Eric Stone
4.5 Stars. This book was incredibly powerful and expertly written. McCurdy accomplishes something rare: she provides a raw, honest depiction of an eating disorder and a toxic home life from the point of view of a child who doesn't yet realize how terrible her situation is.
There is no overt "demonizing" of her mother in the text. Instead, McCurdy simply shows us the reality of her life and lets us reach that conclusion ourselves. The result is a book that is gripping and deeply engaging.
The audiobook narration by McCurdy herself should not be missed. It does so much to highlight her pain and the authenticity of her journey. There was one part in particular that I listened to over and over again because her voice and her story demanded space and honor in a way I’ve never experienced with an audiobook before.
It only loses half a star because I don't think it's a book I’d reread, but I am more than comfortable rounding this up to 5 stars on platforms that don’t support halves. Truly outstanding.
4.5 Stars. This book was incredibly powerful and expertly written. McCurdy accomplishes something rare: she provides a raw, honest depiction of an eating disorder and a toxic home life from the point of view of a child who doesn't yet realize how terrible her situation is.
There is no overt "demonizing" of her mother in the text. Instead, McCurdy simply shows us the reality of her life and lets us reach that conclusion ourselves. The result is a book that is gripping and deeply engaging.
The audiobook narration by McCurdy herself should not be missed. It does so much to highlight her pain and the authenticity of her journey. There was one part in particular that I listened to over and over again because her voice and her story demanded space and honor in a way I’ve never experienced with an audiobook before.
It only loses half a star because I don't think it's a book I’d reread, but I am more than comfortable rounding this up to 5 stars on platforms that don’t support halves. Truly outstanding.
Updated a reading goal:
Read 150 books by December 31, 2026
Progress so far: 25 / 150 16%
I’ll start with the positives: I enjoyed the structure. The story bounces between opposing timelines until they eventually meet in the middle, and I’m a sucker for time travel mechanics. Unfortunately, those were the only redeeming qualities.
This was the single most predictable book I have ever read. A friend once told me, "‘Book Club’ picks just mean the plot is dumbed down enough for the masses to understand. I SAID WHAT I SAID." After finishing this, I don’t think I disagree.
For a genre that relies on the "mind-bend," there was no bend here. The stakes felt low because the resolution was visible from a mile away. If you’re looking for a complex puzzle to solve, this isn't it. It’s a well-structured but ultimately hollow experience.
I’ll start with the positives: I enjoyed the structure. The story bounces between opposing timelines until they eventually meet in the middle, and I’m a sucker for time travel mechanics. Unfortunately, those were the only redeeming qualities.
This was the single most predictable book I have ever read. A friend once told me, "‘Book Club’ picks just mean the plot is dumbed down enough for the masses to understand. I SAID WHAT I SAID." After finishing this, I don’t think I disagree.
For a genre that relies on the "mind-bend," there was no bend here. The stakes felt low because the resolution was visible from a mile away. If you’re looking for a complex puzzle to solve, this isn't it. It’s a well-structured but ultimately hollow experience.
I really enjoyed this one - it’s just a great story. While the concept is fun, King doesn’t take it where most would expect. He delivers fantastic body horror, great environmental tension, and a truly satisfying resolution.
This isn't a title you hear about as often as his more famous books, but it was a required stop on my journey to full-fledged "Constant Reader" status. I’d been looking forward to it for a while, and it delivered.
The idea behind the book is especially interesting when you consider the history of Richard Bachman. I love how pseudo-autobiographical so many of King’s books are, and this one is no exception. The mentions of the main character’s new-found sobriety, the young children, and the quest to be the "light" while a darkness hides just under the surface - it’s all here, and it’s all incredibly satisfying.
The subtext here is my favorite aspect. Will King lose his voice or his talent if he kills his darker half? If he can't partake in mind-altering substances? As is usually the case for the most talented amongst us - the answer there is thankfully, no.
I really enjoyed this one - it’s just a great story. While the concept is fun, King doesn’t take it where most would expect. He delivers fantastic body horror, great environmental tension, and a truly satisfying resolution.
This isn't a title you hear about as often as his more famous books, but it was a required stop on my journey to full-fledged "Constant Reader" status. I’d been looking forward to it for a while, and it delivered.
The idea behind the book is especially interesting when you consider the history of Richard Bachman. I love how pseudo-autobiographical so many of King’s books are, and this one is no exception. The mentions of the main character’s new-found sobriety, the young children, and the quest to be the "light" while a darkness hides just under the surface - it’s all here, and it’s all incredibly satisfying.
The subtext here is my favorite aspect. Will King lose his voice or his talent if he kills his darker half? If he can't partake in mind-altering substances? As is usually the case for the most talented amongst us - the answer there is thankfully, no.
