Books – Page 17

Categories: Books

My Thoughts on the NYT Best Books of the Century

Has the moment passed to talk about the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century from the New York Times? I hope not because that’s what I have for you guys today! I read Engie’s list and then J’s and it inspired me to take a look at the list and write down my own thoughts. I have a few strong feelings about this list:

There’s way too much literary fiction.
Not a single romance novel? It’s only the best-selling genre, but okay.
Some books on this list should have been excluded, simply because we need more distance from their publishing date to see if they hold up over time. (There are some 2022 books on this list and that just feels “too soon” to give them this distinction.)
I enjoyed way more books on the reader’s complementary list (23) than the original list (12). I also had 6 DNFs.
NYT lost all credibility when it listed My Brilliant Friend as the #1 book of the 21st century. Love that book all you want, but it doesn’t deserve to be first (in my opinion).

Okay, so those are my spicy opinions about this list and now let’s dig into the books themselves. I’ve broken this post into four sections: Books I Loved, Books I’m Neutral About, Books I Didn’t Love, and Books I DNF-ed. Anything with an asterisk next to the author’s name was from the reader’s list.

Books I Loved

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman* (★★★★★) – I have such fondness for this book. I read in 2019 and still think Ove may be one of my all-time favorite fictional characters. I feel like this book kicked off the slew of “found family” novels that are prevalent in publishing today.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini* (★★★★★) – I read this book in 2016 and I still remember all of the ways it impacted me. It showed me how different my life could have been if I had been born in a different country. It broke my heart and put it back together again. I named my first car Layla after one of the main characters in this book. <3
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (★★★★☆) – Another 2016 read! It’s a chunker at nearly 500 pages and I wanted it to be a bit shorter, but otherwise, I really liked this book. It gave a great insight into the way race and culture play into American society today. However, this is one of those instances of separating the art from the artist because Adichie has made transphobic comments in the past and has expressed vocal support of J.K. Rowling so I don’t think I will continue reading her work.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (★★★★☆) – I read this book in 2017 and really liked it. It’s not a hopeful read, but that’s not what I’m looking for when I read racial justice books. I want the hard truth and Coates delivers it.
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson* (★★★★★) – An incredible amount of research went into this book and I am so grateful to Wilkerson for writing it. She posits that there is a racial caste system in American society and when people step into a different caste system (such as a Black man becoming President), things can go sideways. A must read, in my opinion!
Deacon King Kong by James McBride* (★★★★★) – I can’t remember who recommended this book to me (maybe it was a Popcast green light?), but I downloaded the audiobook and just absolutely loved it. The characters were so rich and vibrant.
Educated by Tara Westover* (★★★★☆) – Wow, this was quite the book. It made me angry and sad and ultimately hopeful. Tara Westover went through so much in her life and the fact that she was able to get out and find a new life thanks to academia is a true testament to her spirit.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond (★★★★★) – My Goodreads review (I read this in 2017) says that this book is the most important work of nonfiction I had ever read. I stand by that review. This book was phenomenal. So much research went into this book and it taught me a lot about the housing crisis today, a crisis that hasn’t really improved in the many years since this book was published.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn* (★★★★★) – I’m really surprised this book wasn’t on the original NYT list because it feels like Gone Girl was the book that kicked off the crazy psychological thriller trend (how many books after this one were touted as “the next Gone Girl?”). I loved this thriller. I remember throwing my book across the room after the first big twist! I’ve read better thrillers since this one, of course, but they all came after this one and I truly believe Gone Girl is the originator.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling* (★★★★★) – What’s there to say about this book that hasn’t already been said? It’s an 800-page book I read in mere days. It’s a great ending to the series.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi* (★★★★★) – The fact that this book wasn’t on the original list is blasphemy. HOW IN THE WORLD. This is one of my all-time favorite books and if you haven’t read it yet, please do yourself a favor and add it to your TBR. It is phenomenal.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller* (★★★★★) – Another book I really wish had been on the original NYT list. This is an excellent memoir, although it is so hard to read because Chanel Miller does not shy away from the raw, honest truth of healing from sexual assault and being made to relive her trauma during the ensuing legal case against her abuser.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus* (★★★★★) – Gosh, I loved this book! It was just a fun book to read and I still need to watch the TV series that was made. Who can forget the genius of a dog named Six-Thirty?
Men We Reaped: A Memoir by Jesmyn Ward (★★★★★) – This is a hard memoir, as Jesmyn Ward explores what happened to the five men in her life who died in close succession (starting with her brother). I learned a lot.
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (★★★★★) – Long, character-driven novels are not typically my cup of tea, but this story was so well-written and beautiful. It follows four generations of a Korean family living in Japan and I learned so much.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir* (★★★★☆) – Andy Weir is the only author who can get me to read science fiction and love it. While I would put The Martian above this book, it was still an insanely compelling read with characters I haven’t forgotten.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt* (★★★★☆) – I only recently read this book after hearing it raved about over and over again. I really enjoyed it, although I agree with others that I would have enjoyed way more octopus scenes.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (★★★★☆) – I have to laugh at my review that I wrote in 2019: “Such an interesting concept for a novel!” It’s a book that feels more prescient today than ever, and I actually surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this pandemic book.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak* (★★★★★) – It’s been so long since I read this book (12 years!) that I had to read the synopsis to get re-acquainted with the plot. It’s a WWII novel and it’s probably one I should re-read at some point.
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (★★★★★) – I devoured this book even though it was long and mostly heartbreaking since it’s about people involved in the AIDS epidemic. It was so well-written and gave me a glimpse into a time period/epidemic that I know very little about.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins* (★★★★★) – I loved the first book in this series, liked the second one, and was indifferent on the third one. Was this the book that kicked off the YA dystopian craze? Not sure, but it definitely had a big impact.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini* (★★★★☆) – Hosseini’s books are not for the faint of heart and this one was disturbing on so many levels. But it was a book I couldn’t put down and taught me a lot about Afghanistan and assimilation in a culture so different than your own.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah* (★★★★★) – When I read this in 2017, it definitely felt like a standout in the genre, but as more time has passed, I don’t think it is. It’s a good book, don’t get me wrong, but there are other WWII novels I’d put on this list above this one.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (★★★★☆) – Whew, this was a tough read. It reimagines the Underground Railroad as an actual railroad and it does not shy away from graphic depictions of slavery. The writing is exquisite but the subject matter comes with lots of trigger warnings.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett* (★★★★★) – Brit Bennett crafted a masterpiece with this book. It’s about twin sisters who are Black but can pass as white. And so one twin does exactly that, shedding her Black identity for a white one, marrying a white man, and turning away from her family.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens* (★★★★★) – I know this book has mixed reviews and I know the author is not a good person but ohhh, I adored this book. It was one of those books that had such a strong sense of place and I was captivated by the story.

