On my GoodReads page for this book, the space beneath where my review would go is Jenny Lawson. Y'all, I know my limitations: I cannot top9 April 2025
On my GoodReads page for this book, the space beneath where my review would go is Jenny Lawson. Y'all, I know my limitations: I cannot top Jenny Lawson.
However, I am here, and I have a few thoughts. Thomas came to my attention when his advice column began in the Washington Post, which I was mostly reading for the advice columns. Carolyn Hax is very good at what she does. Miss Manners' column has been impressing me for probably more years than either of us would like to acknowledge. Thomas was a charming addition to this lauded team: he is funny and just so kind. So yes, when I knew there were books, I added my name to the library(s) queues. To my delight, my turn came up pretty quick. But...
...I wasn't feeling it. My reading has gone way the hell down, and honestly, if I am not going to finish a book anyway, I would rather that failure not be something I have high hopes for. So the next person in line got it. Three times. It wasn't until the fourth time my name came up again that I thought I might actually be able to finish it. And I did. And it was a lovely, sad, sweet, funny, and ultimately very cheerful book.
If it seems counterintuitive that a book about depression could be perky, then one just hasn't read enough. Jenny Lawson's books are hilarious. Allie Brosh kills. Because the thing is, people who are going through life without challenges don't know how good they have it. They may suspect, they may be legitimately grateful, but they don't have to carefully construct entertainment to distract from the very messy emotions hiding behind the curtain. Humor is an active choice, I'm saying, so I root for anyone who makes that choice, and I praise anyone who makes it look effortless. A dinner party that included the three people would be a marvelous thing, indeed.
I would very much like to read more books by Thomas: I need more of his warmth and humor in my life. Maybe everyone does.
This is not just about death, loss, and grief, although you know there'sgoing to be that, and it is heartbreaking. There is also violence, suffering, This is not just about death, loss, and grief, although you know there'sgoing to be that, and it is heartbreaking. There is also violence, suffering, pain, because the cat who found Carr had also endured a horrible beginning. But there is unconditional love, and companionship, and someone who understands, which is to say: grace.
Carr's memoir is remarkable because he paid such close attention from the beginning to Masha. His thoughts, like his feelings, had time to develop an exquisite complexity and richness. He wrote as if he had all the time in the world. He didn't, of course, none of us do, but he did have just enough. A beautiful memorial to a remarkable cat, who brought out all his finer qualities in a way people mostly didn't. I cannot believe in an afterlife that doesn't reunite them.
This is definitely going on my list of books to get me into a cheerful mood. It's exactly the sort of thing that seems like real life the way one mighThis is definitely going on my list of books to get me into a cheerful mood. It's exactly the sort of thing that seems like real life the way one might wish it to be: four kids, two parents, two grandparents, school friends, and aunts and uncles and cousins, plenty of dogs, a school concert, handmade presents, sudden changes in plans, meal fiasco, etc. Of course, there is the fight between Clarice Bean and her younger brother Minal Cricket on the kitchen floor, but that ends with only one bruise and having missed the last four minutes of the Ruby Redfort Special on t.v.
***
Feel free to skip on to the next paragraph, because in this one I digress to raise a cultural issue that utterly baffles me: putting the stocking on the foot of the bed. It's a reasonable and natural place to locate actual socks in the middle of a night, without fumbling about on the floor. But how is it possible for Santa (is "Father Christmas" not used, or is this a change for the American audience?) to creep into everyone's room quietly, not disturbing the occupants, carrying gifts and candy for a specific recipient which has to be transferred into the stocking? This seems like it guarantees that Santa is going to be tripping over and bumping into stuff, and walking into bedrooms where people are still quite awake, as well as having to drag his bag all over the house, which in this case seems to have six bedrooms. It's a much less efficient system than popping into one room only. How does he do it? This troubles me more than jetting about the entire world in a day, because whereas the living room and the designated real or symbolic mantel are usually rather tidy for the holiday, bedrooms are absolutely not. That's where all the miscellany that was cluttering up the living room has been temporarily stashed, on top of the normal daily dirty clothes and such. Unless, maybe, every bedroom isn't quite as untidy as ours with boxes unpacked for 11 years, and pet stairs and whatnot. (view spoiler)[ My ADHD is really showing here, isn't it? (hide spoiler)]
***
Anyway, this would make a charming hour and a half of family entertainment for purposes of avoiding actual fights on the kitchen floor. Truly, this would become required viewing, along with The Grinch, and Miracle on 34th Street, and Die Hard, and A Wish for Wings That Work, and Muppets Christmas Carol, and Scrooged, and such.
***
Addenda 6pm 30 June 2024
I have just learned that besides being of an age, Child has singled out two of my favorite books from childhood as two that were particularly influential on her:The Shrinking of Treehorn and The 18th Emergency. Mind, it isn't unusual to share a favorite book in English with many thousands of others in one's cohort, it's just a happy coincidence. But if she mentions THE TEDDY BEAR HABIT I will be truly amazed.
I'm pretty sure that I first heard Ross Gay on "It's Been A Minute" and I was captivated. I readCatalog of Unabashed Gratitude slowly, one poem a day I'm pretty sure that I first heard Ross Gay on "It's Been A Minute" and I was captivated. I readCatalog of Unabashed Gratitude slowly, one poem a day more-or-less after not reading any poetry since school because I hadn't read anything from the 20th century about anything except dead animals or light verse, which I love unabashedly. Some of the poems I loved immediately, but they all intrigued me.
