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LeftyDv

LeftyDv

Joined December 2018

review
LeftyDv
This Side of Paradise | F Scott Fitzgerald
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Pickpick

104 years since its publishing, this classic defines America still. What is fake? What is real? What and who do we really love? Do we still have faith? And if we do, what do we worship? Disillusion, youthful rebellion, feminism and socialism vs. capitalism. It‘s all here. There was not one Lost Generation - there have been many. Frankly, there continues to be. Fitzgerald‘s prose is essential American Literature.

CarolynM I loved this when I read it as a teenager. I‘ve always wondered if I would still love it if I read it again. 6d
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LeftyDv
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Mehso-so

Tons of witty lines that don‘t add up to much of a story. Adams must have amused himself quite a bit.

“You guys are so unhip it‘s a wonder your bums don‘t fall off.”

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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

If you thought there wasn‘t much hope in the world when you read the title of this book, rest assured the bleakness doesn‘t end there. This reads like a gangsta rap song until you realize the sociology behind the story being told. Come for the action, stay for the analysis of poverty and crime in America.

BooksCoffeeNurse One of my favorites! 3w
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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

Memoirs built around music are my jam. This was one of the harder ones to read because the narrator is faced with so many trials and tribulations. Rather than find inspiration in the music, I found inspiration in his love story. His soundtrack makes for an interesting playlist, sure. But it is his partnership with Nora that is award winning.

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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

Good writing and good story telling come together in this novel because Towles writes with porpoise. The plot is very good, but the structure, style, care and craft of his storytelling is beautiful. I wonder what the middle of my story is.

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LeftyDv
No Country for Old Men | Cormac McCarthy
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“You live to be a hundred… and there wont be another day like this one. As soon as he said it he was sorry.”

A book by McCarthy is destined to end bleak. This one is no different. But I do find some hope in this violent, dreary novel: Positive change in society can happen if the youth step up and make it so. (Although they probably won‘t.)

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LeftyDv
Shutter Island | Dennis Lehane
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The book is essentially about four days in the main character‘s life. But it won‘t take you that long to read it. This is a wonderfully paced noir novel.

Time to see the movie.

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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

Intense and chilling, this true story reads like a tall tale. Real-world heroism, a brotherhood of camaraderie and optimism, and survival skills all play a role in this adventure. Lansing‘s words are so descriptive, I found myself layering my clothes to warm myself while reading about the Antarctic expedition gone wrong.

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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

I‘m probably never writing that Great American Novel I talked about in my 20s. But King wonders aloud that perhaps I could. This book reads as if he‘s conversing with me directly, sharing his secrets. Getting that glimpse of the “behind the scenes” was a treat. May I never write passively - even on Litsy.

marleed And never use an adverb! 3mo
3 likes1 comment
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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

I felt like I was sitting in a cabin listening to Rubin‘s musings first hand. I admittedly enjoyed the first half more, but the entire book was a fun guide to exercising your creativity, even if you don‘t consider yourself to be an artist.

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LeftyDv
Thrawn | Timothy Zahn
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Mehso-so

This was actually pretty boring. I think I‘ll take my Star Wars plots in live-action or cartoon form. Good on those of you who do enjoy this. I just really never started to care about any character but Thrawn.

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LeftyDv
The Cuckoo's Calling | Robert Galbraith
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This is pure dumb fun. I enjoyed reading the detailed descriptions of elite, wealthy settings. I also appreciated how the dialogue and conversation drove the story. Finally, the slow pace with which Robin and Strike‘s relationship develops is an added bonus. I‘ll be checking out the next book.

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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

A thrilling narrative based on real history that then reminds you that the significance of all this imperialism had real consequences on the world beyond the sailors whose story is told. Perhaps the British didn‘t control the seas quite as well as our teachers had us believe.

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LeftyDv
Frankenstien | Mary Shelley
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Panpan

Was Frankenstein the first Emo? Or Walton? The monster? Sappy and melodramatic, Shelley‘s story may have been unsettling and a one-of-kind 200 years ago. But for readers today, I found it to be a depressing bore. Leave this one off your Spooky Season reading lists.

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LeftyDv
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Bailedbailed

By page 33 when Abbey chronicled his killing of a rabbit with a rock (just to do it), I‘d had my fill. I don‘t bail often, but this book about Arches National Park is about as boring as looking at postcards.

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LeftyDv
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Most readers will focus on Williams‘ love of books and the empowering story of women in WWI. I was much more taken by the themes of sacrifice: Peggy makes sacrifices for family and learning, Bastiaan sacrifices for love of country and love of a woman. Books themselves sacrifice their beautiful binding for their readers. And in the end, readers are left sacrificing the perfect ending for the reality and gravity of the time period.

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LeftyDv
Jumanji | Chris Van Allsburg
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My first step in recovering from Needful Things was reading Jumanji, this month‘s Book to Movie event at our local book store. It‘s still great all these years later. And not so far away from what King does with his stories if you really think about it…

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LeftyDv
Needful Things | Stephen King
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What would you pay for the very thing you want most? King‘s scare in this novel plays us against our own “I‘d do anything for that.” It‘s an age-old adage that rattles the very foundation of Castle Rock to its soul. Creepy throughout, this was a fantastic finish to my summer reading binge.

