I can‘t stand a pathetic protagonist. I cringe when weakness and self doubt is a character‘s whole personality. I didn‘t find any of the characters relatable and definitely not likable, but the narrator of the audiobook is one of my favorites.

The stories in this book were fantastic (not to compare but this book satisfies what I was hoping to read in Bliss Montage). I picked this book up on a whim at Rose City Reads - a used bookstore in NE Portland - and I‘m so grateful that I gave it a chance. I already have the author‘s other books on hold at the library. Well written and thought-invoking stories - the whole lot.

This is a collection of strange short stories. My favorite, Peking Duck, I had read before but it was immensely enjoyable a second (or third?) time. I‘m giving this a pick because my only hesitation is that the stories weren‘t what I had expected, but they are good, mind-f*ck tales. I think had this book been labeled as “dark tales” like Revenge, I would have been thrilled. The theme was unsettling if not downright creepy.

I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook while hand-quilting. The narrator was amazing. Nothing surprised me, but I enjoy hearing about the moments that build that cause people in cults to question everything.

I think I listened to 60%. I found it repetitive (I never want to hear about 14k lbs again) and honestly I found him to be unlikable. I‘m not saying what he went through wasn‘t horrible, but something about him gave me the ick. So I googled him while I listened and the accusations he‘s facing right now made me return to the library before thinking twice.

A brave memoir of a childhood and upbringing with an abusive father. The sexual and physical abuse in this narrative is horrifying. If you listen to the audiobook there are plenty of trigger warnings and instructions of how to skip ahead. It‘s read by the author and at times you can hear her fighting tears. This book shook me.

This book answered lingering questions from Carolyn‘s first book, Escape. Notably, she addresses her relationship with her daughter that chose to return to the FLDS upon turning 18. The middle of the book was a bit of self-help that made the listen go slowly but she returns to her story after it so it‘s worth it to finish the book.

What a courageous woman.

I listened to the audiobook and my husband said the narrator sounded like a robot and I agree - it made it a bit difficult but also, the emotional restraint was commendable.

I‘ve been breezing through audiobooks while I hand quilt. But. This book shocked me, upset me and made me ill. After listening to a few memoirs where the authors were raised in cults, I‘m consistently shocked at the forgiveness of parents - this book included. I think terms like brainwashing are cop outs. Everyone knows right from wrong - especially the parents that weren‘t raised in the cult. Sexual acts with children are always wrong. ALWAYS.

I understand why people like this book but I bailed with 100 pages to go. The repetition was more than I could handle. I thought the book started strong but then I realized that I was all too eager to put the book down and not pick it back up.

This book came to my attention thru Litsy @Chelsea.Poole 💖 I wish I could say it was shocking. I had a hard time following the story (listening) at parts so I think it would have been easier to read the text. I enjoyed learning about her activism the most.

TW: SA. This rating is hard because Rachel Jeffs went through actual hell as Warren Jeffs daughter. But, at moments I was disappointed in her word choice. For example, she mentions “underage sex” a few times, but that makes me think of two minors having consensual sex. The word she should use is rape, and I think she only uses it once when reading charges brought against her father. I also found her voice difficult to listen to so I sped it up.

Holy hell. This was a fantastic listen and honestly inspired me to be more accepting of others because I want to be there for someone when they are ready for my help vs reinforcing their cause for isolation. I never watched One Tree Hill so this isn‘t a fan girl review - this story is just plain incredible.

This book underwhelmed me. I thought the beginning was great - when the focus was on the mother and her preparation for leaving for the internment camps. In the end of the book, Julie Otsuka brings back the collective we that made The Buddha in the Attic such a literary stunner. Even though the narrative worked, honestly all I can say is that it underwhelmed me.

Listening to this audiobook was addicting. I kept doing tasks and going on walks so I could keep listening. I knew some of her story from her work in TV/film but much of the book was new, heartbreaking, and inspiring. We are so lucky to have her fearlessly tell her story.

This book was fantastic. I loved every story and especially how they wove together. It‘s perfect. I plan to get a copy for my personal library. 10/10

This book is genius. I wish I had read in summer to match the season. And there‘s not much more I can say without spoiling it.

I wasn‘t sure what to expect - I had never heard of Aimee Semple McPherson - but I‘m walking away stunned that 1) I had never heard of her, and 2) her life was bananas and I had never heard of her. This book is a biography, and at moments it‘s painfully written like a book report, but Sister Aimee‘s story is so fantastical that the writing doesn‘t need to be sensational.

This is a quick read that will leave you spinning. The author has the disability of the MC which adds to the frankness of the text. Not what I was expecting but it did not let me down. I‘ll be thinking about this book for a long while.

I don‘t like being scared so I steer clear of Stephen King‘s books but this memoir on writing was absolutely fantastic. He makes me want to write and read his books.

I picked this copy up used in a bookstore in Cambridge, MN.

I listened and I loved her voice - there was something purely comforting about it (perhaps because she‘s from the PNW?). Her childhood is heartbreaking. Her mother? Yikes. I‘m not familiar with her music, and I got confused by when she was coming out with albums (I didn‘t follow the timeline very well once she was in BC). But I don‘t think I would have stuck with it if I was reading it myself. Something didn‘t attach.

I picked this up for info on the Secret War after a friend told me her family fled Laos during the war (my friend is not Hmong but Mien - which, I can‘t find anything on to read). It‘s very informative & I‘m looking forward to Kao Kalia Yang‘s next book: The Song Poet. Giving it a so-so bc the writing felt a bit stiff. I‘m hoping that the author‘s voice is more evident in The Song Poet. Finished on a flt to MN which has a large Hmong community.

I read this in HS and just reread it - I only remembered some parts. Definitely couldn‘t have appreciated it in HS as I do now. This is worth a second pass if you read it when you were young.

Not my fave Steinbeck but I learned a lot and it was good.

This collection of short stories got me out of my reading slump! I loved all but one. The writing is amazing, the stories will stick with you. I don‘t know how this book didn‘t show up on my radar sooner - other than it was published in 2020 so maybe it had to compete too much with the pandemic? But even then, I stumbled upon it by chance. What luck. ✨

I don‘t know. I just don‘t know. I liked it more than Lizard but it‘s not in the same category as Kitchen or NP. The beginning was great and then it fizzled. But it wasn‘t bad. I‘m just at a loss for words.

I don‘t get the hype about this book at all. None of the characters are likable, there‘s no character growth, the sex feels gimmicky, but above all, it‘s boring. I forced myself to finish it in case I was missing anything, and I‘m unhappy to conclude that I wasn‘t. Ugh. I want my time back.

Also the author took some liberties with timing but then partially owned up to it in the notes so I forgive it but it was distracting as I read.

I will admit that I learned a lot from this book, and so for that reason I‘m grateful to have listened to it. But I found the trips and frivolous spending a bit much. She lightly touches on her privilege but then gushes about all of the things she‘s getting (mostly for free) that others can‘t even dream of. And when she says things like “people are dying” to get over a material disappointment, I feel her attitude is callous.

Obsessed. I feel like I need to reread this book again, immediately, because I sped through it because I loved it but I‘m sure I missed some things. It leaves you with a choked up feeling, one of pain and beauty. N.P. and Kitchen are masterpieces.

Not at all what I was expecting but it made me laugh, cringe, and think. It‘s due back at the library tomorrow so that motivated me to read it quickly, I‘m not sure if I would have stalled out midway through otherwise. Giving it a pick because the ending was worth it.

“Sometimes I think that's the trouble with the world: too many people in high places who are stone-cold dead."

62 years after this book is first published and I am in complete agreement.

I‘ve been waiting for this book from the library forever! I now know why. What a great read. I read Huck Finn when I was young and barely remember it (other than remembering I didn‘t care for it) so it was nice to approach this book with only loosely knowing the story. Percival Everett is an incredible storyteller. I love the ending.

I‘m going to start with what I didn‘t like: the translation was a bit sloppy in places, and that‘s it. I wish I had read this book before we went to Japan because there are a few dishes I want to try now (and places to see). The author‘s hard take on body-shaming, sexism, and double standards is worthy of applause, and accomplished while spinning an interesting tale.

This book was gifted to me by my favorite sister :)

I listened to the audiobook and she‘s so great - such a natural performer and so talented. Her story is stunning, sad, and beautiful. I‘m so grateful to her for sharing her life with us all. If you read the text, the audiobook is definitely worth a listen.

I picked this up on vacation without knowing a thing about it. I liked the author‘s writing style. I wanted to like it. But the story just didn‘t connect for me at all. I‘d give it a pan but I really did enjoy the writing, and I didn‘t feel like I was forcing myself to finish it. But I wouldn‘t recommend it. This copy is going to a neighborhood Free Library.

I used to almost exclusively read true crime, which, makes me sick now, but knowing a gross amount about Ted Bundy added to this story for me. I appreciate the fresh perspective and focusing on the bright young women versus sensationalizing a serial killer. It‘s as close to true crime as I‘m willing to get these days.

This is a story about a postman that is dying and makes a deal with the devil to make one thing disappear from the world in order to live one extra day. I like the devil aspect and feel connected with the author‘s style of imagination. There was only one part about time that got a bit redundant, but the rest I enjoyed immensely.

Read this one because it‘s the most challenged book in the states. George shines a bright light on the lack of sex education for queer youth which underscores the absolute need for this book to be available in libraries. Hiding information from children and teens only puts them at risk.

This book reads like YA fiction, which isn‘t bad, but not what I have come to expect from translated Japanese. It‘s simple writing, but it is absolutely charming and I almost want a copy for myself just for the recipes.

Danny Trejo‘s life is unbelievable. I began listening to the audiobook but I couldn‘t get into rhythm w/ Danny‘s reading so I switched to text (obv bc the story was already gripping me). I‘m so glad I did. The book includes photos & you can still read it in Danny‘s voice in your head. This book will make you want to be a better person. It will fill you w/ gratitude & awe. He is humble & honest. He is a gift to this world. Put Trejo on your list.

It‘s no Kitchen but I don‘t regret reading it. I didn‘t connect with the short stories as I hoped I would but that could be because Kitchen left me with unreasonable expectations.

I love that she dedicated the American version to Kurt Cobain.

Jessica Simpson was honest and open, true to the book‘s title. I gave this book 3.5/5 stars on Fable, which is so-so for me. I can‘t say I would recommend the book unless to a real fan (which admittedly, I couldn‘t name a single song of hers before reading and I‘ve possibly already forgotten the names of her hits). I will say, I never liked John Mayer before, but now I have reason to dislike him. What a misogynistic kook.

This is a quick read and a great read. I bought two copies when I was only halfway finished - one for me and one for my best friend. I‘ll come back to this book time and time again.

Throughout this book I considered not finishing it. It was slow. Enjoyable enough to hang on but I doubt it will be memorable (if it turns out it is, I‘ll revise my rating). At times, more in the first half than the second, the cadence would completely mind fuck me and I‘d have to reread a sentence several times to understand it. I never truly understood why the cadence would change, but it was annoying to say the least.

I loved listening to Sinéad read her memoir. At times she giggled & it was the most heartwarming thing to hear. Before reading, I knew maybe one song & that her head was shaved. Now I‘m quite sad cos we lost such a beautiful soul & she won‘t be reading more audiobooks. At first I was shocked by how old she sounded, like a grandmother (she was!), & I wasn‘t sure if I could keep listening but 7 minutes in I was hooked. Her life, my god.

I picked this book up on the cheap at a secondhand bookstore with the intention of having a lightweight book that I wouldn‘t be sad to part with on vacation. I didn‘t read it quickly, so it made it home with me. The first 2/3 is slow, but I love Isabel Allende so it didn‘t bother me. It was actually nice to have a book on vacation that I didn‘t mind putting down. The last 1/3 was epic. Allende delivered. Not my fave by her but still a pick.

I appreciated Busy‘s honesty throughout the book. She wrote this pre-covid, pre-overturn of RvW, and pre-Trump‘s reelection. I would enjoy a second memoir from her with the last 7 years packed in.

Picked this copy up on the cheap at Rose City Reads and I‘m leaving it in an Airbnb in Tokyo ✨ Definitely not my usual genre but it was low stakes and enjoyable.

Not my fave dystopian novel but holy hell if it isn‘t good. There‘s so much in the book to unpack. The notion of not moving backwards, but keeping time frozen. The Thought Police. The disappearings.