Sebastian Stoker

A Book for Stans, and Nothing More

Évalué le: 2024-08-19

This is just a fan book, a puff piece, a PR job. I couldn’t finish listening. So boring. Madonna is such a complex character, one of the three American super-famous narcissists who rose to fame and power at the end of the 20th century (Donald Trump and Oprah are the other two) so it is quite absurd that anyone would write something that ignores Madge’s Shakespearean flaws, and desperately tries to paint her as an unimpeachable heroine. And to be clear, I like Madonna very much, but I find her so interesting because she is talented and ambitious, while also striving for something meaningful, AND also megalomaniacal. Why, for example, would anyone write a bio of Ernest Hemingway and try to portray him as a great writer and just a good dude??? Madonna IS a feminist icon of the post-modern era, arguably THE feminist icon. So why not present her as the amazingly, sometimes troublingly, conflicted character she is?

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The Remarkable Nancy Cunard Story Beautifully Told

Évalué le: 2023-06-04

I first read Anne Chisholm's great biography of Nancy Cunard when I was in university, and have reread it several times. I've also read two other de
Courcy books: The Last Season, and Chanel's Riviera. So I expected a great deal from Magnificent Rebel, and was not disappointed. Yet another book I will own in duplicate -- in audiobook form and in hardcopy. Captivating.

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Hey, It's David Sedaris. Enough Said?

Évalué le: 2022-03-05

David Sedaris AND Tracy Ullman as readers is almost too much of a good thing. ; )

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This Is a Fantastic Collection, a Great Read

Évalué le: 2021-12-03

Michael Wolff wrote what I think is the best 2021 book about the end of the Trump presidency, Landslide. And after listening to that one I wondered how Too Famous would rate. It does not disappoint.
Too Famous is a collection of pieces Wolff has written over the last 20 plus years. The subjects are more relevant than when first interviewed or covered, the observations often eerily prophetic, remarks and notes typically savage and hilarious.
Before purchasing I read the reviews here, which were pretty negative, typically saying the subjects were not relevant and the ground covered over-trodden, and I suspect that one reason is the ppl writing them are relatively young, and consider influencers and Bravo stars notable, with no idea what real ppl of consequence are. If you are over 50, or younger and more sophisticated and aware than average, you'll find Too Famous a fun and informative ride.

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1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Amazing. I cried at the end.

Évalué le: 2021-09-21

One of a handful of books I've stumbled upon that were amazingly revelatory and touching. I always feel lucky for discovering them.
Starting from the beginning.

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A Must Read

Évalué le: 2021-09-08

Terrifyingly hilarious or hilariously terrifying?
This is the third of the big books about the Trump presidency released this summer, and is certainly the best, laying out the arguments that Trump was too much of a buffoon to be the threat some feared and too unhinged as to be rendered non-deadly as others would like to think.

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Wow!

Évalué le: 2021-08-29

I read Mary Trump's last book, and when I heard about this one, I was a bit dubious, wondering if she was getting out of her depth. Turns out, far from it. This is incredible, and, BTW, a great pairing with 1491.

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5 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

What can you say about Debbie Harry? PHENOMENAL!

Évalué le: 2021-03-16

What a blast. I came of age listening to Blondie, and saw Videodrome in a theater when it was first released, so I can't pretend not to be biased, my youth so tied to Harry's artistic performances, but I'm pretty confident even someone who somehow never heard of Harry and Blondie would find this story a wild ride. Harry, even for a celebrity often at the center of things, still had a Gumpian knack throughout her life of crossing paths with people of note, and wading through trends-to-be. She was/is a one-woman happening. If you can listen to this tale, told by DH with that remarkable voice of hers, and not find yourself thinking "Holy cow!" and desperate to hear what next, you have no curiosity whatsoever.

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2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

As entertaining as it is informative

Évalué le: 2020-11-29

This is the second Rick Wilson book I've gotten on Audible, and this is the perfect medium for Wilson. He is a superb commentor and story teller, and his readings remind me of performance artist Spalding Gray, and longform comedians like Mike Birbiglia. Wilson doesn't sound like he's reading so much as telling you a long enthralling tale late evening in a smokey bar on a cold winter's night. I bought "Everything Trump Touches Dies" at the beginning of the summer, and have listened to it several times. I've just finished my first listen of Running, and am just about to start over. Oh, and being able to compare some of Wilson's analysis and predictions with the actual outcomes: BONUS!

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