writesdave's reviews
360 reviews

Mozart and Leadbelly

Ernest J. Gaines

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Best American Sports Writing 2020

Glenn Stout, Jackie MacMullan

4.0

adventurous challenging informative relaxing medium-paced

The usual mastery from the last edition. Every parent needs to read Kent Babb's obituary for Kelly Catlin. Parenting excellence through forced perfectionism is not the way.

Bombingham

Anthony Grooms

3.75

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Excellent and harrowing account of life in pre-civil rights Birmingham from the standpoint of an 11-year-old boy in the midst of family trauma, jumping ahead to the boy as a young man in Vietnam. The prose is a little uneven at times, but the overall message of humanity and determination against the odds holds true. Underrated read on the south, too.

Eat Pray Love

Elizabeth Gilbert

3.5

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

I understand the hate, and I do agree that the book emerged from a good deal of privilege, but I didn’t hate it. I learned a good deal about Eastern Philosophy (which means I clearly need to read more), learned about Italian food and culture, and learned about the expat life. Based on Liz’s life now, I’d say she grew. That’s all you can ask from a year in the woods (generously funded by a publisher’s advance).

Flappers and Philosophers

F. Scott Fitzgerald

3.5

dark emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

At this point I just enjoy Fitzgerald's work as a slice of life in the culture of the 1910s, an era I'm not familiar with. While the work is disconnected from any current events of the day, I like the descriptions of the people and society in upper-crust America, even if the characters have precious few positive qualities and you hope for their ruin.