Wow, that touched my soul in a way I wasn’t expecting—the winner of numerous accolades and well-deserved. I finished th
** Pulitzer Prize winner 2025**
Wow, that touched my soul in a way I wasn’t expecting—the winner of numerous accolades and well-deserved. I finished the last few pages on a flight, slightly shattered and profoundly hopeful. James is a powerful, moving read. It deeply touched my heart and was much more than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. We delve deeply into the world of Jim (James), cheering for him throughout his treacherous journey. It's heartbreaking and heartwarming, an extraordinary story—it's reading the original story as an adult, wanting more for "Jim," and finding it in this book.
There were many moments I was brought to tears—rarely has a story transformed me into an unfamiliar time and place. Author Percival Everett transcended time and created an uncomfortably gut-wrenching, tragic, humorous, and heartwarming atmosphere. How often can you say that about a book?
The most significant deviation from the original story was James' education--primarily his ability to read, an advantage he kept close to his heart and a tremendous change.
If I could see the words, then no one could control them or what I got from them. They couldn’t even know if I was merely seeing them or reading them, sounding them out or comprehending them. It was a completely private affair ...
Some reviewers didn't like this change, but it made for a balanced and believable possibility that James could stand on his feet and beat the oppressive system.
When Huck uncovers the truth about his father, I was moved to tears.
You can be white or black. Nobody will question you.” “What should I be?” “Just keep living,” I said. “Just remember, once they see you, or see me in you, you’ve been seen. I know you don’t understand. But you will one day
He had always felt affection for me, if not actual love. He had always looked to me for protection, even when he thought he was trying to protect me
There exists an unbroken truth between Huck and James—like father and son, they will support each other through it all. They have a genuine connection that touches the heart.
While reading James, I was sitting at the edge of my seat, hoping he would escape and find freedom for himself and his family, but hope can't always be trusted.
“What’s so funny?” “I don’t know. Hope? Hope is funny. Hope is not a plan. Actually, it’s just a trick. A ruse."
The most potent quote in the entire book--encompassing the inequality:
How strange a world, how strange an existence, that one’s equal must argue for one’s equality, that one’s equal must hold a station that allows airing of that argument, that one cannot make that argument for oneself, that premises of said argument must be vetted by those equals who do not agree
Why did I love this story so much? It moved quickly, the drama intense and continuous. The quotes were thought-provoking, and the story was what we needed to read in the dark climate of the current affairs. Jim was a resilient character, his struggles, fears, happiness, all part of the readers psyche.
I listened to Ta-Nehisi Coates speak to an audience of over 3,000 in New Orleans. It felt more like a concert—the crowd cheering and applauding in excI listened to Ta-Nehisi Coates speak to an audience of over 3,000 in New Orleans. It felt more like a concert—the crowd cheering and applauding in excitement with their favorite band members. The moderator called him 'The James Baldwin of our generation,' and everyone went wild. I couldn’t agree more.
Coates' new book is somewhat of an anomaly, standing against rows of books that tiptoe around uncomfortable conversations. His words are bold and unapologetic in the current climate of stonewalling opinions. He speaks from the depths of his soul--gathering his experiences and putting them into concrete ideas.
The book begins with a bit of backstory of his family. His parents, ahead of their time, instilled in Coates the idea of free thinking. Progressive and nurturing, they ingrained the concept of searching for the truth—not everything was as it seemed. Coates took this information, his passion for writing, and his belief systems and challenged them, addressing the hard truths of race, oppression, and freedom.
Armed with those raw sources and my own sense of how words might be organized--a style I possessed--maybe I could go from the haunted to the ghost, from the reader to the writer, and I too could have the stars, and their undeniable gravity, at my disposal
Coates travels to Dakar, wanting to experience his roots. It is an eye-opening journey—what he presumed is not what he saw. He goes to connect to his ancestors, revealing the beginnings of his existence, but it isn't the fantasy he conjures.
I went to Senegal in silence and solitude, like a man visiting the grave of an uncertain ancestor...I had spent my time alone, walking and wandering, grieving and marveling, so that the Dakar I saw was not so much a city of people but, a monument to the Last Stop before we were remade
He goes on to tell the story of a South Carolina school system on the cusp of banning his book because the students and parents "feel uncomfortable" and "ashamed to be Caucasian." Coates connected with the teacher and even traveled to meet with the South Carolina teacher.
There was a sense in the room that avoiding "diverse concepts" was not just wrong on moral grounds but that it represented a lowering of standards...one that invalidated the worse caricatures of Southern whiteness...
The last 100 pages of the book center around a trip Coates takes to Palestine for a literary festival. He begins by visiting the book of names and recounts I don't know that I've ever seen a more striking site of mourning
The human mind can only conceive of so much tragedy at once--and when lost lives spiral into the hundreds, then thousands, then millions, when murder becomes wide, seemingly unended mass, we lose our ability to see its victims as anything more than an abstract, almost theoretical, collection of lives
Coates takes on two wildly divergent trips, one through the eyes of a Palestinian and the other through an Israeli. What he experiences (in real-time) has affected his outlook tremendously. His first eye-opener is the number of checkpoints.
I watched two Palestinian school children being stopped by a soldier and directed back down the street from which they had come
Cotes and his group of literary friends are stopped by soldiers and asked about their religion, parents' religion, and grandparents' religion--and only when he tells them he does not have a religion but that his grandparents were Christian is he allowed to pass.
Jewish Israelis in Jerusalem are citizens of the state; Palestinians in the city are merely "permanent residents," a kind of sub-citizenship with a reduced set of rights and privileges
He describes highways and roads marked for different citizens, with license plates for either those who are Jewish or those who are not. Water is also controlled, including natural rainwater Palestinians collect on roofs. A permit is required, yet rarely given--shocking.
It occurred to me that there was still one place on the planet--under American patronage--that resembled the world that my parents were born into
And what my young eyes now saw of that state was a world where separate and unequal was alive and well, where rule by the ballot for some and the bullet for others was policy
As the trip ends, Coates goes on to meet Israeli hosts but does not do this to hear "both sides."
I had no interest in defense of the occupation and what struck me then as segregation
He goes on to say that journalists today are playing a game of "both sides,"--but in actuality, like playing God, journalists are deciding through stories which side is legitimate and pushing that ideology into viewers' lenses.
