Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
REPollock

REPollock

Joined May 2017

author, milliner, blogger at La Bricoleuse, theatre-maker, demimondaine. Mx.
reading now icon
Smart Sex by Dr Emily Morse
reading now icon
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones, The New York Times Company
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

An interesting look at the concept of mental illness in history and culture, and the implications of stigma on wellbeing.

Crazeedi ❤️ your posies! I can't wait to see mine 2d
REPollock @Crazeedi they‘ve never bloomed before! I‘m thrilled that they‘re purple! 2d
Crazeedi @REPollock 🌸🌸 2d
16 likes3 comments
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

A fantastic must-read for any American concerned about the rise of Christian nationalism and the conflation of Christian faith with political ideology.

17 likes1 stack add
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

Unquestionably the best book of the year so far. Highly recommended for literally everyone who uses computers or has a smartphone, and especially women interested in the lost histories of women innovators.

review
REPollock
Butts: A Backstory | Heather Radke
post image
Pickpick

Surprisingly scholarly yet readable, not a novelty book or a joke but still with moments of humor. Recommend to fashion history enthusiasts and those with an interest in the subject of social cultivation of body dysmorphia and beauty “standards.”

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

A fun trio of connected short stories about the Book People, a coven of libromancers that also appeared in this author‘s “The Withrow Chronicles” books.

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

This is a fascinating piece of ethnographic history. I‘m glad I listened to the audiobook because I get why it is important to write an oral history in the dialect as spoken but I think it would have been difficult to understand. Hearing it was clearer I think.

CW: lots of violence, brutality, murder, and tragedy.

review
REPollock
Weather: A novel | Jenny Offill
post image
Mehso-so

This is the strangest book I‘ve read in years.

review
REPollock
post image
Mehso-so

An excellent book for adolescents, young adults, and parents who want to shield their children from the effects of diet culture and the body-image obsessions perpetuated by Hollywood and advertising.

review
REPollock
Once There Were Wolves | Charlotte McConaghy
post image
Mehso-so

I loved this book until it began to strain credulity too far. I‘ll probably try another book by this author in the hopes that she reins in the tendency to jump all the sharks, because the conservationist thriller is a genre hybrid I‘m interested in.

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

If you are a woman, this book will confirm that you are not delusional in your perception of the world being phallocentric.

review
REPollock
Yellowface | R F Kuang
post image
Mehso-so

I read this because it was a #litsylovereads pick, and because I have a morbid interest in writing hoaxers who adopt and fetishize marginalized identities—think JTLeroy or Nasdijj. But it ultimately adds up to a depressing mental illness and this book portrays it well. It‘s just a difficult psychological space to be in for a first person perspective.

review
REPollock
post image
Bailedbailed

This is a brilliant encapsulation of a specific early-1990s community and if I had read it even ten years ago I would have been all in for the whole ride. Now it makes me sad that a community I was so deeply involved in is revealed to be so vapid and self absorbed.

review
REPollock
post image
Bailedbailed

Abandoning—I would have loved this in my 20s. Now, I prefer the author‘s 4000 Weeks.

review
REPollock
Educated: A Memoir | Tara Westover
post image
Bailedbailed

Bailing at 56%. This is the type of memoir that is composed of one traumatic incident after another, relentlessly. I commend this author for surviving her shocking childhood and mentally ill, abusive family. I do not however have the voyeur‘s desire to rubberneck at the details.

review
REPollock
Hello Beautiful | Ann Napolitano
post image
Pickpick

A good book with an interesting structure. Looking forward to discussing it next month here!

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

So engrossing. This read like an adventure novel but is actual history and the author cites his sources, even including an appendix of the pseudonymous articles published in abolitionist papers. Highly recommend.

Tamra Ahhhhh flowers always make me long for warmer seasons. 2mo
REPollock @Tamra me too! A local florist offered a biweekly flower bouquet delivery during the pandemic shutdown and i kept it because they‘re so good for my mental health. I just feel happier. 2mo
Tamra That was smart! 😃 2mo
25 likes3 comments
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

This is so thought provoking and inspiring! Highly recommend to all humans.

21 likes1 stack add
review
REPollock
post image
Bailedbailed

Probably a great book for Gen Z readers. I‘m middle aged tho.

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

This book is full of fascinating information about memory and makes me unafraid to get old, even if I experience memory loss or even Alzheimer‘s.

