Take a photo of a barcode or cover
documentno_is's Reviews (1.28k)
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
The Ark of Taste: Delicious and Distinctive Foods That Define the United States
David S. Shields, Giselle Kennedy Lord
DID NOT FINISH: 15%
I’m not sure exactly what I expected, but this was an encyclopedia and held almost no value consumed as an audiobook
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Illuminating view into Spears' conservatorship but not much more than what has been said in the press, although I'm happy she was given the ability to tell her own story. Spears has had a complicated life and the lack of control and agency has given her a very childlike demeanor in regards to her situation- easy to empathize with but in terms of reading a written version of it it was a bit simple. While I'm happy she seems to have more control over her situation I'm not necessarily convinced I gained any valuable perspective on life from reading this- maybe to be assertive and trust in god? So half of that advice is helpful, I suppose. It is one small piece of a larger puzzle in which men exert power on women currently and historically, through institutionalization and psychiatry ( hysteria, etc.) as part of a larger carceral system where this country imprisons anybody deemed too difficult to deal with. I wish this autobiography had delved more into that topic, especially considering this was certainly ghostwritten.
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
A very direct and effective critique, Kincaid refuses to hold your hand as she presents to you the reality of the systems you participate in. This likely will never reach the eyes of those that should read it the most.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really glad I gave this a chance after not being completely head over heels for the flat share, O’Leary’s quick wit and complex redemption story was as hopeful as it was entertaining.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
poor little alcoholic nepo baby <\3
It’s hard to sympathize with this egotistical architect of her own demise, given countless opportunities she squanders them at every turn, thinking of little besides the surf and her own pleasure. I can appreciate this as a work of its time, when most women were participating in somewhat conservative nuclear family life she adventures on a different path. Still, it’s so clearly autofiction that I had trouble empathizing with this character who so clearly believes she is a cool girl ? Main character syndrome aside, this book has no plot themes or ideals- only small events culminating in mostly nothing with various characters (mainly older men.)
Still I can’t help but wax upon how beautiful some of the prose is, especially surrounding her descriptions of Max which were brief but enticing. An unbearable character who maybe speaks to something interesting going on at the time in an engaging way. It’s unfair perhaps to compare her to Didion- but they are often so for two women writing around the same time it’s interesting she seems to inhabit almost the reverse cultural effect, writing vapidly in very poignant ways where Didion wrote very wrought and impactful pieces that were very paired down/barren. The novel took a real upswing towards the end, when the characters are more established and Jacaranda has stopped drinking and you can ride along in her adventures without getting caught up in her privilege and naivety. It’s interesting to find the fake friend motif in LA being used by LA natives about NY people. A tale of caution against falling in love with the mean gays lmao.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was blown away by this novel, and I think it will stick with me for years to come. What responsibilities to we have to living our ideals and caring for each other? Is violence necessary to inspire change? Can people be swayed by sympathy to act against their favor or must you sway the material consequences to force their hand? Is translation a forced degradation of text- or can it be altered to keep its original meaning through separate phrase? Can there be any equitable form of sharing between cultures or must it be a competition? I initially was drawn to read this as its often listed as canon text in dark academia lists but what I found was thematically so much more important and beautiful.
I hope not to be too flippant of the intense and beautiful thematic conundrums Kuang has poised in this novel but I think a lot of its success is in also creating a sort of affable school drama. Most of the pages of the novel are the main character wrestling between idealism and inaction in the presence of a very quaint but underlying sinister academic institution. The sincerity and opposition between the characters in this novel brought me to literal tears.
I'm really overjoyed that Kuang chose to create this fantasy in a standalone novel, it allowed for perfect plot pacing and interest that culminated in an enthralling ending. I was wary going in, as much potential as The Poppy War trilogy had I believe it spent too much time on the intricacies of battles and unimportant details. Meanwhile in this novel the delight was in the details, the footnotes and linguistic history built into this story were really fine tuned. The uniqueness as well struck me, a magic system built upon linguistics was ingenious.
Ultimately I do feel the conclusion was sad, but also entirely necessary for the thematic resolution of certain questions and ideals Kuang poised throughout the text. This novel is a remarkable adventure into anti-imperialism and worker's rights. If you have any affinity for linguistics, this might just be a perfect storm as it surely was for me.
I hope not to be too flippant of the intense and beautiful thematic conundrums Kuang has poised in this novel but I think a lot of its success is in also creating a sort of affable school drama. Most of the pages of the novel are the main character wrestling between idealism and inaction in the presence of a very quaint but underlying sinister academic institution. The sincerity and opposition between the characters in this novel brought me to literal tears.
I'm really overjoyed that Kuang chose to create this fantasy in a standalone novel, it allowed for perfect plot pacing and interest that culminated in an enthralling ending. I was wary going in, as much potential as The Poppy War trilogy had I believe it spent too much time on the intricacies of battles and unimportant details. Meanwhile in this novel the delight was in the details, the footnotes and linguistic history built into this story were really fine tuned. The uniqueness as well struck me, a magic system built upon linguistics was ingenious.
Ultimately I do feel the conclusion was sad, but also entirely necessary for the thematic resolution of certain questions and ideals Kuang poised throughout the text. This novel is a remarkable adventure into anti-imperialism and worker's rights. If you have any affinity for linguistics, this might just be a perfect storm as it surely was for me.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was surprised I ended up liking this since the beginning was so cringy (the dialogue) but it really came into its own. It was ultimately another rip off of when Harry Met Sally
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated