I just wish all Americans could read this book — or at the least, anyone who’s undecided about whom to vote for. This is such an important book. And iI just wish all Americans could read this book — or at the least, anyone who’s undecided about whom to vote for. This is such an important book. And it’s so well written.
Steve Benen lays out, clearly and in detail, the nearly innumerable ways that Republicans have been rewriting history — from the January 6th insurrection to the Covid pandemic to the border wall — and somehow convincing their followers that this new version is the Truth. They just say the same things over and over. It really doesn’t take long to convince people that things they saw and heard with their own eyes and ears didn’t happen or weren’t really what they seemed to be. So many of the lies — usually brazen, outright lies that could be easily refuted — come from Trump, but are echoed again and again by his allies, by legislators who know better but are willing to sell out the truth for money or power.
This is all pretty scary. But perhaps knowledge can be empowering. It’s hard to know what any one of us can do. But we have an obligation to arm ourselves with the truth.
BTW, the audiobook, narrated by Rachel Maddow is just fantastic. I’m so glad I listened. And the audiobook is less than 6 hours. She speaks slowly. I speeded it up a bit and it was still fine.
A short, but compelling narrative about Anthony Fauci’s career, as well as a look at the future of viral research. Much of the book concerns Fauci’s rA short, but compelling narrative about Anthony Fauci’s career, as well as a look at the future of viral research. Much of the book concerns Fauci’s role in the availability of treatments for people with AIDS in the 1980s and 90s. The book was published in October, 2020, when Covid was in full swing and vaccines not yet available. The audiobook, with its numerous archival recordings and original score, is narrated by the author, well-known New Yorker writer Michael Spector. I enjoyed it all immensely and am glad I listened to the audio. And, by the way, it won Audiofile Magazine’s coveted Earphones Award.
I plan to listen soon to Fauci’s own memoir, On Call, which was released in June and which Fauci narrates. ...more
So far, I've listened only to Pride and Prejudice. Really liked the narration by Claire Foy — and it's not just a narration, but rather a performance,So far, I've listened only to Pride and Prejudice. Really liked the narration by Claire Foy — and it's not just a narration, but rather a performance, complete with sound effects.
I read P&P in 2015 and said that I LOVED it. I enjoyed it even more this time. I had forgotten a lot. Or maybe it's a slightly different book each time one reads it. I think it improves greatly with a reader's age. That's my experience, anyway....more
I’m a sucker for anything about memory, with which I’ve been fascinated for decades. Charan Ranganath recounts much recent research showing that memorI’m a sucker for anything about memory, with which I’ve been fascinated for decades. Charan Ranganath recounts much recent research showing that memory is far more than a record of the past. The book concerns how memories are formed and how they change over time, as well as imagination, deja vu, and false memories. Recalling the common sci-fi trope of traveling back in time to change the present, Ranganath shows that memory allows us to do exactly that. No, you can’t prevent an assassination or change your parents, but we can and do change ourselves as a result of how we remember.
Ranganath is a Professor of Psychology, faculty member of Center for Mind and Brain, and Director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at UC Davis. He’s also a good storyteller. Ranganath narrates the audiobook and is most pleasant to listen to.
If you’re not into audio, note that the Kindle edition is currently on sale for $5.99 (as of late June, 2024). ...more
I don’t know why I never read Lonesome Dove until now, no matter how many good things I heard about it. I just didn’t think I’d like a novel about a bI don’t know why I never read Lonesome Dove until now, no matter how many good things I heard about it. I just didn’t think I’d like a novel about a bunch of cowboys on a cattle drive in the 1870s. And I usually just don’t like really long books, no matter how good they are. At some point, I just want the story to be over. But, in honor of this summer’s Big Book Challenge, I decided to tackle it. And I loved it. Of course. It was really the complex characters and the ways in which McMurtry allows us access to his characters’ inner lives and relationships. It requires an astounding level of narrative skill because the writing is fairly simple and direct, and there’s plenty of humor, too. There’s also a great deal of description that puts you right into every scene — whether it’s a bar or brothel or the wide-open plain. Always a very strong sense of place. This book will remain an all-time favorite for me. I know there are two prequels, as well as a sequel, but am not sure I’ll ever read them. I sort of want this book to stand alone in my heart.
I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook. And I LOVED that audio!! Treat yourself. ...more
I sure wish I could find more books that grabbed and enthralled this one did! A real favorite and definitely the most gripping nThank you, Liz Moore!!
I sure wish I could find more books that grabbed and enthralled this one did! A real favorite and definitely the most gripping novel I’ve read in a long time.
This fast-paced mystery begins with the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl from her summer camp cabin in the Adirondacks. She also happens to be the daughter of the camp’s owners. There are many layers of mystery woven throughout this story revealed from several characters’ points of view in two different timelines (1961 and 1975). The short chapters, which often ended in cliffhangers,, kept me guessing and reading compulsively — oh, just one more chapter, just one more, just one more. I was actually listening to the audiobook and it was so good, it kept me awake more than half the night. I just couldn’t stop.
It’s a great summer read that brought back memories of my own summer camp days — though I didn’t attend a coed camp. And there were no drugs at camp in my day. But I could picture that lake and cabin perfectly. And my inner 12-year-old identified completely with shy and awkward Tracy. I know the feeling of being in awe of self-confident, rebellious girls like Barbara.
There are so many well-developed characters in this story, from the campers to the counselors (who have their own dramas) to the camp’s owners and their rich friends, who are prone to behaving badly. And many have their own secret or tragic or damning back-stories. There are good guys and bad guys, rich and poor. The class divide is well delineated. Besides warming to Tracy, Barbara, and counselor Louise, I detested “the Peters,” feared for Alice, Barbara’s mother, and cheered for Judy, the young police investigator. To say I was invested in these characters is putting it mildly.
I so wished for an Epilogue, because, although I felt the story ended satisfactorily, I really, really wanted more. As if these characters were real people, I wanted so much to know what happened to them in the years to come! That, I'll have to invent myself.
I read Liz Moore’s last two novels (The Unseen World and Long Bright River) and thought them both brilliant. As a matter of fact, I’m going to revisit The Unseen World, perhaps in audio....more
Who knew a nonfiction book about life as a flight attendant could be so fascinating?!! I absolutely loved this memoir. I listened to the audiobook, anWho knew a nonfiction book about life as a flight attendant could be so fascinating?!! I absolutely loved this memoir. I listened to the audiobook, and I’m sure that added a lot, as it’s narrated by the author. Ann Hood reveals that the job, which she loved was difficult, stressful, often miserable, but also exciting, and even glamorous. Her stories will confirm some of your stereotypes and challenge others, but they never fail to entertain. Also, they vividly trace her personal development from a shy, studious, naive young woman to one who is capable, confident, and worldly. Take a trip back in time to the golden era of air travel in this marvelous memoir!
Hood, by the way, is a prolific writer of both fiction and memoir. Her first novel, Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine, was written while she was working as a flight attendant. I read that book in 1988 and am about to reread it....more
I’m already a firm believer in play. Not only do I mean doing things that you enjoy (reading, playing music, camping, hiking, whatever), but also thatI’m already a firm believer in play. Not only do I mean doing things that you enjoy (reading, playing music, camping, hiking, whatever), but also that kind of pure silliness that leads to uproarious laughter all around. Having a playful disposition and engaging in playfulness regularly is healthy. And it just makes you feel good. You can play with kids, grandkids, or whomever. But it’s also important to play with adults, e.g., your partner. Of course, it helps to have a partner who will play with you! And you really have to let go of worrying about what anyone thinks of you
Also, play is an integral and critical part of creativity whether it’s noodling on the piano, with a paintbrush, or with words. It’s fine to let nonsense be your guide once in a while. You can refine later.
As some other reviewers have noted, some of Brown’s metaphors are irritating — when, for example, he personifies or talks about programming the brain. But it’s basically a good book. There are so many areas of our lives in which we could introduce more play for a happier, healthier life.
