I thoroughly enjoyed LISTENING to this (as many critics have noted, Streisand's performance of the audiobook smooths over many of the rough aspects ofI thoroughly enjoyed LISTENING to this (as many critics have noted, Streisand's performance of the audiobook smooths over many of the rough aspects of the print book). I appreciated the blend of Streisand's self-deprecating humor and confessions of insecurity and personal flaws, stories that demonstrate her intelligence, formidable talent, and perfectionism, the astounding reach of her celebrity and political network, her political convictions, and just enough of her part-Jewish, part-kooky spiritualism. She has been a huge influence on me since I was a boy and I'm grateful for this way to know her better....more
I'm a long-time follower of NT and of course a devotee of RBG. I enjoyed some of the family stories but mostly liked and wished there'd been more of NI'm a long-time follower of NT and of course a devotee of RBG. I enjoyed some of the family stories but mostly liked and wished there'd been more of NT's tough-minded analysis of SCOTUS, NPR, journalism, and sexual harassment. I do have to admit that her loving reflections on Scalia were spiritually challenging to me, in a good way....more
Devastating. Enraging. It made me re-evaluate several aspects of the Mormonism I grew up in (and turned my back on long ago). How can anyone willinglyDevastating. Enraging. It made me re-evaluate several aspects of the Mormonism I grew up in (and turned my back on long ago). How can anyone willingly belong to a religion, political party, or any other organization that openly subjugates women and persecutes LGBTQ+ people? How can members of my own family and people who call me a friend?...more
At the recommendation of a friend, I watched the teleplay online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmcCH.... Each act reveals an inhuman act transposedAt the recommendation of a friend, I watched the teleplay online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmcCH.... Each act reveals an inhuman act transposed from Greek tragedy to contemporary Mormon culture. I found the writing brilliant. On the one hand, Mormonism is susceptible to the kind of fundamentalist, magical thinking and also the American bravado that in part explains tragedies like these; on the other hand, so does almost every other American-born or nurtured religion and political ideology. ...more
What a great idea for a picture book: telling the story of three of the most important mass marches in US history! I just wish they'd included the NatWhat a great idea for a picture book: telling the story of three of the most important mass marches in US history! I just wish they'd included the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on October 14, 1979....more
So much to learn from this harrowing autobiography of three generations of women in 20th-century China. I appreciate how Chang was careful to distinguSo much to learn from this harrowing autobiography of three generations of women in 20th-century China. I appreciate how Chang was careful to distinguish the noble aims of communism from the insane, corrupt, anti-intellectual, death-obsessed personality cult of the Maos. ...more
Once again, I am moved, challenged, and uplifted by TTW's example of lived courage, the wisdom she has wrought from adversity, and her remarkable prosOnce again, I am moved, challenged, and uplifted by TTW's example of lived courage, the wisdom she has wrought from adversity, and her remarkable prose. ...more
Wow. I bought this book on a NYTimes recommendation and very glad I did. I love the plot conceit that octopi have become the controlling species and bWow. I bought this book on a NYTimes recommendation and very glad I did. I love the plot conceit that octopi have become the controlling species and baffle themselves to understand humans from an archeological perspective, especially our misogyny, racism, and utter disdain for the natural world....more
The author explains in the preface that this is not a story about Mormonism. But neither is it a story unrelated to Mormonism. It is a story about theThe author explains in the preface that this is not a story about Mormonism. But neither is it a story unrelated to Mormonism. It is a story about the lethal combination of (Mormon) religious fundamentalism and mental illness, about extreme right-wing separatism, about racism, radical sexism, anti-intellectualism, and the kind of American rural culture that perpetuates them. Most generally, it is a story about what Daniel Dennett called "breaking the spell" of religious memetics that make religion impervious to doubt and critical thinking, and the parallel memetics of family loyalty. And inasmuch as Mormonism powerfully combines the latter two, this is very much a story about Mormonism....more
This smart, heart-felt talk is an ideal invitation to those left who still don't get why feminism is a moral and political obligation. I wonder why shThis smart, heart-felt talk is an ideal invitation to those left who still don't get why feminism is a moral and political obligation. I wonder why she didn't include references to LGBTQ experience that is relevant to the points she made about masculinity, femininity, virginity and gender politics....more
My rating is a tribute rating, for the pomp, sentimentality and internalized colonialism of these poems is had to take, but the humanity of this firstMy rating is a tribute rating, for the pomp, sentimentality and internalized colonialism of these poems is had to take, but the humanity of this first-published African American slave poet shines through them, and her life story -- best told in Honoree Fanonne Jeffers' 2016 essay "'The Dear Pledges of our Love': A Defense of Phillis Wheatley's Husband" -- deserves nothing less than veneration....more
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