So. I love Robert Jackson Bennett. His Divine Cities trilogy is probably my favorite fantasy series of all time; they are so good that I went and bougSo. I love Robert Jackson Bennett. His Divine Cities trilogy is probably my favorite fantasy series of all time; they are so good that I went and bought all of his other books as soon as I was done with those. And they are really amazing. But this novella just freaked the fuck out of me. In a good way? I read the synopsis, and I thought, “Jeez, Mr. Bennett, couldn’t you have stuck to fiction?”. He's clearly very angry at American gun culture, the media that takes fear-mongering to another level, the predatory way advertisers use social media, and the vapid devotion of the public to reality tv. This novella is how he patched those things together.
In an imaginary America, 30 or 40 years from now, marketers have found a way to monetize on mass shootings, by turning them into reality TV. This means that people who want to commit mass shootings can apply to be contestants on this show, which scouts out the optimal location to get as much viewership and interest as possible. Survivors will get money rewards, as will anyone who can actually take down the hostile shooters. But this particular episode of "Vigilance" goes awry in a horrifying way.
I’m Canadian: we have a lot of guns up here too, but we don’t do the mass shooting thing very often. It happens, sure, but not on a regular basis. My husband is American: we go see his family a few times a year, and I’d be lying if I said that I don’t feel a certain pressure lifting off of my shoulders when we cross the border back into the land of maple syrup.
I was sadly not surprised to see a few people found this novella heavy-handed and to be the work of a city slicker who doesn’t understand gun ownership. I am of the opinion that you don’t need to “understand gun ownership” (whatever that means) to grasp the idea that there are too many mass shootings taking place in the United States, and that sensationalism is what drives the media. How hard is it to imagine a marketer with zero moral barometer would simply choose to cash out on that?
A punch-to-the-gut novella by a very talented writer. It brought “The Sheep Look Up” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) to my mind, as it is as relevant and prescient as Brunner’s book. It is well-written, without frills (the topic doesn't really call for frills), and yes, it's a bit didactic, but it's an interesting portrait of what could happen...
Robert: I want to hug you and make you a cup of tea. You sound like you need a hug and a cup of tea. We all do.
Merged review:
So. I love Robert Jackson Bennett. His Divine Cities trilogy is probably my favorite fantasy series of all time; they are so good that I went and bought all of his other books as soon as I was done with those. And they are really amazing. But this novella just freaked the fuck out of me. In a good way? I read the synopsis, and I thought, “Jeez, Mr. Bennett, couldn’t you have stuck to fiction?”. He's clearly very angry at American gun culture, the media that takes fear-mongering to another level, the predatory way advertisers use social media, and the vapid devotion of the public to reality tv. This novella is how he patched those things together.
In an imaginary America, 30 or 40 years from now, marketers have found a way to monetize on mass shootings, by turning them into reality TV. This means that people who want to commit mass shootings can apply to be contestants on this show, which scouts out the optimal location to get as much viewership and interest as possible. Survivors will get money rewards, as will anyone who can actually take down the hostile shooters. But this particular episode of "Vigilance" goes awry in a horrifying way.
I’m Canadian: we have a lot of guns up here too, but we don’t do the mass shooting thing very often. It happens, sure, but not on a regular basis. My husband is American: we go see his family a few times a year, and I’d be lying if I said that I don’t feel a certain pressure lifting off of my shoulders when we cross the border back into the land of maple syrup.
I was sadly not surprised to see a few people found this novella heavy-handed and to be the work of a city slicker who doesn’t understand gun ownership. I am of the opinion that you don’t need to “understand gun ownership” (whatever that means) to grasp the idea that there are too many mass shootings taking place in the United States, and that sensationalism is what drives the media. How hard is it to imagine a marketer with zero moral barometer would simply choose to cash out on that?
A punch-to-the-gut novella by a very talented writer. It brought “The Sheep Look Up” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) to my mind, as it is as relevant and prescient as Brunner’s book. It is well-written, without frills (the topic doesn't really call for frills), and yes, it's a bit didactic, but it's an interesting portrait of what could happen...
Robert: I want to hug you and make you a cup of tea. You sound like you need a hug and a cup of tea. We all do....more
“Books need to be read quite as much as we need to read them.”
This is one of those perfect short stories: one more word, and it would have been too mu“Books need to be read quite as much as we need to read them.”
This is one of those perfect short stories: one more word, and it would have been too much. The pleasure of reading it has to be furtive, a stolen quarter of an hour, hiding the screen of your smartphone from colleagues so they can’t see what you are doing instead of working. If they are the book and library-loving type, they’d forgive you.
I very strongly believe books can save people, can change them, can give them the tools they need to live better lives. A story like “A Witch’s Guide to Escape” encapsulates that idea and brings it to life in a handful of pages, where a very special librarian helps a lonely child find the book he needs the most.
