I have had luck with uplifting timely biographies lately. Trebek's biography and Michael J. Fox's most recent memoir have both been recent audiobooks I have had luck with uplifting timely biographies lately. Trebek's biography and Michael J. Fox's most recent memoir have both been recent audiobooks for me. Each of them was released this year and both contain content related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Talk about up to the minute updates before publication! Also, they were both great books as they present uplifting outlooks on life in the face of mortality and illness. I can only dream of having as optimistic an outlook on life as Trebek and Fox.
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This book is half and half - half a background of Trebek's life up until Jeopardy and half Trebek's life during Jeopardy. If you don't have an interest in either Trebek or Jeopardy, you may not find much to get you interested here. But, if you have even a passive interest in either, I think you will find something to entertain you here. I have always liked Trebek for his pop culture relevance and Jeopardy is a show I frequently enjoy watching. Because of both of these things, I enjoyed this book a great deal.
Recently, Trebek passed away after battling pancreatic cancer for a couple of years. In the book he shows his optimism by saying that cancer should not be considered a battle - which indicates that there will be a winner or loser. Which also means if you do not survive you are the "loser". That just does not jive for Trebek and I am humbled to hear what a strong and amazing person he was in the face of adversity.
2020 was a crummy year, and it was the year we lost Trebek, but he left us with some powerful words and awesome wisdom - and some fun background about himself and Jeopardy along the way!
Michael J Fox is the personification of The Giving Tree. Life just keeps taking . . . and taking . . . “With gratitude, optimism becomes sustainable.”
Michael J Fox is the personification of The Giving Tree. Life just keeps taking . . . and taking . . . and taking from him, and all he does is GIVE, GIVE, GIVE! And, through it all, he stays positive! If anyone has the right to be ticked off about life and the hand they have been dealt, it is Fox. But he doesn’t complain. He meets every challenge with compassion and humor. He is truly amazing.
If you feel like life has given you a raw deal, I think hearing this story will help put everything into perspective. I admit that I tend to be a glass half empty type guy with lots of anxiety and crying over spilt milk. In the future, when I am facing adversity and want to lose my mind with frustration and anger, I am going to keep Fox’s story in mind to re-center myself.
The format is several larger stories bookended by some mini anecdotes from throughout his life. It is interesting to hear tales from a young Alex P. Keaton all the way up to very physically sick man approaching his 60s. But I can still hear the boyish charm in his voice as he contemplates mortality, the passing of time, and how every day is a challenge. I was wondering if this would be a book only appreciated by someone with an interest in Michael J. Fox and a history of watching his movies and TV shows, but I think there is a lot to be found here for those who may not be familiar with Fox at all.
I contemplated whether I would give this book 4 stars or 5 stars. The content blew me away, but I was on the fence about whether the delivery moved me all the way to 5 stars. After writing this review and reflecting, I think I will go 5 stars because I am realizing how much this book already has me thinking about it and contemplating how I can use what I have read to improve my approach to adversity. ...more
Sometimes the whole book is right there in the title. This is a book about a family who bought a zoo, and it is just about what you woul3.5 to 4 Stars
Sometimes the whole book is right there in the title. This is a book about a family who bought a zoo, and it is just about what you would expect! They don’t have a zoo, they decide to buy one, and they do.
Well, there is a bit more to it than that, but generally it is pretty much that straightforward. So, if you want to read the story of an Average Joe deciding to buy a zoo and everything that could potentially be involved in the care of animals, maintenance of the grounds, business models, etc. then this is the book for you. I think the most intriguing overarching theme is how many nuances of running a zoo a guest may not realize from the outside looking in. Every step of the way, Mee is finding out all the roadblocks to running a zoo and shares with the reader his problem-solving techniques. We get to see him grow from interested zoo hobbyist to full-fledged king of the zoo.
