Jillian Brown’s Reviews > How High We Go in the Dark > Status Update
Jillian Brown
is 47% done
"Speak, Fetch, Say I Love You" is the first written work that has made me outright cry. It wasn't as dramatic or gripping as some of the other stories, but it was about a father and his teenage son dealing with the grieving process as the father helps others deal with their grief as well. While I was slowly reading this story, I lost two cats and had to take my mother to the ER. It hit close to home.
— Jan 11, 2026 08:06AM
Like flag
Jillian’s Previous Updates
Jillian Brown
is 41% done
This story was one of the less compelling ones IMO, mostly dealing with animosity and estrangement between parents and children and between siblings. I found the protagonist a little insufferable. So it makes sense that it took me awhile to finish this one. That, and my life has been equal parts chaotic and depressing. The ending did make me tear up, but still, no full-on tears yet either.
— Sep 02, 2025 03:37AM
Jillian Brown
is 34% done
Came close to crying with this one, the Flowers for Algernon of the book.
— Jun 22, 2025 02:07PM
Jillian Brown
is 28% done
Here is where more of the magical realism aspect appears. This story is sad and sweet and pro-humanity, an interesting take on social cooperation and the immigrant experience. But I didn't find it as compelling as the previous two stories.
— May 04, 2025 10:30PM
Jillian Brown
is 20% done
Came close, but still haven't broken my "never cried when reading" record. Don't read this if you're a parent, unless you want to ugly-cry.
— Apr 20, 2025 09:25PM
Jillian Brown
is 10% done
Wow. This is lit fic with very near future sci-fi, and so far I'm hooked. It's profound without being flowery, emotional without being maudlin. The characters in this first part felt real, and their toxic positivity and foolhardy optimism felt all too, too real. It's certainly a heavy read, but I want to read on.
— Apr 04, 2025 08:43PM
Jillian Brown
is 3% done
I saw a meme that made me look up a Wikipedia article that linked to this book, and I remembered that I bought it in an ebook sale. I skimmed it and now I'm hooked. I enjoy more pensive and contemplative sci fi at this time of year (Interstellar). Also, I'm recovering from the flu and I feel like I need a confirmation that the COVID pandemic did happen and wasn't just a fever dream.
— Feb 27, 2025 07:24PM
