I have no idea how to review this at all - my mind is still spinning.
This is the stories of Zeno, Omeir, Konstance, Anna, and Seymore and how they inI have no idea how to review this at all - my mind is still spinning.
This is the stories of Zeno, Omeir, Konstance, Anna, and Seymore and how they intersect across the 1900s in Idaho, the future in space, and time and places in between. This is also the story of Aethon as told by Anthony Diogenes (a false 2400-year-old novel based on a real 2400-year-old novel by the same author).
Everything about this book was compelling. The voices of the different characters, the events they lived through, everything. Just when I would start getting attached to one story, we would change place and time again, and I couldn't put the book down. As the novel goes on, the stories start to feel more and more woven together and the relationships between the 5 disparate protagonists begin to reveal themselves.
I cried, I laughed a little, I stayed up late at night reading and snuck a few chapters during work hours. This was truly a masterpiece and you should read it (but only if you have time to read in long-ish chunks)....more
**spoiler alert** I really, REALLY enjoyed this! It’s been so long since I’ve had a 5-star book. I loved the twist(s).
I would say the book itself was**spoiler alert** I really, REALLY enjoyed this! It’s been so long since I’ve had a 5-star book. I loved the twist(s).
I would say the book itself was a 4, but the emotions and vibes I got were so good that I’d call it a 4.5 so I’m rounding up to 5 (it might change though).
I’ve seen some reviews saying that it seemed like the main character was snarking about the club and ultimately bought into it, and they thought that was a negative. I personally thought she did a good job identifying what was wrong with the club in its initial form and then clearly saying the ideals of sisterhood, family, changing the world could be saved while the method of implementing them could change. I thought it was a huge step away from the “live laugh love� platitudes of the original coven, and I liked it.
This reminded me of those magical girls nights where you’re surrounded with amazing, impressive women and it feels like the night could just go on forever talking and laughing together. 4.5/5. ...more
I really enjoyed reading this. I do not (and hopefully never will) work in a position as all-encompassing as Alex’s, but it was truly nice to read aboI really enjoyed reading this. I do not (and hopefully never will) work in a position as all-encompassing as Alex’s, but it was truly nice to read about a high-powered career woman who actually does devote a lot of her life to work. Most books have lawyers or doctors or whatever who have obscene amounts of free time on their hands, always coming into the office at 10, etc. Either that, or the main character is, like, a baker or a florist or one of those jobs that seems almost mythical. I liked reading about someone ambitious because it felt like me. That being said, it stressed me out how much she worked and how little she took care of herself. The book was really fun to read and well-written and has made me get off my butt about applying to masters programs so that’s a win-win. Definitely recommend. ...more
This book takes you through each article and amendment of the constitution, with the original text as well as explanations. The author also includes wThis book takes you through each article and amendment of the constitution, with the original text as well as explanations. The author also includes what is no longer applicable and additional context. He also includes his opinion on some things but those sections are clearly marked as his opinion.
I feel like I really understand the constitution much better after having read this. It was not easy to get through because it is a pretty dry topic, but this is the best way I could have digested it.
I absolutely think everyone should read this and if I had kids I would definitely buy a copy and keep it in our house.
SO GOOD. I'm usually horrible at writing reviews but this is another one that just impacted me emotionally so much. From the romantic love stories (booSO GOOD. I'm usually horrible at writing reviews but this is another one that just impacted me emotionally so much. From the romantic love stories (books in the elevator! Wanting to go to the cinema!) to the familial love (the elk and the monkey and the frog!) I am sitting over here bawling. I think this was incredibly creative (the plot kept me guessing until the end), extremely well-written - a hilarious dry sense of humor that made me laugh out loud, and very human.
I absolutely recommend reading this. I think this is the best book I've read this year....more
Wow, absolutely loved it. 4.5 stars but breaking my own protocol because it was just so much better than a 4-star book and rounding up to 5.
This reminWow, absolutely loved it. 4.5 stars but breaking my own protocol because it was just so much better than a 4-star book and rounding up to 5.
This reminded me so much of Liane Moriarty. This was exactly what I’ve been looking for as a “whodunnit� book - so many thrillers are so dark and twisty and filled with desperation and other very heavy things that they start to feel like parodies these days.
Celeste is a young zoologist living in NYC and working as the assistant director at (some zoo). She is engaged to marry Benji, the younger son of the Winburys. Celeste’s mother has advanced cancer, and so her mother-in-law is planning the wedding to give Celeste time to focus on her mom.
The morning of the wedding, Celeste’s maid of honor is found dead. This book reviews the events leading up to her death as well as keeping track of current time. This book also looks into other family and extra-familial relationships.
I loved the sweet relationship between Celeste and her parents. I love the parents� relationships with each other. Actually, the best part of the book was the author’s ability to really paint a scene and to flesh out characters. Every character seemed important. Everyone got their time in the limelight.
I don’t love that the book jumped back and forth on different timelines, but I do think this is one of the first books I’ve read that used that as a technique effectively instead of just as an attempt to make you more confused.
**spoiler alert** One of my favorite genres is the celebrity autobiography. I grabbed this book today to go read in the bathtub and it was SO good. I **spoiler alert** One of my favorite genres is the celebrity autobiography. I grabbed this book today to go read in the bathtub and it was SO good. I know I will remember it. Trevor Noah (from the Daily Show) talks about his childhood growing up in South Africa, and through his stories you get a real sense of the mix of cultures, languages, and ethnic groups there along with the harm of colonialism (and of course apartheid). I love a book that introduces me to new things I need to learn, and this one did that and more. Definitely recommend to everyone. 5/5....more
This book has a little bit of everything: family drama, romance, coming of age, culture, friends, intrigue, and of course sex.
Nikki ends up, by chancThis book has a little bit of everything: family drama, romance, coming of age, culture, friends, intrigue, and of course sex.
Nikki ends up, by chance, applying to teach a writing class to a group of women at a Sikh temple. It turns out that the women literally wanted to write-as in, learn to read their ABCs. When they find this boring, they end up telling erotic stories that are mostly made up. Nikki becomes involved in the Sikh community and both gets in touch with her roots and affirms some of her non-traditional beliefs.
At one point, Nikki says about the widows, “you can’t force them to do anything,� which I think sums up the book nicely. Lots of Western media likes to play white savior to brown women from other countries, taking pity on them for being “forced� to do things differently than we do here. This condescending attitude erases their agency. Every culture has people who are bad, but that doesn’t define the culture. For example, people point toward the Middle East as accepting honor killings, when most American domestic violence could be classified the same way-but we white wash it so we can feel superior.
I love that this book does not judge people who want to be traditional. It struck a strong contrast between people with traditional beliefs and people with toxic beliefs and showed that “modern� or not, or Indian or not, and never ended with some kind of “and THIS is why THOSE kind of people are wrong� type attitude.
This is one of those books that I couldn’t stop reading and I know is going to end up on my gift list for everyone this year. ...more
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