High Shelf Esteem

Archives for July 2017

What’s Making Me Happy: July Edition

Just being on vacation for the summer makes me incredibly happy, but there were a handful of things in July that really rang my bells.

Here’s what’s made me happy in July:

Little Witch Academia
Originally a short film followed by a sequel, Little Witch Academia was recently released on Netflix as a 13-episode series and I can only hope there are more seasons to come! The best way I can describe it is an anime version of Harry Potter (but not the sad, scary parts – just the fun magical stuff). The main character, Akko, is training to be a witch but she’s not particularly talented in the magic department and gets into lots of funny scrapes with her friends. If you’ve been watching some heavy stuff (think Handmaid’s Tale, Game of Thrones, etc.) and need a little lift, Little Witch Academia will definitely do the trick.

 

Bottled-in-Bond* Whiskey
My husband and I are big bourbon fans, but the good stuff can get pretty pricey. So, when we came across the article, Why Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey Is the Best Deal in Booze, we decided to give some the recommended bonded whiskeys a try. We’ve tasted three so far: Old Grand Dad Bonded Bourbon ($25), Old Forester 1897 Bourbon ($55), and Rittenhouse 100 Bonded Rye Whiskey ($25). All bonded whiskeys are required to be 100 proof, so aside from the Old Forester, we got a lot of bang for our buck. And they all tasted great, to boot!

*Bottled in bond means the whiskey “has been aged and bottled according to a set of legal regulations contained in the United States government’s Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, as originally laid out in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.”

 

Writing a Diary
After reading David Sedaris’ Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977 – 2002, I was inspired to start writing a diary again. I’ve only been at it for a couple weeks, but I’ve found that I’m much more present and aware of my surroundings because I know I’m going to write about my day later. Plus, it’s great knowing that when I read back on what I’ve written, I’ll have lots of great stories to laugh about.

A few tidbits that I’ve written about: the who guy offered my husband used cigarette filters when he found out we needed an extra pair of earplugs; the girl who threw up in a Tex Mex restaurant and her supportive sister offered to throw up too; and the older gentleman drawing sketches of an evil-looking ventriloquist dummy at the local coffee shop.

 

Frozen Mint Oreo Thins
The other day when I was buying Oreos, I had the good fortune of having the grocery store’s Oreo rep right there in the cookie aisle. When he saw me pick up the mint Oreo Thins, he recommended I put them in the freezer just like you would with Girl Scout Thin Mints. Why I hadn’t thought of this myself, I don’t know, but I’m so glad he suggested it. Frozen Oreo Thins are a delicious and cool delight to enjoy in these dog days of summer.

 

What’s making you happy these days? Share in the comments below!

Literary Linking: July 24 – 28

This week’s article topics include: Jane Austen’s masterful irony, Hemingway’s guide to life, feminist children’s books and more!

The best bookish links the week of July 24 – 28 :

The Enduring Legacy of Jane Austen’s “Truth Universally Acknowledged”
Linguist Geoff Nunberg deep dives the opening line of Pride and Prejudice and extols Austen’s literary irony (as he should!).

Hemingway’s Guide To Life in 20 Quotes
Hemingway has some great one-liners here. I find his quote on keeping promises especially amusing: “Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.”

10 Ways To Organize Your Bookshelf
I’ve always wanted to try organizing my books by color – the result always looks so pretty – but the librarian in me can’t let go of alphabetical order by author’s last name!

15 Believable Excuses for When You Agreed To Plans but You Really Just Want To Stay Home and Read
I feel like I’ve used a bunch of these already… 🙂

30 Feminist Children’s Books that Every Child Should Read
This is a super impressive list! It has a bunch of excellent classics, as well as lesser-known gems.

Worth the Read? – Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977 – 2002

Welcome to “Worth the Read?”, where I give you my honest opinion on whether you should spend your precious time reading a super-hyped New York Times Bestseller.

