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fleeno's reviews
940 reviews
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
5.0
Sarah Wynn-Williams worked at Facebook from 2011 to 2018. She joined excited and full of ideas on how Facebook could connect people globally, however over time that excitement turned to dread as she realised connectivity was not the aim of the company, nor the people she was working for. From Arab Spring, the Myanmar genocide, dodgy elections in Philippines and USA, immoral advertising to under-age girls, and illegal operations in China, this is a scathing short history if Facebook operations. It is little wonder Zuckerberg has tried to stop this book being published, distributed, and advertised. Zuckerberg appears to be firstly a massive loser suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect. His team pander to him, let him win board games, and never hold him to account - even when he forgets his passport, it is someone else's fault. Sheryl Sandberg likewise is clearly shown to have her public persona and her real self. While she is telling women to lean in, she is demanding of her staff, uses Facebook resources for her own pursuits (like book tours) and make demands like setting up world wide organ donor networks - at one point saying if her four year old needed a kidney she should be able to go to Mexico and pop one in her handbag. What is weirder is her relationship with her workers, the intimate touching, sharing of beds, and buying lingerie for them to try on together is appalling. As is Wynn-Williams performance review when she is told she was not responsive to work questions whilst on maternity leave. Sarah appologises noting she was in a coma for part of her leave having nearly died in childbirth.
The title of the book is a reference to a line in The Great Gatsby, referring to Tom and Daisy Buchanan as "careless people," highlighting their disregard for others' well-being and their tendency to cause harm without facing consequences. it is a perfect title and explains the leadership at Meta perfectly. Reading this book, it is little wonder the world is in the state it is in. Leadership at one point questioned if they should support Germany's AdF party as fascist governments are easier for tech companies to work with. Is it a surprise we are seeing a rise in fascism world wide. This was a shocking read, as bad as I thought Facebook is - it is so much worse. Anyway, Zuckerberg doesn't want anyone to read this book so it's an automatic 5 stars and literally everyone should read this.
The title of the book is a reference to a line in The Great Gatsby, referring to Tom and Daisy Buchanan as "careless people," highlighting their disregard for others' well-being and their tendency to cause harm without facing consequences. it is a perfect title and explains the leadership at Meta perfectly. Reading this book, it is little wonder the world is in the state it is in. Leadership at one point questioned if they should support Germany's AdF party as fascist governments are easier for tech companies to work with. Is it a surprise we are seeing a rise in fascism world wide. This was a shocking read, as bad as I thought Facebook is - it is so much worse. Anyway, Zuckerberg doesn't want anyone to read this book so it's an automatic 5 stars and literally everyone should read this.
The Baby Is Mine by Oyinkan Braithwaite
4.0
When his girlfriend throws him out during covid lockdown for cheating, Bambi heads to his deceased Uncle’s house in Lagos. Arriving during a blackout, he is surprised to find his Aunty Bidemi sitting with Eshoe, his dead uncles mistress, and a baby boy who bith women claim is theirs. As the women begin playing mind games, there is sand in the rice, a blood stain appears on the wall, someone scores tribal markings into the baby’s cheeks. Who is lying and who is really the babys mother?
This was a short and entertaining read with fascinating but unreliable characters, much like Oyinkan Braithwaite's other books.althiugh Bambi sn’t a particularly likeable or sympathetic character at the start, he steps up to care for baby Remi and try to bring peace between the women. Bidemi and Eshoe are both crazy, unreliable and compelling characters. They are both so well written and their mood switches up keep you on the edge of you seat. I enjoyed this short read and I'm looking forward to a longer novel by Braithwaite (hopefully soon!)
This was a short and entertaining read with fascinating but unreliable characters, much like Oyinkan Braithwaite's other books.althiugh Bambi sn’t a particularly likeable or sympathetic character at the start, he steps up to care for baby Remi and try to bring peace between the women. Bidemi and Eshoe are both crazy, unreliable and compelling characters. They are both so well written and their mood switches up keep you on the edge of you seat. I enjoyed this short read and I'm looking forward to a longer novel by Braithwaite (hopefully soon!)
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
5.0
Sunrise on the Reaping takes place about 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and 24 years before the first The Hunger Games novel. This story follows a 16-year-old Haymitch as he is reaped (on his birthday!) for the 50th annual Hunger Games, a Quarter Quell year. The Quarter Quell's always have special rules and this year the districts are required to send two boys and two girls, twice as many tributes, twice as much carnage. This book not only enables us to know who Haymitch is and understand him so much more, it also brings in characters from all the novels and connects their stories. Although we know from the beginning Haymitch wins, knowing the outcome makes this story hit even harder. Everytime he promises to keep someone safe we know it won't happen, every plan he has we know will fail. Early in the book Haymitch says he isn't a drinker, he had such hope and love, and it is all ripped apart by the Capitol. It's interesting that at the begining the book Haymitch's personality so closer to Peeta, sweet, forgiving, generous, and by the end he is Katniss, prickly, alouf, difficult. Not only that we learn how much of Haymitch's story in the Hunger Games isn't true and how much the the Capitol (ie the media) has lied. Although this is a theme in the other books, media bias and distortion is front and centre in this book, with a great commentary on how history is not always remembered or retold accurately. History of course is told by the victors.
