“Young folk […] they don’t know what to do with themselves.” A young man in the 1870’s drops out of Harvard and finds his way to Butcher’s crossing. He finds a reputable man who offers him a job managing the finances of the buffalo trade, but it’s not enough for Will Andrews. He tracks down a man named Miller who knows of a secret spot where there’s an untouched buffalo herd, ripe for the killing. All he needs is a little money. Andrews has that […]
As beautiful as it is broken (wherein I get a little bit personal after a hiatus)
To say that this has been a difficult year would be an understatement. For Americans, no matter what one’s political affiliation is, it is clear to see that the rampant gas-lighting the current administration is putting us through is not normal. The word “fact” seems to have completely undergone a change in meaning, so much so that statements from politicians are view with the default setting of “definitely a lie.” Putting aside that I wake up every morning with a sense of impending dread that […]
She had already learned the dangers of sincerity.
Faithful followers of my must-read, brilliantly executed, and always punctual reviews will know that I only recently discovered Roxane Gay last year, with Bad Feminist. And you will know that based on reading only that collection of essays, I will follow her to the ends of the earth, shout her name from the rooftops, aspire to be as articulate, hilarious, and honest as she, and never be dissuaded from my undying love for her. Difficult Women is haunting and beautiful. I was nervous. My expectations […]
Debut Novel: Must Read if you dig character development and SVU
This book was on my radar because Tod of the “Literary Disco” podcast, of which I am so fond, would not stop talking about it. It was his favorite book of 2014 so I convinced by book club it was a good pick for July, cuz you know, July. They were hoping for something light and fun. Sorry people. Henderson’s debut novel is masterfully written. The story begins with Pete, a social worker in Montana trying to defuse a violent situation between a mother and […]
Its essence is a mathematical construct, a self-referencing tautology, consecrated in the plane of regret.
A salute to the Cannonball Read and the Readers, for bringing this book into my brain. Holy crap, you guys. So good. Honestly, I had been expecting (and bracing myself for) something super duper effed up, based on the reviews that I had skimmed (to avoid spoilers). And yeah, it’s dark and horrifying and confusing and complex, but still really fricking readable. Here’s what I texted about 20 of my closest friends when I was halfway through and couldn’t stop reading last night: “It’s as […]
“I didn’t want an obvious life.”
Manifesto by Anonymous
When I was twenty years old, I remember becoming infatuated with anonymously publishing a mission pamphlet or manifesto and leaving it all over my university’s campus. I wanted to rouse the well-meaning but wrong-living people around me to Life. I wanted to tear down everything that made me angry. I wanted the injustices and stupidities that I saw in American life to make everyone angry. I thought that I was meant for more; I thought that everyone was meant for more. Those pamphlets or manifestos […]