gossamer_lens's Reviews (1.48k)

I found this to be an insightful and interesting read. I think that in some details it goes a little longer than was needed. But as someone who has studied ancient history far more than modern history, I found it to be quite interesting and enjoyed the details generally. I think this obviously has to be read with an understanding of hindsight being 20/20 and with the understanding that Obama will give the best version of things. But I was surprised with how certain parts read as being full of candor and with the fact that his most glaring flaw, that of being a moderate, didn't feel excused or diminished. I wonder if it's because it is something Obama doesn't see as a flaw. Whatever the case, this book made for a solid read overall and gave an interesting perspective on various American and Global events that occurred during Obama's birth through the middle of his first term of the presidency.

I really enjoyed this book. The plot was fun, the world was intriguing, and the characters were generally enjoyable. 

Some things in the plot popped out of nowhere but given some of the influences/inspirations for this book being folklore that feels very on-brand and reasonable. I had a hard time with some of the character's interactions/dialogue sounding very childish, very mature, or just very out of character at times and in ways that didn't make sense to me. I don't know that those moments were written that way to force the plot along or anything, I think they just were from a slight lack of consistency in the framing of certain characters. 

SPOILER-ISH PARAGRAPH:

For instance, the main protagonist was very uncertain about herself and her role/desires overall. But there was a one-off line where she says "I'd fall in love with me too, if I was around me" even though she has shown time and again a lack of appreciation or confidence in herself.

I will definitely be reading the next book though and I hope some of these inconsistencies are addressed.

I feel like this is a book that I'm rating 4.5 stars now, but as it continues to fade into my past it will slowly become more and more a 5-star. I found myself having to put the book down a lot to think about what was happening. I also needed breaks to process so I wouldn't end up putting it down for too long and forgetting to continue... although anytime I put it down I couldn't stop thinking about it. 

I think in many ways Gaiman made a tribute to the idea of what America could be. To the remnants of history and the new age it represents. I think in many ways America wishes it was this book. But in so many ways America loses all the contrast of old and new, of belief and reality, of pain and adventure... for the unending focus on just capitalism. But in a way... I think this book almost captured that as well within its main character. Maybe not quite... but it felt like it was there. 

I really have nothing else to say. It was a very interesting, thoughtful, but brutal and entertaining book. I think if I had connected more to any of the characters it would have been an immediate 5-star read... but as it was I just found it very intriguing and enjoyable.

I really want to give this a 5-star. But the ending has me rounding down to a 4.5. I really enjoyed the book overall and liked Ariadna as a character. I agree with and appreciate the author's overall point about gods and men using women and punishing them for their own misdeeds. I found the plot to be intriguing in how it was laid out, even if it follows those classic plot beats that it must in order to be a mythology retelling.

I just have to go down from a 5-star as the second most important character's ending felt like it came so out of left field for how she was characterized throughout the book... And I felt like the overall point or thesis established in Chapter 1 really didn't get developed by the time we got to the last chapter. Which is fine. But when it comes to a retelling I feel like the point really is to bring something new to the table or to say something with your retelling... And if what you're saying is established in the beginning with little to no development on the point being made over the course of the book... Then what is the point? Idk. So yep, very fun read overall but just didn't feel quite like a 5-star was fair. 

I am interested in reading further work by Saint if I run across another of her works in the future.

This was a solid 3.5 for me. But reading more about the author's research and experience at the end of the book helped me round up to a 3.75. I thought the overall story and characters were good. I think the story of POC queer women is an important one to be represented and told. But I just didn't feel like I had a lot to connect with the main character over. I didn't find the story dragging anywhere really, I just didn't find it super compelling. I just enjoyed it. 

I think it is overall a good book with a lot to say that clearly meant something to the author. I appreciated it overall, just not my new favorite book.

I made it 10% of the way in. There are so far 2 points of view and both are in 1st person. One is interesting enough, though bitter, and the other is just annoying as all get out. The historical aspect could be interesting, but the POV that is in current times is just not worth reading through to get to the past POV. 

*Mild spoilers* the current POV, she threw her life away for a cheating POS who has put her down their whole relationship. She is distinctly aware of this even while she pines for him and wishes she could be pregnant and have a baby. (This is all revealed by page 20ish). That is fine, but not to my taste. What really kills the whole thing is how "not like other girls" she expresses herself, the way she blames others for her career not being what she wanted while having a nepotism job, and how she is written in general. She comes across as whinny, entitled, boring, and stupid all at the same time.

I just cannot. There are too many books to drag myself through this. 2 stars because maybe the historical aspect could have given it more umph as things go along... But what I read was a 1 star for me.