Of course this is brilliantly written with strong political themes. It is heart retching not just because of what is written but because you realise the revolution had been burning for such a long time before the Mockingjay. The only thing I would have loved to see was more of Haymitch post games, and his side of Katniss and Peeta's game, his relationships with the other victors, and his part in the revolution. I loved this book and it made me appreciate why people say they want a story of every games.
Of course this is brilliantly written with strong political themes. It is heart retching not just because of what is written but because you realise the revolution had been burning for such a long time before the Mockingjay. The only thing I would have loved to see was more of Haymitch post games, and his side of Katniss and Peeta's game, his relationships with the other victors, and his part in the revolution. I loved this book and it made me appreciate why people say they want a story of every games.
Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen
Patrician Wants A Cuddle is a delightful lesbian sasquatch horror-comedy, set around a Bachelor Style show called The Catch. This season’s Catch is a sleazy ex party boy Jeremy, who helped fund Glamstapix (parody of instagram) and his last four women are Vanessa, the slutty car model, Amanda the fashion influencer, Lilah-Mae the Christian influencer, and Renee, the token Black woman who is both keenly aware she is only in the show for optics and desperate to hide from everyone, including herself, that she'd rather be making out with Amanda than Jeremy. To save money the show has taken them to rural Otters Island in the Pacific Northwest, a quiet island with a history of missing women. While the first part of the book is like any generic dating show the second part takes a turn for the weird when Patricia the gorgeous sasquatch makes an appearance.
This was such a funny, weird, book, it was absolutely brilliant. Some parts were a little gruesome, because Patricia doesn't always know how to show her affections without ripping someone's face off, and I would have liked a little more Patricia, but on the whole it was a great queer comedy horror.
4.0
Patrician Wants A Cuddle is a delightful lesbian sasquatch horror-comedy, set around a Bachelor Style show called The Catch. This season’s Catch is a sleazy ex party boy Jeremy, who helped fund Glamstapix (parody of instagram) and his last four women are Vanessa, the slutty car model, Amanda the fashion influencer, Lilah-Mae the Christian influencer, and Renee, the token Black woman who is both keenly aware she is only in the show for optics and desperate to hide from everyone, including herself, that she'd rather be making out with Amanda than Jeremy. To save money the show has taken them to rural Otters Island in the Pacific Northwest, a quiet island with a history of missing women. While the first part of the book is like any generic dating show the second part takes a turn for the weird when Patricia the gorgeous sasquatch makes an appearance.
This was such a funny, weird, book, it was absolutely brilliant. Some parts were a little gruesome, because Patricia doesn't always know how to show her affections without ripping someone's face off, and I would have liked a little more Patricia, but on the whole it was a great queer comedy horror.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
5.0
“My memory begins with my anger.”
A girl who is only referenced to as "the child", lives in a bunker with 39 older women. They are provided food each day by guards who never speak to them or look at them. They are forced to sleep at certain times, exercise and eat. There is nothing to read, no crafts, no singing. Attempts to escape are futile, attempts at suicide are thwarted. The women have lost hope and accepted they are to live in this cell, with no way out and no way to truly live, until they slowly die. No one remembers how they got there or why they are there and while some of the women have a vague memory of life before the bunker, the child has only known the bunker. Then one day an alarm sounds, the guards disappear, and the women escape into a strange world.
This was such a beautifully written book for a story which is truly bleak and oppressive. It is surprising that despite the bleakness, the child has such hope and eagerness to learn, even though there is no point to learning anything. In a world of nothingness, what’s the point of your knowing? Knowing however is the key to everything- to communication, community, and connection. It is difficult to discuss the book without spoiling it and it is much better to read this unspoiled. I will say however that while there is a plot, this is very character driven and don't expect any answers on literally anything. Normally not having an answer would annoy me but I was left with the same contradictory feelings of sadness, confusion, and contentment as the child. A great novel if you are done with society and want to feel a bit melancholy
A girl who is only referenced to as "the child", lives in a bunker with 39 older women. They are provided food each day by guards who never speak to them or look at them. They are forced to sleep at certain times, exercise and eat. There is nothing to read, no crafts, no singing. Attempts to escape are futile, attempts at suicide are thwarted. The women have lost hope and accepted they are to live in this cell, with no way out and no way to truly live, until they slowly die. No one remembers how they got there or why they are there and while some of the women have a vague memory of life before the bunker, the child has only known the bunker. Then one day an alarm sounds, the guards disappear, and the women escape into a strange world.
