P.11: What I eventually came to understand about San Francisco was that I was immersed in beauty and barred from seeing it.
P. 140: . . . he rea[image]
P.11: What I eventually came to understand about San Francisco was that I was immersed in beauty and barred from seeing it.
P. 140: . . . he realized quiet people can control you as effectively as loved ones. They do it differently is all.
P. 262: The word violence was depleted and generic from overuse and yet it still had power, still meant something, but multiple things. There were stark acts of it: beating a person to death. And there were more abstract forms, depriving people of jobs, safe housing, adequate schools.
Eternally grim and grimy, the San Francisco portrayed in “The Mars Room,” is much like its protagonist, Romy Hall. This ambitious work by Rachel Kushner, takes a look at how the downtrodden lives. Those whose lives are in the margins of society and who lack the stability that most of us take for granted. Those who continue to struggle with no safety net; financially or socially. It is this class of people that Kushner is interested in exploring, but at times it feels like she branches and veers off into unsound directions. While I enjoy the creativity, she exhibits in reciting the manifesto of the Unabomber and of works by Thoreau and their parallels, these asides felt like an unnecessary distraction.
First and foremost, this book does a tremendous job demonstrating how those who begin life in the doldrums are often damned to stay there through various forces. Romy, who had to scramble and hustle just to provide sustenance for herself came from a home with a neglectful mother who was too busy living her own life to provide much in the way of support let alone structure. Romy’s influences and those she emulated were other hardscrabble cases who were living lives where future considerations did not come into play. She and her friends were on a path that led to either death or jail and there were no guardians which could have possibly changed this future. Far from a Horatio Alger story, in this case the bootstraps were frayed and even if one could pull themselves up high enough, someone would knock them down into the class into which they were born.
Despite her ignominious upbringing, Romy is able to improve her situation. She does this by selling a fantasy as an exotic dancer. There is perhaps no better way to see hustle and drive from a fetching and enterprising young lady than to see her manipulate and coerce clientele into spending money on her. The ability to read and understand people is important in any field and adult entertainment is no exception. In addition to steady income, she had a new man and most importantly a child, Jackson who provided two things sorely lacking throughout her life: love and hope.
Unfortunately, for Romy her halcyon days were short-lived. Met with a stalker from work, she did the responsible thing and moved to greener pastures. While, for many the first thing to do when met with a stalker would be to report said stalker to the authorities, this never entered into Romy’s mind. Having lived a life in which there were so few lifelines and so little support, she was understandably leery of those in power, let alone the police who can be quite capricious, especially in her line of work. Needless to say, Romy acted on impulse.
After yet more systematic failures in ways of an overworked and distracted attorney, Romy found herself in confinement and set to serve multiple life sentences. Though these failures do not exonerate Romy. The reader gets a lesson in the hierarchy and structure of a women’s prison as we are introduced to a diverse population. Also, we see a system that is underfunded and mismanaged, with few programs that engage the prisoners and those that are successful like woodshop, constantly under pressure through budgetary cuts. We also get a glimpse into the ingenuity of the prisoners who show a remarkable ability to make chicken salad out of chickenshit. It is not that far of a leap to make that the cunning and creativity shown by the prisoners would be welcomed and admired in boardrooms across the world.
Even though this is a far from perfect book, it made for a great book club discussion. There was much engagement on the book’s merits and even more on the failure of society to ameliorate many of the wrongs presented in the book. I made a faux pas about how Ted Kaczynski could be considered the modern-day Henry David Thoreau and received push back. I learned one of the members had a transgendered granddaughter – in the book there was a character who was transgender that was going to be introduced to the prisoner population and that one of the members acts as a mentor for a program involving juvenile delinquents. While the book itself is more of a 3.5, the enlightening conversations which it inspired were so worthwhile, that it is well deserving of being elevated into a 4. ...more
Nihilistic to a fault, this book is an example of what happens when man is stripped to his most basic and primal core. Even as an audiobook, McCarthy’Nihilistic to a fault, this book is an example of what happens when man is stripped to his most basic and primal core. Even as an audiobook, McCarthy’s prose and sharp insights stand out. In saying that, the utter brutality and lack of humanity makes this a difficult read or listen. In the world that this book inhabits there is no hope, only rank violence. People are disposable, used and abused without nary a concern. Soldiers are scalped, grandmothers mutilated, children used for bayonet practice and all sorts of depravities spring forth like a raging sea of blood and guts. Everyone is merely offal, empty vessels that at best will age out to be withered husks. As far as plot is concerned, the pseudo-protagonist is known as “the kid,” and he basically attaches himself to ravishing horde of marauders who cut a swath of violence wherever they go. Foremost among these gangs, is the Glanton gang whose leader John Joel, infamously scalps those in his way. In this miasma of gore, the character known as, “the judge,” stands out for not only his brutality, but also his silver tongue. Representing the very worst of mankind, he asserts that, “War is God.” Charismatic and fatalistic, he can be capricious one moment and calculating the next. While, his motive is not clear, his intent is one of malice; his great joy in spreading discord and orgiastic bouts of violence. Overall, I believe that listening to this work was not the correct choice. For me McCarthy is best to be read, where the carnage is easier to pair up with his haunting exposition to form a more approachable form. Going into this work, I knew it was grim, but the degradation surprised me. While there are books that almost seem destined for you at a certain time in your life, this had an opposing affect for me. I wanted something if not uplifting, had some glimmer of hope, and this provided none of that. As such, this garners 3 vicious stars. ...more
This coming-of-age story, told from the perspective of Madeleine “Maddie” “Maame” Wright, is about a young woman of Ghanian heritage who has become weThis coming-of-age story, told from the perspective of Madeleine “Maddie” “Maame” Wright, is about a young woman of Ghanian heritage who has become weighed down by life. She is burdened by obstacles physical, emotional, and cultural. Her life is centered on taken care of her father, who is in the throes of Parkinson’s Disease and working an unfulfilling job. Faced with an uncertain future, both near and distant, she is often overcome with crippling self-doubt and anxiety. Feeling lost, with not much to anchor her, her mother on sojourn in Ghana and her brother on tour with a musician working in some sort of nebulous position, she is left to fend for herself. After a mishap at work, which was not her fault, she is let go from her position as an assistant to a domineering “career” woman. This leads to a self-evaluation of her life. What she finds is someone who has let life happen to her, instead of embracing and enjoying her 20s, she has become set in her ways and needs a change desperately in her life.
