less so. It's also geared more toward an academic audience in terms of writing style than I was anticipating. But that said, worth tracking down if you're looking at queer history and starter texts about queerness and femininity. ...more
While I'm not really its target audience, I really enjoyed this book and I wish it had been around at times in my life when it would have been wildly While I'm not really its target audience, I really enjoyed this book and I wish it had been around at times in my life when it would have been wildly relevant. This is a terrific read and learning tool if you or people you know are negotiating consent, pleasure and communication in their lives and need examples, food for thought, etc. - informative essays, beautifully written and thought-provoking. I expect I will be thinking about it for quite a while to come. Highly recommended!...more
Good intro to a bunch of basic book marketing concepts, complete with worksheets for planning purposes. No book like this will be a "one size fits allGood intro to a bunch of basic book marketing concepts, complete with worksheets for planning purposes. No book like this will be a "one size fits all" for all different types of book marketing, but if you're just starting out or you need a refresher on getting started, this is a very readable, easy to use guide. Recommended!...more
Somewhat dry, but often interesting, survey of the growth of the tourist industry for visiting country estates in England. It's been a very soothing pSomewhat dry, but often interesting, survey of the growth of the tourist industry for visiting country estates in England. It's been a very soothing pandemic read, certainly. FYI, despite the mention of Du Maurier and Austen in the description, their work gets short shrift in favor of frankly less interesting contemporaries, which struck me as a missed opportunity. If you're interested in the concept this is probably worth tracking down. If you're primarily interested in the art and architecture of English country houses or in a specific deeply memorable estate, this is not likely to be the best option out there....more
Enjoyable overview of some of women’s contributions to horror and dark fantasy! The bios and resource lists are full of interesting suggestions and I Enjoyable overview of some of women’s contributions to horror and dark fantasy! The bios and resource lists are full of interesting suggestions and I will be looking at the work of some authors who are new to me. If anything, the authors try to pack in a bit too much and end up skipping a lot of queer horror by women, as well as authors outside the U.S. and U.K. But it’s very well-written and an all around fun book so I think it makes for an excellent jumping off point. Highly recommended!...more
Interesting collection of essays, that range from the thoughtful and thought-provoking to the less interesting/engaging. It was published just as AmazInteresting collection of essays, that range from the thoughtful and thought-provoking to the less interesting/engaging. It was published just as Amazon was trying its hand at publishing, so there’s a lot of “death of the book/bookstore/literature spins, some of which is now irrelevant or not relevant in the ways the authors expected. Standout essays include the ones by Daniel Jose Older and one of the publishers from Outlook Press. ...more
Loading...
