Linda

Exhaustively researched and wonderfully dense, this is the sort of book that takes you ages to read and you don't mind that it does – it took me about six months, total to finish it. It's also dangerous for art fiends and museum lovers because it really highlights the massive moral gray zone in which most of those institutions operate. I love the Met, but what of the provenance for a number of its pieces? And ultimately, do I care that much, as long as I can go there and see such beautiful art? It's a book that makes you sort of uncomfortable, as well as teaching you an enormous amount, absolutely recommended for anybody interested in art. Or stealing shit to sell to the Getty.

Lighthearted and compulsively readable. Really fun book.

Fantastically detailed and fascinatingly inside baseball about the political shenanigans of the Vatican viewed through the lens of a compelling main character navigating his own ongoing crisis of faith. I think I loved 95% of this book, but felt the ending was so abrupt. I literally sat there staring at the last pages saying, "Wait, what?" out loud for a beat. That said, still loved the twist, the intrigue, and the pageantry.

Gorgeously written and brilliantly researched. The gut punch transition from the joyful equity of Genghis Khan’s original rule and the hellish cruelty and incompetence of his sons was hell to read. Really really fantastic book.

Easy and enjoyably consumable. Finished it in two sittings, which is kind of incredible for my deteriorating brain these days. Leans a bit too heavily into speculation, includes jump scare detours to talk about the 2016 elections.