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Review Date: 3/24/2021
The new title, "Drama of The Gifted Child", is not very accurate. The original title, "Prisoners of Childhood" is the better title to describe the book. This book is not about "gifted and talented" children as Americans in the late 20th century thought about them, it is about ALL children and the fact that we are all born extremely sensitive to emotions and the world around us.
The book describes how our personalities are essentially destroyed by our parents not accepting us for who we really are and punishing us (consciously or unconsciously) for showing emotions they disapprove of. This is about how we are rewarded or punished for things we do, and how we are trained to jump through hoops and suppress our true personalities to gain approval.
I found this book to be profoundly helpful in my own journey towards emotional maturity and evolution towards true adulthood (age does not indicate whether you've grown up or not), and I highly recommend it for anyone who has reached the stage of growth where they are ready to look at their parents with honesty and objectivity instead of idolising them and giving their abusive behaviour a free pass.
5 stars.
The book describes how our personalities are essentially destroyed by our parents not accepting us for who we really are and punishing us (consciously or unconsciously) for showing emotions they disapprove of. This is about how we are rewarded or punished for things we do, and how we are trained to jump through hoops and suppress our true personalities to gain approval.
I found this book to be profoundly helpful in my own journey towards emotional maturity and evolution towards true adulthood (age does not indicate whether you've grown up or not), and I highly recommend it for anyone who has reached the stage of growth where they are ready to look at their parents with honesty and objectivity instead of idolising them and giving their abusive behaviour a free pass.
5 stars.
Review Date: 3/1/2018
I only read this book for information about Jeff, so I skipped most of the Tim chapters.
This was an interesting read, with a lot of detail offered from a variety of sources about Jeff's life and career. The author talked to friends, lovers, bandmates, family members, and business associates to build a picture of Jeff as a person. I appreciated the author's attempt to tell everyone's story, without taking a side, since there are some conflicting viewpoints. It does become clear, though, that the author isn't really an artist at heart and relates more strongly to the businessmen in the narrative than to Jeff or his bandmates, which can be frustrating to read.
It becomes obvious over the course of the book that Jeff was surrounded by soulless blood-sucking parasites, of the lawyer and music industry variety, and much of the animalistic fighting over money at the end of the book is revolting to read about. Jeff's managers and everyone at the record label come across as really awful people with very little capacity for empathy. Jeff's frustration over lack of control of his career also becomes fully understandable in this light. He really should have gone with an indie label with a hands-off attitude, instead of a controlling, micromanaging megacorporation.
I enjoyed learning more about Jeff's creative process and the dynamics within the band, though there could have been much more detail on those aspects. It sounds like Jeff had a painful perfectionist streak that really hindered his creativity at times and that he needed a low-pressure, open-ended creative environment in which to develop ideas, which is basically the opposite of what he ended up with after getting signed.
What's very sad is the description of Jeff's mental state at the end of his life, as described by those around him. It sounds like he was really struggling with lethal mood-swings of the bipolar variety and could have used some help. His decision to call up loads of people he hadn't spoken to in years right before his death strongly indicates he was fighting off terminal depression. Unsurprising for a sensitive man who went through an emotionally damaging childhood and was under a ton of stress.
Jeff was a deep person, but the author of the book is not, and so a lot of subtlety is missed here. The author comes across as pretentious, yet not especially smart: he uses [sic] incorrectly at one point, uses the word "ironic" to mean "synchronistic", and generally gets little details wrong in a way that shows he doesn't care all that much about music in actuality (or perhaps he simply lacks contientiousness).
A good read for a Jeff Buckley fan, not a great one. My favourite book on Jeff so far is A Wished-For Song by Merri Cyr and various of Jeff's friends and bandmates. That book really captures a spark of Jeff's vitality and charisma.
3.5/5 stars for providing lots of factual details and a good timeline of Jeff's life.
This was an interesting read, with a lot of detail offered from a variety of sources about Jeff's life and career. The author talked to friends, lovers, bandmates, family members, and business associates to build a picture of Jeff as a person. I appreciated the author's attempt to tell everyone's story, without taking a side, since there are some conflicting viewpoints. It does become clear, though, that the author isn't really an artist at heart and relates more strongly to the businessmen in the narrative than to Jeff or his bandmates, which can be frustrating to read.
It becomes obvious over the course of the book that Jeff was surrounded by soulless blood-sucking parasites, of the lawyer and music industry variety, and much of the animalistic fighting over money at the end of the book is revolting to read about. Jeff's managers and everyone at the record label come across as really awful people with very little capacity for empathy. Jeff's frustration over lack of control of his career also becomes fully understandable in this light. He really should have gone with an indie label with a hands-off attitude, instead of a controlling, micromanaging megacorporation.
I enjoyed learning more about Jeff's creative process and the dynamics within the band, though there could have been much more detail on those aspects. It sounds like Jeff had a painful perfectionist streak that really hindered his creativity at times and that he needed a low-pressure, open-ended creative environment in which to develop ideas, which is basically the opposite of what he ended up with after getting signed.
