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ninetalevixen 's review for:
"The image of the sugarhouse, smokestack, and steam is iconic, but sugarhouses are as varied as the imaginations of their owners.”
Honestly, the majority of my disappointment probably comes from inaccurate marketing: even taking into account the strength of the local sugarmaking community, it's hardly focused on a single family. And the "human interest" aspects of this book are weighed down by the minutiae of exactly how much maple syrup is being made, bought, sold, and at exactly what price, and exactly when; there's also a bit towards the end on the effects of climate change on the industry. I most enjoyed the anecdotes about sugarmakers' family history and childhood memories, but it was interspersed irregularly with the business goings-ons.
It's clear the author did a lot of research and talked to a lot of experts, but it wasn't very well synthesized into a cohesive narrative. There are tons of facts and figures, as well as direct quotes, none of which seem to be contextualized or explained. An equation is described as "almost poetic" more than once, apparently because it uses parallel structure?
This isn't a terrible read, but if not for the POPSUGAR challenge I don't think I would've finished it.
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CONVERSION: 5.75 / 15 = 2 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Intellectual Engagement: 2 / 10
Credibility: 7 / 10
Organization / Structure: 2 / 10
Emotional Impact / Interest: 3 / 5
Rereadability: 1 / 5
Memorability: 2 / 5
Honestly, the majority of my disappointment probably comes from inaccurate marketing: even taking into account the strength of the local sugarmaking community, it's hardly focused on a single family. And the "human interest" aspects of this book are weighed down by the minutiae of exactly how much maple syrup is being made, bought, sold, and at exactly what price, and exactly when; there's also a bit towards the end on the effects of climate change on the industry. I most enjoyed the anecdotes about sugarmakers' family history and childhood memories, but it was interspersed irregularly with the business goings-ons.
It's clear the author did a lot of research and talked to a lot of experts, but it wasn't very well synthesized into a cohesive narrative. There are tons of facts and figures, as well as direct quotes, none of which seem to be contextualized or explained. An equation is described as "almost poetic" more than once, apparently because it uses parallel structure?
This isn't a terrible read, but if not for the POPSUGAR challenge I don't think I would've finished it.
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CONVERSION: 5.75 / 15 = 2 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Intellectual Engagement: 2 / 10
Credibility: 7 / 10
Organization / Structure: 2 / 10
Emotional Impact / Interest: 3 / 5
Rereadability: 1 / 5
Memorability: 2 / 5