Not an easy read by any means but illuminating about a relatively untold part of WWI history. As my great-grandfather was a Bulgarian war orphan and rNot an easy read by any means but illuminating about a relatively untold part of WWI history. As my great-grandfather was a Bulgarian war orphan and refugee, much of this account resonated personally. That said, I will not be reading this one again - once is enough....more
A relentless view into the life of Palestinians over the last 50 years. It's a very tough read in many ways. Nahr can be a bit selfish and reactionaryA relentless view into the life of Palestinians over the last 50 years. It's a very tough read in many ways. Nahr can be a bit selfish and reactionary but it's hard not to cheer for her. A good read given our current times....more
I feel like this was an attempt at an interesting premise that just didn't stick the execution. It was immensely readable (if annoying at times) and pI feel like this was an attempt at an interesting premise that just didn't stick the execution. It was immensely readable (if annoying at times) and presented some interesting quandaries in regards to women's rights and the future of democracy.
But, the characters and relationships were all pretty one dimensional and the detail was lacking. The tropes were rampant (lesbians! straight white men! christians! scientists! All act a very specific way!)
The pacing was a mess. The author seems to have tried to put too many twists into the story but didn't fully flesh out why they would happen which made it feel contrived. The lab scene at the end was befuddling - suddenly there are no eyes on them? And the ending itself was both super vague and too neat, almost like she was bored with the story and just wanted to end it.
Also, Jean and Patrick's relationship was dumb. **Spoilers** She loves him at the beginning, and then like five chapters in she hates him, and says she's always hated him, and oh by the way she's having an affair, and she's just going to leave him. He says some shitty things to her but generally he's not the worst. Then she finds out he's part of the resistance and she admires the hell out of him, tells him about her lover and he sadly agrees that she should be with him and lets her go without any argument, and when he dies a hero at the end she says how much she loves him and always will.
2 stars, not the worst but I wouldn't be bothered to miss this one....more
It was a great reminder of the details of how awful the Trump administration was, but the book itself was too repetitive and detailed to be particularIt was a great reminder of the details of how awful the Trump administration was, but the book itself was too repetitive and detailed to be particularly enthralling, imo....more
Kind of a fun twist on fairy tales that reminded me a bit of Gregory MacGuire's books. Interesting choice to include a reality TV star in the mix. It Kind of a fun twist on fairy tales that reminded me a bit of Gregory MacGuire's books. Interesting choice to include a reality TV star in the mix. It was a quick read but not anything breathtakingly good. It also had kind of a strange ending that felt like it wasn't really resolved....more
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