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annmariereads's reviews
1182 reviews
Please Report Your Bug Here by Josh Riedel
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
If you love cerebral reads, eerie covers, and are skeptical of Big Tech, boy is this book going to be for you.
Plus the author was the first employee at Instagram, where I am writing out this very review. Very meta. Lord, isn't that what Facebook is called now? Pardon me, while I retire to an internet-free cabin in the woods.
Ethan is working in Silicon Valley as one of the founding members of an up-and-coming dating website. But instead of the fun, creative pursuit he thought it would be, his job is basically just clearing inappropriate photos off of the site. Oh a whim, he decides to check out his top match on the dating website, but unexpectedly he is no longer at his desk but in a field of grass next to an ocean. He quickly appears back at his desk and realizes he's discovered a pretty gigantic BUG. As he investigates, he sees that this goes much deeper than he expected.
This felt like part Uncanny Valley, part behind-the-scenes exposé of tech startups, with a big dose of magical realism.
I thought this was a super unique book and loved the strange bedfellows mixture of tech and magical realism. Did I always completely understand what was going on? Absolutely not. But could I put it down? Definitely not. I found it oddly fascinating. Lost in Translation fans will enjoy the many references as well.
Also, with the author being the first employee at Instagram, you know he KNOWS THINGS. Like, where the Instagram skeletons are buried. So the book's commentary and skewering of Big Tech feels even more real.
Plus the author was the first employee at Instagram, where I am writing out this very review. Very meta. Lord, isn't that what Facebook is called now? Pardon me, while I retire to an internet-free cabin in the woods.
Ethan is working in Silicon Valley as one of the founding members of an up-and-coming dating website. But instead of the fun, creative pursuit he thought it would be, his job is basically just clearing inappropriate photos off of the site. Oh a whim, he decides to check out his top match on the dating website, but unexpectedly he is no longer at his desk but in a field of grass next to an ocean. He quickly appears back at his desk and realizes he's discovered a pretty gigantic BUG. As he investigates, he sees that this goes much deeper than he expected.
This felt like part Uncanny Valley, part behind-the-scenes exposé of tech startups, with a big dose of magical realism.
I thought this was a super unique book and loved the strange bedfellows mixture of tech and magical realism. Did I always completely understand what was going on? Absolutely not. But could I put it down? Definitely not. I found it oddly fascinating. Lost in Translation fans will enjoy the many references as well.
Also, with the author being the first employee at Instagram, you know he KNOWS THINGS. Like, where the Instagram skeletons are buried. So the book's commentary and skewering of Big Tech feels even more real.
Autumn by Ali Smith
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
This book is simply dreamy and I can't wait to read the other books in this beloved seasonal quartet.
While going in and out of various timelines, our book revolves around two characters - Elisabeth who's in her early 30s and Daniel Gluck, her childhood neighbor who she became close with. Daniel is now 100 years old and in a nursing home facility, floating in and out of consciousness. We flash back to Elisabeth's childhood, Daniel's childhood, Elisabeth's dissertation, to Daniel's subconscious dreamworld.
I don't even fully know how to write a synopsis of this book. But it's lovely. I definitely didn't always completely know what was going on, but the prose was so gorgeous that it's best to just go with it. I fully enjoyed everywhere this book took me.
This book captures the confusion and disorientation of 2016 so well. There are some immensely underline-able quotes, too. I was here for all of the art talk. This read was melancholic and joyful at the same time.
I feel like I have a lot to say about this book, but nothing terribly coherent seems to be coming out of me, mostly because much of this book wasn't exactly coherent. This read isn't going to be for everyone, but I'm ready to see where the next 3 books take me.
While going in and out of various timelines, our book revolves around two characters - Elisabeth who's in her early 30s and Daniel Gluck, her childhood neighbor who she became close with. Daniel is now 100 years old and in a nursing home facility, floating in and out of consciousness. We flash back to Elisabeth's childhood, Daniel's childhood, Elisabeth's dissertation, to Daniel's subconscious dreamworld.
I don't even fully know how to write a synopsis of this book. But it's lovely. I definitely didn't always completely know what was going on, but the prose was so gorgeous that it's best to just go with it. I fully enjoyed everywhere this book took me.
This book captures the confusion and disorientation of 2016 so well. There are some immensely underline-able quotes, too. I was here for all of the art talk. This read was melancholic and joyful at the same time.
I feel like I have a lot to say about this book, but nothing terribly coherent seems to be coming out of me, mostly because much of this book wasn't exactly coherent. This read isn't going to be for everyone, but I'm ready to see where the next 3 books take me.
French Braid by Anne Tyler
medium-paced
5.0
This book ticks ALL of my boxes. Multi-generational? Check. Character-based? Check. Gorgeous cover? Big check.
French Braid weaves (see what I did there) in and out of different timelines in the Garrett Family from the 1950s until present day. Robin and Mercy Garrett raise three children - Alice, Lily, and David who go on to have children and grandchildren. It is so lovely to see this family evolve, even when that involves growing apart.
I loved this tender, beautiful book. Like, I just want to hug it. There is hardly any plot to speak of, but the character development is so rich, you won't even notice that. It's definitely not all sunshine and rainbows in this family, which is what made it extra relatable I think.
You know that moment when you're reading along and suddenly the story connects to the title or the cover? I seriously teared up at the title reveal.
Also, I'm ready for Mercy to come paint a picture of my house now.
French Braid weaves (see what I did there) in and out of different timelines in the Garrett Family from the 1950s until present day. Robin and Mercy Garrett raise three children - Alice, Lily, and David who go on to have children and grandchildren. It is so lovely to see this family evolve, even when that involves growing apart.
I loved this tender, beautiful book. Like, I just want to hug it. There is hardly any plot to speak of, but the character development is so rich, you won't even notice that. It's definitely not all sunshine and rainbows in this family, which is what made it extra relatable I think.
You know that moment when you're reading along and suddenly the story connects to the title or the cover? I seriously teared up at the title reveal.
Also, I'm ready for Mercy to come paint a picture of my house now.
Milkman by Anna Burns
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Honestly, this book makes me wish that I was more philosophical and patient so that I could enjoy it more. There were parts that I absolutely LOVED, but then I'd have to slog through the denser parts to get to the lovely parts. Plus it won the Man Booker Prize so it's obviously Literature with a capital L.
But man, did I love the dark humor. That plus the incredible accent from the audiobook gave me SUCH Derry Girl vibes. I must recommend the audiobook for the accent alone. It's just that mesmerizing.
This book is about an 18 year girl in violent Northern Ireland in the late 1970s trying to navigate small town gossip and politics. I mean, I'm from a small town (population 2K), but the rumor mill in this town is second to NONE.
I am enamored with the quirks of this novel. I love that no one is ever called by a name but by their function like "Middle Sister," "Maybe Boyfriend," "Milkman," and "Real Milkman AKA: The Man Who Doesn't Love Anybody." It's everything. The way our author writes the violence along with the mundane in the same breath is jarring, but really reflects what it would have been like to grow up in that time and place.
If you need a fast-paced book with a readily available plot, this book will not be for you. If you love slow, quirky, and unique I think you should try picking this one up.
But man, did I love the dark humor. That plus the incredible accent from the audiobook gave me SUCH Derry Girl vibes. I must recommend the audiobook for the accent alone. It's just that mesmerizing.
This book is about an 18 year girl in violent Northern Ireland in the late 1970s trying to navigate small town gossip and politics. I mean, I'm from a small town (population 2K), but the rumor mill in this town is second to NONE.
I am enamored with the quirks of this novel. I love that no one is ever called by a name but by their function like "Middle Sister," "Maybe Boyfriend," "Milkman," and "Real Milkman AKA: The Man Who Doesn't Love Anybody." It's everything. The way our author writes the violence along with the mundane in the same breath is jarring, but really reflects what it would have been like to grow up in that time and place.
If you need a fast-paced book with a readily available plot, this book will not be for you. If you love slow, quirky, and unique I think you should try picking this one up.
Made for Love by Alissa Nutting
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0