How do you oppress people but create an ideology of justice?
—quote taken from his lecture
Coates shares stories of settlers taking over homes, blindfolding their residents, and moving into their own families with no recourse from the government. Most often, the government takes sides with settlers, leaving Palestinian family homes, dating back centuries, confiscated.
Towards the end of the book, Coates explores the historical creation of the Israeli state. One historian, Benny Morris, writes:
Something like a cage has to be built for them...There is a wild animal there that has to be locked up in one way or another...Even the great American democracy could not have been created without the annihilation of the Indians
'The Message' is a powerful force of storytelling. Unabashed and passionate, Coates weaves together experiences to explain the great discord in our society—differences. We strive to be one nation but remain so very divided—it's heartbreaking.
I hope more people read this book. It was an eye-opening, empowering read. He truly is the James Baldwin of our time.
How do you perfectly encapsulate a book which teaches you something entirely new but also break your heart. I wasn't expecting to be so completely andHow do you perfectly encapsulate a book which teaches you something entirely new but also break your heart. I wasn't expecting to be so completely and utterly moved.
Frankie defies all odds--her parents and society, leaving for Vietnam to help as a nurse. After learning the tragic news of her brother, her parents think she will come home, but Frankie is devoted to the cause. What she sees while there, will change her in ways she never fathomed.
The story is divided in two parts. The first, focuses on her time in Vietnam. The second half, Frankie is back in Southern California surrounded by parents who don't walk to discuss her experience. It's not only her parents, everyone she meets---it's as if people don't want to admit she went, because what would a woman be doing in a war, especially Vietnam?
We were the last believers, my generation. We trusted what our parents taught us about right and wrong, good and evil, the American myth of equality and justice and honor
This struggle throughout the book was felt viscerally. I wanted to scream at everyone around her--words like gaslighting come to play when I think of Frankie's parents. They went out of their way to make her feel terrible for going. The suffering she saw, the relationships she made, Frankie is forced to internalize every experience.
You think it means nothing when a woman, a nurse, goes to war. You think it’s glorious that your son goes to war and embarrassing when your daughter does
Kristin Hannah has done her research. The story felt authentic, and only later, in the author's note, I came to learn Hannah spoke to many veterans with similar experiences in similar places in Vietnam and that the story was vetted.
The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn't quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. We were there
There was a familiarity of Hannah's story in the current climate of the world. We don't understand why, we as a country, are doing the things we do, the hurt we cause. The innocent lives lost, it's almost unbearable. 'The Women,' is not just another drama or love story of war, it's the story of truth, pain, and suffering.
From here, the war was almost beautiful. Maybe that was a fundamental truth: War looked one way for those who saw it from a safe distance. Close up, the view was different
Overall, this story pulled at every heart string and I'm still thinking about it.
An exquisite, fierce, deeply moving story. The last few pages, read with teary eyes, a perfect ending. I think Sally Rooney's books are best appreciatAn exquisite, fierce, deeply moving story. The last few pages, read with teary eyes, a perfect ending. I think Sally Rooney's books are best appreciated by those who love dialogue—not just any dialogue, but in-depth conversations uncovering the inner thoughts of her characters.
This is the story of two brothers navigating a world without their father, tumbling through grief, searching for meaning and understanding. At its core, it is a tender story of male vulnerability, philosophical, tragic, and endearing. Sally Rooney has, once again, captured the essence of tender dialogue and intimacy that makes the reader a vulnerable spectator.
What if life is just a collection of essentially unrelated experiences? Why does one thing have to follow meaningfully from another
Peter, the elder brother, a lawyer, is struggling with the death of his father. A flawed relationship,, yet full of longing--he's medicating himself to get through the days. He was in a loving relationship with Sylvia, yet tragedy has put their love in a waiting game, a purgatory. Sylvia, reeling from a tragic accident, is unable to be fully present in the relationship, yet Peter is still fondly and hopelessly in love with her. On the side, Peter is entwined with a much younger college girl, Naomi. Trapped between two people, he struggles to find a place of solitude.
She has hated him all along for leaving her, he knows that, and he has hated her for telling him to go
Ivan, the younger brother, a chess prodigy, is awkward, the antithesis of Peter's natural social graces. He struggles with the heavy weight of his father's death and a fraught relationship with his brother. Ivan isn't sure what family is left. His remarried and distant mother doesn’t have much connection with the boys.
The human mind, for all the credit he was just giving it a minute ago, is often repetitive, often trapped in a familiar cycle of unproductive thoughts, which in Ivan’s case are usually regretful in nature
At one of his chess competitions, Ivan meets a much older woman, Margaret, who is in the middle of a divorce. They share a cosmic connection, but it is not meant for the world- Ivan doesn't care, but he tries to make sense of it, regardless of any consequence.
Is it different, to want something, and to think the wanted thing is a good idea? Yes, it could be different, he thinks, if the long-term consequences of the event were foreseeably worse than the short-term gratification involved
Margaret worries what her mother, soon-to-be ex-husband, and colleagues will think, yet, she feels the unexplainable pull of this young man. A passion she has never felt.
This quote actually took my breath away, reminding me how much I love Sally Rooney:
Margaret feels that she can perceive the miraculous beauty of life itself, lived only once and then gone forever, the bloom of a perfect impermanent flower, never to be retrieved. This is life, the experience, this is all there has ever been. To force this moment into contact with her ordinary existence only seems to reveal how constricting, how misshapen her ideas of life have been
A contextual theme in Intermezzo is two brothers wanting success and happiness and the lengths they take to enjoy and have it. They both grappled with the route to happiness, whether financially, romantically, or essentially finding it in life after loss. Were they superior in their desires, or did they suffer?
He believed once that life must lead to something, all the unresolved conflicts and questions leading on toward some great culmination...Irrational attachment to meaning
How often in life he has found himself a frustrated observer of apparently impenetrable systems, watching other people participate effortlessly in structures he can find no way to enter or even understand. So often that it’s practically baseline, just normal existence for him. And this is not only due to the irrational nature of other people, and the consequent irrationality of the rules and processes they devise; it’s due to Ivan himself, his fundamental unsuitedness to life. He knows this. He feels himself to have been formed, somehow, with something other than life in mind
Peter and Ivan navigate their separate lives, work, and relationships, and their unexplained rift grows. Ivan finds Peter arrogant and selfish, a wanna-be success story. Peter sees Ivan as a child, meek, immature, and boring, but Ivan thrives with Margret. He is the best version of himself.
