violetturtledove's reviews
363 reviews

Ziggyology: A Brief History Of Ziggy Stardust by Simon Goddard

funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I own and have read a fair few books on Bowie, but this is really like no other Bowie book. It's not a casual fans introduction,  more one for the Bowie fan who has read everything else. 

It's original and with a huge scope - earlier chapters start with the big bang and work through such varied topics as feudal Japan, classical music, science, literature, war ... basically everything that happened in the world with the slightest bearing on the creation of Ziggy Stardust.

It's told in a very descriptive, almost poetic style, capturing the magic and glamour of the subject. It does take a certain amount of creative license with describing how certain things played out/ what people were thinking,  but it is really well done. 

As well as influences on Ziggy, the author makes sure to note those he influenced, although its not always immediately obvious who he's talking about (a snaggle-toothed boy called John, or the daughter of a Mr Ciccone). There are also some hilarious descriptions of other musicians - Herman's Hermits as 'a Lancashire hot-pot of guitars and teeth' or Tyrannosaurus Rex as sounding like 'a Hare Krishna playing nursery rhymes on a ukulele being pursued by a frantically clopping pantomime horse'.

So it's a quite unusual take, but quite fitting,  and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There's also a very thorough reference section at the end. 

Superseded by May Sinclair

emotional lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I found this quite an understated little book, the plot was quite simple but the characters were well defined and entertaining. Some of it was quite amusing, which contrasted with the more serious feminist themes. The ending seemed a little defeatist to me, but considering the time it was written out would be better to view it as a warning. 

Being a Green Mother by Piers Anthony, Barbara Caruso

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

After the last book I really wasn't sure if I was going to continue with this series, and I'm still not sure if I want to keep reviewing them.  But at this stage there only two to go (I think there is a 8th, but I don't have it and therefore am not counting it), they're easy to read and awful enough to be entertaining. 

Let's see. This one isn't quite as terrible as the last,  especially once it gets past the bit at the start with the travelling community.  There's a lot of very silly plot points that I may have just been amused at before, but now I'm less inclined to forgive them. The crisis is easily avoided and therefore quite awkwardly forced into the story, and the resolution is nearly as silly.  Some of silliness was entertaining,  but mostly it had me rolling my eyes and questioning what I'm doing with my time. A few of the characters are only ever referred to by the instruments they play,  despite them being in about half the book. The main character performs a sexy dance for a giant fish. And it seems the further through the series we go, the longer it takes to build up to the character taking on the role of the incarnation. It didn't happen until the last couple of chapters here, so who knows how that trend is going to continue. 

But after all of that I'm still as least morbidly curious as to how the next book is going to go,  especially as the main character is going to be Satan. So I guess I can manage at least one more. 

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, Suheil Bushrui

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

I'm not really sure what to say about this one.  I can see why it was popular in the 60s, its something you could dwell or meditate on a single line of (mind-expanding substances optional).

Some of it seems over-simple to a modern reader,  possibly because of how much the ideas have influenced and mixed into popular consciousness. It's more of a manifesto or spiritual guide, there's not really a plot. 

I wouldn't say it's life-changing but worth a read. 

Crazy in Poughkeepsie by Aaron Renier, Daniel Pinkwater

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I had a lot of fun reading this. It's weird trying to judge what is technically a kids book by my experience of it as an adult (I say technically because there's a reference to the 1932 film 'Freaks' so really there's something for all ages here).

The plot is simple but random, it bounces joyfully from one bit of silliness to another. None of it felt 'too sillly' for my liking, there were lots of bits that were quite funny and clever. 

Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman

emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The title of this one is vaguely ironic to me because, although I understand the subject matter can be quite dark for some, to me Gaiman's writing is always a safe space. It's just pure magic,  I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories.  

The Voyeur's Motel by Gay Talese

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.5

I don't usually research too far before picking a book to read,  but maybe this wasn't the best choice for my first Gay Talese book! It's an interesting and unsettling read,  although a lot of the latter is from questions of journalistic ethics (I don't know much about confidentiality agreements and laws,  but keeping something like this confidential leaves a bad taste in my mouth) and tone (it focuses on the social/psychological aspect rather than the criminal).

The fact that this book was the 'going public' of the story does mean that the reader is left with unanswered questions as to the public response. A quick google gives an update that is both reassuring (inconsistencies have been revealed to call the truth of much of the story into question) but also predictably frustrating (statute of limitations preventing any legal repercussions). 

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book is just beautiful.  In some ways it's a very old story but also shockingly original. It leaps between so many interesting scenarios, and where another book might get bogged down in explaining all the little hows and whys of the world,  this instead gives you a series of beautiful snapshots, all leading to a very satisfying ending.  

I didn't know where it was going,  and didn't quite know where I was some of the time,  but it was a hell of a journey.

Along with the high-concept aspects of the world building, there's also some brilliant mixing of pop culture references,  everything from Shakespeare to 80s pop music can be presented as ancient lore. And I never expected to find myself laughing at a seal-clubbing pun. 

I did find it a little difficult at first to remember who was speaking (or rather, writing) but as far as obstacles to enjoyment go, that was pretty quickly cleared. 

Selected Letters by Marquis de Sade, Marquis de Sade

informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

This was a really good insight into the mind and life of a very controversial character.  Reading his letters I had very mixed feelings,  he makes some very good points, but at other times he is thoroughly unlikeable (not that I didn't expect this!) 

There are certainly bits where I doubted his version of events,  or his mental state in general, but it's all great context for his novels.  Also, I know this heavily depends on the translation,  but I found the letters much more readable than his novels!

I think the letters are well chosen (of course I don't know anything about those that didn't make the cut) and the introduction/preface does a decent job,  the only thing I felt it was missing was a little more context of historical and personal events at the time some of the letters were written. 

Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder

adventurous funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is an amazing book but it snuck up on me slowly. At first I thought it was cute, that the framing story was pretty simple and a little twee, but that the 'history of philosophy' lesson at the heart of it was interesting and well explained.  I would have kept reading the lesson even without the story. 

But as the story continues, linking in more subtle ways with the lesson, I realised what an intricate and well thought out work this was. 

Despite the intellectual subject matter, its never for a moment dry, and the plot points which seemed a little silly at first started to make sense once I saw how the narrative was growing alongside the lesson. 

I don't think there's any other book like this out there and I'm very glad to have read it.