I enjoyed this book and quickly read through it thanks to the well-crafted sentences and beautiful flow of the narrative. When I finished, however, I had a hard time identifying what my actual thoughts were. Did I learn anything? Was a new perspective revealed to me? It didn't really feel like it. As I spent some time digesting the book, all I could really say was that there was not enough fleshed-out humanity. There were implications of conflict, but nothing that had a meaningful impact on the main character's evolution. He seemed to be a victim of the world around him, simply trying to be good without any strife or untoward thought. Without spoiling the book, multiple scenes bring out pain from his past, and with only the briefest of hesitation, he seems to move on more or less - it is only friends around him that offer any emotionally charged response. I would have liked to see more internal struggle as a tool for true personal growth. That being said, we are in a time underscored by constant turmoil from all angles (all of which are touched on in the book) - politics, world events, the personal and family histories we carry with us... And it is reasonable to feel bogged down by all of this and simply want a narrative that, for once, doesn't require as much emotional weightlifting. Perhaps by solely acknowledging that the pain exists and then moving on in the spirit of goodness without needing to delve deeper or process how it impacts us, Lydia Millet is trying to highlight the simple yet resounding importance of acts of kindness in a world that may, at face value, feel undeserving of it.

I don’t know where to start with this one. I’m not sure that I can write a concise review that will convey why I am rating this book a 5 and why I couldn’t put it down. But at this point I’ve leaned in on the reviews, so get excited because here goes!

This is a book that is not going to capture every reader’s attention, and this is evident in perusing even the wild range of top reviews on goodreads. Being in a very specific moment with a certain amount of distance from the upheaval of my freshman year of college (where the majority of this plot rests) is part of what spoke to me. The dry internal dialogue and commentary as the main character learns to interact in a world that is new and completely unfamiliar to her is another. Analysis of other books is also always going to get me.

There is something so special about this book because it gave words and feeling to the confusion of college and the odd situations you seem to find yourself in. I moved to a brand-new city across the country, and nothing could have prepared me for the 4 years that followed. It is hard to see how much you are being exposed to and learning both in and out of class. Very little of the actual material from my freshman year stands out to me, but the experience itself completely reshaped how I interacted with the world. I was exposed to people and relationships that (whether long-lasting or not) fully revamped my perspectives. This book somehow captures it all. And does so in such a dry and bleak way. I read it in the same tone as My Year of Rest and Relaxation and No Longer Human. If the past few years I have been drawn to the idea of never really knowing a person, this year I have honed my attention on books centered around that feeling of otherness and confusion that are paramount as we come online and define our place in the world. This also speaks to where I am in my personal life – learning to feel all the feelings and embrace each moment of time as I come to know myself as deeply, individually, and honestly as possible.

Well, I can honestly say I never thought I would see the day that I would be enthusiastic about a book that is so deeply rooted in video games. There were moments when my severely limited knowledge of games was about enough to disengage me however she has great skill in wrapping the narrative into the game. The depth of characters kept me reading at a brisk pace and despite the length and a busy few weeks, I sailed through this.

Similar to the real world (and, the author would argue, video games) - narratives and our personal stories aren’t provided in fully formed pieces in the book, you have to slowly sift through and constantly redefine the characters and situations. I have found it a fascinating way to look at your assumptions when more information or description comes later in the book. As the novel continued on I found myself more and more hesitant to form a clear picture, knowing that at some point my hazy outline would sharpen as the details were forthcoming. And the best part was that despite this hesitancy, again and again, I continued to fill the blanks without realizing. I would side with one characters perception only to find out more details later about the situation that made me reframe. A theme that has been present for me this past year has been unreliable narrators and not leaning fully into the first information you’ve been given (both in books, news, and even day to day interactions), so this book resonated perfectly.

I was hesitant for many reasons to pick this book up, but again - after multiple friends recommended it and I came across it at the library I had to jump on the chance. I started writing my review before I had even finished the book because I was so excited. The sheer frustration of what goes unspoken between characters truly encapsulates the idea I love to ponder that you can never truly know a person.. and the value of struggling through communication in order to intentionally add that depth to any sort of relationship.. because otherwise what is the point??

