duckoffimreading's reviews
908 reviews

From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley

dark reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

Lisa Marie had all the potential in the world for a happy life but it was marred with tragedy time and time again. Starting with the premature death of her father Elvis, an early life abortion, multiple failed marriages, the suicide death of her son and ultimately her own addiction issues and ultimate early death. She sounds interesting - especially with the spiritual intuitiveness or connection she had with Elvis, Michael Jackson and her son Benjamin...uncanny really. I found her relationship with Michael Jackson the strangest escapade in her life. She is chasing her father's lifestyle - a larger that life really way of living that went out in August 1977. Michael was probably the closest she was going to get to recreating it, but also she probably had a lot she could connect with him on. My heart breaks for her children the most. I didn't know her relationship with Priscilla was as strained as it was. Another reminder that celebrities don't live anywhere close to reality. RIP Lisa Marie.

The Anxious Generation: How The Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

Long winded but informative analysis of the effect of social media, smart phones, digital pornography access and the general always-on always-available effect on developing children. Jonathan Haidt hypothesizes that the Great Rewiring started around 2010 and developing preteens with the introduction of the iPhone and all the apps (Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, etc) that came along with that evolution in technology. I, myself, am a child of the 80s and 90s and do in fact remember a time before internet. As a mother of 2 small preteen children, I hear his cautions loud and clear and can see some of the negative impacts on my kids having access to tablets and smart phones. His recommendation has several elements: schools being a no phone zone, digital detox periods (dinner time, 30 mins before bed), encouraging free play and independence (think of how kids in the 90s would come home when the streetlights came on) and encouraging kids to play face to face with other kids. It is unrealistic to ban all access or monitor kids activities 100% of the time, but preteen and early teen period is especially critical as they develop habits, self worth, interpersonal relationship skills etc. Instagram was cited as particularly negative for girls and contributed the most to depression and anxiety because of the platform's lean towards showcasing bodies/lifestyle/unattainable goals. Meta and others have spent ridiculous amounts of energy to try and keep adults and kids alike hooked up to the dopamine provider of social media (and the likes, engagements, validation) all to drive smarter customer intelligence to sell to advertisers. I work in marketing and can absolutely tell you - any consumer is the product and that is why you get presented on social media/promotional emails with that obscure toaster you mentioned offhand in a conversation. They are watching you and reporting EVEYRTHING. All this today say - social media can be fun but for young, developing minds try to limit exposure as much as possible. Hell, I probably need my own social media detox period to improve my mental health.

Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Imagine contemporary Bless Your Heart with a dollop of Fried Green Tomatoes. This was a little but flirty, a little bit supernatural and a little lot of grief and pain. Small town Wicklow, Alabama recalls one of its granddaughters after the death of the matriarch Zee leaves the Blackbird Cafe to Anna Kate Callow. What I liked: the blackbird pie that would enable eaters to communicate with dead loved ones via their dreams, the small town community that is Wicklow, some very dramatic end of life stories. What I didn’t like: Anna Kate’s character seems way more mature and experienced than her early 20’s college age would naturally give, the main characters with grief from lost ones NEVER EAT THE DAMN PIE, and finally Anna Kate and Natalie conveniently both end up in flirty romances with two good to be true available bachelors (com’n now). Also, what the hell is up w Len and Bow? Did I miss their backstory? Parts of this was cheesy and more character driven than plot driven, but definitely enjoyable. Overall I would give it 3.5 stars.

Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo

funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

3.0

I found Drew on TikTok and honestly LOVE her. While she is a young twenty-something, this girl brings fierce confidence to the table and has made a career out of bringing to task misogynist men across the internet. Even in her short life, she has gained what I consider notable interpersonal knowledge. I adore that she is perpetually fighting the good fight and standing up for women, femmes and other marginalized groups. She has acknowledged tackling some of her own challenges along the way: her unconscious homophobia, internalized misogyny and succumbing to the patriarchy. I wouldn't call her an out and out misandrist as she does have respect for men in her life, but she does demand equality in her interpersonal relationships and describes herself as mean and bitchy...as one needs to be to fight dark powers. She delves deep on her personal desire to not have kids and that women should be accepted (or rather not expected) outside the role of mother/wife. I did find it hard to connect with her strong independent woman voice because she has found herself what sounds like a very strong and feminist boyfriend (fiance?), but also I'm happy for her. Totally agree women should want to live life on their own terms with partners that add to their lives, vs take away. In general, I found myself very much agreeing with her assessment of living as a woman in a patriarchal world and how to take up space and speak up for yourself.

Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow by Henry Louis Gates Jr.

challenging informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

Henry Louis Gates Jr. delves deep into why and how Reconstruction failed to gain African Americans true equality following Emancipation. White supremacists, particularly in the South, evolved their oppressions through Jim Crow, voting attacks, lynching and an all out propaganda war including Sambo advertising and cartoons depicting false characterizations of Black men hellbent on raping women (when in reality, it was White men raping enslaved Black women). Particularly interesting was the struggle of the Old Negro vs New Negro...Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington's approach on rebranding or changing popular (ignorant) opinion and how to do that. Whether via the arts like literature and presenting more refined, Victorian era assimilation or through embracing the Old Negro culture as the same culture (Harlem renaissance and Blues/Jazz music) just with more rights, there was dissention within the Black race on how to proceed. Illuminating on how ingrained racism is since America's beginning and honestly - shocking at what was considered appropriate media in the day. The physical copy of the book includes lots of advertisements and cartoon examples of the negative characterization of the Black American as well as photos and postcards of lynching victims (Sabine County and Waco, TX especially shameful). Definitely not a light hearted read, but ever more important to know history given Trump's current America. The fight goes on.

Sister Snake by Amanda Lee Koe

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Interesting fantasy based novel about snakes (Sue ans Emerald) that can change into human form and are reconnecting 400 years later in modern day Singapore. Very vivid descriptions, interesting premise and reads fast. I can’t begin to imagine how this would be adapted for a movie but these lady snakes are ruthless. Glad Sue stopped living her empty life 😂

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

challenging funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Funny satire set in deeply old school Georgia where all the town’s secrets come out into the wide open to set the record straight. Lula Dean is book-banning queen whose own Little Free Library is secretly stocked with banned books masquerading as stuffier, older content. The prank gone wild leads to an entire town’s revolution. Entertaining read with lots of current day themes: LGBTQ acceptance, racism, white nationalism. Given all the dark news abound these days, this is a lighter distraction good vs evil story. Loved the premise, some of the dialogue was a little cheesy but definitely drama filled. Reminds me of Grady Hendrix without the ghosts.

Stoner by John Williams

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

Well written but ultimately depressing life account of William Stoner. Stoner grows up on a farm in Missouri, heads to college for an agricultural education but falls headfirst into English and literature. His life follows a series of milestones that are expected: get a degree, get married, have a kid, build a career, midlife crisis (or awakening) and retire/die. Deep seated theme is loneliness. Stoner is alone, indifferent and has no passion for anything. Easily accepts whatever comes his way with an ongoing apathetic attitude. His daughter echoes that attitude but sadly falls into alcoholism to cope. Stoner is a hero but also his own villian…bad things and people happen to him but he just doesn’t have the energy to fight back ever. Easy to follow, surprisingly plot driven given his ho-hum life and I was left feeling sorry for Stoner. Was he ever really happy? How many Americans follow the same path in life?

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Top tier, excellent read in my opinion. Chris Whitaker weaves a long game, complex character driven plot line that left me with goosebumps and tears in the end. Be warned, it is heart wrenching and sad but I have no regrets. The character development was matched with plot twists and pacing, I inhaled this 580 page book in 2 days (ok, I LISTENED to it). I found Saint, Patch, Misty, Sammy all very human, sometimes morally gray, complex characters with crazy amounts of drama that doesn’t dwell on the gore. One eyed Patch grows up with Saint and Misty in small town Missouri before Patch is kidnapped and a series of girls go missing and start turning up dead. Patch survives the kidnapping but spends the next 20 years obsessed with finding the missing girls including Grace, a girl that he meets while kidnapped. This is part thriller mystery, part literary novel, part unrequited love. Easily a book that can be savored over time - Whitaker’s one liners and decadent descriptions are aplenty. This reminds me of Larry McMurtry crossed with Karin Slaughter (minus graphic scenes) and William Kent Krueger. I cannot gush enough about this book. I want to see Patch’s paintings and find me some OBX purple honey!! I’ll definitely have a book hangover, didn’t want this one to end.

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

Brittney Cooper captures her experience of Black feminism (vs white) and the social structures (patriarchy, racism, sexism) that continue to hold women - especially Black women - down. She summarizes the experience with a lesson and path forward: use the rage constructively, build things versus tearing things down. Hold each other accountable and keep pushing for better. Her writing is easy to follow, to the point and brings difficult conversations to the forefront. She backs up her observations with statistics and history and calls out everybody to do better. Recommend for anyone trying to expand their understanding of feminism, intersectionality and a poignant Black point of view.