Anders

an electrifying treasury of queer joy

Reviewed: 07-28-24

Sometimes you want to snuggle up with a great book, and sometimes you want to make out with it and swoon for a week. This stunner provides both options in spades. It’s that rare gem: hilarious, vulnerable, big-hearted, and actually sexy. Kennedy explores and carefully documents so many varieties of intimacy, from small talk to mutual obsession. Ada and her loved ones flit between groundedness and the wild urgency of being 20-something and in love with so much. Ada is mesmerizing throughout, but never so much as when we witness her paradigms shift in real time as she finds her center. I listened to the audiobook, and was especially into the quick-change accent-artistry. I know I’ll return to this story and its vivid particulars often, for comfort and for comedy.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A wild ride with an amazing ending

Reviewed: 10-30-23

Loved this, especially the last few chapters where so much is revealed to hilarious and genuinely moving effect. A glorious and frenetic journey.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Moving, hilarious, extremely worth your time

Reviewed: 09-08-23

So glad to have had the audio experience of this book! I’ve loved Maria’s comedy and wisdom for 20 years, and I’m a huge fan of Lady Dynamite, so no surprise that I really enjoyed this as well. It’s a generous, candid, bonkers exploration of the things that shape us: family, creative purpose, love, work, health, and humor (other stuff too, but this text box is getting full). Familiarity with her previous work isn’t required— I wish I’d had this book when I was starting to understand the role of mental health in art.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Brilliant, funny, thoughtful, comforting

Reviewed: 05-25-22

I didn’t think I could enjoy a book more than Batuman’s debut, The Idiot— I’m glad to report that Either/Or is even more of a pleasure, start to finish, because so many questions introduced in the former are explored and answered here. I don’t think her books need to be read in order, and they can all stand alone. This book adds an element missing from the first— Selin’s romantic and physical desires manifest in reality and play a major role, to often hilarious effect, but never to the detriment of her creative and scholarly pursuits. Her world expands to include more memorable characters, but familiar storylines continue— Svetlana and Ivan both return in different and welcome ways. Batuman’s voice and comic timing are the perfect way to experience her writing— go with the audio if you’re unsure whether to read or to listen. Those looking forward to Selin’s return will be thrilled with the way her journey continues to play out. I didn’t want it to end— am hoping that Selin’s story covers a lifetime— her voice, and Batuman’s, are so distinct and vital.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Narrator is a bad fit

Reviewed: 04-03-22

I was excited to listen to this, but had to stop after a few minutes because the performance of the narrator is incongruous with the content. Frangione’s voice and tone are likely a good fit for other projects, but nothing about his delivery syncs up with writing advice, zen, creative contemplation, or nerd stuff. He sounds like a stodgy, deeply disappointed dad who’s locked inside a teachable moment. Probably better to just read the book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Regressive, sexist victim-blaming

Reviewed: 09-10-21

This book presents a scenario where a woman with clear boundaries is being very blatantly propositioned and harassed by an older co-worker. The book implores those in her situation to figure out what about their own behavior is inviting this criminal behavior, and to apologize for it to the man while continuing to work with him. Almost no accountability is assigned to the harasser by the author, and the scenario presents zero repercussions for his behavior by the organization. The chapters preceding that one were benign, but I stopped reading after the above. The book isn’t even that old! It explains a lot about why it took so long for Time’s Up to surface and shift a few paradigms. It sickened me that a book purporting to help people through difficult conversations would be so brazenly dismissive of the abuse of women in the workplace.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Best audiobook version of Middlemarch

Reviewed: 09-08-21

A real pleasure to listen from beginning to end. Excellent recording, very true to the sensibility and warmth of the text.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful