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2021: whew, what a ride, and what connections I have to this story!
I knew about The Belfast Project, having studied at Boston College from 2010 - 2014 (a prime time, as anyone who has read this book knows!) and then moving to Ireland for grad school from 2014 - 2015. The Irish studies department at BC is one of the most well known in the United States, and I went to visit Boston College Ireland on the edge of St. Stephen's Green. They were all talking about it, and how "BC had really screwed up".
This book goes into incredible depth on the events throughout The Troubles, as well the ones leading up to how the Belfast Project got to be so screwed up. I really should have read this book before going to see The Gaiety's production of Borstal Boy, which is a play adapted from Brendan Behan's autobiography. I also really should have read more about The Troubles before getting to Ireland to study, but I did absorb plenty while I was there.
One of the few criticisms that I could make of this book would be that in presenting the information in the order that Keefe chose, OBVIOUSLY the reader learns that the tapes and records were unsealed before the end of the story. Otherwise, how would Keefe have learned all of the information that he was currently in the process of telling us? I would also say the history presented is very narrow: the atrocities, often much worse than the ones described in this book, happen everyday around the world. It's horrible, and it's awful, but I thought that the entire conflict of The Troubles could have used a little more contextualization, especially with a nearly complete lack of introduction.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/secrets-from-belfast
If you're interested in learning more, this article goes a little more deeply into the BC side of things, as well as explaining more behind the mutual-legal-assistance treaty with Britain that forced the hand of Boston College to hand over the tapes. The article stops before Say Nothing does, and Keefe doesn't even get to finish the complete story, as some recent acquittals happened after the book was published (you can read more about that update here: https://www.bcheights.com/2019/10/28/belfast/)
+1 for Keefe using she/her pronouns when he didn't know the gender of someone. Really excited to get my hands on [b:Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty|43868109|Empire of Pain The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty|Patrick Radden Keefe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611952534l/43868109._SY75_.jpg|68254444] next!
I knew about The Belfast Project, having studied at Boston College from 2010 - 2014 (a prime time, as anyone who has read this book knows!) and then moving to Ireland for grad school from 2014 - 2015. The Irish studies department at BC is one of the most well known in the United States, and I went to visit Boston College Ireland on the edge of St. Stephen's Green. They were all talking about it, and how "BC had really screwed up".
This book goes into incredible depth on the events throughout The Troubles, as well the ones leading up to how the Belfast Project got to be so screwed up. I really should have read this book before going to see The Gaiety's production of Borstal Boy, which is a play adapted from Brendan Behan's autobiography. I also really should have read more about The Troubles before getting to Ireland to study, but I did absorb plenty while I was there.
One of the few criticisms that I could make of this book would be that in presenting the information in the order that Keefe chose, OBVIOUSLY the reader learns that the tapes and records were unsealed before the end of the story. Otherwise, how would Keefe have learned all of the information that he was currently in the process of telling us? I would also say the history presented is very narrow: the atrocities, often much worse than the ones described in this book, happen everyday around the world. It's horrible, and it's awful, but I thought that the entire conflict of The Troubles could have used a little more contextualization, especially with a nearly complete lack of introduction.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/secrets-from-belfast
If you're interested in learning more, this article goes a little more deeply into the BC side of things, as well as explaining more behind the mutual-legal-assistance treaty with Britain that forced the hand of Boston College to hand over the tapes. The article stops before Say Nothing does, and Keefe doesn't even get to finish the complete story, as some recent acquittals happened after the book was published (you can read more about that update here: https://www.bcheights.com/2019/10/28/belfast/)
+1 for Keefe using she/her pronouns when he didn't know the gender of someone. Really excited to get my hands on [b:Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty|43868109|Empire of Pain The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty|Patrick Radden Keefe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611952534l/43868109._SY75_.jpg|68254444] next!
2021: medium steam, but definitely would still recommend.
I spent the whole time comparing this book to [b:Beach Read|52867387|Beach Read|Emily Henry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589881197l/52867387._SX50_.jpg|67832247] (because how could I not?!) but also because it's the only other Henry book I've read so far. I really enjoyed the plot of this novel more, maybe because I just really want to be planning tropical vacations right now, and happen to have both Palm Springs and Cabo plans within the next twelve months?! *fingers crossed*
I do have to say though, there was no Gus throwing January up against a bookshelf this time around. I definitely thought that the romance was going to be more steamy, and SHOULD have been. Maybe I didn't let myself get into it when Alex & Poppy were getting it on in the rain (I kept thinking of logistical complications and couldn't stop). At the same time, thank goodness this wasn't hotter, as I read the book on a plane and I don't think my seatmate would have appreciated my squirming around in comfort class as I tried to keep it together.
