Mettaphorica

Humouress

Revisado: 09-29-24

took me a while to get into but he's a funny writer. The last story is about the worst thing that could happen to anyone.

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Left me wanting more...

Revisado: 07-02-21

This is not a genre of memoir I would normally read. The subject matter suggests stories designed to titillate and shock, and I presumed that this topic would be a kind of romp into soft porn, like some other memoirs written by women who get paid to have sex, are.

Wrong. Happily wrong.

This book is well-written and the author's intelligence, sensitivity and empathy - as well as her struggle to find acceptance within herself and by others - is beautifully written and well-articulated. Yes, she describes sex scenes, but these are often witty observations or reflections on human nature rather than descriptions of sex acts; one of the author's strengths, I believe. The sex scenes are there to support the story, they're not *the* story, which is what makes this book work.

I purchased this memoir because I happened across the author in a course, and I immediately enjoyed her writing, and followed up by purchasing this audio book, and I'm glad I did.
There are a couple of glitches in the audio version where a sentence is accidentally read out twice, but the story was so engaging I didn't let it bother me - I've dumped far more popular books for grating or annoying narration - these glitches didn't do that.

A sensitively written and observant book on not only the travails of being a 'working girl', but the struggle all creatives battle with - how to fulfill our dream and yet make enough to make living? I can't wait for the second part.

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Set Your Heart Aflutter

Revisado: 03-05-21

Pigeons, or rock doves as this species who star in this lovely book, really need a new PR agent, and Jon Day may just be the person for the job. Vilified throughout history – except for the period they were message carriers until we invented flight and the postal service - these ‘rats with wings’, like the rats they’re compared with, suffer an unjustly terrible reputation in modern lore.
Jon Day’s fascination with pigeons is their ability to home, and it’s the essence of home, what it is, and what it means, as seen through the eyes of Day and the keen eyes of pigeons, sprinkled with some pigeon history and a dip into other writer’s thoughts and ideas, that he explores in this beautifully written book.
I bought this book because I too have become entranced by the humble pigeon. Scores of them visit my backyard every day, several times a day, and I feed them. Sometimes one is sick, and I trap it, and either take it to the vet for euthanasia or, with the vet’s help and a bit of my own cash, medicate and rehabilitate the bird then set it free again.
Like Day, I find a peace sitting with them, and watching the cocks dance and twirl or dominate the bird bath, or hand feeding the brave few, who beg for food from me with, as he describes so perfectly, 'burnt orange eyes'. They’re considered a pest, yes, but we brought them here,...

Day becomes involved in racing, but stops when he is told that the only way to win races is through the ‘widow’ method; separate a pigeon from its chicks and mate and it will fly home more quickly. He reflects on this and decides its cruel and that he doesn’t need to win a race that badly.

Before I acquired the book, I’d already decided that pigeon racing is cruel, given the condition of some of the racing birds who land in my yard, attaching themselves to these feral flocks, never mind the widow method. I listened to Day’s book anyway and his stories are beautiful and his descriptions of the pigeons apt; I too know the ‘clatter’ of their wings as a flock takes off in startle, and the soft, silky lightness of their feathers if one sits on me and eats out of my hand, her breast feathers lightly grazing my fingers. His writing is visceral and poetic.
I only wish that Day decided that pigeons are beautiful and wonderful and can be enjoyed in their own right, and not have raced them at all, ever. Still, if pigeons need a PR makeover, Day is the person for the job. Highly recommended.

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You Can't Stand in the Sun, Shonda's Blocking It

Revisado: 09-24-16

Some books are littered with I, me, my, mine and other self-referential pronouns; and some of these books work. Some books, you forgive the author for their me-ism, and you enter into the contract of listening to their story in the hope of gaining some insight, wisdom or knowledge to apply to your own life. Or just for the gossip factor.

However this book disappoints on all those counts. Sure, there's name dropping here and there, (Kerry Washington gets dropped in a few times, probably just to ensure you're still reading or in this case, listening) and it included a few interesting tid bits and factoids if you love Rhimes' TV shows, but the bulk of it was self-referential blah to which I could not relate, or empathise much. The subtitle 'how to dance it out, stand in the sun and be your own person' is misleading. This is how Shonda did it. Little in her priviledged (though earned) life could apply to mine, nor probably yours, either. Once you entered Shondaland, there was no pass outs for reflection time, no door prizes you could perhaps use in your own life, and there was definitely no room for you. No, the hall of mirrors was all reflections of Shonda.

Aspects of the book I liked: It was narrated well, which is probably the only thing that kept me listening. The best insight in the book was also in the script of 'Scandal' (took me a minute to wonder where I'd heard it before) where motherhood is described not as a job, but who you are, and then goes on to explain why this is so. I'm not a mother, but thought it was a refreshing way to look at motherhood.

I am so sorry, I really wanted to like this. I like her shows, I think she's done a great job with her career and deserves every success she's worked for. But she should stick to what she does best - and even she admits this - telling stories. Making things up. And leave the exhortatinal stuff to those who do it better. Dick Van Dyke's recent audio book is a bit more engaging and gets you thinking about saying "Yes" to your own life more than this book does.

