A breezy overview of type design from theory to history. Rich visual examples and beautiful typesetting make it a perfect gift for students as well as anyone who would like an introduction to the world of typography. A delightful read.

The authors take a weird approach to explain colors. Yellow, for instance, is about the skin color of Asian people. At first, Asians were seen as white, but then perceived as yellow over a period of time. On green, the authors delved into political colors. If you want to learn about color theory for graphic design, this book is not going to teach anything. It’s not an exciting read.

This is another informing book on grammar from Casagrande. She explains syntax in a clear, comprehensible, and joyful writing. Her examples help seeing how sentences are constructed. Although I know most of the rules, I still trip up grammar when I write. Here are a few guides I have noted.

On page 42, Casagrande shows the apostrophe-less adjective:

Often, the implied word for comes into play. If it’s a policy for homeowners, the apostrophe is commonly omitted: homeowners policy. If it’s a massage for couples, you’re likely to see it written couples massage.

On page 91, she explains be:

So be is a base form. You’d use it to replace is, am, or are when employing the subjunctive mood.

He is here.
It’s crucial that he be here.

You are nice.
It’s crucial that you be nice.

I am ready.
It’s crucial that I be ready.

On page 92, she shows how the verbs don’t change in the subjunctive form:

He walks. — It’s crucial that he walk. (Note: No s)
He is. — It’s crucial that he be. (Present tense)

On page 93, she demonstrates the contrary-to-fact meaning:

If Mary were alive
(The speaker knows Mary is not alive.)

If Mary was alive at the time
(Mary may have been alive.)

On page 169, she explains the use of the singular they:

Singular they, them, and their fill a need in the language. English has no designated third person singular personal pronoun that isn’s gender specific. He and she are third person singular, but you’re assigning a sex to someone when you use one of these.

On page 170, she provides some examples:

Everyone should keep their car locked.

Anybody caught out after 11 p.m. knows their movie privileges will be revoked.

Someone who loves me said they will come to my defense.

I highly recommend this book for a crash course on grammar.

In the first chapter, Ms. Brown gives a remarkable account of her personal experience in finding her true belonging. For the rest of the book, she shares her research and advice on dealing with loneliness, connecting with people who have different political views, and kicking the bullshit. After the engaging beginning, the book drags on even though it has less than 200 pages. It’s a passable read.

Mailhot’s dark, riveting memoir reveals deep personal stories include domestic violence, sexual abuse, motherhood, and mental illness. Her prose is poetic and poignant. Here’s an example:

My mind is overwhelmed with breakfast alone. I don’t eat for days so you can run your hands over my ribcage. You told me that you always want to eat ribs afterward. I don’t eat for days because I can’t afford it. The meal I order after being fucked, by you, or anyone, is sont earned. Men objectify me, to such a degree that they forget I eat. You feed your dog more kindly than you feed me. That’s men.

That is some fucked up shit, but I appreciate the honesty. It’s a concise, eye-opening read. Definitely a recommendation.

Yet another guide on writing and Leith does not offer anything new to the crowded field. It’s not a bad refresher, but it can be skipped if you already read other references.

Plaaastic là biệt danh của một blogger thời trang ở Việt Nam nổi tiếng nhưng tôi chưa từng biết đến. Đọc quyển hồi ký của cô khiến tôi ngạc nhiên. Cô bị trầm cảm, ăn ói, ngược đãi bản thân, rối loạn ám ảnh cưỡng chế, rối loạn lo âu, và rối loạn khuynh hướng tâm thần. Để khắc phục những chứng bệnh, cô uống, hút, chích, cắt và thậm chí tự sát nhưng vẫn không khỏi. Đây là cuốn tự truyện rất cá nhân và cá tính. Tác giả chia sẽ rất nhiều về đời tư và những suy nghĩ của mình.

Qua những câu chuyện tình ngắn và đầy cảm xúc, tác giả cho thấy những thiệt thòi của phụ nữ khi yêu. Còn những nhân vật nam số đông là ngoại tình và không biết quý những gì đang có trong tay. Tuy những câu chuyện không mấy mới lạ nhưng vẫn khiến tôi đọc vì tác giả viết những đoạn sex thật nóng bỏng. Xen kẽ những câu chuyện là những bài viết ngắn khuyên nhủ cho phụ nữ. Chẳng hạn như: phụ nữ vạn người mê nhưng chỉ cần một người yêu.

Những bài văn ngắn viết lại những suy nghĩ của tác giả qua những quyển sách cô đã đọc. Phải là người mê sách Hiền Trang mới đọc nhiều sách với nhiều tác giả khác nổi danh trên thế giới. Những quyển sách được chọn lựa để viết về tuổi trẻ. Tuy nhiên cách viết của Hiền Trang không đủ lôi cuốn và thiếu phần sâu lắng nên đọc không được ấn tượng cho lắm. Có thể là tại tôi chưa từng đọc những quyển sách cô đọc và tôi cũng chưa biết đến nhiều tác giả trên thới giới.

In The Library Book, Orlean weaves together investigative journalism, personal introspection, operational insights, fascinating characters, diverse culture, and social openness to tell engaging, riveting stories of the evolution of libraries. Orlean who writes for The New Yorker is both an excellent storyteller and reporter; therefore, this 300-page book is a breezy read—Carly Loman’s exceptional typesetting helps as well. If you love the library, you will appreciate this book. Here’s one of my favorite passages:

In Senegal, the polite expression for saying someone died is to say his or her library has burned. When I first heard the phrase, I didn’t understand it, but over time I came to realize it was perfect. Our minds and souls contain volumes made of our experiences and emotions; each individual’s consciousness is a collection of memories we’ve cataloged and stored inside us, a private library of a life lived. It is something that no one else can entirely share, one that burns down and disappears when we die. But if you can take something from that internal collection and share it—with one person or with the larger world, on the page or in a story recited—it takes on a life of its own.