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Hallettatme (9 KP) rated I am, I am, I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death in Books
Aug 2, 2018
For whom the Bell jar tolls
I almost gave this memoir a pass because of its title coming from a quote from the Bell Jar. I am glad that I did not. It is not so heavy handed nor dense as I imagined a work that gleaned its name from Sylvia Plath's work would be.
A life story told in near death experiences, it still manages to be, not macabre but light heartfelt and self effacing. I reccomend this book for anyone who believes that a life is made up of defining moments, and wants to see what those moments can add up to.
A life story told in near death experiences, it still manages to be, not macabre but light heartfelt and self effacing. I reccomend this book for anyone who believes that a life is made up of defining moments, and wants to see what those moments can add up to.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Missing Matisse: A Memoir in Books
Mar 26, 2020
I've been trying to finish this book for months. Today, I realized that I didn't actually care what happened, so I stopped reading.
It started slow, then got slightly more interesting once WWI started. HOWEVER, I picked up this book because I thought it was going to be more about the artists at the time.
The description of the book is very misleading, if you want to read a mildly interesting memoir about a kid who participated in the French Resistance and was "related" to Matisse. Honestly, bringing up the uncertainty of who this dude's biological father was a side note and didn't make sense.
It started slow, then got slightly more interesting once WWI started. HOWEVER, I picked up this book because I thought it was going to be more about the artists at the time.
The description of the book is very misleading, if you want to read a mildly interesting memoir about a kid who participated in the French Resistance and was "related" to Matisse. Honestly, bringing up the uncertainty of who this dude's biological father was a side note and didn't make sense.
Phoebe Robinson recommended On Writing in Books (curated)
Emma Watson recommended Just Kids in Books (curated)
Emma Watson recommended Hunger in Books (curated)
Tom Turner (388 KP) rated A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent in Books
May 26, 2021
I loved the premise of this book. Set in a world equivalent to our 19th century, in the world of Darwin etc, except this world has dragons, and using a woman was as a protagonist of course highlights all the difficulties such a person might encounter.
The idea of having it as her memoir, for me while clever, was it's major weakness. Due to the character and it's time period, there was an understandable stiltedness to the narrative, but this was not something you could get over.
However, I am tickled enough to continue with the series one day, but not enough to do so straight away.
The idea of having it as her memoir, for me while clever, was it's major weakness. Due to the character and it's time period, there was an understandable stiltedness to the narrative, but this was not something you could get over.
However, I am tickled enough to continue with the series one day, but not enough to do so straight away.
Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee, Susan Elizabeth McClellan is the first book I've read about North Korea. The author's voice is genuine and emotional as it relates to the personal story of his adolescent years in North Korea during the 1990's. It is about a young man's awakening from naive child who believes his country is perfectly fine to realizing that not all people are treated equally. This is a memoir. The reader learns what it's truly like to grow up in North Korea
The most fascinating thing about North Korea and this memoir is the way the cult of personality works. It is deeply ingrained that Kim Jong-un is an almost magical being, someone to be revered, a perfect specimen of humanity leading the best country on Earth. It is actually illegal to mishandle any images of the Supreme Leader, never mind speak out against the regime.
Sungju Lee recounts his childhood through the 1990's famine. He begins in Pyongyang, a naive child with blind faith in his leader. This later changes as his family is forced to move to a poorer area of the country where the locals are starving and executions happen regularly. The reader learns about the complete lack of awareness that is characteristic of the more fortunate North Koreans. This is especially children. Their belief is that everyone is provided for and no one goes hungry.
This book is every eye-opening and terrifying.
The most fascinating thing about North Korea and this memoir is the way the cult of personality works. It is deeply ingrained that Kim Jong-un is an almost magical being, someone to be revered, a perfect specimen of humanity leading the best country on Earth. It is actually illegal to mishandle any images of the Supreme Leader, never mind speak out against the regime.
Sungju Lee recounts his childhood through the 1990's famine. He begins in Pyongyang, a naive child with blind faith in his leader. This later changes as his family is forced to move to a poorer area of the country where the locals are starving and executions happen regularly. The reader learns about the complete lack of awareness that is characteristic of the more fortunate North Koreans. This is especially children. Their belief is that everyone is provided for and no one goes hungry.
