5 stars plus! A lengthy saga that unearths family secrets and tells anecdotes that build and build until you know every character better and better. A5 stars plus! A lengthy saga that unearths family secrets and tells anecdotes that build and build until you know every character better and better. Agree with the reviewer who says "I could have read it forever."...more
The story of MOVE through the voice of a person who knows almost more about it than anyone on Earth alive.
This is NOT a history of the movement, or tThe story of MOVE through the voice of a person who knows almost more about it than anyone on Earth alive.
This is NOT a history of the movement, or the bombing. Likely, if you're like me, you'll want to read another book (or watch one of the documentaries) to learn even more.
But it's MIKE's true story through his own words, and he is NOT a MOVE hagiographer. He finds much more good than bad in the group, but is not shy about shining lights on shortcomings, and folks who had shortcomings.
Frustrating and uplifting in equal measure....more
These were beautiful poems, but with an adult sensibility, not a child's. Should be of most interest to mothers and domestic poets.These were beautiful poems, but with an adult sensibility, not a child's. Should be of most interest to mothers and domestic poets....more
I wanted to like this more than I ended up liking it. Beautiful writing, sketches of a plot that them don't quite coalesce to the whole I wanted. I wanted to like this more than I ended up liking it. Beautiful writing, sketches of a plot that them don't quite coalesce to the whole I wanted. ...more
There are a lot of tags on this book because it is a lot of THINGS!
It's a FANTASTIC audiobook. The one drawback to audiobooks is that oftentimes for There are a lot of tags on this book because it is a lot of THINGS!
It's a FANTASTIC audiobook. The one drawback to audiobooks is that oftentimes for me, viewing how the book is structured helps my brain prepare for how its going to work. when I read, I constantly look at chapter size, page breaks, etc as I'm starting out.
Here, I thought this was story of 3 friends and it is. But I didn't immediately realize it was kind of divided into 3rds, so I'd get one story, in the 80s,then Jackie at the turn of the century and Ellen in the future. But, I guess I figured it out.
The "future" was so depressing (and close to the now, especially as a listener who was feeling that a 2nd Trump term was an inevitability. BUT- the climax, especially as a librarian, and how it returned to the artists story, was powerfully moving.
Eunice Wong is becoming one of my favorite narrators. ...more
The way this came together almost kicked it over to 4* - close! Interesting world building with a lot of heft at the end. My biggest quibble was in thThe way this came together almost kicked it over to 4* - close! Interesting world building with a lot of heft at the end. My biggest quibble was in the setup - after Part 2 I had kind of forgotten what was going on in Part 1 to catch up on Part 3. I might have alternated chapters and had them meet at the end. ...more
In order to review this book, I need to share why I was reading it in 2024.
I recently uncovered, while dehoarding, pages I'd printed from a blog from In order to review this book, I need to share why I was reading it in 2024.
I recently uncovered, while dehoarding, pages I'd printed from a blog from the early 20th century called "chickLit." This was not your "Bridget Jones Diary" type of chicklit, rather it was an ironic title for a book of literature with a feminine/feminist stamp. The founder and writers were also affiliated with the Television Without Pity crew of writers/blogs, even writing recaps, like the one for the West Wing. I was heavily into these blogs, because the founders "took" everything about recaps from the Beverly Hills 90210 recaps, of which I was an active member of the message board scene there. I even watched the 90210 finale with one of them! So anyway, finding this list of the books they read for their book club made me want to revisit these big lady book club titles from the early part of the century.
So now that i have given this context, I need to say that I read this book through both 2002 and 2024 eyes. 2024 eyes found the whole romance plot so so cringe. Anne is SUCH a white lady! Jean-Pierre feels less than fully realized and the amount of times he "grinned" felt like it was skirting a microagression. This book would be pilloried if it was published today. Even if it is a semi-biographical book (Stone spent time in Burundi at the same time the character did.) I am, however, sure that I would not have felt that way in 2002, rather I would have seen Anne having a simple interracial/cultural romance. But the Mother/Daughter dynamic, especially the big reveal/surprise, and the dynamic between the sisters was a good domestic drama and I liked that part.
Also fun - as I read this in 1 day on my couch in a day with broken AC, so I spent a LOT of time languising on the couch. In the acknowledgements, Stone thanks Margot Livesey, who as her instagram shows, she is still friends with to this day, as well as Andrea Barrett and for some reason this felt dear to me. These 3 women, still literary friends for decades. ...more
At first I was bored, and then I was sure I'd figured it out, (I had part of it) but in the end, there were enough believable twists to make me feel sAt first I was bored, and then I was sure I'd figured it out, (I had part of it) but in the end, there were enough believable twists to make me feel smart and satisfied and still surprised. Good summer read....more
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