I wanted to read this book because it ranked number one on The New York Time’s “The Best 50 Memoirs of the Past 50 Years.” It is a well-deserved recognition. In a concise, two-hundred-page memoir, Gornick recounts her fierce, unflinching relationship with her forceful mother: “We are locked into a narrow channel of acquaintance, intense and binding.” In writing about her childhood, Gornick gives readers a sense of what it was like living in the Bronx building where noise, music, food, and sex always occurred. From her expose to and experience with sex to her rocky relationship with her husband to her open affair with a married man after her marriage had ended, Gornick writes with feeling, freedom, and fearlessness. In addition to the emotional, blunt honesty, I love Gornick’s impeccable prose.

Jim DeRogatis began writing about R. Kelly as a music critic until he received an anonymous fax about the Pied Piper of R&B’s predatory behavior. DeRogatis and his partner Abdon Pallasch took on the role of investigative reporters to unveil the open secret of R. Kelly’s “sex cult” with young girls. Using his voice, sex appeal, and music talent, Kelly manipulated, abused, controlled, and even urinated on them. In his latest book, DeRogatis builds the case against R. Kelly that he has worked on for almost two decades. Before reading this book, I was on the camp of separating the art from the artist. After finishing it, however, I am done with this teenage-fucker. It is an eye-opening, heart-breaking, and soul-crushing read.

Patricia Lockwood wanted to be a poet. Instead of going to college, she stayed home to write. She got married at 19. With not much financial support, she moved back to her parents’ rectory with her husband. In her debut memoir, Lockwood invites us into her the house of God where her dad is a priest, a Republican, a gun nut, and a Demo-cat hater. Lockwood shares, “My father despises cats. He believes them to be Democrats. He considers them to be little mean hillary clintons covered all over with feminist legfur. Cats would have abortions, if given half a chance. Cats would have abortions for fun.” A Republican, a preacher’s wife, and a mother of five, her mother is no less a character herself. Her mother reveals her father’s secret, “Like the time he shot the German shepherd that bit his bare legs in their little jogging shorts, or the time I got so mad at that priest who insulted my interior decorating that I told him I was going to come down so hard on his dick.” Almost every sentence in the book is witty and funny. Underneath those bright moments, however, Lockwood sheds lights on the darker truth about rape, suicidal attempt, and men’s power over her. It’s a poignant, poetic, hilarious, and insightful book on religion I have read.

At forty-nine, Ms. Morgan went through an ugly, nasty divorce after twenty years of being married to a man who didn’t appreciate her sensuality. What kind of husband refused his wife trying to wake him up in the morning with her mouth? In her postdivorce, Ms. Morgan set out to court five new lovers. As the title suggested, Ms. Morgan spent most of the book naked and having wild, passionate sex with guys twenty years younger than her as well as her high-school sweetheart. In writing about sex, Ms. Morgan doesn’t beat around the bush. She goes straight to the anus. From body to soul, Ms. Morgan bares everything on the page. It’s an emotional, intimate, and erotic memoir that will make you cry and come reading it.

In her poignant, delightful memoir, Wheelis shares stories about her parents and their wonderful relationships. From memories of her childhood to their dying days, Wheelis illumines her father and mother with poetic prose. It’s a fast, page-turning read. I wish I can write like her.

Trong lời tựa, tác giả cảnh cáo rằng những ai mới chia tay hoặc đã chia tay nhưng vẫn vương vấn không nên đọc vì những bài viết tuy ngắn và đơn giản nhưng sẽ gợi lại những ký ức của người cũ. Từ mùi hương đến thói quen đến những điểm hẹn đến những bài nhạc sẽ lắng đọng lại bóng dáng người cũ. Tôi đọc vì thích cách viết mộc mạc của Thạch còn những người cũ của tôi đã đem hết đi bỏ xó không còn lại cảm giác gì cả.

In a fun, informative story of Futura, Douglas Thomas delves into the historical significance and the cultural phenomenon of an iconic, modern typeface designed by Paul Renner. From advertising to branding, moon-landing to presidential-campaigning, corporate-storytelling to product-marketing, Futura has played an influential role in our lives for almost a century without many of us realizing it. With rich illustrations and engaging writing, this book will enlighten readers. Even if you’re not a type snob, you will find it fascinating.

Quyển tiểu thuyết tình cảm hiện đại của ba cặp tình nhân. Phan và Nam, hai chàng trai yêu nhau tha thiết hơn cả những mối tình nam nữ. Tú và Mễ, một nhà văn và một tâm lý học, đến với nhau chỉ vì tình dục nhưng nảy nở đến tình cảm. Thụy và Ân, hai người thuê cùng nhà trọ, có cảm tình với nhau. Cả sáu người đều quen biết nhau. Họ cùng sống giữa Sài Gòn. Yêu nhau giữa Sài Gòn. Làm tình điên cuồng giữa Sài Gòn. Khóc giữa Sài Gòn. Tác giả Nguyễn Ngọc Thạch thắm thiết và gần gũi với Sài Gòn:

Sài Gòn bừng tỉnh sau giấc ngủ vùi. Đường bắt đầu đông, có người phải tranh thủ dậy sớm hơn Sài Gòn để chuẩn bị cho cuộc mưu sinh của ngày mới. Đời Sài Gòn, là chuỗi ngày trải dài của mưu sinh. Bên đường, mấy chị bán bánh mì đã đẩy xa ra, nhanh tay cắt thịt, chả thành từng lát mỏng te, mỏng như đời người ta trong cơn khốn khổ.

Những câu chuyện được sắp xếp không theo thứ tự nên tạo ra những thú vị và không bị nhàm chán. Mới đầu đọc hơi bị lộn xộn nhưng dần cũng làm quen với những nhân vật trong truyện.

Muốn đọc thử những mảnh vỡ của nhà văn Thái Hậu để lấy cảm hứng viết blog. Tiếc rằng những bài viết lợt lạt không đem lại cho tôi những gì mong muốn. Cách viết của tác giả có chất thơ nhưng lại khó hiểu. Tập truyện khá ngắn nhưng dễ bị ngán. Tuy cố đọc cho hết nhưng tôi sẽ không giới thiệu sách đến bạn đọc.

In her beautiful, heartrending memoir, Talusan shares her story of growing up as an immigrant from the Philippines, discloses her struggles with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, and reveals her darkest family secret. As an immigrant myself, I can relate to her experience being bullied and singled out. As a father, I sympathize her yearning to be a mother. As a man, I have upmost respect for her resiliency for overcoming a disturbing family betrayal. Talusan’s prose is excellent. A must-read immigrant memoir.