Caroline > Recent Status Updates

No one talks about the racism in this book. It hit me like a train the first time it happened!

Book club read.

Goofy and Karen-esque, solidified by the early scene where one of the main characters mentally criticizes the way that a teenager bags her groceries and is happy when he gets a dressing down.

"Sometimes there is simply a correct way to do things"

Also characters speak without contractions, it's very stilted and strange.

I'm not going to pretend I'm greatly enjoying this, but it's been on my tbr for years, so glad to get it over with.

Also, each page falls out of the paperback edition I have just as I finish reading it, which makes for a surprisingly pleasant reading experience.

Nao's diary/memoir portions are interesting (although the author is over explaining things). Sections set in Vancouver give off strong cozy mystery vibes in a way I do not like. Oliver especially is annoying. Hoping Ruth gets some kind of actual story soon.

Reading for book club.

Nao's diary/memoir portions are interesting (although the author is over explaining things). Sections set in Vancouver give off strong cozy mystery vibes in a way I do not like. Oliver especially is annoying. Hoping Ruth gets some kind of actual story soon.

Reading for book club.

There's a theory of bigotry in here couched in about 3 narrative layers so it's impossible to tell what Melville's opinion is.
I'd have no idea how structurally wild this novel is if I weren't reading the annotated version.

Vignettes of adolescent life during world war I in Russia written by a mystery author oOoO. Definite Notes from Underground vibes, but not as polished and more juvenile/vague.

I was right to be worried, each chapter is "Hi my name is _____ and here is my trauma" with a little plot. There are compelling themes chosen but they don't have a lot of room to breathe when new people are constantly being introduced. Maybe this is intentional to match with the oral histories/interviews sub-plot. If that becomes explicit I retract my complaint.
I do love the interweaving stories format regardless!

12 main characters in 300 pages? I'm concerned, but hopeful that all (or most) will get decent development