I was confident I would enjoy this, but I did not anticipate the depth of my adoration.
Part memoir, part masterclass on performing and interpreting thI was confident I would enjoy this, but I did not anticipate the depth of my adoration.
Part memoir, part masterclass on performing and interpreting the Bard, and part friendship eavesdrop, this was sheer delight. I often lost myself to listening longer than intended, and my expectation that the jumping from play to play might seem disjointed was proven utterly false. On display is an irresistible respect for the craft, whether the plays themselves or the staging: language, delivery, costuming, cast collaboration, and engagement with audience. It may seem cliché to express this way, but it's nonetheless true: I was transported. Again and again. When I started, I thought I might skim some sections and spend the most time with those plays I knew best, but there was no hierarchy. I loved it all, especially when delivered with such wit and insight and purity.
IMHO, O'Hea should have received more than a subordinate "with Brendan O'Hea" credit, including cover mention, because he provides the trellis on which Dench's reminiscences grow and flower. Indubitably she is the star - in character, experience, and perspicacity - but this is a collaboration. It would not have shone as brightly without someone as knowledgeable and trusted providing the vision and bringing out her best, beautifully complemented with his own expertise.
Now please excuse me while I indulge in re-watches of my favorite adaptations and seek out new ones, especially for the few gaps on my Shakespeare dance card.
audiobook note: Casting Barbara Flynn, a talented actress in her own right, to stand in for Dame Judy was inspired. Her natural voice and cadence is not far off from Dench's, so much so that you can be forgiven for sometimes forgetting it is a different reader. However, she delicately balances bringing the Dench mischief and gravitas without enacting an impersonation. To Flynn's credit, the experience of the listener is fully rewarding, embracing the similar resonance without any aural 'uncanny valley' disparity. A bonus included on the audio is a taped debrief between Dench and O'Hea, which is fun, but audio readers should also seek out a print copy in order to delight in the drawings included from Dench's script notes....more
Already an admirer of Harris's smart, incisive, enthusiastic take on media, I expected to enjoy a great deal and was not disappointed. She is both unaAlready an admirer of Harris's smart, incisive, enthusiastic take on media, I expected to enjoy a great deal and was not disappointed. She is both unabashed fangirl and critical authority, and her ability to embrace for sheer entertainment value while also intellectualizing content, frame, and impact is precisely why I signed on. This is a book with substance, but equally it offers delight.
I will note that the essay on procreation (choice of term itself is telling) landed as harsh. However, not only is that the author's prerogative in personal essays, the fact that her perspective has not been widely represented in popular dialogue was one of her key points. I might feel differently, and indeed may even take issue with her read on some of the cited movies or series, but it is her point to make.
audiobook note: I wasn't planning on reading this via audio, but hearing Harris voice her essays with the alternating fun, serious, conflicted, educational, and self-aware intonations as intended was a real plus....more
Warm and honest. Author Hara speaks of what this book might have meant to her younger self, and I had the same musings on my own behalf. The illustratWarm and honest. Author Hara speaks of what this book might have meant to her younger self, and I had the same musings on my own behalf. The illustrations are charming, especially those depicting stylish characters of different shapes, and the principle messages of acceptance, comfort, and confidence were well-balanced. Though sections were repetitive, the whole is in service to a greater purpose, and this could have impact for audiences both younger and older....more
Though fascinating to have glimpses of Rickman's real opinions and personal experiences, the staccato sentences and under-editing make it a challenge Though fascinating to have glimpses of Rickman's real opinions and personal experiences, the staccato sentences and under-editing make it a challenge to take this in as a narrative. For most who keep a diary, there will be lots of random notations without context or follow-through mixed among the deeper reflections, and that's fine when private. We can't know if Rickman would have curated or framed differently, but those involved in making public may have been too reverential and not considered the reader experience.
audiobook note: I toggled between print and audio on this, and though the narrator offers a solid reading, it was an unfair ask to have anyone step in for the personal thoughts of such a distinctive voice. The choppiness of the diary structure also isn't done any favors in audio. Better to experience in print with both the ability to allow the eye to skim quickly and the mental invocation of Rickman's lush intonations....more
To be fair, I appreciated this book more than I feared I might, and the wider debate surrounding it has challenged me to think beyond first-blush reacTo be fair, I appreciated this book more than I feared I might, and the wider debate surrounding it has challenged me to think beyond first-blush reaction. Not enough, though, to win me over.
