Arianna > Recent Status Updates

I'm, like, 99% certain that the United States did NOT make an assignation attempt on Pope John Paul II, guys....

And history repeats itself....

“What I’m saying is nobody feels sorry for anybody anymore, nobody even pretends they do. Not even the President. It’s like it’s become unpatriotic.” I unfolded my wad of handkerchief and blew my nose.

As history repeats itself....

“What I’m saying is nobody feels sorry for anybody anymore, nobody even pretends they do. Not even the President. It’s like it’s become unpatriotic.” I unfolded my wad of handkerchief and blew my nose.

I might just love this book because the local bookstore is called The Verbivore 🥰

Going to put this on hold...not sure how I'm feeling about it. It's fun but maybe not worth my specific time right now?

Love this typo: "formerly charged for murder" instead of "formally" 🤣

I almost threw this book across the room after the first chapter. I needed to get away from it. I was horrified and heartbroken. I have since returned to it and I am enjoying the writing but I am still so wrung out. I can barely stand it. 😭

WHY HAVE THEY NEVER ACTUALLY MADE A MOVIE ABOUT THE PRISONAIRES?!!? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pri...

Stopped at Chapter 2. Not sure whether I'm feeling this right now...

NO SHE DID NOT ASK ABOUT LARS IS THIS NOT DRIVING ANYONE ELSE CRAZY?!?

Holy shit Betty Freidan's misguided ideas about sexuality. Nobody told me about her extreme homophobia. Damn.

FINALLY a chapter I actually was interested in! I was slogging through the parts about Altman and the corporate stuff, but was so drawn into the stories of the workers who got paid pennies to train the LLMs, all in the name of astronomical profit.

"Child-eating behavior" 🤣

This is when I realized something. I won't spoil, but I wanted to remember in case I'm right. 🙂

OMG The Hunky-Dory Dairy!!!!!!!! Allison Larkin you are a kindred spirit. I loved that book as a kid.

Had to step away from this momentarily. Super difficult passage to get through. I appreciate that the author didn't shy away from the reality of the brutalities, but wow it was not easy to listen to.

Usually I adore Amy Bloom, and I enjoyed the story of Gazala in Paris during WWII, but this book just isn't clicking with me. I am feeling meh about it and am not sure I want to devote the time...but I do love her writing.

Thank you to netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, though!!

Is the whole point of this supposed to be that Lucy is equivalent to Bobs therapist?

Stopped at Chapter 4. Not sure whether I'll finish when my hold comes back up...

Love "subvertising"! (The UK's version of ad busting.)

Also this book did NOT have a great copyeditor, unfortunately...e.g., it's Joey SkaggS.

I know this book is super dated by now, but it's fascinating to understand how the world as we know it today came to be. Corporations, employees, the economy.

The narrator leaves a bit to be desired...she just read "ingenious" instead of "ingenuous". Kind of an important distinction.

"To think like a computer programmer, it helps to be lazy." 🤣 Truth.

Just want to remember that on p.340 I still don't understand the "the name struck a chord" for Loreda - had she heard John Reed elsewhere before? I looked back at the workers' rights gatherings and didn't see it...

Really loving this so far.

I love how each chapter that starts with a Lost Friends colum includes one of those names. Really makes the connections, and makes for a fun puzzle each time!

I have questions about John Pratt, though...just making a note here in case that clears up later, somehow.

Has a very Veronica Mars feel, especially with this narrator. Loving the references to familiar New Haven & CT spots. Also loving that there is not a whiff of romance in this book - refreshing!

Putting this on hold for now, I just can't get into it. Stopped at Chapter 2.

This book is beautiful, haunting....