Peter Karlin > Recent Status Updates

I tried to read this when it came out and just couldn’t get into it despite loving The Talisman. Well, I’m trying it again and folks…this may be the worst first chapter I’ve EVER READ. Maybe don’t introduce 30 characters in your first chapter. And maybe completely ignoring The Talisman was another misstep.

Holly Gibney has become the most boring character ever. No more personal problems, no more quirks. No nothing.

Picked this up because I was told it has a final twist for the ages. But happy to report it’s not a slog getting there. It’s damn accessible (dare I say breezy) for a murder mystery set in 1600s Oxford and teeming with arrogant scientists.

The first mention of the book’s concept/plot. Oy.

Uh oh, am I expected to have sympathy for a tech billionaire? Not gonna happen.

Seems dumb.

Time to find out if 2,950,000 Goodreads ratings are right.

Not remotely scary/eerie yet.

There’s a sequel to Cujo in here!

So far, it’s clearly by the author of Poor Things, but the early stories (1950s) are so short they don’t have much impact beyond their inventive visuals.

Doing a reread in anticipation of Percival Everett’s “Jim”

For an amateur detective named Lord Peter WIMSEY, he sure is a humorless bore so far.

So far it’s like a detective novel without a case.

So far the most boring time travel book ever written. Persevering as a fan of the author.

Time to figure out who’s enjoying our bird feeder (other than the squirrel)

Another amazing graphic novel so far. Already learned more about life in Libya and Syria than I’ve ever known.

FYI, I found one on Apple Music, but whatever service you use, people have built playlists of the songs in the book so you follow along with the music too.

One story in. Incredible.

Quite the bring down so far.

The description says “blood chilling twists” but no evidence yet.

Giving up. Bleh.

This is really enjoyable so far.

I’m giving up as there are way too many characters and stories here to keep track of in an audible version. Or I’m just too pea brained to handle it. Will try again on the Kindle at some point. The writing is quite engaging but I wasn’t prepared for how much it bounces around.

This book is the living embodiment of “not for everyone.” I’m liking it, but most people I know would lose their shit at the unrelenting grossness.

Pretty terrific so far. Like John Ford taking on nuclear annihilation.

Lotta bug stuff.

Wow, is this slow. Will Stephenson ever match the heights of “Seveneves”? Listening at 1.5 speed, which I rarely do.

I have laughed out loud so many times. Way funnier than The Circle.

Haven’t read much German literature. This moves at a snail’s pace and is pretty dreary business. Will soldier on.

Haven’t felt less connected to a book in awhile.