A lovely, perceptive novel about family, love, betrayal, and the tea ceremony. One brief suggestion of violence in a scene midway through the book felA lovely, perceptive novel about family, love, betrayal, and the tea ceremony. One brief suggestion of violence in a scene midway through the book felt out of place to me; otherwise, the narrative is very well crafted and the characters believable and finely drawn....more
I strongly dislike Jane Eyre, but Villette fortunately shares little of the overblown melodrama of that book. Lucy Snowe, the protagonist of Villette,I strongly dislike Jane Eyre, but Villette fortunately shares little of the overblown melodrama of that book. Lucy Snowe, the protagonist of Villette, is sensitive, but also purposefully practical, as she considers it a necessary trait for someone of little means and plain features.
Even some of the passages that had initially felt superfluous and self-indulgent to me--especially Lucy's self-righteous comparisons of Protestantism and Catholicism and her denunciations of the latter--proved later significant to the overarching narrative. My only real complaints with the book were the excessive use of French in dialogue (if you don't read the language, I strongly recommend hunting for an edition that includes a translation in the notes) and the somewhat ambiguous ending....more
Starts out great--I especially love the nuances that Chad's character develops in this volume--and then gets kind of silly.Starts out great--I especially love the nuances that Chad's character develops in this volume--and then gets kind of silly....more
One of the prominent supporting characters really annoyed me, and I found the brief otaku-bashing distasteful. There's some good stuff in this volume,One of the prominent supporting characters really annoyed me, and I found the brief otaku-bashing distasteful. There's some good stuff in this volume, too, though: Ichigo demonstrates intelligence and a good moral compass, and a new source of conflict gets introduced....more
Delves into Ichigo's backstory a bit and balances it nicely with the present-day action.Delves into Ichigo's backstory a bit and balances it nicely with the present-day action....more
Clears up a couple of mysteries from volume one while setting up further complications for future volumes. Also includes the introduction of a cute leClears up a couple of mysteries from volume one while setting up further complications for future volumes. Also includes the introduction of a cute lesbian character....more
I love the concept, and the two main characters are both very appealing in their own ways. There are other things I could do without, such as the "plaI love the concept, and the two main characters are both very appealing in their own ways. There are other things I could do without, such as the "playful" violence between Ichigo and his father and everyone's obsession with Orihime's breasts. I'm also a bit torn on how I feel about the artwork; I like how Kubo draws faces and clothing in particular, but the action scenes tend to be too cluttered and confusing for me. Even there, however, you'll find a number of stark, lovely images that really stay with you....more
This book makes me wish that I had children to whom I could read it out loud, even as I loved reading it on my own. The chapters function as self-contThis book makes me wish that I had children to whom I could read it out loud, even as I loved reading it on my own. The chapters function as self-contained stories that nevertheless fit seamlessly into the broader narrative. There's also an incredible optimism about the book, and a strong affirmation of life and its infinite possibilities that plays very well with the concurrent thread of loss and the recognition that there are no easy answers.
I was already a fan of children's literature before I read this book, but for those who don't usually care for it, I'd contend that this book transcends its genre. (Not to mention that now I know what the younger members of my extended family will be receiving from me for their birthday presents this year.)...more
This felt like a very familiar book to me, as someone who's read a number of introspective, first-person narrations with gay main characters (though fThis felt like a very familiar book to me, as someone who's read a number of introspective, first-person narrations with gay main characters (though few of those included the sadomasochistic elements that characterize this book). Additionally, and to the lessening of my own enjoyment of the book, the ending was less a conclusion than it was a stopping point.
