book review: The Memory of Borrowed Books by Meg Anderson

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4/5

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Grab some hot chocolate or candy corn and curl up with Meg Anderson’s debut novel, The Memory of Borrowed Books. Even at 350 pages, the narrative is so intriguing that I devoured it in a single sitting.

For centuries, rumors have swirled about a secret room hidden within the historic library where Claire serves as head librarian. When it finally reveals itself, she is uncertain of what its contents are trying to communicate. In her quest to uncover the truth, Claire unearths long-buried pieces of her own past alongside the mysterious histories of those around her.

The book’s core strength lies in Anderson's descriptive prose, which instantly paints a vivid picture of the small coastal town—a perfect backdrop for this atmospheric tale. As someone who has personally navigated mental health challenges, I deeply appreciated the authentic depiction of how we protect ourselves and the isolation of feeling invisible in our struggles.

However, the immersion occasionally faltered due to the quirky, "cozy mystery" style of certain character interactions, as well as a subplot involving the library's future being in jeopardy. The rainy, quiet setting, the complex dynamic between Eddie and Claire, and the sheer mystique of the hidden room were compelling enough to carry the narrative on their own. Interjecting these lighter, stereotypical tropes somewhat diminished the rich atmosphere the author had successfully built elsewhere.

Ultimately, The Memory of Borrowed Books remains an exceptionally strong debut and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

book review: Man in The Mirror - Hope, Struggle, and Belonging in an American City by Anand Giridharadas

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5/5

Thank you Knopf for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Very thought-provoking! I went into this book hoping to learn more about the tragic 2023 death of Jordan Neeley on a NYC subway car, and I certainly got that. However, the part of the summary promising to “immerse us in the places where this story plays out” is the true heart and soul of why this is such an important read. Rather than just reporting the timeline of that fateful day leading up to the trial, author Anand Giridharadas provides the personal perspectives of a broad spectrum of people - including a friend of Jordan’s, a fellow unhoused witness, activists, politicians, health advocates, and lawyers. Presenting the narrative this way allows for much deeper discourse, mapping out complex considerations, opposing sides, and the core motivations or beliefs at play. Ultimately, it helped me visualize what systemic change might look like. I came away much more knowledgeable about mental health, homelessness, and the incredible value of ensuring that every human being feels valued and purposeful. I highly recommend this book, as every reader will come away with a better perspective.

book review: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Another cozy mystery I tried out in an effort to find my niche was The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (best known as the co-host of the British game show, Pointless). While this is his debut novel, the series has already expanded to five books! The story follows four residents of an upscale English retirement village who team up to solve crimes.

True to the genre, the book is packed with wit, cleverness, and silly banter. Using elderly protagonists is a brilliant move - it takes the amateur sleuth concept in a delightfully fresh direction and opens the door for some wonderfully corny moments. It takes a lot to make me laugh out loud, but I found myself giggling throughout this book.

While I adored the core cast of characters and charming setting, my engagement wavered. I settled into a good rhythm during the middle section, but I struggled with both the beginning and the climax. There were so many moving pieces and minor supporting characters that it became difficult to keep track of everything, which made the final resolution feel a bit anticlimactic. 

Additionally, the dialogue mechanics became a bit repetitive. Instead of letting a natural back-and-forth flow dictate who was speaking, the text frequently reiterated names with every speaker change. The characters also constantly repeated each other's names mid-conversation, which quickly became a distracting paint point for me. 

I gave this 3 out of 5 stars. For a debut novel, it is still incredibly well done, and I will definitely be picking up the next installment. I've noticed that while this first book averages around 3.5 stars online, the subsequent books in the series jump up to the mid 4 star range among reviewers. I am excited to see how the series evolves!

The reason I have been testing out different types of cozy mysteries is because I had been seeing so many books popping up set in quaint English towns, bookshops, or knitting circles - usually featuring a resident cat or two! Intrigued by this trend, I did a little digging and learned that British cozy mysteries experienced a resurgence in the 1980's. Heavily inspired by Agatha Christie, these gore-free whodunits rely on amateur sleuths and witty dialogue. By the 2000's, this paved the way for "thematic cozies" centered around cooking or crafting, culminating in another spike of popularity during the 2020 lockdowns. Growing up, I absolutely loved Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. Because those childhood favorites share that classic amateur sleuth DNA, I figured I would be a natural fit for this lighthearted style. 

