bratatouille's reviews
202 reviews

Love the prose in this. It’s incredibly immersive and gripping! I was locked in almost immediately. The protagonist’s thought process is so vulnerable and self-reflective as a consequence of her failed attempt to avoid both of those things. There is a haunting quality to the storytelling that allows for everything and nothing to be true. I enjoyed immensely that there are no named active characters in this, it allows for a strange sort of intimacy that would be lost in the identification/humanization of these people-shaped-places. She is not a hero! She is just a woman!

I’m a big fan of Reid’s work, but this one didn’t hold up for me. There were so many characters and stories that I failed to connect or feel for any of them. I found myself being annoyed by their problems instead of rooting for them!

I can understand why people give this book a high rating. Somehow, after about 25%, I found myself anticipating exactly everything that was going to happen. There is so much going on in this story, particularly with Jason’s sense of self and the concept of loyalty and truth, that was pointed at yet never dug into. The novel proposes this devastating and unfathomable horror for any human to experience, even conceptually, and then proceeds to circumvent the heart of what makes the concept compelling to make room for stereotypical-feeling action scenes.  What I will say, is that Jason’s expressions of desperation and devotion are exquisite and heartbreaking. There is no doubting the sincerity of this man’s love for his family, at any iteration.

It is so rare to find a book where I like every character, and this is absolutely that. I went into this entirely blind and found such a charming group of messy people figuring out who they are. This is sweet, warm, and wonderful. There are essentially no bad guys in this; only those who are learning from their mistakes. 

Incredibly fun read. Dynamic characters, loving and interesting father/daughter relationship, and clear growth. Satisfying read! Learn to love the bitch.

Not enlightening by any means, but chock full of fun. I love these ladies, they’re the worst. I want to lunch with them.

This book rocks.