I like to think that books really do have a life of their own, that they enjoy being in our hands just as much as we like to hold them, and sniff them and cry into them. So this lovely, opinionated unnamed narrator had me on her side instantly.
I think missed my calling : I should have been a librarian witch. Few things make me happier than to find a loving home for good books. I love browsing a messy used bookstore, find a weird thing and think to myself: “Oh, Jason/Erika/Amanda would love this!” and taking it home, as if I was sneaking a priceless treasure in my old tote bag. I push books on my nephews as if they were life-saving tools, which, you know, they are! I can’t be there to read with them, sadly, but I’m counting on those books to keep an eye on the boys for me.
I can’t give a story like this anything less than 5 stars. Ms. Harrow, I hope you get all the awards! I’m going home to sniff my books now…
I knew I would love this book, because few things have made me laugh as hard as Ali Wong’s Netflix specials: she is honest and, somehow, sweet and groI knew I would love this book, because few things have made me laugh as hard as Ali Wong’s Netflix specials: she is honest and, somehow, sweet and gross at the same time, and I found her endearing and relatable, so I got “Dear Girls” on Audible for our traditional Holiday “roadtrip”.
For those who, like me, knew her mostly through her stand up work, this will definitely hit the spot, because her sense of self-deprecating and over-sharing humour is present throughout, but what really impressed me is how much of her heart she clearly put into this book. Written as a collection of letters to her young daughters, Ali meant this as a way for her girls to know her better, and also as a way to give them advice on many aspects of life – should she not be there when they need said advice. Her thoughts on love, career, cultural identity and family are rooted in deep common sense and she opens up on touchy subjects with a nice mix of toughness and vulnerability.
While there is a strong element of autobiography in there, it doesn’t come off as narcissistic or self-involved: she is all too aware of her previous mistakes to sound snobby, she always keeps her family’s welfare in mind when taking career decisions and she knows that the best way to bounce back from fucking up is to learn to laugh about it. This makes “Dear Girls” surprisingly touching and inspiring. While some people may find her lack on inhibition off-putting, I found myself wishing more people were like her: that kind of honesty might sometimes cross the line of polite conversation, but Heaven knows most future moms should hear what she has to say about labor! She also doesn’t shy away from talking about how much hard work goes into both her work and in being a mom. I am in awe of her dedication, and I really wanted to give her a hug when she mentions often feeling that she’s half-assing it by trying to do both at the same time.
The epilogue, written by her husband, is a wonderful conclusion because it really shows how strong a bond they have and how great a team they make. Those two little girls have got nothing to worry about with strong and loving parents like the ones they have....more
The story of “Fox 8” is a sweet fable about animals, their relationship to both humans and nature, and OK, I guess it's "unpopular opinion" o'clock...
The story of “Fox 8” is a sweet fable about animals, their relationship to both humans and nature, and the way their natural habitat is often endangered by human activities. It is meant to make us aware on our entitlement over resources, to awaken our consciousness to the needs of ecosystems that surround us. It is narrated by a little fox, that taught itself to speak “Yuman”, and while I can appreciate the creativity in the use of language, it struck me as gimmicky and I got tired of it really fast.
While the fox’s story is bittersweet and the message poignant, I’m afraid “Fox 8” lacks the subtlety it needed to charm me. Perhaps Holiday-related exhaustion has made me cynical, but reading this little short story felt like a chore, and I was glad to be done with it. I don’t like heavy-handed moralistic tales at the best of times, so imagine how little patience I have for them when I can’t sleep because my mom-in-law stuffed me with food until I almost burst (is my liver next year’s meal?!).
Still, it gets a star for originality. It’s not you, Fox 8, it’s me....more
A lone spaceman lands on Earth. He has been told by those who sent him, and by the AI that’s somehow talking to him all the time, that the planet is nA lone spaceman lands on Earth. He has been told by those who sent him, and by the AI that’s somehow talking to him all the time, that the planet is now a wasteland, destroyed by climate change and by the irresponsible people that forced their kind to leave the planet. But they must come back periodically to gather chemicals required to sustain their new way of life. But nothing this spaceman will find is like what he has been led to expect…
N. K. Jemisin might be a genius. While I have been led to expect cleverness from her, I never saw the curve ball of “Emergency Skin” coming, and I found myself laughing at the joke she played on me and other readers, and at the brilliance of her subversive little sci-fi short story. Also like her other writing, this story makes the readers work: you have to read between the lines, as the text you read is what the AI says, and what the humans say to the spaceman: we never hear his voice, we just see and hear what he sees and hear.