Books I’m Neutral About

Heavy by Kiese Layman (★★★☆☆) – This memoir was fine, but it wasn’t a standout for me. I found that the author was trying too hard to be literary and it annoyed me. But hey, it made it on a list that was filled with literary books so what do I know?
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann* (★★★☆☆) – Ehhhh. This was one of those “not for me” books. It makes sense why it has been such a well-loved book, but I found it a bit dry for my tastes.
Normal People by Sally Rooney* (★★★☆☆) – This book was mostly depressing and I am not here for this new literary style of not including quotation marks when characters are speaking.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (★★★☆☆) – This is a highly divisive book, it seems. Some people love it and some people don’t. There were parts of this novel I loved and parts that felt like a slog. Overall, an uneven read for me.
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead* (★★★☆☆) – This is an important book and it is beautifully written, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It’s a hard, heavy book so it’s not one I’d recommend to everyone but ultimately, I found it an important one to read.
There, There by Tommy Orange* (★★★☆☆) – Oh, I wanted to like this story written by an Indigenous person about urban Indigenous people, but there were just too many characters to keep track of and I found it hard to follow the story.

Books I Didn’t Love

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr* (★★☆☆☆) – My review on Goodreads, “I feel like I’m being very generous with my rating.” I feel the same way today. I did not like this story. It was boring and I just kept reading because everyone else seems to rave about it. I missed something with this book.
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters (★★★☆☆) – This is probably the book I read most recently on this entire list and it was a slog for me. I felt like Torrey Peters could have written such a more interesting book about the trans community. It was a disappointment.
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (★★☆☆☆) – I read this in 2016 and I think the review I wrote back then still stands true today, so I’ll leave it here: “It just wasn’t my kind of book. I found it overwhelmingly depressing and sad. I have this yucky feeling in my stomach finishing it.”

Books I DNF-ed

Circe by Madeline Miller* – I tried but Greek mythology isn’t my thing and I was a bit weirded out by the plot.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado* – I really wanted to love this book, but it just wasn’t holding my attention. This may be one I try again at a different time in my life.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante – I tried my best to get through this book for the CBBC but the toxic friendship was just too much for me to keep reading about.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke* – I was recommended this book by a few friends, but abandoned it after 100ish pages because it was a little too out-there for my liking.
Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward – I abandoned this book after listening to a few hours of the audiobook. It just wasn’t holding my attention and I decided to DNF it in favor of something else.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot* – Twice, I tried to read this book and twice, I DNF-ed it. This might have worked better as a podcast for me.