All I have to say is, MAY THE UNIVERSE BLESS ME WITH A MAN WHO GETS A VASECTOMY OF HIS OWN ACCORD AS BIRTH CONTROL HALLELUJAH! God, that was the hottest part, honestly.
On top of that, I'm actually pumped for Book Lovers, which is Henry's 2022 romance novel, because it sounds like she spent too much time watching Younger during quarantine and then decided to turn it into a novel. My body is ready.
I spent the whole time comparing this book to [b:Beach Read|52867387|Beach Read|Emily Henry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589881197l/52867387._SX50_.jpg|67832247] (because how could I not?!) but also because it's the only other Henry book I've read so far. I really enjoyed the plot of this novel more, maybe because I just really want to be planning tropical vacations right now, and happen to have both Palm Springs and Cabo plans within the next twelve months?! *fingers crossed*
I do have to say though, there was no Gus throwing January up against a bookshelf this time around. I definitely thought that the romance was going to be more steamy, and SHOULD have been. Maybe I didn't let myself get into it when Alex & Poppy were getting it on in the rain (I kept thinking of logistical complications and couldn't stop). At the same time, thank goodness this wasn't hotter, as I read the book on a plane and I don't think my seatmate would have appreciated my squirming around in comfort class as I tried to keep it together.
All I have to say is, MAY THE UNIVERSE BLESS ME WITH A MAN WHO GETS A VASECTOMY OF HIS OWN ACCORD AS BIRTH CONTROL HALLELUJAH! God, that was the hottest part, honestly.
On top of that, I'm actually pumped for Book Lovers, which is Henry's 2022 romance novel, because it sounds like she spent too much time watching Younger during quarantine and then decided to turn it into a novel. My body is ready.
2021: What even happened in this book...
Sloan's quirky characters and fast paced plot captured my heart in [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|13538873|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)|Robin Sloan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345089845l/13538873._SY75_.jpg|6736543], but it really didn't do it for me this time around. I didn't feel like I clicked with any of the characters, and there was zero character background or development (aside from the Brothers, who only communicated via letters in 90% of the book). I would be a little nervous to revisit Mr. Penumbra now after finishing Sourdough.
One very odd chord was struck for me in this novel: I could not get on board with the main character being a woman. Sure, her name was Lois and she used female pronouns, but there were so many inconsistencies in the way she treated her life, her job, and her relationships that read as fake to me. Perhaps the author's viewpoint was shining through too much? It just felt like a man wrote this, and not even what he *thought* a woman might sound like or how she might think. All characterization of Lois was gone by the end (and the plot really was gone, too) and it just sort of...stopped. Lois was one of the most asexual and aromantic characters I've ever read, in a book that wasn't about an asexual character.
That being said, if you like baking, San Francisco, the tech industry, or thinking way too much about microbes, this novel will probably be up your alley. It's a quick, fun, light read, maybe one to try if you're looking for an easy way to break a reading dry spell. Personally, I don't think any of the characters in this book will really stick with me, but I am now seriously considering getting some sourdough starter (just the normal King Arthur kind tho).
Sloan's quirky characters and fast paced plot captured my heart in [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|13538873|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)|Robin Sloan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345089845l/13538873._SY75_.jpg|6736543], but it really didn't do it for me this time around. I didn't feel like I clicked with any of the characters, and there was zero character background or development (aside from the Brothers, who only communicated via letters in 90% of the book). I would be a little nervous to revisit Mr. Penumbra now after finishing Sourdough.
One very odd chord was struck for me in this novel: I could not get on board with the main character being a woman. Sure, her name was Lois and she used female pronouns, but there were so many inconsistencies in the way she treated her life, her job, and her relationships that read as fake to me. Perhaps the author's viewpoint was shining through too much? It just felt like a man wrote this, and not even what he *thought* a woman might sound like or how she might think. All characterization of Lois was gone by the end (and the plot really was gone, too) and it just sort of...stopped. Lois was one of the most asexual and aromantic characters I've ever read, in a book that wasn't about an asexual character.