What's very sad is the description of Jeff's mental state at the end of his life, as described by those around him. It sounds like he was really struggling with lethal mood-swings of the bipolar variety and could have used some help. His decision to call up loads of people he hadn't spoken to in years right before his death strongly indicates he was fighting off terminal depression. Unsurprising for a sensitive man who went through an emotionally damaging childhood and was under a ton of stress.
Jeff was a deep person, but the author of the book is not, and so a lot of subtlety is missed here. The author comes across as pretentious, yet not especially smart: he uses [sic] incorrectly at one point, uses the word "ironic" to mean "synchronistic", and generally gets little details wrong in a way that shows he doesn't care all that much about music in actuality (or perhaps he simply lacks contientiousness).
A good read for a Jeff Buckley fan, not a great one. My favourite book on Jeff so far is A Wished-For Song by Merri Cyr and various of Jeff's friends and bandmates. That book really captures a spark of Jeff's vitality and charisma.
3.5/5 stars for providing lots of factual details and a good timeline of Jeff's life.
Review Date: 5/4/2010
No other book I've read has had such an impact on my life as this one. I saw someone else reading this book and, since I'm interested in dreams, asked if it was a dream dictionary - as it turns out "dream dictionaries", if they claim to be able to reveal your dreams' meaning to you, are all false. Only the individual dreamer can really decide what each dream symbol means.
This is the first rule outlined in this highly educational book, which gives one instructions on how to remember, keep track of, and interpret one's dreams. Once I started following the directions and writing down my dreams every morning when I woke up, it became easier and easier to recall dreams, where before I would usually forget them.
I then began to interpret my dreams, and this is what has been so useful to me. Dreams reveal things about a person that s/he has been ignoring or denying in waking life, things that cause problems. When faced with startling truths about myself, I began to grow as a person and was able to do a better job making important decisions. I started to appreciate myself more!
This process continues today, with dreams letting me know what's *really* on my mind, even if I'd rather push these things away and procrastinate about my problems. I also had my very first lucid dream (which is exactly like being awake, except you can walk through walls, summon unicorns, etc) after reading the portion of the book about how to do it! It was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced.
I highly recommend this book to any person who wants to know and love her/himself better, make better life decisions, improve relationships with others, or just learn how to have a great time while asleep instead of thinking of it as wasted hours.
Naturally intuitive people will have an easier time learning the techniques, but the steps are clearly laid out so anyone can follow along with ease.
This is the first rule outlined in this highly educational book, which gives one instructions on how to remember, keep track of, and interpret one's dreams. Once I started following the directions and writing down my dreams every morning when I woke up, it became easier and easier to recall dreams, where before I would usually forget them.
I then began to interpret my dreams, and this is what has been so useful to me. Dreams reveal things about a person that s/he has been ignoring or denying in waking life, things that cause problems. When faced with startling truths about myself, I began to grow as a person and was able to do a better job making important decisions. I started to appreciate myself more!
This process continues today, with dreams letting me know what's *really* on my mind, even if I'd rather push these things away and procrastinate about my problems. I also had my very first lucid dream (which is exactly like being awake, except you can walk through walls, summon unicorns, etc) after reading the portion of the book about how to do it! It was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced.
I highly recommend this book to any person who wants to know and love her/himself better, make better life decisions, improve relationships with others, or just learn how to have a great time while asleep instead of thinking of it as wasted hours.
Naturally intuitive people will have an easier time learning the techniques, but the steps are clearly laid out so anyone can follow along with ease.
Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
18
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
18
Review Date: 10/12/2020
This may be the very best Sherlock Holmes pastiche I've read so far (its only competition would be The Last Sherlock Holmes Story, which also happens to be a Holmes/Jack The Ripper crossover). Watson's voice is just about perfect as Faye writes it, which is a rare accomplishment indeed. She also understands Holmes and Watson's relationship far better than most male writers do, and hence writes it in an extremely believable, true-to-canon way. A further refreshing change from the many male-penned pastiches is the inclusion of a major female character who is not just a damsel in distress, but a Violet Hunter sort of figure who is very intelligent and capable, and is recognised as such by Holmes, who employs her talents. I was terrified for this character's safety throughout the story, which demonstrates Faye's ability to write an appealing character that readers can emotionally connect to.
As for the story itself, Faye treats the horrific subject matter with the sensitivity and weight that it deserves, and makes sure to name each victim of the vicious murderer instead of treating them as valueless, nameless statistics. She also manages to imbue the tale with a deep horror that left my skin crawling by the dramatic climax of the action. This is very much a page-turner, and I found it hard to put the book down once I got going; the twists and turns of the tale will keep you anxious and curious to discover how things turn out, to see if our heroes will be triumphant or torn apart by this horror-show of a case. We get to see Holmes and Watson stretched to the limit of their abilities, and it is nail-biting stuff.
The more you know about Sherlock Holmes and about the Ripper murders, the more you will appreciate this story, as the author is extremely knowledgeable about both. Slash fans will also find a sly wink in the course of the narrative (I won't reveal what it is, since I hate spoilers, myself). Keep an eye out for it, if you choose to read this book (and I highly recommend you do)!
