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calarco's Reviews (760)
To this day Baby Cobra remains one of the funniest stand-up specials I think I have ever seen; just thinking about it sometimes sends me into random fits of giggles. So of course, when news broke that Ali Wong was going to write a book, one she specifically writes as a series of love letters to the future 21+ year-old versions of her baby daughters, I knew I had to read it—and it does not disappoint.
[b:Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life|44600621|Dear Girls Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life|Ali Wong|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553635552l/44600621._SY75_.jpg|69234815] perfectly captures Ali’s wit, as well as her comedic cadence—it had me laughing out loud in public like a damn fool. There is so much that she writes about that really hits home, especially the stories of her immigrant parents, how she relates to the world as both an individual and member of her family, as well as her experiences living in Vietnam. Anyone who has any type of hyphenated heritage, or just enjoys comedy rooted in misunderstandings, will relate to this material.
What really makes this book memorable though, is the heart that this work is ultimately rooted in. Ali is a ridiculous mega-star, but she never does anything major without considering about how it will impact her family. The final chapter is penned by Ali Wong’s husband, and he writes so poignantly to his daughters about their mother’s character, that compliments Ali’s chapters in such a way that really shows how weirdly wholesome and supportive they are as a pair. It's beautiful.
This book is a great hoot, I highly recommend it.
[b:Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life|44600621|Dear Girls Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life|Ali Wong|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553635552l/44600621._SY75_.jpg|69234815] perfectly captures Ali’s wit, as well as her comedic cadence—it had me laughing out loud in public like a damn fool. There is so much that she writes about that really hits home, especially the stories of her immigrant parents, how she relates to the world as both an individual and member of her family, as well as her experiences living in Vietnam. Anyone who has any type of hyphenated heritage, or just enjoys comedy rooted in misunderstandings, will relate to this material.
What really makes this book memorable though, is the heart that this work is ultimately rooted in. Ali is a ridiculous mega-star, but she never does anything major without considering about how it will impact her family. The final chapter is penned by Ali Wong’s husband, and he writes so poignantly to his daughters about their mother’s character, that compliments Ali’s chapters in such a way that really shows how weirdly wholesome and supportive they are as a pair. It's beautiful.
This book is a great hoot, I highly recommend it.
In the same vein as Michelle Alexander’s [b:The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness|6792458|The New Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness|Michelle Alexander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328751532l/6792458._SX50_.jpg|6996712] and Carol Anderson’s [b:White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide|26073085|White Rage The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide|Carol Anderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456093492l/26073085._SY75_.jpg|46010383], Dr. Eberhardt tackles American systemic injustice with [b:Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do|40407320|Biased Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do|Jennifer L. Eberhardt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528299903l/40407320._SX50_.jpg|62727435], specifically through the lens of cognitive behavioral psychology. While the root of her analysis is clinical, she intersperses these assessments with anecdotes from her lived experience that make this a very readable piece of cultural criticism. My one critique would be that I wanted more information on the biological components of the psychological theory, but I can appreciate that this work is still quite "new" in the grand scheme of it all. Overall, if you are looking to understand the world a little bit better, I would highly recommend this work.
With only a few days left in 2019, I keep getting asked, “What’s the best book you’ve read this year?” As of today, I can definitively assert that [b:Giovanni’s Room|38462|Giovanni’s Room|James Baldwin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1501485157l/38462._SY75_.jpg|814207] takes top spot, period. James Baldwin’s prose is masterful, and when combined with his unflinching worldview that tears into society’s norms before being hindered or muted by them in any way, he creates this piece of art that so authentically captures the messy, moving, horrifying, painful, and beautiful nature of love.
A testament to this work—I am not someone who is in any appreciative way in touch with their emotions, and James Baldwin still somehow tore my heart out. In recent memory, I am not sure I have had such a visceral reaction to any literary work like I have to this story; any words I try to form simply will not do this book justice. Just do yourself a favor and read it while I try to pick my jaw up off the floor.
A testament to this work—I am not someone who is in any appreciative way in touch with their emotions, and James Baldwin still somehow tore my heart out. In recent memory, I am not sure I have had such a visceral reaction to any literary work like I have to this story; any words I try to form simply will not do this book justice. Just do yourself a favor and read it while I try to pick my jaw up off the floor.
Growing up, Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal was one of my favorite movies, hands down. Now that I am a weird kid who has grown up into an even weirder adult, with the new Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance I have found myself re-immersed in this unprecedented, fantastical world. This includes reading the [b:Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: The Novelization|20736543|Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal The Novelization|A.C.H. Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1393773507l/20736543._SX50_.jpg|324583].
