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I read this story while I was traveling in the middle of a lot of other things going on which is likely why I can’t give it more stars. It’s on me. This is a slow book that asks its reader to savor the moments with it, get attached to the characters and really let your heart swell and tenderly be broken in places. I didn’t give it the justice it deserved. I will need to read it again another time.
What a fun, wild ride through my teenage years. I am of the generation Klosterman identifies who was here before the internet and can remember so much of both the before and the after. Netscape came out while I was in college. I loved hearing so many of these stories. Only lowered rating because as with many nonfiction, some of these stories could be more succinct and to the point. But honestly, it made me smile the whole time with lots of wonderful trips down memory lane.
3.5 stars. I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the beginning, I thought it was fast-moving, smart, interesting and well written. Then I felt that it started sagging a bit and felt a bit unbelievable and the “twist” was easy to see coming and made me feel like the characters would also have seen it coming. It made me question how much we’re willing to believe something must be true if we’ve made a commitment (in this case financial). i did enjoy so many of the themes and how contemporary it felt.
Sweet story about four boys who are friends in high school and each have different commitments over the summer. The jobs they take each don’t turn out to be what they thought. They meet new people, they grow far and closer to each other. They learn and they grow. This lovely coming of age novel was a joy to read.
Another beautiful story from Fama. Living through Covid-times and not being a fan of crowds lately, I was intrigued by the idea of a world divided into day and night people. I really liked reading about the social and political implications of such a divide. But as with Monstrous Beauty, the best part of this story is the characters and the writing. Both of which stay with you long long after the story is over.
This beautiful story on its surface is a story about a mermaid but it’s really about love and family and sacrifice and forgiveness. There are plenty of plot retellings in the reviews so I won’t add mine but I will say the writing and the beautiful character-building in this story alone is worth reading it. Unlike many of its contemporary YA novels, this story will wind its way through your heart, require you to slow down so you can savor its two worlds and its wonderful characters. And it will stay with you long after you’re done reading it.
Egan’s novels are always thought-provoking and really well-written. This was no exception. I read A Visit from the Goon Squad a really long time ago so any character connections between the two books was lost on me but if you’ve read it more recently, it’s a lovely connection between the two. This book start with a story where the tech millionaire Bix Bouton is in a rut and trying to think about what his next big innovation could be when he decides to attend a get together at Columbia. All the stories after take place in a world where Bix has invented a machine that can extract your memories and put them in a computer where you can access them whenever you want and have a perfect memory of each of them. The stories are interconnected predictable and unpredictable ways. One of the features of this new technology is the option to upload your memories to a collective in exchange for being able to access other people’s memories. So when you’re searching for your long-lost friend Jenny, you can upload all your memories and then get to see other people’s memories of Jenny throughout the years. Seeing what happens to her through the eyes of others. These interconnected stories have a similar feel as you find out what happens to some of the characters inside other stories through the “eyes” of the new storyteller. The stories are very different from each other and so are the characters. Some are funny. One is mostly emails back and forth. Even though I lost interest in parts, I loved seeing how the book came together and I loved the ideas presented in these stories. Egan always makes me think. with gratitude to edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars. One of the strongest reads for the year so far. Excellent writing, really interesting story, fantastic character building. Great story around how even the people we think we know best are holding worlds inside themselves. How families are complicated. Wonderful sibling relationship story. Highly, highly recommended.
3.5 stats. Fun, slightly twisty thriller though I saw some of the twists from afar and others caught me by surprise. I enjoyed all the time I spent with this fast-paced and fun story. If thrillers are your jam, you will like this one.
Beautiful, thought-provoking, interconnected stories beautifully told. The writing, the characters and the stories will all be memorable for a long time. So many pandemic books lately (and I am sure more to come) but this one is really not one to miss.  Daily Joys – 57
Rainbows forever. Moments of joy at home all day, every day.  14/100
The winds are shifting. #the100dayproject |
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