Note on my comment that he is an “Average Joe”: While he may not have had a background in zoo ownership and management, he does have some parts of his background that made him more likely to try and buy a zoo than others. So maybe “Above Average Joe” would be a better descriptor!
The main deviation from the story of the zoo involves the health of Mee’s wife. I will avoid saying too much so as not to spoil, but the book does start off right away mentioning she is sick, and her struggles are a major part of the story. Mee’s reflection on her and her struggles may require a box of tissues to be on hand.
Many times, I really get into Non-fiction audiobooks because the author will take a subject I may not know much about or that I have not previously interested in and make it totally enthralling. With We Bought a Zoo, it was very good, and very interesting, but I cannot say that I found myself enthralled at any time. So, it is worth reading, but I cannot give you the expectation that you will be wildly entertained . . . more like mildly entertained. ...more
This is a very powerful and important book. It seems like lately a lot of my selections have focused on the dark side of American history - and this oThis is a very powerful and important book. It seems like lately a lot of my selections have focused on the dark side of American history - and this one is particularly dark, sad, and disturbing.
I missed the big rush to read this book a few years ago when the movie came out. But I am finally glad I picked it up. I am not sure if I will follow it up any time soon with the movie. But, I can see how this story would make an equally moving and impactful motion picture.
I think my one issue with the book was several times the narrative got bogged down and my mind started to wander. This may just be a side effect of it being written in the 1800s. Often when I read classic books, even if I enjoy them, the style of the writing makes it difficult to stay focused. So, if you decide to give it a try, just be prepared for the delivery to get a bit stagnant at times.
But, overall another important non-fiction story for all to read and remember. Slavery is definitely a part of history we never should repeat and racism should have no place in our society. Learning and responding accordingly are the best course of action to prevent darkness like this from taking hold again....more
I thought this book had some unusual and unconventional moments.
But, since Josh Hanagarne ha3.5 to 4 stars
I thought this book had many great moments.
I thought this book had some unusual and unconventional moments.
But, since Josh Hanagarne has lived a great but also unusual/unconventional life, this should come as no surprise.
I love finding memoirs to listen to from people who might be your next-door neighbor. Nothing famous, flashy, or particularly earth shattering about their life; no major awards won, disasters survived, etc. But by just being themselves and sharing their day to day they make you realize that your ordinary can easily become extraordinary.
The key points about Hanagarne that drive his story: • He is a librarian • He is really into working out with kettlebells • He is Mormon • He has Tourette’s Syndrome
As you can probably tell, being a muscle-bound librarian in Utah who tends to make unusual sounds and have uncontrollable tics leads to the unusual and unconventional mentioned above. My first thought was, “how can a person who might be making noises outside of their control work in an environment where you are supposed to stay quiet?” You will have to read to find out!
Hanagarne’s adventures though faith found, faith lost, faith found again, love found, love lost, love found again, losing control of his body, regaining control, losing control again are quite a roller coaster ride to bring the reader along. Even if his life is nothing like yours, I think you will learn something about yourself along the way. I know I did....more
I recently had a friend text me and say something about how people toss around the acronym LOL, but they are not really laughing out loud. But, every I recently had a friend text me and say something about how people toss around the acronym LOL, but they are not really laughing out loud. But, every once in a while you see or hear something funny and you actually do laugh out loud. Colin Jost's book had many LOL moments for me where I was really laughing out loud.
If you don't watch SNL or are not familiar with Colin Jost, I don't think there is a point in reading this book. Sometimes a non-fiction book seems like it could be easily appreciated by a reader unfamiliar with the subject. While it is a very good book that I enjoyed a lot, I don't think this is one of those of those that would be appreciated by the Jost-uninitiated.
But, if you do like SNL, like to laugh, don't mind silly toilet humor (in this case, literally a few times) then I am pretty sure you will enjoy and should check this book out.
