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iammandyellen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
percystjoan's review against another edition
4.0
mary ruefle you've done it again!! put me down as officially obsessed with everything she's ever written - and i haven't even gotten to a collection of her actual poetry yet, but her style of prose poetry/mini essays has been completely blowing me away
suburb of long suffering
fire is my companion, but i do not talk to it, it talks to me. it has white-hot fissures that quiver and rage and complain and sometimes very tender speech towards morning, a low blue word or two. i never tire of listening to my fire. music is my companion also, but it does not talk to me, i talk to it, i talk to it and it listens without complaint, absorbing whatever i am feeling and i can feel it listening to me. i think it never tires of listening to me. together, the fire and the music and me, we make a family that, despite its dysfunction, is able to persevere. yet i have a complaint. when they are in the room together, the fire and the music, they talk to each other and neither do they talk nor listen to me, as for example on a rainy day when the three of us come into the room together to while away the time: the fire and the music begin to converse in soft tones at first, so as not to disturb me i like to think, but soon their conversation grows to such a pitch that between the two of them there seem to be a great many unspoken agreements, while i am left feeling lonelier and lonelier, and end up by the window, a mere eavesdropper in my own home.
[also: camp william, my pet, my clock, beautiful day, ascribed this day to the affidavit, the diary, and my search among the birds(my personal favorite.)]
also: this is my 100th book of the year! imagine here that i am cheering and setting off firecrackers
suburb of long suffering
fire is my companion, but i do not talk to it, it talks to me. it has white-hot fissures that quiver and rage and complain and sometimes very tender speech towards morning, a low blue word or two. i never tire of listening to my fire. music is my companion also, but it does not talk to me, i talk to it, i talk to it and it listens without complaint, absorbing whatever i am feeling and i can feel it listening to me. i think it never tires of listening to me. together, the fire and the music and me, we make a family that, despite its dysfunction, is able to persevere. yet i have a complaint. when they are in the room together, the fire and the music, they talk to each other and neither do they talk nor listen to me, as for example on a rainy day when the three of us come into the room together to while away the time: the fire and the music begin to converse in soft tones at first, so as not to disturb me i like to think, but soon their conversation grows to such a pitch that between the two of them there seem to be a great many unspoken agreements, while i am left feeling lonelier and lonelier, and end up by the window, a mere eavesdropper in my own home.
[also: camp william, my pet, my clock, beautiful day, ascribed this day to the affidavit, the diary, and my search among the birds(my personal favorite.)]
also: this is my 100th book of the year! imagine here that i am cheering and setting off firecrackers
sampena16's review against another edition
5.0
This book was truly fantastic. I had read it for my contemporary fiction class, and I fell in love with its beautiful poetry-like prose. Truly recommend it.
missdaisy17's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
stevequinn's review against another edition
5.0
Six stars. All the stars. For some reason this book made me wonder if Mary Ruefle Ever writes anything that is not good.
ameliasbooks's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
This is not for everyone, but I love letting myself falling into Mary Ruefle's thoughts and reflections. It makes me feeling a lot of emotions.
authorannafaundez's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I had a few favorites from The Most of It, which included "A Certain Swirl," "A Glass of Water," and "Some Nondescript Autumn Weekend." The rest weren't bad by any means, but many felt overlong or drawn out too far. This poetry book does take some patience to read, but there's always the possibility that I'm not the right audience for it. Poetry, as always, is completely subjective and open to interpretation.
lilactea123's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
2.5
grillzoid's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0