Sometimes you need people to be perfect and they can't be and you hate them forever for not being even though it isn't their fault and it's not yours either. You just needed something they didn't have in them to give you
It was hard to say goodbye to these characters, like so many of Rooney's books, you feel at home, wanting to be a part of their lives, wanting to reach out and hug them in their broken moments. Ivan was adorable, endearing, and kind at a young age. I loved his sense of self—his desire to do better. Confused and struggling, Peter broke me but also gave me hope—he was surrounded by people who loved him and genuinely needed to know it.
This is Rooney's most complex story to date. While the story vacillates between the two brothers, Peters's words read like a stream of consciousness. Sometimes, you aren't sure which woman he's speaking to, while Ivan's thoughts are more secure and straightforward. This was clever and done well.
The writing is beautifully jagged and poetic. Rooney understands the human condition deeply--it makes me think of my relationship with siblings, what I wished for, accepted, and disdained. I have seen complicated relationships between brothers, the ability to be vulnerable and break egos at the center of a conflict is beyond difficult, but doable.
Passionate about unconventional relationships, Rooney explores themes of cohesiveness in a conventional world. Systems can be flawed, imperfect, and lines blurred, depending on circumstances—it’s all okay.
I have loved Sally Rooney since Conversation with Friends, and this was another gorgeous read.
5/5 ✨ stars ✨
⭐️ I finished the audiobook and loved it. It is read by Éanna Hardwicke, who plays Rob in ‘Normal People.’ His Irish accent brings the brothers to life in a poetic, realistic way. Beautiful.
Check out my other reviews of books by Sally Rooney:
Some books bloom authenticity and stick with you long after the last page. You are Here,' was just that.
This is the story of Micheal and Marnie, throSome books bloom authenticity and stick with you long after the last page. You are Here,' was just that.
This is the story of Micheal and Marnie, thrown together by a mutual friend to trek through the infamous English coast-to-coast walk (or, as we Americans refer to as hike). The book sets the mood for sitting by a fire with a coffee on a cozy night and reading all evening.
Told in alternating POV between Micheal and Marnie, we fall in love with two witty, lonely, broken, fundamentally loving characters. It perfectly balances humor and anguish between two people interlocked by a stunning backdrop.
Three days of walking with strangers. It was the kind of potentially awful experience she needed
Michael and Marnie are in the throws of a divorce or on the verge of finalizing their marriages. They are coming out of the solitude of COVID, afraid of socializing because being alone is--easier. Marnie, a copywriter, has learned to find JOMO (joy of missing out), and Micheal, a teacher, is almost entirely a recluse. It will take more than a group trip to get these two to feel comfortable and put themselves back into the world.
The risks involved in romantic love, the potential for hurt and betrayal and indignity, far outweighed the consolations
The story conjured a sense of stunning beauty and perfect comfort. David Nicholls's poetic descriptions of the vast English 'Wuthering, Moor' countryside enchants the reader. It was like reading the best travel guide, transporting you to the doorsteps of the Northern Sea. I wanted to be there, to walk the long, rainy, enchanting journey.
I wanted these characters to break their shells and discover the world, hoping to find happiness. They were life friends you wanted to motivate and root for!
There is who we want to be, she thought, and there is who we are. As we get older the former gives way to the latter, and maybe this is who I am now, someone better off by themselves. Not happier, but better off. Not an introvert, just an extrovert who had lost the knack
Micheal and Marnie are beautifully written. There was genuine honesty in their journey, relatable and authentic. It was invigorating to read a story about two characters written in an attainable way. Each reveals themselves as we intertwine their lives, peeling their insecurities with tenderness.
I may add so many more amazing quotes later to this review.
Overall, a hilarious, heartwarming story! One I hope everyone gets the chance to read! My cute take: Sometimes, asking for directions is the only chance to find your way. 5/5 stars
Must read-required reading in my opinion. The 14 short stories written by Langston Hughes tell a story of black and white intersections and their blatMust read-required reading in my opinion. The 14 short stories written by Langston Hughes tell a story of black and white intersections and their blatant and not-so-blatant biases. The casual way in which today's society calls 'micro-aggressions' was front and center in this novel.
Reading The Ways of White Folks was a recharge, a shock to my system, a strong reminder of where we were, how far we think we've come, and how we still remain fully planted in our biases and prejudice.
One story chronicles a man "passing" as white and how hard he tried and pushed himself into the world that "accepted" him rather than make him an 'other.'
I never knew they made a practice of saying such terrible things about us until I started passing and heard their conversations and live...
The story of a man working for his white owners...
Just because they pay you, they always think they own you. No white man's gonna own me. I laugh with em' and they I like 'em. Hell I'm from Arkansas where the crackers lynch the ni**ers in the streets. How could I like 'em
The honesty with which Hughes writes leaves the reader broken. It felt like going into the hearts and the minds of the protagonist of each story, feeling their struggle, their depth, their pain.
A story of a woman forced to give birth to a master's baby, only for the baby to die and then try to raise his "real" baby as her own--after all the love of raising that child to be told to back off.
The lights that would turn off and on, never dimmed in the struggle for freedom, was a gut punch, leaving a sour but real taste of sadness in my mouth. This was the world. It felt distant but truly a doorstep away.
Cora was like a tree—once rooted, she stood, in spite of storms and strife, wind, and rocks, in the earth
This is not a book to overlook. It's a book to read, think, and discuss. Langston Hughes writes with raw honesty that needs to be treasured. A landscape of a world veiled and shrouded my prejudice.
Bow down and pray in fear and trembling, go way back in the dark afraid; or work harder and harder; or stumble and learn, or raise up your fist and strike-but once the idea comes into your head, you’ll never be the same again. Oh, test tube of life! Crucible of the South, find the right powder and you’ll never be the same again-the cotton will blaze and the cabins will burn and the chains will be broken and men, all of a sudden, will shakes hands, black men and white men, like steel meeting steel
⭐️Best YA Fantasy & 카지노싸이트 Fiction⭐️ The writing, the plot, the characters, the dark academia vibe, it was all perfect! I usually don't run for the fa⭐️Best YA Fantasy & 카지노싸이트 Fiction⭐️ The writing, the plot, the characters, the dark academia vibe, it was all perfect! I usually don't run for the fantasy genre, but saw amazing reviews for Divine Rivals--I'm so glad I did. I have fallen in love, like real actual love. I keep going back to this book, wishing I could read it for the first time.
