Rich people! Rich people doing terrible things to other rich people! Why? Because they hate themselves!
Also, there are a few nonrich people included, Rich people! Rich people doing terrible things to other rich people! Why? Because they hate themselves!
Also, there are a few nonrich people included, just for variety.
The plot is preposterous, the entire book is very similar in style and structure to Foley's previous book, and the whole thing relies too much on coincidences. I loved it. So entertaining.
Merged review:
Rich people! Rich people doing terrible things to other rich people! Why? Because they hate themselves!
Also, there are a few nonrich people included, just for variety.
The plot is preposterous, the entire book is very similar in style and structure to Foley's previous book, and the whole thing relies too much on coincidences. I loved it. So entertaining....more
"Zaha had her own taste and liked doing things her way." I'll say! Informative and appealing biography of the famed architect who taught her colleague"Zaha had her own taste and liked doing things her way." I'll say! Informative and appealing biography of the famed architect who taught her colleagues that "the world is not a rectangle."...more
Wilma Rudolph's story has inspired me since I was a girl. I knew she was a polio survivor who became one of the best athletes on Earth. I didn't know Wilma Rudolph's story has inspired me since I was a girl. I knew she was a polio survivor who became one of the best athletes on Earth. I didn't know that she insisted that her victory parade had to be racially integrated....more
"The free woman is just being born."—Simone de Beauvoir
Entertaining introduction to the philosopher, exploring how her family and world helped shape h"The free woman is just being born."—Simone de Beauvoir
Entertaining introduction to the philosopher, exploring how her family and world helped shape her. Some parents (and perhaps some children) may object to a children's book that contains the question, "Does God exist?"...more
Nonfiction structured like a spy novel. Gradually, we learn . . . • what the scandal was • why it was a scandal • who the criminal was • what the criminalNonfiction structured like a spy novel. Gradually, we learn . . . • what the scandal was • why it was a scandal • who the criminal was • what the criminal's motivations probably were • who the "mark" was • what that person's motivations were for changing her mind and taking a tremendous risk...more
Brief yet vivid. I have the audiobook version, but I'm told that the print version has a lot of visual elements, so maybe I will check out that versioBrief yet vivid. I have the audiobook version, but I'm told that the print version has a lot of visual elements, so maybe I will check out that version too....more
"It's been so long since your vital signs went / And you don't look the same in that oxygen tent" —"Pull the Plug" by Starz, an unintentionally hilari"It's been so long since your vital signs went / And you don't look the same in that oxygen tent" —"Pull the Plug" by Starz, an unintentionally hilarious attempt at a serious song about Karen Ann Quinlan that I sincerely believe may have been the inspiration for Spinal Tap
This is a quest by a rock critic to explain the impact of four bands that released albums in the 1970s: KISS, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and Starz. "Who are or were Starz?" you might ask. They were never very successful, but the author believes they had significant influence on younger rock musicians. I don't know about that, but including a never-was band in this book makes it a lot more interesting and poignant. To my untrained ear, Starz sound great, even though some of their lyrics are awful. And their record company put a ton of money into promoting them. They just never caught on.
Including Cheap Trick is also poignant because they have spent most of their careers struggling. And KISS and Aerosmith are interesting because of their success, their rivalry, and their tantrums. All four of these bands included tantrum-having members, but KISS and Aerosmith are richer, so they have more opportunities for bigger shenanigans.
Some interesting (and sometimes tragic) gossip from the book:
* Gene Simmons, famous for being extraordinarily mean and petty, mentions his nickname for the eternally crabby Peter Criss, based on Criss's original name: Ayatollah Criscuola.
* Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen flatly states that Aerosmith's Steven Tyler is a heroin addict.
* Aerosmith love Cheap Trick and invited CT to open for them. But Aerosmith canceled so many concerts (one allegedly because Tyler screamed at Aerosmith's employees for so long that he damaged a blood vessel in his neck) that CT lost money. The next time CT opened for Aerosmith, they insured Aerosmith. That entire tour got canceled, but CT made money anyway because of the insurance payout.
* Steven Tyler's heel got torn off in a motorcycle accident.
* Joe Perry and Steven Tyler hate each other but own a restaurant together?! Even though restaurants are known to lose money frequently and therefore are usually considered risky investments, and Perry and Tyler are already in a risky investment together, namely a rock band?
* Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley hate each other but put on massive tours together because money?! I guess it worked for Simon and Garfunkel.
* Peter Criss bitches all the time about everything, but if my bandmates paid me $10K a night while they made millions, I might bitch all the time too.
* Tom Peterssen's marrying a model and then having her manage his career right into the ground also has some strong Spinal Tap vibes.