That being said, if you like baking, San Francisco, the tech industry, or thinking way too much about microbes, this novel will probably be up your alley. It's a quick, fun, light read, maybe one to try if you're looking for an easy way to break a reading dry spell. Personally, I don't think any of the characters in this book will really stick with me, but I am now seriously considering getting some sourdough starter (just the normal King Arthur kind tho).
2021: A big, sweeping story, epic in scale, but didn't quite have the final emotional punch that I was looking for.
This novel jumps all around to start (and continues to change location and time rather sporadically throughout) and its handing off of the story between generations was very reminiscent of [b:Pachinko|34051011|Pachinko|Min Jin Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529845599l/34051011._SY75_.jpg|50384116] at the beginning. The novel ends up focusing on two women: Marian Graves, a female pilot who fought in WWII, and Hadley Baxter, the actress who is playing Marian in a 2015 movie about her. The narration switches unevenly between the two, and I really wish we had stayed with Marian the entire time. Hadley is a mess of a person and a mess of a narrator, and her drug induced fantasies were such a distraction from Marian's adventures. #TeamMarian
The only good thing to come from Hadley's narration is the discovery of what happened after Marian's death, and this definitely could have been achieved without Hadley's entire storyline. I also didn't love that we went into Eddie's narration for a bit - he was such a minor character, compared to Caleb or even Ruth! I loved following Jamie around (mostly because he went to Seattle) but it was really Marian who I wanted to hear about. #FlyMarianFly
Thank God Shipstead included very clear "two months since the last time we saw Jamie" in addition to the dates whenever she shifted narrators, because otherwise I would have really struggled listening to this book. Shipstead explains the concept of a "Great Circle" at the very beginning of the book, and it's clear she's trying to make her novel great as well. Ultimately, there were too many distractions for me, too many subplots and side stories, that paled in comparison to whatever Marian was up to. #MarianOrBust
Final note: this was not the best example of how to handle a character in the early 1900's being gay or bi, while looking at it through a modern lens. Sure, there's the defense of "no one talked about things like that in those days", but this book is ONLY going to be read in 2021 and beyond - it should reflect that.
This novel jumps all around to start (and continues to change location and time rather sporadically throughout) and its handing off of the story between generations was very reminiscent of [b:Pachinko|34051011|Pachinko|Min Jin Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529845599l/34051011._SY75_.jpg|50384116] at the beginning. The novel ends up focusing on two women: Marian Graves, a female pilot who fought in WWII, and Hadley Baxter, the actress who is playing Marian in a 2015 movie about her. The narration switches unevenly between the two, and I really wish we had stayed with Marian the entire time. Hadley is a mess of a person and a mess of a narrator, and her drug induced fantasies were such a distraction from Marian's adventures. #TeamMarian
The only good thing to come from Hadley's narration is the discovery of what happened after Marian's death, and this definitely could have been achieved without Hadley's entire storyline. I also didn't love that we went into Eddie's narration for a bit - he was such a minor character, compared to Caleb or even Ruth! I loved following Jamie around (mostly because he went to Seattle) but it was really Marian who I wanted to hear about. #FlyMarianFly
Thank God Shipstead included very clear "two months since the last time we saw Jamie" in addition to the dates whenever she shifted narrators, because otherwise I would have really struggled listening to this book. Shipstead explains the concept of a "Great Circle" at the very beginning of the book, and it's clear she's trying to make her novel great as well. Ultimately, there were too many distractions for me, too many subplots and side stories, that paled in comparison to whatever Marian was up to. #MarianOrBust
Final note: this was not the best example of how to handle a character in the early 1900's being gay or bi, while looking at it through a modern lens. Sure, there's the defense of "no one talked about things like that in those days", but this book is ONLY going to be read in 2021 and beyond - it should reflect that.
2021: a beautiful series of essays from a feminist whose views I overall agree with, but are perhaps slightly more outdated that I expected going in.
Let me explain: Solnit lives just over the line of distrusting men from where I am. I have had many formative and loving relationships with the men in my life, and I have been fortunate enough to not have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Do I think that abuse and misogyny doesn't exist in our society today? Absolutely not. But do I immediately think that all men are evil? Also no.
Everything Solnit says is completely warranted though, don't get me wrong. Plus, I don't have any woman in my life who was stabbed 15 times because she tried to leave her ex-boyfriend. If I did, I would probably trust men a little less too. One of the most poignant takeaways is Solnit's discussion of the transition from the disparagement of women and misogyny in general from isolated incidents into an epidemic, recognized in public conversation as such.
