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Just when I thought I was going to bail I was up until all hours riveted. And then it went no where. Then, again, up til all hours, riveted just to have the story petter out to .... nothing? I don't know. I didn't like writing, things that could've been something were nothing; things that were nothing tried to be something. And yet . . . Yeah, I don't know. I didn't hate it, but I'm not sure I liked it.

"The book lied."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

Just started this and I'm not sure I like it ?

Hmm…this book wasn‘t particularly good per se. However, what I found most interesting is the male author did a remarkable job describing motherhood, in particular, early motherhood. I would have liked to see the racial dynamic explored more.

This was a beautifully written book but maybe the point was out of reach for me. I enjoyed it but I think the actual plot will be forgettable for me; however, I would read more from this author because of the excellent writing. Just okay for me, and I will definitely give the author another shot.

Hubs out of town for 6 weeks so this is how the kid and I are reading now. We‘ve been reading the nights away this week, very little tv. It‘s been a nice break and I‘m finding my reading stride.

I wanted to like this one, but I just didn‘t care about the main character. 🤷🏼‍♀️
#mttbr

I did not like the way that this book was written. The characters were one dimensional and not easily related to. I forgot that I have read other books by Rumaan Alam and didn‘t like them either.

Slow & introspective. Alam writes beautifully and has created such an interesting character in Rebecca, dwelling on her privilege and subtly pushing on her "white saviour" complex, with an implosion towards the end that should have given Rebecca pause but I'm not convinced it did...

Book 6/6 for #AwesomeApril (thanks to some #audiolaundry)

This month‘s book club pick! I really liked this book. The main character was believable and compelling. I liked the long arc of the story, and the themes of motherhood and racism were very thought provoking! I was also impressed how well Alam (a male author) wrote from the perspective of a female.

7/10 Decent read, too much and not enough happening all at once. There is a thread of a story, but it almost feels like you can't really get into it because the substance just isn't there. Interesting concept of a book, but left me wishing for more depth.

Story of an over-privileged and vapid poet/mother in Bethesda (!) who adopts the baby of her African American nanny, who has died in childbirth. Nice story but implausible, and hard to love the poorly-developed main character. I enjoyed it but it‘s not memorable.

This book has been on my radar for a while, so I snapped it up as soon as I found it on hoopla. It's an exploration of race through a white woman's perspective as she navigates a dual race family. I admit a few sections the pacing felt off and there were times the main character was frustrating, but the section where she reflects on how in 1999 things are certainly getting better and we live in a prosperous and equal time, was spot on.

Another fabulous house seen on my #audiowalk today. Book is alright so far. A bit slow to start but it's picking up.

This novel is too soap opera for me. How is a modern urban white MC not aware of racism and driving while brown/black? Especially one raising a black son. (90s - 2000s) Doesn‘t seem very plausible. We‘ve been having these conversations with our kids since they were about 8. 😡😞

I liked some of the plot and writing but I thought Rebecca was self absorbed and some of the big events were glossed over. This book just wasn't for me. I'm hoping to mail it tomorrow @BookwormAHN #genreswappbc @Julie548 @whippoorwill815 @ads0123 @BookaholicNatty

I‘m so flabbergasted this made both the NPR and WaPo year-end lists. Two-dimensional characters, uninteresting story. Compares poorly with Little Fires Everywhere and Fierce Kingdom. It reads like a very bad Afterschool Special. I just wanted it to be over. And thankfully, now it is!

Hmmm. The prose was solid and the pacing was great. But I am absolutely “that kind of mother” who can‘t stop talking about her kid and reveling in the minutia of toddlerdom. I am also driven, talented and respected in my career, so it frustrates me that the main character doesn‘t realize she can be both. It doesn‘t delve into the aspects of a white family raising a black son as much as I expected, either. Solid but not a fave.

Started this tonight and am already halfway through. Immediately engaging and would be a perfect book to discuss with a book club. Race, parenting, adoption - rife with threads to pull.

This book took a few turns I did not guess. But overall it was well written and an interesting look at conflicting cultures.

While I liked the timeframe of the book, I was disappointed in the actual story development. It was all about a selfish housewife who was also a poet. Once she had children she had no self value outside of being a mother, which is disappointing as I see that already everyday.

This is what I have been reading this week for our #crossgenre #postalbookclub I am about halfway thru and I really can relate to Rebecca‘s feelings in this book. I didn‘t know much about this book going into it but am enjoying it. I am listening to it on audio and reading bits and pieces too. This has been my new favorite thing to do, both audio and written at the same time! Have you heard of this book?

@ads0123 the package came today!!!!!! Is this saga graphic novel for me??????? Oh my goodness I‘m beyond happy right now! You know just how to cheer a girl up!!!!!! Is it really for me tho? And @Julie548 I have a bi-racial son too so Im glad you picked this book as one of our book club picks!!! We have such an awesome group!!!!!!! Even though I‘m failing miserable at balancing everything I‘m so glad I got paired up with all of you! 😘😘😘😘😘😘

Did not enjoy this book. It took me forever to finish and I didn‘t like the main character, Rebecca. The story didn‘t feel complete and it dragged in a lot of places. Also didn‘t handle a complex issue as well as I would have liked.