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LeftyDv
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The history of the West collides with organized crime and conspiracy in this non-fiction account that reads like a crime novel. An unsettling read that exposes more examples of crookery and corruption in 20th Century American History.

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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

“Edge is from the future, and he says it‘s better there.”

Bono long ago surrendered himself to working for a better future, whether it was his activism, his songwriting, or his embrace of technology in music, it‘s distribution, and it‘s presentation. This book discusses much of it. However, it‘s his faith in God, family and friendship that stuck out most to me. This is more than a memoir… it‘s a sacred text, essential to music history.

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LeftyDv
American Gods | Neil Gaiman
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Mehso-so

Creative, intriguing, and - at times - perplexing. I wonder what the gods thought of this modern take on mythology and human beliefs. I love the concept, even if I didn‘t love the book. I won‘t be watching the TV show, but I might read the sequel… if Gaiman is truly working on one.

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LeftyDv
Chronicle of a Death Foretold | Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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What a social critique by one of the world‘s greatest writers! Marquez, known for his eloquent passages, is briefer here. Yet he still tells a story full of color and wonder.

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LeftyDv
Coraline | Neil Gaiman
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What a delight! Bored on a holiday - just like the namesake character, by the way - I picked up this gem and never left the edge of my seat. Gaiman wrote a fantastic story for little people and older people. I look forward to reading more!

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LeftyDv
Child of God | Cormac McCarthy
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Mehso-so

“Some people you cain‘t do nothin with.”

I think McCarthy wants us to struggle with that idea as a society. Truth is, after reading this gruesome short novel full of disgusting scene after disgusting scene, I don‘t want to think about it anymore.

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LeftyDv
Duma Key | King, Stephen
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The struggle within us is exposed by first-person narrator Edgar Freemantle‘s own recollections and his assessment of other characters who help tell this ghost story. Frankly, those early tales were far scarier than the climax, which read like a Hollywood summer blockbuster finale. While I may not have loved King‘s ending, the path he weaved me through the Florida Keys, the power of memories and surrealistic art will haunt me for a while.

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LeftyDv
This Bird Has Flown | Susanna Hoffs
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Mehso-so

“That‘s my not my kinda book,” I told myself, so I skipped buying it and checked it out at the library. Should have trusted my initial reaction. I won‘t pan it - there‘s an entire audience who will love it. I‘m just not it, despite my decades-long crush on Susanna Hoffs. I hoped for a little more rock n‘ roll on stage and a little less rock n‘ roll in bedrooms. A little more Almost Famous and a little less Music & Lyrics would have been nice.

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LeftyDv
Jaws | Peter Benchley
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I was hooked (pun intended) immediately. Were all the characters fleshed out? No, but that‘s not the point. The fish itself, the town as a whole (perhaps my favorite character), Quint and Brody are really all you need to put together a quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It‘s no classic of American literature, but it‘s gripping and terrifying in its own way, just the same.

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LeftyDv
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Mehso-so

This novella is short and sweet - much like an old country song about ghosts, criminals and dusty horizons. That‘s probably why Starr‘s grandson musician wrote and sang a sequel album entitled Beauty and Ruin. That album turned me onto this book about family, love, and death. The book has some really nice prose - you almost have to read it with a southern accent, but like most of those sad country songs, the story becomes predictable in the end.

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LeftyDv
I, Robot | Isaac Asimov
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Mehso-so

What did I just read? To say I‘m puzzled would be an understatement. But I think I have to read Book 2 now? Or have an AI online explain it to me.

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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

I kept thinking about classic American film as I read this book. By the time the Count watches films from the golden age of Hollywood himself, I had already painted this as a black and white talkie in my own head. Towles‘ Images are woven together to tell a wonderful little story. This novel won‘t change your life, but it will help you enjoy some of its nuances and details.

SamAnne Really great and spot on review. 10mo
20 likes1 comment
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LeftyDv
Beloved | Toni Morrison
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“This is not a story to pass on.” Yet that is exactly what Morrison does… sharing a narrative about the horrors of slavery and how history has tried to move on without ever coming to terms with its grotesque awfulness. This beautifully written book is essential American Literature and the story must be passed on.

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LeftyDv
Bless Me, Ultima | Rudolfo Anaya
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Mehso-so

What a strange tale of faith and discovery. Anaya paints beautiful pictures with his words and some of the interactions between his characters read as if I‘m watching children on a playground. Yet, I‘m not quite sure what readers find so appealing about this book. A strange path to goodness, indeed.

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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

One of the discussion questions at the end of this short biography of Jack Robinson meant for kids much younger than me is “Would he stand for the national anthem at sporting events.” I think readers will have evidence from both sides while arguing their points. This bio doesn‘t shy away from anything and shows the complexity of the Civil Rights Movement through Robinson‘s own difficult journey.

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LeftyDv
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A light-hearted way to finish up Spring Break. Dahl has a real problem ending books… but the vivid picture he paints of friendship, teamwork and acknowledging one another‘s worth could benefit adults today as well as children.