NB: I listened not to a CD, but to the Audible edition, which I can't find on Goodreads. Maybe I missed it. ...more
I don’t read much self-help stuff. I don’t even remember where I heard of this book or why I decided to listen. Most likely, I heard an excerpt and foI don’t read much self-help stuff. I don’t even remember where I heard of this book or why I decided to listen. Most likely, I heard an excerpt and found it absorbing enough to get me through hours of walking on the treadmill. Okay, but I must say, I really enjoyed it! Robbins is lively, emphatic, irreverent, opinionated, and fun to listen to. Only downside: it's pretty redundant. But she has some really good advice, As Robbins says, herself, the “5-Second Rule” sounds dumb. Lots of the things she says may sound dumb. But darn-it, the practice can really work, has worked for thousands of people, no doubt. I quoted a lot of it to my husband. We laughed about how goofy it sounded. But hey, it got me back on the treadmill and is helping me cut down on cell-phone doomscrolling. A new twist on “Just do it,” or “Just say no.” It works if you let it....more
Joanna (aka J.F.) Penn is a powerhouse — a multi-talented writer (of fiction and nonfiction), a podcaster, international speaker, and award-winning crJoanna (aka J.F.) Penn is a powerhouse — a multi-talented writer (of fiction and nonfiction), a podcaster, international speaker, and award-winning creative entrepreneur. She has for many years maintained a fantastic website, The Creative Penn, with all extensive knowledge and advice on a wide range of topics — e.g., writing (fiction and nonfiction), self-publishing, marketing, the author mindset, AI and the future of creativity, as well as numerous tools, tutorials, and other resources.
I’ve long been a fan, though I don’t read the kind of fiction she writes — thrillers usually involving religious subjects and supernatural dimensions. But I’ve read many of her nonfiction books on writing and marketing, listened to her podcasts for years (she’s been podcasting regularly since 2009(!) and weekly since 2015), and have availed myself of several tutorials and website topics.
During the years from 2020 to 2022, Joanna walked three pilgrim trails — Pilgrims’ Way, England; St. Cuthbert’s Way, Scotland & England; Camino de Santiago’s Portuguese Coastal Route — not in the spirit of a religious journey, but rather as a secular and, in part, inner journey. This book is part memoir and part advice to anyone thinking about undertaking a pilgrimage. It’s available in print or audio and really great to listen to (Penn narrates) The book contains several appendices, including questions to ask yourself in preparation for both the physical and inner journey, and links to all kinds of resources on her website.
For this book, Joanna won Best Self-Published Non Fiction/Memoir at the Selfies Awards at the 2024 London Book Fair.
I don’t plan to undertake this kind of a walking pilgrimage, but I realized in reading and thinking about the questions posed that it’s my art journey that’s my pilgrimage. There are so many similarities, and I plan to think and write more about them. Anyway, a good book even if you have no intention of this kind of walking....more
The prompt seemed simple. A postcard reading; Race. Your Thoughts. Six Words. Please Send.
From this simple beginning came a 12-year endeavor, the RaceThe prompt seemed simple. A postcard reading; Race. Your Thoughts. Six Words. Please Send.
From this simple beginning came a 12-year endeavor, the Race Card Project. Michelle Norris has now compiled the responses — thousands of Americans lived experiences, each reduced to six words, for example:
• You’re Pretty for a Black girl. • White privilege, enjoy it, earned it. • Lady, I don’t want your purse. • My ancestors massacred Indians near here. • Urban living has made me racist. • I’m only Asian when it’s convenient.
A delightful book, especially in audio. A reminder of the importance of writing, especially in order to leave some of your thoughts and feelings for tA delightful book, especially in audio. A reminder of the importance of writing, especially in order to leave some of your thoughts and feelings for those who care about you and those who come after you. Great deeds and great thoughts not required — even the minutiae of your ordinary daily life constitutes a historical record. And try writing longhand once in a while. (I must confess that I rarely do that.)...more
It’s the Everything Book! No matter what you’re looking for, no matter what you want to hear, Rubin is sure to cover it.
Some common sense, some platitIt’s the Everything Book! No matter what you’re looking for, no matter what you want to hear, Rubin is sure to cover it.