Crazeedi I have this on my tbr, she wrote another book on Alzheimer's, excellent 2mo
Crazeedi So good, as my sister passed at 60 from early onset and lewy body dementia 2mo
REPollock @Crazeedi she mentioned that book in this one! I will have to add it to my list. Condolences on the passing of your sister. 🙏 2mo
Crazeedi @REPollock thanks🫢 2mo
21 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
REPollock
post image
Mehso-so

I have collectors' appraisal books of vintage hats and antique accessories (shoes, fans, etc) that are similar to this book, which seems to be basically an overview of a personal collection including price values--a valuable resource, but of most use to those who collect these textiles or are looking to appraise/sell a collection thereof.

review
REPollock
Never Say You Can't Survive | Charlie Jane Anders
post image
Mehso-so

I expected more about writing as a coping strategy and it‘s largely very basic writing advice

Bklover Ooh, what are you making? 2mo
REPollock @Bklover I found a stack of Dresden Plate patchwork motifs among my deceased aunt‘s sewing and I‘m turning them into a quilt! 2mo
15 likes2 comments
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

This title accompanied and exhibit of the same name which ran at the Museum of Texas Tech University in 2019.

Filled with full color photos as well as an appendix of the TTU feed sack swatch collection and an excellent bibliography.

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

If you only read one book on feed sacks and their place in the history of American fashion, sustainability, the garment trade vs. domestic sewing, etc., this should be that book.

The volume is printed with full color photography throughout with hundreds of prints, labels/logos, and historical illustrations/photography from periodicals and flyers about reuse of the sacks in various applications. Highly recommend!

24 likes1 stack add
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

The pacing in this novel is odd and sometimes plodding. The concept and plot are engaging enough that I still read it avidly.

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

As an educator who must work with a campus bookstore for course texts, it's exciting that FanPowered Press, an imprint of C&T Publishing, is bringing out such high-quality titles from cosplayers through a traditional publishing avenue! At 240 pages, this is no thin pamphlet either--it's almost exhaustively thorough! Highly recommend.

14 likes1 stack add
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

A fascinating life of an extraordinary man who clearly loves birds, nature, and storytelling. Glad I listened to the audiobook for the wealth of birdsong punctuating sections.

review
REPollock
post image
Bailedbailed

The information in this is interesting but her devotion to the concept/structure hinders the analyses and messages.

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

A fascinating reframe of the American mythos and the Western concept of success, genius, and “self-made” greatness.

18 likes1 stack add
review
REPollock
The Future | Naomi Alderman
post image
Pickpick

This was so good. I need time to process it before I can write anything more coherent than Omggggggg

review
REPollock
post image
Panpan

I kept hoping that the aspects of this that bothered me would be addressed or resolved or it would be clear why the author made the choices she did. But, no. Continually underwhelming.

review
REPollock
The Art of Memoir | Mary Karr
post image
Pickpick

A good craft manual on a genre I generally eschew.

review
REPollock
The Survivalists | Kashana Cauley
post image
Bailedbailed

I bailed. The narrator got to be a broken record of uninteresting negativity.

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

Honestly this probably would have been 5* if I‘d read the book instead of listening to the audiobook. Ironically I found the narrator (who is not the author) unlikeable.

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

Foam-stadium-finger thumbs-up for this title! I'm thrilled it's out in plenty of time to adopt it as the new required text for my next dye class (Spring 2025).

review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

This book makes me unafraid to die. I mean, not that I'm terminally ill or anything, beyond that every living thing will die at some point. Such a good, fascinating, compassion-filled book.

ETA: The author is a hospice nurse & she does talk about people with religious beliefs but this is not a proselytizing book & some of the people she profiles are atheists and agnostics.

20 likes2 stack adds
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

Basically entertaining fluff of the mystery/sleuth variety but with queer characters and none of the icky vibes of hard boiled noir of the 60s/70s. Recommend if that sounds interesting.

[pic: chili weather here]

blurb
REPollock
post image

Back to back StoryGraph giveaways! This month, it‘s my parasol textbook! Enter here:

https://app.thestorygraph.com/giveaways/63bf4818-8b6c-4f23-92de-e769c1559b62

blurb
REPollock
A History of the Theatre Costume Business: Creators of Character | Rachel E. Pollock, Triffin I. Morris, Gregory DL Morris
post image

My StoryGraph book giveaway ends tomorrow! If you‘re on there, enter to win and also find me as username labricoleuse

https://app.thestorygraph.com/giveaways/57ad17fb-6ab9-4efb-9233-ecc9b9f44379

review
REPollock
post image
Mehso-so

I don‘t regret the time I spent reading this book, but it was not what I expected—far more navel-gazing memoir than I anticipated. I assume the glowing recommendations I received were from people who adore memoir—I do not. I skimmed the last 20% because I realized it wasn‘t transforming into anything different than it had been all along.

