A review by feli_reads
Sourdough by Robin Sloan

adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Sourdough is a magical, energizing story that left me inspired, happy, and a little melancholic. Because Lois does the things I often wish I had the energy to do (like managing multiple businesses at once).

Robin Sloan’s writing is fluid and immersive, and the story strikes a great balance between cozy magical realism and the intense, inspiring energy of entrepreneurship.

What I loved most about Sourdough is how it weaves together so many of my favorite themes — creativity, resilience, technology, and entrepreneurship — all while capturing the magic of sourdough bread (which is a foreign world to me).

The idea of the dough being alive as a biosphere/ecosystem of bacteria and fungus felt both enchanting and thought-provoking. It even made me approach my own baking experiments with more care (and yes, I now talk to my dough).

As someone who has worked on startup and business projects even before becoming a full entrepreneur, I found Lois’s journey deeply relatable and inspiring. Her late-night focus and quiet determination to build something of her own reminded me of the intensity and joy of creating something from scratch — and doing it on your own terms.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves magical realism, is afraid to take the first step on a personal project, or simply wants a cozy story where a lot happens. It’s a perfect read for anyone who enjoys stories about creativity and personal growth.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check on my babka dough — it’s alive, after all! 🤗