I have had a string of books lately by women talking about topics I’m interested in but who I can’t relate to at all because of their lack of self and love of conformity even when it goes against their best interests . First is was This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch, I’m … Continue reading
Author Archives: Rachel
50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the United States Through Pie by Stacey Mei Yan Fong
The book is cute and has a ton of novelty pie recipes in it if that is your thing. The essays about her life growing up were the strongest most cohesive parts of the book. However big takeaway for me was how many references to beer and drinking there were. Nearly every story about a … Continue reading
What I Read in June 2023
What I thought about all 27 books I read this month. Continue reading
What I read in May 2023
What I thought about all 32 books I read this month. Continue reading
Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears by Michael Schulman
Oscar Wars is very long and detailed-500 pages of actual text and another 100 of sources. The strongest bit was the first 1/3 or so when he writes about the Academy’s early days and “Old Hollywood”. Then he strays from the long-established pattern of talking about the literal making of the movies and the stars … Continue reading
Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter
I have some mixed feelings about Confessions. It looks like it’s just coming out here in the US after the sitcom that is based on it finished airing. It’s coming out in September so maybe they are trying to get it out before the second season airs? The show was a mid season replacement and … Continue reading
Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecomingby Ava Chin
I was a little disappointed by Mott Street. It’s a fascinating history and family story but I felt like the author veered too far into the speculative at times. Sometimes she would start anecdotes with phrases like “I wonder if this is what it was like”, “Maybe she felt like this” which is fine and … Continue reading
What I Read in April 2023
What I thought about all 29 books I read this month. Continue reading
Unraveling: What I Learned about Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater by Peggy Orenstein
Honestly, I was a little disappointed by Unraveled. I almost didn’t request it because I had her confused with the odious Peggy Noonan and thought what a waste of a good idea on her! Then I realized my mistake and waited weeks to get it. I thought this would be a real book highlight of … Continue reading
Congratulations! The Best is Over by Eric R. Thomas
Honestly, I read Congratulations! The Best is Over as soon as I was offered the galley because I was baffled that a man who said he grew up in Baltimore could get so much wrong about the city and state of Maryland in his last book. In this one he admits he has no sense … Continue reading