A key component in her transformation is to find a new place to live. In a precarious spot with finances and family, she must find a way to juggle her ailing father and her need for independence. Since taking on the role of main provider of her father’s wellbeing, the gap between how she wants to live and how she is living has widened. As has the resentment towards her mother and brother, who she feels has abandoned her and her father. While, she has seen her friends flourish in matters of economics and of the heart, she is stuck in a holding pattern, making meals for a man who has lost his ability to even communicate. It will break her heart to leave her father’s well being in the capable hands of Dauod, his carer, but for her own health it is essential.
Searching for a suitable place, which is affordable and close by, proves challenging but she finds a location and best of all, she has two new roommates, Jo and Cam, she can see becoming fast friends with. Similar in age, Maddie hopes to experience new things with these ready-made friends. She dreams about sophisticated brunches and late-night outings with her new “besties.” While she is enjoying a night on the town, full of bacchanalia, she decides to follow her roommate Jo in continuing the clubbing. This decision ends up haunting her. While hung over from the previous day, Maddie receives news which turns her world upside down.
Maddie is also on the prowl for a relationship. As a Black woman in London, she is very aware that she does not meet the typical standard for much of the population. She does not want to be seen as either a dalliance or a token. Being a person of faith and coming from a culture which preaches against pre-marital sex has also hindered her sexually. She is keenly aware of her own naïve understanding of the opposite sex and has even resorted to asking google questions which much more often than not returns contradictory responses. While, on assignment for work she is flirted with by Ben, a man of seemingly refined taste. She begins a whirlwind romance with this man of wealth, who seems too good to be true. Lacking experience, she sees her dates with Ben at his house or in the dark movie theatre as being intimate, instead of what they are in actuality. She soon finds out Ben’s true colors and Maddie is left with a new grievance, but on the positive side she has a new story to tell her friends.
One part which I questioned was the inadequacies that Maddie felt with her peer group. Even though she has led a fairly quiet existence, she is gifted with two close friends. Shu, a spitfire of Chinese descent, is forthcoming and very protective of those she loves, which includes Maddie. She and Maddie have been friends since college and while it is understandable that Maddie does not want to burden her with too many personal questions, it is evident that she would answer any relationship inquiries with gusto if not tact. Another close friend is Nia, who though she has been traveling awhile, still is available for Maddie. They share a similar background and an intimacy, which only close friends can, reading each other’s thoughts and communicating even when they are not speaking. Having two bosom buddies should have given Maddie more confidence in her ability to branch out and not rely on the internet for relationship advice.
How one feels about this work is dictated by Maddie. Not only she is the main character and fulcrum of the story, but her growth and transformation are what makes or breaks it. Thankfully, for me I absolutely adored Maddie. Even though we could not be much different demographically, I felt her struggle to overcome so much culturally and mentally. The pressure of being the glue which had so long bound her family together despite being its youngest member was touching. Trying to find her place in a world which on the one hand she has the tools for, yet on the other hand she feels inadequate. While there were plot points, especially towards the end which I did not agree with, I was pleased to have gone on the journey with Maddie and by the end of it, she felt like a living, breathing being instead of merely a character. Not a sure fire 5, but 4.5 stars for this work.
52. “We think, we read. We are not peasants. But even the peasants know better than to believe in a war. Everybody hates this war.” “There is a class 52. “We think, we read. We are not peasants. But even the peasants know better than to believe in a war. Everybody hates this war.” “There is a class that controls a country that is stupid and does not realize anything and never can. That is why we have this war.” 124. He said we were all cooked but we were all right as long as we did not know it. We were all cooked. The thing was not to recognize it. The last country to realize they were cooked would win the war. 157. “No I only like two other things; one is bad for my work and the other is over in half an hour or fifteen minutes. Sometimes less.” “Sometimes a good deal less.” Perhaps I have improved, baby. You do not know. But there are only the two things and my work.” “You’ll get other things.” “No. We never get anything new. We all start complete. You should be glad not to be a Latin.” 226. Often a man wishes to be alone and a girl wishes to be alone too and if they love each other they are jealous of that in each other, but I can truly say we never felt that We could feel alone when we were together, alone against the others. It has only happened to me like that once.
Written some 100 or so years ago, this classic has the feel of modernity. While, some things are anachronistic such as the swear words being left out and hotel arrangements, overall this work still is relevant. Taking place in Italy during World War I, the story revolves around Lieutenant Frederic Henry an American ambulance driver. The war has reached basically a stalemate, with neither side advancing much while the he grind is taking its toll. A feeling of disenchantment and disillusionment is the prevailing mood throughout, with the banality of war replacing the early excitement of experiencing something new and transformative. The objective of survival far surpasses any tangible goal.
