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daniellekat's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.75
This started off strong, but by the halfway mark things started to roll downhill. There were lots of interesting little nuggets along the way, but generally the author centered herself within the content too much. The theme fell apart in the second half of the book and Roach took on a judgmental stance that was off-putting as a reader. I think the writing was ok. It was a bit too descriptive for me but I can see how her writing creates an approachable feel for non-fiction. There were some sections that ranged from fairly biased to down right ignorant that the author never acknowledged (especially as a middle-aged western white woman in foreign places and cultures) that made me question Roach's credibility on a whole. I might give this author another chance, I've heard better things about her earlier publications, but I can't say I would recommend this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Colonisation and Forced institutionalization
acebookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Animal cruelty, Death, Vomit, and Animal death
violentbear's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Lost me a bit in the last couple chapters, but the last few pages brought me back in!
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
madalynn_owens's review against another edition
funny
informative
medium-paced
3.75
I have the same thoughts every time I read a Mary Roach book and yet I continue to pick up Mary Roach books!
I think this is definitely one of her better ones where she seems to have done a lot more research before and after meeting with these experts. And found the subject matter to be a lot more enjoyable to read about in length in her style.
I truly don’t know if she does this to “immerse” the reader in the scene/conversation but the way she sometimes adds in truly unhelpful/unflattering quotes really paints a negative light of the person taking tremendous amounts of time and effort to help her (for no compensation!).
She has a habit of adding just strange asides of people, like saying a geneticist won the gene lottery and then embarking on an in depth description of her looks (when she’s only mentioned for one page). If she did this with everyone, sure whatever, but in this example there’s another person mentioned in the same sentence that just gets a brief name mention and nothing else!
All in all, the best Mary Roach book I’ve read so far. Will I continue to read more because I love women in nonfiction and enjoy her more lighthearted approach? Probably.
I think this is definitely one of her better ones where she seems to have done a lot more research before and after meeting with these experts. And found the subject matter to be a lot more enjoyable to read about in length in her style.
I truly don’t know if she does this to “immerse” the reader in the scene/conversation but the way she sometimes adds in truly unhelpful/unflattering quotes really paints a negative light of the person taking tremendous amounts of time and effort to help her (for no compensation!).
She has a habit of adding just strange asides of people, like saying a geneticist won the gene lottery and then embarking on an in depth description of her looks (when she’s only mentioned for one page). If she did this with everyone, sure whatever, but in this example there’s another person mentioned in the same sentence that just gets a brief name mention and nothing else!
All in all, the best Mary Roach book I’ve read so far. Will I continue to read more because I love women in nonfiction and enjoy her more lighthearted approach? Probably.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Animal cruelty
mandi_lea's review against another edition
funny
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
clynns's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
pipn_t's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.0
I feel like this book needs a better cover. It looked like it was supposed to be humorous but it was more how humans keep ruining various species’ lives. Also didn’t think the author was as funny as she thought she was, and found most of the footnotes a frustrating distraction that mostly didn’t need to be there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
caljmarr's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Enjoyed this, some really fun facts there, and lots to think about. However, left a really sour taste in my mouth when the author used the sp*z slur for no reason. Wish she hadn't done that!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Ableism
ireadinbed's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
4.5
I love Mary Roach's style. Every book is a joy and this one has kept me busy for months!
I loved the subject matter, learmed a lot and had to question some if my biases.
Would be a 5 except i could not read more than a chapter at a time and i started avoiding it. Wish i hadnt started it with my kid because i think it slowed me down.
But i am so glad i finished because i got a ton out of it, including laughs.
I loved the subject matter, learmed a lot and had to question some if my biases.
Would be a 5 except i could not read more than a chapter at a time and i started avoiding it. Wish i hadnt started it with my kid because i think it slowed me down.
But i am so glad i finished because i got a ton out of it, including laughs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Vomit, and Animal death
koplomps's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
2.5
A very interesting and informative read, but also so slow, and filled with so much unrelated chatter about somebody's clothes etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Vomit, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail