I’m so impressed by this book. It’s a true work of an artist giving everything they have to their craft. The attention to detail and care for every paI’m so impressed by this book. It’s a true work of an artist giving everything they have to their craft. The attention to detail and care for every page of this graphic memoir is quite remarkable. And of course, the stories of the three women that this book charts is moving and carefully rendered.
My only complaint is that I think it got a bit dense and repetitive at times. In the first half, especially, there is a lot of history that is told through large blocks of text, which I was not expecting for a book relying heavily on imagery. And in the latter half of the story, some of the elements felt redundant by that point and some sentiments repeated.
Don’t let that deter you from picking this up. It is incredibly well-crafted and emotional. I can imagine this having a very strong impact on children of immigrants as well, and those who have suffered from a lost history in their family, or a history that keeps people apart rather than pulling them together. ...more
This reads more like a bunch of personal essays / creative non-fiction than a traditional memoir. I enjoyed the 5 or 6 chapters I read DNF @ 65 pages.
This reads more like a bunch of personal essays / creative non-fiction than a traditional memoir. I enjoyed the 5 or 6 chapters I read well enough but ultimately it wasn't necessarily reeling me in the way I want to with something so personal. I'd still recommend giving it a try, especially if you are curious about reading from the perspective of someone who moved a lot during their life and is reckoning with their identity as tied to a nation/place....more
When you want to buy a book for someone who reads a lot, it can be hard to pick the 'right' book. But look no further than Elisa Gabbert's Any Person When you want to buy a book for someone who reads a lot, it can be hard to pick the 'right' book. But look no further than Elisa Gabbert's Any Person is the Only Self! This is a book I can't imagine an avid reader wouldn't enjoy. Essays on all sorts of topics around literature, the act of reading, reflecting on memories of books from childhood, and more. All told in Gabbert's accessible and relatable prose, these essays made me wonder, learn something, and also feel self-assured in my opinions about books while also being challenged to approach literature with a fresh perspective. Loved them!...more
A memoir told in letters. Emezi ruminates on topics of identity, gender, humanity, fame, love, family and more in these missives to loved ones, heroesA memoir told in letters. Emezi ruminates on topics of identity, gender, humanity, fame, love, family and more in these missives to loved ones, heroes, gods, etc.
I found the candor with which Emezi writes, as they always do, to be admirable, if not a bit opaque at times. Because each letter addresses different people and covers different topics, I found some more interesting than others, and some more vulnerable than others which I appreciated. I think it's an interesting technique/approach to a memoir, but didn't coalesce into a complete narrative like I'd prefer.
I also struggled at times to understand their thinking because they write so beautifully it feels like it overtakes the message. Still, quite enjoyable prose to read, but I think I prefer their fiction. I'm glad I read Freshwater (which is *excellent* btw) before this to get a glimpse of the topics Emezi is interested in, and a bit more about their life through their storytelling....more
This should be required reading. Too many good points to try and summarize in a review. All I'll say is that I really appreciated her rigorous attentiThis should be required reading. Too many good points to try and summarize in a review. All I'll say is that I really appreciated her rigorous attention to detail and facts, blended with her personal examination and willingness to call out herself to showcase how we might move forward and change as a collective. ...more
Perfection. A reckoning with and relishing in the cities that make us, the people who raise us, and what it means to make something of a life, plus exPerfection. A reckoning with and relishing in the cities that make us, the people who raise us, and what it means to make something of a life, plus exploring who’s allowed that privilege.
In his signature poetic prose and raw vulnerability, Abdurraqib takes memoir to a new level. Structured like a basketball game with countdowns breaking down the sections into smaller sections that drive the story forward, Abdurraqib moves around in time & space to unpack his thoughts on miracles, underdogs, kingdoms, witnessing, and more.
I loved a book about basketball. Who would’ve thought? But really it’s about so much more than the sport itself, just like life is more than just being alive....more
I don't read a lot of non-fiction like this but I was intrigued by the concept and wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone a little bit. I think I don't read a lot of non-fiction like this but I was intrigued by the concept and wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone a little bit. I think the brain is endlessly fascinating, and this book continued to prove that to me.
It's written in a surprisingly approachable way (yes, there are big words and lots of info about parts of the brain/scientific terminology—but I really commend the author for simplifying these concepts for the common reader without it feeling watered down).
I also appreciated how this was written after decades of the author's career in the field; so many of the anecdotes or supporting case studies were things he personally was involved in which made it not only richer but also more personal.
Another thing the author did well was, at the end of each chapter, providing examples of where memory can betray us in some way, or some sort of downside to human memory, but then offering a solution or practice to counter that, as much as we possibly can. It felt like non-fiction that had a purpose other than someone having an interest in a topic and writing about it; much more applicable and helpful for someone like me.
