I enjoyed most of this book until the end. Very densely researched and intertwined novel.

Still chewing on some of the concepts covered in this book. It is ambitious in the array of topics it covers and can seem a little too broad and disorganized at times. As always, Smith is ruthless and witty in her breakdown of societal norms, this time focusing on the evolution of the narrator from an insightful girl to a rather shallow media personnel. My favorite parts were the narrator's contemplation on what it means to be a part of the diaspora and how to view life in the homeland after living abroad.

The scope of this book is too broad and in trying to appeal to a little bit of pop culture, a little sociology, a little history, etc. this book falls flat in all directions.

Dense and definitely not for cramming the night before the test

I love Gaiman and Norse mythology but I feel like he was struggling between naming this a children's book and an adult book so that sometimes the themes would be super graphic and at other times really benign. Overall, still great writing and fun to read.

This is more like a series of stories than any of Almeddine's other books, so it lacks a sense of cohesion. But the stories themselves are powerful and surreal contemplations on current day issues, LGBTQ movement, America, the Middle East and religion. Dense reading but fun.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's very beautifully written with minute, emotional prose. On the other hand, it doesn't really say anything at all. Like a puffed Cheeto, it leaves your hands full of dust without any real taste.

A beautiful beautiful book about black girlhood written in a series of prose pieces that flow like poetry and meditate on the delicateness of firsts, first loves, heartbreaks and goodbyes.

The creativity of these stories is astounding, from Mathmaticians that can map out grief to a child created from bits of hair. I love the way they explore intergenerational trauma, particularly the nuances mother and daughter relationship.