Jemisin uses her incredible skill to deliver a scatting comment on bigotry, and to tell the racists and the sexists that their view of humanity limits them, not the rest of the world. And she does so with simplicity and verve. Highly recommended!...more
So on the one hand, I adore WWII era bombshells/pin up art, and when you use that as an inspiration to re-imagine the kick-ass ladies of DC, I am defiSo on the one hand, I adore WWII era bombshells/pin up art, and when you use that as an inspiration to re-imagine the kick-ass ladies of DC, I am definitely throwing cash in your face and buying the book. But on the other hand, as this series was based on a line of (I kid you not) statuettes that were originally probably more about fan-wanking and inspiring sexy cosplay than about decent storytelling, I have to give you a cautiously skeptical raised eyebrow. But I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to see that this series definitely goes beyond the (admittedly) very cool and sexy art work: this is an alternate history retelling of WWII, where the female superheroes are front and center, punching Nazis and putting the male superheroes in their place.
I always loved the female heroines in the DC Universe, but I also always felt like they were could have had much richer and more original story lines if they were not constantly orbiting the male superheroes - which isn’t always easy considering the canonical continuity their franchises are stuck in. So this standalone series, which essentially ignores all the previous ones, is refreshing, fun and explores the well-known characters with a brand new perspective. A little digging showed that this was actually the aim of the graphic novel series’ creators: to make the female characters not dependent on their male counterparts and really push their own stories and agency.
The first volume of the Bombshells series introduces us to Batwoman, nicknamed thus because of her talent for baseball... and for fighting criminals with her trusted bat, of course. She is recruited by Commander Amanda Waller, who is in charge of a very special army intelligence and tactical unit, dedicated to fighting the Nazis in Europe. In parallel, we see how an American solider crashed on a small Greek island, and piques the interest of an Amazon princess; while in Soviet Russia, two sisters known as the Supergirl and Stargirl realize that their military is using them as a tool for propaganda. A few other well-known DC characters are reintroduced, such as Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Lex Luthor.
The diversity in the story doesn’t feel forced, and while there is some very era-realistic sexism for the Bombshells to deal with, the message here is a truly positive and empowering one. This was a very fun read: the artwork is stunning and the characters are beautifully reinvented. Some details are a bit rushed, hence the 4 stars, but I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!...more
The conclusion of the “Court of Owls” story (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) was just as much silly and occasionally creepy fun as the firstThe conclusion of the “Court of Owls” story (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) was just as much silly and occasionally creepy fun as the first part! I tip my hat at Scott Snyder, who managed to get me invested in a story about Batman himself, as where I usually am much more interested in his unhinged and colourful adversaries.
After discovering the existence of a secret society that has controlled the city of Gotham from the shadows for centuries – and almost getting bested by this society’s formidable assassin – Bruce Wayne is trying to recover from his injuries, but the Court of Owls will not give him time to rest; they unleash all their “preserved” Talons on Wayne Manor. As Bruce and Alfred fight off the attack, the readers are treated to an interesting speculation about the leadership of the Court and their link to the Wayne family. We also get an interesting and moving piece of background on the Pennyworth family, and a Mr. Freeze story to boot!
The artwork is dynamic and bright, the character development surprisingly deep (despite the inherent silliness of some plot elements) and the twists and turns kept me on my toes through the end. I love the dark and twisted places where Snyder takes the Batman universe, the ambiguity he likes to integrate into his stories. I can’t wait to see what he does with my beloved Joker!...more
And old Gotham nursery rhyme tells the story of the Court of Owls, an secret society that has been controlling the city since it’s very beginnings. BrAnd old Gotham nursery rhyme tells the story of the Court of Owls, an secret society that has been controlling the city since it’s very beginnings. Bruce Wayne thinks them an urban legend, until he is attacked by the Talon, the Court’s assassin…
That’s the story in a nutshell, and while I’m not crazy about the Bat, I do love a secret society story! And this one is remarkably weird and creepy! This was Scott Snyder’s first Batman graphic novel, and I confess myself impressed. The story is surprisingly clever, deliciously dark and nuanced (which I find unusual for a Batman comic: the poor guy lives in such a black and white kind of world…), and does a great job of actually fleshing out the Caped Crusader’s character a bit more than usual. The art by Greg Capullo is beautiful (and occasionally kinda scary!), though I admit that I can’t tell one square-jawed guy from the other after a while…
I had a lot of fun reading this one! I guess I need the sequel now…...more
Scott Snyder wrote one dark, fucked up Joker story, and I loved it!
I’m not sure exactly how my Puddin lost his face, as I only read Batman cHoly. Cow.
Scott Snyder wrote one dark, fucked up Joker story, and I loved it!
I’m not sure exactly how my Puddin lost his face, as I only read Batman comics sporadically and out of sequence, but it happened, and he’s been off the grid ever since. But you can’t keep the Joker far from Gotham, and you can’t keep him from trying to drive Batman insane/kill him. In “Death of the Family”, he comes back with a vengeance, as maniacal as ever, but I must say Snyder definitely pushed the envelope and made him into a terrifying monster. He hasn’t lost his signature style of dark whimsy and psychological torture, but there’s an edge to this Joker that makes him downright chilling (the horse!!). And I liked the new outfit – less colorful, but more functional.
