Not a novel concept anymore, but the story seemed like it had potential to develop into something more interesting than it ended up being. The characters were mildly amusing at times, simply awful and not entirely thought through at others. The ending was anti climatic, I had to flip back and forth a few pages to confirm the ending, really.

"After all, what can a first impression tell us about someone we've just met for a minute in the lobby of a hotel? For that matter, what can a first impression tell us about anyone? Why, no more than a chord can tell us about Beethoven, or a brushstroke about Botticelli. By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory that they deserve not only our consideration, but our reconsideration."

As always, Russo hits the perfect notes of humour and irony while weaving a tightly knit narrative filled with memorable characters, who are in equal parts slapdashedly funny and outlandishly exaggerated, but also true to essential human nature.

I just love John Irving - this book is tormented; it's funny and comedic, but has a deep sense of restlessness.

Heartbreaking

Historical tracing of judicial history, so interesting!

❤️

"A tasty blend of romance, mystery and french cooking" - Margaret Atwood. Well, who wouldn't want to devour this book after such a recommendation?

I picked up this book looking for that something that may put a teeny tiny dent in my love for her. But I couldn't find anything. With every page, she became more human, more real, more striking. There is no pretence to be found here, no tell-all-of-the-rich-and-famous, no sense of exclusivity or entitlement or power, no pandering of stereotypes either. This book is a matter of fact rendition of basic, universal feelings. It's marvelous.

This book was so unexpectedly multilayered. The characters are in equal measure gentle and fiery, poetic and provocative, likeable and brutal. I loved getting to know Rose and Pierrot - their personalities unfold in a way that feels organic and raw and real.

Still reading, will update with review later.

Kafkaesuqe, but in a millennial sort of way.

Pretty decent quick read.

"I'm a genius, I'm telling you, words come out of my mouth that even I don't understand."

Enid Blyton-esque magic kingdoms always make me so happy.

"Brooding, strange and creepy."

This book is so strange. It's a western - but it isn't. It's about America(s?) and the civil war, and about hopelessness and fear and loneliness. The characters are colourful but blunt-edged in a way that I found myself flipping pages back and forth to search for the essential metaphor that I must have missed because all the painstaking detail seems irrelevant otherwise.

A compelling take on our addiction to entertain.

How have I never heard of Maggie Nelson before?? This true crime (ish?) Story doesn't give you the answers you think you need but definitely picks apart what you don't even realize you're thinking.

Part war story, part coming of age - this is a great book.

I think I need to go back and reread the Unbearable Lightness of Being after reading this book.

Can Barbara Kingsolver ever be bad?