The story is set in the early 1900's and revolves around Iris Winnow and Roman Carver Kit, two rival journalists competing to be at the top of their game. There is an undeniable spark between them that keeps itself stilted by witty banter.
Iris lives with her mother, a heavy drinker, and misses her brother, Forest, who is prepping in the army for a war that threatens the safety of all their lives. Two rival Gods, Enva and Dacre have been fighting for centuries, away from the city of Oath, and now the fear of a World War in her city is eminent. Everyone is on edge, waiting for what is to come.
I don't think you realize how strong you are, because sometimes strength isn't swords and steel and fire, as we are so often made to believe. Sometimes it's found in quiet, gentle places
I loved that Rebecca Ross perfectly sets up the fantasy component of the story without being overwhelming, and the WRITING. Ross writes like magic-- easy, flowing, gorgeous. It was beautiful and enchanting. Her words flowed in such a way, making the story actually pretty.
Iris tries to connect with her brother through letters she slips under her wardrobe, but when she doesn't hear from him for months, she becomes disheartened. In a shocking twist, she starts getting letters from a stranger, who happens to be Roman-- so begins their pen pal relationship with magical typewriters. The electric spark and words that fly between them were invigorating.
His letters felt like an embrace. Like reaching for a friend in the darkness and finding their hand
When the story ended, I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends. Relatable and kind. They experience real life things like grief and sadness that connecting the reader in an entirely different level.
But I realize people are just people, and they carry their own set of fears, dreams, desires, pains and mistakes. I can't expect someone else to make me feel complete; I must find it on my own
Is it crazy to admit, mundane moments in the novel brought me to tears. Ross writes with such passion, even the most seemingly dull exchanges between Iris and Roman come to life.
I can NOT wait for book two, and recommend this to anyone that loves LOVE, fantasy, and excellent writing. Emphasis on the excellent writing!
It takes courage to let down your armor, to welcome people to see you as you are. Sometimes I feel the same as you: I can’t risk having people behold me as I truly am. But there’s also a small voice in the back of my mind, a voice that tells me, “You will miss so much by being so guarded.”
If a book had a scent, Divine Rivals would be a cup of hot black coffee and freshly typed paper on a rainy day.
This was such a unique idea for a novel. What happens when suddenly you have an IQ of 180, but your entire life it was 70. Sometimes the things you wiThis was such a unique idea for a novel. What happens when suddenly you have an IQ of 180, but your entire life it was 70. Sometimes the things you wish for are not what they seem.
There is so much to think about. Flowers for Algernon broke me, but also made me question how we find peace and appreciation in our current circumstances. Is it ok to be average? Should we always push and pull for greatness? What are the consequences of power and perfection?
I loved this book. We can look at our past and wish away it in the future, but then it often is too late.
We also recognize how important good friendships are in our lives. We can't dismiss how much people can impact our life choices.
5/5 stars
Merged review:
This was such a unique idea for a novel. What happens when suddenly you have an IQ of 180, but your entire life it was 70. Sometimes the things you wish for are not what they seem.
There is so much to think about. Flowers for Algernon broke me, but also made me question how we find peace and appreciation in our current circumstances. Is it ok to be average? Should we always push and pull for greatness? What are the consequences of power and perfection?
I loved this book. We can look at our past and wish away it in the future, but then it often is too late.
We also recognize how important good friendships are in our lives. We can't dismiss how much people can impact our life choices.
An agonizingly beautiful story about one man living a simple life in a not-so-simple world. Stoner was quite simply a gorgeous feat of beautiful proseAn agonizingly beautiful story about one man living a simple life in a not-so-simple world. Stoner was quite simply a gorgeous feat of beautiful prose, endearing drama, and heartfelt love for a man who was a lover, a poet, a teacher, a father, a husband, and a man of genuine decency.
Willaim Stoner is a poor boy living on a farm with his simpleton parents in the early 1900s. Upon finishing his primary education, his father suggested that he get a college education. He enrolls at the University of Colombia in Missouri to learn agriculture, but instead, he falls in love with literature- writing, reading, everything.
The love of literature, of language, of the mystery of the mind and heart showing themselves in the minute, strange, and unexpected combinations of letters and words, in the blackest and coldest print—the love which he had hidden as if it were illicit and dangerous, he began to display, tentatively at first, and then boldly, and then proudly
Stoner falls in love with an idealized woman, Edith, who is perfect on the outside, but he quickly learns she isn't what he thought. In a more elaborate understanding, it was clear his wife suffered from many mental health concerns. Unfortunately, for the time, her behavior is seen as dramatic, brought about by the gentile, complicated female personification.
He handed wanted the singleness and the still connective passion of marriage; he had had that, too, and he had not known what to do with it, and it had died
Despite Edith and Stoner's lack of chemistry, emotionally and physically, they have a child together, Grace. The hardest part of this novel is that Edith punishes Stoner for his deep love and concern for his daughter. If addressed, she suffered from borderline behavior, which was heartbreaking to read for the husband as well as the daughter.
As the story continues, we learn about the politics of Stoner's work as an assistant professor. For some, this would seem like a boring topic, but John Williams's magnetic prose reels you in and draws you into the most mundane moments.
Stoner, at one point in his career, has an affair. In most instances, these plot points throw me off. However, Stoner and his lover are entangled in a well-deserved relationship. The ebb and flow of true love is harmonious and endearing.
In his extreme youth Stoner had thought of love as an absolute state of being to which, if one were lucky, one might find access; in his maturity, he had decided it was the heaven of a false religion, toward which one ought to gaze with an amused disbelief, a gently familiar contempt, and an embarrassed nostalgia. Now in his middle age, he began to know that it was neither a state of grace nor an illusion; he saw it as a human act of becoming, a condition that was invented and modified moment by moment and day by day, by the will and the intelligence and the heart
This quote speaks to a passionate love, but also a love between all humans and simply the act of existing. Love is not linear but moves in various directions throughout our lives. As children, we assume that it will all make sense as adults, but as adults, we realize we are changing, growing, failing, and revolving in the precious currency of love.