One thing that stands out about this work is the juxtaposition between the lush descriptions of the landscape and the minimalist dialogue. Hemingway often paints a beautiful portrait of a rising sun or of an upcoming season. There is an almost timeless quality about the way he rhapsodizes about terrain. In contrast to the substantial and permanence of the land is the ethereal quality in which the characters interact. While, philosophical conversations occur, in many cases they are presided in a flippant manner. The vast majority of the dialogue revolves around practical matters such as food and drink. The priest of the company is often met with an insult or as the butt of jokes. The most dynamic of the characters, Rinaldi a skilled surgeon is a man who eschews deep conversation in favor of playful banter focused on whoring and drink.
Another striking thing is the way that Hemingway is able to demonstrate the chaos of not only battle, but also the aftermath. I especially enjoyed the retreat of the Italian army and the subsequent confusion of the hordes of followers. You go from living in one country your whole life into now being under the yoke of a new ruler in the blink of an eye. All of the preparations and munitions now must be recalibrated on the fly, under the threat of an invading army. Order is broken down and in this anarchy things get distorted and morphed, with no semblance of normalcy.
The relationship which forms the core of this story, that of the MC and a British nurse, Catherine Barkley is between two wounded individuals. Catherine, while vibrant on the outside suffers from the pain of losing a fiancée. She is quite the contrast; beautiful and almost infantile in her speech, yet harboring a practical nature. Even though she appears rash in her quick decision to abandon her post as a nurse to essentially elope, she has saved some money and is not prone to superficiality. In a time of great upheaval, they have decided to do the only sensible thing, rely on each other to find sanctuary, away from things that can injure them. In their view, society has gone mad and the way to survive is by seclusion. Will they be able to keep the world and its crazy war at bay long enough to achieve happiness?
I was surprised about how much I enjoyed this work. In spite of its dispiriting subject matter it was full of joie de vivre. Fate is much like your shadow stalking you, no matter how much you attempt to drop out. The dialogue is zippy and even though Catherine can come across as ditzy or vapid, her actions prove her mettle. There is a very Bonnie and Clyde vibe between Frederic and Catherine and while it has been said no man is an island, can the same thing be said about a couple? This classic is well deserving of its exulted status and was very close to 5 stars. ...more
Unbeknownst to me, this work was a third part of a trilogy focusing on the citizens of the fictional town of Lexington, Alabama, in the early 1940s. GUnbeknownst to me, this work was a third part of a trilogy focusing on the citizens of the fictional town of Lexington, Alabama, in the early 1940s. Going in blind to this—apparently, I “won” this in a sweepstakes, this turned out to be merely decent. While, the cover screams romance or at least jilted lover/s, this book despite the numerous dalliances was far from steamy. It boils down to the main characters of Hubert and Jessie who have found themselves in a marriage of convenience. For Hubert, a closeted gay man who has lost his previous wife and son in succession, marrying Jessie provides coverage for finding “love” (or at least sex) in other places. For Jessie, the best friend of Hubert’s previous wife Maggie, Hubert represents an increase in station and respectability, as his family is practically royalty in Lexington, being the son of the most esteemed Black pastor in town. In spite of Hubert’s “pecker” or “tallywacker” (yes, these two synonyms for penis were constantly bandied) not working due to him not being attracted to women, their marriage had its moments. They were fairly compatible, enjoyed each other’s company and even shared a life-altering secret, which could put both of their freedoms in peril. Ah, the secrets, namely Hubert’s love life out of town with the barber Leroy and Jessie’s affair with a married man in town who visited the same moonshine establishment, is what fuels much of the intrigue. Besides a harrowing scene in which Leroy’s former wife, Sadie and kids make an appearance, much of the “action” is far from suspense driven. Jessie’s dalliance is even more benign; she shacks up with a ne’er do well who is constantly borrowing money from her. While, the primary focus is on the secrets kept by the main characters, there is also a homicidal maniac who is targeting Black folks. Not much thought was given to this storyline, and if someone like me who gets stumped by mysteries designed for elementary students can figure out the culprits, you know it must be obvious. Overall, this was quite a strange book. Frankly, it did not know what it wanted to be. The language was often stilted and would change from formal (I lost count of the number of the statement, “I declare” was used) to colloquial, especially in describing the food or eating of it, to just plain odd, hence “tallywacker.” The ending was rather off-putting and seemed to be inspired by Mike Pence. Even with the many flaws in the plot and dialogue, the author, Mary Monroe, does have a strong ability to move the story forward. While, by the end of the book it felt like a bit of a chore to finish, the beginning and even the middle progressed quickly. As such, it is deserving of 3 confusing stars. ...more
[image] Standing at the lectern in front of the map, I attempt to locate Lake Tanganyika, while completely butchering its name. Apathy and ignorance i[image] Standing at the lectern in front of the map, I attempt to locate Lake Tanganyika, while completely butchering its name. Apathy and ignorance is not the greatest combination for giving a presentation to a class, and this one on the country of Tanzania would be no exception. Wanting to broaden my horizons, I decided to take a class on Sub-Saharan Africa. What I got was an aged professor, whose enthusiasm for the subject matter had long been extinguished. Who the first day of class, passed out his extensive resume, while the remainder of the semester engaged in verbal jousting with a former drill sergeant and chiding a beautiful woman from Kenya about using a computer to take notes. Due to his limited height and strength he needed a student to retrieve, carry and set up a map, for which he would randomly point at, whether or not it was germane to the lesson. He coined the student, “the map man”. By the time people were presenting their country or topic, the pointlessness of the exercise was in full affect and the lack of effort apparent. If the professor is only in it for tenure and whose only contributions in our edification of Africa was about being beaten as a child by one of his father’s wives, why should anyone have cared?