This was such a beautifully written book for a story which is truly bleak and oppressive. It is surprising that despite the bleakness, the child has such hope and eagerness to learn, even though there is no point to learning anything. In a world of nothingness, what’s the point of your knowing? Knowing however is the key to everything- to communication, community, and connection. It is difficult to discuss the book without spoiling it and it is much better to read this unspoiled. I will say however that while there is a plot, this is very character driven and don't expect any answers on literally anything. Normally not having an answer would annoy me but I was left with the same contradictory feelings of sadness, confusion, and contentment as the child. A great novel if you are done with society and want to feel a bit melancholy
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
5.0
It's 1975 and 24 year old Cushla is living with her alcoholic mother in the outskirts of Belfast, working as a teacher at a catholic school and doing odd shifts at the family pub. It's at the pub she meets Michael Agnew, a handsome, middle-aged, married, and Protestant barrister who defends young Catholic men who have been unjustly arrested. When he invites Cushla to an Irish language evening with his bourgeois-bohemian friends, they begin an affair which must remain a secret - literally on pain of death. Meanwhile Cushla is also drawn to helping a young, bullied student, Davy McGeown, when his father is the victim of a savage attack which leads to unintended, devastating consequences.
This is an amazing debut novel which captures the odd ability of war-zone residents to be simultaneously adrenalized by and resigned to their environment. Many chapters begin with the school children nonchalantly delivering almost mundane but detailed news about IRA attacks and Irish Catholics being injured, killed and arrested. When the affair begins Cushla is mindful of keeping the relationship a secret, but it is only as the book progresses that both she and the reader realise how dangerous both the affair and her helping the McGeown family is. The danger of a simple van, a man reading a paper, the Catholic priest wanting private catechism lessons, or the police at the disco, lurks on every page, and like Cushla is hard to tell which is innocent and which is sinister (spoiler, the priest is pretty sinister). This is written with a lack of quotation marks, almost a stream-of-consciousness style. It is beautifully written but it is by no means my favourite style of writing and always takes me a little bit to warm towards. The effort was worth it though for this beautiful, heart retching story, which left me exclaiming out loud "oh no!"
This is an amazing debut novel which captures the odd ability of war-zone residents to be simultaneously adrenalized by and resigned to their environment. Many chapters begin with the school children nonchalantly delivering almost mundane but detailed news about IRA attacks and Irish Catholics being injured, killed and arrested. When the affair begins Cushla is mindful of keeping the relationship a secret, but it is only as the book progresses that both she and the reader realise how dangerous both the affair and her helping the McGeown family is. The danger of a simple van, a man reading a paper, the Catholic priest wanting private catechism lessons, or the police at the disco, lurks on every page, and like Cushla is hard to tell which is innocent and which is sinister (spoiler, the priest is pretty sinister). This is written with a lack of quotation marks, almost a stream-of-consciousness style. It is beautifully written but it is by no means my favourite style of writing and always takes me a little bit to warm towards. The effort was worth it though for this beautiful, heart retching story, which left me exclaiming out loud "oh no!"
Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson
3.0
Early 2014 Emily Paulson received a Facebook msg from an old friend Becky. Well not a friend exactly, someone she'd gone to school with but never spoken to. "Hey hun, let's catch up!" Of course it was a ploy from Becky to recruit more members to her Multi Level Marketing scheme (MLM) and Emily, stay at home mum in desperate need of adult contact fell for it. Over the course of a decade Emily rose through the ranks, recruited a huge team, got the "free" car, and at one point was making over $45,000 a month. This insiders view of the MLM shows the predatory nature of MLMs, how the use and abuse customers and sellers, and why they are immoral to the core. Paulson refers to a lot of literature and studies and reflects on the cult like behaviour within MLMs, along with the dodgy (bordering on illegal) financial aspects. Throughout the book she also references the fact a lot of MLMs are largely white, Christian, often based in Utah, and how the pyramid upholds a patriarchal structure. She also makes comments about race and white supremacy which I don't necessarily disagree with, but there wasn't a lot of studies to uphold those views, it was just her opinion. There have been a few MLMs like Herbalife which purposefully targeted Hispanic communities, knowing they didn't speak English, didn't understand the contracts, and were less likely to go to the authorities for fear of being deported. Some of Paulsons arguments could have been better sustained by reference those types of events. I did appreciate though her views on how the company mined peoples misery - first her cancer diagnosis, then her battle with alcoholism, and then a second lot of cancer. The MLMs tumble into QANON, anti vaxer conspiracies during covid and the disturbing black face mask during BLM was awful but unsurprising.
