clever_girl_reads's reviews
259 reviews

This was my first Andy Weir book—I saw "The Martian" but have not read it yet. Science fiction isn't my favorite genre (it's not really my second favorite or even my third), but I've seen so much praise for this book, I wanted to give it a shot. (And I do love Blake Crouch, so...)

This is what I'd call "accessible science fiction," which I appreciate, because I am not a science nerd. It is science-y enough where I feel like it would appeal to science nerds, but not SO science-y that it makes the rest of us feel like idiots when we read it. That being said, I did do a fair amount of skimming during the real heavy "science nerd" parts. I really enjoyed the writing style, the pacing was good, though it did lose some of its appeal for me in the last quarter of the book. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to any fan of science fiction novels.

What a heavy listen this was. Going in, I didn’t know what it was about — I didn’t even know what “caste” was. (The short definition is that it’s a system hierarchical social classes.) this book explores the three major Caste systems in human history: the Caste system in India, the one established in Nazi Germany, and the American Caste system, which is rooted in the oppression and systematic dehumanization of Black people. (And all other NBPOC as a result.) I am going to be perfectly honest: this book made me disgusted with the country I was born in. I don’t understand how any white American could consume this book and not feel a deep sense of sorrow and responsibility to do everything in their power to undo the damage that hundreds of years of the American Caste system has caused Black people. I would challenge any white American to read this book and tell me with a straight face that America is — or ever has been — great. Because it isn’t, and it never has been. I wish this book would be taught in school.

This is the debut novel of a flight attendant-turned-author and as far as debut novels go, it was solid. It was a quick read and it kept me interested the whole time. I think it would actually make a good movie. Suspense novels like this aren't really my preferred genre, but if you enjoy them, I'd give this one a shot.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is an armchair sleuth story; a teenage girl working on a school project who finds herself entangled in a murder mystery. This one was just okay for me. I was interested enough to finish the book and find out whodunit, but I probably won’t read the sequel. Some parts felt forced (the dog? Felt pointless), and the main character made lots of bad choices. (I mean, she’s a teenager, so maybe she gets a pass.) Anywho, if you like true crime podcasts and the like, you may enjoy this.

I’ve been on a memoir kick, hoping to find inspiration and motivation for writing my own. This book was beautifully written and I appreciate the author sharing her story so much. I cried several times and just absolutely loved the way the author told her unapologetic truth. 10/10 recommend.

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. (Spoilers for the book ahead.) This book has been on my to-read list for years, and I finally picked up a copy at McKay’s for a dollar.

What in the actual fuck can I say about this book? I had a mentally ill mother and a traumatic adolescence, but Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, this made my mother look like Patty Duke; my childhood like a Norman Rockwell painting. This book is a memoir, about the author’s absolutely bonkers-ass, abusive, dysfunctional upbringing. His father was an alcoholic and his mother was legitimately, clinically insane. When he was 11, his mother gave him away to be adopted by her shrink, who lived in absolute chaotic squalor with his equally batshit family. During this time, Augusten was raped by an adult man, whom he then engaged in a “relationship” with. Everyone knew about this “relationship” and didn’t do anything to stop it. He stopped going to school somewhere around age 15. The family did insane shit like believe that the patriarch’s ACTUAL SHIT was God speaking to him. In one scene, Augusten and his adopted sister Natalie (coolcool) completely destroy the kitchen ceiling, tearing it down, and no one bats an eye. The house is full of roaches. I seriously cannot even begin to fully convey how insane this book was.

The family in question sued Burroughs and he settled, but he maintains this is the truth and continues to defend the book as a memoir. I sincerely hope it’s exaggerated or misremembered, because what the entire fuck. All that said, it was an fantastic book—just very hard to read. I’d warn TWs for just about everything, including rape, pedophilia, child abuse and neglect, mentally ill parents, animal death, and just general WTF-ity.