Martha

Beautifully written and absolutely gut punching coming of age story. The content is often very hard to read, trigger warnings abound, but there is also much joy in the relationship with her father and her home. I felt so many feelings reading this and it won't be for everyone. 

Some essays I loved and some I found slow and less focused. I also listened to it and the author has a gentle voice so that likely contributed to some of the essays feeling slower. 

I tore through this book, loved it as both a fantastical adventure and meditation on human nature. I thought the last third or so dragged on too long and started focusing too much on her relationship with Luc in a way that didn't fit to me. 

I love the basis of this book - sports, home, a city, etc. Parts of this book I could not love more but some bits lost me in a way I couldn't quite figure out, maybe just that the more poetic bits I have a hard time staying engaged with. Also read from the library and would probably have been better to be able to read more slowly in chunks. A bit long. 

Intriguing plot for a mystery but I found the genius child narrator to be unappealing and a bit tiresome. If that's your thing, it's a good book. 

Epic dude fantasy. Easy to read with really great writing. Not my usual kind of fantasy but will absolutely read the next one. 

🌶️🌶️  and stars for the romance genre. Great twists on a well worn romance plot with some great characters. Both wholesome and spicy. Could be tightened up in the second half. Audio narrator didn't do it for me. 

Absolutely recommend as a ya book that's so sweet, not too predictable, very fun and not smacking you on the head with its writing 

Recommend as an impressively written and researched (Lisa See does it again) historical fiction on life in 1400s china as a woman and doctor. 

A very specific premise following one woman over one week, with very few specifics of her life outside that week. Composition unlike anything else I've read and I really enjoyed the different style. 

Started off strong but became overly predictable and cliche. Spicy bits not so spicy. 

I really wanted to like this but at best it's a cute heartwarming book with a bit of satire. At worst the writing is cliche, predictable and uninteresting. 

One of the best structured and written mysteries I've read. Doesn't lay everything out for the reader until the very end. Did not like the weird unnecessary race and gender deals, which for the most part did not add to the plot or character development in any meaningful way. 

Of course it's the beautiful retelling of Achilles as a queer love story. Not a 5 star because the pace of the second half was a bit too slow and the violence is not for me but I do think it really evokes the violence of war effectively. 

Not for everyone but I like a book that gives a different look into people's weird brains. Many wtf moments reading this, some very disturbing and some hilarious. 

The concept is strong but execution a bit disappointing. The best essay was on design choices for women. Most of the other essays were more qualitative than quantitative in nature with few citations or otherwise a bit basic in their assessments of the challenges in designing for women. 

Really accessible overview of zoning - history, issues, goals and concrete ideas for change. Good for anyone interested in this often wonky way our communities are hugely influenced. 

I loved most the weaving of colonialism, emigration, and family together through a unique story about a clock and toy maker. The pace at times felt slow with almost toooo much about the automaton compared to other things happening. 

How do I not give a book about reviews a 5 star review? Truly I connected with this book and the way he talks about fear and love and life and all the big feelings that can feel overwhelm. The way he speaks about religion and spirituality speaks to my raised-catholic soul. Pacing myself listening to this was helpful because it could border on too heavy or too intellectual at points. 

Very sad and hopeful story. Coming of age in off the grid Alaska in a town struggling with change and in an abusive home with a loving mother. The writing easily paints a picture of these lives in a way that only occasionally feels effortful. Not a happy story but I was sucked into reading it. 

I enjoyed reading this book for the relationships between characters. My main critique is that I found the writing to be a bit trite at times and the characters underdeveloped such that their actions or thoughts felt forced. 

Most harrowing description of the publishing industry and one racist lonely woman's experience. At moments the writing is a bit heavy handed for me but there are so many layers to this book and its very unlikable main character.  

Story of family - people we love but often know so little about. Loss - losing two loves and the emotional wreckage of not allowing yourself to be sad. Intense themes and scenes with the backdrop of a taxidermy business in Florida and a main character whose mother starts making sex scenes with dead animals as a way of processing the suicide of her husband. Weird and touching. 

Beautiful modern reflection on little women with an  intersection with the power of sports and depression.  Loved the first half of the book and think the second half struggled a bit with adding more character depth and progression rather than repeating. 

Unlike anything else I've ever read, I couldn't put it down and it was so many things at once - disturbing depictions of eating disorders, in your face desire, and sad reflections of parents influence on their children.