Ultimately, this book should be read after seeing the original film, as it is a novelization that enhances established information, rather than working as a stand-alone book. For instance, there are numerous early concept images of the Skeksis interspersed throughout the novel that really have nothing to do with the plot on the page next to it, and would probably be more confusing than anything if you are not already familiar with them.
Overall, this is a solid book for any Dark Crystal fan. I definitely recommend it if you fall into this category.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Ultimately, this book should be read after seeing the original film, as it is a novelization that enhances established information, rather than working as a stand-alone book. For instance, there are numerous early concept images of the Skeksis interspersed throughout the novel that really have nothing to do with the plot on the page next to it, and would probably be more confusing than anything if you are not already familiar with them.
Overall, this is a solid book for any Dark Crystal fan. I definitely recommend it if you fall into this category.
Rating: 3.5 stars
As technology advances and online networks bring people together from all over the world, cyberpunk as a sub-genre is something that I find myself more and more fascinated by. Ranging between the original world building of William Gibson’s [b:Neuromancer|6088007|Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1)|William Gibson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554437249l/6088007._SY75_.jpg|909457] and the unadulterated fun of Ernest Cline’s [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)|Ernest Cline|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500930947l/9969571._SY75_.jpg|14863741], Neal Stephenson’s [b:Snow Crash|40651883|Snow Crash|Neal Stephenson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530057753l/40651883._SX50_.jpg|493634] falls smack dab in the middle of this spectrum.
Honestly, this is a book that is filled with highs and lows. What is good is its own particular stab at world building with the Metaverse. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of ancient Sumerian language and lore being incorporated into coding language as a key plot point, cool stuff. However, what I did not enjoy was essentially every single character, in particular the arrogant Mary Sue that is the not-so nonchalantly named Hiro Protagonist. Like, his name is hilarious, but the joke ends there, which is more or less the case for many of the characters in this novel. The initial punchline is good, but the follow-up always feels a bit lacking.
Still, overall, I would say this was an entertaining enough novel. If cyberpunk is something that interests you, I would consider Snow Crash an important key read of the sub-genre.
Honestly, this is a book that is filled with highs and lows. What is good is its own particular stab at world building with the Metaverse. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of ancient Sumerian language and lore being incorporated into coding language as a key plot point, cool stuff. However, what I did not enjoy was essentially every single character, in particular the arrogant Mary Sue that is the not-so nonchalantly named Hiro Protagonist. Like, his name is hilarious, but the joke ends there, which is more or less the case for many of the characters in this novel. The initial punchline is good, but the follow-up always feels a bit lacking.
Still, overall, I would say this was an entertaining enough novel. If cyberpunk is something that interests you, I would consider Snow Crash an important key read of the sub-genre.
Well, in case anyone is wondering, Niccolò Machiavelli’s [b:The Prince|28862|The Prince|Niccolò Machiavelli|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390055828l/28862._SY75_.jpg|1335445] is indeed pretty Machiavellian. I would argue that this volume offers great advice on matters of conquest, and god-awful advice on matters of rule. Comparatively, I would say Sun Tzu’s [b:The Art of War|10534|The Art of War|Sun Tzu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453417993l/10534._SY75_.jpg|3200649] is a better volume. Though what sets Machiavelli apart and core to his underlying philosophy is the importance of being in control in all interpersonal relationships. Also, be Italian, of course.
Rating 3.5 stars
Rating 3.5 stars
When I was in college and just beginning to learn about anthropology and archaeology, I had one professor who would basically use the last five-ten minutes of class to share “crazy” fieldwork stories. These included seasons he spent with others in the field, including a couple of the Leakeys. This professor was not someone who took life (or people) seriously, but his recollections of Mary Leakey were nevertheless steeped in reverence. Decades later, he was still dumbfounded by how laser focused someone could be on their fieldwork while chain smoking and giving zero fucks.
I always felt lucky to get to study a field with prominent founding mothers like Mary Leakey, and so getting to read her own recollections in [b:Disclosing the Past|2836194|Disclosing the Past|Mary Leakey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387666561l/2836194._SX50_.jpg|1310102] felt like an extra special treat. She truly was a gruff individual who favored the vigor of fieldwork over the diplomacy of being a famous name. In addition to covering her major fieldwork in East Africa, the book also covers the details of her partnership with Louis Leakey, as well as the work of her sons (including Richard). Most interesting, was reading about her fieldwork in Laetoli, especially as this happened after the death of her husband.
