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queerandweird's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
Moved to PDX recently and seeking to learn more about the area from books and media, this book I found in the PNW section at the main library and was drawn to a woman author and the punk scene.
The author isn't someone I'd dig to emulate, she seems to resent the people she dates and spends time with; enabling (and I'd argue - encouraging) racist bus drivers rather than taking time to either discourage or educate them, same for her family. I have unhealthy family members as well, and I work to do all I can to help them change their behaviors for the better over time.
Perhaps the author benefits financially from her family in some way that challenging her family is too much a risk, or maybe she just can't be bothered about other people enough to change them, just observe them and publish a book about it.
Still, her writing is worth reading if you dig this style: wayward, punky, gritty short tales of poetry/prose, reminiscent of Bukowski or other drug-addled, often privileged (but sometimes working-class, or pretend to be) authors
The author isn't someone I'd dig to emulate, she seems to resent the people she dates and spends time with; enabling (and I'd argue - encouraging) racist bus drivers rather than taking time to either discourage or educate them, same for her family. I have unhealthy family members as well, and I work to do all I can to help them change their behaviors for the better over time.
Perhaps the author benefits financially from her family in some way that challenging her family is too much a risk, or maybe she just can't be bothered about other people enough to change them, just observe them and publish a book about it.
Still, her writing is worth reading if you dig this style: wayward, punky, gritty short tales of poetry/prose, reminiscent of Bukowski or other drug-addled, often privileged (but sometimes working-class, or pretend to be) authors
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Fatphobia, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Alcohol, and Body shaming
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and Eating disorder
alecrigdon's review against another edition
2.0
I expected this book to be a lot more quirky and bizarre but it actually spun into a list of repetitious drug addicts that the author simply watches, sometimes with amusement. While there were moments of poetic narration, most of the stories here were full of pretentious sounding philosophies that might be trying a bit hard.
pearseanderson's review against another edition
5.0
How had I not heard about her or this book before? It's wild, it's manic, it's gorgeous and gritty. It's a spiritual sequel to The Least Cricket of the Evening, but with shorter passages and more drugs. I think it goes on about 20% too long (at least) and could use a bit less of the Trimet/MAX/bus observations, but after being in Portland for two days I understand the city and her writings a lot more. People on buses here are freaky. Anyway, this is a 9/10. This is an amazing book, but should be read in many sittings and returned to with time to rest.
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