Today’s book is: Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977 – 2002, by David Sedaris
On bestsellers list for 7 weeks
Ranked at #15 on Adult Hardback Non-Fiction

The Hype:

Honestly, I think there might be three people on the planet who don’t delight in David Sedaris’ dry, hilarious prose. He is beloved by his readers and has experienced great success in the writing world. His past titles have enjoyed places on the New York Times bestseller list, including a few at number one, like with Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim in 2004 and Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls in 2013.

Since most of Sedaris’ writing is based on his life, getting to read his diary is like peeking behind the curtains of his wickedly funny mind. It’s no surprise that his fans are eager to buy the book.

Plot Summary:

As the title indicates, Theft by Finding is David Sedaris’ diary. However, it is not the deeply internal, emotion-ridden kind of writing one might expect from a someone’s personal writings.

Sedaris explains that, “I was never one to write about my feelings, in part because they weren’t that interesting (even to me) but mainly because they were so likely to change.” Instead of feelings he prefers recording “…remarkable events I have observed (fistfights, accidents, a shopper arriving with a full cart of groceries in the express lane), bits of overheard conversation, and startling things people have told me.”

And that’s exactly what Theft by Finding is: a motley collection of observations and musings on the weird, the entertaining, and the inanities of the mundane. From lewd jokes and soap opera recaps to laments about bills and eavesdropped conversations at IHOP, you’ll find it all in Theft by Finding.

Thoughts:

From the moment I started listening to Theft by Finding (Sedaris narrates the audio version and I strongly recommend reading it as an audiobook), I was literally laughing out loud. 

And while Sedaris’ comic delivery is spot on, there’s more to his diaries than the laughs. Sedaris’ unpretentious writing style, combined with his perceptive life observations makes for a refreshing and thought-provoking read. He shows how, if you just pay attention, the world can be an unending fount of interesting stories and experiences.

The diaries also give readers a front-row seat to Sedaris’ growth as a writer. We see his writing develop through the entries themselves, but also in his descriptions of writing for magazines like Esquire and The New Yorker. We then witness the publication of his books and his slow but sure ascent to success in the publishing world.

If you already love Sedaris’ stories and books, then you will absolutely eat Theft by Finding up. It’s especially fun to come across a diary entry that is the source material for Sedaris’ published writings (keep an eye out for his time as an elf at Macy’s 🙂 ).

If you’re new to Sedaris, I would recommend you start with one of his story collections instead of jumping right into Theft by Finding (I’d say either Me Talk Pretty One Day or Dress Your Family in Denim and Corduroy). However, once you have familiarized yourself with his work, I’m sure you’ll want to pick up his diaries.

Rating:*

100% if you’re already a Sedaris fan; 75% if you’re new to Sedaris

Have you read Theft by Finding? What were your thoughts? Share in the comments below!

 

*Rating Key

80% – 100% – the book lives up to the hype. Go read it now!

60% – 79% – the book is good, but there’s no rush to read it

40% – 59% – the book has some degree of merit, but has flaws and probably isn’t worth your time

0% – 39% – the book stinks and isn’t worth the read

Literary Linking: July 17 – 21

This week’s article topics include: George R. R. Martin’s obsession with soup, men adapting ambiguous pen names to sell books to women, and more!

The best bookish links the week of July 17 – 21 :

 

The Anatomy of a Book

Learn some fabulously nerdy vocab about the physical makeup of a book. Endpapers, headband, you’ll know it all!

Game of Thrones Author George R. R. Martin Is Obsessed with Soup

I had no idea George R. R. Martin wrote about soup so much. I have a strong affinity for soup, so I believe the show should draw more on the original material! There should be more soup on screen!

There’s a Harry Potter Supper Club Opening in London This Summer

I’ve always adored London and now there’s even more to love! Not only is there a Harry Potter Supper Club, but it’s being held at a place called The Library. Is there anything else a Potterhead libarian could want?

Ava DuVernay’s A Wrinkle in Time: Watch the First Trailer

All previous cinematic attempts at recreating A Wrinkle in Time have been a sad dumpster fires of moviemaking. This one actually shows promise.