Laetoli is a prominent discovery in that it revealed that early hominids developed bipedalism before developing large brains. Prior to this point that had been much back and forth in the anthropological community over which had developed first. Mary Leakey, a pragmatic soul who favored the concrete evidence of fieldwork over theoretical approaches—really nails down the value of this approach in plain language and backs it up with the fruit of decades of work.
I’m undoubtedly biased, but Mary Leakey really was an interesting figure who deserves to have respect put on her name. This book was great, and one I would recommend to anyone studying archaeology, anthropology, or looking to learn about prominent women in science.
I always felt lucky to get to study a field with prominent founding mothers like Mary Leakey, and so getting to read her own recollections in [b:Disclosing the Past|2836194|Disclosing the Past|Mary Leakey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387666561l/2836194._SX50_.jpg|1310102] felt like an extra special treat. She truly was a gruff individual who favored the vigor of fieldwork over the diplomacy of being a famous name. In addition to covering her major fieldwork in East Africa, the book also covers the details of her partnership with Louis Leakey, as well as the work of her sons (including Richard). Most interesting, was reading about her fieldwork in Laetoli, especially as this happened after the death of her husband.
Laetoli is a prominent discovery in that it revealed that early hominids developed bipedalism before developing large brains. Prior to this point that had been much back and forth in the anthropological community over which had developed first. Mary Leakey, a pragmatic soul who favored the concrete evidence of fieldwork over theoretical approaches—really nails down the value of this approach in plain language and backs it up with the fruit of decades of work.
I’m undoubtedly biased, but Mary Leakey really was an interesting figure who deserves to have respect put on her name. This book was great, and one I would recommend to anyone studying archaeology, anthropology, or looking to learn about prominent women in science.
While not something I would normally seek out, I felt compelled to pick up a copy of Jo Weldon’s [b:Fierce: The History of Leopard Print|36301040|Fierce The History of Leopard Print|Jo Weldon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516519988l/36301040._SX50_.jpg|57969400] after seeing it referenced in video essayist ContraPoints' video on Opulence. While I did not realize this print could constitute the basis for an entire book, Weldon’s passion for leopard print and the power it conveys really shines through. I would argue that this book is probably more of a fun coffee table read than a comprehensive text, but it is a really well-executed coffee table book that I would definitely recommend if this topic is something you are interested in.
This is the first work of Herman Melville that I have ever read, so perhaps I am way off base in this assessment, but [b:Bartleby the Scrivener|114230|Bartleby the Scrivener|Herman Melville|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320404048l/114230._SX50_.jpg|15956900] reads like an old-school Office Space, and it's dark and hilarious. Imagine coming into work, but every time your boss asked you to do something you deadfaced told them, "I would prefer not to." I would elaborate but the book is short and to be honest, "I would prefer not to."
Rating: 3.5 stars
Rating: 3.5 stars
The world Tomi Adeyemi created with [b:Children of Blood and Bone|34728667|Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha, #1)|Tomi Adeyemi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516127989l/34728667._SX50_.jpg|55911580] remains one of the most interesting, new fantasy series in current popular literature. Keeping in step with the fast-paced entertainment of the first entry, [b:Children of Virtue and Vengeance|39122774|Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha, #2)|Tomi Adeyemi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554753179l/39122774._SY75_.jpg|60725021] continues to build upon the escalating tension with magic’s return to Orisha.
Admittedly, there is a bit of backtracking and repetition in the beginning of this book. That said, as events start to unravel, it becomes very clear very fast that this is definitely not a rehashing of the first volume, but more so is a follow-up that challenges earlier assumptions of morality in times of war and chaos. Vengeance appears far more than virtue in this one, but what makes this series so fascinating are the real human responses to unreal situations.
Overall, I am really enjoying this series and definitely look forward to the next entry in the Legacy of Orisha series. Tomi Adeyemi is not an author to sleep on.
Admittedly, there is a bit of backtracking and repetition in the beginning of this book. That said, as events start to unravel, it becomes very clear very fast that this is definitely not a rehashing of the first volume, but more so is a follow-up that challenges earlier assumptions of morality in times of war and chaos. Vengeance appears far more than virtue in this one, but what makes this series so fascinating are the real human responses to unreal situations.
Overall, I am really enjoying this series and definitely look forward to the next entry in the Legacy of Orisha series. Tomi Adeyemi is not an author to sleep on.