If you read any of the installments of The Thursday Murder Club and like it, there is also Netflix show that has been created based on the books. Sometimes I like to make a recipe inspired by the books I am reading. Viennese whirls were served with tea and coffee during one of the scenes in the book so I looked them up. I am a bit of a lazy baker and don't deal with piping bags. However, they do look very yummy! More my style would be to order something from The British Corner Shop who sells products from Waitrose, an upscale UK supermarket, and ships to the US. This would allow me to try out some favorite British favorites. 

book review: Murder on Thin Ice by Laurie Cass

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4/5

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

I've been trying out different cozy mysteries in an effort to find a series to carry me through the long winter ahead. Murder on Thin Ice is book fourteen in A Bookmobile Cat Mystery. And it just may fit the bill. 

Librarian Minnie and her cat, Eddie, make connections in their small town, solving mysteries along the way. In this particular installment, Minnie happens upon one of her bookmobile customers who has fallen through the lake ice. It has been deemed an accident. Yet Minnie doesn't think that is the case so she begins a hunt to find out the truth. True to cozy mysteries, there are other fun additions to the storyline. In this, there is a second interwoven case as well as Minnie learning how to cook and find a gift for her new husband. I found the characters very relatable and enjoyable. And the snowy town setting in Michigan is comforting to me as a Minnesotan. I can see myself picking up more books from this series during the Winter when I just want a low-stress simple story I can get lost in.

book review: An Inconvenient Woman - The Extraordinary Life of Lillian Smith, The Southerner Who Defied Jim Crow America by Keri Leigh Merritt

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4/5 

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

I had not heard of Lillian Smith before reading this book. Some of this may be because her writings and activism occurred in the 1930s and 1940s—well before the peak of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, which we more often learn about. However, reading this also laid bare that I need to make a more concerted effort to dig up a true account of the Civil War and Reconstruction. This book not only provided a full background of Smith’s life’s work, but it also introduced many other authors from this era whose firsthand accounts I now want to read.

Smith was a cultured and privileged White Southern woman who spent her life speaking up about racism, fighting for integration, and championing social equality for all. She was very frank when speaking to other White people, promoting an open dialogue. She didn’t just say things were wrong and that everyone was suffering because of it; instead, she championed real-world, non-violent solutions.

She was well ahead of her time, doing things that often resulted in her being stigmatized, ostracized, and placed in physical danger. When she took over her father’s summer camp, she ensured it expanded its offerings to drama, writing, art, and modern dance. She also provided a progressive education by discussing and answering questions about racism, hypocrisy, and White supremacy. Lillian knew these topics were never broached with children, and she believed that without open and honest dialogue, hatred would prevail unchallenged.

Throughout the years, Lillian and her partner, Paula Snelling, held bi-racial gatherings at the camp on Old Screamer Mountain. This was one of the actions that made them most vulnerable to White rage, but like everything, Smith refused to back down from her beliefs. These parties and dinners were crucial in fostering racial reconciliation. They served as a safe place to talk, share ideas about strategy, and organize, bringing together some of the most brilliant Americans of the time.

Additionally, she and Paula founded a nationally known literary magazine that featured everything from poetry and essays to short stories and interviews, tackling topics ignored by mainstream journalism. With subscriptions peaking near 10,000, the magazine reached people throughout the U.S. to spark vital discussions. It was the only White-owned Southern magazine at the time to include writing by Black authors, as well as reviews by Black critics of White writing. They were also among the few publications actively seeking out and giving a platform to women writers. To build this community, she and Paula traveled throughout the region, talking to thousands of people whose stories ultimately made it into the magazine. Smith also wrote a number of books, including Strange Fruit, Killers of the Dream, and The Journey. While they were well-received, they also created intense turmoil and bans.

It’s sad to me how little has changed. Had a reader not known when this all took place, they might be surprised to learn it happened nearly 100 years ago. Some of the quotes could be peeled directly from today’s news pages:

“Every time poor Whites made even the modest of gains elite whites used censorship, oppression, violence, and fear to harden the racist color line. Whenever elite Whites worried about remaining in complete control, they simply had to portray to Black Americans as people who took things away.” 

And:

“We shall not be believed abroad while we daily kill the dream at home.” (From Vincent Sheean's review of Killers of the Dream, which was reprinted by Eleanor Roosevelt in her newspaper column).

Yet, the book is also encouraging and inspiring. It teaches us to be uncompromising in our beliefs, to push back incessantly against foot-dragging and the excuse that societal change is slow, and to give back something equal to or better than what has been taken away when a racist identity is stripped from those who carry it. Readers can take many of Smith’s methods for making connections and enacting creative change and implement them in the current time. “We must remember that demagogues fatten on the poor man’s vote and his loneliness, that they use the psychotic to do their dirty work, but they exist because we liberals let them exist. It is our caution, our lack of energy, our moral impotence and our awful, if unconscious, snobbery that makes demagoguery unafraid of liberalism.”