Men Are Apparently Adopting Ambiguous Pen Names To Sell Psychological Thrillers To Women

The reporter is a bit over-the-top in her indignance, but it’s an interesting read nonetheless. Pen name choices are always an interesting thing to ponder.

A Guide To Finding Cheap Books for Beach & Poolside Reading

  

It’s beach and pool season, and while I love both locales for reading, I’m always hesitant to bring my Kindle, library books, or pretty hardbacks to either. What if I accidentally get them wet or super sandy?!

Recently, I asked a public librarian what she thought about people bringing library books to the beach or pool. She said that, in general, she and other librarians really don’t mind. They WANT people to be reading, however, she did admit that they do lose a fair number of books each year to damage from water, sand, etc.

I don’t want to be that person. The one who has to surreptitiously and shamefully drop a waterlogged book into the library return bin. I also don’t want to get sand stuck in my Kindle or my beautiful hardbacks. What’s the solution?

Cheap paperbacks!

Paperback prices have steadily creeped higher and higher, so buying them full-price at the bookstore can get quite expensive. Thankfully, there are a bunch of options that will allow you to get your hands on great books at a great price (even free). Give them a try before your next beach- or pool-side reading session!

Books I found at Goodwill recently. Good stuff!

Goodwill/Thrift Stores

Head to your local Goodwill or thrift store, and I guarantee you’ll be shocked at how many fantastic books you’ll find for sale on their shelves. On a recent visit, I found Wild, by Cheryl Strayed; The Wind-up Bird Chronicles, by Haruki Murakami; The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah; Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen; and many many more. The best part is the price. At my store, paperbacks are only $0.50 each or 5 for $2.00! I’m sure your Goodwill will have awesome prices as well.

 

Used Bookstores

Used bookstores are probably the most expensive of all the options listed here (a lot of used booksellers actually go to thrift stores and library book sales to get their stock), but they’re still cheaper than retail price. Also, if you’re looking to weed part of your own collection, some used bookstores will buy books from you for either cash or store credit. Either way they decide to pay, you can use your earnings to get more books!

 

Library Book Shops

Most public libraries have a section or shop where they sell used books donated by patrons or ones weeded from the library collection, and they’re usually dirt cheap. My library charges a mere $1.00 for paperbacks.

County library systems also usually have annual or bi-annual book sales, which is like their bookshops, but on a much larger scale. Generally, they’re organized by the system’s Friends of Library, so just search “Friends of the Library book sale” and something near you is bound to pop up.  

 

Used Booksales

You have to be on the lookout to find used book sales, but they are worth it. There was a sale near me where I spent only $50 for books that would have more than $500 retail! Some are hosted by libraries (as described above), but other organizations like churches and schools also hold book sales to raise money. One source for finding them is www.booksalefinder.com.

 

Little Free Libraries are everywhere. See if there’s one near you.

Free Little Libraries

Not every neighborhood has a Free Little Library, but if yours does, it’s your source for freeeee books. Just make sure you bring a book to trade in, and you’re golden. The Free Little Library official website has a searchable map of all registered libraries, so check it out to see if there’s one near you: https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/

 

Bookswap with Friends/Family

I’ve never held an official book swap, but any time I see a book I’ve been eying on a friend’s or family member’s book shelf,  I don’t hesitate to ask to borrow it. Almost everyone I know loves sharing books they’ve read. That way you can talk about the stories together. Holding an organized book swap would only streamline the process.
I’m definitely going to try and have one soon!

 

Where do you find cheap books? Share in the comments below!

Literary Linking: July 10 – 14

This week’s article topics include: books for GLOW fans, best cities for readers, blush-worthy scenes from Canterbury Tales, and more!

The best bookish links the week of July 10 – 14 :
The Great Second-Half 2017 Book Preview

The Millions always does a great job previewing the best books of the year. I still have a bunch to read from their first-half 2017 book preview, but now I have many more to add to my TBR. I’m especially excited about Jeffrey Eugenides’ new one.

Millennials Are the Biggest Public Library Visitors

Millennials get a bad rap a lot of the time, but at least  we go to the library!

