I love this series. Fast-paced plots, appealing characters, and so funny. I didn't know that I wanted humor in my mystery novels! I'm sad that this isI love this series. Fast-paced plots, appealing characters, and so funny. I didn't know that I wanted humor in my mystery novels! I'm sad that this is the last in the series so far, but the author has promised to write at least one more....more
Such a charming, funny, murderous series. My only concern is that the author has introduced so many farfetched yet appealing characters that it is staSuch a charming, funny, murderous series. My only concern is that the author has introduced so many farfetched yet appealing characters that it is starting to become difficult to keep track of them all....more
Dolly Parton fan: How long does it take to style your hair? Dolly Parton: I don't know. I'm never there.
Who sometimes wears three wigs at once, one on Dolly Parton fan: How long does it take to style your hair? Dolly Parton: I don't know. I'm never there.
Who sometimes wears three wigs at once, one on top of the other? Who is still exploring new-to-her musical genres and striving to be a better person every day? Who had an illiterate father and yet is now a juggernaut in business and philanthropy? Dolly Parton, of course.
In this coffee-table-sized book, Dolly reflects on her career, personal growth, clothes, and accessories. (One chapter is called, "I Will Always Love . . . Shoes.") As always, she radiates lovingkindness and is generous and specific when giving credit to others. No wonder some of her employees have worked for her for 30 years. And she's funny!
While Dolly has always had her own style rather than following fashion trends, I think this book would be interesting to anyone who is into fashion, textiles, or fame. This book is intelligently written and thoughtfully curated. And on the cover, has Dolly's dress been subtly stippled so that it shimmers and glimmers as you open the book? Well, of course it has....more
So fascinating to read, especially as the trial unfolds. (Gary can talk! Caroline was unqualified, but so was everybody else!) I'm also reading Zeke FSo fascinating to read, especially as the trial unfolds. (Gary can talk! Caroline was unqualified, but so was everybody else!) I'm also reading Zeke Faux's book Number Go Up about the same topic. They're both great and valuable, but Faux is an investigative reporter who follows the money, while Lewis writes nonfiction books about individuals or small groups. I'm probably always going to gravitate toward stories about people's rise and fall rather than about the travels of a sum of money.
This story was unfinished when Lewis published (and is still unfinished as I write this review), but the ending he chose for the book is PERFECT....more
Such a fun read after watching the entire series. Now I can tell what's foreshadowing and what isn't. It's also interesting to read the deleted or repSuch a fun read after watching the entire series. Now I can tell what's foreshadowing and what isn't. It's also interesting to read the deleted or repurposed scenes and find out how the actors shaped the characters. For example, many scenes in Succession show or allude to characters taking drugs. This was supposed to include Roman Roy, but Kieran Culkin repeatedly said that he didn't see his character as a drug user....more
A long novel about video game developers? Really? I didn't want to read this. But I'm glad I changed my mind after hearing recommendations from friendA long novel about video game developers? Really? I didn't want to read this. But I'm glad I changed my mind after hearing recommendations from friends and review sites. Somewhat fable-like in parts, but not in an annoying way. I think these characters will stay with me for a long time....more
Well-researched yet sarcastic accounts of bizarre episodes in U.S. history, based on the popular podcast The Dollop. The Kentucky Meat Shower, oh my gWell-researched yet sarcastic accounts of bizarre episodes in U.S. history, based on the popular podcast The Dollop. The Kentucky Meat Shower, oh my goodness....more
ABSOLUTE BARNBURNER. I put this one on my reading list because it came highly recommended and because it had what I think is an intriguing first senteABSOLUTE BARNBURNER. I put this one on my reading list because it came highly recommended and because it had what I think is an intriguing first sentence: "It's the chicken pox that makes me sure--my husband is having another affair." By the time I admired the cover (the version I have has a drawing of a coyote's face on it) and opened the book, I had forgotten what genre it is. Maybe a novel of manners about highly educated people in the suburbs? Nope. Anyway, I plunged into this one and didn't want to come out. The ending is a little bit more open than I'd like, but it's still very satisfying. Excellent character development and plot, plot, plot for days. I'll look for more of this author's work....more
Cultural raider builds palace, makes it into a museum, and then yells at visitors not to touch anything. I've never hosted a boxing match in my livingCultural raider builds palace, makes it into a museum, and then yells at visitors not to touch anything. I've never hosted a boxing match in my living room, but Isabella did....more
Lady Polly Hampton is a gorgeous heiress with a secret. And that secret is not that her real first name is Leopoldina. I'm making this sound like a roLady Polly Hampton is a gorgeous heiress with a secret. And that secret is not that her real first name is Leopoldina. I'm making this sound like a romance novel, which it absolutely isn't.