Some common sense, some platitudes, some hogwash, some faux spirituality, and some very good advice — all recycled as great truths of the universe, solemnly intoned by Rubin, in a new-age guru voice, with a single chime of a bell after every brief section. I thought he sounded more than a tad pretentious and I had to turn the speed up a bit to subdue my gag reflex. (Though, on regular speed, it’s a good sleep aid.)
Warning: False dichotomy between science and spirituality. As if doing science is not creative. As if scientific progress did not owe as much to intuition as to logic and reason. As if science did not include a capacity for wonder. (You can see he got me a bit riled at times.)
Rubin insists that creative ideas are out there in the universe waiting to move through us. Does he really believe that? Or is it supposed to be a metaphor? Let’s give the human brain some credit.
I agreed with a lot — e.g., Attention is important. Receptivity is important. Practice is important. Play is important. But these are not brilliant new observations. Most artists recognize these things....more
I absolutely loved Wilson’s translation of the Odyssey, narrated by Claire Danes. Because I’d enjoyed that audiobook so much, I opted for the audio edI absolutely loved Wilson’s translation of the Odyssey, narrated by Claire Danes. Because I’d enjoyed that audiobook so much, I opted for the audio edition of Wilson’s The Iliad. This one is narrated by amazing Audra McDonald — and I hasten to add that, according to ratings on Audible.com, most people give the performance high marks. But it didn’t work for me. I found McDonald’s narration just too loud, strident, so much yelling. And she seemed to place the stresses where I probably would not had I been reading it. So that’s what I want to do: read it.
I really appreciated Wilson’s translator’s notes and long introduction detailing the themes of loss and compensation, the city of Troy, the identity of Homer, the code of honor, emotions, and many other topics. Just fascinating....more
I was interested in this book primarily as a reader, since my days of taking and teaching writing workshops are probably over. I wish I could have reaI was interested in this book primarily as a reader, since my days of taking and teaching writing workshops are probably over. I wish I could have read this book 30 years ago. But with that history and my lifelong love of reading fiction, I found the book of great value. And I learned a lot about the biases in my education and their effects on my own literary preferences.
Salesses starts out by asserting that the book takes issue with accepted models of craft (e.g., character-driven plot) and workshopping (e.g., the workshop gag rule in which an author must remain silent). The challenge, he says, is “to take craft out of some imaginary vacuum (as if meaning in fiction is separate from meaning in life) and return it to its cultural and historical context. Race, gender, sexuality, etc. affect our lives and so must affect our fiction. Real-world context, and particularly what we do with that context IS craft.“ The author’s elaborate unpacking of that challenge is nothing short of brilliant.
As others have noted, this is really two books in one: one about the craft of fiction and one about fiction writing workshops, specifically the conventional MFA workshop method. The first section aligns more closely with my current interests, e.g., how fiction works on many levels, such as tone, plot, conflict, character arc vs. story arc, structure, pacing, etc.). The book is both challenging and eye-opening. But I liked part two, having participated in numerous fiction workshops as both student and teacher. The author explores alternative styles of workshopping and provides numerous writing and revision exercises. What a great gift!
Anyone writing or teaching fiction needs to read this book!! And readers who care about how literature works at levels deeper than the surface story will also gain a lot of insight here.
One caveat: I listened to the audiobook. It’s well narrated, but I found the content difficult to process and retain. This is one case in which reading the text would be the way to go....more
I don’t know why Amazon/Goodreads describes this as a “hilarious” meditation on post-privacy America. It is absolutely terrifying. And riveting all thI don’t know why Amazon/Goodreads describes this as a “hilarious” meditation on post-privacy America. It is absolutely terrifying. And riveting all the way. I also don’t understand why the author chose this unhelpful title. But . . .