 

Glow Book Club: To the Time Machine!

If you haven’t started watching Netflix’s new show GLOW (Glamorous Ladies of Wrestling) yet, put down your book and turn on the TV. It’s some of the best entertainment I’ve watched this year. Once you’ve finished binging it (I promise, you won’t be able to stop watching), this list from Book Riot will help you prolong the fun.

 

Great Expeditions: The Top 10 Cities for Literary Travelers

Whenever I travel, I try my best to hit as many literary sites as possible. This article has added a whole bunch to my list. I’m particularly excited about the American Writers Museum that recently opened in Chicago.

 

7 Times “The Canterbury Tales” Was Way Dirtier Than “50 Shades of Gray”

I took a Chaucer class in college and found it so nerdily satisfying to decode all the bawdiness found in The Canterbury Tales. That Wife of Bath is something else 🙂

 

What I’ve Been Reading: July Edition

Welcome to Quick Lit, where we share short and sweet reviews of what we’ve been reading lately. Brought to you by Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy, we link up on her blog to see what others are reading!

July is already speeding past and I haven’t read nearly as much as I hoped to. You’d think that having the summer off would mean lots of leisure reading time. There’s definitely more than during the school year, but I always seem to have responsibilities that need to be handled before settling down with a book.

Let’s hope I get to more of my TBR the second half of the month! Here’s what I’ve read so far in July:

Anything Is Possible, by Elizabeth Strout

I picked this book up because it’s a selection for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club, of which I am a member. I went into it completely blind; I didn’t even read the publisher description. All I knew was that it is a companion to Strout’s My Name Is Lucy Barton, which came out last year. For some reason, I thought Anything Is Possible was going to be a calm and quiet story about a idyllic rural town, with tame problems and a happy ending. It was about a small town, but that’s about all I got right. The characters were damaged people with upsetting problems and tragic pasts. Once I realized that Anything Is Possible wasn’t the comforting pastoral tale I thought it would be, I really appreciated Strout’s ability to convey the difficult lives of the characters in short snapshot-like stories.

 

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? And Other Questions You Should Have Answers To When You Work in the White House, by Alyssa Mastromonaco

I kept hearing about this book from different blogs and podcasts, and even though I’m quite politics-averse, I thought I’d give Mastromonaco’s book a try since it didn’t seem like your run-of-the-mill White House staff memoirs. And run-of-the-mill it was not!

The last thing I expected was vignettes about the perils of IBS on the campaign trail and the challenges of getting your hands on a tampon in the West Wing. Mastromonaco’s candor was refreshing and entertaining, plus she had thoughtful advice for young women aspiring to work in politics (and any competitive career field, really).

 

Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977 – 2002, by David Sedaris

I will read anything David Sedaris writes and this book was available through Book of the Month Club for only $10! Since it was so cheap, I splurged and also downloaded the audiobook. Sedaris narrates and his delivery makes the already fantastic text even better. Theft by Finding has been on the NY Times non-fiction hardcover bestsellers list for the past 6 weeks, so I will be writing more about it soon in my Worth the Read? series. Keep an eye out for it!

 

The Wanderers, by Meg Howrey

The premise of this book captured me: three astronauts are chosen to simulate an hyper realistic 17-month roundtrip to Mars, and over the course of the mission, the lines between what’s real and unreal become increasingly blurred. The Wanderers was a much slower-paced read than I’d anticipated, but the lack of action allowed for much more of the internal lives of the characters to come through. It is one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read in a long time. Covering everything from the search for personal identity to the struggle to differentiate reality from fantasy, Howrey has written a book that all humans will relate to in one way or another.

 

A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman

See my thoughts here: Worth the Read? – A Man Called Ove

 

 

 

 

What have you been reading lately? Share in the comments section below!

Worth the Read?: A Man Called Ove

Welcome to “Worth the Read?”, where I give you my honest opinion on whether you should spend your precious time reading a super-hyped New York Times Bestseller.

