It's like reading a society/lifestyle newspaper column from 1951, with perspectives from that era and ones much earlier. Fascinating (or sometimes incIt's like reading a society/lifestyle newspaper column from 1951, with perspectives from that era and ones much earlier. Fascinating (or sometimes incredibly boring) thoughts and tidbits on San Francisco culture and life.
A good one-sitting book, fun, and just the right length....more
If there's one thing that annoys me, it's books that can't figure out if technology will help or hurt us. This is incredibly unfair, since no one knowIf there's one thing that annoys me, it's books that can't figure out if technology will help or hurt us. This is incredibly unfair, since no one knows the answer, but it still feels like a cop-out. That's why we have words for utopia and dystopia but not for wishy-washy-topia. Nobody wants to read about that.
Anyway, I found most of the plot and action of the book forgettable (it was a strain to remember it even now, besides "bread!"). I probably need to reread Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, since it's now even closer to my life than it was when I read it.
For various reasons, I found that book struck a little too close to home for me right now (I kept waiting for the protagonist at the end to go back to Michigan, but clearly she still has some affection for robots and tech and so forth). Nothing like Clement St., the Embarcadero, and the Bay Bridge to make me have some heavy feelings.
p.s. Haven't we all wondered about the abandoned military base on Alameda?...more
Easy and engaging read about a difficult time period. Not the most comprehensive or unemotional guide to the earthquake, but one based in personal aneEasy and engaging read about a difficult time period. Not the most comprehensive or unemotional guide to the earthquake, but one based in personal anecdotes and stories, with many quotes directly from survivors interviewed by the authors. It's a very human history book, and that makes it very different from your average history.
I'm typically not a huge fan of history books that are so story-based, preferring to see a very organized, big-picture view, but I was captivated by this one. The stories captured my interest and I got through it very quickly.
An interesting note about the book is that, since it was written in 1971, the "next big one" he cautions us about has actually come and gone, with the 1989 quake. Sure, we're (always) due for another one, but I think living through that earthquake taught SF even more about what was and wasn't working, and the hysteria filling the book is probably not as justified as it was when it was written. ...more
Living in a city can be done in two ways; first, you can merely co-habitate with it. Sure, the city is part of your address and you can find the neareLiving in a city can be done in two ways; first, you can merely co-habitate with it. Sure, the city is part of your address and you can find the nearest grocery store, but that's about it. The other way? You don't just live in a city — you live in that city's community. Which way do you live in your city?
From the very first pages, Kamiya's love for the community of San Francisco sets the tone. San Francisco isn't just where he lives, it's an important part of who he is. As described in the introduction, Kamiya sets out almost on a whim to explore each square mile. His epic-scale exploration of a community isn't just the buildings, roads, and shores (though there's plenty of that!) — more importantly, it's the people, history, and cultural context that shape the places we visit every day.
While I was expecting something more block-by-block — I'm a literalist — the end result is richer and more stimulating. Kamiya provides a lively history of the city, each chapter tying events and historical figures to specific places and modern anecdotes. His own history in the city is scattered throughout, adding more personality and smoothing the tone. A handful of stories were weaker, generally those where Kamiya espoused his own views; however, Kamiya's beliefs are typical of the long-time San Francisco residents I know. In hindsight, perhaps the book was all the more valuable thanks to the flashes of local insight Kamiya includes.
I can't speak highly enough of this book for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of San Francisco. City-lovers across the globe may also be inspired in how they think about their own cities; if only every city had an introductory book of this caliber. If you want to live in a city's community — not just within the city limits — this is the book for you....more
Since my only other experience with Pynchon was his epic Against the Day, something like five times as long as this, I was unsure what to expect from Since my only other experience with Pynchon was his epic Against the Day, something like five times as long as this, I was unsure what to expect from this book. While not having the same sprawling scope or historical fascination as that novel, there is still plenty of mystery, humor, and paranoia. Even though it required more concentration than many of the novels I've recently read, it was a beguiling tale that I was eager to dive into.
If you're a fan of Pynchon, mid-century contemporary literature, conspiratorial mysteries, or (especially!) stream-of-consciousness novels, you should check this out.
Nothing like a book about the ravages of time to make you feel old, am I right?
Very soon, I will reach the point where I've spent four years in San FrNothing like a book about the ravages of time to make you feel old, am I right?
Very soon, I will reach the point where I've spent four years in San Francisco. It's kind of a big milestone, since four years doing the same thing is as much as I've ever done (High School, College). It's the point where you really start noticing the changes that have been happening around you – in the places you go, in other people, in the relationships you have. It doesn't seem like such a change until you look back.
A Visit from the Goon Squad is all about the central theme of time as a "goon", and what it does to the characters through their lives. Each character's journey is different, but each one is impacted by time, and it does not pass nicely. This topic is touched on elsewhere (Underworld had similar moments), but the goon is addressed head-on here, and the diversity of environments and situations the characters find themselves in is fun and engaging. It is be easy for just about any reader to identify with the characters through shared life experiences – and how the passage of time impacts those experiences. I was constantly brought back to those moments in my own life.
Jennifer Egan has created a powerful reading experience in this novel, and I would say it's absolutely worth it. For such a weighty novel, it's very easy to get into, and superbly enjoyable. Recommended.
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This book is also one of my favorite pieces of Goodreads trivia, being the subject of the one-and-done Goodreads Book Club. A symbol of a different era in Goodreads history, that book club itself is far enough back in time to be another lost part of the past. The book club returns us to a time when Goodreads was smaller... had different ambitions... had no designers... was not yet part of Amazon. Even Misty's comment on this review itself is part of it – written two weeks before I started at Goodreads, in a haze of excitement, moving across the country in a giant truck, the glories and mysteries of California, San Francisco, and Goodreads itself yet unrevealed.
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