What makes Olive so lovable? To my mind, because never before have I read stories of an elderly crotchety woman who's simply human, not a monster by aWhat makes Olive so lovable? To my mind, because never before have I read stories of an elderly crotchety woman who's simply human, not a monster by any means.
Strout shows us again and yes, "Olive, Again," that we're all fragile and strong, lovable and awful. Moreover, in this sequel to "Olive Kitteridge" she illustrates how a really good life isn't about perfection -- it's about how the more we know, the less we know we do, and the beauty & pain within that awareness...
Btw, I had the good fortune to see Strout speak shortly after her first Olive book was published. It was good to see her speech to writers and readers was as generous of spirit as one would hope of Olive's creator.
Merged review:
What makes Olive so lovable? To my mind, because never before have I read stories of an elderly crotchety woman who's simply human, not a monster by any means.
Strout shows us again and yes, "Olive, Again," that we're all fragile and strong, lovable and awful. Moreover, in this sequel to "Olive Kitteridge" she illustrates how a really good life isn't about perfection -- it's about how the more we know, the less we know we do, and the beauty & pain within that awareness...
Btw, I had the good fortune to see Strout speak shortly after her first Olive book was published. It was good to see her speech to writers and readers was as generous of spirit as one would hope of Olive's creator....more
Be it people or food, are individuals best defined by where they were born? Or by where each ingredient within them originated? Charmaine Wilkerson’s Be it people or food, are individuals best defined by where they were born? Or by where each ingredient within them originated? Charmaine Wilkerson’s thoughtful family saga is as much a melding of Chinese, Caribbean, British, American, and Italian, as it is a world history injustice illustration, from class, skin color, and nationality, to sexual preference and gender. Lynnette R. Freeman’s audiobook narration elevates this wonderful novel to a remarkable level....more
Combust the most harrowing things inflicted upon you, burnish them into self-hurt, then smelt them into strength… Acts of Desperation is so literate, Combust the most harrowing things inflicted upon you, burnish them into self-hurt, then smelt them into strength… Acts of Desperation is so literate, so raw, so intelligent that after I finished it in print, I couldn’t stop listening to Lauren Coe’s brilliant audiobook performance of it. Beyond a mere ‘later coming of age’ by a young Irish author, it’s a nakedly honest take on how girls’ and women’s place is culture still has a long way to go. Warning: could be triggering, though was worth it for me....more
Goddesses help you if you're two grumpy neighbor ladies in South Africa, one black and one white, who started off on the wrong foot. With intelligenceGoddesses help you if you're two grumpy neighbor ladies in South Africa, one black and one white, who started off on the wrong foot. With intelligence, humor, and tenderness, Omotoso does an amazing job navigating the complexities of long-term friendship between women....more
Love, emotion, and attachment contemplated through the eyes of a woman who resorts to submitting to a sociopath in order to pay her medical bills. WhaLove, emotion, and attachment contemplated through the eyes of a woman who resorts to submitting to a sociopath in order to pay her medical bills. What's it like to be a super star who's lost the ability for compassion? What's it like to be his girlfriend, a living mannequin following a script? Great premise and well written, but cynical in the worst victim-minded sense. Megan Tusing offers a validating audiobook performance....more
Sublime in every way!!!! Angie Cruz wrote a wonderful book -- and then, and then, and then the amazing Rossmery Almonte narrated it into the stratosphSublime in every way!!!! Angie Cruz wrote a wonderful book -- and then, and then, and then the amazing Rossmery Almonte narrated it into the stratosphere!!! Great title and cover too!...more
Move over Olive Kitteridge (which I adored too, but in a different way). Maude's fed up. She's in her late 80s and she's not taking it anymore... SuchMove over Olive Kitteridge (which I adored too, but in a different way). Maude's fed up. She's in her late 80s and she's not taking it anymore... Such a rollick! The sequel is super charming too!...more
Radical collection of short stories wherein no topic is off-limits. Each vignette of noir humor illustrates how, to put it mildly and without revealinRadical collection of short stories wherein no topic is off-limits. Each vignette of noir humor illustrates how, to put it mildly and without revealing too much, we don’t ever have to stop surprising ourselves or anybody else....more
Takes a hard look at how we view ourselves and the world. What is race? Whatever your answer, think again. And again and again. Can it really be measuTakes a hard look at how we view ourselves and the world. What is race? Whatever your answer, think again. And again and again. Can it really be measured by where one’s ancestors were born and the color of their complexions — and should it? By not labeling oneself, are we naïve, or worse, sellouts?
Mat takes on a kaleidoscopic discussion of race, illustrated via a fictional account of a man whose skin is as light as his caucasian father’s, yet he resonates best with his dark-skinned African-American mother. That is, until he meets his teen-aged daughter after her white Jewish mom passes away. When the young woman tells him that, as far as she’s concerned, she’s white, he sets out to school her otherwise. Of course, this backfires. The point is, you need to read this book because it describes more succinctly and entertainingly than I can in this short blog post the conundrum of labeling. Some want to label themselves and others, others don’t want labels at all…...more
While this is auto fiction, Heti offers a realistic and honest account of what it's like to thoughtfully choose whether to become a mother in today's While this is auto fiction, Heti offers a realistic and honest account of what it's like to thoughtfully choose whether to become a mother in today's U.S. society....more
This was the first of Allende's books that I read. Though some of the many novels she's written since then are at times spotty, House of Spirits was sThis was the first of Allende's books that I read. Though some of the many novels she's written since then are at times spotty, House of Spirits was so insightful and gorgeous that I've read each of her books anyway. In The House of the Spirits, she weaves fantasy into the realities of three generations worth of her personal and political Chilean history....more
Thank you, Elizabeth, for yet more lessons in how important it is for us to see beyond the surface, that pity separates us whereas compassion brings uThank you, Elizabeth, for yet more lessons in how important it is for us to see beyond the surface, that pity separates us whereas compassion brings us closer to each other. Once more, audiobook reader Kimberly Farr rocks!...more
Strout's ability to not turn away from tragedy is always stunning. Always, she's there to show us the strength within it. The audiobook reader KimberlStrout's ability to not turn away from tragedy is always stunning. Always, she's there to show us the strength within it. The audiobook reader Kimberly Farr is marvelous!...more
It's impossible to read this book without feeling pain that a writer so intent on making each of us more human left us at only 28 years of age. Each sIt's impossible to read this book without feeling pain that a writer so intent on making each of us more human left us at only 28 years of age. Each story is arrow-to-the-heart honest, portrayals of how pity divides us and there can never be enough compassion. His mention of Hannah Arendt underscores how we must what is right, not what others command. Unlike easy pity, though, compassion demands tough self-accountability....more
What would it be like to be black and live in a black community post-Civil War era, to be a girl whose mom is a black female doctor? Freedom, identityWhat would it be like to be black and live in a black community post-Civil War era, to be a girl whose mom is a black female doctor? Freedom, identity, gender, caste, and plain ole’ relationships stitch together the canvas of this well constructed tale. Channie Waites, narration performer, also did a great job....more
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