Michael Colford's In Progress Shelf
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Cape CodCape Cod, BookAn Environmental History of A Fragile Ecosystem
by Cumbler, John T.Book - 2014Book, 2014
Added Aug 23, 2023
Michael Colford's rating:
Added Jul 05, 2023
Michael Colford's rating:
Added Jun 28, 2023
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An engrossing read that packs three distinct storylines into one novel fairly successfully. Fuller starts with virulent pandemic sweeping the world, that is a bit more apocalyptic than what we all recently endured, but is similar enough to bring back some pretty tense memories. Neffy is a marine biologist who volunteers for a dangerous study where she will be injected with the virus and a possible vaccine along with a handful of other test subjects. Just as she undergoes the first phase of the trial, the world goes to hell and when she recovers she finds herself trapped in the hospital with four other subjects.
As they try to adapt to their new lives, Neffy discovers that Leon has an experimental device that allows her to relive her memories, an experience that can be dangerously addictive, but through these experiences we learn about Neffy's life, and what led her to Fuller's third storyline, about Neffy's relationship with the mysterious H, to whom she is writing letters to in her journal. It doesn't really add up into a coherent whole, but all the storie are compelling, and Fuller's exploration of memory (the pandemic attacks memories, while Leon's device allows you to relive them) is interesting.An engrossing read that packs three distinct storylines into one novel fairly successfully. Fuller starts with virulent pandemic sweeping the world, that is a bit more apocalyptic than what we all recently endured, but is similar enough to bring…
Michael Colford's rating:
Added Jun 15, 2023
Comment:
Ann-Helén Laestadius is a lauded author from Sweden, of Sámi and Tornedalian descent: two of Sweden's national minorities, and in tackling this multi-faceted novel, she barely misses a step while addressing the bigotry, cruelty, and casual indifference that plagues a community. Sadly, the novel is based on hundreds of police reports the author reviewed. The story revolves around Elsa and her family, of Sámi descent, and reindeer herders by profession. When Elsa is just a young girl, skiing to their reindeer corrall on her own for the first time, she stumbles across on of her own reindeer calves, slaughtered by a man from a neighboring village. Caught in the act, the man threatens Elsa for her silence. Despite reporting the murder of their property, Swedish law only considers this kind of slaughter as theft and do very little to investigate. This dark scene kicks off a decade long struggle that Elsa, her family, and her fellow Sámi villagers face time and time again as their livelihood is destroyed, and their reindeer are tortured and butchered unlawfully.
Add to the main storyline the powerful undercurrent of bigotry directed at the indigenous people of the area, and how it impacts the youth -- leading to depression and suicide -- and Laestadius fashions a damning tale of today's society in the hopes that things will start to turn around. There's also the underlying threat of climate change that, while not in the forefront, is elegantly woven throughout the lives of these people who depend on the seasons. This is a complex, well-written, gritty and upsetting tale, which is just as it should be.Ann-Helén Laestadius is a lauded author from Sweden, of Sámi and Tornedalian descent: two of Sweden's national minorities, and in tackling this multi-faceted novel, she barely misses a step while addressing the bigotry, cruelty, and casual…
Michael Colford's rating:
Added May 27, 2023
Comment:
It's hard for me to review We Are the Light by Matthew Quick, because it seems like such a personal novel, and one that springs from very painful experiences that the author has struggled through. The novel is certainly powerful, and deal with trauma and mental illness in a very unique and specific way but for me, much of the book seemed implausible and borderline silly, and main character Lucas and his fellow townsfolk wrestle with the the communal horror of a event that is all-too often in the news today.
The characters are richly drawn, and compassionate, but the unfolding of the story takes a lot of suspension of disbelief (and I'm not talking about Lucas' visions) that I kept finding myself pulled out of it. The part of the book that resonated the most for me was the final wrap-up, which was painful and honest in a way that provides such empathy and understanding. Sadly, I didn't feel that in the lengthy lead-up.It's hard for me to review We Are the Light by Matthew Quick, because it seems like such a personal novel, and one that springs from very painful experiences that the author has struggled through. The novel is certainly powerful, and deal with…
Michael Colford's rating:
Added May 09, 2023
Comment:
This one put me off rather quickly, but it grew on me as I forged ahead. Woefully overwritten, like a grad student trying his best to impress with the most intellectually twisted sentences used to say some pretty simple things, <i>A Minor Chorus</i> follows a young writer from the Cree Nation in Canada, and his struggles with rampant racism and homophobia both actual and perceived, in rural Alberta. Now a doctoral student, he moves away from his dissertation to write a novel -- a fictional autobiography of a community, actually, to examine the challenging upbringing he endured.
