**spoiler alert** An interesting, short LA noir from the 1950s. I think it excels as a document of a very particular kind of relationship between an e**spoiler alert** An interesting, short LA noir from the 1950s. I think it excels as a document of a very particular kind of relationship between an emotionally distant, ungenerous middle-aged man and a vulnerable and fragile younger woman. I think there is probably a temptation to color her as unhinged, but the reality is that he functions as someone who pursues her knowing full well that she is in a complex emotional state and then inflicts maximum damage through his carelessness. Also loved it as a window into LA of the 1950s, an era and place of fascination for me....more
The history of indigenous peoples in America is somehow even sadder and bleaker than you think and it was incredible to hear more of this history thanThe history of indigenous peoples in America is somehow even sadder and bleaker than you think and it was incredible to hear more of this history than I ever have before. I'm very grateful to have read this book. One particularly interesting section of the book focuses on various American authors and how their fictions were used in the service of propaganda and the manifest destiny narrative. Certainly to hear this about Fenimore Cooper is no surprise, but I was surprised at how pervasive this narrative was. Walt Whitman comes off as hot garbage for sure, which I did not see coming.
I think the other takeaway for me is that it seems nearly impossible to imagine how we could ever do enough to help modern indigenous peoples to recover even a fraction of what their ancestors lost....more
I really loved the first half of this novella, but it took a turn about halfway through that just didn't hit for me. First half is a sharply observed I really loved the first half of this novella, but it took a turn about halfway through that just didn't hit for me. First half is a sharply observed account of the ludicrous life of an extremely online social media user and her low level fame from a silly post. Second half is all about her sister's pregnancy with a child that has a major genetic abnormality. I just couldn't connect with the back half. ...more
In many ways, a pretty bleak Steinbeck novel, but also remarkably relevant to this day. A study of a labor strike instigated by communist party memberIn many ways, a pretty bleak Steinbeck novel, but also remarkably relevant to this day. A study of a labor strike instigated by communist party members in the fictional Torgus Valley, CA. I was fascinated by how Steinbeck portrays the party members as absolutely merciless and single-minded. Yet, in the face of the tactics of the rich capitalist interests, it hardly seems unmerited.
Steinbeck really shines in his interest in men as a collective group that is unknowable in its actions versus the individual who is more understandable. I was also struck by some of the sharp character details he draws for some of his main characters. In particular, there is a passage about the young party member Jim Nolan and how his sister just disappeared one day when they were kids. He recounts how she was never found and no one in governance did anything to find her. It blew his family apart and left him unmoored as an adult and led him to distrust powerful organizations like the police or rich capitalists. I think this was a shrewd backstory to help guide our vision of this character.
The novel builds to a dark and gutting climax and has really stuck with me since finishing it. I keep thinking about where these characters are heading and what awaits them, which is always the sign of a good book to me....more
This novel is hilarious. It strikes me as a proto-30 Rock-style piece of writing, densely packed with jokes, asides, gags and deeply layered writing oThis novel is hilarious. It strikes me as a proto-30 Rock-style piece of writing, densely packed with jokes, asides, gags and deeply layered writing on race and gender and the American society of the 1970s. ...more
Like Speedboat, there are some really fantastic passages and thoughts in this work, but unlike Speedboat, it felt like the novel was less than the sumLike Speedboat, there are some really fantastic passages and thoughts in this work, but unlike Speedboat, it felt like the novel was less than the sum of its parts. Overall, I found the tone to be uneven and frankly unrewarding. Still, there's enough magic in the stray thoughts that visit in fleeting passages to recommend Pitch Dark....more
**spoiler alert** Some of these stories hit for me and some did not. However, I felt like the best of them were absolutely breathtaking. I think I was**spoiler alert** Some of these stories hit for me and some did not. However, I felt like the best of them were absolutely breathtaking. I think I was most affected by two stories: one in which we start to see the distant future of the human race as we search for and colonize a new planet and another in which an alien world designer recounts her many different lives and how they intersected with the precipitating events of this collection of stories. ...more
A heavy story, which took me a long time to read. I definitely enjoyed it, but found it very hard to return to as the story progressed and took increaA heavy story, which took me a long time to read. I definitely enjoyed it, but found it very hard to return to as the story progressed and took increasingly dire and upsetting turns. I frankly found the first half to be more engaging than the second half. There is so much more insight into Nigeria in the early 90s in the first half and then the world becomes much smaller in the latter half. I think the book suffers a bit from a muddled message. I read an interview with Obioma after finishing the novel and he suggested that the idea behind it was that colonizers had created a country out of two distinct societies and forced the Yoruba and Igbo to live that false narrative. In my opinion, that message did not come through in the story. Nonetheless, it was a very emotionally engaging story....more
Loading...