My favorite Joker stories are always about the ways he poisons the minds of Batman’s allies, by simply sowing seeds of doubt or mistrust before stepping back and watching it all blossom horribly (like he does with Catwoman in Tom King’s “The Wedding: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), and this is a great example of his evil manipulations, trying to turn the Bat-family against Batman by recreating some of his most famous... "jokes".
I do love the idea of the Joker being deeply convinced he is there to make Batman the best Batman he can be; I always saw them as two perfect opposites, two sides of the same coin (Heath Ledger’s amazing line: “I don’t want to kill you! What would I do without you? You complete me!” captures their relationship perfectly) and Snyder’s Joker plays with this symbiosis beautifully.
I imagine some will think this a sacrilege, but I enjoyed it more than “The Killing Joke” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)... In some ways, it's more burtal, the artwork is incredible (if occasionally disgusting) and creepy, the dialogue is solid - even when it falls into silly Bat-monologues. A truly excellent graphic novel....more
After having a lot of fun with the “Mad Love” novelization (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), I decided to see if “The Killing Joke” was a worthy adaptation of the Alan Moore graphic novel (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). Given my mixed feelings about the original work, I was actually hoping for an improvement… Don’t get me wrong: I know the graphic novel is a big deal, but one of my main gripes with it is that it feels a little rushed. I’ve read it a few times, and I always found myself wishing it was a bigger book, that some key moments of the story were explored a little deeper. And of course, the fate of Barbara Gordon always irks me. I figured a novelization would be a great opportunity to flesh all those things out, to make the story feel more complete. Alas.
I don't know anything about Crista Faust and Gary Phillips' other work, but after this, I am not tempted to look them up. The original Alan Moore story is merely the second half of this novel, the first being a new story line, taking place 4 years before the famous graphic novel's story. This new plot, about Batgirl's investigation on a new drug hitting the streets of Gotham, could have been interesting, but I just found the writing to be so dry and bad that I simply didn't care. The fight scenes are described very technically, and while I understand that Faust and Phillips' specialty is police procedurals, the whole thing read like a report. There was no atmosphere or tension, which could have made this new plot at least a little interesting.
The second half follows Moore's story almost word for word, and ultimately adds very little to the original story - which really feels like a lost opportunity. For instance, in both version, we are simply told what happened to Jeannie, and then the very next thing that happens is that a grieving widower is coerced into omitting a badly-planned heist. While this can be chalked to limitations of the format in a graphic novel, rushing through that in a prose novel simply feels lazy.
But the most unforgivable thing about this book is how little of it actually is about the Joker. If you are going to novelize the most famous stand-alone Joker story of the Batman cannon, the least you can do is keep him front and center! But we barely see him before the halfway mark! And as a Harley Quinn fan, I must say that the depiction of Ms. Quinzel was simply pathetic. The only truly good thing about this book is that it gives us a hint of how Barbara will carry on despite the horrific assault that "disabled" her.
When I get together with my nerdy, graphic novel reading friends, we often get into the ridiculous “which character would you be” conversation. And ifWhen I get together with my nerdy, graphic novel reading friends, we often get into the ridiculous “which character would you be” conversation. And if that conversation is specifically about the Batman universe, I get profoundly embarrassed, because as much as I’d like to be a good feminist and say I’d totally be a bad-ass eco-terrorist like Poison Ivy, or an emancipated burglar like Catwoman, I have always been inexplicably weak in the knees for the Joker… and I know that deep down, I’m definitely a Harley Quinn… And this book does justice to the tragic sidekick/lover/punching bag of my favorite villain ever...
Beware of spoilers (if you aren't familiar with Harley's story, or with the famous "Mad Love" episode or comic)!
Most people know that Harleen Quinzel was once a promising psychiatrist (and gymnast!) who worked at Arkham Asylum and was assigned the Joker's case while he was incarcerated there. In the course of treating him, she fell madly in love with him, helped him break free and joined him in his life of crime and mayhem. But even in the Batman animated series, it becomes obvious rather quickly that this is a one-sided relationship and that the Joker is not only manipulating her, but is often violent towards her. And yet, she remains completely loyal to him - right until she isn't.
I'd always wondered why Harley behaved the way she did. Why would she give her career up, why would she put up with the repeated abuse (and occasional murder attempts), why would she put on that super annoying Brooklyn wise-cracking accent?! Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan - the original creators of the hammer-wielding pocket-psycho, did a perfect job of going far into Harley's past so that readers could finally make some sense of her (and her stupid accent).
And really, if you've ever had mixed feelings about Harley the way I did, this book just might help you resolve them. Her complicated, tragic childhood brings to light many aspects of her personality which will eventually be magnified by her criminal alter ego - it also explains why the Joker was able to tell her exactly what she needed to heard to flip over to the dark side, for lack of a better way of putting it.
