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jiayuanc's reviews
274 reviews
Scattered Snows, to the North: Poems by Carl Phillips
emotional
inspiring
4.0
Memory and nature. Loved these poems quite a bit. My favourites are below:
- Sunlight in fog
- Fall colours
- Artillery
- Scattered snows, to the north
- Little winter
- Western edge
- Troubadours
- Record of where a wind was
- Career
End Zone by Don DeLillo
funny
reflective
3.5
The imagery in Part 3, where Gary and the guys are running around, playing football in the snow is so beautiful, especially coming immediately after the brutal football game of Part 2. Not my favourite DeLillo but definitely one I'm glad to have read. It might have actually made me understand American football and why people enjoy it.
Modern Poetry: Poems by Diane Seuss
funny
reflective
4.5
Sylvia Plath vibes. Gave me the same feeling of being in conversation with poet, it's the same feeling I had when I first read the brilliant Roger Reeve's Best Barbarian book of poems.
I LOVE when a poet shows their love of reading and references other poets and authors in their work. I love a conversation of literature across the centuries.
My favourites from this collection (in the order as listed in the book itself):
I LOVE when a poet shows their love of reading and references other poets and authors in their work. I love a conversation of literature across the centuries.
My favourites from this collection (in the order as listed in the book itself):
- Little Fugue State
- Modern Poetry
- My Education
- Bluish
- Threnody
- Simile
- Penetralium
- Poetry
- Romantic Poet
Awu's Story: A Novel by Justine Mintsa
dark
sad
3.5
I enjoyed the excellent English translation of this short novel. The introduction is very informative and I learned a lot about Gabonese history and about la francophonie.
The novel itself has really wonderful prose. When I say it became quite difficult to read towards the end in part 3 I'm referring to the content, not the writing itself. Part 3'swidow ritual and brother "inheriting" the wife was very hard to get through. I have marked it in the content warnings, so do familiarize those if you are planning to read this.
The novel itself has really wonderful prose. When I say it became quite difficult to read towards the end in part 3 I'm referring to the content, not the writing itself. Part 3's
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Abortion, Sexual harassment
Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Robert MacFarlane has such a brilliant way with words, especially when it comes to nature writing. I will never go caving or into these underground lands myself, and thankfully I won't have to because MacFarlane has done all the deep time under land adventuring for us. Brilliant.
Hang On St. Christopher by Adrian McKinty
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
One of my favourite detective series, McKinty just doesn't miss. Happy to be reunited once again with Duffy, Crabbie and Lawson. This one is a fun romp that takes Duffy international again. The puns and dad jokes are back in full force. Loved every moment, aside from the little aside with Rachel Melville, Duffy's new neighbour on Coronation Rd. Clever Moby Dick reference that McKinty couldn't resist I suppose? Did not love Crabbie and Duffy being at odds but I knew they would make up, and they do! Especially liked the little nod to McKinty's Michael Forsythe trilogy; it may be my sign to pick those up while waiting for Book 9... I hope McKinty has some more Sean Duffy stories up his sleeve for us. Of course, big shout out to the wonderful Gerard Doyle for his brilliant narration.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity
The History of Bourbon by Ken Albala
informative
fast-paced
3.0
Fascinating lectures giving us a quick overview into the history of bourbon. Would have loved a more in depth look as the lecture chapters would often end just as things were sounding interesting! I look forward to Prof Albala's future courses.
The Kingdom by Emmanuel Carrère
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Part 1 was so engrossing, and as an ex Catholic myself albeit one still interested in early Christian history, I thought Carrère captured the feelings of struggling with faith and belief and lapsing back into atheisism perfectly well. Part 1 is reflective and I could not put it down.
Part 2 goes into the historical fiction of the life of Paul and Luke and this is where he lost me. Carrère presents facts mixed with his own speculation, often without differentiation, often just plain wrong. He info dumps on the reader, probably correctly assuming the average reader would not know the history of the early Christians, which is fair enough except he speculates on things, presents such speculations in the same breath as historical facts. If I wanted to spend time reading about the lives of the early Christians why would I not just spend it reading from actual historians specializing in that time, rather than listen to a journalist / screen writer?
Part 2 goes into the historical fiction of the life of Paul and Luke and this is where he lost me. Carrère presents facts mixed with his own speculation, often without differentiation, often just plain wrong. He info dumps on the reader, probably correctly assuming the average reader would not know the history of the early Christians, which is fair enough except he speculates on things, presents such speculations in the same breath as historical facts. If I wanted to spend time reading about the lives of the early Christians why would I not just spend it reading from actual historians specializing in that time, rather than listen to a journalist / screen writer?
Classics of Horror: Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by James Krasner, James Krasner
informative
3.5
Dr Krasner spends two lectures on each of Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, and Dracula. This is a very good introduction to each of these tales, and as an introduction it serves its purpose. But I do wish we spent just a bit more time with each of them! The first lecture for each novel focuses on plot, characters, the themes and historical context. The second lecture talks about how contemporary works were influenced by the novel, and how in the cases of Frankenstein and Dracula, contemporary works have almost overshadowed and become more famous than the original novel itself.
An enjoyable listen nonetheless.
An enjoyable listen nonetheless.
Ahab's Rolling Sea: A Natural History of "Moby-Dick" by Richard J. King
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Excellent, really insightful companion to Moby Dick, outlining Melville's knowledge of ocean animals, and whether those "facts" still hold true based on our new scientific knowledge. King uses Moby Dick as the jumping off point to explore the various advances in maritime science and ocean biology - there is absolutely no need to have read Moby Dick before in order to enjoy this.
This book has certainly inspired me to read Moby Dick again. It has allowed me to see deeper into references I previously missed, or just didn't know because I wasn't aware of what was the knowledge of Melville's time. Highly recommended.
This book has certainly inspired me to read Moby Dick again. It has allowed me to see deeper into references I previously missed, or just didn't know because I wasn't aware of what was the knowledge of Melville's time. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death