Picked this one up on a recommendation from Vox and was rather disappointed. The characters never came alive to me, they always felt more like conceptPicked this one up on a recommendation from Vox and was rather disappointed. The characters never came alive to me, they always felt more like concepts than real people. I read this right after Kavalier and Clay (one of my favorite books ever), which was a real study in contrasts. There the third person narration is dense, but fleet, and always matching the tone of that portion of the book. Here we are directly in the character's heads, but I never bought into the words. Somehow, I felt even more at a distance from them, even though I was reading their own thoughts. I know it's unfair to compare this novel to one that has completely different goals, but I couldn't help doing so reading them back to back. Some small moments here and there kept me going through the short page count, but overall this one didn't connect with me....more
A workmanlike tour through the arguments around a Universal Basic Income. I’m interested in this topic, so overall I enjoyed the book, but it’s a pretA workmanlike tour through the arguments around a Universal Basic Income. I’m interested in this topic, so overall I enjoyed the book, but it’s a pretty straightforward take on the subject that seems to be geared toward people who aren’t very familiar with it. To be fair, Lowrey is covering a lot of ground in a short book and the points are made concisely. I particularly enjoyed the Postscript, which muses on various pop cultural futures. ...more
**spoiler alert** Compelling characters and a solid mystery, but a tad overlong. For the first third of this book, it was feeling like a five star rea**spoiler alert** Compelling characters and a solid mystery, but a tad overlong. For the first third of this book, it was feeling like a five star read - I loved the world that French created and the clues and red herrings were filed out at just the right pace. The narrator’s foreshadowing pulled me in and the relationship of the characters felt real. However, the middle third started to drag a bit for me, as the case itself does. French lands the ending, but I would have preferred a tighter story. ...more
Great, thought provoking read. Gawande empathetically spells out the problems and possibilities with the United States’s handling of an aging populaceGreat, thought provoking read. Gawande empathetically spells out the problems and possibilities with the United States’s handling of an aging populace. A difficult book, at times, but a hopeful one that moved me. ...more
Solid story with an interesting structure - I enjoyed this book once I was able to settle into its rhythms. The writing style initially struck me as aSolid story with an interesting structure - I enjoyed this book once I was able to settle into its rhythms. The writing style initially struck me as awkward, but after living with it for a few chapters, it works for this story of two very human people. A good, quick read....more
Compulsively readable and devastating while being highly informative. The stories told in this book paint a clear picture of a crisis in America and tCompulsively readable and devastating while being highly informative. The stories told in this book paint a clear picture of a crisis in America and the thoroughly researched endnotes back it up with data. Not an easy read for the implications for all Americans, but a necessary one....more
Enjoyed this one - first one of Abbott's I've read in the more classic noir mode. Ended up being an interesting pairing with a more recent novel of heEnjoyed this one - first one of Abbott's I've read in the more classic noir mode. Ended up being an interesting pairing with a more recent novel of hers as well. Looking forward to reading more of these....more
Another solid book from Megan Abbott - she's still great with an evocative turn of phrase and a page turning plot.Another solid book from Megan Abbott - she's still great with an evocative turn of phrase and a page turning plot....more
This is the first book I have read by Megan Abbott and I look forward to reading several more. Her prose is filled with precise, surprising turns of pThis is the first book I have read by Megan Abbott and I look forward to reading several more. Her prose is filled with precise, surprising turns of phrase that I couldn't get enough of. I felt as if I was fully inhabiting Katie's head and enjoyed the discovery of what happened along with her. ...more
Haven't updated anything on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ in a while, but wanted to log this one in. I'm torn between four stars and five, but erring on the generous sideHaven't updated anything on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ in a while, but wanted to log this one in. I'm torn between four stars and five, but erring on the generous side here due to a beautiful ending. Murakami's books sometimes trail off a bit, but this one winds up nicely. Definitely on the long side, but this didn't bother me - each story feels purposeful and builds off the others. Would rank this one highly among Murakami's oeuvre. ...more
Certainly had its great moments, but didn't fully land for me. The narrative changing perspectives so frequently kept things lively, but it also kept Certainly had its great moments, but didn't fully land for me. The narrative changing perspectives so frequently kept things lively, but it also kept me at a bit of a remove from the characters. The story itself has interesting things to say about media and criminality, but was ultimately a bit thin. ...more
Very interesting and powerful book. It's especially fascinating to read today, since a lot of the ideas that she writes about as radical have become cVery interesting and powerful book. It's especially fascinating to read today, since a lot of the ideas that she writes about as radical have become completely accepted by most on the left (and a certain portion on the right). Some other ideas from later in the book have not caught on (potentially doing away with affirmative action, as one example), which is equally interesting. The painstaking work that Alexander does to lay out her case makes her final conclusions land like a lightning bolt. Even being aware of this issue, I still felt several times a sense of revelation and an understanding of how this mess happened. I have two minor qualms with the book - first, Vox likes to point out that drug crimes alone are not the primary cause of mass incarceration. This is not really Alexander's point, but I think it has been read that way by some. Second - Alexander rehashes things and goes into detail on some areas that a reader like myself would largely accept, which made this a somewhat slow read at times for me. No fault of the author here - at the time she was writing those ideas were less discussed and thanks to this book and work by activists, these ideas are more understood now. And for someone who hasn't thought about these issues, it would not read that way. Great book that I am very glad to have read!...more
A bit slow going in the first half, though intentionally so, putting you into the mind of the narrator. The second half picks up considerably and the A bit slow going in the first half, though intentionally so, putting you into the mind of the narrator. The second half picks up considerably and the overall effect was great. Wish I had skipped the epilogue though, which added little and muted the ending of the main portion of the story....more
Read the whole thing in a day and it was exactly what I wanted to get from a noir novel. Moves like lightning, with big, bold characters, plot twists,Read the whole thing in a day and it was exactly what I wanted to get from a noir novel. Moves like lightning, with big, bold characters, plot twists, and suspicion everywhere. Need to read more of these classic noirs....more
Reviewing way after the fact, but this book had a great sense of humor that didn't entirely make it to the movie. I also didn't realize that the trialReviewing way after the fact, but this book had a great sense of humor that didn't entirely make it to the movie. I also didn't realize that the trial starts well after the halfway point (since this is again featured much more prominently in the movie). The book is initially going for a more slice of a child's Southern life and is all the more charming for it....more
So good that I may have to buy it for everyone I know. Moves like a thriller, but still takes the time to think about and expound upon the processes tSo good that I may have to buy it for everyone I know. Moves like a thriller, but still takes the time to think about and expound upon the processes that shape our high crime neighborhoods and the people within them. Turning statistics into people and challenging assumptions on the left and right make this a worthy read for anyone interested in crime in America (and maybe just for anyone full stop). Leovy has a knack for indelible characters and a grasp on the milieu that makes you pay attention. ...more
And I liked this one a bit less than Home. Reading them back to back may have been a bit much, because I still thought this contained a lot of the eleAnd I liked this one a bit less than Home. Reading them back to back may have been a bit much, because I still thought this contained a lot of the elements I like about Robinson's writing, but I was a bit disconnected from it. May have to revisit at some point....more
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