Putting this on my re-read shelf (one day), so subject to change, but as it stands all of those two stars go to Mrs Havisham, who was the only thing I found remotely interesting in my first read of this story.

The language makes immersion in this book a challenge at the beginning, but persistence will be rewarded and it does get easier in time. A very good detective novel, an interesting glimpse into Jewish culture (particularly if, like me, you're quite new to it), with strong character development into a cast of deeply interesting characters. One of those books that will sit with me for a long time after reading. My main criticism is that the female characters, who were equally as interesting as all the others, could have benefited from more attention. Additionally, although I appreciated the dry wit throughout the novel, the many many suggestions in the book cover reviews that this novel is "raucous" and "incredibly funny" baffle me - it's not laugh out loud funny in the slightest, although there are definitely some humorous moments.

As you'll guess from the title, this book has an agenda. If books having an agenda when they present you with information is something that bothers you, you may not like this book. I'd argue, however, that all popular science books have an agenda, they just may not be clear about it. I like it when a book is upfront about what it wants you to learn.

This book delves into regenerative agriculture, and is a fantastic introduction to the concept if you haven't read much in this area before. It does not prescribe a specific diet (veganism, vegetarianism and meat-eating are all possible under a regenerative model) but it does prescribe dietary changes, specifically around reducing processed food and meat (reducing, not eliminating, and choosing carefully your source - don't panic) and choosing organic and locally, regeneratively grown whenever possible. This is not presented from a health angle but from an environmental angle, and while it's heavy-handed on its derision of herbicide and pesticide use (the phrase "toxic chemicals" is overused) it's a convincing and really interesting argument.

There's a strong climate change angle in here, and I like that it's specific about what counts as regenerative agriculture - as a New Zealander, I'm tired of hearing how we don't have to worry about our farming because it's pasture-based. Nope, that's only step one, friends. New Zealand's dairy production is laughably far away from regenerative despite being pasture-based, and most of New Zealand's beef production is better than dairy but not nearly regenerative. Relatedly, though, the book is very America-centric, which does make sense given how completely bonkers the American food production system has become. However, there's enough globally relevant information for the book to be relevant to most people anyway (and in our increasingly globalised world the American system is affecting most of us at this point, in one way or another).

Ultimately, this book convinced me that organic is better than non-organic BUT is not a solution in itself - you can still degrade soil and farm monocultures organically. It convinced me to go to my local farmer's market much more often. I've already cut out most processed food because I'm trying to use less plastic, but this book helped reinforce another good reason to keep going with that. It inspired me to keep going with my own garden, to play a little with regenerative principles on my own tiny scale. It added to my already frankly upsetting terror of climate change and the useless political systems we have, globally, that may kill us all one day if something doesn't change. It made me feel more sympathetic to farmers, who are really victims in a system that traps them in environmentally disastrous ways of farming. All good things, I think.

Overall, so glad I read this. It might not be wholly convincing to everyone, but I think most people could find elements to like in this book.

Fun story, but predictable. Liked the characters, but hated the writing style. Too over the top, too LOUD, a bit of a cringey first person perspective. Worth a read, but ultimately not particularly memorable. There are many better books in this genre with similar strengths and fewer weaknesses.

Both touching and gripping. Fantastic characters, especially our heroine, and I was dying to know all the details of her past. Excellent pacing, perhaps a little rushed at the end. Deserves 5 stars for being a masterful first novel for this author.

Same good quality as the first, very funny, but I had to pay $13 for it on Kindle because there was a huge waitlist for it at the library and it's very short, so I'm kinda salty about that.