Overall, I took this book as a reminder not to forget that things (as recent as 30 years ago) were not always as I have experienced them. Hell, not even five years ago, we lived in a pre-#MeToo era. "For what seemed to me the first time, these stories were presented as emblematic of an epidemic rather than, as such crimes almost always had been before, as isolated anomalous incidents that didn't raise questions about how common such violence is and how it affects women in general."
This was a lovely time to read this book - I'm newly arrived to California (somewhat close to the Bay Area) and this is such a love letter to San Francisco that I want to move there tomorrow. I did think that this would be much more of a memoir than it is - I would consider it (again) a series of essays published by Solnit and less a start-to-finish journey of her life. However, I did completely relate to the student mentioned in the quote below, way more than to Solnit: "Many years later a student who'd just moved to the Bay Area from New York relayed her distress to me at no longer being in the center of things, with the implication that centers are what matters. I went home and thought about the value of margins." I miss being in EST!
I did discover one of my new favorite quotes in this book: "You furnish your mind with readings in somewhat the way you furnish a house with books, or rather the physical books enter your memory and become part of the equipment of your imagination." and an Honorable Mention for: "I wanted to live by books and in books and for books."
An early line of Solnit's says, "But I can wish that the young women who come after me might skip some of the old obstacles" and I can say, born 30 years after Solnit, that I have.
Let me explain: Solnit lives just over the line of distrusting men from where I am. I have had many formative and loving relationships with the men in my life, and I have been fortunate enough to not have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Do I think that abuse and misogyny doesn't exist in our society today? Absolutely not. But do I immediately think that all men are evil? Also no.
Everything Solnit says is completely warranted though, don't get me wrong. Plus, I don't have any woman in my life who was stabbed 15 times because she tried to leave her ex-boyfriend. If I did, I would probably trust men a little less too. One of the most poignant takeaways is Solnit's discussion of the transition from the disparagement of women and misogyny in general from isolated incidents into an epidemic, recognized in public conversation as such.
Overall, I took this book as a reminder not to forget that things (as recent as 30 years ago) were not always as I have experienced them. Hell, not even five years ago, we lived in a pre-#MeToo era. "For what seemed to me the first time, these stories were presented as emblematic of an epidemic rather than, as such crimes almost always had been before, as isolated anomalous incidents that didn't raise questions about how common such violence is and how it affects women in general."
This was a lovely time to read this book - I'm newly arrived to California (somewhat close to the Bay Area) and this is such a love letter to San Francisco that I want to move there tomorrow. I did think that this would be much more of a memoir than it is - I would consider it (again) a series of essays published by Solnit and less a start-to-finish journey of her life. However, I did completely relate to the student mentioned in the quote below, way more than to Solnit: "Many years later a student who'd just moved to the Bay Area from New York relayed her distress to me at no longer being in the center of things, with the implication that centers are what matters. I went home and thought about the value of margins." I miss being in EST!
I did discover one of my new favorite quotes in this book: "You furnish your mind with readings in somewhat the way you furnish a house with books, or rather the physical books enter your memory and become part of the equipment of your imagination." and an Honorable Mention for: "I wanted to live by books and in books and for books."
An early line of Solnit's says, "But I can wish that the young women who come after me might skip some of the old obstacles" and I can say, born 30 years after Solnit, that I have.
2021: Wow, this was a beautiful book. Definitely would recommend getting your hands on it!
That being said, a big warning here: nearly 50% of the book is a mother grieving her child. Not a spoiler, it's literally on page i (also, is a real life event that happened 400+ years ago really ever a spoiler?) But if you're thinking of picking this book up to learn more about Shakespeare's early life, or perhaps to see more of the behind the scenes of him becoming a playwright, neither of those are the focus of this book, and you will be disappointed.
This is one of the most heart-wrenching and gutting discussions of grief that I think I've ever read. I would not recommend this to the faint of heart, nor to anyone who might be emotionally charged from losing someone recently in their own life. That being said, maybe it will bring you comfort to read about someone else's journey. The full story of both Agnes becoming a mother and ultimately becoming a mother who loses a child is encapsulating and horrible and wonderful.
I honestly didn't even notice O'Farrell choosing not to name Shakespeare at all in the book until I was about 1/3 of the way through. I understand her choice, wanting instead to focus on the person as opposed to his famous name. However, there were just a couple awkward turns of phrase to get around just calling him Will. Ultimately, I really enjoyed following Agnes as the main narrator of this story; that was a great and essential choice.
