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shelby1994's review
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pairs Well With:
- The Big Short
- #WomenInSTEM
- Your anarchist boyfriend phase - a true universal experience of womanhood
“I most emphatically do not want more perspectives, more opinions. This is to be my story.”
Ah yes, it was only a matter of time before I got to a Pulitzer winner that gave me nightmares about Algebra II class.
Diaz braided together 4 accounts of the illusive Rask family - paragons of Gatsby-era wealth, notorious for refusing to socialize out in public. As their family’s fortunes skyrocket, rumors rush through NYC about who the Rask’s really are, and if they have the country’s best influences at heart.
Because, you know, billionaires obviously always do.
The “book within a book within a book” scaffolding made This very much feel like a 2010s book. The first and final thirds were enrapturing, with a slump in the middle because MATH. This is probably one of the more challenging Pulitzers I’ve picked up just due to so much of the central mystery revolving around the stock market and economic theory, and mens’ fucking up of said economic theory.
At my book club last night, we all propagandized for our fave book we read this year, and this came up more than once. I think the smart girlies will love this, and if any of you want to come help me with my stock portfolio godbless.
- The Big Short
- #WomenInSTEM
- Your anarchist boyfriend phase - a true universal experience of womanhood
“I most emphatically do not want more perspectives, more opinions. This is to be my story.”
Ah yes, it was only a matter of time before I got to a Pulitzer winner that gave me nightmares about Algebra II class.
Diaz braided together 4 accounts of the illusive Rask family - paragons of Gatsby-era wealth, notorious for refusing to socialize out in public. As their family’s fortunes skyrocket, rumors rush through NYC about who the Rask’s really are, and if they have the country’s best influences at heart.
Because, you know, billionaires obviously always do.
The “book within a book within a book” scaffolding made This very much feel like a 2010s book. The first and final thirds were enrapturing, with a slump in the middle because MATH. This is probably one of the more challenging Pulitzers I’ve picked up just due to so much of the central mystery revolving around the stock market and economic theory, and mens’ fucking up of said economic theory.
At my book club last night, we all propagandized for our fave book we read this year, and this came up more than once. I think the smart girlies will love this, and if any of you want to come help me with my stock portfolio godbless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
bessadams's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
fiction for nonfiction readers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Cancer
readerette's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
An intriguing examination of truth and perspective. It made me remember to question what I think I know and to take every story with a grain of salt and look for kernels of truth. Well written, especially considering the number and layering of voices. The story itself is great, but what is communicated by its presentation is even better. It reads smoothly and the characters are believable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Terminal illness
Minor: Sexism and Violence
hmetwade's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, Death of parent, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, and Blood
gracescanlon's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
In Trust, Díaz used unique method of storytelling I'd not encountered but much enjoyed. I loved that the first two parts of the book were written by men, both with fond feelings toward the main female character, but flawed, and limited by their upbringing and the society around them all the same, while the second parts were told by female characters about their own experiences, using their own words.
The ordering of these parts created the effect of the women setting the record straight. One woman saw herself in the other and used her own experience as a woman to read between the lines of the previous narratives to learn the real story while placating men. Meanwhile, the other woman told the actual story, as it happened in her life, using her own words. I loved that it seemed that it was the combined efforts of the women that revealed the truth - the first, in analyzing the information she was given and pursuing the real story, and the second, in recording the facts as she knew them.
The ordering of these parts created the effect of the women setting the record straight. One woman saw herself in the other and used her own experience as a woman to read between the lines of the previous narratives to learn the real story while placating men. Meanwhile, the other woman told the actual story, as it happened in her life, using her own words. I loved that it seemed that it was the combined efforts of the women that revealed the truth - the first, in analyzing the information she was given and pursuing the real story, and the second, in recording the facts as she knew them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Medical content, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Death, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Self harm
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Classism, Confinement, Infertility, and Grief
Minor: Violence
leila_scola's review against another edition
challenging
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
akswhy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Endlessly interesting and maddeningly ambiguous. The audiobook was expertly produced. I’ll never listen to a clock chime the same way again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Cancer, Abandonment, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Confinement
znvisser's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The concept of this book is intriguing and even though its form slowed the pace and I didn't enjoy all writing styles equally, I found the execution really clever and the story interesting. I loved the way in which layers were added to bring all kinds of nuance and contradictions to events and characters, building depth into them and their mutual connections. I was especially entertained by the part through Ida's perspective, both its plot and her reflections. Beautifully done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Misogyny, and Death
Moderate: Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Cancer
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is not an easy leisure read, and I don’t know that it would appeal to a wide audience of readers. The story is pretty complex and gets really dense in certain sections. The first 50% felt very literary as we learn about the characters and their connections to one another. There are also many nuances throughout the book that can be confusing – for example, one section focuses heavily on financial information and Wall Street, and to be honest, I was pretty lost. It is very well-written and interestingly explores the same story in four (4) stories.
Explores themes of power, visibility, gender roles/expectations, and how, and by whom, history is recorded.
Explores themes of power, visibility, gender roles/expectations, and how, and by whom, history is recorded.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Terminal illness
elle_e_d_light's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's really more like 4 books in one, but each book is about the same story.
I personally really liked it, but I can totally understand why others would not. Nearly everybody in this book is a terrible person—or morally gray at best. Also, it can be a bit repetitive due to the concept. I still liked it and read it one go though.
I personally really liked it, but I can totally understand why others would not. Nearly everybody in this book is a terrible person—or morally gray at best. Also, it can be a bit repetitive due to the concept. I still liked it and read it one go though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Moderate: Self harm