As for the story itself, Faye treats the horrific subject matter with the sensitivity and weight that it deserves, and makes sure to name each victim of the vicious murderer instead of treating them as valueless, nameless statistics. She also manages to imbue the tale with a deep horror that left my skin crawling by the dramatic climax of the action. This is very much a page-turner, and I found it hard to put the book down once I got going; the twists and turns of the tale will keep you anxious and curious to discover how things turn out, to see if our heroes will be triumphant or torn apart by this horror-show of a case. We get to see Holmes and Watson stretched to the limit of their abilities, and it is nail-biting stuff.
The more you know about Sherlock Holmes and about the Ripper murders, the more you will appreciate this story, as the author is extremely knowledgeable about both. Slash fans will also find a sly wink in the course of the narrative (I won't reveal what it is, since I hate spoilers, myself). Keep an eye out for it, if you choose to read this book (and I highly recommend you do)!
Review Date: 10/29/2018
What an excellent book this is! If you enjoyed 1984, A Clockwork Orange, or Brave New World, this might be a book for you. Ms. Malkasian crafts a truly engaging and original universe for her characters to inhabit, one that reflects our own world in amusing and frustrating ways.
She paints a picture of people who are addicted to negativity and bad news, and who soothe their emotional hurts with junk food and overeating. This cycle of self-harm is promoted by the self-appointed societal overlords, who happily fleece the populace out of their homes and bank accounts, and take advantage of their positions of power to sexually assault the less powerful. Sound familiar?
The author contrasts the horror of this dystopia with a view of a healthy and balanced society, the one from which our titular protagonist hails. Eartha, having been raised in a society where the health and happiness of all people is valued by all of society, does not adjust well to the dystopia she stumbles into.
Fortunately for us, the author weaves plenty of humour and absurdity into the tale to soften its potential harshness, and her characters are well fleshed out and evoke strong responses, making the story fun and involving, rather than a dry ethics lesson.
This is a world with talking animals, an oblong sun, intoxicating plums, and dreams that take on physical form until they complete their narratives. I don't think the author's premise is overstated: that dreams, of both the day and night variety, are critical to human health and sanity. No one gets enough sleep in our world, or has enough time to allow their minds to wander to higher climes, and it's no coincidence than we are drunkenly careening towards various disasters as a result. Tempers are short and moods are low, as a combined result of junk media, junk food, and lack of sleep, and very few people are able to function at their highest capacity.
There is also a widespread belief, lampooned in this book, that to disengage from constantly consuming the capitalist-controlled toxic sludge that passes for "news" means you do not care and are a bad person, when, in fact, all it does is give a person the sanity and clarity needed to view the world around them realistically, instead of through an extremely and deliberately biased lens that is designed to cause constant stress and anxiety (which are known by the capitalist controllers of society to make people BUY MORE THINGS!).
The infantile and empty-headed character of the people who run our society is also illustrated clearly in this book, and made to seem as ridiculous and pitiful as it truly is. Most of the people involved in government and megabusiness are at such a primitive level of development that they are incapable of independent thought or adult emotional responses, and simply parrot the words of others without understanding them, and indulge in babyish fits of rage when thwarted (the current US president being a prime example of this sort of arrested development).
Violence is not suggested as a solution to any of this in "Eartha". A much more mature approach is presented: the defanging and disempowerment of toxic individuals and organisations, putting the inferior in their place and allowing them to exist without also allowing them to rule.
This books points out that we need to rethink how we live, switch off the brain-drain of TV and internet "news", eat healthy, and treat ourselves to some nice long naps, and the world-changing dreams that can result from them. This book is beautifully illustrated, highly intelligent, highly compassionate, and vastly more mature than most stories that are being published today. I just wish the book were slightly longer, as I enjoyed spending time in this world so much. 4.5 stars.
She paints a picture of people who are addicted to negativity and bad news, and who soothe their emotional hurts with junk food and overeating. This cycle of self-harm is promoted by the self-appointed societal overlords, who happily fleece the populace out of their homes and bank accounts, and take advantage of their positions of power to sexually assault the less powerful. Sound familiar?
The author contrasts the horror of this dystopia with a view of a healthy and balanced society, the one from which our titular protagonist hails. Eartha, having been raised in a society where the health and happiness of all people is valued by all of society, does not adjust well to the dystopia she stumbles into.
Fortunately for us, the author weaves plenty of humour and absurdity into the tale to soften its potential harshness, and her characters are well fleshed out and evoke strong responses, making the story fun and involving, rather than a dry ethics lesson.
This is a world with talking animals, an oblong sun, intoxicating plums, and dreams that take on physical form until they complete their narratives. I don't think the author's premise is overstated: that dreams, of both the day and night variety, are critical to human health and sanity. No one gets enough sleep in our world, or has enough time to allow their minds to wander to higher climes, and it's no coincidence than we are drunkenly careening towards various disasters as a result. Tempers are short and moods are low, as a combined result of junk media, junk food, and lack of sleep, and very few people are able to function at their highest capacity.
There is also a widespread belief, lampooned in this book, that to disengage from constantly consuming the capitalist-controlled toxic sludge that passes for "news" means you do not care and are a bad person, when, in fact, all it does is give a person the sanity and clarity needed to view the world around them realistically, instead of through an extremely and deliberately biased lens that is designed to cause constant stress and anxiety (which are known by the capitalist controllers of society to make people BUY MORE THINGS!).
The infantile and empty-headed character of the people who run our society is also illustrated clearly in this book, and made to seem as ridiculous and pitiful as it truly is. Most of the people involved in government and megabusiness are at such a primitive level of development that they are incapable of independent thought or adult emotional responses, and simply parrot the words of others without understanding them, and indulge in babyish fits of rage when thwarted (the current US president being a prime example of this sort of arrested development).
Violence is not suggested as a solution to any of this in "Eartha". A much more mature approach is presented: the defanging and disempowerment of toxic individuals and organisations, putting the inferior in their place and allowing them to exist without also allowing them to rule.
This books points out that we need to rethink how we live, switch off the brain-drain of TV and internet "news", eat healthy, and treat ourselves to some nice long naps, and the world-changing dreams that can result from them. This book is beautifully illustrated, highly intelligent, highly compassionate, and vastly more mature than most stories that are being published today. I just wish the book were slightly longer, as I enjoyed spending time in this world so much. 4.5 stars.
The Einstein Paradox: And Other Science Mysteries Solved by Sherlock Holmes
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Review Date: 6/10/2015
A very enjoyable educational read! This book brings its reader up to speed on the basics of modern physics, in a step-by-step process, without a prerequisite knowledge of mathematics. I learned a lot from this book and had fun doing so, as the narrative portion of the story is well-written and sufficiently Holmesian to satisfy a fan of the Great Detective.
Every so often a word or turn of phrase will remind the reader that the book was not written in the 1890s, but that is a minor quibble, as the author does an admirable job overall of evoking Arthur Conan Doyle's Victorian London and its colourful characters.
Besides illuminating the fascinating world of quantum physics in easy-to-comprehend terms, you will also see homeopathy neatly debunked herein (I am shocked this practise still has actual believers, despite the clear and obvious evidence that it is nothing more than placebo effect! As valuable as placebo may be for those who experience it, it is nevertheless not real medicine).
The cases feel a bit rushed at times, without the fully satisfying conclusions we would expect from a Sherlock Holmes story, but the science is satisfying enough as to make up for this, in my opinion. Quantum physics, as far as we know it, is truly weirder than anything a fiction writer could imagine!
If you love both science and Sherlock Holmes, or simply one or the other, this will be a uniquely valuable and worthwhile read. I especially recommend it to anyone who missed out on university-level science and math classes, as it will fill you in on many of the fascinating details you've been craving.
Every so often a word or turn of phrase will remind the reader that the book was not written in the 1890s, but that is a minor quibble, as the author does an admirable job overall of evoking Arthur Conan Doyle's Victorian London and its colourful characters.
Besides illuminating the fascinating world of quantum physics in easy-to-comprehend terms, you will also see homeopathy neatly debunked herein (I am shocked this practise still has actual believers, despite the clear and obvious evidence that it is nothing more than placebo effect! As valuable as placebo may be for those who experience it, it is nevertheless not real medicine).
The cases feel a bit rushed at times, without the fully satisfying conclusions we would expect from a Sherlock Holmes story, but the science is satisfying enough as to make up for this, in my opinion. Quantum physics, as far as we know it, is truly weirder than anything a fiction writer could imagine!
If you love both science and Sherlock Holmes, or simply one or the other, this will be a uniquely valuable and worthwhile read. I especially recommend it to anyone who missed out on university-level science and math classes, as it will fill you in on many of the fascinating details you've been craving.
Review Date: 3/8/2018
Excellent, compassionate, thought-provoking book. This book exposes the sad reality of how children are treated in our society: as "super-pets", "love objects", or slaves. Would you ever walk up to an adult stranger and touch them without their permission, calling them "cute"? No? Well, why do it to a child? They dislike it just as much as adults do. Perhaps it is because we have no respect for children and do not view them as fully human, but as objects for our enjoyment.
This book suggests that children should have the opportunity not only to be treated with basic respect, but also to be given the chance to hold age-appropriate paid jobs, to vote in elections and on issues, to own property, to travel, and, importantly, to choose their own guardians. Much child abuse could be avoided if children could reject their parents as "not good enough", and, moreover be educated about what constitutes "not good enough".
Lots of interesting and worthy ideas to consider here. This book proposes radical, yet very positive changes to how we currently relate to the youngest among us.
This book suggests that children should have the opportunity not only to be treated with basic respect, but also to be given the chance to hold age-appropriate paid jobs, to vote in elections and on issues, to own property, to travel, and, importantly, to choose their own guardians. Much child abuse could be avoided if children could reject their parents as "not good enough", and, moreover be educated about what constitutes "not good enough".
Lots of interesting and worthy ideas to consider here. This book proposes radical, yet very positive changes to how we currently relate to the youngest among us.
Excuse Me Ma'am? That's Sir to You!: Perceptions of Butch Privilege in Contemporary Society
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Review Date: 5/14/2018
There is no such thing as "butch privilege".
Review Date: 9/27/2019
This book is an immersive peek into Nirvana, Mudhoney, and Tad's 1989 European tours, from the perspective of Sub Pop founder Bruce Pavitt, who flew over to see them. Bruce wisely brough his point-and-shoot and captured many wonderful candid images of his musicians, their audiences, and the locations they saw and travelled through. Pro photographer Steve Double's excellent shots are also featured here, along with just-barely-readable-with-a-magnifying-glass newspaper reproductions from music rags of the time, along with a few full-size printings.
The book takes the form of a diary, following Bruce's travels day by day, and it's fascinating to hear his perspective on the music scene of the time, plus his anecdotes about the musicians he was working with.
Bruce ended up providing not just financial, but also emotional support to Kurt Cobain, who was suffering badly from stress and had a nervous breakdown on stage one night. The way Pavitt describes the incident makes it seem less serious than it actually was, but this is forgivable, since the book was published decades after the fact. I'm sure it must have been a painful thing to witness and it's understandable that he would downplay it in his own memories, especially given what happened to Kurt in the end. The same incident is described in official Nirvana bio Come As You Are by Azerrad (published in '93) and this version makes it clear that Kurt was not at all well.
So, the fuzzy nature of old memories being acknowledged, it's possible to enjoy this book as a mini memoir and portrait of a time and group of people who made a significant impact on music. Highly recommended for fans of Nirvana, music photography, and people's histories.
4.5 stars.
The book takes the form of a diary, following Bruce's travels day by day, and it's fascinating to hear his perspective on the music scene of the time, plus his anecdotes about the musicians he was working with.
Bruce ended up providing not just financial, but also emotional support to Kurt Cobain, who was suffering badly from stress and had a nervous breakdown on stage one night. The way Pavitt describes the incident makes it seem less serious than it actually was, but this is forgivable, since the book was published decades after the fact. I'm sure it must have been a painful thing to witness and it's understandable that he would downplay it in his own memories, especially given what happened to Kurt in the end. The same incident is described in official Nirvana bio Come As You Are by Azerrad (published in '93) and this version makes it clear that Kurt was not at all well.
So, the fuzzy nature of old memories being acknowledged, it's possible to enjoy this book as a mini memoir and portrait of a time and group of people who made a significant impact on music. Highly recommended for fans of Nirvana, music photography, and people's histories.
4.5 stars.
Review Date: 9/5/2020
A very charming collection of short comics about the same two characters: a vampire woman and a werewolf man, living in today's world and dating each other.
Light, sweet, and funny, these comics are about at a PG-13 rating, and the book makes for a quick read, perfect for filling the time when you're waiting on something, but engaging enough to sit and focus on, too.
The author uses good world-building to help us understand the quirks and small struggles of daily life as a supernatural being (putting on makeup without being able to see yourself in a mirror, or having the sudden urge to chase a squirrel, even though you're not in wolf form).
The artwork is crisp and a pleasure to look at, and the author uses the short, "daily comic" format effectively. I did sometimes wish that certain plot elements that were introduced would be followed up on in the next several comics, but this generally didn't happen.
3.5 stars!
Light, sweet, and funny, these comics are about at a PG-13 rating, and the book makes for a quick read, perfect for filling the time when you're waiting on something, but engaging enough to sit and focus on, too.
The author uses good world-building to help us understand the quirks and small struggles of daily life as a supernatural being (putting on makeup without being able to see yourself in a mirror, or having the sudden urge to chase a squirrel, even though you're not in wolf form).
The artwork is crisp and a pleasure to look at, and the author uses the short, "daily comic" format effectively. I did sometimes wish that certain plot elements that were introduced would be followed up on in the next several comics, but this generally didn't happen.
3.5 stars!
Review Date: 3/8/2018
A classic feminist work that seeded my own feminist consciousness in my teens. This book gets into the social constructs in our society that are used to justify women's oppression, such as the idea that women are "naturally suited" to housework and other unpaid drudgery. This book clearly and methodically describes all the toxic mind-traps that have been harming women in the 20th and now 21st centuries.
My main complaint is that Ms. Friedan exposes her own profound homophobia and raging ignorance of the realities of homosexuality in a grotesque way in chapter 11, with such absurdities as "the homosexuality that is spreading like a murky smog over the American scene is no less ominous than..." or "Male homosexuality was and is far more common than female homosexuality" or "People who have a low self-esteem have a tendency to cling to their own sex because it is less frightening" or "The role of the mother in homosexuality was pinpointed by Freud...".
Any woman who trusts Freud as an "expert" on sexuality should have her opinions regarded with a big hunk of salt by other women. Freud was a notorious misogynist who excused and explained away all manner of horrific sexual abuses committed by men against women and children.
So, take chapter 11 with a whole lot of salt, but most of the book is right on target. Great read overall. 4.5/5 stars.
My main complaint is that Ms. Friedan exposes her own profound homophobia and raging ignorance of the realities of homosexuality in a grotesque way in chapter 11, with such absurdities as "the homosexuality that is spreading like a murky smog over the American scene is no less ominous than..." or "Male homosexuality was and is far more common than female homosexuality" or "People who have a low self-esteem have a tendency to cling to their own sex because it is less frightening" or "The role of the mother in homosexuality was pinpointed by Freud...".
Any woman who trusts Freud as an "expert" on sexuality should have her opinions regarded with a big hunk of salt by other women. Freud was a notorious misogynist who excused and explained away all manner of horrific sexual abuses committed by men against women and children.
So, take chapter 11 with a whole lot of salt, but most of the book is right on target. Great read overall. 4.5/5 stars.
Review Date: 1/24/2019
This book looked very promising, but the authors don't quite have the skill to make this worthwhile. Someone involved in this book was clearly in love with Jane Asher, because there is a fictional character tacked onto the story who looks exactly like her. It's really weird.
I'm not sure why they felt the need to include an imaginary character when it's simple to find out who was actually working for whom in the Beatles' circle, including secretaries.
Another thing that bothered me was that the artist doesn't seem to know how to draw a neutral or resting face, or even a normal smile. All the characters have this same creepy, smug, smarmy smile on their faces for most of the book. He clearly didn't use photo references as much as he should have to create the facial expressions, which is inexcusable, considering how insanely easy it is nowadays to get your hands on zillions of different photos of the Beatles and their associates, making various faces. This is really a pity, because the artist could be a truly outstanding graphic novel artist if he would put in a little more effort.
It's interesting to see into the background of Brian Epstein's management of the Beatles, and his personal life, but due to the glaring discrepancies from reality that I noticed, I wonder how accurate it is.
3 stars, for almost-excellent artwork.
I'm not sure why they felt the need to include an imaginary character when it's simple to find out who was actually working for whom in the Beatles' circle, including secretaries.
Another thing that bothered me was that the artist doesn't seem to know how to draw a neutral or resting face, or even a normal smile. All the characters have this same creepy, smug, smarmy smile on their faces for most of the book. He clearly didn't use photo references as much as he should have to create the facial expressions, which is inexcusable, considering how insanely easy it is nowadays to get your hands on zillions of different photos of the Beatles and their associates, making various faces. This is really a pity, because the artist could be a truly outstanding graphic novel artist if he would put in a little more effort.
It's interesting to see into the background of Brian Epstein's management of the Beatles, and his personal life, but due to the glaring discrepancies from reality that I noticed, I wonder how accurate it is.
3 stars, for almost-excellent artwork.
Review Date: 11/15/2013
This first-hand account of the Be Here Now tour, though not as artfully written as Hewitt's other Oasis book, is still entertaining and occasionally enlightening. It takes the form of short notes jotted down by the author throughout the tour, chronicling the interesting incidents between shows, and all the drama and chaos within the band (of which there is plenty!). The short, clipped style of the anecdotes breaks up the continuity of the text somewhat, leaving the reader with the sense of looking through someone's notebook rather than a polished piece of writing, but this also makes it easy to look up particular events without having to hunt through a long, continuous chapter.
The stress the band was under at the time comes across palpably in the book, the carefree triumphant attitude of years past showing some strain as backlash against the third album reared its head. We see Noel struggling for meaning in the highly superficial world of pop music, trying to find something more to search for now that he has every material possession he ever dreamed of, his confidence destablised by petty sniping from the press. We see an alternately vulnerable and vicious Liam barely coping with the demands being made on him from every person and organisation he comes in contact with, not sure whether anyone he meets genuinely cares about him or simply wants to squeeze the lifeblood out of him for their gain. It is a remarkable thing indeed that the band did not break up on this tour.
The author for the most part avoids making interpretations or speculations about the deeper thoughts and motives of the people he is observing, though this is clearly due to a sense of loyalty, rather than a lack of insight. This is a good portrait of a top-notch band stepping up to the chasm of destruction, peering over the edge, giving the God of Chaos a two-fingered salute, and leaving failure behind for lesser bands to wallow in.
The stress the band was under at the time comes across palpably in the book, the carefree triumphant attitude of years past showing some strain as backlash against the third album reared its head. We see Noel struggling for meaning in the highly superficial world of pop music, trying to find something more to search for now that he has every material possession he ever dreamed of, his confidence destablised by petty sniping from the press. We see an alternately vulnerable and vicious Liam barely coping with the demands being made on him from every person and organisation he comes in contact with, not sure whether anyone he meets genuinely cares about him or simply wants to squeeze the lifeblood out of him for their gain. It is a remarkable thing indeed that the band did not break up on this tour.
The author for the most part avoids making interpretations or speculations about the deeper thoughts and motives of the people he is observing, though this is clearly due to a sense of loyalty, rather than a lack of insight. This is a good portrait of a top-notch band stepping up to the chasm of destruction, peering over the edge, giving the God of Chaos a two-fingered salute, and leaving failure behind for lesser bands to wallow in.
Review Date: 9/25/2020
Helpful Score: 1
Lots of information and photographs of tools and techniques. Great resource for homesteaders and anyone who wants to learn self-sufficiency skills.
Be prepared to make your own judgements in some cases, since some of the "home remedies" can give you cancer (kerosene and turpentine for a sore throat? I think not!!).
Plenty of real old-time knowledge and wisdom here, though.
Be prepared to make your own judgements in some cases, since some of the "home remedies" can give you cancer (kerosene and turpentine for a sore throat? I think not!!).
Plenty of real old-time knowledge and wisdom here, though.
Review Date: 1/11/2015
This book was a disappointment for me. I was expecting something wonderful, based on the glowing reviews the book has been given, but I found it mediocre at best.
For starters, the story is incredibly depressing, with no real uplifting moments. We enter a picture of a very sad, lonely, abusive childhood, in which an absent-minded mother, and angry, violent, controlling father do their best not to interact with their three children, who develop neurotic tendencies to cope with the misery. The narrator evidently has only one friend in childhood, who is very briefly mentioned in two scenes, and I found myself wondering if the author's childhood was really as featureless and lacking in joyful childish respite as she makes it seem.
Her writing comes across as incredibly cold and overly-intellectual, with feelings rarely acknowledged or depicted, and the adult narrator's voice drowning out any hints of the child, who probably has an interesting story to tell. The book would probably have been better suited to standard word-based storytelling, as the author keeps a stranglehold on the device of narration, never letting the images tell the story.
The main character, the author as a child and young woman, never seems to develop any real relationships with other characters besides the oppressive figure of her father, which is another strange and disorientating feature of the book. Her father comes across as a miserable, abusive a-hole, with no redeeming qualities, so having to read a few hundred pages about him is trying.
Another thing that bothered me was the author's tendency to constantly apologise for her own opinions within the context of the story, never stating anything with certainty or confidence (this made the lasting effect of her childhood painfully clear). There are claims that this book contains humour, but I detected none whatsoever, buried as the story was beneath a mountain of tragedy and pain.
This may have been an important form of self-therapy for the author, but it is not an enjoyable or very enlightening read.
For starters, the story is incredibly depressing, with no real uplifting moments. We enter a picture of a very sad, lonely, abusive childhood, in which an absent-minded mother, and angry, violent, controlling father do their best not to interact with their three children, who develop neurotic tendencies to cope with the misery. The narrator evidently has only one friend in childhood, who is very briefly mentioned in two scenes, and I found myself wondering if the author's childhood was really as featureless and lacking in joyful childish respite as she makes it seem.
Her writing comes across as incredibly cold and overly-intellectual, with feelings rarely acknowledged or depicted, and the adult narrator's voice drowning out any hints of the child, who probably has an interesting story to tell. The book would probably have been better suited to standard word-based storytelling, as the author keeps a stranglehold on the device of narration, never letting the images tell the story.
The main character, the author as a child and young woman, never seems to develop any real relationships with other characters besides the oppressive figure of her father, which is another strange and disorientating feature of the book. Her father comes across as a miserable, abusive a-hole, with no redeeming qualities, so having to read a few hundred pages about him is trying.
Another thing that bothered me was the author's tendency to constantly apologise for her own opinions within the context of the story, never stating anything with certainty or confidence (this made the lasting effect of her childhood painfully clear). There are claims that this book contains humour, but I detected none whatsoever, buried as the story was beneath a mountain of tragedy and pain.
This may have been an important form of self-therapy for the author, but it is not an enjoyable or very enlightening read.
Review Date: 12/26/2015
I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as Ms. Simmonds's later work, Tamara Drewe. I didn't find any of the characters to be likable or appealing, so I wasn't invested in any of their fates. I struggled to page 80 and then skimmed the rest.
The artwork and writing are skilful enough (very nice, in fact), but the story is shallow. The characters don't seem to have much insight into themselves and are just sort of flailing around helplessly trying to find moments of pleasure in a confusing world, and casually using one another as a result. They are the sort of people I would avoid if they were real. None of them really has a purpose in life, or a passion.
I think part of the problem was that this was an adaptation of a famous novel into a much shorter/simpler form, so whatever nuance there is in the original was lost in the transmogrification. I haven't read Madame Bovary, so I cannot say for sure.
Others may find this book enjoyable as a bit of very light/casual reading, but I didn't appreciate the lack of depth. 2.5 stars.
The artwork and writing are skilful enough (very nice, in fact), but the story is shallow. The characters don't seem to have much insight into themselves and are just sort of flailing around helplessly trying to find moments of pleasure in a confusing world, and casually using one another as a result. They are the sort of people I would avoid if they were real. None of them really has a purpose in life, or a passion.
I think part of the problem was that this was an adaptation of a famous novel into a much shorter/simpler form, so whatever nuance there is in the original was lost in the transmogrification. I haven't read Madame Bovary, so I cannot say for sure.
Others may find this book enjoyable as a bit of very light/casual reading, but I didn't appreciate the lack of depth. 2.5 stars.
Review Date: 11/15/2013
For a funny, informative, fully-fleshed read on the band, you'll want to read this book. It's a long one, and an absorbing one. The author spent an extended period of time with the band, observing and getting to know them specifically for the purpose of writing this book - it's a band-approved release. It was clearly rushed to printing, as there are numerous typos and incorrect uses of English that an editor would have caught (Hewitt is evidently not a native speaker), but it is nevertheless very well written. It's clear the book was very well-researched, and it provides in-depth information about the history of Manchester and each of the band members' backgrounds.
