Take a photo of a barcode or cover
calarco's Reviews (760)
If you, for some reason or another, find yourself wanting to read a bleak tale that accurately captures the atmosphere of inevitable dread, then oh boy is [b:Ethan Frome|5246|Ethan Frome|Edith Wharton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389822254l/5246._SY75_.jpg|132919] the book for you. Edith Wharton’s narrative oscillates between oppressive entrapment and the relief of fantasy.
When one feels caged and unfulfilled, it is horrifically easy to fixate over a crush or a fantasy to fill in the gaps, especially when it is obvious that the feelings are reciprocated. This is the case of Ethan Frome, whose marriage to Zeena has diminished with her health, and he finds himself revitalized with the arrival of young Mattie. That said, personal happiness can never truly come from another person, it must come from within—only you can ever truly save yourself. To place your hopes of personal fulfillment on another person is not love, it is fantasy.
Unfortunate circumstance can certainly diminish one’s agency, but there really are no cages like the ones we build for ourselves. If this is a sentiment that rings true for you, then I definitely recommend Ethan Frome.
When one feels caged and unfulfilled, it is horrifically easy to fixate over a crush or a fantasy to fill in the gaps, especially when it is obvious that the feelings are reciprocated. This is the case of Ethan Frome, whose marriage to Zeena has diminished with her health, and he finds himself revitalized with the arrival of young Mattie. That said, personal happiness can never truly come from another person, it must come from within—only you can ever truly save yourself. To place your hopes of personal fulfillment on another person is not love, it is fantasy.
Unfortunate circumstance can certainly diminish one’s agency, but there really are no cages like the ones we build for ourselves. If this is a sentiment that rings true for you, then I definitely recommend Ethan Frome.
This was an oddly nostalgic read, as [b:A Midsummer Night's Dream|1622|A Midsummer Night's Dream|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327874534l/1622._SY75_.jpg|894834] was the first Shakespearean play I ever read. While the prose is vibrantly rich, the plot is surprisingly simple and accessible, and it is for these reasons that I feel this play has had so much continued popularity. On the whole, it is a fun experience.
That said, the four main “lovers” are horrifically one-dimensional with little characterization outside of their singular romantic goals. For instance, I for the life of me still cannot understand why Helena is so hung up on Demetrius, he really is not anything special. Her whole role is to exist as an insecure and clingy plot device, more so than actually being an interesting character. Also, in this ballpark—it is hard to happily cheer on a couple that ends up together because one individual had their free will stripped of them from a god. If anything, this is a pretty tragic ending for both parties involved, though I digress.
My criticisms aside, even though I consider the play to be a lower-tier Shakespeare outing, I still enjoyed A Midsummer Night’s Dream and would recommend it to anyone interested.
That said, the four main “lovers” are horrifically one-dimensional with little characterization outside of their singular romantic goals. For instance, I for the life of me still cannot understand why Helena is so hung up on Demetrius, he really is not anything special. Her whole role is to exist as an insecure and clingy plot device, more so than actually being an interesting character. Also, in this ballpark—it is hard to happily cheer on a couple that ends up together because one individual had their free will stripped of them from a god. If anything, this is a pretty tragic ending for both parties involved, though I digress.
My criticisms aside, even though I consider the play to be a lower-tier Shakespeare outing, I still enjoyed A Midsummer Night’s Dream and would recommend it to anyone interested.
I will preface this by asserting that [b:Fruit of the Drunken Tree|36636727|Fruit of the Drunken Tree|Ingrid Rojas Contreras|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511284543l/36636727._SY75_.jpg|58402751] is an amazing book, but if content that includes violent kidnapping, sexual assault, or conscripted child soldiers is something you cannot handle, then allow me to forewarn you right off the bat.