I‘ve just had a case of book-life coincidence or is it banana-life because just a few minutes before reading this paragraph I had opened my freezer to look for something and two of my frozen bananas fell out of the freezer and onto the floor. Luckily, not on my feet.
😂😂😂😂

Rebecca had thought rapid change a condition of infancy but people are at essence mecurial.

I am marveling at how effortlessly this male writer portrays new motherhood.

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
2. Mmm fries especially shoestring fries
3. Somehow this year I‘ve been listening to more Mandarin pop music - singers like JJ Lin (from Singapore) and A-Mei (Taiwan)
4. 👆
5. Happy Friday to you wherever you are!
#friyayintro @jesshowbooks

Read on my phone for a bit while waiting for a friend to show up for coffee. I had a flat white and a kueh salat cake. The green layer is a kaya (coconut and pandan) custard and the bottom is sweet glutinous rice coloured with butterfly pea flower extract.

If you are interested in reading this book, you might be interested in this interview with the author from Barnes and Noble.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/rumaan-alam-podcast

This book would be such a great choice for a book club. It brings up many issues that deserve thoughtful discussion. I know there very mixed reviews about this book but for me there are not enough stars to rate it properly.

I have #thoughts. LOTS of #thoughts.

❤️

I know there have been mixed reviews but I really loved this book. The writing is exceptional. Such a poignant story that is so relevant in this time. Highly recommend.

I see a lot of mixed reviews, but I have high hopes.

Recent #litsymail!

@Julie548 I got your book today for #genreswapPBC #crossgenre today! I‘m so excited to start reading everyone else‘s books!

Also my latest #jb mail courtesy of @LazyDays @blithebuoyant and @debthmpsn ! 😊

An interesting take on what makes a family, and what we owe to the people we love. Also I have read a lot of novels about transracial adoption recently, not sure when that tipping point happened but it‘s a lot more nuance than I have seen before.

The death of Rebecca‘s nanny and former lactation helper Priscilla shatters her, but soon she agrees to care for Priscilla‘s newborn son. Much of the novel follows Rebecca‘s path as a mother and poet, a character-driven meditation on relationships, race, status, with events of the later 80s and 90s as a backdrop.

I received this as a free WSJ+ ebook and found it an engrossing read.

Picked up my book for the Genre Swap today! Visited this little indie bookstore in Franklin, Indiana that I‘ve been wanting to check out. Spent too much and will go back...so many cute things! #genreswapPBC

Then the cashier at the grocery handed me this rose on my way out!

A man writing about motherhood sounds quite interesting.

I enjoyed this novel while reading it but I kept waiting for something big to happen to make the main character face reality. The entire novel was told from her self centered, self focused point of view. I ended up frustrated with her but she is a true to life character and I know many people like her that are incapable of seeing life from anyone else‘s point of view but their own.

Some parts hit on motherhood, family, race and belonging spot on and others relied on stereotypes. Very readable but lacked depth (maybe multiple POV‘s would have made this novel great). I don‘t regret I read it, it just wasn‘t a home run for me.

I enjoyed this about the same as All the Pretty Girls. Don‘t regret reading it but didn‘t love it.

Hmmmm - uneven. I thought it was about a white woman raising a black son but Any insights on race relations are mixed in with pages & pages & pages about 80‘s bank scandals, Princess Diana and poetry. ( A TON about Princess Di). Rebecca doesn‘t listen to ANYTHING. But that scene in the classroom was spot and touched on something so true: black kids are singled out and disciplined differently. Theres a point somewhere in this book. I think. . .

So, I forgot that I had this coming in the mail, and now I have two of this book. Anybody want one!? I am keeping this copy; I am so much more excited because the author has made notes on the pages and I get to read them. “Adoption” is a huge draw for me, and I am eager to find out more from someone who is intimately connected to this world. Also, love the pin + accompanying goods - #booknerd for life!

PIZZA 🍕. I have finally finished a book and am now going to start this one! Also, watching the Handmaid‘s Tale and it just makes me sick.

Dinner tonight was some chicken and rice takeout and fries 🍟. And new #bookmail! I loved Rich and Pretty, and hopefully this is great too. May is also turning out to be my worst reading month in a couple of years! I haven‘t been able to finish anything 😒. Nothing is sticking. This is officially a reading slump! I do graduate my credential program in 2 weeks + it‘s the end of the school year for work so that might have something to do with it...

Check out this #kindledeal

$2.99 The latest from Rumaan Alam, author of Rich and Pretty. Must be a mother‘s day thing. This one is hot off the press. Released in US last week (May 8)

1. My son having an epic meltdown at the supermarket.
2. I‘ve never been so I‘m not sure, but I‘ve heard they‘re good for school supplies? (I‘m a teacher).
3. Tagged. Also new Ruth Ware and Caroline Kepnes
4. Young ginger stir fried with pork
5. Anyone
@jesshowbooks #friyayintro

Book mail! I‘m really excited to read this novel and interview Rumaan Alam!