Often, especially when I read fictionalized accounts about the Holocaust or WWII love stories in particular, I find myself wondering what on earth this new book could possibly be adding to the discourse. Why do we need ANOTHER version of Shakespeare's story? He's Shakespeare, for goodness sake. That is not the case with this book.
Also, the prose is just gorgeous. The book is full of long descriptions, and rather little dialogue, and yet I was completely hooked. It's captivating and the plot definitely moved along fast enough for me. I absolutely loved the final scene, in which Agnes finally gets to see the play that is named for her son (and features her husband as the Dead King, which I don't know if that's factually accurate, but it's a lovely touch all the same!) Another chapter that will stick with me long after finishing this book is the account of how the plague came to touch Judith - it's an incredible passage, that I was so nervous would turn out to be too gimmicky, but it works so well.
That being said, a big warning here: nearly 50% of the book is a mother grieving her child. Not a spoiler, it's literally on page i (also, is a real life event that happened 400+ years ago really ever a spoiler?) But if you're thinking of picking this book up to learn more about Shakespeare's early life, or perhaps to see more of the behind the scenes of him becoming a playwright, neither of those are the focus of this book, and you will be disappointed.
This is one of the most heart-wrenching and gutting discussions of grief that I think I've ever read. I would not recommend this to the faint of heart, nor to anyone who might be emotionally charged from losing someone recently in their own life. That being said, maybe it will bring you comfort to read about someone else's journey. The full story of both Agnes becoming a mother and ultimately becoming a mother who loses a child is encapsulating and horrible and wonderful.
I honestly didn't even notice O'Farrell choosing not to name Shakespeare at all in the book until I was about 1/3 of the way through. I understand her choice, wanting instead to focus on the person as opposed to his famous name. However, there were just a couple awkward turns of phrase to get around just calling him Will. Ultimately, I really enjoyed following Agnes as the main narrator of this story; that was a great and essential choice.
Often, especially when I read fictionalized accounts about the Holocaust or WWII love stories in particular, I find myself wondering what on earth this new book could possibly be adding to the discourse. Why do we need ANOTHER version of Shakespeare's story? He's Shakespeare, for goodness sake. That is not the case with this book.
Also, the prose is just gorgeous. The book is full of long descriptions, and rather little dialogue, and yet I was completely hooked. It's captivating and the plot definitely moved along fast enough for me. I absolutely loved the final scene, in which Agnes finally gets to see the play that is named for her son (and features her husband as the Dead King, which I don't know if that's factually accurate, but it's a lovely touch all the same!) Another chapter that will stick with me long after finishing this book is the account of how the plague came to touch Judith - it's an incredible passage, that I was so nervous would turn out to be too gimmicky, but it works so well.
2021: Yes, yes, yes this romance novel definitely did it for me!
Very steamy, yay British men *swoon*, also this incredible glamping scene with the twinkle lights, oh my, it was nearly perfect and so lovely. There were one too many "will they, won't they" passages (it's a romance novel. We know they will. Let's get on with it) but I was very willing to forgive all of them for the eventual payoff.
On top of all of that - this was a lovely plot with reasonably well developed characters! Incredible! Loved the meet-cute between Chloe & Red, and I really enjoyed Chloe's nerdy perspective. Red was complex and charming and completely infatuated with Chloe (which never hurts) and his little British phrases were so sweet! He loved Chloe's mind and her body equally and that was a joy to read.
Lastly, but perhaps most important of all, this was an own voices novel from a Black British women who is also chronically ill. Did I expect to learn many things from this book? Not in the slightest! I thought it was be 100% fun and light and airy. But the real-life elements, and the grounding of the sexy scenes in actual, plausible situations was a big win for me. Hibbert perfectly straddled the line between informing her readers what it's like living with chronic illness, and still showing off a damn good time!
Very steamy, yay British men *swoon*, also this incredible glamping scene with the twinkle lights, oh my, it was nearly perfect and so lovely. There were one too many "will they, won't they" passages (it's a romance novel. We know they will. Let's get on with it) but I was very willing to forgive all of them for the eventual payoff.
On top of all of that - this was a lovely plot with reasonably well developed characters! Incredible! Loved the meet-cute between Chloe & Red, and I really enjoyed Chloe's nerdy perspective. Red was complex and charming and completely infatuated with Chloe (which never hurts) and his little British phrases were so sweet! He loved Chloe's mind and her body equally and that was a joy to read.