20 years hence, I stumbled upon this book, seductively met with a “Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature”, sticker. Taking place, from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, in a roughly 75 year timeframe, we get a glimpse of the rapid change and growth of the inhabitants of a mid-size Tanzanian city. Filled with the inhumane consequences of colonialism, we are shown a picture of an African continent, filled with avaricious Europeans who view the continent as a plaything meant to project prestige. Whose conflicts and entanglements have spilled over to peoples who have more than enough of their own struggles. Through the characters of: Hamza, Ilyas, Afiya, Khalifa and Bi Asha the author attempts to personalize and humanize the tumultuous upheavals of the period.
Abdulrazak Gurnah, the author of this work is very skilled at showcasing the effects of modernity in Africa, specifically in German East Africa. He is at his best rhapsodizing, especially through the austere wisdom of Khalifa, the pointless nature of native Africans fighting colonial wars. While, Khalifa is not the main character, he often acts as the moral compass, more interested in the philosophical nature of man than artifices such as war or religion. He learned these lessons early on in his lifetime due to his friendship with Ilyas, who he felt a brotherhood with and whose memory and hope to find alive is the chief mystery in this work.
Ilyas, the only remaining relative of Afiya, is stubborn to a fault. Looking for adventure and to find himself he joins up to fight for the German army in East Africa and to become one of the famed and feared Askari, whose reputation preceded them. Abandoning his sister and best friend, for some vainglory, his disappearance creates a hole each of their hearts. In a bit of kismet and for the reader confusion, Hamza is introduced, soon after Ilyas disappears. Hamza, though his circumstances were far different than Ilyas, also decided to join the German forces in East Africa. Considerably younger and immature, Hamza becomes almost a talisman for one of the higher ranking officers. As such he is scorned by lower ranking German officers and by more ferocious Askari warriors whose brutality is renowned. After a period of convalescing, he seeks to find a place to call home. In his search, he ends up in the dusty city that was home to Ilyas.
While, I applaud Gurnah on his excellent use of history and his beautiful syntax, the story and the characters were lacking. Introducing Hamza’s arc and immediately making him the focus while jettisoning Ilyas created confusion for me. The fact that Hamza acted as almost of a replacement for Ilyas did not help matters. Even though I appreciated the concept that people, especially those in subjugated circumstances, are often swept up by the tides of history and are given little in the realm of free will or decision making the ending still felt rushed and far from satisfying. From a panoramic view there is much to admire in this work but parsed out it felt lacking for me. It is deserving of 3 stars and a far greater use of my time than class on Sub-Saharan Africa.
Thank you Simon Kids for the ARC and a chance to fairly review this work, “Bite Risk”.
Reading a book set for a specific age range (8-12 year olds) andThank you Simon Kids for the ARC and a chance to fairly review this work, “Bite Risk”.
Reading a book set for a specific age range (8-12 year olds) and genre (horror?) that I do not typically go for, provides a unique challenge. In saying that, this book largely achieves the ability to be universal, while still fulfilling its age requirements. Just because it is written for a younger audience does not mean that it is “dumbed” down or filled with slang that would have fallen on my deaf ears. The pace is up tempo and the characters though not very complex in manner or attitude do not seem nonrealistic or fatuous.
The setting takes place in the humble hamlet of Tremorglade, which is home to one of the safest places on an Earth that has undergone cataclysmic events. This tight-knit community in the middle of nowhere is safely run by the overarching corporation, Sequest, (not seaQuest, the delightful series with Roy Schneider, Jonathan Brandeis and Darwin the talking dolphin). While, this Utopia is largely free from most of the world’s issues, they do have a slight werewolf issue. You see, for one day out of the month, when the moon is at its zenith the majority of the adult population turns into werewolves. Called the Confinement, they Turn from dusk to dawn and as such are locked into steel encrusted cages. In charge of the inmates are the town’s children, which include the intrepid duo of Ansel (Sel) and Elena.
Sel, an androgyne and Elena are best friends who are on the cusp of adulthood. As such, they will be Turning in a short amount of time. Full of innocent mischief, they go cavorting when they are supposed to monitor their parent’s cages. Their favorite haunt is the old folks’ home which is inhabited by the genial Harold and the cantankerous Dora. Due to some unique genetics, Harold is immune to Turning. Sel and Elena, visit Harold during the monthly Turning, where he regales them with stories and boring card games like Go Fish! Harold takes his role as a kindly grandfatherly figure serious. He even makes dubious refreshments!
Not part of the peer group, but in the role of cool big brother, is Elena’s actual brother Pedro. He fixes computers for a living and is a fan of horror movies featuring, “Rippers” the colloquial term for those who have Turned. In a broken home, Pedro is the fulcrum for both advice and the skepticism that propels the story. When one of the omnipresent drones’ crashes and Pedro takes a look at it, odd occurrences start happening.
Another important character is Irene, who acts as an antagonist for the dynamic duo of Sel and Elena. She is portrayed as a typical bully, full of malice and even has a couple of sidekicks. Sel sees her as her greatest impediment, but we find out that Irene has her reasons for being the way she is.
As the story progresses, much like when the characters Turn into werewolves, we go from a standard “horror” novel into something much more sinister. Loyalties will be tested and breadcrumbs will be thrown out to aid in the suspicion of the planned Tremorglade community. A great part of the fun will be trying to solve the mystery along with Sel and Elena. The question will be answered; who or what are the greatest monsters?
Overall, this novel was fairly solid if not spectacular. It felt age appropriate as there was nothing too shocking or gory and even moments of peril were dealt with in a tame manner. Strangely, some of the vocabulary felt forced, like the writer felt compelled to create a word building exercise, especially early on the story. It was an easy enough read with enough action and plot twists to intrigue people of all ages. I imagine it will not be a book that I will think about in the middle of the night when I am tossing and turning. While building suspense, the ending felt quite abrupt as well. For me it is a 3 star book and something with quite a bit of appeal.
Pg. 89. “Maybe we’ve been too silly, to deserve a world like this.” Pg. 269. “The human race was to be wiped out and the world made clean again for wisPg. 89. “Maybe we’ve been too silly, to deserve a world like this.” Pg. 269. “The human race was to be wiped out and the world made clean again for wiser occupants without undue delay.”
What a strange read this was. Not particularly good or bad. Mankind is on the brink of its extermination as a wave of radiation from nuclear fallout is slowly making its way southward. There is no hope for survival, as the fatality rate is 100%. This waiting game would surely drive anyone insane, religious, amorous, or violent, wouldn’t it? Inevitable death generally has that effect on the populace. Well, not in this case. Do people murder? No. Rape? No. Loot and pillage? No. Panic at least? No. Perhaps, they attempt to flee to points even further south, build a seafaring vessel, a fallout shelter? Don’t be ridiculous. Instead, they largely live their lives as they always have. The farmers plant their crops, the civil servants run the various government offices and the workers show up to their jobs. Into this bizarro world known as “Australia”, the American submarine captain Dwight Towers finds himself. Well, thank heavens, an American; he will surely know that this is a time to run amok. But alas, he too is a perfect gentleman, a veritable boy scout. Even when, the busty farmer’s daughter, Moira Davidson, is throwing herself at him, he is so devoted to his deceased family that he constantly rejects her advancements. He along with his other dutiful seaman, go on a fact-finding mission to discover if human life is out there. Foremost among these men, is natives of Australia, Lieutenant-Commander Peter Holmes and scientist John Osbourne. Holmes, who has an infant child with his wife Mary, figures it is better to be submerged for almost a month’s time, than to spend the last remaining bits of time with his family. At least John in a stroke of luck is able to pursue his dream of buying a race car. Moira, on the other hand, after that damn eunuch Dwight has rubbed off on her (not literally), has decided to take correspondence courses on short and longhand. Golly gee willikers, what a capital idea. It sure would be swell to have the self-satisfaction of knowing you could type 120 words a minute, just before asphyxiating from radioactive particulates. Overall, this was a perfectly decent and chaste read. Written in 1957, it has not aged very well. The characters often seem at best like caricatures and at worst like gender stereotypes. It often feels sanitized and just not remotely realistic. It falls in that 2.5 star to 3 star range, but it is a holiday (Memorial Day), so I will give it the benefit of the doubt.
“Carrie, you asked me if I thought you could take number one from Paulina. And I said I didn’t know. Because I didn’t. I don’t know what the future ho“Carrie, you asked me if I thought you could take number one from Paulina. And I said I didn’t know. Because I didn’t. I don’t know what the future holds. And I can’t promise the world is going to always turn out the way you want it to.”
This fictionalized story revolves around the comeback of former #1 and 20 time Grand Slam champion, Carrie Soto who after 5 years away from the game she loves is hell bent on reclaiming her GOAT status. For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It was my first Taylor Jenkins Reid read and I have since read another (“7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”). I have watched an extreme amount of tennis in my lifetime and have even attended a WTA event (Bausch & Lomb), so I have a fairly decent conception of the game.
My favorite aspect of this story was the relationship between the protagonist and her father, Javier. As opposed to the many strained relationships between tennis parents and their progeny (cough, Damir Dokic), their relationship is one of trust and honesty. The sacrifices that each make to ensure that Carrie is at her very best are touching. Javier, acts as a coach and confidante, not only imparting strategy but also life lessons. He hustles day and night making sure that Carrie is challenged and does not rest on her laurels. After tragedy, he even suspends his social life, focusing his attention and love on Carrie. For her part, Carrie lives a life of slavish devotion to the goal of being the best possible tennis player. As many past, present and future prodigies, she withdraws from much of life that does not revolve around her craft, in this case tennis. Her singular focus leads to a stunted childhood, which affects her as she gets older. This intensity and ambition which is necessary to fulfill her destiny, unfortunately also pushes people away. While, at first not thrilled by her nickname of, “Battle Axe” she comes to embrace it. This mindset even affects their working relationship.
Something that was also very well done was the training sequences. The time and dedication that is involved in shaking five years of rust is astronomical and Reid finely details all of it. Though completely different in style and tone it brought to mind, “The Professional” by WC Heinz which is one of most celebrated sports books of all-time. The grueling nature of professional sports is often short shrift in favor of the glamour but we get a view in how the sausage is made. The aching body parts and creaking joints is a large part of athletics. Reid also accurately depicted how it was common during this timeframe (the mid90s) to think that anyone after 30 was old and 35 was considered ancient. Carrie Soto came of age when it was common to see, young teenagers winning such as Tracy Austin, who won her first title at 14 or Andrea Jagger who was seeded at Wimbledon at 15.