This book is every eye-opening and terrifying.
This book was not for me
I want to say something positive about this book. Okay, it is a quick read, I actually wanted to continue reading it although I am not sure if my reasons for this were because of enjoyment. I chose this book as I am going to be writing a part memoir for my dissertation. I liked the synopsis because I enjoy a bit of humour. In the past I have read (and enjoyed) a book by Mike Gayle called 'Turning Thirty' which I thought, and hoped, this book would have been similar. WRONG!!!!
Edwards basically writes some (I believe) far fetched memoir but mingles it with self help bullshit that has been regurgitated from other peoples ideas. I am confused by the author's objectives. Whilst I appreciate any woman who is a good and opinionated feminist, I feel that Edward's 'Sisterhood' is cringey. The writer comes across as middle class and perhaps would have benefited from excluding her middle class status to seem less arrogant to working class readers.
I learned of a technique for essay writing in college (PEE) Point, Evidence and Evaluation. This is a formula that Edwards uses throughout her book and it makes the flow very artificial instead of conversational.
On the plus side, it was her first novel, and she managed to write it and publish it. It just wasn't for me.
Edwards basically writes some (I believe) far fetched memoir but mingles it with self help bullshit that has been regurgitated from other peoples ideas. I am confused by the author's objectives. Whilst I appreciate any woman who is a good and opinionated feminist, I feel that Edward's 'Sisterhood' is cringey. The writer comes across as middle class and perhaps would have benefited from excluding her middle class status to seem less arrogant to working class readers.
I learned of a technique for essay writing in college (PEE) Point, Evidence and Evaluation. This is a formula that Edwards uses throughout her book and it makes the flow very artificial instead of conversational.
On the plus side, it was her first novel, and she managed to write it and publish it. It just wasn't for me.
I listened to the audio of this memoir from the former First Lady of the USA and it was beautifully narrated by the author. There is something special about listening to a memoir as read by the person who experienced it, it makes it a very personal experience. I was sucked into the life of Michelle and was moved by her highs and lows.
Taking us from her humble beginnings right through to the last days at the White House we get a very big picture of the life of Michelle. On the whole I found it interesting and at some points very moving (Ok I admit it I cried.) It was great to get an insight into worlds I know little about and she comes across as a very motivated and determined lady.
I loved they way she told various anecdotes from throughout her life but especially of her experiences in the White House. Considering some of the level of detail in her earlier life I was a little disappointed not to get more on the White House years we seemed to go through several with little coverage, which considering it wasn’t a short book seemed a little lopsided.
I did find myself losing focus sometimes but I have little interest in experiences around raising children and a few other areas that just didn’t come to life for me. All in all a worthwhile if lengthy listen that Michelle makes memorable.
Taking us from her humble beginnings right through to the last days at the White House we get a very big picture of the life of Michelle. On the whole I found it interesting and at some points very moving (Ok I admit it I cried.) It was great to get an insight into worlds I know little about and she comes across as a very motivated and determined lady.
I loved they way she told various anecdotes from throughout her life but especially of her experiences in the White House. Considering some of the level of detail in her earlier life I was a little disappointed not to get more on the White House years we seemed to go through several with little coverage, which considering it wasn’t a short book seemed a little lopsided.
I did find myself losing focus sometimes but I have little interest in experiences around raising children and a few other areas that just didn’t come to life for me. All in all a worthwhile if lengthy listen that Michelle makes memorable.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Entertainment reporter Michael Ausiello has enjoyed immense success in his professional life, progressing from writing at a soaps magazine to Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide to his current job as co-founder at TVLine.com. Ausiello is well-known for his snarky and knowledgeable insights about pop culture and TV. But while Ausiello's career was taking off, he was going through immense personal anguish: the death of his husband, Kit, from neuroendrocrine cancer in early 2015. Ausiello's memoir catalogues meeting Kit, thirteen years before his death, and also describes the heartbreaking journey of losing him to cancer--with much of the trademark wit and humor we see in many of his entertainment posts.
