Kris

I thought the beginning of the book was rather insightful as she explored other governments' descent into civil war and helped provide a vocabulary and framework to talk about the ebbs and flows of democratic power. I do feel like a few liberties were taken to make the US sound on the edge of civil war and it is generally written to point fingers and fearmonger, than actually provide tools and insight to unify the country.

She points to the invention and rise of social media as a key part into increased civil wars around the globe due to fringe groups being able to share ideas and mobilize in ways they couldn't before.

While social media allowing vocal minorities to amplify their voices and potential foreign influence on elections through funding and bots is a problem, I feel like she spent more time explaining how half the country is either being duped/manipulated or just plain ignorant, while also proposing radical solutions like the government regulating social media, but also manages to squeeze in how freedom of expression, association, and free media are critical points of democracy.

Her last chapters are a headache of cognitive dissonance that insists on principles of maintaining equality and equal voice for all citizens but also recommends the removal of the electoral college, as just one example.

The TLDR version of this book is factionalism leads to civil wars, and social media has encouraged identity-based factionalism. Limit online influence in your perception of the world because it's not accurate or honest, and there are certainly bad faith actors. Also, spend time in your community to strengthen civic values and encourage others to do so as well.

If citizens' needs are met and the government actually does its job, the “violence/chaos entrepreneurs” don't have a leg to stand on.

Abramson's books appeal to a very niche market, that apparently I am not a part of. The constant love at first site mixed with dilemma and danger that can only be solved by the perfect LDS intelligence officer who's mission has perfectly prepared them for this mission all feels a bit much.

Why do I keep doing this to myself?!?!?! This is the literary equivalent of eating 50 packs of instant ramen and then being surprised I got a stomach ache.

Is this poor, predictable writing and characterization?

Yes.

Did I binge read the whole thing despite watching the TV series last year?

Also yes.

It's a fun trash read, and I'm okay with that

Eh, it was okay. The ending felt incredibly rushed for how slow the beginning was. I don't feel like it really explored any new dynamic with characters. I didn't feel invested in any of the characters. They all felt flat, especially considering the close quarters and trauma they were experiencing for the last year and a half together.

The fact that it took me 3 library rentals and over a year to get back to this shows how gripping the story was

It was a quick read. Few passages felt impactful. It leans heavily on tropes and stereotypes which weakens the effect of the serious issue Colleen was going for. Overall, the characters and story felt flat instead of incredibly moving.

I am not a fan of Friends, nor have personal connections to addictions, but really enjoyed this really open memoir about Matthew Perry's life. It was hard to read in some parts.

Terribly boring wnd slow and not really a sequel

I can appreciate this book because it gave way to a good movie. But holy cow, the writing style feels so flat and disinterested, the characters feel lacking. The whole second half of the book in the present could've been a few paragraphs and is written so boringly. There's a lack of depth to how a devoted partner would feel 50 years later. And the shift from the notebook to the present is abrupt.

The beginning started off so strong with the relationship between the boy and the old man. Then everything goes downhill in the second part. What should've been the most interesting was absolute drudgery to get through.

Overall, there is not much of an original idea for a story. Lots of things have taken parts of fairytales and put them together.

I didn't feel much for this book during the actual story, but enjoyed the conversation with John Green a lot more. I felt some of his finer points didn't translate through well on the first read. Partially, this has something to do with reading this as a 30-something. It was frustrating to see someone so in need and everyone ignoring it.

I initially felt like the book relied on a lot of teenage stereotypes, but knowing he pulled from his own experience at boarding school, I guess that makes sense.

Eh.... my coworker recommended Fast Like A Girl by the same author, but it wasn't available at the library, so I read this instead. The advice is on trend with social media, intermittent fasting, detox, ketogenic diet, take her $600 hormone test and join her Facebook group. It's not science-based (her description of cave-woman a few hundred years ago made me chuckle), but if it works for you, then that's great.

This has been my favorite book I've read all year, but it may be due to the familial relationships that mirror my own life. I relate so much to a clan of women growing together, supporting each other, but with so much misunderstanding. I love the theme of defining family, and love, and the slow unraveling of the why behind it all. I love the cyclical look at mother to daughter to mother again. I love that this book feels so feminine, without be stereotypically feminine

This book was really unique and a quick read. Parts felt off, but I can't really explain why.

Looked through on an ereader. Want to borrow a physical copy from the library. Overall, interesting, as I like random history and art things

What a steaming load of sentimental garbage. As someone who has struggled with mental health and thoughts similar to Nora Seed, this book is an insult to anyone struggling and does a disservice to anyone seeking to understand such an experience. The author couldn't bother with looking up the basics of depression, calling it situational, seasonal, when the symptoms and history displayed in multiple parallel lives suggest major depressive. You can't just attempt suicide and then go back to normal. Perspective does not cure depression.

From a literary standpoint, the book was a big bag of farts (very literary, I know). The themes are so heavy handed that I guessed the entire plot from the beginning. There's no nuance to Nora's revelations, it just sounds like crap quotes that belong on Instagram posts

It was an amazing exploration of race, religion, community and trying to define humanity through a painful story. Every part felt purposeful, if painful.

I found Golding's style and voice hard to follow, particularly in the dialogue and it distracts from the story. It's crazy as the youth-run society/dystopian novel feels like such an overplayed trope, now, but this book is kind of the OG of the genre.

It's interesting to look at this book in a conversation about privilege. However, even 10 years later, this book provides a well-rounded look into what gives people advantages and makes them outliers, but also provides a clearer direction to close the gap

This book feels like a scam. I'm glad I just borrowed it from the library while I waited for the hold for Catch Me If You Can to be available. This is all common sense for anyone who has grown up in a digital age.