This was an interesting, well-researched take on the history of a very limited slice of society women in the US and UK. It was definitely a nice changThis was an interesting, well-researched take on the history of a very limited slice of society women in the US and UK. It was definitely a nice change of pace to read something that quotes and contextualizes its sources more than the creative nonfiction I keep stumbling over lately.
I'd have appreciated a little more geographical diversity and a more comprehensive take on the debutante experiences of women of color though....more
The story was pretty much designed to carry Gwen from the personal threats she'd faced into more episodic kinds of stories, which didn't quite mesh wiThe story was pretty much designed to carry Gwen from the personal threats she'd faced into more episodic kinds of stories, which didn't quite mesh with me. I'm also still not a fan of the non-Gwen POVs.
The Wolfhunter plot is coincidence-heavy enough to feel a bit contrived, especially after the big info dump at the end to make that second threat seem less random. Not sure if I'll continue with these......more
The mix of scientific development and true crime should be exactly in my wheelhouse. Unfortunately this book's focus and style made it a draggy read tThe mix of scientific development and true crime should be exactly in my wheelhouse. Unfortunately this book's focus and style made it a draggy read that I'd probably have dropped if it wasn't a book club pick.
I mostly didn't gel with the author's way of fitting all these details together. A case was introduced in an overly dramatic style, then we'd get a few repetitive anecdotes about Oscar's feuds or money troubles followed by investigative asides that didn't give as much context or detail as I wanted. I did learn some things, it just felt like a slog getting there because Oscar's personal woes weren't as interesting as his work, and the book seemed to insist on balancing the two anyway.
Part of the problem was just my distaste for creative nonfiction in general though. I'm not a fan of hearing what historical people were thinking or feeling unless their diary entries, letters, etc. are actually quoted in the text. I know it's a really popular style right now, but to me those kinds of interpretations blur the lines and make me question whether an author is muddying up other details to fit their story....more
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as the first because its broader action-thriller focus didn't feel as tight as the first book's mystery. One of the I didn't enjoy this quite as much as the first because its broader action-thriller focus didn't feel as tight as the first book's mystery. One of the side plots was also obvious enough that it cut quite a bit of the tension.
The characterization, at least on the adult side of things, was interesting enough to keep me reading, but I hope that the following books stick with fewer POVs and the kind of smaller-scale chills that Stillhouse Lake offered....more
Making more sustainable clothing choices is a goal of mine, but this book is a repetitive and awkwardly organized.
It spends a lot of time cheerleadingMaking more sustainable clothing choices is a goal of mine, but this book is a repetitive and awkwardly organized.
It spends a lot of time cheerleading the concept (which I'd think anyone willing to read a book on conscious shopping is already sold on) and repeating statistics that, again, are only likely to concern those already interested in conservation. A lot of this information is handed over in short, choppy chapters that read like blog posts.
The actual fashion tips involve thrift and resale shopping, buying higher quality clothing that'll last longer, and mending, and the author also suggests researching brands and making buying choices based on a label's sustainable practices. These are all solid ideas, but they're not a book's worth of content.
There's also a pretty firm focus on the kind of shoppers who can afford higher quality stuff but just choose to buy tons of cheap clothes instead. The author insists that conscious choices are available at any budget, and I'm sure they are. But finding those options will take a lot more time and effort for folks who can't afford to splurge, so it would have been nice to see more acknowledgement of that. Instead, the author kept bringing up vintage designer finds that sounded expensive despite the difference between the price she paid and their original cost....more
I really liked the premise of this one. Some of the interpersonal stuff started to feel just a touch repetitive towards the end, but that wasn't a hugI really liked the premise of this one. Some of the interpersonal stuff started to feel just a touch repetitive towards the end, but that wasn't a huge deal since the characters were interesting....more
This was a noticeable improvement on the last few books, mostly because the more personal plot reminded me that Stephanie Plum used to be capable of cThis was a noticeable improvement on the last few books, mostly because the more personal plot reminded me that Stephanie Plum used to be capable of character growth.
Having said that, some parts of Twisted Twenty-Six are wonky. All of the sudden Grandma's a sage, Stephanie's getting a little mean, and Ranger's eating sugar. To be fair, I can suggest perfectly reasonable explanations for those things, but since these folks have been basically trapped in amber for half the series, I can't quite say if the changes are intentional or just inconsistent.
Between Stephanie's newly rediscovered introspective streak and the fact that the title of the next book breaks the standard numbers mold, I'm cautiously optimistic that Something Is Finally Happening....more
While the overall story here is more cohesive than the first book's episodic sprawl, the characters feel kind of aimless, especially when they're justWhile the overall story here is more cohesive than the first book's episodic sprawl, the characters feel kind of aimless, especially when they're just walking around talking to people in the second act. Harris tries to punch up that mushy middle with a subplot about the hotel owner's daughter, but that whole bit reads like something that only exists to toss in a little action while we're waiting on the end of the book to arrive.
It's a shame because as stylistically interesting as these books have been, I couldn't find much to really hook me. Despite that lack of a solid spark, I'd been thinking of them as solid fluff right up until the second half goes into white savior mode. It's 2020, so I don't get how someone at some point in the publication process missed that it was maybe not the best idea to center an alternate-history story on black liberation if its focus is mainly the problems and viewpoints of people who are not from that community but are just so, so terribly concerned about injustice....more
There's very little conflict in the book. Jethri's good enough at everything now that his awkward momenThis was a dull follow-up to Balance of Trade.
There's very little conflict in the book. Jethri's good enough at everything now that his awkward moments mostly charm those around him instead of landing him in trouble, and even his climactic confrontation goes off without a hitch. Potential trouble spots are set up and then ignored, like when Jethri's perfect instincts warn him to reject (view spoiler)[the antagonist's rigged dueling weapons without even knowing there was a problem (hide spoiler)] or when Gobelyn’s Market does an exhaustively described hull scan with another vessel and (view spoiler)[there is zero explanation or follow-up about what the other ship spotted on the Market (hide spoiler)].
I like politics and subtlety in speculative fiction, but those elements need to support a more developed story. In this case, all the carefully worded discussions and descriptions of bowing were all just fluff....more
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