While this is not a fancy novel (it's a little rushed around the edges), it's a wonderfully entertaining read that humanizes one of the DC Universe's most cartoonish character and brings her to life as the girl who fell for the wrong guy. That said, as good a cautionary tale as her story might be, I'm still a Joker fangirl through and through....more
I’m not sure I would have gotten into Tom King’s Batman series if it hadn’t been for Joelle Jones’ contribution, but I’m glad I did. While Batman is fI’m not sure I would have gotten into Tom King’s Batman series if it hadn’t been for Joelle Jones’ contribution, but I’m glad I did. While Batman is far from my favorite superhero, King has an interesting way of approaching the character and his stories. I don't think he'll even win me over to the Bat's side (Joker fangirl for life!), but he certainly entertains!
The stories in “Bride or Burglar” are nice pieces of character development that push forward the unavoidably complicated relationship between Batman and Catwoman. He also gives interesting glimpses of fan-favorites Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and the final chapter is a rollicking series of flashbacks intersected with Catwoman “shopping” for the perfect wedding dress – which is meta and cute. As usual, I am partial to Joelle Jones’ artwork (her Wonder Woman is gorgeous!), but the whole book is beautiful.
I’ve been reading this series backwards, due to my lack of patience and the limited availabilities of the books at my local comic book store: maybe I’ll eventually get to tome 1!...more
Yup, another Batman comic. What can I say: since we went to see the "Joker" movie I have gone full Harley Quinn and will happily read anything featuriYup, another Batman comic. What can I say: since we went to see the "Joker" movie I have gone full Harley Quinn and will happily read anything featuring my beloved Clown Prince of Crime.
Tom King served me a war between Joker and the Riddler on a silver platter: who was I to say no? While I have been reading his Batman comics a little sporadically (i.e. all in the wrong order, and originally because they were the prelude to Joelle Jones’s Catwoman series), I have also been enjoying them – as much as I am likely to enjoy Batman stories. In “The War of Jokes and Riddles”, we get exactly what the title implies: the Joker and the Riddler go to war over the right to kill Batman.
Considering they are both violent, insane criminals, things escalate and get bloody fast – something King does not shy away from, which I appreciate (the tendency to gloss over what the bad guys do bothers me, not because I love the gore, but because I find it to be a less honest approach to story-telling). In order to curb the bloodshed, Batman himself intervenes, and invites them to debate the matter over a fancy meal.
A really good, dark comic, with a great new twist on the "knock-knock" joke. ...more
"We were the most free people of the least free country in the world."
How could I resist reading this as soon as I got my copy? 2014 and a half stars.
"We were the most free people of the least free country in the world."
How could I resist reading this as soon as I got my copy? 2019 has been my year of Russian and Soviet books, movies and TV shows: I could not let it come to an end without also reading up on their punk scene!
I was always intrigued by Russian punk, long before Pussy Riot was headlining the news. Punk, both the music and the subculture, were always about a rejection of the status quo, a protest against the establishment, an expression of frustration and alienation. In the “free world”, it can ruffle a lot of feathers, but it doesn’t put the musicians or the community at risk. But what about in countries where there is such a thing as ideological and cultural policing? Not falling in line during the Soviet era could get you incarcerated… if you were lucky. So how do you make punk rock in a country that monitors such things so closely? Alexander Hebert put together an oral history of how that cultural movement not only came to be, in the unlikeliest of places, but carried on through the fall of the Soviet Union, the Cold War and the current – still highly difficult – Russian society.
Pirate radio gave a few frustrated Soviet kids the usual suspects, the Sex Pistols, the Clash and the Ramones. That source material was quickly “Russianized” but the core of the punk ethos seems universal, because the contributors all talk about the same things Western punk do when discussing their beginnings: not wanting to do what everyone else was doing, nor to depend on the support of established venues, feeling alienated from their society and families and looking for an outlet and a way to express those feelings within a supportive community… But they also discuss the difficulties of accessing Western material and sharing it (pre-Internet and pre-perestroika), that lyrics and music had to be submitted to state committees before anything could be recorded, that shows were often interrupted by the police for tenuous reasons and that most gigs had to be advertised exclusively by word of mouth (no flyers!) so as to go on without interference from the authorities.
There are some things in those stories that made me laugh because I found them remarkably (and bizarrely) Russian : there was a charter and a censor for the Leningrad Rock Club (and the guy who ran it had to periodically report to the KGB), the idea of doing this punk thing “just for fun” had to be explained to some participants. But other things made me stop and reflect on how very, very cushy my fellow North American punks and I have had it: here, DIY has basically come to mean that no label signs you, so you put things together yourself from your own income and try to get your music out there with grassroot methods – which is tough, but not exactly dangerous. For a very long time in Russia, you recorded and pirated your music on illegal cassettes because the state-controlled record labels would report you to the KGB and there was a good chance you’d be arrested and maybe jailed! The importance of the anti-fascist movement as part of their punk scene can’t be minimized, as most contributors to this book have stories about friends being murdered by neo-Nazis. And it seems that women are only just now beginning to gain some respect on the scene as more than decorative singers because of the deeply entrenched sexism still present in their society. The punk ethos of independence, subversion and anti-racism means something very powerful in a place like Russia, and reading those testimonies made me feel shamefully spoiled at times.
