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katsbooks's reviews
560 reviews
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Repressive societies always seemed to understand the danger of "wrong" ideas.”
“Like all good works of fiction, it lies like the truth.”
“I never realized how easily people could be trained to accept slavery.”
Umm. Excuse me. Why was I not forced to read this book sooner? I binged this over two days. It was so captivating. People have told me that Butler's writing is fantastic. They've told me her novels are classics for a reason. However, I'm always still a little bit wary of anything someone labels "classic," especially if it was written more than 20ish years ago. I find that a lot of classics are too cerebral and abstract for my brain to focus on sometimes. Like the Handmaid's Tale, for example. The story was fantastic but the writing was hard for me to focus on. This obviously gets harder for me the older the book is. Once the language starts feeling antiquated I absolutely have to listen to the audio to get through a "classic." Listening is actually how I ended up reading (and enjoying!) Frankenstein. So, to be safe, I started reading this on audiobook first and, holy cannoli, I binged right through it in a day and a half!!
First of all, the writing is absolutely captivating. I appreciated that the chapters weren't too long and the readability. The characters were also entirely believable despite the fantasy/time-jumping element. I could envision these characters as real people. They were flawed and awful sometimes but so real. The atmosphere was so consuming. I literally couldn't put this book down!
I'm planning on watching the Hulu series literally immediately. I can already tell I'm going to have a giant book hangover after this.
“Like all good works of fiction, it lies like the truth.”
“I never realized how easily people could be trained to accept slavery.”
Umm. Excuse me. Why was I not forced to read this book sooner? I binged this over two days. It was so captivating. People have told me that Butler's writing is fantastic. They've told me her novels are classics for a reason. However, I'm always still a little bit wary of anything someone labels "classic," especially if it was written more than 20ish years ago. I find that a lot of classics are too cerebral and abstract for my brain to focus on sometimes. Like the Handmaid's Tale, for example. The story was fantastic but the writing was hard for me to focus on. This obviously gets harder for me the older the book is. Once the language starts feeling antiquated I absolutely have to listen to the audio to get through a "classic." Listening is actually how I ended up reading (and enjoying!) Frankenstein. So, to be safe, I started reading this on audiobook first and, holy cannoli, I binged right through it in a day and a half!!
First of all, the writing is absolutely captivating. I appreciated that the chapters weren't too long and the readability. The characters were also entirely believable despite the fantasy/time-jumping element. I could envision these characters as real people. They were flawed and awful sometimes but so real. The atmosphere was so consuming. I literally couldn't put this book down!
I'm planning on watching the Hulu series literally immediately. I can already tell I'm going to have a giant book hangover after this.
A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Life was much too short to play by anyone's rules but her own.”
“This is New York City and we can spot a fraud a mile away.”
I feel like I'm on the precipice of entering my historical romance era. I absolutely ate this book up. I hadn't read a historical romance since the books I stole from my mother's bookshelf in middle school so I think I've been worried that I wouldn't enjoy them the same way. I can, with certainty, say that I enjoyed this even more.
The characters were charming and lovable. Generally speaking, I don't love cheating in books. It generally takes me right out of the romance. However, that didn't happen this time. I'm not entirely sure why but it could be because of the narration style, the author's handling of the topic or the setting itself. The narration allowed the reader to understand that there was something off about the relationship between the FMC and her former beau. It also allowed us to see some of the FMC's naïveté. I also think the author just handled the topic well. The FMC had appropriate amounts of guilt and tension about her feelings and it was interesting to read about her cognitive dissonance while she attempted to do the right thing. Ultimately, this could also be chalked up to the setting, as well. The distance created by the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the time it took to communicate made Robert, the former beau, feel not real.
The romance was great and the spice level was 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ . Some absolutely fantastic spicy scenes. Once the romance really ramped up, I literally couldn't put it down. I read about 70% of this book all in one sitting. I've already put the next two books on hold.
“This is New York City and we can spot a fraud a mile away.”
I feel like I'm on the precipice of entering my historical romance era. I absolutely ate this book up. I hadn't read a historical romance since the books I stole from my mother's bookshelf in middle school so I think I've been worried that I wouldn't enjoy them the same way. I can, with certainty, say that I enjoyed this even more.
The characters were charming and lovable. Generally speaking, I don't love cheating in books. It generally takes me right out of the romance. However, that didn't happen this time. I'm not entirely sure why but it could be because of the narration style, the author's handling of the topic or the setting itself. The narration allowed the reader to understand that there was something off about the relationship between the FMC and her former beau. It also allowed us to see some of the FMC's naïveté. I also think the author just handled the topic well. The FMC had appropriate amounts of guilt and tension about her feelings and it was interesting to read about her cognitive dissonance while she attempted to do the right thing. Ultimately, this could also be chalked up to the setting, as well. The distance created by the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the time it took to communicate made Robert, the former beau, feel not real.
The romance was great and the spice level was 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ . Some absolutely fantastic spicy scenes. Once the romance really ramped up, I literally couldn't put it down. I read about 70% of this book all in one sitting. I've already put the next two books on hold.
The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“When the devil waged war in the heavens, even angels had to fall.”
“Love did not always wear the face one wished it would. Sometimes it looked downright monstrous.”
“Most myths are just truths covered in cobwebs.”
“But a shared past didn’t make a future.”
I really enjoyed reading this sequel. I couldn't remember a ton about what happened in the first novel but Chokshi did a good job of catching the reader up to speed without getting info dumpy or redundant. I also really loved how this didn't fall into the trap that a lot of second books do. It didn't feel like the author was setting up for the third book at all, although she definitely accomplished that.
I also loved how the characters developed throughout this. If I remember correctly, the first book focused more on adventure and building the world. Without that, this book did a great job of looking further into each of the characters, their motivations and their relationships. The author did such a great job with each character that I'd be hard pressed to pick a definite favorite. (If I absolutely had to pick, it'd probably be Enrique because I identified with him so much). I loved how their relationships with each other developed and the tension. Oh god, the tension. 😭
My only major critique is that it reminds me a lot of Six of Crows. I didn't always feel strongly about picking it back up despite the fact that while I was actually reading it, I had a lot of fun. It was kind of weird. Good, but forgettable in some ways.
I'll definitely finish out the series. Ultimately, I've really enjoyed reading the first two novels so I definitely want to complete the last one.
“Love did not always wear the face one wished it would. Sometimes it looked downright monstrous.”
“Most myths are just truths covered in cobwebs.”
“But a shared past didn’t make a future.”
I really enjoyed reading this sequel. I couldn't remember a ton about what happened in the first novel but Chokshi did a good job of catching the reader up to speed without getting info dumpy or redundant. I also really loved how this didn't fall into the trap that a lot of second books do. It didn't feel like the author was setting up for the third book at all, although she definitely accomplished that.
I also loved how the characters developed throughout this. If I remember correctly, the first book focused more on adventure and building the world. Without that, this book did a great job of looking further into each of the characters, their motivations and their relationships. The author did such a great job with each character that I'd be hard pressed to pick a definite favorite. (If I absolutely had to pick, it'd probably be Enrique because I identified with him so much). I loved how their relationships with each other developed and the tension. Oh god, the tension. 😭
My only major critique is that it reminds me a lot of Six of Crows. I didn't always feel strongly about picking it back up despite the fact that while I was actually reading it, I had a lot of fun. It was kind of weird. Good, but forgettable in some ways.
I'll definitely finish out the series. Ultimately, I've really enjoyed reading the first two novels so I definitely want to complete the last one.
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“It's crazy how lonely it is to be in a family.”
“It's easier to watch myself be sad than actually feel sad.”
“We all have the same boring problems. Sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about it.”