Stoner is an astonishing, poetic read of a man whose quiet upbringing affects the decisions of his entire life. A lover at his core, he dealt many heartbreaking cards and accomplished much- but always wonders if different paths could have changed the trajectory of his life.
I adored this book and am adding it to my favorite list. 5/5 stars...more
This book transported me into another world; the detailed splendor of words, written in gorgeous prose, moved me to tears. Over and over. There were mThis book transported me into another world; the detailed splendor of words, written in gorgeous prose, moved me to tears. Over and over. There were moments I paused and took space, only to return with more love and reverence for this stunning story. The struggle and depth of pain and suffering are harrowing. It is a grief-ridden story, done with elegance and poetry.
And Hamnet? Her unconscious mind casts, again and again, puzzled by the lack of bite, by the answer she keeps giving it: he is dead, he is gone. And Hamnet? The mind will ask again. At school, at play, out at the river? And Hamnet? And Hamnet? Where is he?
This is the fictionalized tale of Hamnet, Shakespeare, and his wife Agnus' (also known as Ann Hathaway) son, who dies at the tender age of 11.
This is not a story about Shakespeare. He is never addressed as such--only as a father, son, or husband. This is the story of his family, the journey of their relationships, and the death of their son led to what author Maggie O'Farrell believes is the epicenter of the play Hamlet. While doing research, I found some scholars believe Hamnet and Hamlet are interchangeable names. I confess I find this to be very plausible.
She regards the face of her son, or the face that used to belong to her son, the vessel that held his mind, produced his speech, contained all that his eyes saw
The detail with which O'Farrell describes Hamnet's death, shrouding, and burial broke my soul. I cried, I broke down. Language, the detail—poetic and passionate.
My brother-in-law recently passed away and I couldn't help but think of him. In my culture, we still shroud and similarly prepare the body with respect, dignity, and care. It was as if I was transported to his passing, reminded that we are traveling through this vessel of life. The final journey is everlasting, forever, a painful burden to those left behind. Agnus' hurt was felt in my heart and soul—as a mother, a daughter, and a sister.
What is given may be taken away, at any time. Cruelty and devastation wait for you around corners, inside coffers, behind doors: they can leap out at you at any time, like a thief or brigand. The trick is never to let down your guard. Never think you are safe. Never take for granted that your children's hearts beat, that they sup milk, that they draw breath, that they walk and speak and smile and argue and play
Agnus' relationship with her brother Bartholomew was also profoundly moving. I have a close bond with my brother and feel a kinship to Bartholomew's love and concern for his sister's struggle. He always supported her at every step of the way.
Her brother touches her dry cheek. He says her name, once, twice. He says he is sorry, he is heart sore
O'Farell wrote with such clarity and finite beauty, it was often forgotten this was a work of fiction. I felt connected to the characters, their intense struggles and burdens. This book, in its essence, focuses on the uphill battle of the wife of an acclaimed writer and their eventual breakdown after the death of their son.
The story is told in parallel, beginning with the story of Agnus and her Latin tutor (Shakespeare) courting and marrying and the illness leading to the death of their son, Hamnet. We also meet his twin sister and older sister.
And Agnes finds she can bear anything except her child’s pain. She can bear separation, sickness, blows, birth, deprivation, hunger, unfairness, and seclusion, but not this: her child, looking down at her dead twin. Her child, sobbing for her lost brother. Her child, racked with grief
The way the two stories converge in the end is done in such a seamless, final way, that it truly took my breath away.
He has, Agnes sees, done what any father would wish to do, to exchange his child’s suffering for his own, to take his place, to offer himself up in his child’s stead so that the boy might live
"Goodnight, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!" --Hamlet IV
✨✨Happy Publication Day✨✨ I just got an email from the publisher: Hello Beautiful is an Oprah Book Club Pick!
Hello Beautiful is a fascinating, stunning✨✨Happy Publication Day✨✨ I just got an email from the publisher: Hello Beautiful is an Oprah Book Club Pick!
Hello Beautiful is a fascinating, stunning story of family, love, and the life we ultimately choose to live--not simply follow.
We are introduced to the young William Waters, a lonely boy finding meaning in his passion for basketball. William is born into a home devoid of emotion. He loses the only sibling he never knew, a sister. His parents are absent and uninterested, but thankfully, he finds basketball a reprieve. When he gets a college scholarship in Chicago, he never turns back.
While at college, William meets Julia Padavano. Julia is assertive and a go-getter, and she has her entire life planned. She comes from a family of three sisters who are as thick as thieves. Her mother, often overbearing, has a strong presence, and her father has a loving nature. Julia's family is nothing like William's, which changes his outlook.
Julia and William married and had a daughter. Things seem to be going fine until they are not. Hello, Beautiful is a surprising and insightful story about mental health. Often, character-driven plots don't delve into life-changing events made by characters during a moment of emotional and mental struggle. When William decides to change the course of his life, not only Julia and baby Alice are affected, but all of the family, especially the sisters. The betrayal and heartache are unforgivable.
The sisters often reference Little Women and attach themselves to different characters throughout the book, which is endearing. The conflicts shine a bright light on sibling relationships from beginning to end.
Without giving too much of the plot away, Ann Napolitano is a gifted storyteller. I loved her previous novel, Dear Edward, which follows a similar intensity--exploring the ebb and flow of complex relationships. Napolitano weaves the story in this book so that the sad moments have meaning and power, like the circle of life.
This is my second book of 2023, and I must say I cried my heart out. There were some parallels to gut-wrenching moments in 2022 that came to life in this book. The coincidence felt like the universe was speaking to me, and I felt grateful. I will hold this beautifully crafted story close to my heart.
I also loved the setting, Chicago, a place I call home.
A story is perfect when the reader cheers for the characters, even those who make bad decisions. The character arcs were drawn perfectly and drove the story forward.
This book will make you ache and cry, but it will also give you peace and smile.
5/5 shining stars.
I am enormously grateful to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press for sharing this stunning story with me in exchange for my honest review.
