For the insight into domestic victims of sexual trafficking in the US, I'd give it a solid five stars. As a memoir, maybe three. Lloyd's success in wo...moreFor the insight into domestic victims of sexual trafficking in the US, I'd give it a solid five stars. As a memoir, maybe three. Lloyd's success in working with the girls in her program is predicated on her ability to empathize with them as a fellow victim, but she seems to struggle with telling her own story.(less)
There are a gazillion smart-mouthed badass heroes out there, and a lot of them just aren't that funny or tough, but Hugh Laurie makes it work by relyi...moreThere are a gazillion smart-mouthed badass heroes out there, and a lot of them just aren't that funny or tough, but Hugh Laurie makes it work by relying on shrewd observational humor in addition to the obligatory wisecracks. The first half is tighter than the second, but overall, it's a fun ride. Well played, House!(less)
This is not a book you read for the compelling mystery at its center. Oh, there's a mystery, and I guess it's perfectly adequate. This is a book you r...moreThis is not a book you read for the compelling mystery at its center. Oh, there's a mystery, and I guess it's perfectly adequate. This is a book you read for the awesome and hilarious narrative voice of its 11-year-old protagonist, precocious poisoner Flavia de Luce. Flavia is a character I'd gladly pass a few hours with any day of the week.(less)
I'm a sucker for stories about the Lost Generation, and this felt like an authentic glimpse into the lives of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadl...moreI'm a sucker for stories about the Lost Generation, and this felt like an authentic glimpse into the lives of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley, and by extension an array of literary ex-pats in Paris in the 1920s. Obviously well-researched and Hadley's voice rang true to me. Since the ending is a foregone conclusion, there's not a lot of narrative drive here, but I enjoyed the journey.(less)
As a memoir, it makes for an unsatisfying read; but "Decoded" uses the trappings of a memoir as a framework for Jay-Z's in-depth deconstruction of his...moreAs a memoir, it makes for an unsatisfying read; but "Decoded" uses the trappings of a memoir as a framework for Jay-Z's in-depth deconstruction of his own lyrics, and as such, I found it fascinating. It afforded me a glimpse into the culture that gave rise to hip-hop, and while it's not a genre that's at the top of my playlist, after reading this, I'll be a far less casual listener. Any book that gets me to experience the world in a new and different way is worth at least four stars to me!(less)
This is one of those pointillist paintings of a book, in that the closer you look at it, the less sense it makes. And yet... it's also the first book...moreThis is one of those pointillist paintings of a book, in that the closer you look at it, the less sense it makes. And yet... it's also the first book I've read in a long time that made me think, oh right, that's why I like science fiction! It's set in Bangkok in a dystopian future ravaged by the effects of global warming and genetic engineering gone awry, a post-fossil-fuel economy in which power is generated by batteries created by genetically-engineered mammoths hitched to a turnstyle, because that makes so much more sense than solar or wind technology. But the truth is, I was sufficiently engaged by the premise that it worked.
The sprawling plot wanders down a lot of blind alleys that I'm not entirely convinced were intentional. At the heart of it is Emiko, the 'windup girl' of the title; a genetically-engineered Japanese companion abandoned by her former owner and forced into sexual slavery. While the android-sex-toy trope is a familiar one, Bacigalupi's take on it felt fresh and original to me, and it's impossible not to sympathize with Emiko's plight. Fair warning: There's a pivotal scene of violation and degradation that's pretty intense; and that's coming from the creator of Darsanga!
Ultimately, while the narrative struggles under the weight of its own complexity, I enjoyed it. It triggered my sense of wonder, and that's worth a lot.(less)
More proof that some of the best contemporary writing is in YA fiction! This simple, taut tale of an ordinary, disaffected 15-year-old high school boy...moreMore proof that some of the best contemporary writing is in YA fiction! This simple, taut tale of an ordinary, disaffected 15-year-old high school boy packs a lot of punch. It's a good book to read for technique, too. Benoit makes effective use of the seldom-used 2nd person POV, as well as a circular narrative. Combined, they create a sense of intimacy and an awful inevitability. By the time one reaches the ending, the very same paragraphs that opened the book are imbued with terrible resonance.(less)
I found "Dog On It," the first book in the Chet and Bernie mystery series, an unexpected delight. Canine narrator Chet's voice isn't just a clever dev...moreI found "Dog On It," the first book in the Chet and Bernie mystery series, an unexpected delight. Canine narrator Chet's voice isn't just a clever device. It rings true, and will especially tickle anyone who knows and loves dogs. At three books in with "To Fetch a Thief," it's starting to wear a bit thin (and to be honest, I've never been crazy about Bernie), but overall, I was still entertained and charmed; and a surprisingly poignant scene near the end involving an elephant got to me!(less)
For me, this was a book that succeeded on its merits despite its flaws. The deliberately squicky "love story" lacked emotional resonance, and the youn...moreFor me, this was a book that succeeded on its merits despite its flaws. The deliberately squicky "love story" lacked emotional resonance, and the young female protagonist was too much of a cypher to carry the Lolitaesque role accorded her. The musings on the immigrant experience didn't deliver the impact I believe the author intended. The reliance on descriptions of characters' garlic-scented breath to convey a visceral short-hand became distracting. The resolution was ultimately unsatisfying. And yet I couldn't help but enjoy and admire the scathingly satirical portrait of a dystopian near-future America descending into chaos and entropy, filled with citizens permanently attached to their "apparati," obsessed with comparing financial rank and social status.(less)
It's kinda like Dexter for the YA crowd! I was a bit disappointed that it takes a turn into paranormal territory because I was engaged (in a creepy wa...moreIt's kinda like Dexter for the YA crowd! I was a bit disappointed that it takes a turn into paranormal territory because I was engaged (in a creepy way) with the protagonist's profiling of human serial killers, but I forgave the device on the merits of the narrative voice. I bought John Wayne Cleaver as a 15-year-old sociopath.(less)
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