I have to say that I love, LOVE the Russian punk band names: (as translated by the author) Automatic Satisfiers, Department of Self Eradication, Object of Ridicule. There’s that wonderful dark satire spirit to the lyrics printed in the book as well, which showcases such creativity and energy, which is truly inspiring, especially in light of the context in which the songs were written.
The final chapter, concerning Pussy Riot and their imprisonment was fascinating, because I had no idea that those girls were never actually part of the Russian punk scene before their “concert”, and that there are many mixed feelings among the Russian punk community about them. There seems to be a consensus that what they did was important and significant, but that labelling themselves as the first female Russian punk band is a slight to the women who have been working and making music within that community for over twenty years. The author takes no side in this debate, but tries to give a clear picture of the background behind those events – which were crucial in drawing attention to the current Russian punk scene.
This is a fascinating book: if you are interested in the history of punk rock, in the social impact of the Soviet Union and in the independent music scene, I recommend you look up this great book!
"If you stand for something, spread the word. You have to follow your ideas till the end, whatever happens. This is nothing special."...more
I am not entirely sure who is the target audience for this book… I got myself a copy because the title sounded very promising: I love doing yoga everyI am not entirely sure who is the target audience for this book… I got myself a copy because the title sounded very promising: I love doing yoga every day, but I don’t like yoga classes very much, and really prefer to do my practice in the comfort of my own living room – so a home practice companion seemed like a great addition to my library.
The first section summarizes the history of yoga (or more specifically, how it came to be taught in the Western world), offers concise and clear definitions and explanations of the founding principles of yogic practice, commentaries and clarifications on a few key passages of the yoga sutras and the physiological effects of asana yoga practice. They strongly make the point that the mastery of the body through asana practice is merely a step in the process of harmonization of body, mind and spirit that is yogic practice. The section about breathing techniques and relaxation is great, and the chapter about the yogic diet is informative, and contains a helpful guide for people who would like to transition to a meat-free diet progressively.
The book is beautifully laid out, and very visually appealing, like all yoga books published by DK Publishing. The photos are often complimented by drawings showing the physical effects of the practice, to give a clear understanding of how joints and muscles work while practicing certain poses.
But I have to say that the introduction to the section on asanas puzzled me a bit: it mentions that the 12 "classic" postures illustrated in the book should be performed in the order they are described in... which I am not sure I agree with. For instance, the first asana they describe is the headstand, and while they provide the preparatory exercises for beginners, it's still a very advanced pose - and even their so-called beginners variations require extensive practice of other asanas before they can be achieved safely. That said, the progressive steps they give for each asana are also very useful to get comfortable and confident before moving on to a more advanced variation. I just don’t think the order in which they are given makes much sense. I’d recommend using another guide as a complement (Grounded Panda’s guide is great (https://shop.groundedpanda.com/), as is “Hatha Yoga Illustrated” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...).
While this book tries to encompass as much information about the yogi lifestyle as possible, I think that it only does so superficially. It scratches the surface of meditation practices, and talks a little about the sutras, the philosophy and diet, but it isn’t as all-encompassing as it tries to be.
Which is why I can’t quite figure out who this book is for: it’s not for beginners, as some of the asanas are really advanced, but it’s not for more advanced practitioners either, who I assume would already know a lot of the information provided. Perhaps this book would be most useful in the hands of people who already practice yoga and want to take their practice to another level: it will not give them all the information they need, but it would be a great inspiration and launching pad towards other books and resources that would help them progress....more
Since I got back into the habit of a daily yoga practice, I started digging up books on the topic – because that’s what I do. My dad enthusiastically Since I got back into the habit of a daily yoga practice, I started digging up books on the topic – because that’s what I do. My dad enthusiastically recommended this one as an absolute classic that anyone with a serious interest in yoga should have on their shelf. While I usually take his book recommendations with several grains of salt, he is definitely a subject matter expert here, so I fully trusted his opinion on “Light On Yoga”.
The first 30 or so pages are especially crucial: it’s where Iyengar discusses the many branches of yogic philosophy, how it applies to living, practicing and studying. The practice of asanas is only one branch of the philosophy and spiritual practice of yoga, and Iyengar obviously considers that a yogi who practices asanas but neglects the other aspects only has a fragmentary understanding of yoga. This text is fascinating, but also generously peppered with Sanskrit terms, and to be honest, that makes it occasionally confusing. I get why the section was not edited to be too simplified, but I can also see how that would make it a bit intimidating for newbies.