While, I enjoyed many elements of this book there were a few things that annoyed me. The characterization of the media was an element that felt forced. It is no secret that the media oversexualizes female athletes, especially when they are young. Conversely, if there is an athlete who is considered difficult or does not speak to the media, then they are treated poorly. It was not a coincidence that Martina Navratilova was always photographed in the middle of her serve, muscles tensed with her face in a grimace. In saying that, there is no narrative that the sports media loves more than a comeback story. There are innumerable stories of sports stars attempting a return to glory and for the most part the media has lapped it up. Look no further than Jennifer Capriati, who after hitting rock bottom, ascended to become the #1 ranked player in the world. Her story of redemption was one of the biggest stories in tennis history. All in all, the idea that a former #1 ranked player, who is making a comeback to take back her Grand Slam record, would not be lauded and cheered by the vast majority of the media is absurd. The fact that she would lose her primary sponsor is ridiculous.
The bigger issue I had was the gender politics. There is no doubt that female athletics has always played second fiddle to male. There is also no doubt that the discrimination and unfairness has been both overt and covert. Even with this accurate statement, it is pure folly to think that a top ranked women’s tennis player would stand a chance against a top ranked men’s tennis player. The greatest women’s player, Serena Williams herself said: “Men’s tennis and women’s tennis are two completely different sports. Men are a lost faster, they serve and hit harder. It’s a different game.” To have Carrie’s male counterpart, Bowe Huntley consistently lose against her was inane and inaccurate. With so much success and accolades, it does Carrie Soto a disservice to compare her to male analogues. Her accomplishments stand by themselves and this form of “girl power” is not only unnecessary but false.
There were also some notable inaccuracies in regards to beauty standards and play. While, players such as Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova would be considered the ideal later on, when this took place, 1994, there was a wide range of beauty. The girl next door, exemplified by Chris Evert was considered old fashion. In fact if there was a woman known for her beauty it was the Argentine Gabriella Sabatini. This book neglected this fact in favor of a narrative that tall statuesque blonde women were all the rage in the sport at the time. Another issue was how fast the serve of Carrie Soto was depicted. The fastest server of this era, Brenda Schultz-McCarthy who stood 6 feet 2 inches, could not top 120mph so the idea, that Carrie Soto could regularly hit 122mph does not jive.
Even with my gripes, this book is quite compelling. Carrie Soto is someone who learns to temper herself but never loses her edge. The rivalry between her and Nikki Chan feels authentic and is based on respect and not hatred. The love story is adorable without being forced. Most importantly, the relationship between Carrie and Javier forms the emotional center of this story and for that, this book is worthy of 3 and half stars rounded up to 4. ...more
This work by Jennifer Weiner is a bit of a mess. It does not know if it wants to be an aspirational romance/self-help guide or a mystery; frankly it This work by Jennifer Weiner is a bit of a mess. It does not know if it wants to be an aspirational romance/self-help guide or a mystery; frankly it fails at both. This book can be neatly fragmented in two halves. The first half is the more easy/breezy one with a focus on the complicated relationship between the protagonist, Daphne Berg and her childhood friend Dru. While, the second half, takes a more serious tack that has been ably described as, “Scooby-Doo like” in how random circumstances led to the solving of the mystery. This dichotomy in both tone and style does detract from some decent writing and some keen observations, especially in regards to social media. “Big Summer”, starts out with a seemingly random prologue that does not tie –in until much later on. For better or worse, Daphne Berg is the character whose impressions and points of view, this story is primarily told through. On the plus side, Daphne is an intelligent and ambitious young lady who has friends and family that love her. She has a burgeoning career as a social media influencer and inspires countless people with her positive affirmations. On the downside of the ledger she is image obsessed and her primary focus is on her weight and the innumerable ways that it weighs (yes, I like puns) her down. Despite having so much going for her, being in the mind of such a fragile and frankly vapid character is oftentimes exhausting. While, she tries to portray an image of a fierce and independent woman, her preoccupation with not only her weight but also with the looks and styles of everyone around her, left me feeling less sympathy for her. Ironically, the story often tried to juxtapose, her with her former friend, Dru-who is someone described as having farts that smell like candy, but for me, she was almost as shallow as her rich, affluent friend. Their fractured friendship and the Svengali hold that Dru held over Daphne is what comprises most of the most first half of the book. After a six year fracture in their relationship, Dru asks Daphne to be a bridesmaid, and due to a combination of bribery and a general intrigue of the jet-set crew that Dru is a member of, Daphne accepts the invitation. The second half begins after an intense evening that has seen Daphne get lucky with Nick, in an oddly graphic sex scene in a hot tub. Not only has that but the seminal event, encompassing, the remaining book taken place. This event brings to light many secrets. While, many of the scenarios that are presented during this part of the book are laughable in the randomness, we do get a closer look at the relationship between Nick and Daphne. This part is nice, as we see two people who have different points of view sharing their knowledge with each other. Nick while innocent in many ways, especially in regards to modern social media, gives Daphne inner strength and courage. Daphne, who has a loving mother and father, gives Nick a strong foundation and a chance at a supportive family. While, solving a mystery is not a common way for the beginning of a relationship to occur, this leads to a greater intimacy and understanding than dinner or a movie ever could. While, Jennifer Weiner certainly has talent as a writer, due to a lackluster plot and confusing and abrupt tonal shift, this book did not work for me. The protagonist, who we are supposed to root for, seems like a venial and spoiled pain in the ass. It seems quite hypocritical to bemoan how social media portrays people in stereotypical manners and yet spend countless amounts of time, energy and money in describing a particular fit of clothing or designer. Daphne, while feeling the pangs of obesity is about as image obsessed as the consummate antagonist, Dru. Even with my mood of general frustration in this work, Ms. Weiner did some notable things. She capably handled how one can curate their life on social media, portraying an unrealistic lifestyle and how debilitating this can be on both the influencer and the consumer. Another thing that Weiner did well was depict how despite being on a different level in wealth and prestige, Dru and Daphne both longed for what each other had. Daphne wanted the glitz and glamour and Dru just wanted a stable family in which her father was proud of her. Most telling was a recollection, in which Dru stated her favorite day she ever had was the gastronomic adventure that she was able to partake in with Daphne and her loving father.
