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ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
3.75/5
What I liked:
A very heavy topic but not overly traumatic. I really appreciate reading about the historical setting, and the camaraderie between the sex workers & their teacher is heartwarming.
Not so much:
- the translator’s note mentioned “language charged with the beauty and force of poetry”—the English version is quite straightforward imo and doesn’t have that poetic feeling
What I liked:
A very heavy topic but not overly traumatic. I really appreciate reading about the historical setting, and the camaraderie between the sex workers & their teacher is heartwarming.
Not so much:
- the translator’s note mentioned “language charged with the beauty and force of poetry”—the English version is quite straightforward imo and doesn’t have that poetic feeling
gifted by the publisher
A man and his robot girlfriend learn the language of "love." I enjoyed the exploration of power imbalance in a relationship and the impossibility of attaining both humanity and perfection. I wished for a broader analysis of human-AI interactions, as the book is heavily focused on physical intimacies but lighter on philosophical questions of other elements in romantic relationships.
A man and his robot girlfriend learn the language of "love." I enjoyed the exploration of power imbalance in a relationship and the impossibility of attaining both humanity and perfection. I wished for a broader analysis of human-AI interactions, as the book is heavily focused on physical intimacies but lighter on philosophical questions of other elements in romantic relationships.
gifted by the publisher
In an alternate US, a Black woman becomes a concubine of a powerful white politician. Reading the author's notes first might clarify the story and help understand Rashad's motivation. I find the writing too "aesthetic" and was confused about the plot due to the lack of distinction in narrative voices between the two timelines—a fascinating premise that didn't pan out.
In an alternate US, a Black woman becomes a concubine of a powerful white politician. Reading the author's notes first might clarify the story and help understand Rashad's motivation. I find the writing too "aesthetic" and was confused about the plot due to the lack of distinction in narrative voices between the two timelines—a fascinating premise that didn't pan out.
Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.
A family grapples with their unknown lineage when a reparations law passes. I loved the exploration of "inheritance" or the lack thereof for Black Americans—including no generational wealth, missing parental figures, or fractured family history. The idea of a forgiveness act is fascinating, but I wish to have more character development and the aftermath of the reparations law.
A family grapples with their unknown lineage when a reparations law passes. I loved the exploration of "inheritance" or the lack thereof for Black Americans—including no generational wealth, missing parental figures, or fractured family history. The idea of a forgiveness act is fascinating, but I wish to have more character development and the aftermath of the reparations law.
gifted by the publisher
"They say you can never go home again. But what if you can? What if you should? What if no matter what you do with your life, you'll somehow always end up in that place you didn't want to leave?"
After fleeing the conflict in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, Saba Sulidze-Donauri and his family struggle to reconcile the fact that they left their mom behind, unable to get her out. Decades pass, and the death of their mom prompts Saba's dad, Irakli, to return to Georgia—only to go missing, followed by his older brother's mysterious disappearance. Now, it's Saba's turn to search for his fractured family and piece together their cryptic messages.
GREAT FOREST is inspired by Hansel and Gretel and perfectly captures the eerie atmosphere of lost children in a dangerous foreign land. On top of that, there's also an arc of escaped zoo animals due to a flood—inspired by true events—police pursuing the Sulidze-Donauri family, Saba's dreams/hallucinations from relatives' ghosts who perished in war-torn Georgia, and a play.
Encapsulated in all the chaotic goose chases and wild adventures across Georgia is the theme of returning home. The juxtaposition of Irakli's and Saba's homecoming is one of the most fascinating explorations of how war trauma and grief affect one's relationship with their homeland. For some, it's a wish to be buried in the land where your ancestors are, and for others, it's the desire to search for hope after mass destruction.
I especially loved the friendship between Saba and his taxi driver, Nodar, who almost stole the show and reminded me of Samwise Gamgee
"They say you can never go home again. But what if you can? What if you should? What if no matter what you do with your life, you'll somehow always end up in that place you didn't want to leave?"
After fleeing the conflict in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, Saba Sulidze-Donauri and his family struggle to reconcile the fact that they left their mom behind, unable to get her out. Decades pass, and the death of their mom prompts Saba's dad, Irakli, to return to Georgia—only to go missing, followed by his older brother's mysterious disappearance. Now, it's Saba's turn to search for his fractured family and piece together their cryptic messages.
GREAT FOREST is inspired by Hansel and Gretel and perfectly captures the eerie atmosphere of lost children in a dangerous foreign land. On top of that, there's also an arc of escaped zoo animals due to a flood—inspired by true events—police pursuing the Sulidze-Donauri family, Saba's dreams/hallucinations from relatives' ghosts who perished in war-torn Georgia, and a play.
Encapsulated in all the chaotic goose chases and wild adventures across Georgia is the theme of returning home. The juxtaposition of Irakli's and Saba's homecoming is one of the most fascinating explorations of how war trauma and grief affect one's relationship with their homeland. For some, it's a wish to be buried in the land where your ancestors are, and for others, it's the desire to search for hope after mass destruction.
I especially loved the friendship between Saba and his taxi driver, Nodar, who almost stole the show and reminded me of Samwise Gamgee
3.5/5 Gifted by the publisher
What I liked:
- the writing is immersive
- flawed yet relatable characters
- the historical setting
- exploration of imperialism and displacement of indigenous people
What didn’t work for me:
- there are A LOT of characters and multiple main plots going on it was hard to keep track of & I didn’t really care for half the characters until the very end
- very character-driven. Each character has a back story that sometimes get a bit tedious
- I wonder if this would’ve worked better as interconnected short stories and we just focus on one character in each chapter as opposed to a mash up of 10 POVs and 4 storylines
What I liked:
- the writing is immersive
- flawed yet relatable characters
- the historical setting
- exploration of imperialism and displacement of indigenous people
What didn’t work for me:
- there are A LOT of characters and multiple main plots going on it was hard to keep track of & I didn’t really care for half the characters until the very end
- very character-driven. Each character has a back story that sometimes get a bit tedious
- I wonder if this would’ve worked better as interconnected short stories and we just focus on one character in each chapter as opposed to a mash up of 10 POVs and 4 storylines
A great blend of personal stories and research of healthcare inequalities. Idk if the parts of the author explaining her medical training will be too technical for layperson but I LOVED every moment of it!
My only note is the audiobook she mispronounced JohnS Hopkins as John Hopkins
My only note is the audiobook she mispronounced JohnS Hopkins as John Hopkins