And then these essays just got to me. My life is good, I have rewarding work, and a loving family and so forth, but while there is a lot of contentment there isn't a lot of fun or joy. So I 'm trying to bring more of that back in. Without much success really, because what is it and how do you get it. What I am learning, still early days, is that joy is shared. And what with life and death and a pandemic throwing everything off, I just kind of got out of the habit. And while I doubt I'll ever reach the exuberance of this guy, it's a lovely goal to strive for.
There might very well be an "armadillo" shelf coming: I like them, little armored opossums as they seem. Or possibly it will be a Xenarthr28 June 2023
There might very well be an "armadillo" shelf coming: I like them, little armored opossums as they seem. Or possibly it will be a Xenarthra shelf, because I am also fond of the ground sloths and glyptodons. The word sounds quite alien, means "alien joint" which would also be a good bar name.
**
This was so clearly something I was going to love that I had to wait for a good day to read it. And, now that I have finished I get to tell myself "I told you so" which was very cheering, because I did listen and follow my own advice.
Kingsolver is right, this is a book for children. Helpfully, it teaches kids how to fight metaphorical monsters in a way that is understanding, and empathetic, and helpful. Presumably those calling it a book for adults have never read the the Narnia series, the Tiffany Aching books, or an obscure favorite of mine, The Hunger Games. No one wants to consider that there are a lot of people under 18 who have found themselves in horrible situations trying to save themselves and/or others, and this book would take a weight off their minds.
A perfect hero's journey, and a hell of a lot zipper than Huck Finn. This is funny and sad and wise and I love it.
Knocking off half an hour before bedtime because the creepiness factor has increased exponentially. And it is in no way related to memories02 May 2023
Knocking off half an hour before bedtime because the creepiness factor has increased exponentially. And it is in no way related to memories of my grandmother who was sternly disapproving.
***
05 May 2023
Probably the first time I've closed a horror book and thought "relatable," but there you are. Sam's reactions, her sense of humor, and that damn grandmother all provide a firm reality with no self-concious spookiness. And this does fall into that sweet spot where the humor doesn't break up the building horror. Just the thing to delight my darlings with for All Hallow's Read. Well, maybe I'll just let them borrow mine.
Shout-out to Karolis Strautniekas and Ester S. Kim, jacket artist and designer respectively, for the excellent work. Great concept well executed. Love the vulture shadow, but the wallpaper, perfect.
Oh, well done! Creepy, good use of source material, excellent additions. Happily not exactly the thing24 March 2024
Love the Tor cover!
***
29 March 2023
Oh, well done! Creepy, good use of source material, excellent additions. Happily not exactly the thing to make being alone at home unbearable. Just oppressive as wet summer heat in my neck of the woods.
The only disappointment was when I saw a line on the copywrite page that there were original endpapers. Whether it is worse not to see them at all, or to see them badly depicted in greyscale however, I cannot say. Knowing they exist means I shall have to buy a copy soon.
I read this aloud to our adopted cat, Queen Luna Grey DeLisle, who immediately recognized it as the best book I have ever read to her. As a mature catI read this aloud to our adopted cat, Queen Luna Grey DeLisle, who immediately recognized it as the best book I have ever read to her. As a mature cat with wide-ranging taste in books, one who has listened to me reading aloud a great many books over the past 15 years, and who is named (in part) after a distinguished voice actor, this is the highest accolade imaginable.
This important book addresses both the topics of books and cats, which are of continual interest to us. Further, we are shown the crucial role animal shelters serve in our communities and the cover of the beloved classic, Millions of Cats.
There is also a lovely note from the author on the origins of the work.
Highly recommended for reading to oneself or to others of any species or location.
It is a simple concept: rare words such as one would never see decorating a nursery or classroom, illustrated with capybaras. I adore it and I want toIt is a simple concept: rare words such as one would never see decorating a nursery or classroom, illustrated with capybaras. I adore it and I want to have it actually encircling a room. I don't know how hard it would be to get a custom-printed wallpaper border. It might be easier to pick a room, measure the circumference, and scale it to fit. No doubt there's someone on the internet with a tutorial for turning something into a mural. And a converter to give me scale.
I love these guys. Dunn captures the idiosyncrasies that make our pets beloved and exasperating. The people are nice, but when she draws the cats in pI love these guys. Dunn captures the idiosyncrasies that make our pets beloved and exasperating. The people are nice, but when she draws the cats in pajamas it makes me smile.
Take the Cannoli: Stories From the New World - Sarah Vowell  I can already tell I'm going to want to read this again. Essays, I love them. Plus, in mTake the Cannoli: Stories From the New World - Sarah Vowell  I can already tell I'm going to want to read this again. Essays, I love them. Plus, in my mind, I can hear Vowell as she must have sounded on This American Life, which is where most of these began. There's a few bits of growing-up interspersed throughout, a lot of history, the blackest of humor. Great stuff, perhaps especially on the Trail of Tears and how many different emotions that trip spawned. So much humor, though. On the one hand, I think Vowell would be an awesome friend to hang with, laughing at Choo-Choo and working it into every comment because of the way it sounds ("spleen" is a personal fave) on the other, she would someday drag me along on the least appealing road trip ever. Hotspots of the Teapot Dome scandal? Tippecanoe? Some other phrase I only dimly recall from American history, but can't actually place in time or space? She's already done The Hall of Presidents, so I'd be clear of that one. Yet no matter how little the idea would appeal to me, she'd make it fascinating: full of humor and humanity. Maybe we can just get her and Kate Beaton and Bill Bryson to filter all of history for us? Library copy...more
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