Not my favorite Hendrix, but still fun; looking forward to the screen adaptation.
“Each of us has a monster we must confront, a monster designed to tesNot my favorite Hendrix, but still fun; looking forward to the screen adaptation.
“Each of us has a monster we must confront, a monster designed to test our personal weaknesses. And in the end, they bring about our deaths. Not literal death, but death as the conclusion of this phase and the beginning of another. Death is the harbinger of transformation, that which precedes a new life.”...more
I LOVED The Strange Bird (5 stars), and Borne was amazing (4 stars), and Dead Astronauts was weird yet strangely beautiful (3 stars) — but this book!?I LOVED The Strange Bird (5 stars), and Borne was amazing (4 stars), and Dead Astronauts was weird yet strangely beautiful (3 stars) — but this book!?!?
It's more of a 1.5 star for me rounded up because it does have some classic VanderMeer charm, but I found it to be a long bloated tail of confusion and a ridiculous and unlikable main character. The synopsis says "tightly plotted thriller" and it couldn't be further from the truth; more like a slowly plodding illogical snooze fest.
Still want to give the Annihilation series a chance, but oof — this book. Pass....more
Mixed feelings on this one, definitely ran the gamut for me. At times, I was confused, bored, disinterested, and at others, intrigued, curious, and suMixed feelings on this one, definitely ran the gamut for me. At times, I was confused, bored, disinterested, and at others, intrigued, curious, and surprised.
As I am currently working on the final chapter of my first ghostwritten book, this sentence struck me to the core, 100%:
“Anyone who has ever tried to write a novel knows what an arduous task it is, undoubtedly one of the worst ways of occupying oneself. You have to remain within yourself all the time, in solitary confinement. It's a controlled psychosis, an obsessive paranoia manacled to work completely lacking in the feather pens and bustles and Venetian masks we would ordinarily associate with it, clothed instead in a butcher's apron and rubber boots, eviscerating knife in hand. You can only barely see from that writerly cellar the feet of passers-by, hear the rapping of their heels. Every so often someone stops and bends down and glances in through the window, and then you get a glimpse of a human face, maybe even exchange a few words. But ultimately the mind is so occupied with its own act, a play staged by the self ofr the self in a hasty, makeshift cabinet of curiosities peopled by author and character, narrator and reader, the person describing and the person described, that feet, shoes, heels, and faces become, sooner or later, mere components of that act.”
Quite possibly, my first experience reading a book by a Polish author. Looking forward to more....more
After reading this book, I've reconfirmed that: a) I am not the type to "rough" it, and b) Alaska is very low on my list of places to visit.
Yes — the After reading this book, I've reconfirmed that: a) I am not the type to "rough" it, and b) Alaska is very low on my list of places to visit.
Yes — the photos are gorgeous, and I'm sure it's a magical and ecologically magnificent place, however, there are many other spots I'd rather go first. Living vicariously is enough for me. Also, I'm not a fan of cold weather. If I never saw snow again in my whole life, I would be a-ok.
Van Hemert does a lovely job of chronicling her adventures, and it's hard not to be impressed by her and her husband's tenacity and commitment. Still, Alfred Lansing's Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage has forever dimmed any other cold weather adventure for me, as nothing could be so, well, incredible as Shackleton's survival.
Everyone in my book club enjoyed this more than me, but I think it's because they haven't read Lansing's book yet.
"In life, we’re always closer to the edge than we like to admit, never guaranteed our next breath, never sure of what will follow this moment. We’re human. We’re vulnerable. With love comes the risk of loss. There are a million accidents waiting to happen, future illnesses too terrible to imagine, the potential for the ordinary to turn tragic. This is true in cities and towns as much as it is in the wilderness. But out here we face these facts more clearly, aware of the divide between today and tomorrow. And, for this reason, every day counts."...more
I don’t understand all the positive reviews—this was an absolute chore and I love history.
More like random lists of facts than a cohesive whole. MaybI don’t understand all the positive reviews—this was an absolute chore and I love history.
More like random lists of facts than a cohesive whole. Maybe I would have liked it better if I’d read little bits over the course of a month ... still doubtful.
Borderline 1 star, we’ll see how I feel after my book club discusses it tomorrow. ...more
Season 3 of The Handmaid's Tale was a bit of a chore, torture porn can only go so far and the repeated cycles2.5 rounded up ... because ... nostalgia?
Season 3 of The Handmaid's Tale was a bit of a chore, torture porn can only go so far and the repeated cycles were exhausting.
Similarly—this book feels superfluous. Did we need a sequel? We wanted one, but oh be careful what you wish for.
It was a quick read, even if by the end I was just trying to get it over with. Eye roll moments galore.
If I didn't know it was the same author, I would have guessed this book was fan-fiction.
Much of it was based off the Hulu screen adaptation, making it hard to tell what was Atwood, and what was the show. She must be a huge fan. I can't imagine trying to understand this book WITHOUT having seen the show, in fact, if the show hadn't been made, I guarantee there wouldn't have been a book. Almost feels like Atwood was trying to cash in on a moment, and while I can't blame her, it definitely took the spark and originality out of the writing.