Disappointing, and far too much about Shonda and not enough about being your own person. Which leaves you feeling like she's blocking your sun.

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Presentation 101

Revisado: 11-01-14

This is a good break down of the elements of a good presentation, using Steve Jobs various presentations to illustrate the points. There are no real 'secrets' here; you can find them in any book on how to give a good presentation, however what carries this book (audio) and makes it engaging is using examples from Jobs' presentations and his life to illustrate the main points. If you are looking for inspiration, you may not find it, but if you are looking for the meat and potatos of presentations, presentation 101 more or less, but delivered using examples from a master presenter, then this will provide a good overview. Don't forget the main take-home, though, "Practice!"

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Here's to The Dogs!

Revisado: 10-26-14

This story was truly enjoyable and educational - I learned a lot about blindess and blind people that I did not know before, and that could only be a good thing, if it helps me understand those with disabilities a bit better. The author gives quite a bit of information about the challenges, and also the occassional advantages and humouress moments, of being blind. What happened in the towers is truly scary.

Most of all the story is a wonderful tribute to seeing eye dogs, and the important work they do. I felt uplifted and optimistic after listening to this book. A much-needed and well told true story.

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Didne Loch It, Me Neither!

Revisado: 10-25-14

I think Barry's review pretty much sums it up for me, as well. It was beautifully, beautifully narrated, but like many one and two star reviewers on Amazon, I quickly got fed up of the violence and the rape, and the connection between homosexual proclivities of one character and his wickedness, as if the two are somehow connected.

The story was an epic adventure, but really, the time travel thing didn't seem to feature largely; once her husband found out she was from the future, there was no real discussion about "What's it like?" or talk of technological and scientific advances, which is, I imagine,would be utterly fascinating to someone in Scotland in the 1700's, just as someone from the 3000's would have us gripped with curosity as to what life is like in the future.

Instead, he (Jamie) seems to matter of factly accept that she's from the 1940s and they go their merry way through the story from there, which leads me to feel that the whole time travel idea was just the USP (unique selling proposition) that could land yet another epic adventure novel onto bestseller lists, but which, ultimately, didn't feature heavily as a them, other than to give Claire more advanced medical knowledge, family history knowledge, and the dilemma of whether to return to her time or stay. And so I felt the story lacked believability.

Although it's had fabulous reviews, I found the story dragged on, and as previously noted, the various flavours of rape, beatings and graphic violence got a bit tiresome.

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Alas, Ending

Revisado: 10-23-14

I picked this book because it was one that was in the highly recommended list (I wouldn't normally do this, but decided to try something different). I sort of wish I hadn't done that.

On the postive side, it was very well-narrated, which is always a big deal with me, and a theme in all of my reviews. As such, the story was compelling and kept moving you along.

I won't go into a synopsis of the story, as this can be found in many other reviews, but I personally found the ending a bit predictable. This conclusion is probably a result of the passage of time - when it was first published, I'm sure this book was ground-breaking and considered in a class of its own. However, since its initial publication, time and technology and brilliant story-telling has seen swathes of similar, or better, stories based on the main theme - a disaster befalls the world and a few have to survive. I guess I've been exposed to some of these, wittingly or not - and so as a child of the modern age and modern entertainment, Alas, Babylon left me feeling, "Alas, Ending" for it's all too easy predictability (And no, I'm not going to tell you how it ends...)

Still, I'm sure it was a masterpiece of its time and many will enjoy it now if for only this reason ("it was written then, and could still apply now!") which is why I guess people still love it so much. I just blame my birthplace in history for my failure to find a satisfying conclusion.

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Not New, but OK Refresher

Revisado: 10-22-14

This book won't give you any new advice unless you're new to health and wellness, however it was an easy listen, and the author's own story is a worthwhile reminder that what we do in terms of eating, sleeping, movement and stress management can indeed be the difference between managing or not managing a condition.

There are no ground-breaking insights unless health and wellness are new to you, but it's still worth a listen just as a reminder and motivator to either do what you know you should be doing, or to keep up the good work! The narration was pleasant enough, which goes a long way to making this kind of information enjoyable or not. Because of its lack of scintillating, ground-breaking material, I recommend picking this up in a BOGO or discount sale rather than use up a whole credit on it.Still worthwhile, though.

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Be Aware: Christian-centred Content

Revisado: 04-30-13

Somehow, in the preamble to this book, I missed that the word "God" was a euphemism for the fundamentalist, born-again Christian God, and not the generic God that many books use to cover any one of a zillion belief systems for which wisdom can be found and applied. Within the first few minutes, the Christ-centred living tenet came up, and I knew this was a fundo manifesto. I turned it off. Somehow, I missed that this audio book has the born-again Christian agenda, and whilst this might appeal to some and be exactly what they are looking for, it's not for me, and if this type of Christian-centric content is not what you are after either, then avoid this book. It's just a pity that the introductory editorial blurb does not make it clear enough that this book is about being a good follower of Jesus and living your purpose for Jesus. Had I known this, I would not have purchased it.

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esto le resultó útil a 9 personas