The first half is slow and the plot and tone overall is BLEAK but it is still a solid read. 

I feel like this man has a memoir in him. It’s clear he retains so much love and admiration for his community despite the challenges he has faced as a gay man within it and that perspective makes this collection so readable. Queer Glass Castle in the making. 

More eerie than horror and more vibes than plot, but the whole thing was a mood

Tender and warm-hearted with rough edges. The narrator’s voice kind of trails off a bit so I had to slow it from my normal speed but ended up appreciating that slowness. The water and coming-of-age vibes were so good on this.  

Reread over a decade later. This one starts a lot slower but the second half more than makes up for it. The new characters! The deepening relationships! The twists!

First reread after like 15 years. No notes. It’s a banger.

This is a pretty dry read but the facts and science are straightforward and worthwhile. While there wasn’t a ton of commentary, I appreciated that that gave me space to reflect on the topic and have my own revelations on biology and how gendered expectations have impacted us as the human species. Recommended for people who read the Other Olympians and are curious about more of the science around sex and gender.

Thank you to Libro.fm for the free educator ALC. 

I have an interest in the topics of early human history and language development and found the data in this book compelling and digestible, but the presentation and organization did not blow me away. Especially in audio format, I found myself zoning out when there weren’t clear and consistent connections made to thread the two topics of culture and language. Still, an enjoyable experience, though unfortunately not one I will likely remember long-term. 

Thank you to libro.fm for the free educator ALC.