Coming in at just over 150 pages, this novel doesn't drone on and one, which is a good thing, and after the rather lengthy set-up (for such a short book) it settles down nicely once it gets to the meat of the story. This features the writer's interviews with various characters he knew growing up in that small town. Most notably is his cousin Jack, a hopeless character caught up in a cycle of police violence and drugs. Strangely, the novel ends rather abruptly as the protagonist sits down to being the writing of his novel.This one put me off rather quickly, but it grew on me as I forged ahead. Woefully overwritten, like a grad student trying his best to impress with the most intellectually twisted sentences used to say some pretty simple things, <i>A Minor Chorus</i>…
Stories I Might Regret Telling YouStories I Might Regret Telling You, BookA Memoir
by Wainwright, MarthaBook - 2022Book, 2022
Michael Colford's rating:
Added Apr 06, 2023
Comment:
Another enjoyable celebrity bio in the rock & roll vein. Martha Wainwright has a fascinating career and life in her own right, but as she mentions more than a few times in this book, she also comes from music royalty, with her mom, Kate McGarrigle, her dad, Loudon Wainwright III, and her older brother, Rufus Wainwright. Martha was always struggling to keep up creatively with her famous parents and brother, and arguably succeeded, even though she often felt inadequate. She also led a sometimes wild, rock & roll, partying lifestyle that makes for entertaining reading. She's definitely a heart on her sleeve kind of woman, and doesn't hold back. It was a quick, fun read, that doesn't shy away from some of the darker and sadder part of life as well. Sometimes it reminded me of Sarah Polley's recent book of essays, Run Toward the Danger, in the quirky, matter of fact way she told some disturbing stories. It certainly made me want to go back and listen to more of her music!Another enjoyable celebrity bio in the rock & roll vein. Martha Wainwright has a fascinating career and life in her own right, but as she mentions more than a few times in this book, she also comes from music royalty, with her mom, Kate McGarrigle,…
Remarkably Bright CreaturesRemarkably Bright Creatures, BookA Novel
by Van Pelt, ShelbyBook - 2022Book, 2022
Added Jul 06, 2022
Reading the Silver ScreenReading the Silver Screen, eBookA Film Lover's Guide to Decoding the Art Form That Moves
by Foster, Thomas C.eBook - 2016eBook, 2016
Michael Colford's rating:
Added Jul 06, 2022
Comment:
Started off interestingly enough, but after the author, a Professor of English, turns his hand from literary criticism to film criticism, I have to wonder what his qualifications are. He tends to use a handful of big, Hollywood-minded films as his examples, and uses them repeatedly. While book is an easy and sometimes interesting read, ultimately I found i9t a bit simplistic and disappointing.Started off interestingly enough, but after the author, a Professor of English, turns his hand from literary criticism to film criticism, I have to wonder what his qualifications are. He tends to use a handful of big, Hollywood-minded films as his…
Braiding SweetgrassBraiding Sweetgrass, BookIndigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
by Kimmerer, Robin WallBook - 2020Book, 2020
Added Jun 26, 2022
Michael Colford's rating:
Added Jun 04, 2022
Comment:
I was halfway through this fascinating tale that weaves Indigenous American mythology into a family saga when I read a scene so horrific, and somewhat out of the blue, that I had to pause and put the book down. I tried picking it up again to continue on and found I could not because it was too upsetting for me to think about the scenes. Sadly, I could not continue reading this book.I was halfway through this fascinating tale that weaves Indigenous American mythology into a family saga when I read a scene so horrific, and somewhat out of the blue, that I had to pause and put the book down. I tried picking it up again to…
Michael Colford's rating:
Added Apr 15, 2022
Comment:
Melissa Scott creates an immensely detailed and complex fantasy land in Water Horse, and the payoff to the incredibly slow-burn build-up is satisfying, but for me, that amount of detail bogged down the reading experience. Excessive comments about clothing (what to wear to a battle, for instance), or cheekbones, gets wearing after a while. The characters leaned toward stock fantasy tropes, with the added queer sensibilities that are nicely a regular part of this world. I am a fan of those basic elements, fire, water, earth, air, and Water Horse certainly leans into that a bit. The Kyra of the Westwood was for me the most intriguing character, and her relationship with the land she governed. So all-in-all, worth reading, if not the most compelling fantasy novel I've read.Melissa Scott creates an immensely detailed and complex fantasy land in Water Horse, and the payoff to the incredibly slow-burn build-up is satisfying, but for me, that amount of detail bogged down the reading experience. Excessive comments about…
Run Towards the DangerRun Towards the Danger, BookConfrontations With A Body of Memory
by Polley, SarahBook - 2022Book, 2022
Michael Colford's rating:
Added Mar 21, 2022
Comment:
With insightful, and introspective care, Polley chronicles some of the most difficult moments throughout her life and how they affected its trajectory. The challenges she focus on for her first book of essays are largely health issues, but sometimes brought about by the stresses and extremes she underwent as a child actor. Polley is unapologetic in her writing, yet she is also unflinching as she exposes her own neuroses, or drives, which sometimes come across as alienating. What always comes across, however, is the exploring, intelligent mind of a thoughtful, independent woman.With insightful, and introspective care, Polley chronicles some of the most difficult moments throughout her life and how they affected its trajectory. The challenges she focus on for her first book of essays are largely health issues, but sometimes…
Michael Colford's rating:
Added Feb 25, 2022
Comment:
Osborne's second offering in her series, The Memory War, took some time to draw me in, but ultimately succeeded in telling a complicated story about the ongoing saga of first contact that turns to interstellar war, and the women who change the course of history. Engines of Oblivion picks up with Natalie Chan, a supporting character form the first installment of the series, Architects of Memory, who frankly, took a while to emerge back into my brain even after having read the previous novel only a year or so ago. That's part of the problem with Osborne's novels. Her plots are so dense, and convoluted, that I often don't really know what's going on. Ultimately, the characters are real enough, and the story engaging enough that it almost doesn't matter that I'm missing the larger story she is trying to tell, but part of me is frustrated by that as well.
The main characters from Architects do return, and their presence is felt throughout, but this is really Natalie's story, and her evolving relationship with the Master Node of the mysterious Vai. It is fascinating how Osborne plays with memory, and focuses on its importance... but also how despite it being made essential, is very fragile i the arch of this novel. I"m not 100% I would continue onto a third book, but we'll have to wait and see.Osborne's second offering in her series, The Memory War, took some time to draw me in, but ultimately succeeded in telling a complicated story about the ongoing saga of first contact that turns to interstellar war, and the women who change the…
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