This is the second of Nancy Mitford's books to focus on the Radlett and Montdore families. It's just as interesting and witty and philosophical as the first one, but it focuses mostly on different characters.
It was fun reading about fabulous wealth, which Mitford herself experienced in real life. But it was sad to visit a world in which girls and women are exploited, even when a family has plenty of resources. ...more
I liked Pearlman's earlier book about the Lakers so I thought I would try this one too. It does what it says on the label! I knew there would be a lotI liked Pearlman's earlier book about the Lakers so I thought I would try this one too. It does what it says on the label! I knew there would be a lot of reminiscing and gossip, but I didn't realize that I would be reading about three of the most stubborn and intransigent humans on Earth. Probably I should have guessed that though....more
"Can't pick her out of a crowd"—the Queen's comment, allegedly, upon meeting her fourth child's wife-to-be, Sophie Rhys-Jones
I love bitchy gossip abou"Can't pick her out of a crowd"—the Queen's comment, allegedly, upon meeting her fourth child's wife-to-be, Sophie Rhys-Jones
I love bitchy gossip about foolish rich people. And this book is full of it, condensed and repeated in a stylish, entertaining way.
Supposedly, the Queen Mother's budget was set (by her daughter, the government, and taxpayers) at £850,000 per year. And the Queen Mother overspent that by sixfold or sevenfold. Every year. For decades. No wonder she always looked so happy! Imagine being able to spend freely like that! What did she buy? Well, one time she bought a ruined castle on impulse and fixed it all up. (I mean she paid lots of other people to fix it up.) And she bought a bunch of big houses and fixed those up too. And so many racehorses! And so much jewelry! Also people gave her fabulous jewelry for free because it's a great idea to give lavish gifts to someone who literally has just about everything money can buy.
Anyway, the chapters about Andrew are partly fun because he's a massive idiot even by royal standards, but they're mostly very sad because vulnerable people truly suffered as a result of his hanging around with sex traffickers.
Anne is a hard worker but a deeply unpleasant human.
Ditto Philip, although he did pretty well for himself considering that his dad didn't care about him and his mother thought she was a nun.
Margaret was also deeply unpleasant but also lazy.
Sophie is sweet, pleasant, and hard working but also a disgusting influence peddler who wasn't even good at plotting. Anyhow she is sorry sorry sorry about the whole thing, please give her taxpayer money so she doesn't have to be an influence peddler anymore, thanks.
Charles is also an influence peddler, but at least he's more skilled at it than Andrew and Sophie.
Camilla is a revolting adulteress who also fled the scene of an accident, but women spat on her in a supermarket, plus she has to listen to goddamn Charles rehearse his goddamn speeches all the goddamn time and pretend they're transporting. So I guess she earned what she has. (And I've never gotten into a serious car accident. Maybe I would flee the scene too. I guess you can't know until you've been in the situation.)
I thought the author was unnecessarily harsh to Megan, but I'm an American, and we tend to love forthrightness as long as it's combined with effusiveness.
I already knew the Queen loves horses and dogs, but it turns out she also loves bridges and tunnels. An engineer's mind, I suppose.
Be sure to stick around for the photos at the end, in which the author strongly implies that Philip had a hot blond mistress for many years. Sporting partner indeed.
