Joseph Kowalski

A darkly honest high school story

Revisado: 08-05-20

This book portrays the toxic masculinity that high school boys are deep fried into. It is full of the type of wry storytelling Handler is known for. The narrator did well, but his female voices are unpleasantly silly.

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Difficult both to describe and take in

Revisado: 03-18-20

It's hard to truly review this work, because it's so unlike anything else that I've read or listened to.

Its best attribute is a foggy, dreamlike timeline and setting. It's almost as though the reader is transported to alternate universes at the will of a whim, the same characters reset or in media res in wildly different storylines.

The story, as best can be pinned down, revolves mostly around two horribly abusive and ignorant men waving away the ramifications of the world going into arctic annihilation through their violent and sexual obsession with one woman. It's hard to be in that mindset for its entirety, as we see the young woman infantilized and tortured again and again, sometimes even to the point of death. There seems to be only one ending in which she is happy and it too is ominous.

I admit that this was difficult to get through. It is woefully depressing and repeats the word "ice" with every other sentence. But if you are looking for something to challenge you and give you the most accurate sensation of a bad trip that I've read yet, this may be worth your time.

The narrator does an admirable job given the difficulty of the material. Definitely listen to the afterword, as the author's life is quite fascinating.

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Gripping and deceptively complex

Revisado: 02-05-20

One of the greatest things about this story is just how many concepts it conveys through its memorable cast of characters, all without losing sight of Star as our protagonist. Each of the people in her life bring out an opportunity to discuss ideas not always discussed in YA lit, from police brutality, gang life, systemic disenfranchisement, private school life, code switching, generational tensions, interracial dating, to the responsibility we possess to enact change.

It's a story that manages to also pull off the miracle of actually sounding like a teenager of today, yet while having the straightforwardness of language that I think will transcend the test of time. Can't recommend this one enough.

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Hodgman Does It Again

Revisado: 10-29-19

Another excellent work of memoir and humor by John Hodgman, this one with a greater bent on his vulnerability towards his fame, the trappings of privilege, and Instagram corgis.

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Punchy and Very Well-Performed

Revisado: 10-11-19

This is some great compact storytelling. I would have loved to see the theater version. Well done.

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Naming the Beast

Revisado: 10-09-19

I found this immensely relatable, even down to the point where one of the interviews was with a woman from my hometown of Cleveland. I liked the variety displayed in each person's particular type of burnout.

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Took me almost a year to finish

Revisado: 10-07-19

Exactly as odd an experience as advertised. Make sure you get the endnotes as well. The narrator deserves some kind of Nobel Prize for this achievement.

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A funny and shocking autobiography

Revisado: 10-04-19

I adore Trevor Noah's work on The Daily Show but I had no idea how remarkable his life was growing up. I always noticed he has an incredible eye for sociology, and hearing about the many people and places he lived helped me understand how he got that way. He does a great job narrating too, unfolding his life in a very natural way, especially in his connection to his mother.

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Cute!

Revisado: 09-05-19

Macca uses his passion for whimsy well here. The story is pretty standard picture book affair, but Paul's performance is delightful, and the production on the audiobook is terrific.

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Breathtaking

Revisado: 08-30-19

I understand now why some people regard Morrison as one of the great American authors. The poetry of this book is painfully perfect. The narration by the author is the cherry on top.

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