Taking place in Colombia during the 1990s during the height of the search for Pablo Escobar, the setting is a harsh one that is incredibly unkind and unforgiving for any child. It follows the perspective of two girls, one being the sheltered 7-year-old Chula and the teenage Petrona who comes to work for Chula’s family. As the guerillas and paramilitary ravage the landscape, kidnappings occur at an all-time high. This very real fear instills in families a type of paranoia that prevents them from showing kindness to others that they would want to under ordinary circumstances. In times of strife, survival must take precedent over empathy.
Girls do not really get to be girls in this world. The violence and chaos of the time inflict each of these children with trauma that would be overwhelming for any adult. Chula and Petrona each navigate their unfair circumstances, not always making the right choices, but they do their best nonetheless. The one thing I think I loved the most about this novel, is how no character is ever truly judged, at least by the author. Ingrid Rojas Contreras allows her characters to be seen and understood, and I am just really happy I read this book.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Taking place in Colombia during the 1990s during the height of the search for Pablo Escobar, the setting is a harsh one that is incredibly unkind and unforgiving for any child. It follows the perspective of two girls, one being the sheltered 7-year-old Chula and the teenage Petrona who comes to work for Chula’s family. As the guerillas and paramilitary ravage the landscape, kidnappings occur at an all-time high. This very real fear instills in families a type of paranoia that prevents them from showing kindness to others that they would want to under ordinary circumstances. In times of strife, survival must take precedent over empathy.
Girls do not really get to be girls in this world. The violence and chaos of the time inflict each of these children with trauma that would be overwhelming for any adult. Chula and Petrona each navigate their unfair circumstances, not always making the right choices, but they do their best nonetheless. The one thing I think I loved the most about this novel, is how no character is ever truly judged, at least by the author. Ingrid Rojas Contreras allows her characters to be seen and understood, and I am just really happy I read this book.
Rating: 4.5 stars
A solid Agatha Christie holiday read, [b:Hercule Poirot's Christmas|16349|Hercule Poirot's Christmas (Hercule Poirot, #20)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1308808460l/16349._SY75_.jpg|6568307] is a fun whodunnit surrounding the disjoined family of Simeon Lee. I chose this book solely because I was looking for a breezy, wholesome holiday murder read, because that is certainly a mood that strikes during the Christmas season. While reading it, however, I felt elements of the plot to be eerily familiar, eventually realizing that this novel felt like an early draft of Knives Out. So, if that is something you are interested in, feel free to give it a go, though I must admit the movie is funnier (sorry, Agatha Christie).
I feel like if more textbooks took the approach of mortician and NPR’s death expert Caitlin Doughty, we would have more kids in STEM. In this genius work of comedy, [b:Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death|43785830|Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death|Caitlin Doughty|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554396038l/43785830._SY75_.jpg|68120089], Doughty sets out to answer questions she has received from kids on all matters related to human decomposition. Kids ask the important questions after all, like ”What would happen if you swallowed a bag of popcorn before you died and were cremated?” If this is the type of stuff that keeps you up at night, then I would recommend Doughy’s book. Death definitely becomes her.
Before reading East of Eden, I certainly had respect for Steinbeck as a great American author, but given his proclivity for presenting morality in at-times overly simplistic black and white diametric dichotomies, I found it hard to love him with the esteem everyone else seems to feel. That said, East of Eden is a torrent of gray that offers a vibrant snapshot of the human condition—it’s a pretty dang good novel.
“Maybe we all have a secret pond where evil and ugly things germinate and grow strong. But this culture is fenced, and the swimming brood climb up only to fall back. Might it not be that in the dark pools of some men the evil grows strong enough to wriggle over the fence and swim free? Would not such a man be our monster, and are we not related to him in our own hidden water? It would be absurd not to understand both angels and devils, since we invented them.” (132)
The very essence of what constitutes “good” and “evil” are Biblical social constructs passed down from generation to generation. Given the longevity of this tradition, these concepts can feel like primordial givens when in actuality they are but two choices in a larger range of possibilities. A person can inherit a shitty situation, and that is an unfortunate reality that must be acknowledged and respected, but beyond this we all have the free will to do better.
