Gabrielle > Recent Status Updates

I'm so deep into this, and I'm mystified as to why this wasn't a short story.

My GOD

It's just so long, and so incohesive.
And long
And repetitive

This author likes repetition. The person who wrote this book likes revisiting ideas. This tome is crafted to take several looks at every concept. Sometimes there are detailed lists of items, things, objects, bits, pieces, knick-knacks, stuff, and junk.

"The prosperity of the community grows from the flow of relationships, not the accumulation of goods"

First start didn't take; second try is more successful. We are doing SO MUCH telling to get this story launched; hopefully we're hitting a stride soon?

Not sure if this is dense or I'm tired

Also, the hot, curvy blonde caveman wife who gathers berries and the dumb husband who's a bad hunter is really weird component for a modern educational history piece.

I think this was written for only children who didn't grow up watching their older sibling play RPG computer / video games. And/or didn't ever play such electronic games themselves.

"I'll never say another word to you out loud"

Mary Potchatko's "male" voice is fantastic. And the fact that in my mind, the character Logan looks like an amalgamation of Brandi Carlile & Kate Moennig rather than a dude as described is IRRELEVANT.
I'm snowed in my house and enjoying the fuck out of this.

Liz Shipton is my personal cure for reading slump

(In positive news, the TBR still shrinks if you nope a bunch of books in a row)

This is the best cozy fantasy I've ever attempted

Did I borrow this Russian short story because SNL Comedian Colin Jost recommended it in his memoir?
Yes

Nooooooooo; now I'm concerned that the end is approaching too faaaast

Starting over was completely worth it

"Is that ... a rowboat?"

I'm having trouble locking in on this one. Almost tempted to start over; I feel like I zoned out and missed important things

"What had happened was..." -- I adore this as an opening line

At this point, I'm committed to finishing. But I've called every "twist" long before it happens, and at this point the best I can hope for is that the remaining trudge to the end is sprinkled with *something*

My stank face is emerging.
To bastardize Gianmarco Soresi -- a building with a weak foundation doesn't improve by the 8th Floor.
Listen, at a baseline I'm more than ready to accept science fiction shenanigans; but this gal isn't doing me the courtesy of throwing in a proverbial flux capacitor.
Entire plotlines are hanging by frayed threads, while we weirdly over-explain certain micro-elements.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

...the bookclub bucket needs more curating. But if Kellie finished it, so can I

A steady, subtle unfolding

"While it is true that only light can drive out darkness, there are some forms of light that only darkness can reveal"

Promising, engaging, and I might prefer audiobooks from the 90's when the reading is at normal speed instead of "If you don't play this faster, you'll feel like you're having a stroke"

Can't put it down; still don't know how I feel about it