 |
| My only 5-star review lately. Available here. And, yes, I proudly know the author. |
Today I finished reading and posting a review about "Project Hail Mary" in anticipation of the movie's opening... and I just looked over recent my Goodreads reviews and have come to realize one thing myself: I am turning into the proverbial "old man yelling at a cloud."
Which is unfortunate, because I'm not really that old... and I do, honestly, love to read.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is an extremely dense read. It's hard to get through, but much better when listening to the audio version.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A trifle disappointing because I had heard so many good things about this novella. It seemed to be set in the early 1900s, but then there are unexpected details that let you know that you are reading something set in the near present-day... which was fascinating but disconcerting all the same. There's much more to this story than the way it ends and all that leads up to it... which is also fascinating but disconcerting all the same.
The End of Drum-Time by Hanna Pylväinen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I read this as part of a book club. I know it's been well-received and well-reviewed, but I found it hard to follow (cue the college "Ulysses" flashbacks): big blocks of type with shifting POV and many different characters. I did not find the story compelling in any way. I slogged through it because I joined the book club to read books I wouldn't normally read... which is always revelatory, but not always enjoyable.
Our Mixtapes, Ourselves: The Happy-Sad Story and Soundtrack of Generation X by David Grady
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I finally can say, in all honesty, that I started reading a book I couldn't put down -- and now my wife thinks I'm crazy because I had my iPhone at my side and kept listening to snippets of the songs written about here... without AirPods. Because I wanted her to ask me what the heck I was doing and then I could explain to her why I loved this book so much. Thank you, David Grady, and thanks for posting your brother's drum intro to "Middle of the Road" at https://thosesongs.blog/
The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not my cup of tea 🙂 Foodies might like this. I found it too formulaic. You read three chapters? You’ve read them all.
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not a bad message. This is basically an essay, with fluff.
Playground by Richard Powers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
WARNING, if you listen to the AUDIO version:
There's a reason part of the typeset book is in italics. You miss that if you listen to the book. When I realized why, it answered the puzzle why such a talented writer would create a character like Rafi, who seemed like an AI stereotype!
What Is It All but Luminous: Notes from an Underground Man by Art Garfunkel
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Yikes!
The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A dear friend recommended this book, and this only proves, once again, that she's a much better person than I am. Certainly smarter... and with much better taste. I tried listening to this book, and that was a big mistake, given how dense and layered this is... and I was ready to give up on it. Then, I read-read the book -- and that is definitely the better way to experience this book.
Still, it's a tough read... and the theme of time passing and the relentless degradation of experience is hitting too close to home lately. So I'll knock this down a star for depressing me. Also, this is a translated work... and I never quite trust translations, which, as my Latin teacher once said (a very proper, older Holy Cross priest): "Translations are like women; the more beautiful they are, the less true."
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A happy accident. This is not a book I would have chosen to read on my own, but it was on the list for my local library's book club. I found this book difficult to get into, initially, since there were different narratives, in different eras, introduced in the beginning, and I thought, "Where is this going?" Then I just decided to not over-think things and enjoy the ride. In that spirit, it's a nice summer read...
...although, during today's book club discussion, I again discovered how I am aging exponentially more rapidly than I thought. The discussion leader -- a well-read movie lover age 30+, who I greatly respect -- did not know who Richard Burton was. Yes, a fictionalized version of him appears in this book. Not AI Richard Burton. Richard Burton, the actual actor.
View all my Goodreads reviews
Still -- while acknowledging that Art Garfunkel is extremely talented and has given more joy to more people than I will ever come close to in my lifetime -- I just... can't... when it comes to his book.
If you are looking for something brilliant to read, I recommend starting an annual tradition of re-reading "The Great Gatsby" over Memorial Day weekend... I also have high hopes for "Lincoln in the Bardo" on audio (audio, because I gather it includes many character voices), and finally reading "The Frozen River."
With that caveat in mind, here's the cloudy sky of my last 10 Goodreads reviews:
My rating: 3 of 5 starsThis is an extremely dense read. It's hard to get through, but much better when listening to the audio version.
I understand, from reading pre-reviews, that the upcoming movie is wonderful. How this book will translate to a movie is a mystery to me... but one I am looking forward to exploring! I liked the ending of this book very much, but I kept shaking my head throughout all the other parts, thinking about politics and current events: "People aren't really this smart!" This book could be characterized as "hard science fiction fantasy."
Small Things Like These by Claire KeeganMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A trifle disappointing because I had heard so many good things about this novella. It seemed to be set in the early 1900s, but then there are unexpected details that let you know that you are reading something set in the near present-day... which was fascinating but disconcerting all the same. There's much more to this story than the way it ends and all that leads up to it... which is also fascinating but disconcerting all the same.
The End of Drum-Time by Hanna PylväinenMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
I read this as part of a book club. I know it's been well-received and well-reviewed, but I found it hard to follow (cue the college "Ulysses" flashbacks): big blocks of type with shifting POV and many different characters. I did not find the story compelling in any way. I slogged through it because I joined the book club to read books I wouldn't normally read... which is always revelatory, but not always enjoyable.
Our Mixtapes, Ourselves: The Happy-Sad Story and Soundtrack of Generation X by David GradyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I finally can say, in all honesty, that I started reading a book I couldn't put down -- and now my wife thinks I'm crazy because I had my iPhone at my side and kept listening to snippets of the songs written about here... without AirPods. Because I wanted her to ask me what the heck I was doing and then I could explain to her why I loved this book so much. Thank you, David Grady, and thanks for posting your brother's drum intro to "Middle of the Road" at https://thosesongs.blog/
The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi KashiwaiMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not my cup of tea 🙂 Foodies might like this. I found it too formulaic. You read three chapters? You’ve read them all.
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall KimmererMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not a bad message. This is basically an essay, with fluff.
Playground by Richard PowersMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
WARNING, if you listen to the AUDIO version:
There's a reason part of the typeset book is in italics. You miss that if you listen to the book. When I realized why, it answered the puzzle why such a talented writer would create a character like Rafi, who seemed like an AI stereotype!
What Is It All but Luminous: Notes from an Underground Man by Art GarfunkelMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
Yikes!
The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di LampedusaMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
A dear friend recommended this book, and this only proves, once again, that she's a much better person than I am. Certainly smarter... and with much better taste. I tried listening to this book, and that was a big mistake, given how dense and layered this is... and I was ready to give up on it. Then, I read-read the book -- and that is definitely the better way to experience this book.
Still, it's a tough read... and the theme of time passing and the relentless degradation of experience is hitting too close to home lately. So I'll knock this down a star for depressing me. Also, this is a translated work... and I never quite trust translations, which, as my Latin teacher once said (a very proper, older Holy Cross priest): "Translations are like women; the more beautiful they are, the less true."
Beautiful Ruins by Jess WalterMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A happy accident. This is not a book I would have chosen to read on my own, but it was on the list for my local library's book club. I found this book difficult to get into, initially, since there were different narratives, in different eras, introduced in the beginning, and I thought, "Where is this going?" Then I just decided to not over-think things and enjoy the ride. In that spirit, it's a nice summer read...
...although, during today's book club discussion, I again discovered how I am aging exponentially more rapidly than I thought. The discussion leader -- a well-read movie lover age 30+, who I greatly respect -- did not know who Richard Burton was. Yes, a fictionalized version of him appears in this book. Not AI Richard Burton. Richard Burton, the actual actor.
View all my Goodreads reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment