Welcome to Litsy!

A man has raised his daughter isolated in the Montana wilderness. But now she‘s a teenager. She has questions about their past and her mother and the wider world. It started great and I was really on board. But once Jane gets out of the woods the story seems less assured. The explanations are a bit more contrived, the characters more flat, less nuanced. Still an enjoyable read, but just didn‘t quite finish off as strong as it started.

Overall, I was not a fan. The inconsistencies in the main character‘s development and basic human capabilities, coupled with her inherent selfishness greatly diminished the point of the story itself (i.e.,growth). 🖤🖤

“Never underestimate the power of love to lead you down the path toward willful blindness. Faith in the people you adore doesn‘t disappear slowly, with each tiny disappointment; instead, it collapses all at once, like the final snowfall that triggers an avalanche when the weight suddenly becomes too much to bear.”

I actually finished this book shortly after posting the quote from it. 🙃 The story of her growth stayed with me. Discovering such a thing about her father, relearning herself, the advent of the internet 🛜 and the place it has in our world. A fascinating narrative of intrigue and suspense. Growth stories are a favorite and this is definitely one of those. I also liked the historical information. #recentlyread #nospoilers #bookofthemonth

4.5 ⭐️ A heart-pounding and explosive meditation on the complex tension between nature and technology…genius and insanity. I put this one down thinking “maybe everybody is right, in their own way?” Maybe we all have our little slices of brilliance and delusion. Will be thinking about this one for a long time! Really enjoyed the audio 🎧

This was a great book about nature vs. technology.

Ironic seeing as how I snapped this picture of the beautiful clouds with the tiny computer in my hand.

Really enjoyed this! Strong historical parallels, great MC and some memorable supporting ones, and I loved the Montana and SF settings. Plus I appreciated the writing and the audio narration as much as (even more than?) any of these.

This broke my heart. 💔
A sentiment like this for someone so young.
And also, been there, done that.
Thankful I found *true* love, but boy did some of this journey suck. #currentlyreading

Certainly! Here‘s your revised review with the rating included, still under 550 characters:

I gave What Kind of Paradise 4 stars. Loosely based on the Unabomber, it makes you question which life is more dangerous—one lived in total isolation, free from technology, or one surrounded by AI advancing into every part of modern life. A smart, unsettling story that stays with you.

My first purchase from #bookofthemonth arrived late due to printing issues. I was given 2 credits 🥰🤩 as a result. So my pick for #june was the tagged book and I also *had* to have the Kristin Hannah! 📚
Also, gotta 💙 the hat, because…totally. 🤣
#newin #tbrmountain #pickyourown 🌻🍑

Yes, I devoured Janelle Brown‘s new novel. You will, too.

“A teenage girl breaks free from her father‘s world of isolation to discover that her whole life is a lie in this propulsive new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Things and Watch Me Disappear.”

FULL SPOTLIGHT: https://tinyurl.com/yr38k55u

@janellebrownie
@penguinrandomhouse

While I‘m interested to start What Kind of Paradise, this is my last #BOTM pick 🥲 I‘ve been with BOTM for 5years now but have recently found it a bit lackluster. I‘m pausing my subscription (possibly canceling) and starting #Aardvark

I wish I could report suspending disbelief to consider a disenchanted IT prodigy chucking it all to live off the grid in the Bridger Mountains of Montana (pre-Bozeangeles) while he raises a daughter and writes his own manifesto. But damn, this is way too plausible🤯

I'm only a short way into this but it is so good already, I feel so much for this young girl in isolation with her dad, who is so so familiar to me, I keep being all "this guy...???" and I don't know if that's because of my own rural upbringing or if all of us will recognize this guy?

UNPUTDOWNABLE! A great thriller mystery read about a teenage girl raised off the grid in isolation by her father. She begins to unravel the disturbing truths of her past, that leads her on a journey through 1990s San Francisco and the early days of the internet.
Such a great read, especially in the middle of today‘s AI wars and fears.

Capturing the 1990s & the early days of the Internet, this makes for a riveting read! Jane & her father live off the grid in an isolated cabin in Montana. But now 17, Jane feels lonelier than ever— especially when her dad leaves her alone to go on his mysterious errands. When her father brings home a computer & a book on HTML, it changes their lives forever. Disturbing answers emerge & hard truths as Jane learns about herself & the wider world.

I'm adding these books to the library's collection this week.

Brown's book sounded similar to These Silent Woods, and I'd never tried her so I decided to give it a shot. It was worth it! Although pacing was choppy there was so much meat it kept my interest the whole way through. Book Clubs and beach readers will all enjoy with themes of capitalism, tech pros & cons, finding yourself and navigating life's grey areas.
Thank you to Random House & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.