The depiction of Japan during WWII is perceptive and affecting, however, and the writing style very clean. While I think some of Mishima's later works are more brilliant, this is still a novel worth reading....more
I liked this better than the previous three books. The mystery felt more satisfying, and the women actually acted in meaningful ways rather than beingI liked this better than the previous three books. The mystery felt more satisfying, and the women actually acted in meaningful ways rather than being improbably pretty distractions, with Dresden paying lip service to their competence even as they spend most of their time acting as a hindrance to his plans. Not that this is entirely their fault--given Dresden's inability to 1) share vital information with people on his side, and 2) defend himself with any persuasiveness--but it's nice to not have to deal with that particular annoyance in this book....more
This is a long, rambling, heavily footnoted novel that doesn't suffer from a lack of editing. Clarke's been compared to Austen (among several other wrThis is a long, rambling, heavily footnoted novel that doesn't suffer from a lack of editing. Clarke's been compared to Austen (among several other writers), but I'd say she's more like Eliot. Certainly, this book reminded me a great deal of Middlemarch: the complex yet clear writing style; the wide cast of characters; the diverse plot threads that all came together in the end to form a single, coherent narrative. Not a quick read by any means, but a very pleasurable one....more
Not to my taste, especially when compared to Kawabata's brilliant novel The Sound of the Mountain. I found several of the characters sympathetic and iNot to my taste, especially when compared to Kawabata's brilliant novel The Sound of the Mountain. I found several of the characters sympathetic and interesting, but the narrative itself felt unsatisfying. There were too few resolutions and too many unsolved mysteries, especially regarding a few of the characters' personal histories and their interrelationships.
The writing style was also hit and miss for me. Some passages were breathtakingly lovely, only to be followed by others that were banal or excessively belabored. The translation may be partially to blame, but it can't account for infelicitous writing choices such as the metaphor in the line: "The high, thin nose was a little lonely, a little sad, but the bud of her lips opened and closed smoothly, like a beautiful little circle of leeches."...more
From one perspective, this is a very ordinary story of a family that is more unhappy than not, whose unhappiness is founded not in over-the-top angst,From one perspective, this is a very ordinary story of a family that is more unhappy than not, whose unhappiness is founded not in over-the-top angst, but in the every day disappointments of life. The son is having an affair; the daughter is in the process of separating from her husband; the father (and POV character) is getting older and his memory isn't what it used to be, causing him some embarrassment.
The delicate and nuanced observations on social--and especially familial--interactions, however, elevate the book to something extraordinary. Each scene is perfectly placed, and even elements that are frequent pitfalls for less talented writers (dream sequences; newspaper articles read by the characters to each other) fit seamlessly and naturally into the narrative.
The sympathetic relationship between the father and his daughter-in-law is particularly well-crafted. It forms a excellent contrast with the other interpersonal connections within a family that isn't anything so melodramatic as to be at war with itself, but in which its members often find themselves out of step with each other....more
Gorgeous translation, very much in keeping with the tone and worldview of the original poem. The introduction was especially useful in alerting the reGorgeous translation, very much in keeping with the tone and worldview of the original poem. The introduction was especially useful in alerting the reader to certain word choices that might otherwise have seemed meaningless or archaic. The story itself is by turns inspiring and poignant, as well as being a fascinating window into Northern Europe's past....more
Breezy writing style and a very quick read; the author was trained as a journalist, and it shows. A little lighter on the history of Chinese American,Breezy writing style and a very quick read; the author was trained as a journalist, and it shows. A little lighter on the history of Chinese American, etc. cuisine and heavier on discussion/reviews of specific restaurants today than I would have preferred, but overall a good introduction to Chinese food around the world....more
Reread. More racist than I'd noticed the first time, and even more homoerotic than I'd remembered it being. Melville's discussion of "the whale: fish Reread. More racist than I'd noticed the first time, and even more homoerotic than I'd remembered it being. Melville's discussion of "the whale: fish or mammal" continues to be one of my favorite digressions in literature. Still brilliant and still very much worth reading--in fact, probably still my favorite American novel--but the racism (notwithstanding the highly sympathetic portrayal of Queequeg) is problematic in a number of passages....more
Gorgeous, clear writing, as expected from Capote. Reading about the lives and crimes of serial killers isn't really my thing, but the writing style anGorgeous, clear writing, as expected from Capote. Reading about the lives and crimes of serial killers isn't really my thing, but the writing style and the clever observations on human nature (and especially of small-town social interactions) and several of the minor characters made the book for me....more
One of the better parenting books I've read by a socially progressive, vegetarian author. Contains no homophobia, overt Christian messages, or anti-poOne of the better parenting books I've read by a socially progressive, vegetarian author. Contains no homophobia, overt Christian messages, or anti-pornography or anti-sex rants (though she does advocate treating sexuality with seriousness and respect). Her argument that children need to learn to live their lives with greater intentionality and according to a moral compass is based more in a principle of consideration for others and oneself rather than in negative proscriptions. Encourages teaching children how to think independently, morally, and rationally....more
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