While reading this book, I couldn't help thinking of a Robert Plant interview I read years ago. The interviewer asked how Plant felt about Aerosmith and other rock bands trying to imitate his work in Led Zeppelin. Plant laughed and said something along the lines of, "They should try harder. Aerosmith are a pop band." So I'm guessing that everybody quoted in this book loves Robert Plant, yet he probably disdains them all. That's rock & roll....more
I like the approach here: focus on high-quality ingredients, even if they are a little harder to find, in recipes that have appealing flavor combinatiI like the approach here: focus on high-quality ingredients, even if they are a little harder to find, in recipes that have appealing flavor combinations without being extremely show-offy. I haven't tried any of the recipes yet. Well-organized and with clear instructions. Includes gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free recipes....more
Clear and sometimes very funny explanation of what GDP is, how it differs from GNP, how it was invented, why it matters, and how it has changed and maClear and sometimes very funny explanation of what GDP is, how it differs from GNP, how it was invented, why it matters, and how it has changed and may continued to change. In short, Coyle says gross domestic product is a flawed but useful way to compare different countries' economies over time. The author does a fine job reading the material, but she recorded this at home because of the pandemic, so there's a slight hiss that may bother you at first....more
Lively, fun kids' cookbook with plenty of photos. Some recipes are very simple (donut shakes, oh my goodness), while others are more elaborate (FrenchLively, fun kids' cookbook with plenty of photos. Some recipes are very simple (donut shakes, oh my goodness), while others are more elaborate (French toast muffins). I like that the book is arranged month by month and focuses on holidays. It never occurred to me to make Earth day cookies from green and blue dough!...more
Gorgeously illustrated, brightly colored, full of life. This book is about what it's like to volunteer in a community kitchen and prepare food for neiGorgeously illustrated, brightly colored, full of life. This book is about what it's like to volunteer in a community kitchen and prepare food for neighbors. For me, it brings back many happy memories of working in a soup kitchen....more
This was a fun one. I love reading about scandals, especially when they involve rich people being stupid. So when I found out that a well-regarded YA This was a fun one. I love reading about scandals, especially when they involve rich people being stupid. So when I found out that a well-regarded YA author had written a fictionalized version of the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal, I decided to give it a try.
Buxbaum has taken many elements from the Lori Laughlin part of the scandal: the mom is a beloved B-list actress, and the older daughter loves makeup and parties and isn't that interested in school. But she has woven in details from other Varsity Blues investigations: the dad is an investment banker, and one sibling is clearly more intelligent and perceptive than the other.
This novel proceeds at a steady clip. Most of it alternates between pre-raid and post-raid events. It's tough to make this character appalling yet sympathetic, foolish in many ways but understanding in others. The breaks in the timeline help with this to an extent.
I kept thinking, "If she's so meh, why is this Harvard-bound boy interested in her?" It made me think of the barb in Wolf Hall or maybe Bring Up the Bodies:—"He thinks she's stupid. He finds it restful." Overall, entertaining and somewhat thought-provoking....more
I like that some of the recipes do not require any Betty Crocker products. There are some good gluten-free options here. Nothing here is very nutritioI like that some of the recipes do not require any Betty Crocker products. There are some good gluten-free options here. Nothing here is very nutritious, but that's not what this book is for....more
Intelligent, angry, ruminative essays about money, capitalism, power, art, freedom, feminism, and what it means to be a gentrifier. (She does not callIntelligent, angry, ruminative essays about money, capitalism, power, art, freedom, feminism, and what it means to be a gentrifier. (She does not call herself a gentrifier, but it's pretty clear that's what she is.) Biss cannot hide her resentment and jealousy of those who have more money than she does, even though she and her husband have white-collar jobs and a suburban home in a college town. If a nonprofit funded by rich people paid me forty-five thousand dollars so I could take time off from my day job and write a book, would I still try to bite the hand that feeds? Maybe.
My heart did go out to her when she wrote about forced hugging in the workplace. I had a similar situation happen to me several years ago, and while I did not handle it the same way she did, I can understand why it filled her with rage to even have to deal with it.
Anyway, if you haven't read her earlier book, On Immunity, I recommend that one instead....more
Information-packed children's book about the great congresswoman. Bold art intermeshes well with the text.Information-packed children's book about the great congresswoman. Bold art intermeshes well with the text....more
You would think from the title that this is an upbeat book, but you would be wrong. I think it's a good idea to read a book with a sad ending once in You would think from the title that this is an upbeat book, but you would be wrong. I think it's a good idea to read a book with a sad ending once in a while, just to get in touch with those emotions. Woodson has worked hard to make this story as timeless as possible....more
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