Katie

I'm really glad I that I forgot how Hamlet unfolded..

I'm really not glad that it's got the label of ‘modern classic'

This book is simple, maybe too simple for most people these days.. but it manages to find me just when I need its message.

Yawn.
This happens every time when I read Jonathan Franzen. Halfway through, I literally stop caring about all of the characters. Even if I have 300 pages invested, I give up! (and I don't give up easily on books..)

I pretty much love anything that Mary Roach writes. This one didn't disappoint. My gag reflex was engaged from time to time, but otherwise I loved it!

Books about how great NYC is bore me to death. It's as tiresome as those people that continue to refer to it as “the city” when they move away from there. And the art gallery world? snooze... Pity, because I really like his writing style.

A big meh and then a raised eyebrow. This author is obsessed with mothers and heteronormative identity. We all know about the epigenetic mouse study, yes? It's interesting and relevant but this book veers into la la land. We certainly do pass things down within families, but he leaves out many ways this happens. Read My Grandmother's Hands for a better idea of intergenerational trauma and innate response.

I loved this at first, and then it fizzled.

Well, I thought this would be better. The author lost major points by 1) calling Cleveland a ‘wasteland,' and 2) referring to a library science degree with what could be contempt, but is probably just ignorance. An English major does not a Librarian make.

Even though I disliked the author's premise and assumptions (and at times tone), I did really like the characters in the book and how he describes their effect on him. The shining moment was the realization that he (and many others) had been glamorizing the pimp/ho dynamic when in reality it is an ugly, ugly thing.

I started off the book thinking “yes, girl, shout that louder” about the paucity of research regarding psychotropic meds. A lot of what she says is clear and valid and then... oh wow.. suddenly the rest of the book discredited all her good points in the beginning. She's anti vax and anti mask and that was enough for me.

This was okay, but just okay. The story is interesting, but the author is a little heavy handed with how amazing the story's ‘coincidences' are. In fact, the only really compelling coincidence is the part about the horse race in the end notes...

What a wistful ending! It made me teary the same way this song does:

http://lyrics.wikia.com/The_Helio_Sequence:Looks_Good_%28But_You_Looked_Away%29

If it becomes a movie I think that last scene should sound like this.

I was so happy with this book for the half of it that I've read so far.. Compared to most mystery thriller type crap, it has a lot of good writing/character development, etc. The story is actually told without constant dialogue!

Basically, I loved reading this book until it incorporated the element of woman as rape/torture victim. Reading those kind of story lines are troubling, for sure, but more importantly, they have become really boring and stereotypical. Seriously, are there any thrillers out there without this stuff? Part of me thinks that readers of these types of books become numb to REAL violations of women's bodies and rights, or at least expect it to happen. (I guess I should have known when Lisbeth was described as so thin and vulnerable that the author might disappoint in this way)


I do have half the book left.. we'll see if it gets better (or worse).


update... It didn't get better, but at least he's not playing fake relationship with Lisbeth anymore.

Despite giving me scary dreams at night, I enjoyed reading this book. It was creepy. Everyone said “you'll never guess the ending!” and, well, I did. Mysteries don't usually appeal to me, but this one had a great level of character interest.

An absolutely wonderful book! The only thing I would change is the repetitive description of Jesuit characteristics. I think if I didn't already know about the order, this might turn me off a bit.

Many of these stories had a harsh element, that lingered in my mind a lot longer than most short stories.

yawn. To summarize: “be innovative.”

This book is solidly meh. Given the fonts and the platitudes, it reads more like a vapid girl's instagram account. I've liked Brene's other books a great deal, but this one has very little meat on its bones.

This book makes me want to drop off the grid, pronto.

I made the mistake of glancing at the subject headings when placing a hold, which ruined the surprise :( but it still managed to be a great book.

simply wonderful. :)

I love this topic and the information the author presents, but the writing is horrible. I have to re-read many sentences because they make no sense.

This was a bit much.

In first grade I was set on being a nun one day. I think it's a Catholic kid thing. This book reminded me how amazing it is that in our greedy, self-centered world people still dedicate themselves to living their faith.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book thanks to the author and Seal Press.

This is not the book I hoped to read when I saw the cover. It is written primarily through the lens white dominant culture and centers the experience of having children throughout United States and, at times, European history.

The introduction's discussion of ‘choice' felt compelling and true, knowing how our choices about parenthood can be constrained and shaped by our society. I didn't see this theme play out, as all the chapters focused on active choice- a movement towards a goal or away from an aversive experience. I'm guessing there is less interest in and historical documentation in this middle place of not choosing to be childfree but also missing out on opportunities to try to have kids. This is unfortunate, as the middle group really does make up the majority of the story for those of us without kids. The chapter that could have contained this, “Because We Can't” only discusses IVF and egg freezing. (For a broader look check out “Not Trying: Infertility, Childlessness, and Ambivalence” by Kristin Wilson)

I think the author could have benefitted from considering her personal views about motherhood before she wrote this, or rehashing the concept of the book entirely once she had more insight. In the conclusion she states that she had softened towards parents during the pandemic and describes her previous annoyance with mothers and how they are prized. Most childless people I know are already soft towards parents and happy to support the raising of our youngest fellow humans. I think that this initial resentment scaffolded the concept of the book but then by changing gears the unique focus was lost. That ending sentiment that we should all just get along reads very shame-y and was contrary to a lot of what the book showed about the ramifications of bias about parent status.

While there was some really interesting information presented throughout, (I loved reading about the start to NON and the NotMom Summit!) it wasn't enough to feel like this is a comprehensive history that lends new insight into the lives of those “Without Children.”

I just couldn't do it. So many pages of extraneous details. This is why I don't like sci fi. I made it to page 400 and the book was due and while I'm curious how it ends, I'm not THAT curious.