Today’s book is:

A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman

On bestsellers list for 79 weeks

Ranked at #8 on Adult Paperback Trade Fiction

The Hype:

A Man Called Ove’s popularity has had a slow but significant burn. When it hit the shelves in the United States in 2015, sales were steady, but once independent booksellers fell in love with the story and started pushing it on their customers, it’s popularity significantly increased. Then, through readers’ word-of-mouth recommendations, sales soared even more.

I couldn’t find sales figures for this year, but in October 2016, the NY Times reported that the book had sold 2.8 copies worldwide and that Atria Books had reprinted the novel 40 times.

A movie adaptation of Ove came out last year to critical success (it has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes), which helped drive sales as well.

 

Plot Summary:

From publisher – Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.

 

Thoughts:

I absolutely adored this book! I’d heard it recommended by so many book reviewers and podcasts that I was a little worried that it was overhyped and I’d be disappointed, but it totally delivered.

Ove’s character could have been very one-note, but Backman did an excellent job giving him depth and making the reader understand exactly why Ove does things he does (as ridiculously curmudgeonly as they may seem!). The story itself is relatively predictable, but it was so well-told and entertaining that it didn’t bother me at all. I even cried at the end, which I almost never do.

The only reason I didn’t give A Man Called Ove a 100% worth it rating is because the writing style might not be to all readers’ taste. The humor is very wry and the narration could seem a bit removed. The book resonated for me, but I certainly don’t speak for everyone!

Rating: 95% worth it

Have you read A Man Called Ove? What were your thoughts? Share in the comments below!

 

Rating Key

80% – 100% – the book lives up to the hype. Go read it now!

60% – 79% – the book is good, but there’s no rush to read it

40% – 59% – the book has some degree of merit, but has flaws and probably isn’t worth your time

0% – 39% – the book stinks and isn’t worth the read

Literary Linking: July 3 – 8

This week’s article topics include: literary video games, ambassador-recommended books, the day jobs of famous writers, and more!

The best bookish links the week of July 3 – 7:

The Hunger Games Taught a 12-Year-Old Girl First Aid
Non-fiction books aren’t the only kind of reading that can teach you things!

What Literary Video Game Should You Play?
I’d have to go with Ever, Jane, which is described as “an immersive online RPG based on the stories of Jane Austen.” It’s unclear whether Mr. Darcy is in the game or not, so I’ll just have to play to find out.

22 Ambassadors Recommend the One Book To Read Before Visiting Their Country
The idea behind this is so smart. I always feel like I understand a country better if I’ve read about it first. Ambassadors know their countries pretty darn well, so I can only assume their recommendations must be good. I guess I’ll have to add The Tobacconist to my TBR since I’m going to Austria in August!

Make Margaret Atwood Fiction Again
Margaret Atwood is such a cool lady! In this interview Junot Diaz talks to her about The Handmaid’s Tale and its success as both book and TV show. My favorite part, though, is when Atwood talks about fellow Canadian, Drake, and how awesome it would be if he were in the next season of the show 🙂

The Day Jobs of 10 Famous Writers
It’s funny to imagine famous authors doing anything besides writing, but most of them had to work a 9-5 to pay the bills before their success. These 10 writers were no exception, and for some, knowing their day job sheds light on their writing.

8 Book-Inspired Musicals You Didn’t Know Existed

I’m off to New York City this weekend with my best friend, and one of our primary objectives is to see as many shows and musicals as possible (secondary objective: eat lots and lots of delicious food!).

Another priority of mine when I visit NYC is to do as many literary things as possible (check out the itinerary from my visit last year). So when I looked at what’s currently showing on and off Broadway, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many of the shows are based on books. This is nothing new, or course. Les Miserables, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of Oz — there are lots of famous musicals based on books, but I like that it’s still a trend.

This got me wondering if there are any book-based musicals I’d missed. The answer? Yes, many! Here are the eight that intrigued me the most:

American Psycho

American Psycho, a musical based on the 1991 novel by Brett Easton Ellis, premiered on Broadway in spring of 2016 and only ran for 54 regular performances. The plot centers on the life of Patrick Bateman, a narcissistic investment banker with a penchant for Phil Collins and… killing people!

