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libroXshu finished reading Every Man for Himself and God Against All by Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog, Michael Hofmann: Every Man for Himself and God Against All (2023, Penguin Publishing Group)

No rating

Content warning not really total spoilers, but a few favorite quotes...

Unsurprisingly, this book is incredible. Learning about his life and interesting moments related to his past projects was truly enjoyable. A few favorite lines:

"...and when it was raining and freezing, and there was nothing but an empty hunting lodge, or a remote holiday cottage, then breaking into it was not a problem for me. I've often broken into locked up houses, not causing any damage, because I always carry a little surgeons kit with me, a couple of wire rods, with which I can open security locks."

"Sometimes when I wake up, I feel bad that I didn't dream. And maybe that is why I compensate by making films."

"I have never taken drugs. The culture of drugs has always repelled me. I also believe they wouldn't have done me any good. There is so much turmoil inside me anyway."

libroXshu finished reading Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley

Sloane Crosley: Grief Is for People (2024, Farrar, Straus & Giroux)

No rating

Disarmingly witty and poignant, Sloane Crosley’s memoir explores multiple kinds of loss following the death …

I would have been ok with not reading this. It was somewhat interesting at the start, but just dragged on for so long with random thoughts on experiencing covid while living in NYC, and her stressing about her jewelry being stolen and connecting this to her friend’s death. I also should have counted how many Joan Didion quotes were in the book. Grief is heavy so I’m also not trying to judge how someone experiences it, but also just didn’t get much out of this book.

libroXshu finished reading All Fours by Miranda July

Miranda July: All Fours (2024, Canongate Books)

I went back and finished this. Not worth my time (so I multitasked while listening); it didn’t get any better.

libroXshu started reading Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley

No rating

Disarmingly witty and poignant, Sloane Crosley’s memoir explores multiple kinds of loss following the death …

oops, reading another grief memoir.

libroXshu finished reading Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Notes on Grief (Hardcover, 2021, Knopf)

No rating

“For the rest of my life, I will live with my hands outstretched for things that are no longer there.”

libroXshu started reading Every Man for Himself and God Against All by Werner Herzog

No rating

…as close as I can get to Werner Herzog reading bedtimes stories to me. Definitely going for the audiobook version read by him.

libroXshu stopped reading All Fours by Miranda July

ugh. I can’t. I give up.

libroXshu commented on All Fours by Miranda July

I downloaded the audio book version right before a long drive based on seeing this book pop up on best of 2024 lists. I’m half way into it…..what was I thinking? I kind of hate it but also kind of hate not finishing books. The narrator, age 45, seems to be only just now discovering that perimenopause is a biological thing that happens. People write about the book like it’s so raw and shocking. I just feel like I’m trapped in some modern romance novel that’s trying to be edgy…. So far I find it to be boring and annoying.

libroXshu finished reading The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez

Cristina Henríquez: The Great Divide (Ecco)

No rating

An epic novel of the construction of the Panama Canal, casting light on the unsung …

I’m kind of a sucker for historical fiction. The story kept my attention as an audiobook on long drives. It wasn’t an intense page turner but it was interesting to learn more from about the Panama Canal and the lives impacted by it. She weaves the stories of multiple characters, the transitions from each perspective were clever and smooth.

libroXshu finished reading Rouge Street by Jeremy Tiang

Jeremy Tiang, Shuang Xuetao: Rouge Street (Hardcover, 2022, Metropolitan Books)

No rating

From one of the most highly celebrated young Chinese writers, three dazzling novellas of Northeast …

Really enjoyed this collection of three novellas. First time reading this author and I want to read more. I really liked his writing style, the themes, and the characters.

libroXshu started reading The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez

No rating

An epic novel of the construction of the Panama Canal, casting light on the unsung …

About 40% in….liking how the author transitions between the different characters.

libroXshu stopped reading The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin (The Great Cities Duology, #1)

N. K. Jemisin: The City We Became (Hardcover, 2020, Orbit)

In Manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn't remember …

I really liked the Broken Earth Trilogy so thought I'd check out others but I just can't get into this one...maybe I will try as audio book. Maybe it's the general topic that's not that interesting to me. Anyone read? Is it worth coming back to?

libroXshu finished reading Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

Agustina Bazterrica, Sarah Moses: Tender Is the Flesh (Paperback, 2020, Scribner)

Working at the local processing plant, Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans —though …

“Tender Is the Flesh is a meditation on what capitalism is – it teaches us to naturalise cruelty….Capitalism and cannibalism are almost the same, you know?” —from the author.

Probably one of those books that people either love or hate. I liked that so much detail was spent on the actual process of what it is like in this society to “grow” and process human meat. Between those descriptions you catch glimpses of what it’s like to live in this society; people just go along with it, while others suffer. I think if it was the other way around my brain would have so many questions about the logistics, but I think others might want to know more about the society and relationships. I like what the author chose to focus on, making the reader feel uncomfortable and disturbed, following around one character’s role. This book has been on my …

“Tender Is the Flesh is a meditation on what capitalism is – it teaches us to naturalise cruelty….Capitalism and cannibalism are almost the same, you know?” —from the author.

Probably one of those books that people either love or hate. I liked that so much detail was spent on the actual process of what it is like in this society to “grow” and process human meat. Between those descriptions you catch glimpses of what it’s like to live in this society; people just go along with it, while others suffer. I think if it was the other way around my brain would have so many questions about the logistics, but I think others might want to know more about the society and relationships. I like what the author chose to focus on, making the reader feel uncomfortable and disturbed, following around one character’s role. This book has been on my list for a while and I am glad I finally went for it.