Kirstin
This book raised my heart rate every time I was reading. It very effectively transferred the feeling of anxiety from the main character to me as the reader, but that effectiveness didn't feel enjoyable. Even with the character growth by the end of the novel, I was still frustrated with our character. It was definitely an exercise in understanding and embodying the complexity of enmeshed families and relationships. I almost want to re-read it, but I also am so happy to be done with the stresd that this book made me feel.
This is an anthology of short stories, written by young Gazans - people who are from there, and who may still live there. It is devastating, and funny and hopeful at times, and so beautiful. Incredible work by the authors and editor, including the short biographies at the end of the book.
Grateful to KoboPlus to have this available as part of my subscription.
I didn't think I was going to like this book, and then I had cried multiple times by the last page. Worth the slow start. Worth the ~just okay~ bits and characters. Loved Yrene and Nesryn, and otherwise was a bit exasperated by most characters. I read this before reading Empire of Storms (the Romantic Read guide suggestion) and am looking forward to the final chapters of this saga.
SAPIENS was disappointing. Of course, to even attempt to provide an accurate or somewhat comprehensive history of the species is a mountainous task, and that can be applauded.
But.
Harari's choices in this novel struck me as incredibly biased and, frankly, patriarchal and hegemonic. When understanding that he is a History scholar, this makes some sense - he is focusing on what the victors have focused on! But, as he posits the history of Sapiens (at least early stages) to basically be about and determined by biology, his choices to skim over historical systems of oppression aree shown to be problematic.
I was hoping throughout the book that there would be refutations of pseudo-science and fake evolutionary biology (aka eugenics), or at the very least, recognition of the biases that lead to racist and sexist policies, but Harari only included analysis of theories when he clearly disagreed with them, such as around the Agricultural Revolution.
There are interesting parts in this book, and as a very high level view of evolutionary understanding of the human species and history, I found some value in it. But the number of times that this book made me laugh or fume or roll my eyes greatly outweighed the appreciation that I have for it. If I want to have human history and biology mansplained to me by someone who is not an expert in either, I'll go to a local undergraduate class.
This was a fun, easy read, with a unique cast of characters and lovely setting. The author's voice for the narrating character was well done, and the twists, even when predictable, were satisfying (at least for the most part). I found the lack of identification of neurodivergence for Molly pretty frustrating and ridiculous, and the final reveal was just... fine. Overall, a light, cozy read that I would recommend specifically as that!
2 ⭐️
I enjoyed this book, but wish it had been edited more thoroughly. Typos and errors took me out of the story more often than I expect.
I found Nox's arc to be under-explored, and I want to know more about her! It left me feeling like her character was less fulsome or fleshed-out than Amaris's, making the last third of the book fly by without enough resolution for my preference. The pacing was definitely hard to follow at times.
I am looking forward to the next book, in the hopes that it gets better! I like this story overall despite some other criticisms that I had, especially related to the over-simplification and stereotypical descriptions of racialized characters + extensive descriptions of traumatic experiences.
Edit: I had no idea about this book being self-published, the actions of the author and former editor, or any of the online interest as I don't have tiktok. Though I want to see where the story goes, I'm not sure whether to pick up the next book at this point!