This is a really important book to read with the presidential election coming up. Reich lays out how the laws have been manipulated to concentrate weaThis is a really important book to read with the presidential election coming up. Reich lays out how the laws have been manipulated to concentrate wealth, and the ability to buy political power, in a few hands, and how it has become a self-perpetuating, increasing cycle. He also lays out some common-sense proposals. Do we have the political will to get it done? The people still vote. ...more
In light of the information that came out recently about Loretta Young telling her daughter-in-law that she was date-raped by Clark Gable, which resulIn light of the information that came out recently about Loretta Young telling her daughter-in-law that she was date-raped by Clark Gable, which resulted in her pregnancy, the timing of this book was, at best, unfortunate. Reading this grand lifelong love story while knowing that Young considered it a rape was creepy and made me angry. I know it's meant to be fiction, but that would have been a better story with, you know, fictional people. #IBelieveLoretta
Also I just didn't buy that Loretta Young was Clark Gable's great love story. That was clearly with Carole Lombard. Both Gable and Young moved on very obviously after Call of the Wild and I am not on board with a love story, even if there hadn't been a rape in the case. Loretta Young hiding her pregnancy was an interesting story, and there were plenty of references to Loretta and her mother working to support the family without having a man to depend on in the 1930s, which would have been more interesting as the forefront story rather than Loretta Young pathetically pining for her rapist.
I listened to the audiobook and Blair Brown did a great job reading it, and acting the different voices and accents. I just didn't care for the story....more
These books are so charming. I'm listening to the audiobooks, and the reader is wonderful.These books are so charming. I'm listening to the audiobooks, and the reader is wonderful....more
I am a sucker for unreliable narrators and twist endings and this one was a doozy.
ETA: I see some people had problems with the writing style...I listI am a sucker for unreliable narrators and twist endings and this one was a doozy.
ETA: I see some people had problems with the writing style...I listened to the audiobook and didn't have those problems. Teenagers will be overdramatic. I'm old and cranky and I accept that, I guess....more
It's always interesting to read books that Jane Austen read. Belinda was published around the same time that Austen was writing Northanger Abbey (and It's always interesting to read books that Jane Austen read. Belinda was published around the same time that Austen was writing Northanger Abbey (and is namechecked in the "Defense of the Novel") and it clearly influenced her. I have other thoughts about it that I might write up later on....more
I read this on Laurel Ann Nattress' recommendation, and I'm so glad she told me about it! She said it was a cross between Jane Austen and I Capture thI read this on Laurel Ann Nattress' recommendation, and I'm so glad she told me about it! She said it was a cross between Jane Austen and I Capture the Castle, and that's a pretty good description (although, confession time: I don't like I Capture the Castle. Loved the premise but I remember being absolutely angry at the end of the book, but I don't remember why.)
Althea's family has a huge, crumbling castle that they are trying to keep from falling apart until her little brother, the heir, is old enough to run it. She has to marry a rich man. When Baron Boring inherits a neighboring estate, the way seems clear, but he brings his rude, annoying friend, Mr. Fredericks, who says terrible things and clumsily tries to destroy the already fragile castle. Several times Althea mentally deplores the social construct that does not allow people of the opposite sex to clearly communicate with one another, but she never has any trouble telling Mr. Fredericks anything she thinks.
I have tried so many times to read "Regency romances" written in first person and I thought it was me because I never liked them. They always seem like they're trying too hard. Patrice Kindl nails the voice, nails the story, creates delightful characters, and entertained me from beginning to end. I loved this!...more
This started off as a hilarious parody of modern publishing--though, written in 2007ish, it didn't reflect the influence of self-publishing and ebooksThis started off as a hilarious parody of modern publishing--though, written in 2007ish, it didn't reflect the influence of self-publishing and ebooks, which would have changed things considerably. Parts of it were laugh-out-loud funny, with the main character wanting to become a famous novelist so that he could get chicks, and figuring that it was a big scam. He observed the habits of readers and writers to determine the "formula" to becoming a literary sensation--and he succeeded, too. Then in the second half of the book, he turns human and no fun at all, and the book loses its fun as the MC slips into mediocrity. (I can't even remember his name...finished reading this over the weekend. That's kind of sad.)
That being said, it contains an absolutely spot-on parody of a Dan Brown novel. I actually like Dan Brown, but I recognize the, let us say, idiosyncrasies of his prose style. It was that kind of thing that really made me enjoy the first half of the book, and then be kind of bored by the second half. And now I need to find a pool book for Labor Day Weekend......more
Didn't actually finish this, but there's no other way to take it out of "Currently Reading" than to mark it read (that I could find). It's dated (seriDidn't actually finish this, but there's no other way to take it out of "Currently Reading" than to mark it read (that I could find). It's dated (seriously, an inept spy is found out due to a plot point involving a pay phone. A PAY PHONE!) and rather laddish for my taste. The fact that in 2015 we have computers in our pockets that, while they do not reason as the human brain does, they can imitate it to a high degree (Google Now, Siri, etc.) really dated it considerably. The plot was somewhat involving but I got tired of all the discussion of boobs and I have other things to read. Did not finish....more
I really loved this book. It is a classic American success story. The Wright brothers were determined and worked hard and really made an academic studI really loved this book. It is a classic American success story. The Wright brothers were determined and worked hard and really made an academic study of how birds flew, building a bit on work done previously, but finally achieving their goal: flight of a heavier-than-air machine, powered by a motor, carrying a human being. McCullough is a great storyteller. While the book is packed with facts and meticulously researched, it reads like a novel. As I mentioned previously, it would make a terrific movie. (But leave out the epilogue...the deaths of the various characters is a bit of a bummer. End it right when the two brothers finally fly together.) Bradley Cooper as Wilbur, Tom Hiddleston as Orville, Jennifer Lawrence as Katherine, Kevin Costner as their dad, Bishop Wright. Make it so, Hollywood! I've done the hard work for you. ...more
I loved the first book in this series, and the second one didn't disappoint. These books are deightful, well-plotted, romantic, and erudite. And have I loved the first book in this series, and the second one didn't disappoint. These books are deightful, well-plotted, romantic, and erudite. And have Sherlock Holmes in them! I don't think it gets any better....more
I have made a momentous discovery: there is as much Sherlock Holmes published fanfic as there is Jane Austen published fanfic (well, almost).* I've acI have made a momentous discovery: there is as much Sherlock Holmes published fanfic as there is Jane Austen published fanfic (well, almost).* I've actually known about The Beekeeper's Apprentice for some time now, but seeing the film Mr. Holmes (which I originally thought was a film version of the novel, but it is based on a different Sherlock Holmes published fanfic by a different author) made me want to look it up. And I did so, and I'm so glad. I have a feeling I'll be glomming the whole series. This was just a delight. Sherlock Holmes meets his soulmate, and it's glorious. I hope the rest of the series is as good as the first was. (I've already read the short story "Beekeeping for Beginners" and it's equally glorious, so I have high hopes.)
*So anyone who throws shade about JAFF from now on gets this thrown back at 'em....more
I liked this well enough, but agree with other reviewers about its limitations. It's not a solid narrative, but a series of vignettes about various chI liked this well enough, but agree with other reviewers about its limitations. It's not a solid narrative, but a series of vignettes about various characters from all classes, some related and some not so much. You don't really get a sense of where she's going, other than hearing Mr. Carson in your head telling Mrs. Hudson that THINGS ARE CHANGING. I liked it, and the ending made a few tears appear (even while I was lying by the pool, which is my happy place in general)....more
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