This book was so much more than I thought it would be. I also have Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi on my physical TBR and now that I know how she writes, I can't wait to finally read that one too. I loved Choi's writing. It was snarky and sarcastic, sometimes quite vulgar. It made the main character and her sister feel so realistic. Their banter felt real and earned over a childhood spent together.
Jayne wasn't necessarily the most likable character ever but Choi did a great job of balancing her messy decisions with the contexts for why. I also really enjoyed how we weren't just reading from her POV but how we were genuinely in her head. As the reader, you don't necessarily notice certain things until it becomes obvious to Jayne. I didn't realize this right away so I missed some major foreshadowing and was surprised when I finally made the connection.
I also really loved the themes in this book. It touches on immigration. Jayne and her sister, June, immigrated to Texas as kids from Korea. Their culture and story played heavily into their relationship with each other and with their parents. It also touches on illnesses such as cancer and eating disorders, and all of the uncertainty that comes with. There are scenes with Jayne's therapist. I love mental health rep! I also really loved how the author describes New York. It kind of becomes its own character from Jayne's perspective.
All in all, this is an excelllent book. The story is equal parts heart-breaking and heart-warming. The writing is witty and absolutely excellent. I will read from this author again in the future.
“It's easier to watch myself be sad than actually feel sad.”
“We all have the same boring problems. Sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about it.”
This book was so much more than I thought it would be. I also have Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi on my physical TBR and now that I know how she writes, I can't wait to finally read that one too. I loved Choi's writing. It was snarky and sarcastic, sometimes quite vulgar. It made the main character and her sister feel so realistic. Their banter felt real and earned over a childhood spent together.
Jayne wasn't necessarily the most likable character ever but Choi did a great job of balancing her messy decisions with the contexts for why. I also really enjoyed how we weren't just reading from her POV but how we were genuinely in her head. As the reader, you don't necessarily notice certain things until it becomes obvious to Jayne. I didn't realize this right away so I missed some major foreshadowing and was surprised when I finally made the connection.
I also really loved the themes in this book. It touches on immigration. Jayne and her sister, June, immigrated to Texas as kids from Korea. Their culture and story played heavily into their relationship with each other and with their parents. It also touches on illnesses such as cancer and eating disorders, and all of the uncertainty that comes with. There are scenes with Jayne's therapist. I love mental health rep! I also really loved how the author describes New York. It kind of becomes its own character from Jayne's perspective.
All in all, this is an excelllent book. The story is equal parts heart-breaking and heart-warming. The writing is witty and absolutely excellent. I will read from this author again in the future.
Poison: Fairy Tales 1 by Sarah Pinborough, Les Edwards
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was fine. Just fine. I don't even think I necessarily enjoyed reading this. I, ultimately, decided that I would not be picking up the other two books in this series.
Some of the things I liked:
Length - I was grateful that this was mercifully short.
Retelling - The Snow White piece was fun. It was interesting to see this beloved story from an even darker lens.
The evil queen - I actually felt kind of sorry for her by the end. She was a pretty compelling character.
Some of the things I disliked:
Random - Some of the plot points are so incredibly random and made absolutely no sense. Like when Snow White met the Huntsmen... What the heck was that?
Dislikable Characters - I can get behind a dislikable character if there is something slightly redeeming about them but at least one of the characters felt like an actual villain. I find those types of perspectives compelling but they're not as enjoyable for me, in general.
Writing - The writing style in this book would be perfect for middle grade students. However, the content includes several sex scenes in a book that is less than 200 pages. And it's not even good spice, it's just graphic enough to be inappropriate for younger readers but not spicy enough to be fun for adult readers.
Ultimately, I don't think this book was for me. I can definitely see what some people would like about it.
Some of the things I liked:
Length - I was grateful that this was mercifully short.
Retelling - The Snow White piece was fun. It was interesting to see this beloved story from an even darker lens.
The evil queen - I actually felt kind of sorry for her by the end. She was a pretty compelling character.