The harrowing accounts of Westover's upbringing were a lot to absorb, and as they continued to pile up I couldn't help but wonder about the purpose of sharing so much with the world in such detail. I don't question the author's right to do so, but...to what aim: If simply grisly spectacle, designed to evoke gasps and winces, then what does that say about those who find entertainment in the rubbernecking? If to expose and call to account those responsible, is this the way? If personal therapy and taking ownership, is it necessary (or healthy) to make public? I cannot say.
There is a great deal of contention regarding the authenticity of Westover's accounts, and I confess there were aspects that I found myself questioning. However, a colleague pointed out that the question of truth in memoir is overwhelmingly raised when women write and not equitably when men do, and I cannot stop pondering this.
That said, the more the writer kept drawing attention to how she was verifying details and even including notes of alternate recollections, the more the frame felt naïve. This, too, haunts my response.
As a student of education, I'm most fascinated and most dubious about her academic journey. It's difficult to resolve, and I cannot tell if that says more about her presentation or about my receptivity.
Westover's structuring the narrative as episodic (inspired, as she testifies, by linked short stories) boosts the accessibility and pacing significantly. The readability was a bit of a surprise, but I don't know that the prose shows as much skill as her achievements would lead us to expect. That said, the content provides rich opportunities for group analysis and debate, and many in one of our groups specifically cheered the writing. To each his/her own.
P.S. I was taken with the graphic design of the cover when it was first released, and that respect has not wavered....more
Quite possibly one of the best books I've read on the topic of grief and aftermath.
Though the details of my experience have little in common with the Quite possibly one of the best books I've read on the topic of grief and aftermath.
Though the details of my experience have little in common with the author's, nonetheless I felt welcomed and seen. Spencer's voice conveys warmth, wisdom, self-deprecating wit, and occasional silliness. For most of us, the last might not be what we think we need in this, but the lighter moments leaven the serious ones, and that technique stands the sincere commiseration as all the more assured and affirming. I was genuinely surprised by the author's ability to make me giggle, take my hand, nod my head, and lead me to look at experiences with a more forgiving (of both self and others) frame.
This is a book that meant a great deal upon first reading, and I imagine it will have near-equal impact when I return to passages, which I will undoubtedly do....more
It is fascinating that a graphic memoir that embraces flat, primarily grayscale illustrations can leap off the page with such life and complexity. AllIt is fascinating that a graphic memoir that embraces flat, primarily grayscale illustrations can leap off the page with such life and complexity. All the more credit to the vision, content, and form, as it is this deceptively simple presentation which first draws in as curiosity and then sets up for a complicated yet winning exploration of identity and family dynamic.
Vignettes take us through rotating scenes in the author's years, and each is brief, accessible, and poignant. It isn't just that Jacob's formative experiences are shown, not told; the framing device of a memoir in conversations leans into precisely what makes good drama: dialogue. The words voiced are what reveal motivation, emotion, conflict, and perception in key exchanges. In one podcast interview, the author revealed that her rule for herself was never to use the technique of thought bubbles -- that clarity would either be spoken directly or revealed in subtext. It's remarkable how effectively this is achieved.
I tried several times to have our library add this to the collection, and though what finally tipped it into yes wasn't due to my efforts, I'm thrilled that it will soon be at hand to suggest to readers. Trust me, I'll be doing so at every appropriate opportunity....more
I began in expectation, soon experienced disappointment, found several gems of insight and resonance, and finished with a bit of a shoulder shrug.
I'm I began in expectation, soon experienced disappointment, found several gems of insight and resonance, and finished with a bit of a shoulder shrug.
I'm far from a creative. In fact, you would classify me much more easily as a Burr than a Hamilton: someone who believes in doing all the homework, reducing risk by way of reconnaissance and preparation, and trusting that in the long run hard work will be rewarded - or at very least be its own reward. I've navigated enough years that I don't really need a book to tell me that's not how life works, but I was hoping to glimpse a bit of inspiration to embrace bold chance. Funnily enough, that's not really what is found here -- though I did pocket some wisdom nonetheless. One lesson that hit me over the head was how in many scenarios the novice will be excited and sunny and fearless, whereas the veteran/professional will be...less so, even the dreaded word jaded, and that weariness or guardedness or whatever might be the underlying cause will undermine any advantage of wisdom or experience. Ouch.
These occasional moments of poignancy were appreciated because as a whole the writing flirts with the over-simplistic and trite. Platitudes are not satisfying, and for those who have undergone real struggle, they don't just prick, they grate.
My second encounter of this book revealed a branding for a YA audience, which could be either misguided or telling. Certainly there may be interest from that age group due to the author's celebrity, and some of the points about how to navigate failure, success, and the seemingly interminable waits in between have relevance. However, there is no direct address of a younger generation. The short chapters, pithy observations, and uncomplicated prose style might be qualities that were seen to indicate writing for a less sophisticated reader, but I'm not certain those were intentional choices....more
A lovely but uneven memoir. Very much worth the read, but latitude must be granted.
