Scott

Misleading title and blurb

Revisado: 12-10-24

Being a lover of K-Dramas and enjoying Grace's podcast I was unprepared for the unrelenting darkness that is this book. This should be a labeled T-School: a memoir of trauma because only about ten percent of the actual content is about K-dramas. Most of the book is about the history of trauma for both Grace and the Korean Peninsula. I do get that knowing the history of a culture is important to understanding what you're watching.

However, Imagine, opening a book about the fun, inner workings of Disney World and instead getting a lecture about how Walt was a white supremacist, the history of the KKK and the Seminole Tribe that was slaughtered so you can ride It's a Small World. It's like being told you'll watch a light-hearted comedy about a bunch of factory workers and being shown Schindler's List.

I agree with 90% of what Grace says and but so much of her rhetoric is off-putting and accusatory: no one is spared from Jung's wrath, NO ONE. Which makes me wonder who Grace wrote this for a for? She often sounds like a 90's punk rock fan screaming sell-out, trashing record labels, calling out bands and chastising late comers to the scene. Also, this is not a pop culture inquiry but rather an academic inquiry through the lens of a gender studies/ art history class. I wonder how many more people she could have reached (read: educated) if she had softened her language. It's not a zero sum game.

Finally, for someone who writes about the trauma of being judged she is pretty unforgiving of a lot of people: adoptive parents, parents of children with disabilities, Non-AAPI Americans who are interested in Korean culture (because it's a strange fetish) among others. Generalizing and assigning motives to people without understanding their side of the issues.

I do get the impression from the book that Grace Jung is a strong, smart, funny, driven, intellectually curious human being who doesn't take crap from anyone. I hope she finds a way to share her gift in a way that resonates with the whole world while at the same time allowing her to keep her values intact.

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KISSS - Keep it simple & small stupid

Revisado: 08-02-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Straightforward and effective. I've used these techniques to keep on top of housework. I know, not the most exciting implementation. However, it has had quite a knock on effect in my life.

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Better than IT

Revisado: 04-07-24

in the late 80's early 90's there were a number of Coming of Age horror novels: It, Boys Life, Summer of Night and Traveling Vampire Show. I'm mixed on which was the best but I can tell you, It, was the worst and I love King.

Traveling Vampire Show spoke to me then much more than the others probably because of its irreverence and insanity.

When I recently reread this it made me feel 15 again and at my age that's a feat.

Put on some headphones and let the waves of insanity wash over you.

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Best of Laymon

Revisado: 04-07-24

I have read probably a third of Laymon's catalog and I'm pretty sure that this is his best book with Travelling Vampire a close second.
This is a good mix of depraved insanity with historical fiction. Hope you enjoy it as much as did.

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It's Down East Maine not Northern Coastal Maine

Revisado: 02-22-24

I enjoyed the book and enjoyed all the things Ms. Higgins gets wrong about Maine. It's like she read a blog entitled : 10 Things Only Locals Know or 10 Phrases That Only Mainers Know.

She makes a valiant effort and creates an enjoyable world for her characters to enhabit. Though it could really be any town on the Eastern seaboard.

I loved the main character but share the same critique as others. The male love interest is kind of a dud and unlikeable. However you can see what the author was going for and I respect the attempt.

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A Different Simmons

Revisado: 10-09-23

It's ironic that an author now considered a right wing fascist wrote a subversive, woke, liberal horror novel in the early 80s. I wonder if his politics have changed or the political parties have become more polarized.

I loved the book until the half way point, didn't care for a quarter and then really enjoyed the ending. Not as good as Summer of Night or A Winter Haunting but I'm glad I read it.

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Better than The Elementals

Revisado: 06-06-23

Took me a while to get around to listen to this because I didn't really care for McDowell's other book The Elementals. Not bad but not my thing either.

This was fast and fun and builds to a fantastic ending. if you enjoyed Ed Gorey's Gastlycrumb Tiniest, you'll appreciate what the author has put together here. Kind of like a human Rube Goldberg device.

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Mr. Hendrix does it again

Revisado: 05-17-23

When I read that it was a book about evil dolls I was dubious. I wouldn't have read it except that We Would Our Souls was sooooo great and I thought that concept was dumb to start with. I wasn't disappointed though it wasn't as good as WSOS or MBFE ....thousand times better than Horrorstor.

I can definitely see some repeating motifs in Grady's work but the best always do: Irving, King, Hoffman .

the one thing I didn't like was the lone chapter read by some dude. The main narrator was great with male voices. Why the switch? a little disjointed but fine.
Can't wait to watch the movie.

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Emotionally authentic

Revisado: 04-12-23

I usually read horror and sci-fi but came to this book because it is set in my home state. Though, the depictions of both Maine and Boston life are laughable, I really enjoyed this book.

Locals do not eat lobster in Maine restaurants and I lived in Boston for over a decade and cant remember anyone but tourists ordering clam chowder. There is, as far as I know, no three hour (!!!) ferry ride from any island in Maine to Boston. Not to mention an island school having a High School big enough for a prom is a huge stretch. I suspect the island was based on Vinalhaven half way up the coast. It however reads more like the distant Martha's Vineyard which the author references is the first chapter.

In any case, the characters are engaging, the mysteries are compelling, interactions funny and heartfelt. I fully embrace Ms. Higgins artistic licence and will read more by this author

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Nearly Perfect

Revisado: 03-11-23

What a great way to kill an afternoon or two trying to guess ahead and navigate the twists and turns. Inadvertently, leaving an opening for a sequel or leaving an opening without a giant neon sign.
More of these please.

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