Some of the things I disliked:
Random - Some of the plot points are so incredibly random and made absolutely no sense. Like when Snow White met the Huntsmen... What the heck was that?
Dislikable Characters - I can get behind a dislikable character if there is something slightly redeeming about them but at least one of the characters felt like an actual villain. I find those types of perspectives compelling but they're not as enjoyable for me, in general.
Writing - The writing style in this book would be perfect for middle grade students. However, the content includes several sex scenes in a book that is less than 200 pages. And it's not even good spice, it's just graphic enough to be inappropriate for younger readers but not spicy enough to be fun for adult readers.
Ultimately, I don't think this book was for me. I can definitely see what some people would like about it.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
“In some Native languages the term for plants translates to “those who take care of us.”
“The land knows you, even when you are lost.”
“To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it.”
“The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness.”
I put off reading this book because I was intimidated by it. However, this book was so different than I expected. I picked it up because I was intrigued by the premise but non-fiction texts aren't my favorite. I pick them up because I want to learn more about the topic but I tend to get so bored when reading them. Sometimes the only way I can actually get through them is by listening to them on audio. I usually bookmark the crap out of it so that I can find the places that resonated with me after the fact.
This book was so much more readable than I ever expected. I picked it for my book club to give me an excuse to read it and the audio was excellent! I definitely think that you have to take each of the essays as their own thing. If you're looking for an overarching thread to connect the narrative, you won't really find it. There are themes and motifs the author continually comes back to which might make some of the latter essays feel repetitive but overall, Wall's writing is so poetic and very readable. I loved how she made all of the scientific jargon so approachable. I also loved her explanations of Indigenous teachings and how they relate to real scientific facts.
If you are interested in botany and Indigenous ways of knowing, this is an excellent introduction into the topic! I highly recommend the audio!
“The land knows you, even when you are lost.”
“To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it.”
“The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness.”
I put off reading this book because I was intimidated by it. However, this book was so different than I expected. I picked it up because I was intrigued by the premise but non-fiction texts aren't my favorite. I pick them up because I want to learn more about the topic but I tend to get so bored when reading them. Sometimes the only way I can actually get through them is by listening to them on audio. I usually bookmark the crap out of it so that I can find the places that resonated with me after the fact.
This book was so much more readable than I ever expected. I picked it for my book club to give me an excuse to read it and the audio was excellent! I definitely think that you have to take each of the essays as their own thing. If you're looking for an overarching thread to connect the narrative, you won't really find it. There are themes and motifs the author continually comes back to which might make some of the latter essays feel repetitive but overall, Wall's writing is so poetic and very readable. I loved how she made all of the scientific jargon so approachable. I also loved her explanations of Indigenous teachings and how they relate to real scientific facts.
If you are interested in botany and Indigenous ways of knowing, this is an excellent introduction into the topic! I highly recommend the audio!
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really loved this book. Firekeeper's Daughter was one of my favorite books of 2021 and this might be one of my favorites for 2023. I loved getting to return to Sugar Island and learn about more characters. I adored getting to see Daunis years later and see how things turned out for her.
What I really love about this book, and Firekeeper's Daughter before it, is that the story on its own is excellent. I would love these books if that was all that was included, however, each of these books also included excellent information and knowledge around Indigenous issues. Firekeeper's Daughter tackled addiction and illicit drug use on reservations, as well as MMIW. Warrior Girl Unearthed keeps the MMIW theme/awareness but this time tackles the issue of repatriation and the ethics around Indigenous objects being held by non-Indigenous communities. As a history teacher, this part of the story was so incredibly interesting to me. I wasn't familiar with NAGPRA until I read this.
The story, itself, was incredibly engaging. Perry is an incredibly likable, if messy, character. She makes a lot of dumb decisions for the sake of her loved ones that kind of make you want to shake her while also admiring her bravery and courage. The pacing suffered a little bit in the beginning. I think this might have been because of the explanation and context around NAGPRA and repatriation (but I think that was a worthwhile choice) but otherwise the writing is just as excellent as her debut.
