I was absolutely enchanted by the overview of an essential entertainment Americana. I remember when I was in preschool I had a birthday party at the cI was absolutely enchanted by the overview of an essential entertainment Americana. I remember when I was in preschool I had a birthday party at the circus in the Mississippi Coliseum, and that was the last time I thought about the circus until about a year or so ago I saw a small tent in the parking lot of the local outlet mall. Next time I do see one, this book makes me want to go gather up my boys and participate in a long tradition of circus-viewing....more
I found this book in the 700 DDC of the stacks of a local library while doing inventory there. I actively seek out books about football, and I had nevI found this book in the 700 DDC of the stacks of a local library while doing inventory there. I actively seek out books about football, and I had never heard of it. Most nonfiction books' cultural relevancy, tenuous at birth, doesn't last very long. I do love finding them, even and especially a little bit older.
Like, I said, I've even read books very similar to this, the Friday Night Lights-type of deal. This one hit a little bit harder, focusing on a community coalescing, even maybe for a short while, after Katrina. These people KNOW what matters and what is ephemeral, and high school football is part of what those to care about during a tenuous time in an already tenuous place anyway. They chose to care about each other for the time they had.
So many of the kids and parents had great stories, but I don't think I'll stop thinking about the Cambodian refugees of the Khmer Rogue any time soon. Even devastation has its competition.
I will say, it's a 18-year old nonfiction book about people, the kids who play sports, who are sort of mildly public figures. A few of them played college ball. Even with distinctive names, a lot of them resist SEO. Crutchfield was fired form South Plaq a few years later after another state title, but still coaches in Bogalusa. Lyle Fitte, the star running back, went to Louisiana Tech, and then returned to South Plaquemines to coach them to another state title a few years ago. I worry about some of those then-kids. I hope they're doing okay....more
I hate to rate this one so average, because I so love Gary Krist's previous three books. I think he just feel in love with the amount of material (i.eI hate to rate this one so average, because I so love Gary Krist's previous three books. I think he just feel in love with the amount of material (i.e. letters) that were available. I don't feel like I understand the city of San Francisco any better, much less its essential idea. This doesn't work as a "city" book, but it's also a little tedious as a true crime tale, even. By the time Fair got around to shooting Crittenden, I was ready to cheer. The relationship was absolutely toxic, and they were both gross Confederate sympathizers. Like, the only legal accomplishment Krist mentions that Crittenden achieved is disenfranching black people in some way. I mean, I'm still all-in for Krist's next book with bells on, but please stick to the Progressive Era, man....more
I don't know if this is a complete 5-star on its merits or I just can't help myself. I loved my five years selling books, and I might do it again one I don't know if this is a complete 5-star on its merits or I just can't help myself. I loved my five years selling books, and I might do it again one day. I've bought books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Square Books, Impression Books, Parnassus, Choctaw Books, Scholastic book fairs, B. Dalton, Libro.fm, but none has ever captured my heart like Lemuria Books. I worry about it all the time, and I treasure my memories and occasional trips back, although my wife has rightly pointed out we need to limit our book in take to make room for our growing family. Ironically, I borrowed this book from my local library, for which I get to buy books (sometimes) and e-books.
This book is organized by representative case, but does a great job remaining readable while reflecting American society. I would highly recommend it to anybody who likes reading. I would highly recommend reading to anybody who loves being alive....more
This book kind of took me around the bend several times. I've lived my whole life as a man who has sometimes leaned into masculine expectations and soThis book kind of took me around the bend several times. I've lived my whole life as a man who has sometimes leaned into masculine expectations and sometimes fought against them. I am already raising a little boy, with another one on the way. Despite the "Mom" in the title, I decided to bet it had something to say to me, as well as my wife and sister-in-law. As much as an anything, it's a call to try to remember to examine the invisible architecture of gender, to allow for the full relational and emotional potential for my sons....more
Goodreads has a super long and weird subtitle listed for this book, but the one on the actual book is much more to the point: "Hollywood's Story in a Goodreads has a super long and weird subtitle listed for this book, but the one on the actual book is much more to the point: "Hollywood's Story in a Century of Flops." This is a minor lesson in film history, inclusive of antiquity (at least as far as cinema goes, and sometimes real antiquity in what those films depict). I have never watched any of these films (except for Speed 2: Cruise Control with some friends when I was in elementary school shortly after it came out), but there's a certain affection mingled in the derision. It really wrestles with the nature of trying to create art, especially movies, which take as much money and collaboration as any art form outside of architecture. Recommended for cinephiles and minor film buffs alike....more
This is probably one of my two favorite books of the year. Thoroughly researched and humanely written, it explains a lot about my home state, althoughThis is probably one of my two favorite books of the year. Thoroughly researched and humanely written, it explains a lot about my home state, although Thompson's focus on the Delta's economic history sometimes overlooks why some of the same conditions happen in different places in the state, the South, and America. I would definitely recommend this to all Mississippians....more
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