Anyhow, this book got me through two very long train rides so I could see friends. Well done, Tina Brown! Maybe next time I will read something that makes me a better person....more
I'm a professional indexer, and I approve of this book. It's wide-ranging and fun. My favorite part was a random anecdote (forgive me, I am paraphrasiI'm a professional indexer, and I approve of this book. It's wide-ranging and fun. My favorite part was a random anecdote (forgive me, I am paraphrasing based on my recollection of the audiobook): In medieval times a dude baked a pie full of poppies. He and his manservant and maidservant ate the pie and got high off their faces. When the wife returned from market, he and the manservant and maidservant were stripped naked and dancing. They showed the wife the sh¡ts they had taken and insisted that said sh¡ts were pure gold. (What does this have to do with indexing? I can't remember. I'll have to look it up!)...more
Short, fun, appealingly illustrated. Don't eat that cake that someone offers you! Don't go anywhere with a vicar! Remember that in a Murder Village, aShort, fun, appealingly illustrated. Don't eat that cake that someone offers you! Don't go anywhere with a vicar! Remember that in a Murder Village, a flight of stairs is a "xylophone of death"! And for goodness' sake never say "Oh, it's you"!...more
Well, now I understand why there are book clubs that read only the works of Angela Thirkell. (They call themselves Thirkell Circles, and if you're in Well, now I understand why there are book clubs that read only the works of Angela Thirkell. (They call themselves Thirkell Circles, and if you're in one, would you please invite me?) Anyway, this is set in the English countryside in the interwar years. People of various income levels develop appropriate and inappropriate crushes on each other. There's an amateur play. Also the farm animals can talk to one another, but that's not a main part of the book. There is a racial slur about 20% of the way in that I know was common in 1936 when this book was published but is still gross. The last couple of pages are especially satisfying because they hint at something that may happen years in the future....more
Drama on an airplane! Also philosophy, mathematics, physics, and theology! But we start out with the drama on an airplane so nobody gets discouraged! TDrama on an airplane! Also philosophy, mathematics, physics, and theology! But we start out with the drama on an airplane so nobody gets discouraged! This won the Prix Goncourt, which is a fancy French literary award. The first 40 percent or so involves introducing characters, building them up, and leading to a big reveal. Then there's another big twist around the 60 percent mark, and then a final twist at the end. Fortunately, the character development is interesting and lively, and the ending is strong. Some people are saying this book is a thriller, but I don't think a thriller would include an entire chapter of debate among religious leaders. (I enjoyed that chapter! It was even funny sometimes!) While I enjoyed this book very much, I don't think I would have enjoyed it if I were from India or Nigeria. The author portrays India as a corrupt, poverty-filled plutocracy, and he portrays Nigeria (perhaps solely Lagos) as a corrupt, poverty-filled plutocracy that is also extremely homophobic. ...more
Appealing main character is most likely on the autism spectrum (or she could have Williams syndrome), though this is explained merely as "a differenceAppealing main character is most likely on the autism spectrum (or she could have Williams syndrome), though this is explained merely as "a difference." Pretty good murder mystery. I laughed out loud at one point—when two characters confess an abiding love for the Olive Garden. (When you're here, you're a suspect!) Relationship between main character and her grandmother is heartwarming. ...more
I enjoyed this satire of highly educated people. I thought the last 20 percent was not up to the quality of the rest of the book, though. Anyway, the I enjoyed this satire of highly educated people. I thought the last 20 percent was not up to the quality of the rest of the book, though. Anyway, the moral of the story is that even the people who try hardest to be woke can end up using others to get money, access, power, status, forgiveness, and so on....more
Entertaining accounts of mishaps from Acaster's childhood and adulthood. I especially liked the childhood stories, plus the one adulthood story where Entertaining accounts of mishaps from Acaster's childhood and adulthood. I especially liked the childhood stories, plus the one adulthood story where he becomes involved in an expensive, time-consuming vendetta of pranks with a nine-year-old boy. That one has been on radio and television as well as in this book. Google "cabadging" if you want to know more....more
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