Even if you don't love U2, this is a book to read! Bono's memoir, a phenomenal feat, reads like a lyrical song. A man with a plethora of accomplishmenEven if you don't love U2, this is a book to read! Bono's memoir, a phenomenal feat, reads like a lyrical song. A man with a plethora of accomplishments and talents, writes with comfort and ease, like a memorable poem.
It wasn't until my late teens that I I fell into U2, but when I did, their music became an intricate part of my life. Seeing them in concert was a bucket list moment, I feel blessed to experience.
When I saw Bono wrote a book, I was all over it!
What a man! Political activist--campaigning debt relief for over 14 poverty stricken countries, helping introduce AIDS medication in Africa, standing up for the Bosnian Genocide--just to name a few.
Some part of us wanted to be men of the world, but a greater part knew we were so much more powerful as boys who didn’t know too much about “the world.”
Bono, literally, is the kindest human on the planet. Honest, selfless. His words reveal how much time he vested in helping those in need, especially the poor. For months he lived in Washington DC, rallying for various platforms.
The arc of the moral universe does not bend toward justice. It has to be bent, and this requires sheer force of will. It demands our sharpest focus and most concentrated effort. History does not move in a straight line; it has to be dragged, kicking and screaming, all the way down the line.
Bono starts from the beginning, recounting his early days growing up in Dublin. A confounding relationship with his father, and the heartache of losing his mother at an early age. He goes on to share lighthearted stories about finding true love, his wife Ali, his four kids, and the lasting relationship between band members and great and prominent people throughout time.
An Irishman, Bono has done more for America than almost any artist. His list of friendships included Presidents, Mandela, Sinatra, to name a few. He was able to form bonds with people whose political, moral views didn't always align, but he formed relationships in order to improve the world.
Clever, humorous, entertaining, honest, and above all humble. Bono is an amazingly accomplished man, and he remembers the people and places that got him to the top, helped him to improve the world.
To kneel down, to implore, to throw yourself out into space, to quietly whisper or roar your insignificance. To fall prostrate and ask to be carried. To humble yourself with your family, your bandmates, and to discover if there’s a face or a name to that silence
The beauty of his music is reflected in his passion for singing...
Songs are my prayer
Impressively, a famous person writing a book and not indulging in the assistance of a ghost writer is worthy of praise. If you are looking for a book that is informative and well written, this is the one to read.
5/5 + stars
**Also, this came in my Libby as a book and some reviewers said to check out the audiobook. I vacillated between the two. His voice is a song, worthy of a listen!...more
Editing review after feeling the need to read again…
I don't know why it took me so long to read this tiny little gem.
The boy, a prince, was sweet, hoEditing review after feeling the need to read again…
I don't know why it took me so long to read this tiny little gem.
The boy, a prince, was sweet, honest, tender, naive to the world, angelic like all children are, in a way that makes us drawn to their innocence.
The pilot learns a whole lot from this little prince asking questions, with answers only found when the reader digs deeper. There aren't any answers except the ones we design.
I feel The Little Prince is relevant today—the man too busy to talk to the prince focused on time and our obsession with social media.
The man was too embarrassed to admit his drunkenness, our own self-loathing.
The man who believes he can control the world is our leader today.
The flower. The flower is a touching character in need of love. Are we taking care of the things we hold dear? Not material values, but actually caring for our loved ones. Then I thought of our planet, are we kind to it? The stars symbolize all of nature and the unknown, and the realization that the prince is safe.
I'm convinced Antoine de Saint Exupery was far ahead of his time. All the morals, tragedies, pains, and eventual acceptance come from the world we live in today.
What matters most are the simple pleasures so abundant that we can all enjoy them...Happiness doesn't lie in the objects we gather around us. To find it, all we need is to open our eyes
Tender, loving, and heartbreaking-- a book I'll be reading over and over.
It is a stunning, gorgeous, poetic retelling of a Greek classic. After the first chapter, I was literally in te✨re-read: You're still so pretty 6/3/24
It is a stunning, gorgeous, poetic retelling of a Greek classic. After the first chapter, I was literally in tears. Madeline Miller has a gift for prose. She takes mundane sentences and turns them into magic. Why did it take me so long to pick this up?!
Yet this beautiful spear had been fashioned not in bitterness, but love. Its shape would fit no one’s hand, but Achilles’, and its heft could suit no one’s strength but his. And though the point was keen and deadly, the wood itself slipped under our fingers like the slender oiled strut of a lyre
The beauty of A Song of Achilles —you don't need to be an expert on Homer's Iliad to comprehend the journey that leads up to the Trojan War. Miller crafts the novel in a familiar tone, examining all aspects, and leaving the reader intrigued.
Achilles and the somewhat awkward, exiled Prince Patroclus create a bond of friendship and love that is told with charm and beauty, despite the rejections and rebukes from Achilles' goddess mother, Thetis.
He is half of my soul, as the poets say
This I say. This and this. The way his hair looked in the summer sun. His face when he ran. His eyes were solemn as an owl at lessons. This and this and this. So many moments of happiness, crowding forward
When word of Helen of Sparta's kidnapping spreads, the mighty of Greece are summoned to fight for her return. A long, arduous war ensues, pushing the two men to their fatal and promised destiny.
This isn't only a love story. It's an entire imagined world turned on its head. I fell in love with the universe, savoring the detailed descriptions. When Patroclus first hears Achilles play the lyre...
His fingers touched the strings and all my thoughts were displaced. The sound was pure and sweet as water, bright as lemons. It was like no music I had ever heard before. It had warmth as a fire does, a texture and weight like polished ivory. It buoyed and soothed at once
Something was endearing in the way that Patroclus urged arrogance away from Achilles. He knew his name came with great power and strength, but he knew he could also remain grounded. Even when Patroclus goes into battle, he goes covertly, wanting to give honor and credit to Achilles.
Pride became us—heroes were never modest
The relationship between the two boys that grew into warriors was gallant and poetic.
I also enjoyed the character development of other mortals and Gods Each was well layered and defined. One of my favorites is Briseis, an Anatolian captured during the Trojan by King Agamemnon. She befriends Patroclus, and their friendship is one of the book's most pure and lovely parts.
