Oh my. This book is one of a kind. As a person who reads a lot, it’s rare that I read something that’s so unique and so unlike anything else. But this one, this one absolutely checks that box.
It’s so unusual that I think people will either love it or really not care for it. Consider me 100% in the first category. I loved every minute I spent with this unusual, one of a kind story.
First of all Benjamin’s writing is absolutely beautiful. The settings, the characters, the crazy plot. But what’s even more beautiful is all the emotion in this story. The things we will do for love, because of grief, for science, trying to make up for regret. The chances we miss and the deep desire to get even one more moment with the people we love. There are a ton of nitpicks I can have with it but at its heart it’s a story about love, grief and regret and the rest are just details. And those emotions are palpable the whole way through.
This story will stay with me for months and month.
with gratitude to netgalley and Putnam for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Here’s what’s interesting. I loved Shrill and when I first started reading this book, it felt similar and I found myself in the same zone where I loved West’ voice and the way she told her story. But then at some point, the voice memos really started to annoy me and so did the narrative. It felt almost like she was trying to convince me of something she herself didn’t believe. Or maybe I didn’t get it. Either way maybe this was the wrong book at the wrong time for me. I wish her nothing but joy and if West writes more, I will read those too.
I’ve read every Evelyn Skye book. Not only do I love her writing style but I love her as a human being I get to call a friend. How lucky am I?
This was both a departure from her other stories and not really. As someone who works in tech, I really enjoyed the setting of this book. And even though as a reader, I could totally see that Talia was making poor choices and getting addicted to the ability to undo even the smallest of mistakes, I completely believe that if any of us actually had this power, we would have a really hard time not using it both for ourselves and for the people we love.
Especially if it seemed like it didn’t have adverse reactions, who wouldn’t want to tinker and make things just right. Or to give others (or themselves) an opportunity to correct things. The thing is, throughout this whole story Talia never uses the power to truly take advantage of anyone else or in a purely selfish way. In her own way, she’s always trying to do it for the “right” reasons (ok maybe not when she’s eating several breakfasts but it’s also ok to have a little fun if it comes at no expense, no?)
As in all her other books, the creativity and visual storytelling are one of a kind. I loved the idea of Talia’s company and the details that went with it. I loved the bookstore in the lighthouse. I loved imagining the fancy Taco Bell. So many beautiful and visual details.
Reading a Skye book is always such a gift and this one is no exception.
with gratitude to netgalley and Atria books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I read this because I was stuck looking for something to read and I knew this wouldn’t be terrible. And it wasn’t. It held my attention all the way through. It was interesting. But not nearly as captivating as the original.
I’m not entirely sure why the reviews for this book are so so bad. I thought it was perfectly average. Yes, there are a lot of open plot-points and several things don’t seem to make sense but once i started reading I found myself wanting to read more and more. In fact, I read the whole thing in a single sitting.
I think there are two main issues with this story: it wasn’t well-developed. The characters are not interesting and as the reader I didn’t feel like I understood any of their motivations enough to figure out why they made the choices they made (I felt like Curt was the only one that came close.) And they all make such terrible choices the whole time. So if you don’t understand them, they are not textured enough and they make poor choices, it becomes harder to read the story.
Second issue is that this novel is written by an author who is clearly capable of writing so much better. So at a deft hand like his, it feels even less forgivable because it feels like laziness/choice vs lack of ability.
Maybe that explains some of the frustration others seem to have.
with gratitude to Knopf and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not entirely sure why the reviews for this book are so so bad. I thought it was perfectly average. Yes, there are a lot of open plot-points and several things don’t seem to make sense but once i started reading I found myself wanting to read more and more. In fact, I read the whole thing in a single sitting.
I think there are two main issues with this story: it wasn’t well-developed. The characters are not interesting and as the reader I didn’t feel like I understood any of their motivations enough to figure out why they made the choices they made (I felt like Curt was the only one that came close.) And they all make such terrible choices the whole time. So if you don’t understand them, they are not textured enough and they make poor choices, it becomes harder to read the story.
