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Descriptive, engaging, yet removed, as if in a dream. Ideas are rife, often deeply philosophical, as if life‘s meaning is questioned. Fascinating themes.

Incredible along the lines of The Glass Castle and The Liar‘s Club. Harrowing what she went through and how she is able to approach it in a beautiful way. Hope she writes more.

Sentimental, flowing prose albeit simple and direct. Interesting dialogue. Often caught myself interpreting this book as a true memoir. Would like to read more Powers.

Along the same level as Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Sula and Somg of Solomon. Enjoyed this complex narrative arc.

Confusing structure that is complex and rich while also succinct. Captured the time in a new way that elucidated elements I had not seen during school years of this period in American history. May need to read again someday to appreciate on a deeper level.

A sad book but comprehensive in its brevity. I felt related to the narrative of the theater actor from personal experience while also finding it overly dramatic. Interesting structure and his eventual succumbing to suicidal intent is tragic while not fully unexpected.

Short sweet a great read but too abrupt at the close of the story. Felt like a cop out. Lazy. I understand the irony and the futility in the parallelism but it feels undercooked

Quick read, flowing prose. Important topic and engaging narrative.

Loved it. Active, inventive historical fiction based on truths. Would love to read similar works.

U iwie structure and ideas with gorgeous prose. Truncated thoughts and human to the max.

Great. Loved the fantasy element to the structure. Childish memories with serious tones.

Different narrative. Descriptive rather than dialogue. Magical realism/spiritual realm. Came together nearer to end.

Brilliant compilation of intertwining tales that reveal more of the previous as the next are finished. Can’t wait to delve deeper in further volumes and explore this theoretical landscape drawn from a real ancient text.

Brilliant, somber, beautiful prose. Setting and character equally strong. Melancholy and elan.

Interesting prose. Great short story collection. Preferred the last stories most. Looking forward to reading more Roth.

Weird book confusing if one doesn’t focus. Great turns of phrase and ideas. The form is unusual in that it confuses the reader a bit and the novel feels aimless like the main character. But ultimately intelligent and prescient.

Descriptive, raw, chaotic. Loved it

Interesting collection of odd stories that highlights black life in the mid 20th century. Creative and unusual language.

Heart wrenching drama, realistic portrayal of the deep systemic racism in the justice system in the US during the 60s or before. The characters are all sympathetic and the narrator has a real pathos to her voice. Baldwin comes up with some really philosophical statements.

Poignant, simple, sometimes repetitive but well-done. Strong voice, powerful themes and message.

Powerful words and thoughts. Quotes worth saving. Ideas worth repeating.

Concise, powerful display of depression, gaslighting, the complexities of love and loss. First Didion and can’t wait to read more.

Great short stories.

Illuminating, quotable, strong distinguished voice. Love Baldwin.

Short and sweet. Quirky, well-written. Kafka indebted. Look forward to read more Roth

Complicated sentences and long paragraphs within short chapters. Surprisingly dense little book. Not sure I got much from it.

Interesting perspective and the element of mystery and revelation in terms of character and plot was fascinating. Lots packed into a short novel.

Short, sweet, beautiful prose and description. The alternations between past and present and the theme of memories dissolving into the distant past is poignant. The struggle of emotions/feelings of love with the reality of that love being memory in the far past with no present is particularly powerful. Émigré housing in Berlin has a unique scenic coloring that adds bounds to the depth of the short novel feeling long.