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chillcox15's review against another edition
3.0
While I like Ugresic's voice here, and I think she is an intensely intelligent thinker and writer, too many of these essays also felt reactionary and removed. A lot of the ideas found here could be found in any mediocre NYT opinion piece by a conservative columnist, except those would have far less panache. The whole notion of karaoke culture is fittingly catchy, but Ugresic doesn't seem interested in examining why those sort of cultural activities would be interesting or worthwhile. Her comments about the confining ideas of nationality in literature are much better received in this corner. Overall a bit disappointed considering how much I was excited to dive into Ugresic's oeuvre, but we'll see how it compares to her fictional work.
awkseance's review against another edition
5.0
A must-read collection of essays that are startling in how prescient they are.
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
The "karaoke" essay badly needed a translator familiar with Anglophone internet and fan culture. The translations for certain terms were off, maybe direct translations instead of the ones an English speaker would use, which made it seem hopelessly out of touch. Oh, and the reference to Black Americans reclaiming the n-word could have used someone familiar with American culture because the text used a hard r. It was definitely a cringe moment.
Basically, terrible translation.
Basically, terrible translation.
lberestecki's review against another edition
5.0
Interesting, entertaining, and more readable than some other collections of her essays.
Received through Goodreads giveaway.
Received through Goodreads giveaway.
arnzen's review
4.0
Picked this one up blind while doing research related to a novel concept I'm developing. A happy surprise, filled with many short observational essays (there's one about subverting mini-bars in it that is hilarious) in addition to the title essay, which is a long survey of the ways in which the masses imitate the arts (i.e., critical of American Idol, fan fiction, etc.). Felt very sympatico with much of the cultural critique of the propensity toward mimicry in the arts today -- or what another writer I've read calls the "de-skilling" the arts. Ugresic writes in an enjoyable style, with sarcasm set to ten, and plenty of culture studies theory sophistication bubbling up from time to time. Liked it enough to take a lot of notes and to want to learn how to pronounce the author's the name correctly. Want to read her critique of publishing, Thank You for Not Reading, next.
booksatlunch's review
3.0
I received this book as part of the Goodreads, Firstreads giveway contests, but sadly I can't say this book really did much for me, but I thought the premise was interesting so I'm going to give it three stars anyway. For me, it just really wasn't my cup of tea, even though I usually love books like this.
The title essay was fascinating, but I found there to be lots of lengthy explanations for things that really didn't need be explained in such detail. I decided that this might have to do with the cultural barrier, and that things that an American might be familiar with, someone from Europe, and especially Eastern Europe might not be familiar with.
The rest of the book was much more poetic and philosophical than I expected, and am used to. Though some of the content was interesting, I personally felt like the book was dragging due to the style in which it was written, it was beautiful, but much more academic and challenging than what I want in a book that I'm reading in my free time. I also found that as an American reader I couldn't relate to, or didn't know enough about some of the items or situations which were addressed in some of the essays, and that it was sometimes hard to keep my focus on the page.
Overall, I think that it was beautifully written, and that there were many interesting ideas, but that I just wasn't the target audience. I think it would be a great read for those who love more academic books and those who have a deep background or knowledge of Europe.
The title essay was fascinating, but I found there to be lots of lengthy explanations for things that really didn't need be explained in such detail. I decided that this might have to do with the cultural barrier, and that things that an American might be familiar with, someone from Europe, and especially Eastern Europe might not be familiar with.
The rest of the book was much more poetic and philosophical than I expected, and am used to. Though some of the content was interesting, I personally felt like the book was dragging due to the style in which it was written, it was beautiful, but much more academic and challenging than what I want in a book that I'm reading in my free time. I also found that as an American reader I couldn't relate to, or didn't know enough about some of the items or situations which were addressed in some of the essays, and that it was sometimes hard to keep my focus on the page.
Overall, I think that it was beautifully written, and that there were many interesting ideas, but that I just wasn't the target audience. I think it would be a great read for those who love more academic books and those who have a deep background or knowledge of Europe.
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