meredith_w's reviews
588 reviews

Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind the Food That Isn't Food by Chris van Tulleken

informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Really interesting and I learned a lot.  I look at food differently, and the choices I make about food have been impacted.  Highly recommend. 

No One Dies Yet by Kobby Ben Ben

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.5

I think I liked this?  I definitely loved parts of this novel.  Reading 'No One Dies Yet' was a constant loop of feeling lost, then understanding, then feeling lost again...  I was fascinated by the politics and commentary re: native Ghanaians and the Ghanaian diaspora.  I was delighted by the references to popular books and the IG Bookstagram community.  Coincidentally, while reading 'No One Dies Yet', I was rereading 'Homegoing' for a bookclub, which is one of the best book serendipity moments I've ever experienced. 

Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea

lighthearted fast-paced

2.5

Sometimes YA fiction can appeal to all ages, and sometimes it's just meant for young adults - this was in the latter category.  It was cute, but it was also silly and angsty, and the main character was annoyingly over-the-top stubborn.  I was personally appalled by the casual references to driving unsafely - 'lightly grazing' a pregnant woman while parking a car, attempting to drive a futuristic car while not understanding how it works, and don't get me started on 'car hide-and-seek'.  I can't laugh at unsafe driving, nor will I ever find it a 'quirky' aspect of someone's personality.  (Canada Reads 2024 longlist)

Crooked Seeds: A Novel by Karen Jennings

dark emotional sad fast-paced

4.5

An uncomfortable, depressing novel set in near-future Cape Town, amid water shortages, wildfires and other climate related challenges.  The main character is unpleasant, difficult, and bitter, but I was not without sympathy.  This short novel is very engaging and layered with spare writing.  Despite the depressing storyline and extremely unlikeable main character, I really liked this book. 

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

dark emotional medium-paced

3.0

This is a book I didn't like, but I'm glad I read.  I understand why so many people liked this book - and I can acknowledge it's a good, well-written book.  I didn't connect with the protagonist, and I didn't care about the development of the Earthseed movement.  The dystopian world in this book was exceptionally bleak and miserable, I didn't want to spend time in it - it was an effort to finish the book.

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

2.5

Kinda boring.  I liked the characters and glad they got their HEA.  The 'Big Secret' was understandable and really not that big of a deal.  

The Outside Circle by Patti Laboucane-Benson

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Learned about 'In Search of Your Warrior' program.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny fast-paced

4.0

Emily Henry's books are reliably unputdownable.  

The Lost Cause by Cory Doctorow

dark informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

The portrayal of the near-future in this book is very believable.  There was a lot of 'telling', and not a lot of 'showing', and it 100% felt like Doctorow wanted to get some things off his chest.  I get it.  Climate change makes me furious, frustrated, and exasperated too.  Overall I was convinced by the imaginative take on what our climate-emergency world may look like in 80ish years, and the kinds of cultural revolutions that may result.  The Flotilla was perhaps the most believable part - I'm kinda surprised it isn't already a thing.  The main character was very saccharine (he uses the word smooch ALL THE TIME), and read as very YA.  

Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

This was an emotional read.  I felt Rushdie's account of his emotional and physical recovery (since the 2022 attack) very honest, insightful and engaging.  I've read some reviews implying that Rushdie wrote this 'too soon', and therefore 'Knife' felt underwhelming and distant.  I disagree.  Processing trauma happens in phases and stages, and Rushdie's voice in 'Knife' felt very appropriate and relatable for the early stages of a life-long recovery.  I haven't read anything else by Rushdie, so this was a very intense introduction.  Amazing 10/10 book cover.