Hewitt has a deeper take on the aggro aspect of the band, specifically Liam and Noel's volatile relationship. It's easy for lazy journalists to depict the two as ridiculous caricatures, but this book paints a much more reasonable, rounded portrait of two complex people with a complex relationship who have made the best of what they've been given. Hewitt understands his position as biographer and takes it seriously, remaining at a distance from the story he's telling, never slipping into the first person, and always describing situations from the perspective of the fly on the wall. It's definitely a positive take on the band, with some of their more despicable drug-induced behaviour getting left out in favour of less offensive anecdotes.
Not only will you learn a lot about Oasis by reading this book, you will also learn a lot about the music and environment they were steeped in growing up. Plenty to enjoy here!
Hewitt has a deeper take on the aggro aspect of the band, specifically Liam and Noel's volatile relationship. It's easy for lazy journalists to depict the two as ridiculous caricatures, but this book paints a much more reasonable, rounded portrait of two complex people with a complex relationship who have made the best of what they've been given. Hewitt understands his position as biographer and takes it seriously, remaining at a distance from the story he's telling, never slipping into the first person, and always describing situations from the perspective of the fly on the wall. It's definitely a positive take on the band, with some of their more despicable drug-induced behaviour getting left out in favour of less offensive anecdotes.
Not only will you learn a lot about Oasis by reading this book, you will also learn a lot about the music and environment they were steeped in growing up. Plenty to enjoy here!
Review Date: 6/3/2018
This is an enjoyable and fairly true-to-the-facts biographical graphic novel about Kurt Cobain's short, but brilliant life. Some of the story is fictionalised, for example when the authors speculate about what "Boddah" was like to Kurt and how he functioned in Kurt's mind. They also extrapolate on the circumstances of Kurt's life to draw some conclusions about why he killed himself, which may or may not be accurate.
The book actually (surprisingly) touches on Kurt's bisexuality, mentioning his romantic feelings for his best friend and bandmate Krist, which is a fact about him that has been covered up by those who want to make money off his image by white-washing him into a generic macho guitar hero (he was the opposite of that!).
The book goes into more depth about the later years of Kurt's life, well-publicised as they were, and his turbulent relationship with Courtney.
The book is very easy to relate to, emotionally, and is convincing on a gut level. The authors do a good job depicting the sort of inner turmoil and pain that plagued Kurt and pushed him into drug addiction. The story is told with first-person narration from Kurt's point of view, with third person events depicted, as well.
The artwork is pretty well done, though decidedly comic-booky in flavour. The naked women don't look much like real women, as you would expect in a comic book, and their nudity is pretty much gratuitous, which Kurt would probably have side-eyed, honestly. But the artist has good ideas and creates good visual metaphors, as well as carefully paying attention to visual details, like the sort of t-shirts the band were wearing, what Kurt's artwork looked like, the kind of cough syrup he was drinking, etc. The book was clearly made with care and real thought, and isn't just a money-making venture.
Worth a read for Nirvana fans, graphic novel enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys a good biography and isn't afraid of tragedy.
The book actually (surprisingly) touches on Kurt's bisexuality, mentioning his romantic feelings for his best friend and bandmate Krist, which is a fact about him that has been covered up by those who want to make money off his image by white-washing him into a generic macho guitar hero (he was the opposite of that!).
The book goes into more depth about the later years of Kurt's life, well-publicised as they were, and his turbulent relationship with Courtney.
The book is very easy to relate to, emotionally, and is convincing on a gut level. The authors do a good job depicting the sort of inner turmoil and pain that plagued Kurt and pushed him into drug addiction. The story is told with first-person narration from Kurt's point of view, with third person events depicted, as well.
The artwork is pretty well done, though decidedly comic-booky in flavour. The naked women don't look much like real women, as you would expect in a comic book, and their nudity is pretty much gratuitous, which Kurt would probably have side-eyed, honestly. But the artist has good ideas and creates good visual metaphors, as well as carefully paying attention to visual details, like the sort of t-shirts the band were wearing, what Kurt's artwork looked like, the kind of cough syrup he was drinking, etc. The book was clearly made with care and real thought, and isn't just a money-making venture.
Worth a read for Nirvana fans, graphic novel enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys a good biography and isn't afraid of tragedy.
Review Date: 10/22/2018
A quick, funny, enjoyable read about Manhattan (the rest of NYC is not included). Not especially deep or dense, but amusing, and would make a nice basic starter guide to visiting or living in the area. Lots of practical tips about how to navigate, entertain yourself, and seek an apartment, with little anecdotes about things only locals know about. I laughed out loud a number of times. 3 stars.
Review Date: 3/8/2017
This is one of the most lovely illustrated books I've had the pleasure of reading. It will appeal to children and adults alike, with its soothing, magical storyline and ethereal illustrations. It is much like a comforting dream or a Miyazaki movie. Clearly made with love.
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