Book Reviews

For both of these books I used my Audible subscription to listen to them. I didn't pay very much. In fact, since I have recently signed up for Amazon Prime I got the second book free! I had never heard of either of them. And chose to listen to them for different reasons. The first book Slouching Towards Bethlehem, by Joan Didion, was about California in the 1960's. I finished high school in the late 1960's. 1969 to be exact. And though I lived in Kansas I remember hearing about many of the things she wrote about in her book. 

The book is a collection of essays. I think she writes with much of the feeling of many of those who were living in California at the time felt. There was much to be said about the whole Haight-Ashbury and it's counter culture which was how those times will always be remembered. She didn't spare details about the 'acid-laced' people she was writing about. I loved the essay about John Wayne. And the one about Howard Hughes was interesting. There was a story about her celebrating her daughter's first birthday that was touching. (I later discovered this daughter, her only child, died  young at nearly the same time her husband died of a heart attack.) According to Wikipedia she is known as a literary journalist who explores America's disintegration of morals and cultural chaos. I will admit I had never heard of her. I will give this book *** stars. It was decent.

I didn't know anything at all about this next book. I downloaded it without knowing what it was about. I knew it was free. And Audible books are expensive. This book is about

hoarding. And it is GOOD. And kind of 'cringe-worthy'. The author's parents are hoarders. Most especially her father. But her mother became a compulsive shopper in defense of not being about to change her husband. And the author describes how she grew up. My mom was a hoarder. Not so much do I remember things being horrible growing up but I do remember the house she was living in when she was moved to the nursing home. And it was bad! Really, really bad. I can relate to the parts about the author trying to help clean up. I often went to my mom's house to try to clean up. Only to find it bad again the next time I went. My step-father was a hoarder too. And together they lived in filth. Rest their souls now. I found the show on A & E years ago, Hoarders, and I binge watched until I just couldn't watch anymore. (My son has jokingly (well, I think it's a joke) called me a Hoarder). You can still see all the floors in my home. And there are not piles of junk everywhere. But I have too much stuff. This book might just make me want to start cleaning it out. If you have any interest in hoarding I high recommend this book. I know of other hoarders. It is always a surprise to me when they don't see this in themselves. This book will be given **** stars!  

What are your thoughts?