Do you have any strong opinions about the NYT list? Anything you agree or disagree about with my list? Let’s discuss!

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.29.24)

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Library • Nonfiction • 2024

Short synopsis: Supercommunicators are people who can steer a conversation to a successful conclusion. They are able to talk about difficult topics without giving offense. They know how to make others feel at ease and share what they think. They’re brilliant facilitators and decision-guiders. In this groundbreaking book, Charles Duhigg unravels the secrets of the supercommunicators to reveal the art – and the science – of successful communication. Above all, he reveals the techniques we can all master to successfully connect with others, however tricky the circumstances.

Man, I loved this book. Communication is something that is a huge struggle for me. Sometimes it feels like my brain just completely shuts off when I’m trying to make conversation with people, especially strangers. I wrack my brain for questions to ask people and usually nothing comes to mind. In this book, Charles Duhigg combines real-life examples of people getting others to listen to them (everything from a CIA operative to members of a jury) with statistics and helpful advice on how to be better at steering a conversation. One of the main takeaways I got from this book is how to ask better questions. Rather than asking, “What do you do for work?” ask, “What’s your favorite thing about your job?” Or rather than asking, “How are you?” ask, “What’s something that made you smile today?” Also, supercommunicators are not only great listeners but also share about their lives to build an honest connection with people. I think what I learned the most about supercommunicators is that they are people who are genuinely curious about the world and the people around them and have a kind, empathetic nature to them. While I don’t think I’ll become a supercommunicator now that I’ve read this book (that’s just not my personality—social anxiety makes it very hard to be as open as I want to be!), I do think it’s given me some good tips and tricks to take with me into the real world.

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (★★★★★)

E-Book • Library • Contemporary Romance • 2022

Short synopsis: Alexis Montgomery, an doctor in line to become the next chief of emergency surgery, finds her world turned upside down after meeting Daniel Grant. He lives in a small town three hours from where she lives, but in the one night they spend together, they have undeniable chemistry. Torn between her family’s expectations to become a world-renowned surgeon and the joy she finds with Daniel in his tight-knit town, Alexis faces a difficult choice between her old life and a new, simpler happiness.

This is the first book in Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World series and the last one I read (I read them out of order and I don’t think that mattered much). I loved it. I think I would put this one smack dab in the middle (Yours Truly will forever be my favorite since one of the characters had social anxiety). There are triggers to be aware of in this book, specifically intimate partner violence, so please be mindful of that. I think the way Jimenez portrayed IPV was really well done and got to the heart of why it can be so hard for people to leave a relationship. I also just really, really loved the chemistry between Daniel and Alexis. They were so damn cute together and I got a little annoyed at the way Alexis continued to push Daniel away because she was so tied to her life at her hospital. And maybe that’s because I’ve seen how happy they are together in the subsequent books in the series, so I just wanted her to grab that happy ending as soon as possible! The way everything unfolded in the end, though, was perfect and made the most sense for the two of them. Anyway, Abby Jimenez is back in my good graces (I hated her first series, The Friend Zone, and had sworn off her books until everyone started raving about this series) and is probably an auto-buy author for me now.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (book swap) • Thriller • 2022

Short synopsis: In this psychological thriller, a woman named Millie takes a job with the affluent Winchester family, hoping for a fresh start and a chance to reinvent herself. But the more she gets to know about the Winchesters, the more unsettled she becomes. Why does her small attic room only lock from the outside? And why are there scratches on the doorframe?

The Housemaid is a thriller that’s been everywhere and it has a super high Goodreads rating (4.3 with over a million ratings!) I was excited to finally dive in, but I have to be honest: I was very ready to abandon this book after the first 50 pages because it made me feel so icky. The way Mrs. Winchester treated Millie was so abhorrent that it just didn’t make me feel good. But I kept pushing through because so many people raved about this book and I had to know what the hype was about. And oh boy… did I discover it. By the time to first big twist comes around, I was completely sucked in and couldn’t put this thriller down for anything. It was sensational! I understand now why it’s such a highly rated book, and I’m glad I finally gave it a chance.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.24.24)

The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Library • Contemporary Fiction • 2021

Short synopsis: Lonely librarian June Jones has never left the sleepy English village where she grew up. Shy and reclusive, the thirty-year-old would rather spend her time buried in books than venture out into the world. But when her library is threatened with closure, June is forced to emerge from behind the shelves to save the heart of her community and the place that holds the dearest memories of her mother.