The inner dust jacket claims this book is perfect for anyone who enjoyed Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Having read them both at the same time, I can confirm that statement is false. While I found Tomorrow effortless, The Ministry of Time was a challenge.
A significant part of that struggle was the audiobook. The narration was totally immersion-breaking for me; I started the book unable to put it down, but the moment I switched to audio, I lost all momentum. I eventually realized I simply could not listen to it if I wanted to finish the story.
Beyond the format, the story suffered from an unnatural focus on romance. It felt like the author was forcing a love story where it didn't belong. While it’s plausible that two single people of similar ages forced to live together would develop feelings, there was nothing easy about this progression. The protagonist went from intrigued to fully in love in the blink of an eye, causing the emotional stakes to skyrocket far too quickly to feel earned.
The spy thriller elements were solid, and the twist toward the end was genuinely good. Ultimately, it felt like the book was trying to do too much at once, which prevented a good premise from becoming a great novel.
The inner dust jacket claims this book is perfect for anyone who enjoyed Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Having read them both at the same time, I can confirm that statement is false. While I found Tomorrow effortless, The Ministry of Time was a challenge.
A significant part of that struggle was the audiobook. The narration was totally immersion-breaking for me; I started the book unable to put it down, but the moment I switched to audio, I lost all momentum. I eventually realized I simply could not listen to it if I wanted to finish the story.
Beyond the format, the story suffered from an unnatural focus on romance. It felt like the author was forcing a love story where it didn't belong. While it’s plausible that two single people of similar ages forced to live together would develop feelings, there was nothing easy about this progression. The protagonist went from intrigued to fully in love in the blink of an eye, causing the emotional stakes to skyrocket far too quickly to feel earned.
The spy thriller elements were solid, and the twist toward the end was genuinely good. Ultimately, it felt like the book was trying to do too much at once, which prevented a good premise from becoming a great novel.
This book is tremendous. It is the kind of story that brings into focus how challenging some books are to read, simply because this one is so effortless. Zevin reveals information across the past, present, and future in a non-linear way that feels completely natural - the transitions are incredibly smooth.
I was 30% in when I realized I didn't want this to end. I was dreading the bad things I knew were coming, but I couldn't put it down. When the turning point with Marx arrived, it didn't feel like it came out of left field; the book is so deeply rooted in action and consequence that even the smallest moments carry weight.
Sam and Sadie are written perfectly. They are walking contradictions - loyal yet disloyal, self-serving yet selfless. They are all the things we are, whether we want to admit it or not. As someone who grew up in Massachusetts and is almost exactly the same age as these characters, the nostalgia hit home - from the Metal Gear Solid reference to the "palpable, if irrational, longing for all things Massachusetts."
The portrayal of deeply platonic love here is the best I have ever read. The "Pioneers" section and the reveal of Sam's grandfather’s will were exactly what the story needed, exactly when it needed them. As I approached the last handful of pages, I was met with an enormous sense of mourning. Now that I've turned that final page, I grieve; and pray that I will someday reach "acceptance."
This passes my criteria for a 5 star rating. I would reread it immediately, and I will be recommending it to everyone I know for the foreseeable future. You don't need to love video games to love this book - you just need to open your heart to the possibility that anything can happen to anyone at any time - and there's nothing more important than holding on to something real.
This book is tremendous. It is the kind of story that brings into focus how challenging some books are to read, simply because this one is so effortless. Zevin reveals information across the past, present, and future in a non-linear way that feels completely natural - the transitions are incredibly smooth.
I was 30% in when I realized I didn't want this to end. I was dreading the bad things I knew were coming, but I couldn't put it down. When the turning point with Marx arrived, it didn't feel like it came out of left field; the book is so deeply rooted in action and consequence that even the smallest moments carry weight.
Sam and Sadie are written perfectly. They are walking contradictions - loyal yet disloyal, self-serving yet selfless. They are all the things we are, whether we want to admit it or not. As someone who grew up in Massachusetts and is almost exactly the same age as these characters, the nostalgia hit home - from the Metal Gear Solid reference to the "palpable, if irrational, longing for all things Massachusetts."
The portrayal of deeply platonic love here is the best I have ever read. The "Pioneers" section and the reveal of Sam's grandfather’s will were exactly what the story needed, exactly when it needed them. As I approached the last handful of pages, I was met with an enormous sense of mourning. Now that I've turned that final page, I grieve; and pray that I will someday reach "acceptance."
This passes my criteria for a 5 star rating. I would reread it immediately, and I will be recommending it to everyone I know for the foreseeable future. You don't need to love video games to love this book - you just need to open your heart to the possibility that anything can happen to anyone at any time - and there's nothing more important than holding on to something real.