Part biography of Hannah Arendt, part literary criticism of her works, part memoir of the author retracing steps Arendt took both physically and profePart biography of Hannah Arendt, part literary criticism of her works, part memoir of the author retracing steps Arendt took both physically and professionally, and part treatise for how we might draw on Arendt's philosophies to make a better world. This book is so far outside of my comfort zone (it was sent to me by the publisher and piqued my interest only because my brother is a Kant scholar who also draws on Arendt's works heavily). But I'm really glad I read it!
I won't lie and say that at times I was challenged, but I never felt defeated. It's simply due to my lack of knowledge about Arendt prior to picking this up—which along the way was remedied—and how little I flex the 'muscle' of thinking in this way as a primarily fiction reader. I think the author does a great job of balancing academic writing with personal reflection, explaining things in a way that is more accessible than I anticipated.
This book sort of unlocked something in me that hungers for more non-fiction. Once I got to the halfway mark—having previously read about a chapter a day or so—I devoured this book. I was thinking about its concepts while I wasn't reading it: how do we operate in a world that feels so full of contradictions? Is there a way to exist peacefully under capitalistic structures? Do I feel like my votes even really matter? How can I go out and think, act, and reflect on my thoughts & actions in a manner that honors my humanity, as well as the humanity of those I exist with?
I also couldn't help but think constantly of Palestine while reading this. I would've loved to know how Arendt would feel about current events, but can only, as the author says, think along side her and imagine what she may have said. And by trying to see the world through someone else's eyes, whether friend or foe, perhaps I can begin to erase some of those distinctions and see instead humanity. And by doing so, create a more just and loving world....more
Songs on Endless Repeat: Essays and Outtakes is a posthumous collection of non-fiction pieces that have been previously published elsewhere intermixedSongs on Endless Repeat: Essays and Outtakes is a posthumous collection of non-fiction pieces that have been previously published elsewhere intermixed with the author's unfinished novel Straight Thru Cambotown.
There are 6 essays and 8 'short stories' (all the stories tie together to create a latticed view of a Cambodian family in California following the death of their influential aunt).
I loved everything about this. In ways I would compare this to The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan which I read back in 2014 and adored; still do. Anthony Veasna So's voice is so strong. He's witty and cynical but also hopeful and serious. His voice, I discovered through his essays and his fictional characters, is varied, but also consistent. I appreciated how he explored so many themes with ease: gender and sexual expression, the artist versus capitalism, the malaise of Millennial life, the immigrant child experience. He does all of this with a keen eye and a love for his subjects. He's not the author to toy with his characters or readers' emotions just for the fun of it. Everything he wrote felt authentic and real, even at the risk of upsetting people (readers or characters alike).
I loved the introduction to this book where she sort of sets the stage. The first 50 pages read like a more traditional memoir and had great writing. I loved the introduction to this book where she sort of sets the stage. The first 50 pages read like a more traditional memoir and had great writing. I think while I enjoyed her style and essay writing in the latter parts of the collection, it did start to feel redundant and some of the topics & writing felt a bit dated as this came out almost 25 years ago. Nevertheless I will be checking out more from Lamott! I appreciated her honesty and vulnerability in her faith journey. ...more
A graphic memoir recounting 2 years Beaton spent working at the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, far from her eastern coastal home of Nova Scotia.
The booA graphic memoir recounting 2 years Beaton spent working at the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, far from her eastern coastal home of Nova Scotia.
The book examines the rampant sexism and misogyny Beaton experience as 1 of very few women (about 1 woman for every 50 men) at the campsites. She recounts her experiences with sexual harassment and assault, and the daily grind she had to force herself to get through in order to make money to pay off student loans.
The illustration style in this was great. I love how she contrasted the natural landscape and epic machinery with the more cartoon-y people. I found her longing for her home palpable, and the hardship she endured as a woman at the workplace was intense and very well rendered.
I do think it was a bit longer than necessary. The repetition of some events throughout the middle of the book, while effective to show the toll it took on her and the other women there, slowed the book down a bit for me. I would've loved to read more about her actual work there too, or some other types of conversations she had beyond the main theme. I honestly didn't go into this book expecting it to be so much about sexual harassment/assault, and it does deal with rape and other similar topics so if that's something you don't like to read about, definitely consider before picking this up.