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LeftyDv
Jurassic Park | Michael Crichton
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I read this book back in high school and reread it as part of our local book store‘s Books to Movie series. It‘s still a page-turner. Parts read as if they are current events of today. I love the science behind the story. Yet I can‘t help but think that Steven Spielberg improved on the elements with his film.

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LeftyDv
Daisy Jones & The Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Brilliant. This book is full of characters you want to love as a reader who are unsure why you love them and why they love each other. As a music enthusiast, it has me reaffirming my belief that songs are never just songs. I laughed. I cried. And when I finished, I stood and applauded, much to the chagrin of my dog. So thankful that a student recommended this to me.

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LeftyDv
Me | Elton John
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Mehso-so

Music biographies are usually nice sequels to liner notes, telling the story of the time and music. You don‘t get that feeling reading this book and that was a disappointment. There are plenty of other tales of debauchery and drugs that allowed this reader to get a sense of what celebrity can do to a person. Frankly, I‘m happy to be a nobody and we‘re all lucky to have lived at the same time as Sir Elton.

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LeftyDv
The Road | Cormac McCarthy
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So. Very. Bleak. I think McCarthy killed some of my optimism. A tale of love and hope filled with sadness and consumed by it. “You forget what you want to remember and remember what you want to forget.”

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LeftyDv
Pet Sematary | Stephen King
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A slow burn until it reaches its climax, Pet Sematary is a chilling take on the human condition in regards to death, sadness, and it‘s desire to cheat both. Like my prior King reads, the horror story isn‘t nearly as frightening as the prospect of our own human minds.

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LeftyDv
Matilda / Matilda | Roald Dahl
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Saw the theater presentation on Friday and chose to check out the source material on our snow day. Obviously, this children‘s book was a delightful one-day read that made me giggle. It abruptly ends, but it is a children‘s book after all. I found the vocabulary to be wonderful. Dahl clearly thought highly of children and their ability to develop a strong language register. Shout out to my nephew for loaning me the book!

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LeftyDv
Testimony | Robbie Robertson
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Mehso-so

I‘ve never been a big fan of The Band, but I‘m more appreciative of them now after reading this memoir. Something tells me this narrative is incomplete and I‘ll need to read Levon Helm‘s book for a more rounded history. Protecting the legacy of The Band is clearly on Robertson‘s brain, but it comes without a lot of reflection on his contributions to their demise, including their recreational drug usage.

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LeftyDv
The Shining | Stephen King
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I‘ve locked doors and slept with lights on this past week as I made it through this terrifying tale. Like Danny in the story, I could not make my mind shut off as I pondered the family‘s fate through the work week. There will be more King on my horizon… but I need to read something a bit more mellow next.

noseinabookagain I always balance out King with more lighthearted reads in between as well! I‘d recommend Misery or Pet Semetary next, both terrifying 1y
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LeftyDv
Broken Horses: A Memoir | Brandi Carlile
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When I get a new Brandi Carlile record, I listen to it on repeat and let her lyrics and music consume me. The book did this over the course of today. I‘m biased, but this memoir was incredible… living in a compound with your friends and bandmates almost seems normal now.

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LeftyDv
Winter's Tale | Mark Helprin
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Mehso-so

All sides of New York - the good, bad and magical - are on display in this beautiful, lyrical narrative. Consumed by the setting and characters as I was, I‘m still not sure what the point is. Perhaps that‘s the justice we‘re meant to find.

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LeftyDv
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Mehso-so

A tough book to read and an even tougher book to discuss, Wiencek challenges his readers to consider Jefferson as a “totem” that guards American memory on the issue of slavery. A damning portrait of America‘s greatest hypocrite.

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LeftyDv
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Panpan

With the exception of a few lines, this was a total bore. It‘s about two men (who I never cared about) discussing events and experiences (that I had no reason to care about) on a journey (of which I didn‘t care about) riding a motorcycle (that doesn‘t make it) around South America. My local bookstore‘s Books to Movie event led me astray for the first time.

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LeftyDv
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Mehso-so

I finished! Yes I‘m bragging, for I do not have the humility of Jean Valjean. It truly is an incredible story of liberty, love, and what we go through to have both. I‘m better for reading it… but I can‘t recommend it unless you want to immerse yourself in this study. Time to watch the movie.

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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

“How can anyone listen to that stuff?” A poignant question that is answered by this book. As a music lover, I appreciate sticking to genres, even in this era of genre-fluidity. What a terrific explanation for why we listen, what we‘re listening for, and why we argue about what we love. Im really glad this will be on my shelf so that I can reference it often.

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LeftyDv
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A tolerant grandmother, a coach/player relationship that is positive mentorship, the trials and tribulations of friendship, and a boy awakening to the inequities and cruelties of the real world in regards to race and economics. Yeah, exactly the kind of book that should be banned. Why build empathy in our young people? Please read this book and share it. Don‘t let the firemen win.

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LeftyDv
Life of Pi | Yann Martel
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Mehso-so

Sometimes I felt like I was reading Castaway without a volleyball. So I‘m really not sure what to think. Maybe that‘s the point?