Boulley is not just an auto-buy author for me. She is absolutely the type of author that I will pre-order from the moment she announces a new book. 😄
What I really love about this book, and Firekeeper's Daughter before it, is that the story on its own is excellent. I would love these books if that was all that was included, however, each of these books also included excellent information and knowledge around Indigenous issues. Firekeeper's Daughter tackled addiction and illicit drug use on reservations, as well as MMIW. Warrior Girl Unearthed keeps the MMIW theme/awareness but this time tackles the issue of repatriation and the ethics around Indigenous objects being held by non-Indigenous communities. As a history teacher, this part of the story was so incredibly interesting to me. I wasn't familiar with NAGPRA until I read this.
The story, itself, was incredibly engaging. Perry is an incredibly likable, if messy, character. She makes a lot of dumb decisions for the sake of her loved ones that kind of make you want to shake her while also admiring her bravery and courage. The pacing suffered a little bit in the beginning. I think this might have been because of the explanation and context around NAGPRA and repatriation (but I think that was a worthwhile choice) but otherwise the writing is just as excellent as her debut.
Boulley is not just an auto-buy author for me. She is absolutely the type of author that I will pre-order from the moment she announces a new book. 😄
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy.
A rider without their dragon is dead.”
“Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus and aims it toward the possibilities instead of keeping it where it belongs—on the probabilities.”
“Lies are comforting. Truth is painful.”
“I am the sky and the power of every storm that has ever been. I am infinite.”
I honestly don't know how I'm going to write an entire review of this book that isn't just screaming that I love it. It's so good. If you're looking for an in-depth, complex, immersive fantasy, you may be disappointed. This is definitely a high fantasy but there's much more focus on the romance than I realized going in. I've heard some people refer to it as a "romantasy" and I would definitely agree with that genre. If you're a fan of Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series, you'll probably love this series, as well. If you find that series to be vapid and shallow, you probably won't like this at all. 😄
I really liked that Violet, our main character, has a disability. Based on some other reviews, it sounds like her disability, although never named in the book, is a reference to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which the author may also live with. I've only read that in a few reviews and not on the author or publisher's website. Regardless, I loved that we got to see a heroine live with a chronic illness while also kicking ass.
The romance was fantastic. It was enemies to lovers which is one of my favorite romance tropes! It also got quite spicy, at points. 🥵 I was entirely here for the romance. Xaden is a fantastic book boyfriend. We love dark and broody over here. And like spicy scenes with powers?? Umm I didn't know I needed this in my life.
Overall, I am beyond excited to read the rest of the series. I think it's going to have me in a chokehold until the final installment!
A rider without their dragon is dead.”
“Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus and aims it toward the possibilities instead of keeping it where it belongs—on the probabilities.”
“Lies are comforting. Truth is painful.”
“I am the sky and the power of every storm that has ever been. I am infinite.”
I honestly don't know how I'm going to write an entire review of this book that isn't just screaming that I love it. It's so good. If you're looking for an in-depth, complex, immersive fantasy, you may be disappointed. This is definitely a high fantasy but there's much more focus on the romance than I realized going in. I've heard some people refer to it as a "romantasy" and I would definitely agree with that genre. If you're a fan of Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series, you'll probably love this series, as well. If you find that series to be vapid and shallow, you probably won't like this at all. 😄
I really liked that Violet, our main character, has a disability. Based on some other reviews, it sounds like her disability, although never named in the book, is a reference to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which the author may also live with. I've only read that in a few reviews and not on the author or publisher's website. Regardless, I loved that we got to see a heroine live with a chronic illness while also kicking ass.
The romance was fantastic. It was enemies to lovers which is one of my favorite romance tropes! It also got quite spicy, at points. 🥵 I was entirely here for the romance. Xaden is a fantastic book boyfriend. We love dark and broody over here. And like spicy scenes with powers?? Umm I didn't know I needed this in my life.
