Alyssa

A contemplative, emotional journey through Kazu's life, which has been full of hardships. This book offers a closer look at homelessness in Japan, juxtaposed with the wealth and easy living of the Japanese imperial family. Evocative and wholly touching, this is one of those books that's nearly impossible to explain and therefore which I can only say to read, read, read and experience for yourself.

I'm completely in awe of this book. It's absolutely tragic yet so hopeful and beautifully written. There is so much from this book that I will remember, that will stay in my mind forever. I'm so glad I read it. I feel like a better person for doing so.

I went into this book excited about the concept, but it was ultimately just an okay read. Everything felt flat and cliched: the characters, the setting, the stories. Just incredibly boring, even down to the constant descriptions of each character's clothes. I hated the last chapter. I won't reveal exactly why due to spoilers, but it was badly written and a bit insensitive. The only things that saved this for me were Kazu, who was a slightly interesting character who I wanted to know more about, and the chapter about the man with dementia and his wife, which ran surprisingly deep compared to the rest of the book. I think I'll be skipping the sequel, however.

This is a definite slow burn. It's quite hard to read at times, both because it's slow and it's very dark. It's thin plot-wise, instead focusing on the anchoress Sarah's ruminations inside her cell and her strained relationship with her confessor, Ranaulf. The pace picks up a bit toward the end, and there was a part that gave me chills. I'm docking points because it's a bit of a slog, but it really is a great glimpse into a niche of medieval history that isn't often explored, and I enjoyed it despite its slow pace.

After reading Joseph Mitchell's piece on Mazie for The New Yorker, I was dying to get to know her better. This is, of course, a fictional account of her life and likely quite far from her reality, but I enjoyed it as a tribute nonetheless. Jami Attenberg's version of Mazie sparkles with life. As she struggles to find her place in this world, she is always thinking of those around her. I wanted the world for her. I especially loved the way her deep relationship with Sister Tee was written. It felt shockingly real and was so affecting. The way this book is structured makes it an easy page-turner. Mazie's diary entries are interspersed with the thoughts of people who knew her or knew of her in some capacity. It's a fast-paced but thoughtful read, and I loved it. 

I would like to finish this eventually, but it's a library loan and I need to return it. Unfortunately, it's taken me quite a while and several renewals to get through this much. The writing style is all over the place and hard to follow at times, so it's not the most compelling book. My main interest, of course, is Georgia O'Keeffe. I thought this would give some good insight into her life and personality, but so far the focus has been mostly on her husband, Alfred Stieglitz. I might be better off reading an O'Keeffe biography.

A monk and a robot meet in the woods and have a lovely adventure during which they ponder the meaning of life in a world much better than ours. Panga is an addictive setting, and Dex and Mosscap are delightful characters. In a world where people are focused on happiness, where everyone has a surplus of creature comforts, and where there is no impending doom, what more could Dex want and how could they be unsatisfied? What exactly does it mean to live a life of purpose? Does anything even matter? The book explores these questions as Dex and Mosscap get to know each other and travel together. Read this one with your favorite blanket and a cup of tea to experience the maximum level of comfort.

This is my comfort book, my favorite book of all time. I return to it often. I don't know what it is about Mitchell's writing exactly, but it feels like listening to an old friend. It's not for everyone, as it's very much rooted in the past, but I do feel that Mitchell was ahead of his time in his thinking and the way he approached his subjects. While his colleagues at The New Yorker were profiling actors and politicians, Mitchell focused on the extraordinarily ordinary people of New York City. It's fascinating to experience life as it was in the city during the 30s-60s, and that's why I love it so much. It truly takes you back in time, and Mitchell has a great sense of grace and care when writing about the various people he chose to profile. Yes, some of it is embellished, but not in a harmful way. I think, above all, Mitchell wanted to give a voice to the often voiceless, and that comes through in his writing, even if it's embellished at times or stuck in the ways of the past at others.

Joseph Mitchell is my favorite writer, and this biography does him justice ten times over. It's a thorough account of his life, sourced from his family and closest friends, as well as his own journals. Mitchell was known for shining a light on people who others often overlooked. He portrayed New York City in the 1930s-1950s as a vibrant and diverse place through the eyes of its most interesting inhabitants, and there is always a welcome undercurrent of his own thoughts running through his stories as well. This balance is what made him the world's finest literary journalist. Kunkel's book kept me completely invested in his life and is a great tribute to a man who deserves to be venerated.

It's incredible how much Clarke does with so little in this book. It largely takes place in a single setting, following only one character, but it's completely gripping. It's masterfully written, especially in the way that Clarke simultaneously shows you things from Piranesi's perspective and objectively. The labyrinth is beautifully realized, a setting that will stick with me for a long time, and Piranesi's voice is just as unforgettable.

I'm a bit torn on this one. I think the author's prose is lovely, and she did a good job of bringing us into 1920s Chicago. However, the plot got a little convoluted at times and the ending fell flat. I feel like not enough was done to convince us that the Mayor of Maxwell story was worth pursuing, and the mystery wasn't built up or fleshed out as well as it could have been. I think there are some great details and insights in this book, but they unfortunately are not enough on their own, and as a whole the book is not as effective as I was hoping it would be.

The pacing lagged in the middle, and there was a lot of exposition without letting the reader piece things together on their own, but aside from those aspects I enjoyed it. The prose is lovely, and the way both the characters and their relationships develop is masterful. I can't award this a full five stars, but I did enjoy my time with it and I'm glad I saw it through.