And, no, I don't want to punch Colin Jost, but based on his stories I can see why he feels that way!...more
I have a confession. A confession that I am truly ashamed of, but I think I have made an improvement on over the last few years. I had made a habit ofI have a confession. A confession that I am truly ashamed of, but I think I have made an improvement on over the last few years. I had made a habit of flippantly tossing OCD as a descriptor of things in my daily life.
“I just want to get pizza again . . . I must be OCD.”
“I prefer to wear polo shirts to work . . . that is so OCD!”
“I have to update my Goodreads status every day . . . isn’t that OCD of me?”
One day my wife called me out and told me that I should stop saying that. It is disrespectful to people with OCD and minimizes the struggle people with OCD have. She was so right and I am so thankful for the course correction – while every so often I find the words working their way to my mouth, I feel I have done a lot better in not saying it and working to change my mindset so that I am not even tempted to say it.
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While I have my struggles with anxiety from time to time, I have been able to get a pretty good handle on it. After reading about Katzenstein’s battle with his brain, I consider myself lucky that any issues I have with mental stress are a cakewalk compared to his. Not that I have anything to compare it to as I have not read much about OCD, but I feel that this must be one of the best interpretations of OCD to help those who do not struggle with it understand what it is like.
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I love how Katzenstein was able to integrate his love of drawing comics with telling his story. At times it is funny, at times serious. You can easily see how humor was a defense mechanism for him and while I was often laughing . . . I had to stop and think about the underlying pain. It is really a striking contrast that adds to the brilliance in telling the story this way.
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This book does not take very long to read and is very worth it for the message it shares. If you have ever been curious about OCD or, like me, find yourself nonchalantly using the term “OCD” in your life, I think you should give this a try to help put the struggle into perspective.
2020 has been a scary year. For some reason I decided that it would be a good year to read and watch as much as I could about Chernobyl. Maybe not the2020 has been a scary year. For some reason I decided that it would be a good year to read and watch as much as I could about Chernobyl. Maybe not the best idea I have ever had, but at least it has led me to take in some pretty captivating non-fiction content.
Then I watched the Chernobyl series on HBO. While I don’t believe Midnight in Chernobyl was listed as source material, since it is non-fiction it makes sense that they were very similar. And, the show was equally captivating and nerve-wracking
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The last stop on my Chernobyl journey (for now) is Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster. This is very different material from Midnight in Chernobyl and the TV show. Instead of being a play by play of the events as they unfolded, this is a random series of interviews conducted about a decade after the disaster with people affected by Chernobyl. When I say random, I mean that one interview may be with the wife of a firefighter, the next a series of short paragraphs from people who were children at the time of the disaster, followed by an interview with a soldier or liquidator assigned to Chernobyl and what they saw, etc. There is no timeline or flow – it is very stream of consciousness in a way. I think reading and watching more solid narrative on the situation first helped to put this book better into perspective.
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Like all of the books about the world’s response to previous outbreaks/pandemics, I think this book, along with the others about Chernobyl and the aftermath, are importing reads for everyone. It may not be the easiest content to swallow, but by educating ourselves, learning from our mistakes, and seeing how people who thought they were safe and could trust their government were affected, we can hopefully avoid history repeating itself.
I recently listened to The Diary of Anne Frank. A co-worker suggested to me, since she knew I also like graphic novels, that I also try out thi[image]
I recently listened to The Diary of Anne Frank. A co-worker suggested to me, since she knew I also like graphic novels, that I also try out this version of the story. I am glad that I decided to read it so soon after listening so I was easily able to compare the two.
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While I would always recommend the original material first, I think this version did a great job using the graphic novel format. Also, maybe someone who would never take the time to read the diary directly in Anne's words might be willing to try it out as a graphic novel. I think this is a great thing as it means a wider audience will learn this important story.