I haven’t read the book (honestly, I’m a little nervous to read it because I’ve heard it’s disturbingly violent), but I love the movie, so I’m bummed the musical didn’t have a longer run. One of the songs is called “Cards” and it’s the hilariously ridiculous business-card “showdown” scene set to jaunty synthesizer music – I would have loved to see that!

 

Anne of Green Gables

Until I researched for this blog post, I had no idea that Anne of Green Gables was a musical! Seeing as it’s one of my favorite books on the planet, this news was very happy-making, and I started listening to it right away. Based on L.M. Montgomery’s book, Anne of Green Gables has been performed continuously since 1965, and in 2014 made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as Canada’s longest running musical. With songs about Anne’s first time trying ice cream and kindred spirits, it’s quite a delight to listen to.

 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

You probably know Matilda was turned into a musical, but what about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? The musical, based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 book, premiered in New York this April and a US tour is planned for 2018. Apparently, the Broadway version is a good deal darker than the West End version and parts of the original story have been changed significantly. I’m not sure why the writers would do this, since the book is so good already. Thankfully, the musical does include some of the best songs from the 1971 movie, like “The Oompa Loompa Song.”

 

Gone with the Wind

A musical rendition of the Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind was adapted for stage in 2008, but sadly, it didn’t do very well. Overall reviews were negative and it doesn’t seem like the cast was even able to make an official recording of the production. The only parts of the musical I’ve been able to listen to are from short news clips about it on YouTube. Gone with the Wind ran for only 79 performances and plans for a New York production have been “put on hold.” My feeling is that tomorrow isn’t another day for this musical.

 

Jane Eyre

Real talk: I would love to see the brooding Byronic Edward Rochester belting out showtunes! And it turns out he did in the Jane Eyre musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2000. Unlike some of the other lesser-known musicals based on books, this one actually got good reviews and was nominated for a few Tony Awards. Alanis Morissette, a close friend of the show’s composer/lyricist Paul Gordon, bought $150,000 of tickets in an effort to prolong the run, but it only helped a little. Performed a total of 209 times, Jane Eyre closed just a week after the 2001 Tonys.

 

Tuck Everlasting

I loved Natalie Babbitt growing up, especially Tuck Everlasting, with its cautionary tale of immortality. The musical version, however, was very mortal. It only ran for a month on Broadway in 2016 before getting axed. Apparently, Tuck just wasn’t flashy enough to draw crowds and didn’t sell enough tickets. I checked out some of the highlights on YouTube, and it seemed cute, but what caught my attention was the first comment on the video: “Tuck Neverlasting.” Cue the sad trombone music.

 

Rebecca

Here are the basics: the musical version of Rebecca is in German and closely follows the story of the the book by Daphne du Maurier. It ran in Vienna, Austria for three years and was performed in various other countries such as Korea, Finland and others.

Beyond the basics: One country Rebecca will not be performed in anytime soon is the U.S. The reason why is pretty bonkers. A Broadway production of the show was announced in 2012, but it turned out that the show’s investors were completely made up. The FBI launched a criminal investigation, which resulted in the arrest of the middleman who fabricated the non-existent investors. In April this year, the producers went to trial against the show’s publicist in the New York Supreme Court, where it was revealed then that they had lost the rights to the show. Cue even more sad trombone music!

 

The Lord of the Rings

There have been a bunch of different theatrical renditions of J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series, but the one reviewers will remember (and not kindly) premiered in Toronto in 2006 and then had a 13-month run in London’s West End from 2007-2008. The show cost £25 million to produce, and critics did not believe it lived up to its price tag. “Bored of the Rings,” and “more middle-of-the-road than Middle Earth” are just a few of their choice words about the musical.

 

All in all, it seems that a fair few of these musicals are lesser known because they tanked at the ticket office, but being the booknerd that I am, I would still go see them if they toured near me!

 

What musicals based on books have you enjoyed? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!