Jessica

3.5 really. Stories about broken people mostly trying to do the best they can. Most of them failing. So much left unsaid. Some perceptive jewels, but mostly just left me sad.

I love this series. Please someone adapt it for tv. Will wait very impatiently for part 3.

“For anybody who could use a break.” the dedication reads. And it is just that. A cozy cup of tea and reassurance that you do not always need to be productive or useful in order to deserve contentment. I feel like this silly, sweet parable will stick with me.

A sweet companion story to A Psalm for the Wild-Built. They are so short they really feel like a single story. I really loved these little books. Just gentle and kind and warm. Definitely recommend as a title comfort read or a nice gift to go with some tea.

It was ok. I got it mostly because of the cast and the Dolby Audio (wanted to see what that was all about). But really it was pretty pedestrian. And the voice acting was way overdone. Too much effort to make all the voices different so they would be easily discernible ended up sending them all into kitch which was distracting. And the ‘twist' at the end was just not anything satisfying. It just was. Oh well.

I need to immediately read Our Town.

There aren't many books that you want to re-read immediately after finishing. This is one. It was a real struggle to get a grip on who was who and what the heck was going on. Like greater than 50% of the book. But it is worth it in the end (is there an end...?).

Frustrating. It is one thing to be opaque. But this just petered out. Very glad it was so short. 2 stars instead of 1 because the writing was lovely. Might try another book by the author if I can be assured of a satisfactory plot.

Meh. Did not really capture me at all. None of the storylines (if you can even call them storylines) or characters were compelling at all. Kept thinking something would happened and it just didn't... Nothing to actively dislike, but definitely would not have finished if it weren't so short.

4.5 Quick little novella. Shades of [b:Girls & Boys 37925478 Girls & Boys Dennis Kelly https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515847920l/37925478.SY75.jpg 59641679]. In my mind, the landscape was from The Banshees of Inisherin. Definitely will read [b:Earth 198222359 Earth John Boyne https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1698178823l/198222359.SY75.jpg 201057287] when it comes out.

4.5 Not entirely sure how I got through this book in one piece. So many triggers and fears in one psychological thriller. Multi-generational trauma. Issues with reality-testing. Abandonment issues. Profound maternal failure. And while the basic premise feels far fetched, the emotional resonance is so so real.

This book made me feel a certain way.

Desolate.

Lots of personal anecdotes about the titans of tech. Nothing that really changes your opinion about anyone (except maybe I am a little less anti-Jobs – but only a little), but still a really interesting account of one person's front row seat to the evolution of the internet and social media in the modern era. Well worth your time.

A satisfying sequel.

4.5 for sure. Thoroughly enjoyable fantasy/magical realism/folklore romp. Not a tear-jerker, not particularly profound, but an easy, enjoyable read. Here's hoping the sequel does not disappoint!

Grim. Felt somewhere between The Stand and The Road. Just a kind of post-apocalyptic story that I guess doesn't really work for me. I wonder if it felt more science fiction-y and less really just-a-few-years-in-the-future when it was written. The religious element also just didn't work for me. Not sure whether I will read the sequel at some point, but definitely passing on it for now.

What a quiet, small, but powerful rumination on memories of trauma from childhood. Beautiful.

Of all the books I read this month, this was my favorite. Each story stood well on its own but was so informed by what came through the generations. Each story adding to my understanding of the history and the breadth and depth of the repercussions of the African slave trade. 10/10 recommend.

A sturdy little thriller. Very realistic sugar cane / plantation backdrop. Depressingly realistic denouement. Always read these in my mind as a Netflix movie / mini-series. I would watch this one for sure.

I enjoyed Exit West and had high hopes for this shorter story, but it didn't engage. Essentially stake-less race transformation exploration. No growth, essentially no reflection. Temporary stakes that ultimately do not lead to any change.

Also, way, way, way too many compound sentences. “And” became “um” as I was reading. A stylistic choice that just became a very distracting tic. Seriously. A thousand short sentences struggle together with and, or and but, but mostly and, and, and. Example: ““...she did not know if it would be open, if it still existed, but it was, and it did, and the owners were there...”

Do not recommend.

Really 4.5, but I feel like I give too many 5s, and it starts to lose its meaning. That said...

Book is so good. The writing is so good. Premise definitely strains credulity, but within the construct, it is just excellent. The details are just great. Perfect and not presumptuous. Never feel pretentious or contrived or stuffed in there because the author is so self-satisfied with their mastery of ‘the craft”. Did not at all suffer from that so common first person, I am going to be guiltily responsible for shit that is not my fault at all. In part because the main character just does not do a lot of self-reflection (and DAMN does she need to), but also because what she does think feels really really real.

Protagonist needs therapy. Badly. Husband is a self-absorbed alcoholic douche bag. Wife is on the spectrum (there is an entire nother book written from her point of view). And Akila is the most whole, sane person in the story.

Two most unrealistic details: 1) where is this mythical Urgent Care where you can waltz in and get a D&C??? 2) What faceless unknown new roommate in the Gen Z age bracket has a record player lying around?

Didn't really work for me. Writing was beautiful, but first person perspective was claustrophobic. Continuous dialog between Annis and Aza was repetitive and just didn't engage me. Story was slow. [b:The Prophets 52576333 The Prophets Robert Jones Jr. https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584823829l/52576333.SY75.jpg 76317525] and [b:Night Wherever We Go 61054121 Night Wherever We Go Tracey Rose Peyton https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1658243344l/61054121.SY75.jpg 96220119] were much more compelling stories covering the same terrain (minus the magical realism).

Want to read a book about coming of age in Nazi occupied France? What [b:All the Light We Cannot See 18143977 All the Light We Cannot See Anthony Doerr https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451445646l/18143977.SY75.jpg 25491300] wishes it was. Historical fiction + magical realism. Love and sacrifice. Survival. Heartbreaking. All the stars.

Eh.