Karkar I just am trying to read this review and all I can think of is how yummy those tacos look. 4mo
Tamra Tacossssssss 😋 4mo
REPollock @Karkar @Tamra they were amazing tacos—carnitas with street-corn-queso dip on top. 4mo
20 likes3 comments
review
REPollock
Demon Copperhead: A Novel | Barbara Kingsolver
post image
Bailedbailed

I just couldn‘t believe the narrative voice. It felt contrived and borderline hillbilly-fetishized, like a JT Leroy novel or AU Dickens fanfic.

Tamra I wasn‘t a fan either. 4mo
18 likes1 comment
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

What a great little book. I‘m a fan of both these artists and this exploration of what their lives and careers had in common is fascinating and illuminating. Recommend if you are also a fan of both.

review
REPollock
Searcher | Tana French
post image
Pickpick

A solid Tana French. I‘ve read all the Dublin Murder Squad books and it seems like this might be a one off or the start of a new series.

julesG Another cute frog! 5mo
REPollock @julesG we live next to a stream that runs into a pond so we have so many frogs! 5mo
12 likes2 comments
review
REPollock
post image
Bailedbailed

I have worked in professional theatre my whole adult life, and as soon as it became clear that this was A Secret History with Shakespeare quoting drama teens, I could not spend more time there. It is too much like work.

[Image: restored antique parasol by my graduate student Jillian Gregory]

julesG Agree with you on the book. I bailed for similar reasons. Gorgeous umbrella. 😍😍 5mo
14 likes1 comment
review
REPollock
Matrix | Lauren Groff
post image
Bailedbailed

A hard slog I don‘t have the spoons for right now and other people are waiting for it at the library.

Image: parasols my students restored.

julesG Love the "spoons" reference. ? Also love the umbrellas. 5mo
15 likes1 comment
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

This was fascinating and engaging and as revelatory as I‘d heard from the people who recommended it. Required reading for everyone in education, public policy, and really maybe everyone, period.

CatLass007 Did you make the quilt? It‘s gorgeous. 5mo
REPollock @CatLass007 it was among the unfinished sewing projects my aunt left behind when she died. I am finishing it! 5mo
CatLass007 I‘m sorry for your loss. She was obviously very talented. I think it‘s wonderful that you are finishing the project she wasn‘t able to finish. A labor of love. 5mo
16 likes3 comments
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

I had high hopes for this author‘s second novel and it far exceeded them. Complex characters and a twisting plot that repeatedly surprises. Cannot recommend enough. 👍👍

blurb
REPollock
A History of the Theatre Costume Business: Creators of Character | Rachel E. Pollock, Triffin I. Morris, Gregory DL Morris
post image

Excited to beta-test the giveaways on StotyGraph with our book!

https://app.thestorygraph.com/giveaways/57ad17fb-6ab9-4efb-9233-ecc9b9f44379

review
REPollock
The Plot | Jean Hanff Korelitz
post image
Bailedbailed

Bailing on this. It started out promising and actually hilarious but spiraled into a neurotic narcissist destroying his life with his own paranoia. Not interested. Perhaps someone who loves Woody Allen films would enjoy it.

Image is what AI generated as my author photo based on my social media bio and blog name.

Anna40 I agree. Started out great and then was a bit meh … 5mo
REPollock @Anna40 I actually got mad for a minute, because I loved it at the beginning, probably because I attended a low-residency creative writing MFA and it was such a good parody of those programs. 5mo
15 likes2 comments
blurb
REPollock
A History of the Theatre Costume Business: Creators of Character | Rachel E. Pollock, Triffin I. Morris, Gregory DL Morris
post image

Disclosure: I‘m one of the authors of this book.

I‘m asking a favor if you use the Libby app to read library books—see if this title is available from your library and if not, whether you can tag it “Notify Me.” And if so, please do so!

The ebook is available and we‘d like to make it accessible to library patrons in libraries around the world!

Thank you!

Deblovestoread Done 😊 5mo
REPollock @Deblovestoread thank you! 🙏 5mo
BarbaraJean It‘s not available, but I found it and tagged it as Notify Me! 😊 5mo
See All 8 Comments
REPollock Thank you @BarbaraJean ! 🙏 5mo
RamsFan1963 It was not available, but I tagged it to Notify Me. 5mo
REPollock @RamsFan1963 thank you! 🙏 5mo
MatchlessMarie I tagged it as well. 5mo
16 likes8 comments
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

Fascinating! I listened to the audiobook through my library but I bought the print edition because it includes some journaling prompts I‘d like to work on later. But people are waiting for the audiobook so I‘m returning it so they can check it out!

Lauredhel Love this quilt! 5mo
Deblovestoread I love a block sampler quilt! 5mo
REPollock @Deblovestoread @Lauredhel these blocks were stacked in my aunt‘s sewing room when she died years ago. I‘m finally finishing the quilt! 5mo
Lauredhel @REPollock amazing. 5mo
13 likes4 comments