I really liked the writing in this fragmentary novel. It is relentless in how fucked up everyday marriages can be. There is nothing extraordinary hereI really liked the writing in this fragmentary novel. It is relentless in how fucked up everyday marriages can be. There is nothing extraordinary here and yet it is brutal. The husband here is a total jerk and the author does not let up on that. We can feel how trapped she is. It reads like a memoir. My biggest issue is this book is too long and bc not a lot happens, it could be shorter by 75 pages and been a really tight strong book, instead it get a little redundant in the end....more
I had so much fun listening to this book. It is a total delight. It is a bit of a send up or maybe subversion of the western genre and I loved it. I lI had so much fun listening to this book. It is a total delight. It is a bit of a send up or maybe subversion of the western genre and I loved it. I loved the characters and the story. It is so wholesome while still having, well, grit. Portis captures the voice of a teen girl so well. There is fun. There is drama. I really liked this one....more
This is a YA book about a magical Black HBCU, I loved the idea but think the execution was flawed. The book is way too long, and slow, and I felt likeThis is a YA book about a magical Black HBCU, I loved the idea but think the execution was flawed. The book is way too long, and slow, and I felt like most of the twists were just there to twist, but didn't move the plot forward. It was hard to follow and I never really cared about the characters, I also struggled to keep them all straight. The book has potential and the author has a great imagination, but the editor needed to be considerably more rigorous with this story....more
This is a sweet little memoir in essays from a celeb. There isn't anything here about his life as an actor or his journey to becoming one. It is all aThis is a sweet little memoir in essays from a celeb. There isn't anything here about his life as an actor or his journey to becoming one. It is all about his childhood, which he tells us clearly from jump. It isn't a life changing book, but it is also totally unoffensive and readable, with some fun antidotes stories, and childhood mess ups....more
This is one of those books you have to piece together as you go. There is a murder mystery at the center and you're trying to figure it all out. I likThis is one of those books you have to piece together as you go. There is a murder mystery at the center and you're trying to figure it all out. I liked the world building and the characters. I did sometimes feel lost in the motivations of the characters and who I was supposed to be rooting for (which I think was intentional). I saw the big twist coming from pretty far away (at least 150 pages out). Overall this is a solid book but I do have some smaller nits to pick (pacing mostly). I saw so much growth for the author from their debut to this....more
This could’ve been a podcast or article. The subtitle gives it all away and I’m not sure the author earned the full length. I liked it and was entertaThis could’ve been a podcast or article. The subtitle gives it all away and I’m not sure the author earned the full length. I liked it and was entertained but found myself so far ahead of the story. ...more
This was a wild book and blast from the past. I loved seeing the images from 1986 and how frozen in time they felt. The photogs did a great job of capThis was a wild book and blast from the past. I loved seeing the images from 1986 and how frozen in time they felt. The photogs did a great job of capturing the extreme and the mundane of life in America. I wished the book included more POC and their cultures and their experiences. It is an overwhelmingly white book which is a bummer....more
A really sharp meditation on memoir, memory, art, power, and of course abuse. I appreciated how Ciment would pull chunks from her memoir to compare wiA really sharp meditation on memoir, memory, art, power, and of course abuse. I appreciated how Ciment would pull chunks from her memoir to compare with her current thinking. I liked the writing style so much. Its a short book and lost a little focus for me in the middle, but overall really good. I would have loved for her to share why she wanted to go back and tell this story in a new way. ...more
A well written romance novel that deals a lot with grief and trauma and healing. I liked the story, but found the book to be excessively long and repeA well written romance novel that deals a lot with grief and trauma and healing. I liked the story, but found the book to be excessively long and repetitive. If it had been shorter and moved a little more quickly I could've really loved it. I think the sex scenes were pretty good, not overly graphic but also not too tame either....more
This is an extremely well researched and detailed history of the Holocaust. It is very dense. I enjoyed it but struggled a bit with the writing style,This is an extremely well researched and detailed history of the Holocaust. It is very dense. I enjoyed it but struggled a bit with the writing style, finding the prose clunky and repetitive in parts. I deeply appreciate the reframing of so much of the Holocaust and the horrors being clearly and plainly stated. I do recommend this book but not as an entry point to the Holocaust bc of how much this book challenges and complicates well held beliefs. ...more