Lastly, but perhaps most important of all, this was an own voices novel from a Black British women who is also chronically ill. Did I expect to learn many things from this book? Not in the slightest! I thought it was be 100% fun and light and airy. But the real-life elements, and the grounding of the sexy scenes in actual, plausible situations was a big win for me. Hibbert perfectly straddled the line between informing her readers what it's like living with chronic illness, and still showing off a damn good time!
2021: An incredible true story that is poorly written and underdeveloped.
Morris originally wrote this tale as a screenplay (this is even mentioned in the book) and that fact is just painfully obvious. The sentences are short and declarative, as if a list of bullet points were inexpertly turned into prose. There is such little character development, that it felt like I was reading the outline for a script, as opposed to a published novel. It also reads like it's at a fifth grade reading level; even with the main premise of the story, details about the camps are kept to a very minimum.
Perhaps the lower reading level actually is part of the reason behind the book's widespread popularity. It's a very interesting take on the true historical fiction genre (although the crowning jewel for me is still [b:What Is the What|4952|What Is the What|Dave Eggers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328837457l/4952._SX50_.jpg|3271214].) I agree with some of the critiques of this story–the inclusion of penicillin was particularly jarring and removed me from the world of the narrative. And don't even get me started on the soccer game, the whole scene of which I almost skipped entirely.
Overall, I would put this book as an okay introduction to what life might have been like at a concentration camp during the Holocaust, but a superficial recounting of events, rather than a developed novel.
Morris originally wrote this tale as a screenplay (this is even mentioned in the book) and that fact is just painfully obvious. The sentences are short and declarative, as if a list of bullet points were inexpertly turned into prose. There is such little character development, that it felt like I was reading the outline for a script, as opposed to a published novel. It also reads like it's at a fifth grade reading level; even with the main premise of the story, details about the camps are kept to a very minimum.
Perhaps the lower reading level actually is part of the reason behind the book's widespread popularity. It's a very interesting take on the true historical fiction genre (although the crowning jewel for me is still [b:What Is the What|4952|What Is the What|Dave Eggers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328837457l/4952._SX50_.jpg|3271214].) I agree with some of the critiques of this story–the inclusion of penicillin was particularly jarring and removed me from the world of the narrative. And don't even get me started on the soccer game, the whole scene of which I almost skipped entirely.
Overall, I would put this book as an okay introduction to what life might have been like at a concentration camp during the Holocaust, but a superficial recounting of events, rather than a developed novel.
2021: STOP SLEEPING ON THIS ONE AND READ IT NOW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So this is my first Krakauer and I simply cannot wait to get my hands on more. Well, technically what I mean, is I simply can't wait to actually take the time to read all of his books that I've been accumulating from the secondhand bookstore for years but never made time for. Into Thin Air sits in the same category as [b:The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics|16158542|The Boys in the Boat Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics|Daniel James Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1354683116l/16158542._SY75_.jpg|21998925] for me - I knew how the story ended, but I was absolutely RIVETED getting there.
I've read quite a few *adventure* books now, including a lot about the Appalachian Trail and thru hiking and overcoming crazy challenges. Krakauer is the rare exception (aside from good ol' [a:Bill Bryson|7|Bill Bryson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578597522p2/7.jpg]) who is a writer before he was an adventurer. The prose is beautiful and the narrative is absorbing and I was utterly engulfed by the journey. The tension begins so early on and it just. does. not. stop!
It was a thrill ride from beginning to end that I am so glad I made time for. Honestly, I can't believe it's taking me this long, but I'll tell you what, it certainly knocked "climbing Everest" several pegs off my bucket list. It was never really on, it's too crazy, but reading about this journey *in particular* solidified that this adventure is not for me. Also, just the effects of being at such a high altitude and your brain cells LITERALLY dying. Man, I've lived at (or below) sea level my whole life, I don't think I'm cut out for that.
If you know me, you know I love nerding out about plans and logistics and the operational challenges of this endeavor are even more insane than I originally could picture. It's no wonder that the mountain is literally covered in shit and empty oxygen containers. The logistics planning here is a delight and I'm sure it's only gotten worse since this book was published in 1997.
