NC > Recent Status Updates

DNF. I think this book was probably marvelous (like Nora Ephron herself) in 2006, pre-blog, pre-comedy influencers, and before the wellness industrial complex learned they could capitalize on the word perimenopause. Even though much of what we hear and read today about empowering women in midlife likely derives from Ephron’s willingness to say it in the first place—and with humor—her book comes across as dated.

I loved Sweetbitter and want to love Danler’s memoir, but it’s not landing well for me right now. Going to put it aside and try again another day.

Jess accidentally knocks stuff over / bumps into stuff / drops stuff and finds clues. Everything feels ominous but never at the right times. Everyone has seen everyone’s expressions somewhere before. Will there be any surprises in this book?

Fun fact: John Mulaney and I have very different tastes in books. This is not “the best new novel I have read in many years.” As a matter of fact, it is not pulling me in at all, so I’m leaving off for now. Points for 70s and 80s nostalgia and great theatre/movie/tv references, though, so maybe I’ll come back to it one day.

Thus far, a brilliant fictional follow-on to Say Nothing. (Thank you, MJ Franklin, for including this novel on your “Long Books to Sink Your Teeth Into” recommendations!)

Holy crap this book. I’ve been crying for an hour.

Never have murders been so rife in the wilds of Scotland—with the possible exception of the Scottish play, to which Barker pays tribute. Janet kills a slug, a cat kills his owner’s deplorable husband, a rotten English boy tries (and fails) to kill the same cat, a weasel kills a rabbit, and eventually someone or something will kill Janet. None of these are spoilers, and yet not a word is wasted on these scenes.

As Bartolomé de Vedia wrote in La Nación in 2003, “In 1978 there was pain and death but also soccer and joy. Life always flows in this way, with light and shadow… and in this way, nations wrote their histories, with the souls full of jubilation and, at the same time, the soul in tatters….”

“In the loony bin, I surrendered. Not fill-bore the way saints do, blowing away my ego in perfect service to God. Not even close. But watching the world through chicken wire convinced me that my unguided thought process would no doubt swerve me into concrete. Before, I’d feared surrender would sand me down to nothing. Now I’ve started believing it can bloom me more solidly into myself.” Ch.34, Sweet Hereafter

Page 4, and my eyes are already leaking.

Dammit. Why do I have responsibilities that keep me from reading this book?

I'm contemplating how late I can stay up reading and still be functional tomorrow.

Anyone interested in an historical perspective on the present-day refugee crisis should read Chapter 7 of this book. Substitute "Syria" for "Germany" and "Muslims" for "Jews," and you will recognize how history repeats itself when nations of wealth, influenced by xenophobic propaganda, turn away those in need.

So far, sooooo good.

I have been crying (the ugly kind) for half an hour, and now, as much as it pains me, I must stop listening. Because I have a call with a client in 15 minutes, and she mostly likely doesn't want to hear me discuss her annual report through snot and tears. Also, dog is very worried.

I have been crying (the ugly kind) for half an hour and now, as much as it pains me, I must stop listening. Because I have a call with a client in 15 minutes, and she mostly likely doesn't want to hear me discuss her annual report through snot and tears. Also, dog is very worried.

Not loving it so far. Putting aside for the time being.