Some telling quotes: p. 299. “Everyone tries to put the best versions of themselves across. To fake it. And when they’re not doing that, they are sitting behind their screens, passing judgement and feeling superior to whoever they thinks being sexist or racist that day.” p. 343. “How could my words outweigh the evidence of Dru’s happiness, her perfection, her wealth and her power, all of it just a click away on Instagram, for Leela and the entire world to see?” p. 344. “Woke rich people will buy any stupid thing, as long as you tell them it’s environmentally correct or upcycled, or that it’s made by indigenous people.” ...more
If you're looking for a bit of fun and a whole bunch of silliness than this one is for you. I listened to this with bemusement and chuckled intermitteIf you're looking for a bit of fun and a whole bunch of silliness than this one is for you. I listened to this with bemusement and chuckled intermittently. Though it seems simple, sometimes you just need an escape where the most life altering decision is which color tie to choose. After so many gloomy books, this felt like a breath of fresh air. This is one of those books, where things like plot and even characters are secondary. It is all about the hijinks and the randomness of the situation. The thread (besides the bromance between Bertie Wooster and his loyal butler Jeeves), that holds the stories together is the perpetual lovesick Bingo Little. Whether, Bingo is trying to woe a waitress or a noblewoman, Bertie is always roped in. There is always some sort of scenario, in which Jeeves has to use his considerable talents to solve. My favorite aspect of this story is how self-aware Bertie is about his nature. His only goal in life is to relax. He would be satisfied with marrying a wealthy heiress, who would let him spend all of his time drinking and playing billiards in the club. He is a simpleton who never disputes his intentions. There is always a bit of role-reversal, with Jeeves acting as a man about town with endless connections and Bertie being an ignoramus. I would be remiss, if I did not mention the outstanding talents of the narrator, Frederick Davidson who ably pulled off many different characters, most notably a bratty child who was featured in a few of the stories. Overall, if you want something silly that will not drag you into the land of ennui, than I would recommend this delightful escapism. ...more
On my feed, this book has been heralded and rightfully so. It is quite good and is a page turner. The author does a masterful job, especially in creatOn my feed, this book has been heralded and rightfully so. It is quite good and is a page turner. The author does a masterful job, especially in creating atmosphere. At times this felt like a high quality police procedural such as an episode of Homicide. The most unique aspect of this story is that while the killer, Ansel Packer, creates the drama, he feels like a tertiary character. Kukafka, is much more interested in how Packers' crimes affect the loved ones of his victims. Her portrayal of Packer is almost comedic, in how stereotypically he comes across. He is quick to anger, full of self-hate yet with an inflated ego, treats women as objects, is clever but not particular intelligent and even has a manifesto which he thinks will change the world. Thankfully, he is not the focus of this book. Instead, we are presented with three strong female characters: Lavender, Hazel and Saffy. While, there is certainly plenty to parse about the decision making of Lavender, she is a survivor. She is the mother of Ansel and she made a life changing choice for herself and her family. There is much pain and empathy in her soul. Hazel, is the twin sister of Jenny, who was in a relationship with Ansel. While, she is fiercely devoted to her sister, she feels some jealous earlier on regarding her sister's relationship with Ansel. She also is suspicious of Ansel and how is able to manipulate people. Saffy Singh, is the character whose focus is the most omnipresent. She had dealings with Ansel in her youth so she knows his true nature. Her determination and almost obsessive compulsion behavior makes her an ideal detective. Her search to link Ansel to killings, provides much of the grist for this story. She is the most drawn out character and as such we get a better feel for her than any of the other characters. I had an odd nitpick, with this book, though. The author, kept using the word, "revel". Everyone kept reveling or reveled in something. Why could they not have delighted in it? Or perhaps, felt jubilant? I guess, my own anal retentiveness got the better of me. Overall, this is a well-written piece that turns the profiling of serial killers on its head. Kukafka, essentially says there has been enough sympathy for the devil and she makes a convincing argument. ...more
This was my third go around with an Ottessa Moshfegh work and I would say it was my favorite. This book had similarities to the previous works but I fThis was my third go around with an Ottessa Moshfegh work and I would say it was my favorite. This book had similarities to the previous works but I found the protagonist much less loathsome. Yes, she is incredibly self-absorbed and has sociopathic tendencies but her pain is most often directed inwards instead of outwards. The premise of the book is that the narrator is going to have a hibernation caused by the mind erasing drug, Infermiterol. She is so empty inside that she feels that it is imperative to have a complete reset for her to function properly.
While, this book appears to be one of sadness and despair the prevailing feeling I felt was of lethargy. The narrator is so focused on slumber, that the rest of her life was put on hold. Even though she is frequently described as model beautiful and as independently wealthy her physical endowments further aides her apathy. It is implied that due to her good looks she is able to get away with her behavior and indifference. At one point she literally shits on the floor at work after being let go due to constantly sleeping on the job. Does she face any consequences? Of course not!