A good example of art imitating art? Maybe my expectations were too high....more
“She had always felt that the essence of human experience lay not primarily in the peak experiences, the wedding days and triumphs which stood out in “She had always felt that the essence of human experience lay not primarily in the peak experiences, the wedding days and triumphs which stood out in the memory like dates circled in red on old calendars, but, rather, in the unself-conscious flow of little things—the weekend afternoon with each member of the family engaged in his or her own pursuit, their crossings and connections casual, dialogues imminently forgettable, but the sum of such hours creating a synergy which was important and eternal.”
And so flows this book, not in major events but in the minutia of individual vignettes recounted by pilgrims traveling to the Time Tombs on Hyperion. Apparently in a similar fashion to Canterbury Tales, which I have not read.
I'm left with mixed feelings. Essentially 6 short stories told in flashbacks, minimal real time plot, cliffhanger ending. Wasn’t really in the mood for short stories although they were intriguing, vivid, and entertaining—at points.
Probably wasn’t the best book to read after and alongside some heavy hitting nonfiction.
Not 100% certain I'll continue the series. If I do, it will be next year at the earliest.
"Poets are the mad midwives to reality. They see not what is, nor what can be, but what must become."...more
Have a strong desire to take a shower after reading this book—and feel almost like a pervert-voyeur-sicko for bUgh. Dirty, sickening ... entertaining?
Have a strong desire to take a shower after reading this book—and feel almost like a pervert-voyeur-sicko for being so engrossed in it for the past five hours.
🤢
The ending is almost an insult to the reader, major eye rolls.
🙄
***UPDATE: Will NOT be continuing this series.***
Overall Summary: Like watching a train wreck, hard to look away but you still feel guilty about it.
(Basically, the entire book requires you to leave logic at the door. For an epic spoiler quiz, do check out Leah Bayer's review.)...more
Lovely little inside look at historic Hollywood, almost like listening to your grandmother tell tales from her youth ... if your gFluffy Audio Candy 🍭
Lovely little inside look at historic Hollywood, almost like listening to your grandmother tell tales from her youth ... if your grandmother was a Hollywood icon.
I'd never actually watched or seen Carol Burnett in movies or TV until I looked up some old clips after finishing the book. Not something I'd normally gravitate to, this was a bookclub pick and ended up being better than expected.
Warm hearted and pleasant this book is an enjoyable listen as Carol reads it herself. I know 110% I would not have enjoyed this as much reading it, as I wouldn't have gotten to hear her trademark Tarzan yell, or felt the emotion in her voice as she discussed the death of her daughter.
Overall an enjoyable book, but not much point other than to recount random incidents in Carol's life. This felt more like vignettes that weren't included in her (I'm assuming from the synopsis) more autobiographical 1986 book: One More Time: A Memoir.
I appreciated her candor, quick wit, and the tone and cadence of her delivery. Not surprisingly, this book was nominated for a 2011 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.
TL; DR — A book about the good old days, not much substance. ...more
I wanted to like this book, I really did. At the beginning of the year, I thoroughly enjoyed KSR's Red Mars — five stars!!
Granted, maybe I just wasn'I wanted to like this book, I really did. At the beginning of the year, I thoroughly enjoyed KSR's Red Mars — five stars!!
Granted, maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this book, but I'm not sure I ever would have been "in the mood" for this kind of story.
New York 2140 felt like the "smarter" (warmer) version of the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" / an educational/fictional attempt at futurecasting what life would be like in NYC after major climate change.
A nonfiction book speculating on life in the future after climate change would have been much more palatable in my opinion.
This book felt like homework, and not the good kind. Like a wacky teacher trying too hard to be "hip." I couldn't care about any of the characters, and the "story" didn't really go anywhere. It was like an attempt at Seinfeld-ing a book, a book about nothing — minus the humor and fun.
I take it back, this book was most definitely a book about something. You might as well have been clubbed over the head with "THE REPERCUSSIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE!"
In summary, this book is basically like sitting in front of a terrarium you've violently shaken up and watching all the little creatures trying to adapt and survive. Not too exciting, excruciating in detail, and not much in terms of plot.
Should have been 300 pages, max—it might have been decent with literally HALF the content....more
Love a good spy story, and this was a fun fictional follow up to the excellent The Spy and the Traitor.
I watched the movie first, but they're so diffeLove a good spy story, and this was a fun fictional follow up to the excellent The Spy and the Traitor.
I watched the movie first, but they're so different, it didn't spoil anything for me.
Looking forward to the next book!
One thing that was very cool to learn is that prior to becoming a novelist, Jason Matthews spent 33 years working for the CIA. While in the CIA he was officially a diplomat, in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, but his real job was recruiting and then managing foreign agents. _________
There are recipes at the end of every chapter. Matthews covers what things smell like and textures and even Dominika (the "Red Sparrow") has synesthesia and can see sounds and auras. Attention is brought to daily activities like dining to provide a richer tapestry and "3D" experience to the story.
Definitely my first cookbook-spy thriller-combo! I'm not sure how eager I am to eat most of the recipes, but I thought it was funny/interesting/strange how many of them included sour cream....more
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