Review: Very Important People: Status and Beauty in the Global Party Circuit

Very Important People: Status and Beauty in the Global Party Circuit by Ashley Mears
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I am interested in books about business, and semi-serious ones about earning money. I’m also interested in reading about people who were able to earn money, as well as families that held onto it over many generations.

But it turns out I’m not at all interested in how rich people spend money stupidly when they have no clue what else to spend their money on. I’m sure this is a very good book and it is probably the only one out there tackling this subject, I just have too many books that interest me to care about finishing this. So I won’t give it any rating.

One thing I should point out, however, is that she says bottle service at tables started around 2003, but, at the risk of dating myself, I definitely remember it from earlier than that, I’d say at least 2000 onward. And I wasn’t in a trendy city or anything so I’m sure it existed well before then.



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Review: Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry's Definitive Collection

Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry's Definitive Collection by Stephen Fry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As pretty much 100% of the reviewers have said, having anything narrated by Stephen Fry makes it a pleasure to listen to. My only gripe might be that this was a missed opportunity to read The Haunted Dolls' House, by M.R. James and Dracula's Guest by Bram stoker (is that the one with Walpurgisnacht?). I remember those from when I was young and would love to hear them again narrated by Stephen Fry. Maybe for the second edition?

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Review: The Judge's House

The Judge's House by Bram Stoker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this. Not the ending you would expect, given the rationality of the protagonist.



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Review: The Open Door

The Open Door by Charlotte Riddell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite a good story with an interesting ending.

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Review: The Empty House, by Algernon Blackwood, 1956 edition

The Empty House, by Algernon Blackwood, 1956 edition by Algernon Blackwood
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not my favorite ghost story

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Review: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good story. All the better when Stephen Fry is narrating it. 

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Review: Lost Hearts

Lost Hearts by M.R. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun ghost story. It worked for me. 

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Review: Was It an Illusion? A Parson's Story

Was It an Illusion? A Parson's Story by Amelia B. Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Victorian writing style got to me, but in the end this was worth it. 

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Review: William Wilson

William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An excellent story, probably the definition of a psychological thriller.

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Review: Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt

Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt by Arthur T. Vanderbilt II
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had recently started watching Succession, but then lost interest. Watching a show about family members who happened to have inherited wealth fighting over it just didn't interest me. 

For some reason, however, I found this book enthralling. So much so that I may give Succession another chance. 

The Vanderbilt family spawned some very interesting characters, to say the least, as well as some unique stories. 

It's also a good cautionary tale as to how not to maintain wealth over many generations. 

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Review: The Girl from Ipanema 1963/1982

The Girl from Ipanema 1963/1982 by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A nice short story. I didn't think it was one of his best, but the more I think back on it the more I liked it. Especially his distilled thoughts. I look forward to re-reading it already. 

https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

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Review: Himalaya: A Human History

Himalaya: A Human History by Ed Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was about to give up on this book, since in the beginning it seems like it will just be a personal memoir of his hikes. 

However, it quickly changes, and starts discussing the history of the region, which is about as complicated as can be, with an extremely varied and colorful range of people, civilizations and events. 

I saw one of the reviewers saying that the detailed chapters about the people venturing there was “rather a slog”, but I have to disagree. It seems like every one of the characters covered here could merit a book in their own right. I can’t help thinking there should be more people from local areas to be covered, but much of this depends on records, which may not exist. 

As it is, however, there was too much for me to remember. 

Regardless, probably the definitive book about the region, at least for beginners. 

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Review: Bee Honey

Bee Honey by Yoshimoto Banana
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not your typical Banana Yoshimoto story. This was more like an excerpt from a Travel diary with some personal reflections on one's life. 

3.5 stars.

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Review: Patriotism

Patriotism by Yukio Mishima
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a somewhat disturbing account of a seppuku rite by a husband and wife. Not only does it go into extreme detail, but it eroticizes the entire process. My impression was that he was trying to show how brainwashed and over the top people could be with regards to honor and sacrifice for their country. However, knowing the author committed seppuku himself, he was probably just fetishizing the entire ordeal. In fact, I wonder if his entire coup was an "excuse" to eventually commit suppuku. Regardless, this was disturbing and very intense. 

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