An Inconvenient Woman contained a great analysis, pulled together a mass of excerpts, and gave a vivid picture of Smith’s life. The only issue I had was there was a lot of repetition. It may have been advantageous to report it in a chronological manner. Because the book jumped back and forth in time, many quotes and moments were repeated multiple times in varying degrees and ways. Other than this minor note, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn about an individual who was so influential in many areas of education and equality, yet has been left out of the narrative. 

book review: Gather Around My Table by Kay Chun

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5/5

Thank you Knopf for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Gather Around My Table by Kay Chun is exactly what I needed to get my cooking to a whole new level of flavor. 

Lately, I’ve been adding new staples into my pantry and learning how to incorporate them into my routine - fish sauce, soba/udon noodles and broth, miso, anchovies, tinned fish, and seaweed have quickly become favorites. Now that I’ve gotten comfortable with those and am ready for the next level, this book seems like the perfect guide to expand my arsenal of ingredients, flavor profiles, and techniques. Thanks to Chun, my upcoming shopping list now includes clam juice, capers, perilla leaves, bonito flakes, dried fernbrake, and gochujang.

The standout recipes I’m starting with first include:
- Salads: The Everyday Greens Salad with wakame, and a Crunchy Cabbage and Sprout Salad with Tomato Nuoc Cham.
- Dips & Small Plates: A brandade made with smoked whitefish and labneh, a seasonal Smoky Eggplant Dip with Parsley-Dill Oil, and Blistered Beans and Okra.
- Hearty Dishes: Doenjang-Smothered Collards and Cabbage, and Mung Bean Pancakes with sprouts and scallions.
- Drinks: The Green Juice Cucumber Cooler (though I might wait until next summer for this one!).

As a lover of anything fermented and pickled myself, it was interesting to read how a traditional Korean meal uses a spread of these items to complement the main dishes. I walked away from that chapter with some very intriguing recipes so I can offer a spread as well—like caraway and soy pickled garlic, star anise pickled peanuts, soy-glazed seaweed, and smoky, jammy marinated eggs.

Another chapter I was excited to see was devoted entirely to tofu. Chun learned from her grandmother that tofu adds moisture and texture to meat, so she blends it into sausage for meatballs, a breakfast sausage roll, and hamburger sliders. This section also includes an eggless mayo using tofu and detailed instructions on how to make dumplings, which I have always wanted to try my hand at.

If you’re someone who is eager to branch out in the kitchen, I would highly recommend this book. While some of the ingredients might not be as familiar and may require an extra shopping trip or online order, so far in my journey that is half the fun of cooking! And once you’ve got the ingredients, the recipes look to be fairly quick and straightforward. Being in the kitchen with her grandmother, growing up in NYC, and learning French foundations in culinary school all melded into Chun’s unique perspective. That fresh approach, which mixes the familiar with the unfamiliar, is an incredibly approachable way for readers to foray into new territory.

book review: The Lives of Immigrants and Refugees: Tales of Migration, Hope, Grief, and Finding Home in Nebraska edited by Matthew F. Bokovoy, Lisa Guill, Michelle Carr Hassler, Joy Castro, and Emira Ibrahimpašic

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4/5

Thank you University of Nebraska Press for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

My eyes and heart have been opened wider after reading The Lives of Immigrants and Refugees: Tales of Migration, Hope, Grief, and Finding Home in Nebraska. 

In this moving collection, thirty-one of the immigrants and refugees residing in Lincoln, Nebraska, share their journeys through personal essays. What I loved most was the lack of a rigid format; the contributors were allowed to write about what spoke most to their individual experiences, in their own voices. The editors who compiled the pieces are deeply embedded in the community, hosting monthly storytelling and writing workshops for two years to help the authors shape their narratives. For those who felt more comfortable speaking, their spoken words were carefully transcribed and transformed into print. 

The accounts come from a remarkably diverse group of individuals spanning many different countries, ages, and eras of arrival in the US. I learned so much from the first hand experiences of people who have survived political unrest, wartime, and constrained upward mobility. Yet, whether they were actively fleeing these harsh conditions or arrived through other circumstances, threads of hope, perseverance, and tenacity were always present. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning more about the world through authentic, personal accounts.

book review: Ply by Hernan Diaz

 

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3.5/5

Thank you Riverhead Books for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own. 