Paulson doesn't name the MLM she was in, instead using a fictional name (though it was allegedly Roden + Feilds). She has said it's because she didn't want people to excuse their own MLM by saying hers was bad but theirs is OK, they're literally all the same. Herbalife, Young Living, Amway, Plexus, doTerra, Scentsy, Mary Kay, they are all the same - though arguably Amway is the blueprint for all MLMs and the most insidious (in my opinion). While I enjoyed the insiders view into my most loathed businesses, it was somewhat soured by the fact Paulson had reservations about the business very early on, was sure she needed to leave, and yet stayed for years, knowlingly earning money off people who couldn't afford it. The fact she was still pulling $10K from her downline when she hadn't sold any product or recruited new staff in over a year says everything about how dodgy multilevel marketing schemes are.
Paulson doesn't name the MLM she was in, instead using a fictional name (though it was allegedly Roden + Feilds). She has said it's because she didn't want people to excuse their own MLM by saying hers was bad but theirs is OK, they're literally all the same. Herbalife, Young Living, Amway, Plexus, doTerra, Scentsy, Mary Kay, they are all the same - though arguably Amway is the blueprint for all MLMs and the most insidious (in my opinion). While I enjoyed the insiders view into my most loathed businesses, it was somewhat soured by the fact Paulson had reservations about the business very early on, was sure she needed to leave, and yet stayed for years, knowlingly earning money off people who couldn't afford it. The fact she was still pulling $10K from her downline when she hadn't sold any product or recruited new staff in over a year says everything about how dodgy multilevel marketing schemes are.
Hey, Zoey by Sarah Crossan
4.0
Dolores likes her marriage. It's quiet, orderly, and simple. Then one day she finds a robot sex doll (Zoey) in the garage which elicits a rare emotional response in Delores. When she confronts her husband David he responds by moving out. Outraged and confused, Dolores begins talking to Zoey to see what that attraction is. A blank slate, Zoey soon fits into various roles in Dolores life, friend, confidante, punching bag and finally a mirror, Dolores realising they share the same qualities of passivity, of tolerance, of silence. Through the banal conversations and silence we hear Dolores’s efforts to keep the secret she has so painfully repressed all these years.
I thought this book may be a similar to Annie Bot (one of My favourite reads from last year), but as David continually says, this isn't about the doll. As Dolores reflects on her marriage and her mother's relationships, she is forced to confront her past and the faults her marriage she had ignored. I was expecting the story to revolve around Zoey and that she may hold answers, but she is a blank slate, an inanimate object. The story is far more introspective and deals with far more trauma than expected. The writing style has short, punchy sentences and paragraphs, making it a fast read. This is a novel that is reflective and shows, rather than tells a story, the space between the words and paragraphs reflective of the space and emptiness is Dolores and Davis relationship. I enjoyed this novel even though it was not quite what I expected.
I thought this book may be a similar to Annie Bot (one of My favourite reads from last year), but as David continually says, this isn't about the doll. As Dolores reflects on her marriage and her mother's relationships, she is forced to confront her past and the faults her marriage she had ignored. I was expecting the story to revolve around Zoey and that she may hold answers, but she is a blank slate, an inanimate object. The story is far more introspective and deals with far more trauma than expected. The writing style has short, punchy sentences and paragraphs, making it a fast read. This is a novel that is reflective and shows, rather than tells a story, the space between the words and paragraphs reflective of the space and emptiness is Dolores and Davis relationship. I enjoyed this novel even though it was not quite what I expected.
The Group by Sigge Eklund
5.0
Hanna has moved to Madrid to intern at a prestigious art gallery, and while the city is beautiful, she is lonely. Then she sees them - The Group, Tom, Samuel, and Leah. Glamorous and elegant, they are also foreigners, but unlike Hanna they are fabulously wealthy and their lives seem sophisticated and hedonistic. Hanna is desperate to belong to the group and be accepted by them - no matter what.
This was a great read, there is just the right tension throughout, while it is clear Hanna is lying about a lot, so are the rest of the group. The book has a slightly less murderous tone than The Talented Mr Ripley - and while Hanna is certainly no Tom when it comes to fooling the elite - it did remind me a little of a Ripley novel. While the group seem sophisticated and happy initially, it becomes clear as the story goes on they are just as lost and lonely as Hanna, and they are all perhaps a little crazy. This was a great story and a brilliant translation.
This was a great read, there is just the right tension throughout, while it is clear Hanna is lying about a lot, so are the rest of the group. The book has a slightly less murderous tone than The Talented Mr Ripley - and while Hanna is certainly no Tom when it comes to fooling the elite - it did remind me a little of a Ripley novel. While the group seem sophisticated and happy initially, it becomes clear as the story goes on they are just as lost and lonely as Hanna, and they are all perhaps a little crazy. This was a great story and a brilliant translation.