If you are looking for a book strictly about Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, this is not the book for you. As much as this is about him, this is not his story. This is an autobiography of his neighbor, Jamie Gehring, and her search to understand her neighbor "Teddy"--the man who made her handmade gifts when she was young; the man who held a nation captive for 17 years.

This is very much a story of healing and resistance. Gehring carefully and honestly walks readers through the community's interactions with Kaczynski as she revisits her once innocent childhood memories, now tainted by the knowledge of Kaczynski's doings.

The book includes passages from FBI files, court proceedings, Kaczynski's autobiography, letters, and so on. In a number of spots, I questioned why a particular personal anecdote was included, but they all wrap back to Kaczynski or the community (trust that she'll get to it because she does). While it is well organized, I found it too repetitive in places, and there were some statements made that I don't know that I necessarily buy into, but I fully acknowledge the validity of Gehring's thoughts and feelings. This is, after all, her story.

This is not an easy read. Please know that acts of terror and emotional testimonies are featured in this book. This is not a read for everyone.

Slaves of New York by Tama Janowitz

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dark funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I laughed and cringed my way through this collection of short stories.

Slaves of New York follows artists, designers, saints, and prostitutes, on their journies to shake off dead-end careers and make it be in the city and in life . . . whatever that means.

What I loved:

Unlikeable characters that are still relatable.
Satire, sarcasm, and witty humor.
Brilliantly weird descriptions.

There were a few stories that I didn't love as much as others, but all in all, this was a fun read. There is a bit of blunt/off-color language that was more commonplace when this was written, so do keep that in mind (though I can only think of two occasions that this happened, one of which is done intentionally to make a specific point).

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I generally love Ishiguro's work, but I struggled to get through this one.

Mr. Stevens, a butler, recounts his decades of service during a trip through the English countryside. On his way to meet a former housekeeper he hopes will rejoin the household staff, he considers the prestige of his position (one now fading from society), his philosophy of greatness (and how it applies to his life choices and those of his former employer), and what role he has played in the course of history.

For me, the pacing of this book is far too slow. It is highly reflective, and I found myself saying "right, I get the point" a number of times throughout the book. There were times of humor and facepalming, but those were few and far between. While the historical backdrop is interesting (post-WWI), it was hard for me to stay engaged because of the high-class narrative tone. Given the character's job, it makes sense for the tone to be stuffy and at times winding, but it didn't hold my attention.

What Editors Do: The Art, Craft, and Business of Book Editing by Susan Ferber, Jane Friedman, Calvert D. Morgan Jr., Anne Savarese, Carol Fisher Saller, Gregory M. Britton, Peter Ginna, Erika Goldman, Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, George Witte, Matt Weiland, Diana Gill, Betsy Lerner, David Henry Sterry, Deb Aaronson, Nancy Siscoe, Scott Norton, Michael Pietsch, Jonathan Karp, Arielle Eckstut, Peter Coveney, Susan Rabiner, Katie Henderson Adams, Wendy Wolf, Chris Jackson, Nancy S. Miller, Jeff Shotts

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informative inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

5.0

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

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emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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cookehcrumbla's reviews 27 reviews

cookehcrumbla's reviews
27 reviews