If I had to get nitpicky, I will say that it took a long time to be able to keep track of all of the main players. I completely understand that this was a work of non-fiction, so of course the term "character development" is inappropriate, but it was pretty hard to know who to focus on and who to keep track of during the first half of the book. I'm sure when this book was published (and following up on all of the attention that both the climb and the Outside article had recently received) everyone could follow it easily. But I could have used a little more "get to know the climbers" in the book.
I feel like I've been hitting a good streak of books in the back half of 2021 here. Let's keep this going!
So this is my first Krakauer and I simply cannot wait to get my hands on more. Well, technically what I mean, is I simply can't wait to actually take the time to read all of his books that I've been accumulating from the secondhand bookstore for years but never made time for. Into Thin Air sits in the same category as [b:The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics|16158542|The Boys in the Boat Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics|Daniel James Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1354683116l/16158542._SY75_.jpg|21998925] for me - I knew how the story ended, but I was absolutely RIVETED getting there.
I've read quite a few *adventure* books now, including a lot about the Appalachian Trail and thru hiking and overcoming crazy challenges. Krakauer is the rare exception (aside from good ol' [a:Bill Bryson|7|Bill Bryson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578597522p2/7.jpg]) who is a writer before he was an adventurer. The prose is beautiful and the narrative is absorbing and I was utterly engulfed by the journey. The tension begins so early on and it just. does. not. stop!
It was a thrill ride from beginning to end that I am so glad I made time for. Honestly, I can't believe it's taking me this long, but I'll tell you what, it certainly knocked "climbing Everest" several pegs off my bucket list. It was never really on, it's too crazy, but reading about this journey *in particular* solidified that this adventure is not for me. Also, just the effects of being at such a high altitude and your brain cells LITERALLY dying. Man, I've lived at (or below) sea level my whole life, I don't think I'm cut out for that.
If you know me, you know I love nerding out about plans and logistics and the operational challenges of this endeavor are even more insane than I originally could picture. It's no wonder that the mountain is literally covered in shit and empty oxygen containers. The logistics planning here is a delight and I'm sure it's only gotten worse since this book was published in 1997.
If I had to get nitpicky, I will say that it took a long time to be able to keep track of all of the main players. I completely understand that this was a work of non-fiction, so of course the term "character development" is inappropriate, but it was pretty hard to know who to focus on and who to keep track of during the first half of the book. I'm sure when this book was published (and following up on all of the attention that both the climb and the Outside article had recently received) everyone could follow it easily. But I could have used a little more "get to know the climbers" in the book.
I feel like I've been hitting a good streak of books in the back half of 2021 here. Let's keep this going!
2021: This is exactly the kind of narrative non-fiction that I love, but turns out that the "real" story is a painful one to reckon with.
Eggers is on fire with this story - it's well paced, you care about all of the characters, and the tension created after Zeitoun goes missing was palpable. I literally could not put the book down, it was so good. It dives into a ton of research regarding Hurricane Katrina, the abuses of power in its aftermath, and the media's irresponsible reporting. Fascinating, important, interesting stuff!
However: this book paints the Zeitoun family in a very good light, with an underdog immigration / victim story underscoring the Katrina tragedy. I was cheering for them, and was firmly on Team Kathy for the entire book. Upon finishing and doing some googling about what they are all up to now, I have since learned that Kathy & Zeitoun got divorced, Zeitoun was sentenced to prison after attacking Kathy with a tire iron, and he's since been deported, but because Syria is in shambles, they can't actually send him back until Syria sorts out a government!
-1 for how much of a bummer I felt after learning more about the Zeitoun family, and how it really caused me to second guess how much of this Eggers-written story was true.
Eggers is on fire with this story - it's well paced, you care about all of the characters, and the tension created after Zeitoun goes missing was palpable. I literally could not put the book down, it was so good. It dives into a ton of research regarding Hurricane Katrina, the abuses of power in its aftermath, and the media's irresponsible reporting. Fascinating, important, interesting stuff!
However: this book paints the Zeitoun family in a very good light, with an underdog immigration / victim story underscoring the Katrina tragedy. I was cheering for them, and was firmly on Team Kathy for the entire book. Upon finishing and doing some googling about what they are all up to now, I have since learned that Kathy & Zeitoun got divorced, Zeitoun was sentenced to prison after attacking Kathy with a tire iron, and he's since been deported, but because Syria is in shambles, they can't actually send him back until Syria sorts out a government!
-1 for how much of a bummer I felt after learning more about the Zeitoun family, and how it really caused me to second guess how much of this Eggers-written story was true.