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Story wise, it is very close to the original diary. If you know it in Anne's words, you will not find it too much different. The main thing is some entries in the diary might be summarized in one page/one image. Other parts might have been edited out to promote the flow of the graphic novel. But, I don't feel like any content or meaning was lost. Also, sometimes something described by Anne without much detail may have been reimagined by the artist with a new, creative twist (example: at one point the Nazis are depicted as Egyptians watching over Jewish slaves building pyramids - Anne never said anything like this specifically in her Diary)
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Speaking of artwork - I think the artist did a great job of creating eye catching images while remaining respectful to the source material. A lot of dialogue from the diary was kept in tact and integrated well with the imagery. In fact, if you frequently read graphic novels, you will find a lot more words within the art than normal.
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This is an important story and everyone should read it. If the full diary is not for you, but this sounds interesting, give it a go. If you enjoyed the diary and gave thought about revisiting it, this is not a bad way to do so....more
Your enjoyment of this book will increase with each one of the following criteria you can answer “Yes”:
- You are a fan of Debbie Harry - You enj[image]
Your enjoyment of this book will increase with each one of the following criteria you can answer “Yes”:
- You are a fan of Debbie Harry - You enjoy stories – fiction or non-fiction – set in New York during the tumultuous 60s, 70s, and 80s - You like punk/new wave music - You enjoy the music of Blondie - You enjoy autobiographies – no matter who they are about
If you can answer all of these yes – then this book is a must read. If you can’t answer any of them yes, then there is no reason to even try this one. If you can answer one or some of them yes, you may enjoy this book, but you may find some parts uninteresting.
I enjoyed this a lot because I can answer yes to all of these questions. I was pretty young in the 1980s so I did not get into that scene during its heyday. But, in the 90s, my friends and I were all about late 70s and 80s alternative music. I listened to a lot of Blondie and many of the other acts she talks about in this book. I regret that I never got to see CBGBs or witness the late 70s music scene in New York – even though it sounds like it was not an “if” but a “when” I would have been mugged or beaten up! It is amazing how harrowing and interesting day to day life was for Harry as she spent her formative years in New Jersey and New York City – and she mentions several times that this was before they cleaned it all up.
I can guarantee you that if you read this, you will spend your free time looking for old footage of Harry and Blondie on YouTube. You might download an album or two or ask Alexa to play The Tide Is High. It is a great way to extend the experience of this book beyond the pages.
It sounds like Debbie Harry and Blondie have still been going strong in recent years. She is 74 as I write this review, but maybe she has enough of that old punk energy left that I might get a chance to see her in concert someday.
This is a powerful must read. It makes me wonder how many other diaries like this were written during the war that were lost during the holocaust, desThis is a powerful must read. It makes me wonder how many other diaries like this were written during the war that were lost during the holocaust, destruction of cities, purging of Jewish living spaces, etc. It is amazing that this narrative on life in hiding made it through and can represent all those who were in hiding and whose voices were never heard.
I knew the story of Anne Frank before reading this book. In fact, I may have read some or all of it back in high school, but I cannot remember for sure. Back around 2006 or 2007 I took a trip to Europe and had a chance to visit the Anne Frank House. Unless you get a chance to visit in person, it is hard to understand exactly what the conditions were like and the size of the space. Anne Frank did a good job describing, but seeing is believing!
Another interesting thing about reading this now is that we are in the middle of the Coronavirus quarantine. While many of us get a bit of cabin fever being asked to stay home, reading Anne Frank’s words about being trapped in a small space for two years because of fear of death if found really puts it into perspective. But, at the same time, this might be a good time to revisit or read it for the first time because her frustrations with her family and situation may be a bit more understandable for those who have barely left the house in months.
When the book first started, I wondered how accurate Anne’s descriptions were. She was an angsty and outspoken teenager which made me wonder what was true and what was just her perspective. For example, the first few chapters are mainly her complaining about her parents, other adults, and people she did not like from school. However, I think this part of the diary is important because it shows her growth throughout the story as the situation becomes more dire and she is forced to mature before her time.