4.5 - there are similar vibes to Eleanor Olephant is Completely Fine, Lilian Boxfish Takes A Walk, and Where’d You Go, Bernadette?- in that there is a lead female character whois fiercely independent and has strong convictions (with varying levels of insight into this) despite the world around them trying to erode this.

Lessons In Chemistry instantly hooked my with the writing style. I found it to be enjoyable and always wanted to read on, however it took me longer to invest in the characters and storyline itself - the author does a great job of subtly and slowly creating a world, making the shift to investment seemingly out of nowhere. This book covers many topics, but one of the unifying themes is the idea of unintentional biases and preconceived notions/first glance judgements. The majority of books that have resonated most with me in the past few years are books that examine, in some way, the idea that you can never really know someone - so this was a shoe in for my taste. Most characters are individualized and well developed (though there are a few that to me leaned on stereotype, they don’t take away from the story but seem more to serve the purpose of representing the time period ). That being said I must admit that (among other methods) I 100% judge books by their covers (there are simply too many books in the world and never enough time) and this cover kept me from picking this book up to even read the plot - so I am grateful for the plethora of friends that recommended this in the past couple months.

Sometimes I think my subconscious knows me better than I know myself when it comes to the books I need in my life. That being said, to be honest, based on the cover of the edition I picked up, I probably wouldn’t have read this had it not been recommended by more than one person - so maybe it’s just my friends that know me well. After it was in my possession, something inside me shouted this was a book I needed to read NOW. Initially the narrative resonated with me because of the palpabale yet shadowy quality of past relationships that have come up for me in recent interactions with potential significant others. But then BOOM as you near the end it took a sudden turn that even I couldn’t predict… and it whipped me into a wild frenzy to figure out exactly where this crazy book would lead. Enjoyable on so many levels.

The appreciation and deep look at nature and how we as humans interfere reminds me of books by Barbara Kingsolver. With some murder, mystery, and a quirky old lady mixed in.

Really interesting parallels to my year of rest and relaxation, reading them back to back enhanced both of them. Dark and bleak humor. Written in 1958 and translated from Japanese, with themes that have timeless relevance.

I could not put this book down. 4.5. I can certainly see why this book will not appeal to everyone, but I really appreciated the extremely dark perspective and humor.

Definitely top 5, if not my favorite book so far this year. Plays on how crafted a narrative can be. It’s fun to read this after reading multiple celebrity narratives that have ghost writers and specific goals in mind. A great reminder to really pause and reflect on what it is you’re reading and where it comes from. This is a hard book to give a summary to without giving any spoilers. But basically it centers around a well known, opulent, New York couple (who leads a very private life despite the notoriety) and the early demise of one, which is wrought with speculation as to the cause as well as who that person really was.

I had to take a bit of a break on this book. The formatting is difficult- paragraphs are just 1-2 long sentences and there are few chapters. I had a hard time reading it for more than a few pages at a time. The other day I was talking to a friend about books you read compulsively vs books you read out of a sense of duty. There were parts of the book the I liked and drew me in, but for the most part I struggled to really feel addicted and “in it” with this book. This was definitely more so a book I finished out of a sense of duty.

The content of this book is heartbreaking and complex. The writing itself felt a little bogged down and clunky, making it hard for me to really dive into the book. Some sections felt slow. But I continued to read it because of how powerful of a story it is. Worth a read if you’re willing to push yourself to continue.

A very enjoyable read that cuts between stories (primarily focused on love and it’s many iterations) as well as an examination on the human experience generally. Throughout the novel, Kundera cuts in with his own observations as the narrator - offering psychological examinations of his characters. Finally, there is history wrapped in offering further background and scene for the characters and their choices and paths. This book jumps around and is messy in good ways. In trying to articulate my thoughts on this book, I read some reviews - my favorite said that you don’t leave with one major thought to process but rather that insights are placed in throughout, little nuggets to chew and digest as you go and I completely agree.

