This book will put you in tears. It is a specially powerful considering how we’re treating the Mexican immigrants in those border control facilities. This book will put you in tears. It is a specially powerful considering how we’re treating the Mexican immigrants in those border control facilities. Powerful lesson in history that we seem to forget....more
Nico Army medic and Iraq veteran turned serious heroin addict, A poet with a heavy addiction turned serial bank robber. A young man with nothing to live Nico Army medic and Iraq veteran turned serious heroin addict, A poet with a heavy addiction turned serial bank robber. A young man with nothing to live for whatsoever but his one true love, Emily
Lots of cursing, if that offends you. Several chapters detail military missions in Iraq. Dude was a medic. Shit gets real graphic, real quick. Heavy heroin use that also goes into great detail because this is semi-autographical. You are there with Nico and whomever he's shooting up with, and when he gets dope sick, and when he's buying the dope... Again, if that offends... The bank robberies. He's currently in prison for bank robberies, and that is the climactic part of the book. But in total it is one man's journey from good Midwestern guy to a man robbing bank after bank to pay for that next gram of H. You don't hear about his life in prison. Thank the gods. You also don't hear Nico whine or complain a damn bit. He knew what he was doing, even though it appears he is in an outer body experience, then again, that H. **Highly recommended**
OK, yes 5 stars, but not on the merits of Jann Wenner and his narcissistic fustian self. The author put so much work and research into this, it's a slOK, yes 5 stars, but not on the merits of Jann Wenner and his narcissistic fustian self. The author put so much work and research into this, it's a slog to read through all of the facts, but considering the role that Rolling Stone magazine has played in the culture from the 1960s to today, there are so many connections and events and important people involved that facts are mandatory. In other words, you can't make this shit up, and the author made sure to prove that he did not either. I was surprised to learn that Wenner started a lot of other popular, successful magazines like Men's Journal and was a founder of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But his personal life starting with his parents, on with his lack of regard for his wife, the way he treated people who worked for him...all of that was super obnoxious. He is not someone to look up to, but he has definitely lived a vivid life that intersected with some of the most famous photographers, journalists, celebrities, and of course rock stars, which makes for a fantastic read.
ETA. I am revisiting this review, and I disagree with myself :). Wenner is certainly someone to look up to in the sense of all he has accomplished for American culture! However, on the moral side of things, it's tough....more
I recently watched the Netflix documentary just out about Joan Didion and decided, after seeing the adoption part, that I had to learn more about thisI recently watched the Netflix documentary just out about Joan Didion and decided, after seeing the adoption part, that I had to learn more about this author. I'm starting at the beginning with this book of short stories or essays rather taken from a journalistic perspective, each essay feels like a magazine article to the New Yorker or something. Each one is its own thing, and all sparked an interest in pieces of history in the 1960s, which is right up my alley. Loved the writing style most of all, I can now understand why there is such a cult following for Joan. Looking forward to reading the next book in sequence by her. ...more
Picked this up from the banned books section of the library thinking it would be more like the Addams Family, as Fun House refers to a funeral parlor Picked this up from the banned books section of the library thinking it would be more like the Addams Family, as Fun House refers to a funeral parlor where the family lives. Turned out to be a page turner with the wild family dynamic and interweaving of the daughter and father. The real draw in this memoir is of the father who died and the daughter believes it was suicide, and having dealt with this with my own biological father I was drawn to the author's emotions and thoughts. ...more
Ahhh I love this Norwegian writer, he's overly honest and I'm all about writing to give insight into the mind of an individual. You get that with My SAhhh I love this Norwegian writer, he's overly honest and I'm all about writing to give insight into the mind of an individual. You get that with My Struggle along with a firsthand perspective of Norwegian and Swedish life, which is super interesting in my opinion. Back to Karl Ove, this is the second book of a six-volume project and each book is about 600 pages so it's an investment. But so worth it! If you're into Scandinavian culture, hygge, minimalism, Norwegian society...this will fuel your fascination. Also! If you are a writer you will find great inspiration in reading about Karl Ove's writing routines. There's also a frantic point in his life where he is, in reality, a single parent. He cleans the house, does the grocery shopping, cooks the meals, tending to the kids/bath, play time, feeding, Everything, as his wife goes through some serious post-partum depression...and he's writing full-time on top of that. Seeing this from a father's perspective as I myself do this every day as a single mom was eye-opening and lends great credibility to Karl Ove as a caring human, and considering how he makes himself seem so self-absorbed in his writing this just goes to show the layers that man has in his soul. And he is a good person at heart, that's very clear throughout, it's just that since this is a journal/personal reflection account it makes you think he thinks of himself first off. Which is why it's such a good book. He's not just bashing other people or trying to put a spin on what he experiences, he's trying to write himself to the bone. Oh, and forewarning, the man smokes like a choo-choo train and will have you jonesing for a Marlboro even if you're a nonsmoker. ...more
This was a very heavy read, as the title suggests. You already know the all too sad ending, which made it a super slog of a book. But well worth it ifThis was a very heavy read, as the title suggests. You already know the all too sad ending, which made it a super slog of a book. But well worth it if you are a Cobain or even a Nirvana fan as it reveals the hardships they were all facing because of Kurt's heroin addiction. It's all incredibly sad. At the same time it is well written, deeply researched, and such an excellent biography. Yet be warned: You get insight into what Kurt's childhood, medical issues, and personality were like. Then it's all too easy to try to solve the problem, what if someone had done this or that. What if he had not married Courtney? What if his shit-ass parents did a better job? What if he had someone stable in his life after Tracy Marander, would heroin have played such a nasty part in his life? What if he had committed suicide successfully on one of his earlier attempts? Truth is, it's a dragon's lair but the book helps digest the real Kurt...or is it really Kurdt Kobain?...more
Best book I've read this summer. Lol Oh yea, it's only Day 2 of the season! That's some Sedaris-inspired humor right there, in case you missed it. ThiBest book I've read this summer. Lol Oh yea, it's only Day 2 of the season! That's some Sedaris-inspired humor right there, in case you missed it. This was a fantastic read. I blew through it, year by year, and cannot wait until Vol. 2 is published. From his days as a tramp/homeless person and drug user to his city horrors in Chi-town and NYC to his settling period with Hugh in Paris and traveling around Europe and with his book tours...it's all there! Seeing his life before and now, along with his writing style as it developed, not to mention learning about what he went through before becoming a published author...so inspiring!! I have never read or even heard about David until reading this, now I'm on a Sedaris-book binge :D and loving it....more
Loading...