Overall, I am beyond excited to read the rest of the series. I think it's going to have me in a chokehold until the final installment!
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“I wonder what it’s like to be with someone who can love you through your rage.”
“If we are lost, God is like water, finding the unknowable path when we cannot”
“People see what they want to. I'm sick of hoping that they'll see me.”
Sabaa Tahir is such a gifted writer. Her An Ember in the Ashes quartet is one of my favorite series of all time. I love how Tahir takes you on the entire roller coaster ride literally until the very end. She ripped my heart out of my chest and completely wrung it out at least three times.
This story is such a departure from her fantasy books but it still put me through the emotional wringer like AEITA's did. Sal and Noor will live in my head forever. I love how Tahir portrayed the different types of grief and rage they felt. It was so nuanced and splicing in the "Misbah" chapters added to that nuance. I absolutely flew through this entire novel.
I think the only thing I disliked was that it felt like the ending was missing something. I'm not exactly sure what it was. It is entirely possible that I just didn't want it to end, though. 😄
Ultimately, I will always buy Tahir's work. Always. Her writing never fails to draw me in. Highly recommend.
“If we are lost, God is like water, finding the unknowable path when we cannot”
“People see what they want to. I'm sick of hoping that they'll see me.”
Sabaa Tahir is such a gifted writer. Her An Ember in the Ashes quartet is one of my favorite series of all time. I love how Tahir takes you on the entire roller coaster ride literally until the very end. She ripped my heart out of my chest and completely wrung it out at least three times.
This story is such a departure from her fantasy books but it still put me through the emotional wringer like AEITA's did. Sal and Noor will live in my head forever. I love how Tahir portrayed the different types of grief and rage they felt. It was so nuanced and splicing in the "Misbah" chapters added to that nuance. I absolutely flew through this entire novel.
I think the only thing I disliked was that it felt like the ending was missing something. I'm not exactly sure what it was. It is entirely possible that I just didn't want it to end, though. 😄
Ultimately, I will always buy Tahir's work. Always. Her writing never fails to draw me in. Highly recommend.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
“It felt like the world had divided into two different types of people, those who had felt pain and those who had yet to.”
“Love was an action, an instinct, a response roused by unplanned moments and small gestures, an inconvenience in someone else’s favor.”
“In fact, she was both my first and second words: Umma, then Mom. I called to her in two languages. Even then I must have known that no one would ever love me as much as she would.”
This memoir deserves all of the hype it gets. I feel like I got to know Zauner and her family personally. The writing was exceptional, as well. It is amazing that Zauner could be as vulnerable as she was in this book.
I will say that the book was a little slow. I found myself able to put it down for a while and come back whenever. That feels like a positive and a negative. It was easy to pick back up and drop right back into the story. But there were also times when I didn't really have the drive to pick it up. Perhaps, it was just the heavy subject matter. I also can't relate to the loss of a parent, having not gone through it myself. However, I'm excited to discuss it with my book club. By the time this is posted, we'll have already discussed and I will probably have more thoughts!
“Love was an action, an instinct, a response roused by unplanned moments and small gestures, an inconvenience in someone else’s favor.”
“In fact, she was both my first and second words: Umma, then Mom. I called to her in two languages. Even then I must have known that no one would ever love me as much as she would.”
This memoir deserves all of the hype it gets. I feel like I got to know Zauner and her family personally. The writing was exceptional, as well. It is amazing that Zauner could be as vulnerable as she was in this book.
I will say that the book was a little slow. I found myself able to put it down for a while and come back whenever. That feels like a positive and a negative. It was easy to pick back up and drop right back into the story. But there were also times when I didn't really have the drive to pick it up. Perhaps, it was just the heavy subject matter. I also can't relate to the loss of a parent, having not gone through it myself. However, I'm excited to discuss it with my book club. By the time this is posted, we'll have already discussed and I will probably have more thoughts!