Audiobook. Before I listened to this book, I was under the impression that this was nonfiction. But I was stuck in a snowstorm and not in a place where I could change the audiobook. So… it took me a good couple hours to even adjust to the fact that this was not going to become non fiction at any point. My bad. Great storyline that keeps you moving along nonetheless.

I really appreciate that she is trying something outside of her typical dive into the absolute depths of darkness (don’t worry, this book still has it’s moments) and how unusual the setup of the book is. But I think this falls short of the level of book she’s written in the past. Paradise is complicated and has many layers - with characters that share the same name across the 3 books but have completely different stories to keep track of, which can feel daunting at parts. Overall worth the read.

This is very different than his other books I’ve read. Certain elements - like not consistently giving years and having long breaks between fragments of the original story make certain sections feel a bit clunky. But overall, the book comes together in ways I wouldn’t have anticipated. I also give him points for venturing into such a new style for him.

Throughout the entire book, he captures scenes that include the most minute details, all in a way that didn’t feel forced or over the top. His writing was approachable but extremely dense with description, storyline, emotion, and, you guessed it - struggles. I found this book to be a very captivating, thought provoking read and look forward to reading the subsequent books in this collection in the coming years.

I really liked a lot about this book. It’s a great storyline - a woman making a deal that leads to her being “un-rememberable” (I can’t think of the right word right now. It made me think a lot about how we choose to enrich our life and also what about my life would look different if I knew I had unlimited time to explore and grow and travel. The reason I rated this four stars I stead of five was I found the writing to feel a bit forced. It may just be a matter of style preference - it seemed like almost every sentence the author was trying to be what I would consider “quotable”.. with more complex word choices and sentence structure than may have always been needed. What sets a book apart to me is ability to simply relay complex messages.

It is easy to missjudge the weight of our daily choices, and yet those seemingly insignificant decisions (as well as subsequent outcomes) can reverberate through individuals and their communities indefinitely. This book takes on multiple large topics - rape, small towns, teenage angst, socioeconomic disparity, and much more (bonus: you get to meet at least one puppy). Backman explores all of these with close attention, but takes care to remind readers that although there may be a seemingly “right” action or answer (especially in retrospect or when judged from a distance), in the moment there are a thousand details that shout for attention, guiding even those we may consider the “best” people down a path that they may regret after the heat of the moment has cooled. Fear produces within us all a result that can be unpredictable and often lacks rationale. In his books, Backman reminds readers that this complicated world is full of humans who are beautifully imperfect and are a product of so much more than the snapshot we have chosen to judge them by.

A mother’s devastating reckoning of the pieces that remain after the death of a child. She artfully captures her ruminative, ambling path following both her husband and daughter’s abruptly shortened lives. Themes I identified: Can we really grow from a series of events like this? So much of one’s perspective can shift in the process of retrospection, but it seems unlikely to find a definitive “answer” to the randomness that we experience in life.

Also reframes the things we can cling to in the name of memory - and the role this ultimately serves -

“In theory these mementos serve to bring back the moment.

In fact they serve only to make it clear how inadequately I appreciated the moment when it was here.”

This writing reminded me of “When Breath Becomes Air” - there is a perspective that comes to light that I have really only read in the context of vulnerability and honesty following trauma and retrospection.

A classic tale from Greek mythology, written in modern language. I was not as familiar with Circe’s story. What I appreciated about this book was the breadth of other stories that appear - and that each subsequent character’s backstory is woven into the narrative so that readers could more easily follow. Much of classic mythology I have read expects readers to already know each character - if nothing else by the meaning of their name as a guide. This storyline is fast paced but holds depth, as we watch Circe grow and come to know herself. Ultimately, it is also a reminder that, even with the advent of eternal life (and unlimited time to “grow” emotionally), wisdom is not a certainty, nor does each person come to it at the same time or in the same way. More often than not it might even be an illusion that can serve to hold us back. Many excellent quotes in the book, did not pick one for the review.