I cannot say that this book will be enjoyed by everyone – especially if biographies are not your thing. Also, the subject matter and the situation the Frank’s are in may be difficult for some to handle. But, it is an important document from World War II history and is worth reading no matter who you are....more
I have liked the Rolling Stones for a long time. I remember going to see them back when I was in high school on the Voodoo Lounge tour (2004 – [image]
I have liked the Rolling Stones for a long time. I remember going to see them back when I was in high school on the Voodoo Lounge tour (2004 – and I thought they seemed old back then!). But, I will say while I enjoyed them, I was more of a casual fan. However, in the past couple of years I have become obsessed. I am sad that it took me this long because while many successful bands have a few great songs here and there, the Stones have one of the best collections of music of any band I have ever enjoyed. I can honestly say they have over 100 songs that I would enjoy listening to at any moment. The next band behind them might have 20 at the most.
I am going this summer to see them again! I can’t wait!
Many will put the Beatles up against the Rolling Stones. For me, it is no contest . . . by a long shot. The Stones ALL THE WAY!
Due to my recent obsession I was excited to check out this autobiography by Keith Richards. I will say that unless you are as into the Stones as I currently am or you really enjoy any music history, I don’t know if you will like this or not. So, be sure you base your response on whether to check this book out or not on that in addition to my review.
I thought this book was phenomenal! I enjoyed every single second of this book. Even when Richards was discussing music theory that went way over my head, I loved it. I feel like you could turn the story of Richards’ live into a fantastic movie. He had so many different things that happened in both his life and with the Stones: death, drugs, travels, relationships, controversy, feuds, successes, failures, etc. This was quite a long book and it needed every page to fit it all in!
Note on the audiobook: I think this may be a case where listening to the book will greatly enhance the experience. A few sections are read by Johnny Depp and the final part of the book is read by Richards himself. However, MAJOR KUDOS to Joe Hurley for his narration – his delivery was perfect! I am sad to see that this appears to be the only book he has narrated as I would love to hear more from him.
Many joke that Keef (his famous nickname) has been around forever and, when the world ends it will just be some cockroaches and Richards. You know, I kind of hope this is true because I think the world is a better place with a colorful character like him in it!
This is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful stories I have ever read. The bravery with which Katie Green shares her story is beyond amazing.
[imThis is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful stories I have ever read. The bravery with which Katie Green shares her story is beyond amazing.
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I have never had a personal experience with an eating disorder. But, the way Green shares her story, I could feel her anxiety deep in my bones. I was uncomfortable, and I should have been. She shows us that mental illness is truly an uncontrollable monster. You can't just brush it aside and say "you should eat more" or "stop binging - just don't eat even if you feel like you should". You cannot just turn it off. I have had some anxiety issues in my life - and while I would never pretend that they affected me to the extent you read about in this book - I still can understand when it feels out of control in a way that others don't understand.
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The art here is perfect. You can feel Green pouring herself out on the page. This was not a matter of someone just drawing a story they wanted to tell. What I see is pictures that poured forth uncontrollably from her because they had to escape. She had been told so long that there was no future in art for her. Because of this she focused on other subjects while the images that would tell her story built up until she could hold them in no more. The result is phenomenal.
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Many will find the story here difficult to read. This is raw. This is real. It was amazing that Green shared this story as many can learn from it and those struggling with similar issues may find some solace in it....more
I have read other 9/11 books and watched 9/11 specials – they are all very powerful. So, I will not say that this one iWow . . . just wow . . .
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I have read other 9/11 books and watched 9/11 specials – they are all very powerful. So, I will not say that this one is “better” or “more powerful”, but it certainly might be the most complete and thorough coverage of all the various events in one place. Pulling from hundreds of interviews with people directly involved, or who had family and friends involved, it is a very moving portrait of that fateful day.