I want to go back now and read Beaton's other works. I've heard about them for years, but now I feel more motivated to pick them up!...more
I don't know how to rate this book because my experience of this book and enjoyment of it does not reflect on the quality of the book itself. I listenI don't know how to rate this book because my experience of this book and enjoyment of it does not reflect on the quality of the book itself. I listened to this for a specific reason and otherwise would have probably given up after a few chapters because it wasn't what I expected. That being said, if you love 1970s cinema as much as Tarantino, and you care to read essays about some of his favorite films from that time period, then you might enjoy this a lot. He's clearly passionate about the subject, but for me it was like listening to an expert talk about something you really have no concern for or no understanding of, and so most of it was met with my reaction of "...and?" That's why I don't want to be critical of the book because it definitely does a good job at what it sets out to do. I just was not the intended audience. I would not pick this book up just because you like the author. If you do want to read it, take a look at the table of contents and see if you have seen any of the films it mentions. I, unfortunately, don't think I'd seen a single film he talked about so a lot of it was just lost on me. Also the audiobook says its narrated by the author and one other person, which is true, but he just narrates the first and last chapters, and the other narrator reads 90% of the book which was a bit disappointing....more
If you've ever been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you've likely been overwhelmed by its size and coverage of so much of human history through theIf you've ever been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you've likely been overwhelmed by its size and coverage of so much of human history through the lens of art and artifacts. In this memoir recounting his tenure as a guard at the Met, Patrick Bringley presents a story of grief and healing through the mundane and miraculous experience of being: being alive, being a human, being an observer of art and other humans. Through the everyday occurrences to the once-in-a-lifetime moments, Bringley takes us behind the curtain of working at the Met, while showing how his work there helped him process the death of his brother.
I really loved this book. Not only because I love art and art history, and having visited the Met a few times in my life, love it as well. But also because Bringley brings such a gentle passion for art and humanity in a way that makes places like the Met feel more accessible and intimate. He doesn't have a snobby approach to art one might expect from someone who spent nearly a decade working at one of the world's most renowned museums. He provides examples and instructions for how to have a personal experience in such a crowded place. He recounts his own precious moments in the museum, with the other guards, and with guests he encounters over his years there.
Plus, his writing is beautiful and the audiobook narration which he does himself feels so personal. I only wish I had the physical book to see the works of art he constantly references, though I did some of my own Googling along the way.
This is for fans of people watching, those seeking a little dose of inspiration, anyone who needs a reminder that life is short but precious and worth living fully, anyone struggling to balance stillness and productivity, and lovers, of course, of the Met and art history.
--- Quotes:
"Much of the greatest art, I find, seeks to remind us of the obvious. 'This is real,' is all it says. Take the time to stop and imagine more fully the things you already know."
"A scene of this type is called an 'adoration,' and I held the rather beautiful word in my mind. How useful a name for a kind of tender worship that arises in such a moment. We are silenced by such a vision, softened, made penetrable by what is vibrant and unhidden, but felt only weakly amid the clamor of everyday life. We need no explanation of our adored object. Adding context could only obscure it's plain and somehow unmysterious mystery."
"When we adore, we apprehend beauty. When we lament, we see the wisdom of the ancient adage, 'Life is suffering.' A great painting can look like a slab of sheer bedrock; a piece of reality too stark and direct and poignant for words."
"On and off I have been reading a book about Egyptian history, and I am reminded again how different are the experiences of reading books and looking at art. The book's information has pushed my knowledge of Egypt forward. By contrast, coming into contact with an actual fragment of Egypt seems mostly to hang me up. This is an essential aspect of a work of art. You can't empty it of its contents and patly move on. It seems to scorn a world where knowing a few bullet points of a subject is counted the least bit impressive. Indeed, bullet points are what it won't spew. A work of art tends to speak of things that are at once too large and too intimate to be summed up, and they speak of them by not speaking at all."
"In time I develop a method for approaching a work of art. I resist the temptation to hunt right away for something singular about a work, the big deal that draws the focus of textbook writers. To look for distinctive characteristics is to ignore the greater part of what a work of art is."
"I believe we take art seriously when we try to discern at close quarters it reveals."
"It occurs to me that it isn't enough to learn from finished works of art in all their apparent perfection. I should keep in mind the toil these works entail. One good reason to look at someone else's creation is because you are studying how you might build something yourself. And for the first time in my life, really, I feel as if I am building something. In a terribly inelegant, ad hoc process I am building two little humans, and I am making the little world I would wish them to live in, a project that can't be perfected or finished."...more
I've been reading this book slowly over the last week or so, dipping in and out of it, contemplating Amina Cain's musings on writing, fiction, and ourI've been reading this book slowly over the last week or so, dipping in and out of it, contemplating Amina Cain's musings on writing, fiction, and our relationship to text. She has a lot of interesting ideas in this that are worth sitting with. It's written unlike anything I've read before, a sort of diary and essay collection, very fluid in themes and topics. She moves from talking about her own writing at times to pondering her favorite writers or stories. She looks at how we relate to the text through its 'accessories,' as she says, rather than strictly in form and style. I liked this. I would like to revisit it again someday, or read certain sections over again to continue to think about what she is saying. I also think it would be valuable to read some of the books she references in this that I have not read (though she is a Cusk and Ferrante fan so I pretty instantly felt on the same wavelength as her). ...more
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