Mel > Recent Status Updates

All the buttocks in this book are specifically described as hairless. Why.

“…wondering how she could possibly trust a man with so many piercings to show her how wonderful life can be.”

Wild guess but I think the type of people who are trawling around internet forums about dying and are willing to be buried alive for 30+ minutes are not going to be phased by some body mods my dude.

“Dear diary, mood: apathetic. My life is spiralling downwards…”

Way too much telling and not enough showing in this so far. We get it, the protagonist thinks he’s the worst person to ever exist, but we have to get it because it’s stated every other paragraph.

The “ritual” is fascinating and has a lot of potential if it wasn’t bogged down by the 2 edgy 2 live vibe.

This book: you might be wondering how time travel works. Not important.

Incredibly well selected. Usually in a short story collection there’s a few that don’t hit the same but so far it’s wall to wall bangers.

I think I’ve guessed more than a few things about the titular year and how their society functions, but I’m excited to see if I’m right and follow Tierbey as she figures out what’s going on.

I missed my station because I was so absorbed reading this. The perfect combination of readable and informative that non-fiction books should aspire to. Also so frustrating I would rip my hair out if I had any. And I haven’t even got to the bit when Covid gets really bad yet.

“If the campaign scripts an attack or a put down, it’s the VP candidate they get to deliver it. Meanwhile the presidential candidate stands around somewhere else looking all statesmanlike.”

Thank goodness nothing has changed since this book was published in 2002!!!!!!!!

“He looked at the shoes and the letter and listened hard inside his head the way a whale listens for another whale across a thousand miles of freezing ocean. But he heard nothing. There was nothing there. Nothing at all.”

Jack “no emotions head empty” Reacher character of all time

ME Froelich: you guys had a weird idea of family
UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY, GIRL

Reacher vs An Emotion - who will win? An almost poignant moment when he sees Joe’s name on the wall completely overshadowed by putting on his clothes and sleeping with his ex.

I don’t know what it is about this book but it does not do it for me. It just drags on forever and ever and ever. Anyway it’s almost over.

An old factory?? Just outside town?? No one ever comes out???

I know who’s behind all this. Willy Wonka strikes again.

“Could you do that for me? Look up Rutherford’s address on your phone? How much does that sort of thing cost?” Im obsessed with him.

Emerson: You’re out there, Reacher, and I’ll find you…
Reacher [from afar]: No, you won’t.
Emerson: Yes I will
Reacher: Won’t!

“Save your breath. Go outside and throw up. It’s what you’re good at.” Just guys being dudes

This is definitely not my favourite Reacher book but the bit where they go to the hardware store reminded me I also need to do that. So I guess that’s something.

Dorothea: oh woe is me, the guy I’ve been thinking about maybe possibly one day someday marrying may or may not leave town, also phrenology might be fake whatever shall I do??
Ruth: my sister died and I had to cut off my dead friend’s hand

Ruth’s chapters are just so much more interesting than Dorothea’s. I wish the author had made Dorothea’s life and problems more interesting, but I guess it’s hard to compete with possibly magically killing people with sewing.