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In a bit of a reading slump, but trying to get past it and this book is an easy enough read to get through it and build some momentum. Really enjoying the story so far.

I’m having a bit of a hard time with this one. The pacing feels off, having gotten through a quarter and feeling like Carl and Donut haven’t gotten anywhere. I appreciate the concurrent storylines, but the political drama feels overwhelming when I want to get back into the absurd fighting and goofiness of the game itself. It seems a lot more complicated than the earlier books, which at times feels burdensome.

Malala isn’t just updating the world on who she has become, but is dismantling how everyone saw her and is replacing it with who she’s been this whole time. Outgoing and curious, a troublemaker under an immense global pressure to fit a narrative she didn’t choose for herself. Malala shares her journey with such ease and compassion for her younger self, expertly rewriting her story.

Ok, so I think I’m in the thick of it and am hoping that it goes a bit further. I like the direction, but not sure if it’s going to lean more into the horror or the romance from here on out. I’ve been enjoying it thus far but I feel like I’m waiting for something to happen and I’m not sure what it is.

I have enjoyed the story thus far, partly because it seems to be a quick and easy read with short scenes and half-filled pages. I was unsure about the angst up front, but it has since become more tender. I don’t particularly love the frequent section titles, which feel distracting and unnecessary at this point.

I said “down-to-earth” in the last entry, and no one can convince me that Michelle Obama is not impressively and near impossibly grounded for her role and work. Her humor and humility in her storytelling are so impactful, helping reveal who she is as an individual, a wife, a mother, a professional, and FLOTUS.

This was a fantastic and insightful few chapters, detailing the campaign and the beginning of Obama’s transition to the First Family through the eyes of such an iconic and down-to-earth FLOTUS.

A great start to book 5, and I’m excited to see what trouble Carl and Donut get themselves into. This bard class is definitely setting them up for some stupidly fun scenarios and I think the hunters will really bring the heat.

Back again with Murderbot, but this time joined by the annoyingly intelligence ART. Their back and forth is so relatable, like begrudgingly becoming friends with a know-it-all, and you can’t help but appreciate the sentimentality.

Happy to be listening to this book again. Audiobooks can be challenging for me to focus on, but every time I start I can’t stop. I find myself listening to Michelle Obama intently, her storytelling skills seriously enchanting.

Ok, so the last chunk I’ve read has really changed the game for me. I complained about the formula last update and I got a seriously unexpected twist that has breathed new life into the narrative. I’m super excited to see how this all works.

Really enjoying this cozy low-stakes story thus far. Newitz has done a great job of setting the scene, both in the kitchen and in a post-war San Francisco. I really like seeing their style shine through, especially having read bits of The Terraformers (though this is making me want to revisit).

So far, this has been the most perplexing case. I just don't know what's truly going on (the real heist) and feel like I need a lot more information about the other hostages. I will say, despite the change of scenery and dynamics, I may need to take a break from mysteries after this one just because there's a certain formula that can get a bit boring.

Gosh, this book is so much fun. It's just so easy to like and relate to the narrator, even if I'm not a clone-cyborg stationed on an alien planet in the name of science (though sometimes I wish I were)

Classic Ernest story. Not much to add at this point

5 stars. I now see why people rave about this series. Martha Wells does such an excellent job of getting us inside the head of the bored and awkward “murderbot” that the story follows. It’s really just so endearing and cute, I am so excited to continue reading!

Taking me a bit longer, but that's because the story is provocative. While reading, I'm also thinking about tradition, technology, capitalism, trauma, otherness, and acceptance.

My first time diving into Africanfuturism, and I'm so excited to begin with the author who coined the term to begin with. I've already become invested in AO's story and find the emphasis on desert and solar technology really cool. There's such a nuanced and personal understanding of the landscape, as well as the postcolonial system, that informs this narrative and makes it even more impactful.

I’m only a few pages in, but we’re already off to a great start. It’s early enough for me to tell that the author will return to his normal pacing with a normal amount of Ernest Cunningham breaking the fourth wall and his signature humor.

The thing about DCC is that it’s not the greatest writing. I don’t love it because it’s poetic. I love it because I’m enthralled by the absurdity, by the jokes, by the willingness of the author to just have fun. This past chunk, though, has had a lot of close-calls and tense, emotional moments that elevate it above the fun.

Because it’s a holiday special and much shorter, the writing is more direct; tell rather than show. There also seems to be less narrative explanation or even humor, with amateur sleuth Ernest having little to say on Golden Age mysteries or life in general, which unfortunately makes it feel rushed.