Jordan

1.5 stars. Edit to add: I listened to a bit of it as my gf listened because she wasn't done with it and now I'm even more mad about how stupid this book is.

The premise is interesting but she didn't really say much. If she hadn't taken our current reality and just replaced any of the current struggles with equality and division with the strings, I could have been more on board. The Crash like ending was eye rolly and the lack of any meaningful arc left me unsatisfied.

A strong 4. Having just read East of Eden, I needed me some more Steinbeck. The introduction to the books says he wrote this to play out like a film and it absolutely does. Speaking of the into, if your copy has it, wait to read it until after you finish. It gives basically the whole book away.

3.5 probably.

I had a hard time focusing on the audiobook for whatever reason. I enjoyed the book when I could focus, but it took me a long time to get through it. The cast of characters, geographic details, and info about magic and houses felt like it was spewed out endlessly.

The biggest reason I'm knocking the rating down is commits one of my least favorite storytelling sins. Loooong exposition by the villain laying out everything in detail while the protagonist records it all.

Edit to add: the overly descriptive nature of the writing didn't feel like world building or setting the scene. It felt like a Wikipedia article and I think it diluted the world because I felt like I had to hold onto to some much information about the characters, the campus, the societies, and ultimately not very much of that mattered. Maybe she was just trying to throw so many things at you to make the “mystery” harder to solve.

I really liked it! It was a fun break from some of the heavier stuff I've read recently. I would love to see a series made from the book. The meta meta thing would be neat.

4.5 stars. I “liked” this more than the first. As much as one can like a book about such horrific history.

Loooved this. The sprawling timeline, the way the language and mood of the characters evolved to match the more modern settings and sensibilities. The narration shifted perspectives so seamlessly. I was never confused about whose perspective we were getting even amongst a scene with multiple characters. In the first couple chapters, the cast evolved so quickly that I didn't think I'd care about anyone by the end, but that is not the case. I'll think about these characters for a long time.

I'd heard Murakami didn't write women well, and perhaps I started with the wrong book of his. Among the lovely stretches of writing there were random bits that felt like incel fan fiction. And every time such a line would occur, I'd ask myself “is this because the characters are all supposed to be deeply flawed?” But I don't think that's the case.

I liked enough of the writing to try another of his books.

4.5 stars. I liked this book quite a bit more than the first. The message of both is extremely heavy handed, but it's a really great reflection of humanity. Both your own and as a whole.

There's no central conflict and no traditional arc. I found myself worrying when something would happen that would traditionally lead to something to be overcome. It was refreshing to have a drama-free story.

It was a reminder to be present. It shows how simple it is to be inclusive and conscientious and how universal some experiences are. I think the heavy handedness works in this case.

I gotta stew on this. I liked it, I'm just not sure how much I liked it overall. I liked the writing quite a bit. It's just...does the story work for me?

Don't let my 2 week reading time fool you. This is a short read. Really charming.

4.5

Look, I'm a logic guy. If you examine this book closely you're going to see a lot of issues with the “science” and there are some odd decisions that characters make that a real person wouldn't, but the themes and the method in which the themes are told are right up my alley and I had a good time. Gets surprisingly dark for a moment.

4.5 stars. A fun summer read and different enough from the movie that there is some fresh surprises.

edit to add: there are some problematic aspects to this book given its age. They weren't plentiful or egregious enough to prevent me from being able to enjoy it though. Just a heads up for the more sensitive among you.

4.5 probably but I've found myself thinking about this world more often than almost any book I've read this year. (The Great Believers is #1, but that could be recency bias)

3.5 stars

Part one is a slog. Picks up in Part Two. They're not good books, but they're fun, enjoyable books.

My biggest issue being that the writing feels anachronistic at times. It's not clear what time the book is set in, but I really don't think anyone in whatever time it is would says “what the actual fuck”

The ex-Mormon-learning-to-swear energy isn't as strong in this book though. I'll definitely keep reading the series.

Shelving this for now. I'll probably return at some point.

Many of my favorite stories center around what it means to be a good person, redemption, and ethics. Upon finishing a quote from The Good Place (of all places) popped into my head.

“It turns out life isn't a puzzle that can be solved one time and it's done. You wake up every day, and you solve it again.”

I would die for Lee, and I would happily read an entire book of him and Sam chatting about life.