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**
Anything WW2 and I'm there, and this proved light yet educational. There's a lot of cannibalism, so much the title should read "When People Ate Every Anything WW2 and I'm there, and this proved light yet educational. There's a lot of cannibalism, so much the title should read "When People Ate Every Body...Except Lenin's Brain" but then again that isn't as catchy as a book about Hitler doing coke, let's be honest. Each chapter reads like a podcast episode of LORE where you get just enough of the facts to stimulate your thought process. Good read, lots of tidbits to add to my trivia bank....more
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
Poor Mollie Burkhart and all the others who lost entire families in this devastating power grab. The story itself is horrific, but the writer and his Poor Mollie Burkhart and all the others who lost entire families in this devastating power grab. The story itself is horrific, but the writer and his journalism skills go a step further than any Truman Capote's "Cold Blood" or the like have ever done. Solving crimes a hundred years ago and bringing families peace? A winner in my book. Yet the real sadness is that this happened at all, that our society allowed for the maltreatment of one of its own...which continues to happen with immigrants and disenfranchised people today. Funny, not so funny, how power and money turn people's minds and hearts. ...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
If you are trying to figure out how to stimulate your creative side and come up with solutions to difficult, near impossible problems, then this meth If you are trying to figure out how to stimulate your creative side and come up with solutions to difficult, near impossible problems, then this method is beneficial. In "Einstein" by Walter Isaacson, Einstein did the same thing as Young suggests, spending deep focus on a problem that needs solved, then taking regular walks to relax his mind, after which the answer would pop up in his mind. I personally didn't learn anything new by reading Young's book, given I've heard of and practice this method already, but it was a good refresher on the subject. **Recommended for writers and creative types who feel they can't come up with anything new...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
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