She is in Agamemnon’s custody, but she is Achilles’ prize still. To violate her is a violation of Achilles himself, the gravest insult to his honor. Achilles could kill him for it, and even Menelaus would call it fair
I can quote this book until tomorrow, but I need to move on at some point. I read Circe, too, but this book far exceeded my expectations.
This is the story of survivor Chanel Miller, sexually assaulted by Standford swimmer Brock Turner. Not only is Miller a stunning, beautiful writer, shThis is the story of survivor Chanel Miller, sexually assaulted by Standford swimmer Brock Turner. Not only is Miller a stunning, beautiful writer, she opens her heart and story triumphantly.
I remember hearing about this story, but not following it perfectly. Know My Name is a heart-wrenching portrayal that gives a voice to Chanel. For almost four years she was known as Emily Doe, trapped in a terrorizing story, but this book gave her a life, a way to tell her version and her struggle, and I could not be happier for her.
I'm not just a body; not just some faceless Emily Doe. You should know my name.
I have a love hate relationship with Memior's, especially those written by celebrities, but Know My Name was fresh, raw, important.
This is the story of a college graduate, Chanel, living her life in the most 'normal' way and the one night of partying that changed the trajectory of her life forever. The scary part of the story was the way in which the judicial system handled her case. Brock Turner, a potential Oympic swimmer was given a light sentence by the judge—people(actually) felt sympathy for him because his future would be tarnished. The audacity of humanity stuns my soul.
Chanel Miller was found by two Swedish men who stepped in and ran after Brock to stop whatever had already begun. This floored me. Had the men not been there, would she have been believed? Would there even be a case? Would she even have a voice?
The friendly guy who helps you move and assists senior citizens in the pool is the same guy who assaulted me. One person can be capable of both. Society often fails to wrap its head around the fact that these truths often coexist, they are not mutually exclusive. Bad qualities can hide inside a good person. That's the terrifying part.
Without giving away the entirety of the story, I have confirmation—leniency is given to the rich, to the white, and to likeable (potentially successful) people.
The judge had given Brock something that would never be extended to me: empathy. My pain was never more valuable than his potential.
Some reviewers have pointed out that the book is long. I thought it was beautiful and well written, each part worthy and important. While the book may seem long, her experience is something she will have to live with for the rest of her life. I think it’s ok to get uncomfortable and live in her experience for 400 some pages. Empathy matters.
An important take away from this book, the involvement of alcohol, generally. I think alcohol consumption and handling should be taught in high school and colleges just like any other aspect of protecting ourselves. The importance of knowing when too much is enough. How many cases of horrible outcomes involve alcohol? Too many to name. Why aren't we talking about blackouts and consumption? Drugs and Alcohol must be synonymous.
I know this book may be triggering for many, but Chanel Miller's story is important and relevant. It's impactful and hopeful. I encourage people to watch her 60 minute and Oprah interview. Chanel is a beautiful soul with a strong force of resiliency. If nothing, read her impact statement- it’s powerful.
You took away My worth, my privacy, My energy, My time, My safety, My intimacy, My confidence, My own voice, Until today.
This was a stunning, marvelous little novella. Have you ever read a book once and found yourself reading again, but backward? This was me--entangled iThis was a stunning, marvelous little novella. Have you ever read a book once and found yourself reading again, but backward? This was me--entangled in Tolstoy's words.
Tolstoy writes on the subject of death with such exactness that one wonders how many times he must have died and come back to life.
Ivan Ilych is having a moment. He obsessively wants to live his best life. As a high court judge and a married man, he wants to perfect his life, live luxuriously, fine dine, and play bridge.
(Side note: talk about using a fun character name)
When he gets the devastating news of an impending illness, he wants the simple desires of human existence, but it’s too late. He can't find sympathy and kindness from others when he is immersed in himself, indulging in the pleasures of life.
Ivan understood that death was inevitable, but the actual realization was impossible to imagine. This is true for all of us. It doesn’t matter how many people die before us, realizing our own mortality is perceptually, unimaginable.
He tries to ignore, deny, and repress the truth of his impending demise, but the gnawing pain at his side never leaves.
If you pick up this book, you may think Tolstoy goes on and on about Ivan’s mundane daily life, but to me, it was intriguing. The choices he makes in every moment lead up to his sudden and shocking end.
Ivan leads an honest, moral life. He takes care of his children and stays with a wife (whom he hates). Tolstoy spends time describing their broken marriage to (perhaps) symbolize the disease that eventually leads to his demise.
The Death of Ivan Ilych came into my Libby last night, and I started reading a few pages, unable to stop, reading into the night.
Perhaps because this summer, I experienced the death of a close family member. This book, though dark, brought me solace. Yes, death is a dreary subject, but in the end, in the last moment, I felt lvan had peace. The peace helped me to console my heart and pain in loss.
Though I believe this is a book about living each day as it is your last, it’s too late for Ivan. I felt sadness, brought to tears, at the idea that Ivan wanted/needed more from life.
”No matter how often I may be told, "You cannot understand the meaning of life so do not think about it, but live," I can no longer do it: I have already done it too long. I cannot now help seeing day and night going round and bringing me to death. That is all I see, for that alone is true. All else is false”
This sweet, heartbreaking, warm, well-written novella included some of my favorite characters--a grandfather and his grandson. For the love of grandpaThis sweet, heartbreaking, warm, well-written novella included some of my favorite characters--a grandfather and his grandson. For the love of grandparents, an endearing tale.
And Every Morning the way Home Gets Longer and Longer, tell the story of a grandfather losing his memory, bit by bit, while his son tries to help him understand, and his grandson tries to comprehend.
Fredrik Backman has the beauty of knowing how to humanize stories. He tells us the struggle of dementia/Alzheimers through the eyes of the one experiencing it. It's poetic.
Backman, shows a grandfather who was too busy to be a father, but too late to enjoy the perils of grandfather-hood. It's a story about time, how we have it, and then we don't.
Beautifully written, poetic, and straight from the heart.
While the family is gathered, children playing, and everyone being merry, this book came to me like a gift, packaged with elements of raw, unadulteratWhile the family is gathered, children playing, and everyone being merry, this book came to me like a gift, packaged with elements of raw, unadulterated beauty. It was toxic love, but not toxic love, it was rampant, but not rampant, it was mesmerizing…
It. Was. Mesmerizing.
