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everie's reviews
38 reviews
The Men Who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson
My first journey into gonzo journalism! I'll have to give more a shot--a really interesting style of investigation.
Swings from legitimately funny to sad to depressing to "hey whatcha got there"(Abu Ghraib) (Guantanamo Bay) "a smoothie". Really knocked me for a loop in a positive way, thanks for the atrocity reminders, Ronson.
I don't completely buy his idea about how the mostly idealistic psychic soundwave ideas (lol) of the post-Vietnam 1970s ended up being used for torture (or more like sometimes I was intrigued and others it felt like he was trying really hard to make some unrelated dots connect--the torture itself was/is definitely happening) or his willingness to humor the claims of any supposed hamster heart-stopper with an email address, but it was a great, fun read that only got better as it went along. And included some definite truths about the ways the United States has and does mistreat prisoners and proclaimed 'bad guys' without a trial or a thought to human rights.
Also Art Bell mention! And then the Heaven's Gate connection destroyed me Wow.
I hope there is actually a slightly better and still eternally doomed psychic spy operation out there. And I bet they DO have better coffee :)
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.75
My first journey into gonzo journalism! I'll have to give more a shot--a really interesting style of investigation.
Swings from legitimately funny to sad to depressing to "hey whatcha got there"
I don't completely buy his idea about how the mostly idealistic psychic soundwave ideas (lol) of the post-Vietnam 1970s ended up being used for torture (or more like sometimes I was intrigued and others it felt like he was trying really hard to make some unrelated dots connect--the torture itself was/is definitely happening) or his willingness to humor the claims of any supposed hamster heart-stopper with an email address, but it was a great, fun read that only got better as it went along. And included some definite truths about the ways the United States has and does mistreat prisoners and proclaimed 'bad guys' without a trial or a thought to human rights.
Also Art Bell mention!
I hope there is actually a slightly better and still eternally doomed psychic spy operation out there. And I bet they DO have better coffee :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Violence
The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Much better than I thought it would be with this premise! :) Wonderful sensual descriptions of food, it made me want to cook more. Both protagonists were interesting, though Reiko's story was much more uneven than Beatrice's--and felt a little unfinished.
It's a pretty ballsy move tohave your two main POV characters only meet once in the story, and then only for dinner , though I don't feel strongly attached to that decision either.
Not bad! Might check out the author's other works
It's a pretty ballsy move to
Not bad! Might check out the author's other works
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Camgirl by Isa Mazzei
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
Read this after seeing Cam (2019) a few years ago, an incredible thriller/horror movie that Mazzei also wrote--more relevant than ever in the age of deepfakes and more and more sophisticated and unregulated AI tech (but of course, as the memoir notes, people in online sex work have always been at risk of having their images and recordings escape their control and affect their lives).
After reading this memoir, it's definitely obvious how Mazzei pulled from her own experiences in sex work to give the film more weight--but it also feels like the book could have used some more back and forth with an editor before it was published.
Mazzei is a really engaging writer. Each chapter tears along at a breakneck pace, urging the reader along--but the book itself doesn't feel that cohesive. It brings up and drops things when convenient, so something that is a main point of conflict in one chapter (see the comment above about images escaping a sex worker's control) is dropped completely without much reflection. Meanwhile, every chapter ends with a "summing up" or "moral" kind of statement, to really bring it to a close. But Mazzei's struggles with intimacy and self-image are a throughline in the memoir, so those wrap-up statements just feel pat and a little trite. It makes the whole thing feel less even, and could have used more time. Overall, though, a really informative, interesting read! Also go watch Cam!!
After reading this memoir, it's definitely obvious how Mazzei pulled from her own experiences in sex work to give the film more weight--but it also feels like the book could have used some more back and forth with an editor before it was published.
