I'm not a big poetry reader, but I liked this contemporary collection. I especially took to HAGS.

Oooh, Eileen Dunlop you were a creepy treat. This first-person narrated novel is full of Eileen's reflections on a turning point in her life. She's leading you through the last week of her life before that turning point, with only hints as to what is to come. Moshfegh handles the suspenseful revelation deftly and I am eager to read more of her work, though I believe this is her debut novel. Eileen herself is self-loathing, angry, abused, sad, and not very easy to relate to or empathize with. It probably won't happen, in fact. I have a feeling many people might not like this book because they will not like Eileen, but that is not a dealbreaker for me. I may not like her, but I damn well enjoyed her story.

I've been a fan of Coates' writing for a few years now and was happy to see this book so well-received. It's truly a stand-out piece of personal writing that conveys so much about life in America today. It's heartbreaking--from the very first word, 'Son,' which means that this work is like a letter to his son--and I found myself choked up at times. Coates writes eloquently about even the worst atrocities of modern life. His fears are on display, and there's not much hope, but this type of writing is necessary (especially now, especially this year) so that more people might understand this point of view and empathize. There is hope in that. It's short, articulate, and important.

A well written novel about family and time and Detroit. I enjoyed these characters, especially Lelah, and ended the book satisfied but wishing I could keep reading from Lelah's point of view. It took some time for the point to reveal itself... for the stories of the past and the present to converge of this 13-child family, but it comes together beautifully.

Also, I wanted to read more about Viola Turner and her life with 13 young children, since we only glean instances of that time period. This may be because I gave birth a couple of months ago and I'm like what the hell how did you do this 13 times, let's hear more from that heroine!

Beautiful, sad, funny, life-affirming. I enjoyed this novel immensely; the family feels familiar to me as the daughter of an immigrant. Jacob does a stellar job of structuring her novel and jumping between eras in the lives of Amina and her family. There's a lot of tragedy and suspense leading to it; yet this book doesn't feel heavy or depressing. There is sadness in family histories, but there is also happiness in family and the specific ways in which they function.

Visceral and funny and sad. Some really sharp lines and observations from Sharma through her narrator Maya. I especially enjoyed the way she would switch to second person from first occasionally to make the reader feel a little edgy... to understand what it might be like to be on heroin or on withdrawal from heroin. And there's a lot of wincing when it comes to reading about a self-destructive addict, but even when she's making terrible decisions she's likable and self-possessed, in a way. Maya is a wonderfully formed character.

I was completely fascinated by this book. I feel like I will continue to think about this for weeks to come. There's something mysterious and enigmatic at its core and I want to keep exploring it even though the novel is over.

I enjoyed a lot of parts of this novel, but it seemed to drag at other points. I loved the setting of Mexico City in the 80s and the bit of magical realism injected. Going back and forth in time was interesting, but I kind of wanted to know more about the time in between in more detail. The characters are well drawn if not entirely likable.

This is the first Toni Morrison novel I've read, and I understand why she is a renown and celebrated writer. She does a wonderful job in reading her words in this audiobook, as well. The story itself is cutting and brutal; there is so much sadness. It's a succinct story which at times was hard to follow on audio given the changing perspectives and not realizing the switch to another character. I felt so much for the main character, Bride, and I liked the ending she was given.

Wow. Last night while waiting for my train # to be posted in the middle of Penn Station, the audiobook ended with Don Cheadle's voice and a surge of music just as my friend happened upon me. I turned to her with tears in my eyes and almost an inability to speak. I was enthralled by the entire thing, which at turns was hilarious, poignant, sad, tragic, and full of life (and death). I may not recommend to everyone, and I understand why some may not like it at all, but I felt touched after finishing it. Saunders has such a way with words, and apparently with curating research.

I loved the audiobook and it's 166 narrators, though I'm not sure that's the best way to read it? I enjoyed it for sure, but I had to look up how the book was written after a few minutes so I understand what the narrators were reading from with the research citations. I also had to have a cast list handy because if a new voice began I was distracted by that feeling that I knew the voice but couldn't place it and then would miss some of the story. Yet through all these caveats I still love this book and will likely own it in print in the future. Kudos to the main narrators, Nick Offerman and David Sedaris for their wonderful work, too.