notabattlechick > Recent Status Updates

y’all there’s NO WAY I’m going to be able to finish this book. It’s like someone let (famous, charming) old person loose with a tape recorder and just let them do whatever they wanted for FORTY-EIGHT FREAKING HOURS.

Do I keep going?

Ok. Everyone (and I do mean everyone) loooves this book. But not me, it seems. But not for the reasons that the few people who don’t like it don’t like it. I don’t care that Isa is unlikable. I think the writing is lovely. I just don’t care. I feel 95% sure I know what the “twist “ will be. It doesn’t seem interesting or new or fresh. It one more entry in post-Holocaust historical fiction. But lesbians.

A good pop-sociology book with some really lovely insights about female friendships and why they are so important, but I got so annoyed by the one section that talked about Victorian era in 19th century women’s friendships” Boston marriages, as if there was never any erotic or homosexual component to these relationships, friendships, or partnerships—it was just really weird and didn’t match the rest

DNF — I think it’s actually a fine book. I just wasn’t in the mood for *philosophy* writing

Definitely between 3.5 and 4, but I’ll give it the round up. I thought it grew a little predictable by the end, and that the last third dragged on a bit too long. But I liked the characters and the different narrative and time-shifting perspectives

I didn’t love it, like I did The Sympathizer, but it’s still very, very good. More literary, more experimental.

It’s a book of essays, which I’m a sucker for. It also means some of the essays are great, and some are less so. The essays have all been published before, so they also vary in tone, style, length, and audience — and context. But it’s a fun read/listen if you enjoy TV

Three and a half stars
Classic murder mystery, delightful plot twists. Great detective character, bumbling sidekick. A host of suspects and subplots.

Probably one of the best “check your bias” books I’ve encountered. Some of the data is out of date (duh) — but that’s irrelevant, and kind of the point. It’s well conceived, well executed and not condescending