There is no other perspective like Jenny Slate's perspective. It's a doozey. And yet her narrative voice feels authentic, and, on the whole, this bookThere is no other perspective like Jenny Slate's perspective. It's a doozey. And yet her narrative voice feels authentic, and, on the whole, this book was a very powerful read. It can be hard with personal non-fiction because if the author's concerns are not your concerns there can be little to engage you. Slate's main concerns throughout this book is whether or not she will find a true partner and learning to live alone, which are not concerns that I share. But there are many essays that don't focus primarily on this topic, and in the ones that do, there were enough nuggets of poetic insight that I still found much to enjoy. And the essays that did grab me grabbed me fully. ...more
I learned a new word in contemplating my review for this book: autofiction. Who knew such a genre existed?! There were many things I enjoyed about thiI learned a new word in contemplating my review for this book: autofiction. Who knew such a genre existed?! There were many things I enjoyed about this story. I loved seeing an example of a real life sacred reading of a non-sacred text (a la the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast). I loved seeing how this one specific poem and, by extension, its author's life stuck with Ni Ghriofa and proved meaningful to her throughout the trials of her life. I also loved the lyrical style of the prose. You can tell the author has a background in poetry.
Now the cons. The book seemed just a tad too long. Mostly, I just got of Ni Ghriofa try to convince us (and herself?) how much she enjoys giving herself away to others: to her babies, to Eibhlin Dubh, and then, even at the end, to a garden and the bees. The fact that she has to frame her research into Eibhlin as another giving away of herself instead of a reclaiming of herself from the daily drudgery of motherhood, it drove me bananas by the end....more
So hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud in totally inappropriate places, like the bus, or while Brian was sleeping. I love her cartoons. The faSo hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud in totally inappropriate places, like the bus, or while Brian was sleeping. I love her cartoons. The faces are the best. She packs such comedy into such simple drawings....more
So. Funny. I don't think I've ever laughed so much out loud at a book before, not even David Sedaris and the like. I love Jenny Laweson and her braverSo. Funny. I don't think I've ever laughed so much out loud at a book before, not even David Sedaris and the like. I love Jenny Laweson and her bravery and honesty. And her hilarity. I wish I had 1/10 of her sense of humor and her ability to laugh at herself and her mistakes. Her conversations with Victor, her husband, are, in my opinion, by far the funniest things in the book. She just has really perfected her comedic timing on those. But I loved it all. I do wish she had written a little bit more about her anxiety issues. I have so many questions still! Like, how did she ever go to work? And, how is she working through her anxiety? I guess I'll just have to read the second book :)...more
This book is everything everyone has been saying it is. I started reading Strayed back when she was just Dear Sugar writing an advice column for The RThis book is everything everyone has been saying it is. I started reading Strayed back when she was just Dear Sugar writing an advice column for The Rumpus. Her writing is just astounding, and it's really great to read her in a longer format that gives her room to breathe and play a little more. And if anyone deserves the success (notariety?) that comes with being an Oprah book club book and a bestseller, it's Strayed. She's one of those people who really lives.
Also, this book really made me want to go hiking. I miss New Mexico :(...more
This was a quick and interesting read, a look at the author's struggle with a little understood and only recently discovered autoimmune disease. The mThis was a quick and interesting read, a look at the author's struggle with a little understood and only recently discovered autoimmune disease. The most interesting part for me was towards the end when Cahalan wonders how many sufferers of this disease have gone undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and thus untreated. Provocatively, Cahalan wonders how many cases of demonic possession throughout history have actually been people suffering from this disease. I actually wish she'd spent a little more time on that topic, but the research probably isn't there yet....more
A truly wonderful book. I've never read anything else of Winterson's, but I'm definitely going to after reading this memoir. Her writing is astoundingA truly wonderful book. I've never read anything else of Winterson's, but I'm definitely going to after reading this memoir. Her writing is astoundingly unique and intelligent. I seriously found myself wanting to underline every other line. Winterson turns the very curious story of her childhood and her overbearing adoptive mother into a universal story about growing up and finding one's self in the unlikeliest of places. It's one of those books where I feel like I want to read it again immediately to fully understand the impact of Winterson's words....more
A very interesting biography of Cleopatra written for teens. I learned all kinds of stuff! I really liked the way that the author re-wrote the traditiA very interesting biography of Cleopatra written for teens. I learned all kinds of stuff! I really liked the way that the author re-wrote the traditional depiction of Cleopatra as seductress and drew attention to the ways and reasons that she had been misrepresented throughout history. The tone of the book was really engaging and very funny, but sometimes I thought there were a few too many puns and pop-culture references. ...more
I was torn about this book. On the one hand, I was intrigued by Orchid's character and Min's revisionist reading of this historical figure, and I fascI was torn about this book. On the one hand, I was intrigued by Orchid's character and Min's revisionist reading of this historical figure, and I fascinated by the period of China's history that it covers: the end of the Qing Dynasty just after China's loss in the Opium War. It was something that I had never read about from this perspective before. At the same, Min is so detailed in her description of the Forbidden City and its luxury and decadence that the reading was slow going at times. I feel like maybe I wasn't in the right mood for this book and would have liked it more had I read it at another time. Because, really, I did like it, and I love the idea of reinterpreting a woman who history has labeled a manipulative murderess who single-handedly lead to China's ruin.
One thing that struck me the most was the way that Min walks the line between a frustration with the decadence of the Forbidden City and its lifestyle and yet an appreciation for and pride in the history that lead to this lifestyle. This really comes across in Orchid's take on the Forbidden City, as a concubine entering this lifestyle for the first time, and her reaction to Nuharoo, Emperor Xian Feng's first wife who can be read, in part, as a symbol of a lifestyle that is about to be lost to history....more
