As always, Michio Kaku's book makes for fascinating reading. It - renews excitement about the fact that we are living in the future, that the things tAs always, Michio Kaku's book makes for fascinating reading. It - renews excitement about the fact that we are living in the future, that the things that were sf just a few years ago when I was a kid are just on the cusp of happening. It gives so much possibility to the future and - particularly in light of the current economic and political climate - it's a beacon of light to be like, science, science is STILL AMAZING....more
I have mixed feelings about this. In terms of self-identity and ableism, spot on and 5 stars. And I thought the layering of story with interludes was I have mixed feelings about this. In terms of self-identity and ableism, spot on and 5 stars. And I thought the layering of story with interludes was great, really interesting and they complemented the story well.
I expected, and didn't get, a more ... thorough exploration of the ethics of genetic modification. And I was expecting more 'science' in a book set in a research colony, among the human guinea pigs being experimented on, but that was not to be.
But I was extremely annoyed by the elements of magical realism that started intruding. I honestly feel that they not only failed to bring anything to the story, in the end they made it weaker. When Mercedes' 'treatment' took, I put down the book for over a week out of annoyance. When Darwin's existence was confirmed to be seen by others, I pushed through just to get the book over with. That aspect made me want to give it 1 stars.
I'm giving it more because what was done well, was done great, but enough was done poorly that I don't know I'll try anything from the author in the future. ...more
I loved it - one of those books that makes me want to convince other people to read it.
The narration was simple and beautiful and the characters and I loved it - one of those books that makes me want to convince other people to read it.
The narration was simple and beautiful and the characters and the sorrow just was felt through the page. It was daily life and then it wasn't and that's really all I can say....more
I completely agree with how overall disappointing this book was. The methodology was interesting - at first... But so much of it turned into a story aI completely agree with how overall disappointing this book was. The methodology was interesting - at first... But so much of it turned into a story about what a great parent she was and blah blah. And while I agree the legal system and law enforcement needs serious work, particularly in cross-jurisdiction communication ... In the end I am not convinced the author has actually ever managed to successfully profile a killer - because this book seems to be entirely a litany of the failures of law enforcement and *she* would have been able to do better if people listened. But they don't so possible killers roam free! Also, she is *definitely* not a believer in innocent until proven guilty. Particularly not if *gasp* comic books or D&D are involved, the horrors! ...more
It started off slow and it did take a while to really get into it - but somewhere by the halfway point I went beyoThis book was incredibly satisfying.
It started off slow and it did take a while to really get into it - but somewhere by the halfway point I went beyond hooked and into obsessed. And then it had everything...action, adventure, heroics, betrayal, you name it. I loved it. And it was just brilliantly written, from multiple (and each distinct) perspectives and woven together perfectly.
Right this second - before the longlist is announced - it's the one I hope wins the 2010 Booker. (And if it doesn't MAKE it to the long/short list, TRAVESTY)...more
OK, I am half-way through and I am not sure I'm going to be able to bring myself to finish. The beginning sections were REALLY interesting but it's noOK, I am half-way through and I am not sure I'm going to be able to bring myself to finish. The beginning sections were REALLY interesting but it's now become so awful that I can read about one page at a time. I'm not deleting it yet ... but it's getting really, really close....more
I'm giving this 4 stars based on the first 80% of the book, which was engrossing. June and Hector are both fascinating characters, in turn sympatheticI'm giving this 4 stars based on the first 80% of the book, which was engrossing. June and Hector are both fascinating characters, in turn sympathetic and appalling. Their tragedies were just - tragic, without feeling like melodrama or fake and I really felt for them.
But then we hit the part where it was Sylvie, Sylvie, Sylvie and it broke the spell for me. I couldn't relate at all and I *know* that she was supposed to be fascinating/wonderful/everything/tragic but it never came through for me, she just annoyed me and everyone's reactions to her felt fake.
And I had to force myself to finish and read through it and it didn't ruin the whole book for me, but it came close. So I have such mixed feelings....more
I loved, loved, loved this book. I did have to mentally avert my eyes/read quickly on some of the surgery parts, because they were a bit much to take I loved, loved, loved this book. I did have to mentally avert my eyes/read quickly on some of the surgery parts, because they were a bit much to take but the characters were fantastic, the relationships rich and the atmosphere was just amazing. It was incredibly satisfying.
Well, on the one hand, the protagonist is really one of the worst literary characters ever created - absolutely selfish, amoral, whiny, passive-aggresWell, on the one hand, the protagonist is really one of the worst literary characters ever created - absolutely selfish, amoral, whiny, passive-aggressive, manipulative, completely lacking in empathy, possibly sociopathic and just not appealing in any way.
On the other hand, reading the upward and downward spiral of this book was amazing. Despite how much I loathed the main character, he somehow kept manipulating *me* - I hated him but I still wanted him to keep getting away, keep catching lucky breaks, keep achieving success.
I wanted to like this book so much - and I enjoyed the very beginning. But unfortunately it didn't work for me overall, it was slow, dense and meanderI wanted to like this book so much - and I enjoyed the very beginning. But unfortunately it didn't work for me overall, it was slow, dense and meandering, with only flashes of life.
This book was fantastic - I normally don't enjoy 'newsroom' books written by journalists, but this one manages to pull it off. Basically a series of iThis book was fantastic - I normally don't enjoy 'newsroom' books written by journalists, but this one manages to pull it off. Basically a series of interlinked character studies following different people at a small, failing newspaper in Rome, the characters are beautifully drawn, quirky and each distinct. ...more
This was a fabulous book. Maya, the daughter of 'the good parents' is - well, she's frankly annoying and unsympathetic and almost pointless, but fortuThis was a fabulous book. Maya, the daughter of 'the good parents' is - well, she's frankly annoying and unsympathetic and almost pointless, but fortunately while the book starts off with her, it revolves around the rest of the family - her parents, her brother, her aunt. And THEY are all wonderful, rich characters that I loved, particularly the complexity of the parents lives. It speaks to the idea that a parent's life may be their child NOW to a large extent, but it wasn't always and they really have lives and pasts and passions - and still do. The way it layered with Maya being unable to relate to her parents (although to be honest, their relationship is never clear, you get the impression they go from close-knit to her cutting all ties for absolutely no reason, part of my being annoyed by her) because, in a sense, she feels like their lives are too simple - to layering that with the rich and complicated pasts of the parents - to the parents themselves being unable to relate to their own mothers/fathers because of a perceived simplicity. It's fabulous. ...more
I would probably edge this book up to 4 1/2 stars - It felt as if it was tailored almost exactly toward me and I loved so much about this book - the mI would probably edge this book up to 4 1/2 stars - It felt as if it was tailored almost exactly toward me and I loved so much about this book - the main character, the parallels of his life with the fanfiction he wrote (the book doesn't call it that, but it's essentially what it is), the fabulous and sweet relationship with his landlord. The longing he essentially feels for a fictional life and how he both sees and doesn't see the reality behind it.
But the last quarter of the book feels fairly rushed and the ending doesn't work for me, it really didn't connect with the rest of the book in any meaningful way but just seemed to be like 'well, I need to end the book, if I do XYZ, it's over' - and maybe life doesn't have any real resolution and sometimes has pointless tragedy, etc, etc, but that always feels like a cop-out in novels to me.
(Even with shades of 'they can never fit in the worlds they loved so much' it's just not satisfying to me, sad but rushed and also i wave hands and want to know what happened to other people' - i actually had to go back and reread the last few chapters just to make sure I didn't MISS something somehow and I didn't. I am still really loving the book, though)...more
This was immensely interesting to read - the analysis of the past political climates and the cycles of the US was actually the part that fascinated meThis was immensely interesting to read - the analysis of the past political climates and the cycles of the US was actually the part that fascinated me the most, although the projections were definitely thought-provoking....more
This book is strong, hard and I loved it. Serena is beyond evil, in a cold, cruel way that is almost primal, and her influence mirrors that. But in a This book is strong, hard and I loved it. Serena is beyond evil, in a cold, cruel way that is almost primal, and her influence mirrors that. But in a way what made the book for me were the sections of loggers musing on the happenings around then, the inevitability and their quirks and small battles. ...more
I liked, but didn't love, this book. I enjoyed the cast of characters as a whole (although Gabriel himself made my stomach churn a bit) and the mysterI liked, but didn't love, this book. I enjoyed the cast of characters as a whole (although Gabriel himself made my stomach churn a bit) and the mystery element of it and the restaurant business. And it touched well on the experience of the lost and undocumented, but I don't think it went far enough in any direction ... it didn't quite make it as a mystery and it didn't quite do enough with the social issues - although the blindness of Gabriel himself was a good commentary on it. And it needed more on the issues and struggles of his relationship with is father - it just felt like nothing in particular was developed enough for me to say THIS is what this book is about. There was a story here (or three or four), but none were ever quite told.
I don't regret the time reading it, but I'm not sure if I'll pick up anything else by Ali any time soon....more
I picked this up cheap, fortunately, and mostly because it had the hint of witches about it. And while the story itself was fairly interesting and notI picked this up cheap, fortunately, and mostly because it had the hint of witches about it. And while the story itself was fairly interesting and not badly-written, I thought the ending was cheap and lazy....more
I loved this book. It made me want to drink a lot of wine and I learned a lot and it was just fascinating watching the evolution of California wines iI loved this book. It made me want to drink a lot of wine and I learned a lot and it was just fascinating watching the evolution of California wines into the powerhouse they are today.
(Ps. ARGH for duplicate titles and putting the wrong review on the wrong book)...more
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