This is just a little Dr. Seuss book for adults from 1986. It is exactly what you expect from Dr. Seuss but doesn't really have much to say at all besThis is just a little Dr. Seuss book for adults from 1986. It is exactly what you expect from Dr. Seuss but doesn't really have much to say at all besides a joke about how horrible it is to grow old and how silly the poking and prodding of medicine are. ...more
Ok look the writing in this book is pretty terrible, but overall it was better than I was expecting. I didn't like the book at all and found it to be Ok look the writing in this book is pretty terrible, but overall it was better than I was expecting. I didn't like the book at all and found it to be extremely cringe but it is readable and I understand how and why folks might like it. I think it also depends on why you come to reading. And this is now why. So yes, it is serviceable fluff, but also like there is much better fluff....more
I liked this book. It is a wild ride and not for the faint of heart. I think this book is going to be very polarizing, especially for folks who need lI liked this book. It is a wild ride and not for the faint of heart. I think this book is going to be very polarizing, especially for folks who need likable characters. You're not getting that here. My biggest gripe is that the pacing stalls out (a bit long) in the middle third and I saw the ending coming miles and miles away. ...more
I liked the premise of this book and thought the writing was fun. It might have gone on a bit too long since it is a lot of telling and not showing. II liked the premise of this book and thought the writing was fun. It might have gone on a bit too long since it is a lot of telling and not showing. Its a clever idea, but maybe just too long. ...more
I was surprised by how much I liked this book (I read on audio). The story is well told and gives the reader what they're looking for in terms of GrinI was surprised by how much I liked this book (I read on audio). The story is well told and gives the reader what they're looking for in terms of Griner's experiences in Russia. I think this book is aiming toward a very wide audience and at times tries to really explain things (like racism, Black women's hair, queer identity) that feels very basic. I also think Griner was not allowed to divulge center information and also wasn't privy to other things so there are gaps. It is a very smooth and clear narrative that I was engaged with from start to finish....more
This is such a fun cookbook for folks who love to host, want to host, or have to host. I flagged at least 1/3 of the recipes. It’s got gorgeous photosThis is such a fun cookbook for folks who love to host, want to host, or have to host. I flagged at least 1/3 of the recipes. It’s got gorgeous photos and I really liked the writing style. It’s super conversational. A good mix of mains, sides, drinks, snacks, and desserts. Also a lot of help menu planning....more
I really appreciated the idea and effort behind this book. I’m glad there is writing about post Roe abortion care. UNDUE BURDEN is too long, though. II really appreciated the idea and effort behind this book. I’m glad there is writing about post Roe abortion care. UNDUE BURDEN is too long, though. It is extremely redundant. It is detailed in ways that do not add to the story/information being shared. The book is one note. ...more
Started off so strong. A total mindfuck and great world building to kick things. Exciting plot. Engaging characters. So much to like through chapter fStarted off so strong. A total mindfuck and great world building to kick things. Exciting plot. Engaging characters. So much to like through chapter five. The ending (last 75 pages or so) just weren’t for me. I didn’t love the authors choices and am not sure it really fit the first part of the book. ...more
This book is full of beautiful images of folks in drag against the same backdrop. I really loved the images but wish there was more text at least to iThis book is full of beautiful images of folks in drag against the same backdrop. I really loved the images but wish there was more text at least to identify who the queens were in each shot (there is a key at the end) or else to talk about what weee seeing in some images or what the trends are. Just more context. But the pictures are wow!...more
This is so well done. I loved this book and the style of storytelling. By the end I was just hoping they would do the right thing and call off the lauThis is so well done. I loved this book and the style of storytelling. By the end I was just hoping they would do the right thing and call off the launch, though of course they didn't. Really appreciate Higginbotham highlighting the full story of the space program and the astronauts (not just McAuliffe). Really great investigative journalism. Its a page turner....more
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