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capy's reviews
350 reviews
Companion Piece by Ali Smith
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
very apt to name this a companion piece for many reasons... i appreciated how the book repeatedly shows us how, even when we're isolated, we never really stand completely on our own. that being said, i didn't really care for the ebenezer scrooge "i just want to be left alone" aura of our main character, nor did i care about the family associated with that mood either. it's a captivating read in the quintessential ali smith fragmented puzzle way, but felt somewhat tame next to the other books in the series
Men's Health by Daniel Goldfarb
fast-paced
2.0
um... the voice acting was solid, the topic of penile health is an important conversation to destigmatize but i wouldn't call the play educational by any means. the title is misleading and the story doesn't seem to land, i strongly disliked how it made urologists look but i can understand how comedic dialogue can make the audience's experience a little easier when it comes to this subject
The Actor Retires by Bruce Norris
fast-paced
2.5
not exactly "packed with nonstop laughs" but an interesting little experience about the frustrations of putting yourself out there as an artist and how it can affect the areas of a person's life
Row by Daniel Goldstein
adventurous
medium-paced
1.25
the storytelling felt consistently unsatisfying... if it wasn't for a couple good songs and the clean audible production in general, this would've been a complete miss for me
the author mentioned that they like stories that are impossible to stage and, while that's personally not my thing, i have to respect that ambition
the author mentioned that they like stories that are impossible to stage and, while that's personally not my thing, i have to respect that ambition
Unquestioned Integrity by Mame Hunt
almost dystopian... how do i say this is well done when it's mostly based off of real words said in a real case? the lack of nuance drives me crazy, i need a pillow to scream into
informative
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Judge, if you are sitting on the bench and you approach a case where you appear to have a closed mind and that you are only right, doesn’t it raise issues of judicial temperament?
almost dystopian... how do i say this is well done when it's mostly based off of real words said in a real case? the lack of nuance drives me crazy, i need a pillow to scream into
Are You Now or Have You Ever Been: The Investigation of Show Business by the Un-American Activities Committee, 1947-1958 by Eric Bentley
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
3.25
a bit too overdramatized, even for an advocacy piece but this play is a firm reminder to never take freedom of speech for granted. how did this witch-hunt last for over 10 years?
Three Hotels: Plays and Monologues by Jon Robin Baitz
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
well written but felt like a superficial snapshot of an extremely heavy topic that needed more time and careful consideration. in stories like this, i tend to feel that the victim's side is almost always the better point of view to follow, as opposed to the average villain origin story we get out of this play
Now Go: On Grief and Studio Ghibli by Karl Thomas Smith
i loved the reflection on grief as a sort of universal loss, not just the loss of a loved one but something in ourselves — memories, traits, interests — and how accepting grief as change doesn't have to be a negative experience
anyone picking this up might want to adjust their expectations: it's not an in-depth/academic exploration of the intersection between studio ghibli movies and grief. it was, to me, a well-measured mix of autobiographical reflective writing and light movie analysis. this book definitely needed tighter writing and editing at times but, regardless, it's a good read to accompany the movie collection
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
The world works hard to beat out of us the things about which we care the most – to dilute our passions and temper our reactions. The world at large, to its great shame, is scornful of people who live deeply. And that scorn is not just a benign clucking of the tongue. It is white-hot and razor sharp. It is painful and precise enough to leave not just a lasting sting but also, if not properly treated, a permanent scar of self-doubt: a reminder to think again before exposing yourself to a world in which the done thing is to simply bury the light of those feelings until they are extinguished by a lack of air.
i loved the reflection on grief as a sort of universal loss, not just the loss of a loved one but something in ourselves — memories, traits, interests — and how accepting grief as change doesn't have to be a negative experience
anyone picking this up might want to adjust their expectations: it's not an in-depth/academic exploration of the intersection between studio ghibli movies and grief. it was, to me, a well-measured mix of autobiographical reflective writing and light movie analysis. this book definitely needed tighter writing and editing at times but, regardless, it's a good read to accompany the movie collection
But the films of Studio Ghibli make some effort to close that gap – to treat children and young people as whole human beings, deserving of respect and honesty, but also of care and a gentler touch. They do not need to be lied to – in fact, they can and should be told the entire truth lest they stumble upon that truth themselves and are hurt more deeply than they should have been. Still, the delivery is everything.
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i didn't realize what genre this book was and feel like i got tricked? this sat right on the edge of fiction/nonfiction and was just the right amount of pages before getting longwinded and boring. goes in the same category as "mensagem" by fernando pessoa in the way that it made historical facts more interesting and engaging for my brain, yet i do see how this could be a challenging read for someone outside of these scientific fields
all that being said, my one gripe with the book is the tired "tormented genius" trope, which unfortunately took a decent chunk of my reading enjoyment throughout. mr labatut, you were so close!
all that being said, my one gripe with the book is the tired "tormented genius" trope, which unfortunately took a decent chunk of my reading enjoyment throughout. mr labatut, you were so close!
Blue Sky Through the Window of a Moving Car: Comics for Beautiful, Awful and Ordinary Days by Jordan Bolton
reading this felt like the artist captured moments that speak to the specific part of my brain that dissociates and analyzes life as it is happening to me. i've never felt that before and would love to find more illustrations that scratch that itch
the art style is also gorgeous, absolutely loved this and need 10 more
thank you netgalley for the ARC
emotional
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
I said "Love you too", leaving out the "I" as if that would be too much.
reading this felt like the artist captured moments that speak to the specific part of my brain that dissociates and analyzes life as it is happening to me. i've never felt that before and would love to find more illustrations that scratch that itch
the art style is also gorgeous, absolutely loved this and need 10 more
thank you netgalley for the ARC