Mimi
Loved this, maybe partly because it's about Detroit, but also just because it's so well done.
Listened to this one, and got teary-eyed when he talked about his wife dying; even more so when he described how he still has conversations with her. Seems like a decent guy.
For the Read Harder Challenge category “A Book Published Prior to January 1, 2019, with Fewer than 100 Reviews on Goodreads” (as of today it has 69 ratings and 8 reviews). The book caught my eye because my Hungarian grandparents lived for a time in Delray, probably in this time period. Spoiler alert: Rose Veres was not actually a witch, but she was a Hungarian immigrant unjustly accused.
Such a weird book. Donna (University of Michigan grad/punk from the 70s, now a mother of two in Michigan) has a crisis in her marriage. She drives off in a state of hysteria and, after some pretty funny mishaps, finds herself in New York. Among other things, she considers going to Rockaway Beach to ask Patti Smith for advice. I'm totally with her so far! I expected the comedy to continue, but then people behave badly, and additional unappealing characters are thrown into the mix. The story turns dark, and then it ends dark.
Surprisingly interesting book about a genuinely weird but talented artist. Good travel reading.
Quirky book with a pretty unbelievable plot, but I enjoyed it. Another author with a link to Midsomer Murders and Doctor Who–maybe that explains why.
How had I never heard of Jane Kenyon before? Raised in Ann Arbor, married to Donald Hall? Better late than never. Counting this one for my challenge: A translated book written by and/or translated by a woman (because it includes Kenyon's translations of Twenty Poems of Anna Akhmatova).
Second in the Nils Shapiro series, but my least favorite. Perhaps because I'm not all that interested in hockey?
For the Read Harder category of a self-published book. Tidy novella written by someone I used to work with. Well done.
Had to immediately rewatch The Last Waltz after finishing this. The Band really was all that.
Short, but lovely. Reviewed here by the NYTimes. For the Read Harder Challenge of a book of poetry published after 2014.
I loved reading about Bing Crosby and his life, but wasn't really into all the business details of the early entertainment industry.
Loved these short pieces, which were written weekly for a year. Each one is right on.
Yep, I enjoy reading, and now mostly listening, to the Dresden files. James Marsters (Spike!) is the perfect narrator for these. I just can't believe I've made it through 12 of them. Four stars for being good at what they are.
Appropriately recognized as one of the best memoirs ever. There are funny stories, of course, but also chilling memories, such as when Harpo finds himself in Germany six months after Hitler comes into power and sees the terror of the Jews. A great book.
For the challenge category of an #ownvoices book set in Oceania. Fictional, satirical, sometimes humorous, but also a little depressing.
Very well written, and it was great to read something new (to me) about Gertrude Stein. Now I need to read [b:The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas 527495 The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas Gertrude Stein https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403192593l/527495.SY75.jpg 2285834] again.
Very light mystery, sometimes silly, but still fun to read if you've been to (or live on) the Big Island of Hawaii.
Just as good as the first two. Love the local mentions, like Sister Pie. Also love that August's copine is smart and tough and lives in Oslo, an awesome city.
4 stars for being exactly what I wanted to read in one evening: a perfect example of a library-based cozy mystery, intelligently written.
A well-written biography, whether or not you were a fan. Interesting to read about what was happening behind the scenes in the White House during those years.