I don't know what possessed me to request this book. I love Ausiello, his reporting, and his columns, yes, but how I thought I'd come out unscathed from an incredibly sad memoir about a lovely gay man losing his beloved husband to cancer... I don't know. <i>Sure, parts of this memoir are funny and snarky, but much of it is just heartbreaking and gut-wrenching.</i> Good grief. There's no real equivalent of reading about a man openly and honestly telling you about losing a great love of his life.
Ausiello's memoir goes back in forth in time. While most of the book focuses on the present-day: learning about Kit's shocking diagnosis, how that affects couple, and ultimately leading up to his death. Still, he also goes back to when the two met, began to date, and fall in love. There's a sweetness to reading about young Kit and Mike, for sure. The early parts of the memoir very much remind me of reading pieces of someone's journal. Some of the beginning parts were a bit of a struggle for me, as you get bogged down in so much detail: what they ate, where they went, where they walked, who called who, etc. That was a little excruciating at times, but as I said, there was also a sweetness and tenderness to it. It just seemed like sometimes there was a little too much oversharing--details and moments that weren't necessarily relevant to the overall story. A little too much telling versus showing, especially in the first half or so of the book.
However, as it continues, it either improves or I became more used to the style. You become really caught up in Kit and Mike's relationship journey. It's painful and sad to read, but there are definitely humorous parts interspersed within as well (thank goodness). Ausiello appears to be brutally honest in his portrayal of everything--the ups and downs of their relationship, the cancer and its toll on Kit (and Mike), and more. What we're left with is a heartbreaking, poignant tale, with a reminder to truly live life to the fullest, as you really never know what comes next.
Overall, despite a slow (detailed) start, <i>this is a lovely tribute to Mike and Kit's love and life together.</i> It's heartbreaking and touching and a beautiful ode to his husband. My heart goes out to Ausiello, but after reading Kit and Mike's story, you'll be left grateful for the time the two had together. We should all be so lucky. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It is available everywhere as of 09/12/2017.
<center><a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">Blog</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/mwcmoto">Twitter</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KristyHamiltonbooks">Google+</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/justacatandabook/">Instagram</a>; </center>
I don't know what possessed me to request this book. I love Ausiello, his reporting, and his columns, yes, but how I thought I'd come out unscathed from an incredibly sad memoir about a lovely gay man losing his beloved husband to cancer... I don't know. <i>Sure, parts of this memoir are funny and snarky, but much of it is just heartbreaking and gut-wrenching.</i> Good grief. There's no real equivalent of reading about a man openly and honestly telling you about losing a great love of his life.
Ausiello's memoir goes back in forth in time. While most of the book focuses on the present-day: learning about Kit's shocking diagnosis, how that affects couple, and ultimately leading up to his death. Still, he also goes back to when the two met, began to date, and fall in love. There's a sweetness to reading about young Kit and Mike, for sure. The early parts of the memoir very much remind me of reading pieces of someone's journal. Some of the beginning parts were a bit of a struggle for me, as you get bogged down in so much detail: what they ate, where they went, where they walked, who called who, etc. That was a little excruciating at times, but as I said, there was also a sweetness and tenderness to it. It just seemed like sometimes there was a little too much oversharing--details and moments that weren't necessarily relevant to the overall story. A little too much telling versus showing, especially in the first half or so of the book.
However, as it continues, it either improves or I became more used to the style. You become really caught up in Kit and Mike's relationship journey. It's painful and sad to read, but there are definitely humorous parts interspersed within as well (thank goodness). Ausiello appears to be brutally honest in his portrayal of everything--the ups and downs of their relationship, the cancer and its toll on Kit (and Mike), and more. What we're left with is a heartbreaking, poignant tale, with a reminder to truly live life to the fullest, as you really never know what comes next.
Overall, despite a slow (detailed) start, <i>this is a lovely tribute to Mike and Kit's love and life together.</i> It's heartbreaking and touching and a beautiful ode to his husband. My heart goes out to Ausiello, but after reading Kit and Mike's story, you'll be left grateful for the time the two had together. We should all be so lucky. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It is available everywhere as of 09/12/2017.
<center><a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">Blog</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/mwcmoto">Twitter</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KristyHamiltonbooks">Google+</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/justacatandabook/">Instagram</a>; </center>