Following two generations of brothers from the Trask family, Steinbeck explores brotherhood through the lens of Cain and Abel from Genesis. While both sets of brothers are flawed humans trying their best, one is ultimately favored by their father which creates a dynamic of resentment and hurt that trickles down throughout the family lineage. Given that this tension is both inherited and self-perpetuated, there is a constant back and forth between what can feel like fate versus free-will.
“Some of our guilt is absorbed in our ancestry. What chance did we have? We are the children of our father. It means we aren’t the first. It’s an excuse, and there aren’t enough excuses in the world.” (267)
There is a great deal here that I found incredibly relatable. Adam and Lee both reminded me so much of my own father in different ways, that I know I in no way can objectively assess this piece of literature. When Lee states, “Please try not to need me. That’s the worst bait of all for a lonely man” (330), he basically hits the nail on the head of the motivation of most every single person in my family.
Steinbeck’s central thesis is a simple one—everyone just wants their parents to love them. When a person is denied this love, and a great many people sadly do go through life without this validation, it can snowball into generational trauma that is an inherently difficult cycle to break. That said, East of Eden made me feel so hopeful, and I am so happy that I finally read it. I could not recommend it more.
“Maybe we all have a secret pond where evil and ugly things germinate and grow strong. But this culture is fenced, and the swimming brood climb up only to fall back. Might it not be that in the dark pools of some men the evil grows strong enough to wriggle over the fence and swim free? Would not such a man be our monster, and are we not related to him in our own hidden water? It would be absurd not to understand both angels and devils, since we invented them.” (132)
The very essence of what constitutes “good” and “evil” are Biblical social constructs passed down from generation to generation. Given the longevity of this tradition, these concepts can feel like primordial givens when in actuality they are but two choices in a larger range of possibilities. A person can inherit a shitty situation, and that is an unfortunate reality that must be acknowledged and respected, but beyond this we all have the free will to do better.
Following two generations of brothers from the Trask family, Steinbeck explores brotherhood through the lens of Cain and Abel from Genesis. While both sets of brothers are flawed humans trying their best, one is ultimately favored by their father which creates a dynamic of resentment and hurt that trickles down throughout the family lineage. Given that this tension is both inherited and self-perpetuated, there is a constant back and forth between what can feel like fate versus free-will.
“Some of our guilt is absorbed in our ancestry. What chance did we have? We are the children of our father. It means we aren’t the first. It’s an excuse, and there aren’t enough excuses in the world.” (267)
There is a great deal here that I found incredibly relatable. Adam and Lee both reminded me so much of my own father in different ways, that I know I in no way can objectively assess this piece of literature. When Lee states, “Please try not to need me. That’s the worst bait of all for a lonely man” (330), he basically hits the nail on the head of the motivation of most every single person in my family.
Steinbeck’s central thesis is a simple one—everyone just wants their parents to love them. When a person is denied this love, and a great many people sadly do go through life without this validation, it can snowball into generational trauma that is an inherently difficult cycle to break. That said, East of Eden made me feel so hopeful, and I am so happy that I finally read it. I could not recommend it more.
If you are looking to read a Western epic, you would be hard-pressed to find one more influential than Homer’s The Odyssey. I can remember this tale of journey, trials, and homecoming as far back as early childhood when the PBS series Wishbone took a stab at retelling the tale (it was one of my favorite things as a kid).
That said, this was my first full read through as an adult and I was really impressed with the prose and world-building. Whether it was the encounter with the Cyclops or the fallout of mad beef with Poseidon, the tension between man and mythical elements is ever present. Given the time and place from which this story was birthed, people with relatively short lifespans were constantly subject to seemingly cruel twists of fate.
“Then must he suffer what the Fates ordain;
For Fate has wove the thread of life with pain?
And twins, e'en from the birth, are Misery and Man!”
Despite all of these great elements, I was left annoyed with a couple of narrative choices. First and foremost is the fact that while Ulysses is certainly tested throughout the tale, he never truly reckons with his hubris. He brings most of his strife on himself, and while he suffers, his continued poor choices would indicate that he does not truly reflect or take personal responsibility. On this front, I would argue that Beowful is a superior epic poem (fighting words, I know).