This should be read by everyone, but it will not be easy for most people. However, not forgetting means that sometimes there are hard truths. We have a choice to remember or not, but there are many people who had no choice that day – they were fated to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
One thing about this particular book compared to other 9/11 books/shows is that it was the most complete retelling of the events at the Pentagon that I have seen. In the afterward, there is mention of a book that was written specifically about the Pentagon, but I have not read that one. Also, I knew very little about the events around the government response, the journey of Air Force One, etc. This really is a very complete picture of the events of that day.
I think the story that got to me the most was near the very end (view spoiler)[there was a woman who worked in the Twin Towers who was laid off on September 10th. A few weeks after the disaster, her boss hunted her down to check on her and ask when she would be returning to work. The entire HR department had been destroyed and all HR employees killed on 9/11. Her boss had never been told she was laid off. (hide spoiler)] I was left speechless by that story. It is one of the saddest but also ironically laughable (not funny laughable – more like shake your head laughable) stories I have heard from that day.
Again – check this book out. We owe it to the heroes who saved many lives that day and the innocent people who were not expecting to lose their lives just doing their daily routine. Let’s keep their memories alive. ...more
I would like to start this review by saying that every once in a while I find a book that is completely not for me. I think that this book falls in thI would like to start this review by saying that every once in a while I find a book that is completely not for me. I think that this book falls in that category. So keep in mind that this review is coming from someone that couldn't really connect to the story all that much.
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Good Talk graphic novel version of conversations the author had as a child all the way through 2016. The conversations mainly deal with how race reflects relationships and how society views them. The setting is 100% big city. The elections of both Obama and Trump play a big part, so gauge how you feel about politics before deciding whether or not to read this - it is not a subtle theme here!
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While the graphic approach was creative, I was not very moved by the artwork. It was mainly the same sketches used repeatedly superimposed over photographs. Perhaps this might be very cool to some, but for me it was not super impressive.
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Some may find this book and story moving, powerful, and thought provoking. For me, the author was just a bit too intense....more
This is a very different graphic novel. I cannot say for sure who will like it and who will not. If you have had success with non-fiction graphic noveThis is a very different graphic novel. I cannot say for sure who will like it and who will not. If you have had success with non-fiction graphic novels, you may enjoy this. However, be prepared for a somewhat sad and dark story about the destructive results of the pressures of child stardom. There is no humor here. There is no happy ending. This is real. This is raw.
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I feel like the author telling this story for his father was cathartic for him. It is the result of his search for reasons as to why his relationship with his father had always been strained. While the author already knew about his father's participation on the 40s-50s radio/TV show Quiz Kids, he did discovered exactly how much it affected the rest of his life. It is very heart-breaking.
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The art is interesting. Some of the panels are an artistic recreation of actual photos or TV broadcasts. In most cases the artist tries to recreate people fairly close to how they look. When it comes to images not from actual footage, specifically when the author is depicting himself, the images get a bit more cartoonish. I cannot say that I found the art particularly engaging, but it worked well for the story here.
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If you are looking for a quick, non-fiction story - especially if you like the graphic novel format - this is worth checking out. But, as I have previously warned, it is not a feel good story!
This book is the reason I love the graphic novel medium. This was a brilliant way to tell a captivating story. I am not sure that regular prose would This book is the reason I love the graphic novel medium. This was a brilliant way to tell a captivating story. I am not sure that regular prose would have done it justice.
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Non-Fiction graphic novels are not something you run into that often (at least I haven’t). I recently read My Friend Dahmer, and that was also a very interesting and well-presented non-fiction graphic novel. I think non-fiction works well because you can take what would be a 20 page chapter of “boring history” and tell it with just a couple of pages of enthralling drawn images. It is amazing how many words can be held in a couple of comic panels – even without thought/word bubbles . [image]
Speaking of the art; it was both simple and complex. Lots of symbolism can be found throughout. On some pages, you might have 15 panels. On another you may have one lone image. And, when shadowing or adding texture, the amount of pen strokes used to add depth is incredible. The artist must have been unable to use his hand for days after every chapter.
