Denise

I liked this very much. It was fun and had nice twists.

A story that teaches a lot. At first, as I became drawn in, I was thinking, “what's this story about, what's its point?” but I realized I didn't care because I immediately cared for these people and wanted to learn about their lives. Then all of the history comes out secondarily and I understand this is not just a good story, it's a history lesson. Loved it.

Sweet book and story. The illustrations were the kind I like: minimal but conveying a lot, abstract but not confusing.

Sweet and Quick

The book is a series of vignettes. The issue with this style for a memoir can be repetitivness but there was little overlap and no confusion as to time period or point being made. Fun and positive read. Sweet but a nice edge to it, yet, not cynical. Quick read. Took me a couple reading sessions and done within 48 hours. Nice pictures.

I felt it was good scholarship with summaries of opinion at a minimum. I enjoyed her rhythm and did not feel the book drag or passed by too much. A very well done summary.

There are times that the play-by-play of this play and film's creation are tedious but the beauty of the book itself, it's layouts and artwork by Laura Palese, make every moment the book is open worth it.

Half way through the book, with the death of Sybil Vane, I realized I continued to read for morbid reasons. I skipped to the afterword. I got some insight from a more modern psychological view than a philosophical view and was now bored. Yet, something has me picking it up and reading bits more. I doubt I'll read every word once it is reshelved. Maybe because later many people took these themes and ideas and utilized them elsewhere, but the dark and negative have overall bored me. I started to read the copy I already owned because of Penny Dreadful, but a TV show can keep things moving and has multiple story lines to consider. (Even though, there the darkness can be heavy too.) For this book, I get the idea.

I still give this book four stars out of it being of very good writing and ideas. I underlined much of Lord Henry's philosophical ideas in the beginning. They are part of the great questions we must explore in ourself. I definitely can see why this is a classic.

Enjoyed it and felt uplifted by it. If I wasn't through what I have been through, I probably would have found some of it flippant. It took a bit to stay with the book but I did want to know what happens to the main character. I kind of expected the ending but it was, overall, a good read. I won't read it again though.

I actually only read 10% of the book. The story grabs you but I saw no point in the story. Once put down, I have no desire to pick it up again. Tried March 6 - 26, 2018.

Except for a few times of making history too nice or almost over explaining some ideas or interjecting personal information that I didn't mind but did not feel it was necessary, this was a very good book of details we do not usually gather when reading the birth stories of Jesus. She mainly analyzed the first two chapters of Matthew and Luke. Well organized and easily to follow and understand.

Sometimes Google cannot help in finding things. Books like this help. Plus, it is fun too see the full arc of a story in these summaries.

Another book that everyone in any history curriculum should read.

I read to Chapter 14 and then skipped to the final part. I understood the story and the twist. I have no need to deal with the middle.

I skimmed it. Enough interesting moments jumped out to make it worth the time. But the drug-use (even though not surprised) is enough for me to want to give this a lower rating.

August, 2016.

Absolutely loved this book. Only an hour to read but I'll come back to it. Brilliant writing and artwork.

Enjoyed immensely. It has inspired me to try keeping a diary, again. My randomness and various mediums (electronic & multiple books at once) is not unusual.

A wonderful book. It told intimate stories and details without feeling scandalous or risque. Sharing the truth and pain of growing up in a vast intersectional existence was well done in a clear and honest fashion. Stories about Fred Rogers were also clear and honest; real emotions are shared. A very well-written memoir and, even though the impetus may be Fred Rogers, they feel like bonuses, insights into Mr. Rogers as a real person and all the work Mr. Rogers did.

A good discussion of dinner church covering its shortcomings while still explaining clearly and fully its benefits and some manifestations. Since I have many dietary concerns, I was concerned at first but she satisfactory touched on the issue multiple times throughout the book. The last chapter discussing and realizing she is talking about a very White perspective was well done.

I deliberately did not look up what this book was about and only read it. I am glad I did that. It was wonderful to read names and event of history for it made the stories more real. I almost set aside when the relationships felt melodramatic/soapy but I am glad I stayed with it.

A much more abstract presentation than “I'm Not Here.” Also a very thin book; $10 almost feels a bit expensive but then this is also art which ups the value and translates $10 into almost too low of a price. If you haven't dealt with depression or other mental health issues, this may not be something easily understood. Or, I could be seeing too much of myself in some of these “snapshots” and misinterpreting them. It is a book for a psychologist helping teens to have on their shelf. Some adults, like myself, would benefit but many of us have let go of this kind of thinking.

This book reveals a lot more than you'd expect. What Prince had written was already quite clear and complete. I would have loved the Bernadette chapter but we still got a huge chunk about Prince and what he was processing throughout his life. I always say the first 20 years of life are powerful and he demonstrates that even before death and editors. The editor did a great job of annotating and finding the right bits to fill out the rest. The rest is about music and that was core to Prince's existence.

Absolutely phenomenal. Sharing the truth but never complaining or whining. Also, bravo/a to the family members who allowed such personal stories to be shared. I learned a lot about performing and life from this book, as well as her first one. I hope there'll be a part three someday.

I got to page 48. I had just finished a Jimmy Stewart biography and wanted to get into this book. I really enjoyed the reproducing from newsletters some fun stories Hitchcock wrote, but I am not really into his story anymore. I already see where his life is heading. The Stewart biography did a lot of thorough analysis of Hitchcock's work, so I am not needing it here. I admit I want to read some about his married life, but it is not important to sit through this whole book or even to skim for the information. I debated if I should keep it for future reference. But, I only paid $7 for a brand-new hard-cover FIRST EDITION of a thick book, so maybe not of much monetary value.

Rambling children's dialogue does not excite me even if it gets manifested. But I read it and then immediately watched the series. The series did a fantastic job, probably because Neil Gaiman wrote the series. I liked the ideas it has you thinking about. I read it because of the series and even though I flipped who was who for the first third of my reading, I liked the book partly because I had the visual of David Tennant and Michael Sheen.

This is all anyone needs to know about Mr. Rogers. Simple and informative.