Another great Barbara Kingsolver book in the sense that she seamlessly weaves in a great amount of information about all things pertaining to a chosen wildlife topic (in this case mostly butterflies and climate change). That being said, I found myself bogged down by the storyline itself. I had to put more effort in to get through this one, but it may be in the context of the high bar she has set for herself other books I have read.

I had a very hard time putting this book down. It is an examination of the moments that fabricate a family and underline a life. Told from multiple points of view at a variety of points in time. Life is complicated, people are complicated. It’s not simply our experience and perceptions that shape a moment and how it effects us, but the collective. Life is molded and defined not only by other people who are both in the moment and in the recounting, but also the experiences that follow - the moments we give salience to and the moments we forget. Ultimately it makes up far more than simply a memory, while effectively shaping how we perceive the people and world around us. She gave amazing, real depth to these characters, all along reminding us that there’s so much more than what meets the eye. Descriptive writing.

His background as a journalist is what I found most valuable in this account. The history itself is already compelling, especially considering the amount of things that had to line up to bring this epidemic to the heights it reached and still reaches, but his retelling brings it to another level. Also notable (which in some ways carries the torch from The New Jim Crow), is the interesting societal pieces that shape the scene in the background - that what lead to upheaval probably was rooted in the populations that heroin took hold of - suburban, affluent, white adolescents and families...or, perhaps, that few weren’t affected, as opposed to solely people of color as was the case with the silence during mass incarceration related to crack cocaine.

Conflicted in the rating - somewhere between 3 and 4. This book is well written, however it seems to fall short of what it proposes to do which is examine the life of his brother. This is by no fault of his own, but the truth is that he didn’t know his brother exceptionally well - his brother was often in jail, was a good deal older than him, and had experienced a different upbringing by his parents, who, based on all reports, he changed considerably the the time the author was born. What further complicates things is the fact that the majority of the stories are second and (more often) third hand accounts. So, while I completely respect the writing of the book, it is hard to uncouple the rating from that nagging thought in the back of your mind that this isn’t as accurate a record as he will initially have you believe. Worthwhile read nonetheless.

Very relatable and clearly well thought out (which should be no surprise, as this maps well with what temperament and personality type Susan Cain identifies with). At times could be dense, but it was worth the trudge when they presented, and has given me a lot to think about in how temperament and personality relates to my own life. The last chapter before the conclusion became directives as to how to raise your child, and I would categorize it as more coddling than is necessary for children. That being said, I don’t have kids of my own and can only go on my experience growing up as well as what I have found to be effective when working with kids.

What makes this book so great (to me) is it’s accessibility without being overly simplistic. Camus draws the readers towards various interpretations and realizations about mankind without constantly battering then over the head with them. Simply written (at least the translation is), yet full of so many complexities. So many great quotes and beautifully worded scenes. Each word feels deliberate, even in the translation. Wish I had read this more consistently, a few stretches where I wasn’t able to read, to the detriment of my understanding of the book as an overall whole.

To live out nearly the entirety of your childhood without formal education. Mainly in the name of religion. This book is fascinating, and beautifully written. Truly feels like you have a glimpse into her mind and a peek at her past. She approaches the subject matter with curiosity and it does not ever seem like she is trying to force a memory or opinion she has held or currently holds. Made me reevaluate the values that can present as innately acquired, but are in fact learned and constantly, yet subtly, reshaped.

She comes from a place of true vulnerability and discusses the chasm that can form between emotion and lived experience. How it sometimes seems easier to shut off rather than take in the reality of what is occurring - and ultimately examines how this has impacted her life and path, as well as the multifaceted meaning of being “educated”.

Quick, captivating read. A book that highlights how fickle life can be and how distant it all can seem when we look back. How much can change in a moment. Jumps around but still feels logical. Parts are missing but you don’t give them a thought until they are brought out in other sections. A great deal of emotion woven into the snippets, the stress and at times joy of extended and muddled family sleeping through.

She pulls on so many complicated pieces of what it means to relate to the world around us - be it loved ones (those we chose and those we don’t), as well as society as a whole and the sometimes blatantly random nature of life. In awe of her ability to ultimately tie it together in a way that is both messy and complete.