Mazzei is a really engaging writer. Each chapter tears along at a breakneck pace, urging the reader along--but the book itself doesn't feel that cohesive. It brings up and drops things when convenient, so something that is a main point of conflict in one chapter (see the comment above about images escaping a sex worker's control) is dropped completely without much reflection. Meanwhile, every chapter ends with a "summing up" or "moral" kind of statement, to really bring it to a close. But Mazzei's struggles with intimacy and self-image are a throughline in the memoir, so those wrap-up statements just feel pat and a little trite. It makes the whole thing feel less even, and could have used more time. Overall, though, a really informative, interesting read! Also go watch Cam!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Fatphobia
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A lot of fun for so heavy a read. Covers the love story of a main character with an eating disorder who falls for a woman who she imagines has all of the qualities of her appearance she most fears. Obviously it's about self-love, baby!
The hypnotic delivery of the few calories the MC allows herself per day and punishing schedule she's made for herself set the tone of the story as first, until the MC meets Miriam, the orthodox Jewish daughter of the owners of a frozen yogurt chain. Things happen, Miriam interrupts the MC's routine--with some fantastic decadant frozen yogurt creations that I absolutely wanted--and shit hits the fan.
Love the sensual descriptions of food as the MCgets more and more 'fuck it' about her set schedule in the face of unpredictable caloric intake , and laughed out loud at some of the unabashadly Freudian fantasies in the early parts.
I also was wondering if they would address Palestine at the first visit to the Schwebels', and I'm glad they did at the second, but yooooooowza. The perfect image from the first night is shattered. Wonderfully done!
The hypnotic delivery of the few calories the MC allows herself per day and punishing schedule she's made for herself set the tone of the story as first, until the MC meets Miriam, the orthodox Jewish daughter of the owners of a frozen yogurt chain. Things happen, Miriam interrupts the MC's routine--with some fantastic decadant frozen yogurt creations that I absolutely wanted--and shit hits the fan.
Love the sensual descriptions of food as the MC
I also
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
It's not particularly compelling. Fine (ish) for a short story but it doesn't have enough to carry a novella. The maggot imagery was sickening (positive), but I think its greatest strength is in its publisher's marketing campaign and cover design.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
The Northwoods Chronicles: A Novel in Stories by Elizabeth Engstrom
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
A little underbaked, very Steven King, with all the good and bad that entails (especially with the -isms and gross-out stuff in the second half). The mystery in the beginning never pans out--it feels like the author doesn't know or care what happened, either. Hm.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
As always Shirely Jackson please marry me
There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
I have so so much affection for this book. From the first job to the last, the narration is filled with a heady combination of earnestness, desperation, and humor. It's surreal in quite a few different ways, depending on the job, but I think the thing that's stuck with me the most is how many people are truly trying their best, even if the system is not made to support them.
I'm eagerly waiting to read more of her work! I think if anything, this book is a little uneven in the weirdness of the jobs (with the surveillance and the Albatross Circulator story as the fun weird standouts) but I enjoyed them all. It's also very interesting how all the supervisors are men who barely give direction or ask for tasks that go way beyond the call of duty or ethics she's getting too invested and biting off more than she can chew.
Also fuck yeah Ms. EriguchiDesign the ideal neighborhood through casual magic (???) and then build the kind of organization you want for yourself!! While also making the neighborhood you love so much safer! God I'm so glad the narrator stays friends with her.
I'm usually more coherent but I can't be objective with this one :)
I'm eagerly waiting to read more of her work! I think if anything, this book is a little uneven in the weirdness of the jobs (with the surveillance and the Albatross Circulator story as the fun weird standouts) but I enjoyed them all. It's also very interesting how all the supervisors are men who barely give direction or ask for tasks that go way beyond the call of duty or ethics she's getting too invested and biting off more than she can chew.
Also fuck yeah Ms. Eriguchi
I'm usually more coherent but I can't be objective with this one :)
Walking Practice by Dolki Min
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The second book that really blew me away this year!! Goodness what a narrator and what a story. I love it (and Mumu to pieces. It's funny, it's gory, it's super interesting. And the descriptions of life as someone who can be 'outed', for whom trying to get through life surrounded by strangers who are at any moment ready to judge you by any number of factors...really well done. And living in a world that refuses to make any bit of life easier for people with chronic conditions or limited mobility. Anyway, it's great! I devoured it! And may in turn be devoured!
(side note publishing industry stop describing South Korean sci fi stories about capitalism as Squid Game challenge)
(side note publishing industry stop describing South Korean sci fi stories about capitalism as Squid Game challenge)