The bulk of the book is an extremely detailed section on asanas, with many photos of Iyengar himself demonstrating the poses and their different stages. He goes through step-by-step instructions on how to get into the pose, explains the Sanskrit name for it and describes the effect the pose will have on the body. Most modern illustrated yoga guides tend to classify the asanas by type (standing, sitting, back bends, inversions, etc.), but here, they are more or less organised by levels of difficulty, getting progressively more advanced and demanding as so go through the book. That being said, the asanas are also not displayed in a learning sequence – those are further along in the book, in the appendix. The section following the asanas is a list of breathing guidelines and techniques, and a discussion on chakras.
While I can absolutely see how great this book is as a reference, I must say that I found it rather impractical. For example, the appendix containing Iyengar’s asana practice plans is essentially a list of asanas (either grouped by weeks of practice or by an affliction the practitioner would like to address), referred to by their Sanskrit names and with the photo number next to it. There isn’t even the page number at which you can find the poses in there! This is a rather frustrating layout. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by other books, which have more visual layouts, but I’m afraid I found this one rather hard to work with.
As a foundational text of the modern practice of yoga, anyone with a serious interest should definitely have this on their shelf. It is not always breezy, nor is it really the right practical book with which to learn yoga, but it is incredibly informative....more
Ageing is funny. I just turned 35, which is not old, and if anything, I am very happy to be getting older. I’m so much happier, healthier and smarter Ageing is funny. I just turned 35, which is not old, and if anything, I am very happy to be getting older. I’m so much happier, healthier and smarter now than I was through my twenties. But my body is clearly not as young as it once was! I fall asleep at 10pm on Friday nights, I can’t have more than 3 drinks on a night out, and thanks to a recent chronic anemia diagnosis, I have to watch what I eat with manic attention. I have also noticed that, as years pass, the things I used to roll my eyes at my dad for are making their way back into my life: veggie burgers, spirulina and yoga! The punk rock apple did not fall that far from the hippie tree, after all! Groan.
I’ve mentioned before that my dad has been a yoga teacher for many years: when I was a kid, I used to do some yoga with him, but family drama and puberty happened, and I stopped. After a recent little health scare (everything is fine), I decided to have some humble “fine, fine, dad was right about that” pie, and slowly got back into it by working it into my workout routine. I used dad’s old copy of “Richard Hittleman’s Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and that went rather well; it was enjoyable, and helped me built a daily yoga habit, so I decided to keep going.
“Hatha Yoga Illustrated” is almost a bible for a few serious practitioners I know (including my famous ex-roommate, the lovely Yoga Bunny), and I found it to be the most comprehensive and accessible book on the subject I have ever flipped through. It’s non-denominational, so well suited for anyone (though there is some adorably quaint New Age philosophy sprinkled gently along the way). The first few chapters contain a brief but informative history of the practice and how it evolved into the uber-trendy exercise practice in the West and description of the various philosophical schools you’re likely to encounter. There’s also useful information about breathing techniques, meditation and mudras.
The bulk of the book, however, is about asanas. Divided by types of position, the book details each step of the asana, or position, illustrated with photographs, accompanied by clear instructions, and a list of important information (including mental and physical benefits, points of focus and contraindications) so that you can do all this safely at home and understand exactly what you are doing. The final section includes a few traditional routines to use the asanas in sequence for relaxation or flexibility. While I would have enjoyed a few more flow options, it’s not really hard to flip through the various asanas, find the ones that address your specific goals (stretching specific regions of the body, relieving fatigue, improving digestion, whatever) and create a customized routine of your own based on the information provided. The index, listing the asanas by English and Sanskrit names, is brilliantly laid out and helpful.
As with every yoga book, I always scratch my head as to why it doesn’t come in a spiral binding: I like to keep the open book on the floor next to my mat so I can use the images as reference, but I have a thing against cracking paperback spines… I’m sure I’m not the only one! But aside from this, I loved this book, and I suspect it will become a go-to resource as I continue to practise yoga at home. Even my husband has been using it! I’d recommend it for anyone interested in learning new asanas, understanding their impact on body and mind, and to anyone looking for a good reference book on Hatha Yoga....more
Warning: this review contains F-bombs. It seemed thematic.
Anti-self help book, huh? Written by someone who is sick and tired of hearing incessant and Warning: this review contains F-bombs. It seemed thematic.
Anti-self help book, huh? Written by someone who is sick and tired of hearing incessant and aggravating platitudes about positive thinking? Fine, I’ll bite. Also, my dad bought me the follow up book for my birthday, and I wanted to do the preliminary reading before tearing into that one.
I have always loathed asinine self-help books, you know the ones that keep telling you to be your best self and that good things will magically come your way… The problem with these books is that when whatever magical formula they are selling you doesn’t work (spoiler alert…), you just feel like an even bigger failure than you did when you shamefully bought the book on Amazon, so that no one would see you checking it out at the book store register. This is obviously not that book. And that got my attention, because I figured it was about time there be a book that told people to just, you know, be themselves, work with what they got and stop caring about the stuff that doesn’t actually matter. The fact that it was a best seller intrigued me: were people actually listening to this? Weird!
Let me summarize the whole thing for you, in case you don’t have the patience (and good fortune to have a lovely colleague who will lend you his copy): we give to many fucks, and we need to learn to be more discriminate about the fucks we give. There is a finite amount of them, and we have to stop being so slutty with our fucks. And yes, that is the tenure of language you can expect if you do decide to read this cover to cover.
Manson argues that we are caught up in the “always striving for more” vicious cycle that creates perpetual dissatisfaction and has serious consequences, such as the strain on our mental health, our consumer habits, our increasingly warped human interactions. And his solution is to stop caring so damn much about things that don’t matter, stop comparing ourselves to everyone on social media and use the so-called negative experiences we go through has building blocks for better experiences. The book takes those ideas and breaks them down into chewable pieces about the subtleties of Manson’s philosophy of “zero fucks given”.
The dose of good old fashioned common sense (which I recently discovered was never meant as “everyone has it” common but rather has “for the good of everyone” common! Chew on that for a bit!), reality check and reminder to not sweat the small stuff is nice – and much needed in many cases. A little dose of sane perspective has never hurt anything else than someone’s ego, after all.
Mark Manson didn’t exactly teach me anything, though bless his heart for trying so damn hard. But I’m glad this book is as popular as it is, because a lot of people do need to hear this. I did notice as I get older that I have gotten extremely selective with the amount of fucks I give, and I do tend to save them up for fewer things, and I can’t deny that it makes life better, and I honestly wish more people would unbunch their panties and get a little perspective. And as much as I hate to admit it, that book just might help unbunch a whole lot of panties.
I like that Manson describes happiness as a work in progress and negative emotions as a call to action. I am glad he addressed the entitlement and mollycoddling issues that have been plaguing many milieus in the past few years (I like his phrasing here: “victimhood chic”), and that he reminds readers that where they are in life is a consequence of choices they have made, so they are responsible for their problem, and that everyone ought to be a bit more mindful of their intentions and motivations. A lot of people need to hear that. Hell, there have been times in my life when I needed to hear it too, and I am glad I did!
That said, the book is far from perfect. It contains a quantity of lovely platitudes, the whole bad-ass attitude schtick gets old fast (and that’s coming from someone who uses the f-word as punctuation in her daily life). Also, I rolled my eyes at his “practical enlightenment” idea. I get what he means, but the term he coined rubs me the wrong way a little. As did his slap-dash retelling of the life of the Buddha. For the same reason. Also, I do not buy that his wife “likes” being told she looks like shit: I think that like any decent spouse, she has just learnt to accept a certain amount of BS, in her case, her husband’s lack of tact.
My personal appreciation of this book would make it a 2-star read, but I also seriously think many people need to hear that stuff, no matter how condescending and unpleasant it comes across as, so I’m bumping it up to 3, because I’m glad it’s there. I hope it makes its way into the hands of few more people, who could really use the reality check....more
While some of the language, nutritional advice and the photos are hopelessly (and hilariously) dated, this is a great little introduction to hatha or While some of the language, nutritional advice and the photos are hopelessly (and hilariously) dated, this is a great little introduction to hatha or physical yoga. Structured as a 28-day training program, this book was created to help people gradually develop strength and flexibility through a series of asanas, and discusses the benefits of the practice on health, weight management, arthritis relief, etc.
My father, who has been a yoga teacher for over thirty years, still recommends this book over newer, more fashionable yoga guidebooks out there. It's a prefect resource for anyone interested in learning basic hatha yoga at home: the instructions are clear and detailed, and the progression of the exercises makes the training both effective and less intimidating. The book is broken down into 4-day learning blocks: new exercises for the 3 first days, then the 4th is spent reviewing the previous material. This sets a nice pace, and keeps the exercises from getting too boring or repetitive.
I have been doing yoga on and off for years, but to be honest, I hate most yoga classes (and gyms, and basically any place people gather for fitness activities - don't ask), so I'd rather practice at home. My father gave me a copy of this book ages ago, and I pulled it off the shelf last month, figuring going through the 28-day regimen would shake off my yoga cobwebs gently. Not only did it do that, but it also helped me put a daily yoga practice back into my routine, which is great! The pacing is perfect, somehow both challenging and gentle for beginners or intermediate-and-rusty practitioners. I can definitely see why my dad still recommends it!
A couple of the asanas are actually a bit too tough for beginners (or rusty old crones), and should have been broken down in more gradual steps (head stand, cow face and full lotus, for example), but generally, the difficulty level is reasonable. You still might want to complement this with another (more recently published) book of illustrated asanas (the Grounded Panda's is pretty great: https://shop.groundedpanda.com/) that also show you how to use props like blocks and straps - which are really helpful, especially when you are learning new poses.
If you don't mind the fact that this was written for 1970s housewives who didn't dare associate with the hippies but wanted to try their hands at that yoga-stuff, this is a good building block on which to beginning practicing yoga at home, or as a primer for classes and more advanced practices....more
Gabrielle (Reading Rampage)
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