Blue sky, green trees.
Second reading: I'm feeling that achy-love feeling that comes when you've turned the last page of a really good book. What really struck me this time around was the quality of the writing, how everything is so well said and purposeful and just right. It's something that I notice a lot more as I get older, an author's use of language and style, and I have no tolerance for flabby meandering writing. Reader, this book is sharp and on point. Highly recommend.
First reading: Feels kind of like the movie “Office Space”, but better. Seriously.
The book starts off less like a novel and more like a collection of great anecdotes your friend is sharing during happy hour. This was a little unexpected for me, but it only took about a chapter to get into the flow. About halfway through the story structure becomes more linear and plot-focused.
I have to share the following passage because my office just went through the exact same thing with our second floor, and the author totally nailed the feeling:
“[Floor:] Fifty-nine was a ghost town. We needed to gather up the payroll staff still occupying a quarter of that floor and find room for them among the rest of us and close down fifty-nine, seal it off like a contamination site. Odds were we were contractually bound to pay rent on that floor through the year, shelling out cash we didn't have for real estate we didn't need. But who knows - maybe we were keeping those abandoned cubicles and offices in hopes of a turnaround. It wasn't always about ledger work at the corporate level. Sometimes, like with real people, it was about faith, hope, and delusion.”
Second reading: I'm feeling that achy-love feeling that comes when you've turned the last page of a really good book. What really struck me this time around was the quality of the writing, how everything is so well said and purposeful and just right. It's something that I notice a lot more as I get older, an author's use of language and style, and I have no tolerance for flabby meandering writing. Reader, this book is sharp and on point. Highly recommend.
First reading: Feels kind of like the movie “Office Space”, but better. Seriously.
The book starts off less like a novel and more like a collection of great anecdotes your friend is sharing during happy hour. This was a little unexpected for me, but it only took about a chapter to get into the flow. About halfway through the story structure becomes more linear and plot-focused.
I have to share the following passage because my office just went through the exact same thing with our second floor, and the author totally nailed the feeling:
“[Floor:] Fifty-nine was a ghost town. We needed to gather up the payroll staff still occupying a quarter of that floor and find room for them among the rest of us and close down fifty-nine, seal it off like a contamination site. Odds were we were contractually bound to pay rent on that floor through the year, shelling out cash we didn't have for real estate we didn't need. But who knows - maybe we were keeping those abandoned cubicles and offices in hopes of a turnaround. It wasn't always about ledger work at the corporate level. Sometimes, like with real people, it was about faith, hope, and delusion.”
Added to listGermanywith 100 books.
Added to listAuf Deutschwith 109 books.
Added to listAuf Deutschwith 107 books.
Added to listMysterywith 124 books.
Added to listBookclubwith 46 books.
Added to listMysterywith 123 books.
Good book, I liked reading it. The jump cuts between the past and present were a bit jarring, but I understand that they were necessary so that we could see the complexities of Kinga's relationship with her folks. After awhile I did find myself skimming through the parts set in the past, I wanted to get back into the story of the present!
*********SPOILER*********
The ending wrapped up a little too easily and neatly. I mean, the whole book her parents are horrified that she's dating a Turkish guy, then her father goes on a racist rant at the boyfriend - in front of everyone - and then less than 24 hours later both parents are giving the relationship their blessing? Not believable. I get that she wanted to give us a happy ending, but we deserve a believable one.
Good book, I liked reading it. The jump cuts between the past and present were a bit jarring, but I understand that they were necessary so that we could see the complexities of Kinga's relationship with her folks. After awhile I did find myself skimming through the parts set in the past, I wanted to get back into the story of the present!
*********SPOILER*********
The ending wrapped up a little too easily and neatly. I mean, the whole book her parents are horrified that she's dating a Turkish guy, then her father goes on a racist rant at the boyfriend - in front of everyone - and then less than 24 hours later both parents are giving the relationship their blessing? Not believable. I get that she wanted to give us a happy ending, but we deserve a believable one.
Added to listOwnedwith 546 books.
Added to listGermanywith 98 books.
Added to listAuf Deutschwith 107 books.
Added to listMysterywith 122 books.
Added to listGermanywith 97 books.
Added to listOwnedwith 545 books.
Added to listAuf Deutschwith 106 books.