My second issue is with the double standard placed on female characters who have to be perfectly virtuous to be considered the equals of their flawed male counterparts. As Homer lays out, “Too dear I prized a fair enchanting face: beauty unchaste is beauty disgraced”. While an obvious observation would be the very different expectations of fidelity placed on Penelope and Ulysses, more-so I am most annoyed with how this inconsistency ferments at the root of my first grievance. Ulysses ultimately does not need to self-reflect when he has Athena (and other women) constantly bailing him out and doing that work for him, but I digress…
All that said, I still enjoyed The Odyssey and would definitely recommend it. It is highly entertaining, even without a PBS Jack Russell Terrier acting in his prime.
Rating: 3.5 stars
That said, this was my first full read through as an adult and I was really impressed with the prose and world-building. Whether it was the encounter with the Cyclops or the fallout of mad beef with Poseidon, the tension between man and mythical elements is ever present. Given the time and place from which this story was birthed, people with relatively short lifespans were constantly subject to seemingly cruel twists of fate.
“Then must he suffer what the Fates ordain;
For Fate has wove the thread of life with pain?
And twins, e'en from the birth, are Misery and Man!”
Despite all of these great elements, I was left annoyed with a couple of narrative choices. First and foremost is the fact that while Ulysses is certainly tested throughout the tale, he never truly reckons with his hubris. He brings most of his strife on himself, and while he suffers, his continued poor choices would indicate that he does not truly reflect or take personal responsibility. On this front, I would argue that Beowful is a superior epic poem (fighting words, I know).
My second issue is with the double standard placed on female characters who have to be perfectly virtuous to be considered the equals of their flawed male counterparts. As Homer lays out, “Too dear I prized a fair enchanting face: beauty unchaste is beauty disgraced”. While an obvious observation would be the very different expectations of fidelity placed on Penelope and Ulysses, more-so I am most annoyed with how this inconsistency ferments at the root of my first grievance. Ulysses ultimately does not need to self-reflect when he has Athena (and other women) constantly bailing him out and doing that work for him, but I digress…
All that said, I still enjoyed The Odyssey and would definitely recommend it. It is highly entertaining, even without a PBS Jack Russell Terrier acting in his prime.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Diagnosed with “Gender Identity Disorder” at the age of fifteen, Daphne’s life takes a turn when her father commits her to a mental institution. Even though her need to act out is clearly fueled by absent and abusive parents, everyone seems to be hung up on the less traditionally feminine elements of her appearance. So begins The Last Time I Wore A Dress, a title that essentially speaks for itself.
This narrative is interwoven between Daphne’s personal recollections and the medical assessments recorded during her periods of hospitalization. If anything, this juxtaposition paints an unsettling picture of the state of the mental health profession during the 1980s. At times this makes for a really compelling read, and at others a really difficult one as a detached system royally fails this teenage girl who just wants to wear band t-shirts and jeans.
A very quick read, the novel does feel a bit unfinished. Given the extremities of Daphne’s life, I wanted to know more about her later resolutions or lack thereof. That said, it’s a solid read, if chilling.
Rating: 3.5 stars
This narrative is interwoven between Daphne’s personal recollections and the medical assessments recorded during her periods of hospitalization. If anything, this juxtaposition paints an unsettling picture of the state of the mental health profession during the 1980s. At times this makes for a really compelling read, and at others a really difficult one as a detached system royally fails this teenage girl who just wants to wear band t-shirts and jeans.
A very quick read, the novel does feel a bit unfinished. Given the extremities of Daphne’s life, I wanted to know more about her later resolutions or lack thereof. That said, it’s a solid read, if chilling.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Surrealism, dreams, and cats—this more or less sums up Murakami’s [b:Kafka on the Shore|4929|Kafka on the Shore|Haruki Murakami|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429638085l/4929._SY75_.jpg|6191072]. Nearly every one of his books involves these elements, but this one in particular really does lean in.