Regan, a twenty-something, is living a complicated life. She is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and after a brief stint as a B-class criminal (counterfeit stuff), she's court-ordered to seek therapy. She has a boyfriend, Marcus; he's kinda just there. She works at a Museum, mostly as a guide, her parents are absent as hell, her mom-destructive and cutting, and her sister, too perfect for words.
Aldo, a math wizard obsessed with hexagons, teaches at U of Chicago. He lives a pretty straight-edged life, permanently trapped in his own thoughts, compulsive. He's honest, complex, and unique.
When Regan and Aldo's worlds collide, a chance encounter at the Art Institute, they bank on six conversations, a measure that elevates their relationship to an alternate world. Regan doesn't adhere to standard rules, always thinking of a better or worse outcome, bored with monotony. Aldo, on the other hand, looks straight into the present, or the future, almost always lost in quantum matters.
There was nothing worse than being predictable. Nothing smaller than feeling ordinary. Nothing more disappointing than being reminded she was both.
This is a love story, but not a love story, because it's complex, shatters, and sometimes has jagged edges, giving everything life. Which gives life to love.
Something about 'Alone With You in the Ether' drew me in, tangled me in its abyss, trapped in the world of these two complex characters.
Can you love my brain even when it is small? When it is malevolent? When it is violent? Can you love it even when it does not love me
The craziest part about this story is that through Olivia Blake's words, we ride all the rollercoaster of emotions Regan encounters. It's like she had bipolar disorder, but I could feel, in some small way, what it would be like—the words reverberating like one in a manic episode. The shifting of thoughts and changing moods all spoke to Blake’s fabulous writing.
Regan and Aldo fall into something far beyond existential, beyond the quantum physics Aldo obsesses over. They fall deeply into each other.
I could study you for a lifetime, carrying all your peculiarities and discretions in the webs of my spidery palms, and still feel empty-handed
Another trippy element: I've lived in Chicago for work. My Mom lives here now, and I'm actually visiting her while I was reading this book--all elements that elevated the story. It feels surreal to read a book and stand in the same place as the character.
Olivia Blake adds in her 'acknowledgments' that she, too, has lived with a mood disorder, and in some of her sleepless manic moments, she wrote her best. It was interesting to learn that the character of Regan came from the depth of her experience and the truth.
'Alone With You in the Ether' is raw. Beautiful. It hit different, and I loved it.
“...was there any point in being alive without helping one another? Was it possible to carry on along through all the years, the decades, through an e“...was there any point in being alive without helping one another? Was it possible to carry on along through all the years, the decades, through an entire life, without once being brave enough to go against what was there...and face yourself in the mirror?”
Small Things Like These, is set in 1985, Ireland. Bill Furlong, was born to an unwed mother, and has never met his father. He works in coal and wood delivery. He now lives a relatively comfortable life with his wife and 5 daughters.
One day, he comes across something shocking while making a delivery to the local convent. Furlong struggles, consumed to his core by a heartbreaking memory. What Furlong sees, relating to his mother, her struggles, pain, was moving.
Why were the things that were closest so often the hardest to see?
This is a beautifully written novella, focusing on the journey of people who do good. It adds meaning to the euphemism, 'love prevails.'
The only caveat—the story ended abruptly. I would have liked to know more about Furlong's children's reactions. How did his wife react? Did the town/church feel.
Overall, I was moved by the beautiful, detailed writing and a piece of Ireland, a country I can't wait to visit.
My top read for 2022. A brilliant coming-of-age masterpiece spanning almost 30 years. An epic tale of friendship, lov ⭐️카지노싸이트 Award Best Fiction⭐️
My top read for 2022. A brilliant coming-of-age masterpiece spanning almost 30 years. An epic tale of friendship, love, art, video games, and the journey of life.
As a teen, I played my fair share of Sonic, Mario Brothers, etc, but nothing with the intensity of this book, realistic games that blur reality and fantasy. I was immersed.
Gabrielle Zevin weaved a layered story, carefully crafting characters within the gaming backdrop. She piqued my interest, which speaks to the beauty of her writing.
This is the story of Sam and Sadie, Sam and Marx, and Sadie and Marx and their journey in building a successful gaming company. Sam and Sadie meet in the most unexpected place- a hospital. Sadie's sister is undergoing cancer treatment, while Sam is recovering from a significant injury that leaves him disabled. Sam and Sadie connect over their love for games. Sadie becomes an integral part of Sam's life and recovery.
Time moves forward, and Sam and Marx are roommates at Harvard. Marx is an aspiring actor, while Sam pursues his passion for making games. One day, Sam happens to meet Sadie on campus (she's there for a gaming meeting), and they connect (over Oregon Trail, of all things). Sadie gives Sam a game she's working on, and the rest is gaming history--a story of creating amazing, creative games together.
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (an ode to MacBeth, which later ties beautifully into one of the character's arcs) is the story of missed opportunities, successes, pains, love, and a passion for art.
There is a time for any fledgling artist where one’s taste exceeds one’s abilities. The only way to get through this period is to make things anyway
Zevin not only created fantastic virtual worlds I'd love to play, but she wrote an entire chapter within a game--literal genius. There was also a chapter in the second person, which may feel out of place to some but made sense in the context of the character's journey.
Initially, I was bogged down by all the gaming conversations, but it's worth it to continue reading. The beginning ties in wonderfully as we learn the struggles of creating true art. Zevin also touches upon some important cultural/political topics that helped move the story along.
The truth is, I cried and cheered for these wonderfully written characters, like friends more than fictional souls.
I recently read, 'The Storied Life of A.J. Fikery,' and became an instant fan of Zevin. It feels remarkably coincidental that her new book came right after--alas, the stars aligned.
I savored Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, felt protective of the words, and had a sense of reverence for the story. Have you ever felt a physical reaction after finishing a book? I was melancholy, wanting to be transported into the pages, stilling time.
How could a person still be as young as he objectively knew himself to be and have had so much time pass?
As I closed the last page, my daughter wanted to be tucked into bed, yet I wanted to sit with the book and fall asleep- savoring the story. It was hard to let go and say goodbye. The characters came to life in a way that felt tangible.
There was the life that you lived, which consisted of the choices you made. And then, there was the other life, the one that was the things you hadn’t chosen. And sometimes, this other life felt as palpable as the one you were living.
Loading...