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If you like non-fiction, history, true crime, graphic novels, and/or just damn fine literature, you really should check this one out. I can confidently say, without sounding cheesy or clichéd, that this is an epic masterpiece.
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Please note: I use the term "boring history" in this review. In general, I don't find history to be boring, but sometimes it can be pretty dry when presented. I think for people who have a hard time staying interested in historical stories, this format could be perfect for them.
Before starting in on my review, I took a quick look at what my fellow Goodreaders thought. I don’t always do that, but I was really curious this timeBefore starting in on my review, I took a quick look at what my fellow Goodreaders thought. I don’t always do that, but I was really curious this time. I am thinking I am in the minority in my feelings about this one. Which is all good - I just didn’t care for it.
Usually when reading non-fiction, even if I don’t know the subject matter, I can usually get into it. In fact, I think it is the sign of a great non-fiction book when an author can take a random subject and make any reader care about it. With H is for Hawk, this did not happen. In fact, at no point did I find myself thinking it was getting interesting. It just seemed like a lecture, albeit a somewhat flowery and poetic lecture, on raising a goshawk.
Another issue I had was that a good portion of the book, at least half, if not more, was just a book report of The GoshawkT.H. White (author of The Once and Future King). I thought this seemed kind of odd – if I wanted to read that book, I would have. If she wanted to reference it from time to time, okay! But, instead, there were frequent (and in my opinion, not very smooth) transitions over to discussions about his book and experiences with raising a Goshawk. Apparently, he did a bad job of it so it seemed like the author was saying, “here’s more bad info about hawk raising from T. H. White – but isn’t it cool how it relates to The Sword In The Stone!”
Lastly, the author just seemed uncomfortable the entire book. I listened to the audio, which is narrated by her, and she just sounded iffy the whole time. I am not sure I can think of a better way to explain it. I suppose it is like if we are reading a love story and instead of the uncomfortable courtship just being at the beginning, it lasts through the whole thing. And, in the end, the main characters still seem as uncomfortable with each other as they did in the first scene. At all times it felt like she was two seconds away from a nervous breakdown over the goshawk – it just felt weird.
As mentioned, this opinion does not seem to mesh with that of the majority of Goodreaders. So, you may want to take my review with a grain of salt as this book might be right up your alley! But, if you had the same experience, let me know because I am happy to find out it isn’t just me – especially when the book is one that I hear a lot about and that keeps popping up in my feed....more
It seems like lately I have been reading a lot of books about road trips. This is just fine with me as I love the open road! Getting som4 to 4.5 stars
It seems like lately I have been reading a lot of books about road trips. This is just fine with me as I love the open road! Getting some perspective on others' experiences on the highway combines road trips with my other favorite hobby . . . reading, of course!
Travels With Charlie is mid 20th century America in the words of one of the most American authors that ever was. Just a truck, a dog, and the open road. It is poetic and beautiful. It is dark and mysterious. It funny and infuriating. Don't go in expecting a smooth ride, because 1960s America was full of pot holes and speed traps!
Steinbeck is viewing post WWII America before new technology takes over and shrinks the country down. When each region still each had a strong unique mystique of their own. Where prejudices still ran high in some places if you were not a local or not the right color (and, yes, I know this is still an issue today, but what Steinbeck describes is extreme). And when vending machines at rest stops could still blow Steinbeck's mind as the most cutting edge retail technology. He pulls no punches when it comes to telling the reader how much he loved or loathed his experiences. Because of this, some people may have a hard time reading this without getting upset.
I think works like this are so important. We have plenty of books preserving information on major historical events, but day to day life needs it's time in the sun as well. To be able to read something like this about life in my country around the time my parents were teenagers has the potential to impact me a lot more than learning about the major news events of the time period. I am not sure how much an impact this book might have on non-Americans, but I think everyone who grew up in the United States will be captivated....more
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