This was such a lovely little book. It was the audiobook I chose after slogging through Detransition, Baby. I needed something light-hearted and sweet, and this novel absolutely fit the bill. I loved June so much. Her character growth throughout the novel, as she found her voice and learned to stand up for what she believed in, was beautiful and I was rooting for her all along the way. I loved the eclectic cast of characters that accompanied her throughout the journey, and the emphasis on libraries and the way they become community centers for so many people. Libraries are so much more than places to borrow books. They are places for people to access the Internet, for kids to have a safe space to do their homework, etc. I loved this book and it would be a great addition to anyone’s TBR—it’s a good book to pick up the next time you need a palate cleanser!

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Mystery • 1942

Short synopsis: It was an open and shut case. All the evidence said Caroline Crale poisoned her philandering husband, a brilliant painter. She was quickly and easily convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Now, sixteen years later, in a posthumous letter, Mrs. Crale has assured her grown daughter that she was innocent. So, Caroline calls on Hercule Poirot to open the case and find out what really happened.

This was such a unique story! I appreciated what Agatha Christie was trying to do with this mystery—to show us how our perception of an event can be drastically different based on our biases. Unfortunately, it started to feel a bit repetitive when the same story was being told over and over again. I also found the mystery at the heart of the novel to be a bit hard to follow at times, but maybe that was the purpose because it wasn’t until the end of the novel that I could fully grasp what had happened. In this novel, there are five important players (aside from the victim, Mr. Crale, and the assumed murderer, Mrs. Crale): two friends of Mr. and Mrs. Crale who were around on the day of the poisoning, Mr. Crale’s mistress, Mrs. Crale’s younger sister, and the sister’s governess. Hercule meets with each one to get their side of the story and then asks them to write down their knowledge of the events. The result is a story that is told over and over again, and left me feeling rather bored by the plot. The ending was a bit convoluted and not as satisfying as I had hoped. But, hey, not every Christie novel can be a slam dunk, right?

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert (★★★☆☆)

E-Book • Library • YA • 2023

Short synopsis: Bradley and Celine are former best friends who had a falling out when they started high school and Brad abandoned her for the “cool kids.” (Or at least, that’s how she sees it.) When Celine signs up for a survival course that comes with a college scholarship, she’s surprised more than anyone to see Brad right by her side. As this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?

I was a little surprised that this was a YA romance because, so far, all of the Talia Hibbert books I’ve read have been adult. But I do love a good YA romance so I quickly got over my surprise and settled in for a cute read. It was an enemies-to-lovers trope and I loved the rapport between Bradley and Celine when they were enemies. They were so mean to each other (but not in a problematic way); they were so funny, though! I didn’t care all that much for the survival course scenes (they were kind of boring) and thought the chemistry between Bradley and Celine was just so-so. I liked the themes explored in this novel, especially because Celine is estranged from her father and I could wholly relate to her desire to show him what he’s missing out on. (And for Engie: No teens having sex in this novel!)

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.9.24)

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian (★★★☆☆)

E-Book • Library • Historical Romance • 2021

Short synopsis: Kit Webb has given up his life of crime and now runs a respectable coffee shop. And then the suave Lord Holland comes into his shop, requesting that Kit complete a job for him. Kit refuses to participate in the robbery but will help Lord Holland learn the art of highway robbery so he can do it himself. Only the more time these two men spend with each other, the more they realize there’s something between them.

Cat Sebastian is one of those reliable 3-star authors for me. I love that she writes queer historical romance, but I can’t say that I’ve read any books by her that are outstanding. They’re all just… pleasant. They’re readable and have great sex scenes, but there’s always something missing from the story that keeps me from loving the book. The same was true with this romance; it was an easy story to dip in and out of, but I wasn’t enamored with it. It was a fine romance, but nothing outstanding.

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters (★★★☆☆)

Audiobook • Library • Literary Fiction • 2021

Short synopsis: The lives of three individuals—a transgender woman named Reese, her detransitioned ex Ames, and Ames’s boss Katrina—intersect dramatically when Katrina’s unexpected pregnancy prompts Ames to propose a plan for the three of them to raise this baby together. Sure, Ames and Reese haven’t talked since their breakup and Ames’ detransition, but a baby is all Reese has ever wanted. The book weaves together concepts of gender identity, family, womanhood, and intimacy in a poignant look at society today.

I struggled a lot with this book. It’s our book club pick for June, and I was committed to getting through it, even though parts of the book made me feel very icky (specifically, Reese’s destructive pattern of sleeping with married men). There’s a lot to discuss about this book, and a lot to unpack about my own thoughts about queerness and the transgender community. While I can appreciate what Peters’ did here by creating incredibly complex, downright unlikable characters, it really made the reading experience difficult for me. There was nobody to root for in this novel; every chapter unveiled a new layer of complexity that made me dislike the characters even more than I already did. I found the whole idea of “man reaches out to his ex to see if she’d like to raise a baby with him and his new girlfriend” to be wholly implausible. I just wanted more from this novel.