Second issue is that this novel is written by an author who is clearly capable of writing so much better. So at a deft hand like his, it feels even less forgivable because it feels like laziness/choice vs lack of ability.
Maybe that explains some of the frustration others seem to have.
with gratitude to Knopf and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve decided to let myself rest for a bit so nothing new on the big goal yet. Maybe this weekend I will do some more.
Progress on the big five:
Y: Finished! Need a little break before phase two.
G: Phase two done, too! Break here, too before phase 3.
S: Nothing back from nurse, talked to other place, will make appointment this week.
Sa: no progress here, i think this will have to wait a bit.
D: Nothing on this, this week, have to do a trip to pickup next week, a bit anxious.
Three Medium goals:
Taxes finished, filed, paid.
Not buying this for now.
This will be phase 3 so it will wait for a bit.
Start: nope nope nope.
Stop: nope nope.
Continue: finally decided to take a break from portraits. Did more than 15, that was enough for now.
Brave: still actively working on this too.
So proud of myself and how much I am doing. Day by day, drop by drop.
Other things from this week:
We had parent teacher conferences this week and one of the teachers told my daughter that she wishes she had had a friend like her when she was in high school. I am so grateful that my kids went to this amazing, special middle/high school. It is one of the best things I ever managed to do for them.
I am so grateful that my kids still come to me for advice, for deep, meaningful and hard conversations. I learn so much from them and feel deeply lucky to have the type of relationship we do.
I still feel like I am struggling more than I would like. I’ve noticed a few years ago that when I am not well, I seem to regularly have the sensation of jumping out of my own skin and it’s been happening with some frequency in the last few months. I’ve taken some steps to get help, but it will take some time, so I just have to be patient with myself.
I am not sleeping at all. I am basically half-awake all night and it’s making the days more difficult. So until it gets better, I am trying to take as many naps as I can.
This is the happiest I have been at work in my 30-year career. I feel seen and supported and appreciated. And also I feel like I am working hard to make a difference and lift others up. I feel spacious and generous at work which I feel very grateful for.
I finally took a break from drawing faces and feel so much more comfortable doing what I love and having my downtime to not also be a struggle.
It’s been a bad season of books lately. I can’t seem to find something that holds my interest or speaks to me. I have started and stopped more books in the last six months than I have in years. I wish I could find a few books that really get me back into the rhythm of things.
I finally watched season one of Drops of God and it was really good. I’ve been enjoying a few other AppleTV shows. I don’t watch a lot of TV but when I do I seem to enjoy watching a bunch in a row. I hate watching one episode a week.
I am so incredibly grateful for Sadie every day. Since I got her, every single morning is happier. I wake up feeling joy. It’s been an indescribably positive change in my life.
Here’s to another week. Paying attention. Savoring and li
What an excellent, excellent story. Would have absolutely never picked this one up if it weren’t for my friend Lauren. And the audio is outstanding. It’s about Cinderella but also nothing about it. It’s about being a mother, about doing the right thing, and about bravery. Great story.
I love Christina Lauren so I already knew I was going to love this book before I started it. And yes the premise of this one is a bit crazy, and yes you have to suspend your disbelief. But it doesn’t matter because their playful and sweet dialogue is still there. Their fun side characters are still there. The story flows and you don’t want to let go of these lovely characters. Especially now, all I wanted to do was to live in their world for a little longer. And this one has a bonus awesome dog, too!
Read it in a single sitting!
with gratitude to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rooney’s previous book was one of my favorites when it came out so I couldn’t wait to read this. But then I started it and it dragged and dragged. Enough that I had to put it aside for a while. I tried to come back to it a few times but I couldn’t engage with it.
Finally when I knew I had a chunk of time, I sat down to get through it and I grew to love it more and more and more and by the end I was completely invested in the future of Kick and rooting for him. This story unravels slowly, with lots of things thrown in the middle, but it’s truly lovely if you stick with it.
with gratitude to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