It’s about data (“You are data about data.”) surveillance, conspiracy theories, and the leaking of government secrets, usually by people who feel they’re doing the right thing, bringing attention to little-known travesties of justice. It's subtitled "A Journey Through the Deep State," but really, no one knows extent, depth, or cost of that territory. Reality Winner’s case is of this kind, and her story is featured in great detail here. A basically good person who made a mistake and was tried and punished wiotj gross unfairness. But there’s more here. The book is eye-opening, but also extremely disturbing (descriptions of torture). This is also a book about how we, the public, at once try to make sense of reality and at the same time collude in its distortions. There’s so much that we don’t know, more than most of us probably imagine. We all need to be better informed. This book is a good start. Highly recommended
I listened to the audiobook and the narration, though not by the author, is very good. ...more
LOVED THIS! I’ve read one volume of Levy’s memoir, but this is the first of her novels that I’ve read. I found it innovative (compared to my usual reaLOVED THIS! I’ve read one volume of Levy’s memoir, but this is the first of her novels that I’ve read. I found it innovative (compared to my usual reads), quirky (just enough), and highly engaging. I’m not sure if I’d have been so completely enthralled if I’d been reading the text — but want to say that the audio is FANTASTIC. Alix Dunmore is one of the best narrators I’ve ever heard, or at least was just perfect for this book. Her renditions of all the characters were distinct and convincing. A great book to listen to, though a short one (4 hrs, 16 minutes).
Thanks to the Book Club Review Podcast for the recommendation!...more
This is really a wonderful narrative! Andrew Leland, a writer and audio producer, documents his personal journey from sightedness to blindness (from rThis is really a wonderful narrative! Andrew Leland, a writer and audio producer, documents his personal journey from sightedness to blindness (from retinosis pigmentosa, an inherited, degenerative disease of the retina). But the book is about so much more — a literary, cultural, and philosophical exploration of blindness, as well musings on the moral and emotional dimensions of disability. Leland tells how it really feels to be losing this critical sense that most of us take for granted. After reading this, you’ll think differently — and with greater insight — about both sight and blindness, Leland is an engaging narrator — informative, warm, and humorous. I highly recommend the audiobook....more
This is an amazing book and an especially great listen!!
For most of us, a large percentage of our daily caloric intake comes from substances that realThis is an amazing book and an especially great listen!!
For most of us, a large percentage of our daily caloric intake comes from substances that really don’t meet traditional definitions of food. Rather, they are processed “stuff” that contain a myriad of substances you’d never have in your kitchen. A lot of them are harmful or of unknown effects on the body. And a lot of them are pretty disgusting. But the book is about a lot more this. Van Tulleken delves into the production and distribution of ultra-processed foods on a global scale. He considers the environmental costs of cheap food, as well as the corporate forces that have created and perpetuate our current food culture, which is harmful for everyone, but that especially takes advantage of disadvantaged people the world over, wreaking disproportionate havoc on those who can least afford it and have few alternatives. A really important and eye-opening read.
The book is read by the author who is just great. There’s lots of science here, but he really breaks it down, makes it easy to follow, and interjects many anecdotes, often humorous, drawn from his own experiences.
This is number 71 of the 100 books I had aimed to read this year. Not such a great finish — but of course I have my excuses . . . I mean reasons! I might sneak in one more. :)...more
Note: I did not listen to this audio CD, but rather to the "Only from Audible" Edition. I can't find that book on this site and the last time I tried Note: I did not listen to this audio CD, but rather to the "Only from Audible" Edition. I can't find that book on this site and the last time I tried to add a book, I made a mistake and was chastised by a Goodreads librarian. So I won't try that for a while. The edition I read is ASIN #B0018OQ29U and is on Amazon here: The Age of Innocence.
I’m sorry to admit that I’ve reached this great age without having read Edith Wharton, despite having taken many literature courses in college and also having attached a Master's degree in English Lit. This book was a real treat! I just loved it.
I’m one who has always said that I like nonfiction on audio much better than fiction. In general, I’d prefer to hear the characters speaking in my own mind’s ear than some narrator’s interpretation and pacing. But I was truly captivated by this particular narration — or really, performance — by David Horovitch. He does a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life. I was completely absorbed in the story and stayed awake late into the night to hear one more chapter . . . one more chapter. (I’d listened to samples of other narrators and didn’t think I’d much like listening to them, but when I heard Horovitch, I was hooked.)...more
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