*I want to say here that I sought out reviews from transgender people because I was really curious about their reception of the book. Most of the reviews I found were very positive with a lot of people talking about how they could relate to these characters and the novel spoke true to their experiences. And for that, I am immensely grateful to this author for writing this book and giving the transgender community the representation that is sorely lacking in the literary world.

This Spells Love by Kate Robb (★★★★★)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Romance • 2023

Short synopsis: In a bid to heal her heartbreak, Gemma casts a spell to erase her ex from her life, but wakes up in an alternate reality where she never dated him—and her best friend doesn’t recognize her. To return to her old life, she must get her best friend to kiss her, but as they grow closer, she questions if he might have been The One all along.

I don’t know what it was about this book, but I could not put it down. I basically spent all of the July 4th holiday on my couch reading this romance because it was so cute and I wanted to stay in Gemma’s world forever. I wouldn’t say this book was particularly well-written and I don’t even know if the whole “alternate universe” concept worked. But for me, it was the right book at the right time. The “best friends-to-lovers” trope is my absolute favorite in romance (yes, above enemies-to-lovers!) and this one did it so perfectly. I loved being with these characters and I loved the setting of this book so much. It really does show you how small decisions you make in life can make such a difference down the road. You just never know what’s waiting for you around the corner!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.1.24)

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Library • Historical Fiction • 2021

Short synopsis: Osla, Mab, and Beth are an unlikely trio working to break German military codes to help the war effort. Four years later, the women are no longer on speaking terms, until Beth–who has been confined to an insane asylum—reaches out to Osla and Mab to break her out.

I loved this book! The historical fiction genre is indeed saturated with WWII stories, so it’s fun to find a book that gives me a different look into life during that time. This one was all about codebreakers during WWII, which is something I had never really thought about. The three women in this book were all so different from each other, each coming to codebreaking in their own way and going about life during the war vastly differently. While this is a long book (the audiobook is over 16 hours), I don’t think I really noticed the length because I was so fascinated by this story and the women’s perspectives. It was the kind of WWII story that didn’t feel too heavy, either, because the women were so far removed from the war and all that entailed. All in all, this is a novel I would happily recommend, especially if you love a good WWII story.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez (★★★★★)

Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Contemporary Romance • 2024

Short synopsis: Justin has a curse: every woman he dates finds their soulmate after they break up with him. He posts about his curse on Reddit, and connects with Emma who has the same curse. So, they hatch a plan. They’ll date each other and then when they break up, they’ll find their soulmates! Nothing can go wrong with this plan, right?

Okay, Abby Jimenez. I will forgive you for some of your awful early books because you have found your groove in the romance department. This novel was excellent, even though the subject matter was a bit difficult at times (a toxic parent with mental illness and a prison plotline), which made me read the book more slowly than I normally would. However, the chemistry between Justin and Emma was hot and their banter was so much fun to read. I’m also requesting all first dates to include cuddling kittens like Justin arranged for his and Emma’s first date. While Emma could frustrate me at times, I really liked the way Jimenez talked about her depression (“getting small”) because I really identified with that idea. I feel the need to make my world as small as possible when I’m going through a depressive episode, and I appreciated the way both Emma’s best friend and Justin cared for her during her small moments. This novel gave me all of the happy feels, and it’s an easy one to recommend.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Fiction • 2023

Short synopsis: This is the story of three women: Darley, a wife and mother who gave up her career to take care of her children; Sasha, who married Colt and has felt like the outcast in his family ever since; and Georgiana, the baby of the family who finds herself in a new relationship she has to keep secret.

This novel has gotten a lot of mixed reviews and doesn’t have the best overall Goodreads rating (3.5), but I had a few friends give it good reviews so I figured I would give it a shot. I enjoyed the easy writing style of the book and I’m always down for a “wealthy people behaving badly” book, but something was missing in this one. I felt like the author could have taken things one step further, but held back. Instead, everything felt a bit too perfect and sweet. I’m not looking for sweet when I read these types of books! I was disappointed by the ending and felt like the author was more concerned with creating a tidy ending than creating an authentic one. This is Jenny Jackson’s debut and maybe it’s due to her inexperience (although she’s also an editor at a major publishing house, so I don’t know if that’s a good enough excuse), but I needed a bit more drama and biting commentary. It’s a fine book, but not one I’ll be rushing out to recommend.

What are you reading?