Wait, what the hell happened? I listened to this entire book straight through and was absolutely riveted and hanging on every word, but still have absWait, what the hell happened? I listened to this entire book straight through and was absolutely riveted and hanging on every word, but still have absolutely no idea what was going on? Does that mean it was smarter than me? Does it mean it was exceptional or horrible? Mind blown but utterly confused....more
"You prefer it without advertising?” she found herself asking. “The thing is, May,” the hum said, “the goal of advertising is to rip(free review copy)
"You prefer it without advertising?” she found herself asking. “The thing is, May,” the hum said, “the goal of advertising is to rip a hole in your heart so it can then fill that hole with plastic, or with any other materials that can be yanked out of the earth and, after brief sojourns as objects of desire, be converted to waste.”
THIS BOOK. I started it before bed last night and just finished it instead of napping this afternoon because I could. not. stop. reading. Kicking myself for not reading it early enough to include in this morning’s newsletter! Stunning and haunting very-near-future commentary on AI, motherhood and environmental endtimes. It's just the perfect mix for me ~ realistic enough to be horrifying, especially regarding surveillance, modern parents' compulsion to track their children, American society's immediate urge to take children from their parents in ridiculous situations, and OMG the nature commentary freaks me all the way out.
(free review copy) I just inhaled this tale of a middle-aged Stockholm couple's marriage imploding, not because of the train-wreck factor, but because(free review copy) I just inhaled this tale of a middle-aged Stockholm couple's marriage imploding, not because of the train-wreck factor, but because getting to read both sides of the situation was such an enlightening experience. So often when we know anything about relationship difficulties we only know one side, so thinking I knew what was going on in the first half of this book and then realizing there was much more to the story was so fascinating. This isn't at all a thriller or suspense story, just a domestic tale as old as time that nonetheless read like the most intriguing thriller ever. Perhaps it's because I have been married for 20 years and also have teenage children, but absorbing and analyzing the dysfunction in, and dissolution, of other relationships really does help me process my own.
I really broke my rules with this book because I never start a series smack in the middle. BUT, I bought this book while on a vacation to Maine, and wI really broke my rules with this book because I never start a series smack in the middle. BUT, I bought this book while on a vacation to Maine, and we had just done a puffin boat tour (try Cap'n Fish's Cruises in Boothbay Harbor!) to Eastern Egg Rock and I was absolutely fascinated by the seabird sanctuary. Then I was at a bookstore (Sherman's in Freeport) and saw that this book was a murder mystery set on an island that was very obviously modeled on Eastern Egg Rock. I was sold. While this book is part of a series, it very easily read as a standalone and I was immediately sucked in. This is a dark story with themes of environmental bullying / threats, mental illness, sexual abuse and of course, LOTS of murder. I absolutely loved it though and am excited to read more in the series ~ this stands out as the most chilling book I have read this summer.
As the mother of young adults and the daughter of an avid hiker / walker, I adored this book SO MUCH. I have spent more miles than I can possibly counAs the mother of young adults and the daughter of an avid hiker / walker, I adored this book SO MUCH. I have spent more miles than I can possibly count biking, running and walking alongside my mother and we have had many an interaction similar to those between father and son in this account of the pair's trek across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. I laughed out loud often thinking of interactions between me and my children that mimic some in the book and what can I say ~ it's one of my favorite books I have read this year.
I hereby declare this release-month-partner the official younger sister of All Fours and am now a little salty about the fact that book didn't receiveI hereby declare this release-month-partner the official younger sister of All Fours and am now a little salty about the fact that book didn't receive nearly as much coverage as that book did. Both books present motherhood and marriage in incredibly thought-provoking ways, both includes a lot of non-romantic sex and self-pleasure, and both are very trippy. All Fours takes us into perimenopause and later marriage and We Were the Universe is about young womanhood and early motherhood and marriage ........ and both are pretty weird.
Please read this book if you have any thoughts whatsoever about All Fours. Thank you for listening to my very short TED Talk.
I had just listened to the recently revised / expanded The Match and loved it so much that I immediately moved on to this book in Hoopla, but I believI had just listened to the recently revised / expanded The Match and loved it so much that I immediately moved on to this book in Hoopla, but I believe I listened to the older version of this one? Anyway, this was a very different kind of story from The Match, and while I understand the main character had body image issues after a toxic relationship, I just couldn't get over the pervasive dieting and fat-shaming self-talk throughout the book. I really hope this got changed in the new version, but this one very much has a "she don't know she's beautiful" vibe that feels very dated. It's a cute story and an enjoyable listen, but I just can't overlook that.
(free review copy) This single mom spy comedy was so much fun!! The parenting and divorce commentary was my favorite part about it ~ it's a fun pairin(free review copy) This single mom spy comedy was so much fun!! The parenting and divorce commentary was my favorite part about it ~ it's a fun pairing with Summer Romance on those notes. Was the spying part in any way shape or form believable? NO. Was it really supposed to be? NO. It offered a great way to pull the main character out of her rut and make her see that she's so much more valuable than she had been crediting herself for and gave a little action to the story, but IMO this is first and foremost a "woman reclaiming herself in midlife" story. Can't wait to read more by the author!
How do you rate a book about such absolute pain, suffering, and a horribly broken system? The murder of innocent children, the robbing of families of How do you rate a book about such absolute pain, suffering, and a horribly broken system? The murder of innocent children, the robbing of families of their children, and the generations of pain and suffering depicted in this book made it a very, very tough listen. I listened in 30 minute increments, that’s all I could handle at a time of time. But I’m glad I persisted in honoring the families that have suffered so much in the foster system. This is a vital read for anyone who works with children or social services in any capacity, or healthcare or law enforcement.
(free review copy) A sweet follow-up to On Fire Island that could definitely also be read as a stand alone. I love a beach read in a unique setting, a(free review copy) A sweet follow-up to On Fire Island that could definitely also be read as a stand alone. I love a beach read in a unique setting, and Fire Island doesn't get nearly as much fictional play time as does Nantucket. While I didn't love some of the miscommunications throughout the story, the large cast of quirky and lovable island characters, the weekend guests, the family drama and the gorgeous beach setting overall won me over. This was a fun read poolside!
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