I find that memoirs are great for discussion, as they automatically ask the reader to engage, or at the very least, ask themselves, "What would I do if I were the one in this situation?" It was with this in mind that I chose it for a book club selection.

Jessica Fechtor is a gifted writer. Right away, I picked up on her sharp memory and gift for relaying specific, sensory details. I was impressed by her ability to describe her experiences after waking up from surgeries, the tastes and smells and textures of foods, and even her descriptions of the world around her. It felt personal, even intimate to read these details of her stroke, recovery, and the trauma she experienced.

It's a beautiful thing to tell your story, and I'd argue this is what reading is for: to transport, to lift up, and to feel something stirring and even changing you. I'm thankful Jessica Fechtor told hers.

This is the first book I've read by Kazuo Ishiguro, and please indulge me when I say what many readers have said before me: he is a good writer.

This book is hard to qualify: is it science fiction, literacy fiction, dark academia? I would say the science fiction aspect isn't as strong as I expected. The book moves along and drops subtle hints about the fate of the characters, but the focus is mainly on relationships, and Kazuo Ishiguro excels at writing little moments between the characters that feel unscripted and authentic and human. It's a good example of a story that is a mix between plot-driven and character-driven, with classic themes of what it means to be human, and what is the value of a life.