It’s been my observation that second books are often an author’s weakest. I think that’s true here as well. But with multiple POV characters, at leastIt’s been my observation that second books are often an author’s weakest. I think that’s true here as well. But with multiple POV characters, at least one of them being nearly omniscient, this second book was much more technically complex and probably much harder to write than An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. The characters’ individual voices don’t alway come through, though the plot line is strong. That being said, it is still an engaging, thought-provoking story worthy of multiple reads. It’s good way to spend a dozen hours, and if you let it, it will teach you something about yourself and your relationship with technology....more
Here's what's difficult about writing a book with a mentally ill main character: if the illness is profound enough, the book can become a book about mHere's what's difficult about writing a book with a mentally ill main character: if the illness is profound enough, the book can become a book about mental illness. Instead of being about the character or the what the character is doing, the book is about the character's illness. On the other hand, if the author ignores the illness or makes it into a caricature, the book can become trite or unrealistic. John Green has performed an amazing tightrope act in Turtles all the Way Down. He gives us a clear, unflinching picture of Aza's OCD in a way that allows us to empathize. Yet he allows Aza to be much more than her illness. She is a creative, witty, thoughtful human being. Some of her struggles are just ordinary teenaged struggles. Some are complicated by the OCD. Green refuses to resort to common mental illness tropes: the mental illness swamp where the author and reader sink in misery along with the fictional character, the "strength in suffering" noble mentally ill character, the unrestrained id mentally ill character who does all the sick things that tweak our morbid fascination. Instead he gives us a solid plot (a mystery of sorts), a multidimensional main character, and a cast of supporting characters who are honestly trying to live their lives in the best way they know how.
If you come to the book with an open heart, you can walk away from it a more empathetic person for having read it....more
Stacey Lee tells a darn good story. The main character is strong and likable. The setting is vivid enough to give you a glimpse into another time and Stacey Lee tells a darn good story. The main character is strong and likable. The setting is vivid enough to give you a glimpse into another time and place. There’s not a lot of depth here, and the writing is more witty than elegant, but it doesn’t matter. It’s a delightful way to spend six or eight hours....more
Some of Grisham’s books have the same style as his early books; some don’t. This one doesn’t. I suspect a ghostwriter was involved, someone without GrSome of Grisham’s books have the same style as his early books; some don’t. This one doesn’t. I suspect a ghostwriter was involved, someone without Grisham’s level of talent. The topic is interesting: a small nonprofit seeks to free innocent prisoners convicted unjustly of murder. But there are an awful lot of reported conversations, more “tell” than “show.” And the present tense drives me crazy. I don’t regret having read it, but unlike some of Grisham’s books, I won’t read it again....more
Kissinger was frequently accused of coming across as a pedant. So perhaps it’s appropriate that this book come across that way, too. If you want to knKissinger was frequently accused of coming across as a pedant. So perhaps it’s appropriate that this book come across that way, too. If you want to know everything about Kissinger, right down to what he ate for lunch, this is your book. I grew up hearing his name almost daily on the news and wanted to learn a bit more about the man behind the headlines. This was way too much detail for that purpose. So five stars for research and detail, three for being a good read....more
Very few people appreciate how precarious the farms that grow their food are. “Gaining Ground” says that there is another way: a way to get farmers ouVery few people appreciate how precarious the farms that grow their food are. “Gaining Ground” says that there is another way: a way to get farmers out of debt while healing the land and increasing the quality of the food. Highly recommended for people who eat....more
The purpose of the book was to establish some back story for the new Picard series. It succeeds at that. For me it doesn’t quite succeed as a novel. RThe purpose of the book was to establish some back story for the new Picard series. It succeeds at that. For me it doesn’t quite succeed as a novel. Raffi, Picard’s new first officer, is nearly fleshed out, but the rest of the characters are thin. The author hits the plot points like someone with a checklist she has to get through. I finished the novel because Picard is my guy, not because it was a particularly good book....more
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