Another quintessential Murakami trope featured in this novel includes a main character that passively accepts a series of increasingly peculiar events that unfold and meander into a moving plot that simply cannot be anticipated. Even when awake, the characters’ experiences are dream-like. What sets Kafka apart from other work though, is that Murakami seems to reflect on and even challenge this aspect of his writing style.
“You’re afraid of imagination. And even more afraid of dreams. Afraid of the responsibility the begins in dreams. But you have to sleep, and dreams are a part of sleep. When you’re awake you can suppress imagination. But you can’t suppress dreams.” (127)
There is a fine line between what can be controlled and what must simply be accepted when it comes to understanding our own inner identities. This story in particular is interesting in that the personalities of the two main characters could not be more different, yet as the story shifts back in forth along a dual storyline format, the boundaries of this difference become increasingly blurred. That said, I would argue that [b:Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World|10374|Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World|Haruki Murakami|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1399844477l/10374._SY75_.jpg|2531870] is a stronger Murakami dual story-lined narrative, but Kafka does hold its own.
Overall, even though there are familiar themes, it is truly a unique and compelling story. I was at the edge of my seat at a number of different moments while reading this book, and so if you are looking to get lost in a book, I definitely recommend Kafka on the Shore.
“Slowly, like a movie fadeout, the real world evaporates. I’m alone, inside the world of the story. My favorite feeling in the world.” (54)
Another quintessential Murakami trope featured in this novel includes a main character that passively accepts a series of increasingly peculiar events that unfold and meander into a moving plot that simply cannot be anticipated. Even when awake, the characters’ experiences are dream-like. What sets Kafka apart from other work though, is that Murakami seems to reflect on and even challenge this aspect of his writing style.
“You’re afraid of imagination. And even more afraid of dreams. Afraid of the responsibility the begins in dreams. But you have to sleep, and dreams are a part of sleep. When you’re awake you can suppress imagination. But you can’t suppress dreams.” (127)
There is a fine line between what can be controlled and what must simply be accepted when it comes to understanding our own inner identities. This story in particular is interesting in that the personalities of the two main characters could not be more different, yet as the story shifts back in forth along a dual storyline format, the boundaries of this difference become increasingly blurred. That said, I would argue that [b:Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World|10374|Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World|Haruki Murakami|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1399844477l/10374._SY75_.jpg|2531870] is a stronger Murakami dual story-lined narrative, but Kafka does hold its own.
Overall, even though there are familiar themes, it is truly a unique and compelling story. I was at the edge of my seat at a number of different moments while reading this book, and so if you are looking to get lost in a book, I definitely recommend Kafka on the Shore.
“Slowly, like a movie fadeout, the real world evaporates. I’m alone, inside the world of the story. My favorite feeling in the world.” (54)
“It is going to take more than just a couple of good-hearted souls to raise a child. It will…take a graveyard.”
Neil Gaiman’s [b:The Graveyard Book|2213661|The Graveyard Book|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531295292l/2213661._SY75_.jpg|2219449] is a story about a kid who survives his family being murdered as a toddler, only to be taken in by magical creatures and then navigate a complex coming-of-age. Now if you think this sounds an awful lot like Harry Potter, this premise is where the similarities start and stop, because this child ultimately gets taken in by two ghost parents, a dark brooding guardian, and an entire graveyard community. It’s great, it's wicked, it has my recommendation.
Neil Gaiman’s [b:The Graveyard Book|2213661|The Graveyard Book|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531295292l/2213661._SY75_.jpg|2219449] is a story about a kid who survives his family being murdered as a toddler, only to be taken in by magical creatures and then navigate a complex coming-of-age. Now if you think this sounds an awful lot like Harry Potter, this premise is where the similarities start and stop, because this child ultimately gets taken in by two ghost parents, a dark brooding guardian, and an entire graveyard community. It’s great, it's wicked, it has my recommendation.