The art is charming, with spare line drawings allowing for the collA lovely but uneven memoir. Very much worth the read, but latitude must be granted.
The art is charming, with spare line drawings allowing for the collaboration of author illustration and reader inference. An icy, pastel palette suits the struggles of a young girl, especially in the world of skating, but it also effectively conveys sadness, isolation, and even moments of menace. Images from this work will no doubt haunt my thoughts long after.
Quibbles: The central metaphor is understandable but belabored. It could have been deployed in a less beat-the-drum manner. Also, in the author's note Walden concedes that the book started as one thing and ended another, and that straddling of focus is very much evident. It manifests both in awkward leaps that led me to check I hadn't turned two pages instead of one and in missteps of pacing that seemed to telegraph a lack of specific vision.
A book I can appreciate more than I might purely enjoy, but that, too, may be testament to the resonance of universal issues of growing up female....more
4.5 stars. There's often a tension in my reading life among what I want to read, what I feel I should read, and what I'm ready to read. (This is furth4.5 stars. There's often a tension in my reading life among what I want to read, what I feel I should read, and what I'm ready to read. (This is further complicated by my profession, but that's a conversation for a different time.) When Men We Reaped was first published, I had not a single doubt that it would be worthwhile. I wanted to read it. It seemed an important book and was by an author for whom I already had an enormous amount of respect. However, it was easy to keep putting this work off, especially when I felt I had enough emotional weight to carry. Whether or not that was the right call for those times, I neglected to trust what I already knew of this author: her skill in creating empathy and hope in even the most challenging contexts. I am richer for reading her story.
One of the challenges of memoirs is that the reader is often at a remove. We're reading a life that is unlike our own. Though reading allows us a vicarious experience, there's also an element of sitting back while a story is presented. This is where Ward stands apart. As a gifted fiction writer, she crafts these episodes of her life as narrative, immersing the reader so that we feel very much a part of the action and emotions and cannot simply keep distance as observers. We aren't paging through someone else's scrapbook of memories; we are projecting ourselves into them, and that brings an inescapable power to message.
Ward's use of language is one of my favorite qualities of her writing. I'll include a particularly moving passage here because I want to be able to revisit. It comes before the final section and actually isn't characteristic of the experiential nature of the earlier chapters, but it is an elegant signalling to the reader of what everything that came before was building toward and how it is even more deeply personal:
This is where the past and the future meet. This is after the pit bull attack, after my father left, and after my mother's heart broke. This is after the bullies in the hallway, after the nigger jokes, after my brother told me what he'd done as we stood out on the street...This is where my two stories come together. This is the summer of the year 2000. This is the last summer that I will spend with my brother. This is the heart. This is. Every day, this is.
There are points to be made about society and culture, and stories such as these make those arguments more effectively than polemics, but this is first and foremost a personal story.
audiobook note: If I ever hear Jesmyn Ward speak, I will be momentarily taken aback that her voice is not that of narrator Cherise Boothe. Boothe reads Ward's words with such passion and nuance that I often forget that I'm not hearing Ward herself. There is a purity to her performance that enhances without being showy, and I for one am grateful that they have chosen to partner together on every audio adaptation thus far. In this work specifically, Boothe skillfully toggles among characters and tones, never losing sight of the harsh truths of the author’s personal experience. Her performance underscores the resignation, strength, uncertainty, and stubborn hope that make this layered, lyrical memoir unforgettable....more
Creative expression within stricture is always interesting, and playing off the famous Hemingway six-word story is ripe for possibility. It's more thaCreative expression within stricture is always interesting, and playing off the famous Hemingway six-word story is ripe for possibility. It's more than a bit disappointing (though, frankly, not at all surprising) that in general the submissions devoted to heartbreak are more numerous, more diverse, and more distinct than those about love. I might have preferred separate sections for the writers famous vs. and obscure, but I also see value in the blending.
A sampling:
"I thought we had more time." ~ Joe Hill "He sees the me I don't." ~ Mary Catherine Hamelin "Should have listened to the soothsayer." ~ Lisa Johnson "I loved the idea of you." ~ Audrey Adu-Appiah
and what may be my favorite:
"It's like my heart has sciatica." ~ Jonathan Ames
It's easily apparent why this would be recommended to anyone with appreciation for Persepolis. The topic, art, and voice are so similar as to plant woIt's easily apparent why this would be recommended to anyone with appreciation for Persepolis. The topic, art, and voice are so similar as to plant worry that it was intentional and that the work may not have anything fresh to say. Fortunately, there is no need for concern. Though A Game for Swallows is reminiscent of Satrapi, there is a great deal to admire on its own strengths.
