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chillcox15's review
4.0
4.5 Stars. Jon Mooallem brings a tremendous empathy to each of his subjects here, ion a way that feels more palpable than I am used to. And yet, it doesn't feel overbearing and predetermined in most cases.
rozlev's review
5.0
Listened to the audio book. A wide range of interesting essays…all enjoyable. Mooallem is a wonderful writer and wordsmith.
emelynreads's review
funny
informative
medium-paced
5.0
One of the most underrated collections of essays (which are really just humorous and/or eye opening stories). Mooallem has a way of taking the story to the fullest, unraveling the quirkiness and oddity of the story's core. For example, in one story the author sees a photo of a Spanish matador who looks just like him, and goes down the rabbit hole to discover the interesting bits about this man's life. Each story is a standout in its own.
I probably would've never picked this collection up based on the title and cover but thank God for librarian recommendations!
I probably would've never picked this collection up based on the title and cover but thank God for librarian recommendations!
kidsquid's review
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
every single essay in this book was exciting to me. I was constantly thinking about who I want to talk to about this story, as soon as I finish it. it covers some very niche topics in a very personal way. Jon manages to bring in quotes and perspectives from so many people in these essays, in "we have fire everywhere" the main story follows one woman, but Jon finds ways to include seemingly everyone she interacted with along the way.
my favourite pieces were, the house at the end of the world, at the precise center of a dream, and, this story about Charlie Kaufman has changed.
this book offers a lot of insight into a lot of different topics, including death, being remembered, what it's like leaving prison, what archeologists find and argue about when it comes to Neanderthals, and a ton more.
5 stars, in my opinion a must read!
my favourite pieces were, the house at the end of the world, at the precise center of a dream, and, this story about Charlie Kaufman has changed.
this book offers a lot of insight into a lot of different topics, including death, being remembered, what it's like leaving prison, what archeologists find and argue about when it comes to Neanderthals, and a ton more.
5 stars, in my opinion a must read!
daturkel's review
4.0
Jon Mooallem's writing is thoughtful, entertaining, and lined with an earnestness and pathos that differentiate it from some of the more "terminally online" feature writing that's so hot right now. Standouts include "A House at the End of the World" about a remarkable hospice, "Why These Instead of Others" about an Alaskan trip gone wrong, "This Is My Serious Face" about the author discovering that he shares a face with a famous (and infamously ugly) bullfighter, and "We Have Fire Everywhere" about the 2018 wildfire in Paradise, California. The Charlie Kaufman profile is on the weaker end, but none are bad.
categal's review
4.0
Fantastic. I loved Mooallem’s ability to make connections and find the profundity in the randomness we encounter in everyday life. His trip to Alaska with a few buddies after college really stuck with me — the rain, the bears, the trees — the alignment or accident of weather, ignorance, ingenuity. Describes life, really.
krobinson08's review
5.0
I love love love love Jon Mooallem and this was no exception. Excellent as an audiobook since the stories read like well produced podcast episodes.