Another detail that interested me was the just how unreliable the narrator could be. I do not know if Moshfegh wanted to show how all of the mind altering chemicals affected her mind or that she was just not be trusted but she could not agree on what year she was born. On page 48, it was stated, "I was born in August 1973, seven months after Roe v. Wade." This chronology is sensible and accurate as Roe vs Wade's decision was on January 23rd, 1973. Then on page 78, it was written, "On August 20, 2000 I turned twenty-five in my apartment in a medicated haze, smoking stale menthols on the toilet and reading Architectural Digest." Yes, this shows my anal retentive ways but it is telling when the narrator can not even decide if she is 27 or 25.
Overall, I enjoyed this work and even if I did not particularly like the protagonist, I did not loathe her like Eileen or McGlue. Unlike those works, she realized that she wanted more with her life and in her own sick way sought to do something about it. Going about in a soma induced coma is probably never the safe or correct way to rectify a problem, but she at least tried a new course of action. Even the ending, while tragic has a touch of hopefulness as after the reboot she is able to feel emotion and pain that has been missing from her life for so long. ...more
Well.....I can say I have never read anything quite like Eileen before. The title character, Eileen Dunlop is a misanthrope of the highest order. WhilWell.....I can say I have never read anything quite like Eileen before. The title character, Eileen Dunlop is a misanthrope of the highest order. While, I can certainly see the appeal of hating mankind in this case it started to feel a little one note. I thoroughly enjoyed aspects of this book such as the wit and vivid observations throughout. The author, Ottessa Moshfegh is a very perceptive and talented writer. She had me chuckling with delight for the first 50 or so pages but as the book progressed I cared less and less about Eileen. She is somehow suffering from both self-abnegation and complete self-absorption.
Eileen has lived a rough life; she watched her mother suffer in death, she is estranged from her trollop of a sister and her social life revolves around procuring liquor (gin) for her alcoholic, verbally abusive father. I certainly do not begrudge her for feeling hatred. Her sense of being in a helpless situation is furthered by being socially awkward and living in a small town that if not openly hostile to her is certainly not a bastion for someone of her creative spirit. This feels like someone who you should cheer for and yet the further I ventured into the dark pit that is Eileen the less and less I wanted her to succeed. Her endearing qualities (wit and keen observation) soon were eclipsed by her loathsomeness.
Besides, Eileen and her alcoholic father, the character that propels the story is Rebecca a young sorta idealistic educator/psychologist whose actions change the course of Eileen's life. She befriends Eileen at work (they work at a child reformatory school/jail). They have a fun evening out at the local bar where Eileen enjoys being the center of attention and unapologetically drives home shitfaced. This sparks the events that will forever change Eileen's life and makes her fantasies of leaving X-ville into a reality.
This unique story was able to mine so many keen observations into a delightful tapestry that it feels like a shame that the title character exhibited so little growth. I am forever indebted to the mental picture of her two office workers sucking down hard candies or imagining shards of ice from the porch impaling various body parts of her anatomy. Even her stalking of her coworker Randy had a sort of charm in its innocuousness. The first pages held so much promise for this book but it kind of fizzled out and the payoff felt a bit of a dud. ...more
Magda Szabo, is one of those skilled authors who are able to convey emotions without a lot of hoopla. She has a concise style that even when incorporaMagda Szabo, is one of those skilled authors who are able to convey emotions without a lot of hoopla. She has a concise style that even when incorporating supernatural elements and tempestuous characters feels natural. I read a few reviews for this book and a few for her other books that have been published in English and can understand the hype. Though this story takes place in a specific area (Hungary) during a specific time period (1930s-1960s) the characters have a universal quality. It revolves around the Eleckes, Helds and the Major with his son Balint and housekeeper Mrs. Temes whose interactions at their adjoining houses in Katalin Street make up the core of the story.
Along with her excellent storytelling, one of my favorite elements of this story is the focus on the characters. It takes a talented author to allude to the various societal upheavals without having those waves wash over everything. Whether it is the fascists in Nazi Germany and their splinter group the Arrow Cross Party or the communists in the Soviet Union, history is tearing up the soul of the Hungarian nation but the focus remains on Balint, Iren, Blanka, the Major, the Helds and Mr. and Mrs. Eleckes. Even the period of time when public denunciations and rebukes were commonplace remains in the peripheral.
Coming from a history nerd as myself, it might seem odd that I preferred this style of titularly mentioning certain events but that is how life often is. For most people, history is something personal and not part of a greater narrative or social movement. Not to say that the entropy of history has no effects on the characters. Whether it is the aloofness of Balint or the loss of national pride as exhibited in Mr. Eleckes, the debilitating effects of the mid 20th century are profound. When someone could go from being an exulted pillar of society to a reviled enemy of the state in an instant just with an unfounded accusation you can imagine the turmoil.
Another unique element of this book was the use of multiple narratives. By using this approach, the reader is confronted with sorting out characters and timelines. The first couple of chapters are in kind of a whirlwind with changing perspectives and periods of time. While, most books typically have a set protagonist there is not only a shift in who it could be but also in the importance of each character. You can make the case that Iren, Balint, Blanka or Henriette are the most pivotal character.
Ultimately, this book is about loss. Whether it is a physical loss like that of a loved one or a piece of property or a psychic loss such as one's purpose this book makes you feel for its characters. Even when the characters exhibit selfish motives and make rash decisions they often have an enduring quality. It is this messy human quality that pervades throughout that I will most remember about this book. ...more
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