The graphic choices are striking. Panels are large with heavy black lines and often a dark background. The stark contrast of black/white demands attention, and the characters' expressions are largely static. Instead it might be a slight tilt of the head or the raise of an arm or the movement of an eye to complement the text. The style is similar to wood-block prints, which lend themselves to bolder but not as nimble depictions. This works very much in its favor, as does the tendency to break dialogue into small, focused bubbles. My favorite element by far is the patterning. Hair, clothes, and other objects are defined with strong graphic technique that introduces texture as well as easy identification. The deliberate repetition is almost tapestry-like, and this provides excellent backdrop against which the emotions and action can play.
This is a true story of danger, fear, oppression, and survival. Yet, the choice to tell it from a child's point of view keeps the full weight at arm's length, especially when the neighbors unite to care for, entertain, and distract each other from the worry of what might have happened and what might still happen. There is lightness and wonder and hope. It doesn't blink away cruel realities, but it shows what makes the best of them as well as what is best in people -- similar, come to think of it, to what we learn from Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl.
Appropriate for adults, teens, and older youth. ...more
3.5 stars. What a fascinating premise! A former psychiatric nursing assistant shares glimpses of life on the ward in an effort to address stigma and i3.5 stars. What a fascinating premise! A former psychiatric nursing assistant shares glimpses of life on the ward in an effort to address stigma and increase both understanding and compassion. Each story focuses on a specific medical condition (e.g., dementia or schizophrenia), and this work could easily serve as sensitive primer for any adult or teen who is open to learn but understandably wary. Elements of memoir are introduced, not only as the POV character but also in direct address of personal struggles. As a whole, it is effective both in educating and in eliciting empathy.
The stark contrast of black-and-white block illustrations convey much about the story, as do the carefully chosen 'close-ups' or 'zoom-outs' of scale. The caricatured individuals are at once humanized and distorted, and this is a smart choice for this kind of narrative. The subject matter is difficult on its own; a cartoon style maintains a bit of accessible distance for the reader. The moments when a more representative portrait is introduced are underscored by contrast, all to the credit of the author/artist. ...more
ETA: I hadn't planned to write more, but I don't want to forget why this work had such impact. Watching those youHeartbreaking, evocative, and lovely.
ETA: I hadn't planned to write more, but I don't want to forget why this work had such impact. Watching those you love not only age but also change, even to the point of needing help with basic needs, can be paralyzing, exhausting, and make you want to run away. That the author stepped up to accompany her grandparents on a cruise is remarkable. Seeing what she had to do to protect and care for them, all while showing them sincere respect and trying to preserve their dignity, is nothing short of extraordinary.
The form, Knisley's trademark style of line drawings, light colors, and self-deprecating humor, serves as wonderful juxtaposition to keep the reader invested without being overwhelmed. It doesn't make light of the struggles (neither her grandparents' nor her own), but neither does it wallow in them. If you were to flip through the book, you might mistake it for cutesy, and there are comic moments. There is also helplessness, loss, and acceptance. However, and you'll have to take my word for this, this is no downer. The undercurrent may be somber, but it is ultimately a celebration of life, legacy, and devotion....more
Charming and relatable. I'm already a fan of the graphic travelogue, having previously been won over by Scott Thompson's Carnet de Voyage, and Age of Charming and relatable. I'm already a fan of the graphic travelogue, having previously been won over by Scott Thompson's Carnet de Voyage, and Age of License evokes some of the same appeal while representing a different experience. We as readers are invited to tag along on the trip, glimpsing the foods, sights, people, and moments that meant so much to the author. There is still a story structure here, and it is that element that contributes to its success. This isn't simply someone's vacation photos in different medium; you'll also find a narrative of a young professional figuring out how to build on what she's accomplished thus far, a young adult balancing longings with opportunities and responsibilities, and a woman exploring what she wants out of relationship. All this may make it sound dry or overthought, but this is where the author's light humor and open style provide balance.
I'd been asked to assess this author for audience, and I see breadth of appeal. Both aspirational and empathetic for older teen readers as well as reflective and recognizable for emerging adults. Those beyond "emerging" adulthood will be drawn to the evocation of those moments in life where one wants to enjoy the freedom of youth as well as the tug of what life can/will be. Loved the rumination on the title.
The art is sweet and simple -- most effective for both audience and theme. I have experience traveling internationally with an artist, and the sketchbook styling paired with occasional, more detailed, inked studies is spot on. A winning combination....more