 

Hernan Diaz’s prose immediately drew me in…”Even at night, the bridge throws a shadow on the river — a black lane where the otherwise shimmering waters seem to deepen. I am invisible gliding down that narrow eclipse. No one can see me from above; no one can spot me from the shore. The whir of the propeller slicing through the current vanishes under the city’s hum that rolls over the river like a mist. The boat and I become nothing. A possibility no one considered.” 

 

The main character is unnamed, yet made deeply layered by the author sharing everything in her early life which has brought her to this point. A dual timeline was cleverly used to reveal this information, while getting the reader right into her current situation as a “pincher” stealing electricity in this future derelict city to trade for not only necessities but to donate to her favorite bands to play impromptu underground shows. 

 

The second part of the book shifts to her stealing electricity, but in aid to an older woman who is trying to succeed in an experiment she believes will change humanity. Because physics is my favorite genre, I was immediately intrigued by this new storyline. I also particularly loved the description of this woman…”Every now and then she falls behind on purpose to be able to study the old woman, whose features, in the yolky light of dawn, are a bit more relaxed. She’s an elegant cyclist whose upright posture and effortless pedaling manage to convey the understated joy her body finds in movement without renouncing a patrician sort of deportment. Hard to tell if her sinewy limbs are the result of ascetic emancipation or athletic discipline.” 

 

While the exceptional writing completely immersed me in the characters and world, I found myself needing to read this book in small chunks. It would have benefited from being much shorter, trimming excessive details while maintaining the integrity of the story. Furthermore, section two felt disjointed; weaving it into the rest of the book using the same dual timeline from the first half would have created a tighter, unputdownable five-star read. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys literary works where the investment pays off in prose that reads almost like poetry.

book review: Trad Wife by Sarah Langan

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5/5

Thank you Atria Books for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own. 

Trad Wife by Sarah Langan is exactly the type of slow-release psychological horror I love. Jenny Caplan is talented, yet makes a bad decision by writing a deeply personal essay that ends up getting her fired and shattering her relationships. In an effort to redeem herself, she agrees to write an exposé on Mia Wright, a well know “trad wife” influencer. 

Jenny's personal struggles with her ruined career and fractured relationships are so compelling they could easily stand alone as an engrossing psychological drama. However, the addition of the trad wife trope and the horror elements take this book in a completely unexpected and terrifying direction. Genuine dread and sharp wit alternate beautifully, building into an absolute nightmare. 

If you aren't familiar with the trad-wife subculture, some of the nuances might fly over your head, but for everyone else, this is a must-read. It is witty, deeply unsettling, and completely engrossing. I will definitely be diving into Sarah Langan’s other novels!

book review: This Is Life by Christophe Galfard

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5/5

Thank you University of Chicago Press for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

This Is Life was my first introduction to theoretical physicist Christophe Galfard - a former graduate student of Stephen Hawking - but it won't be my last! It took Galfard eight years to write this volume, which is not surprising since it is packed with information presented in such a thoughtful way.

Parts one through three cover evolution, earth's history, and various mass extinction events. The last two parts discuss our likely origin story and the potential for extraterrestrial life. These areas are my jam so I could have had the entire book revolve around just these topics and been completely fulfilled. Yet the book is about life so, while not my favorite topics to learn about, the center part importantly dives into DNA, RNA, nucleic acids, and the like.

Galfard illustrates the extreme fragility and precise conditions required for life with jaw-dropping historical facts. For example, the fifth mass extinction (which wiped out the dinosaurs) was actually the weakest one. By contrast, a separate volcanic event lasted tens of thousands of years, burying an area six times the size of the UK under 2.5 kilometers of lava. During the Cryogenian ice age, the planet froze from pole to pole into a giant ball of ice for 100 million years. Meanwhile, tectonic plates shifted continents at a slow 3mm a year—a reminder that our planet is never stagnant. Earth's tumultuous past is filled with extinct species, extreme climates, glaciations, and meteor impacts. It proves that nothing looks the same as it did then, nor will the future look like today. Evolution even gives species latent abilities they might never use unless a specific need arises. Remarkably, we still share common ancestors and DNA with all species—even fruit flies and bananas—and with organisms living by deep undersea hydrothermal vents, the future of life remains excitingly unpredictable.

Galfard’s approachable style mirrors Carl Sagan; reading it feels like chatting with the author or attending an intimate lecture. He seamlessly layers facts with memorable stories to prevent information overload. Best of all, he injects a soothing, almost ASMR-like tone, inviting readers to pause, breathe, and imagine themselves inside deep space, on Earth, or within the human body.

book review: Ghost Orchid by Dani Cessna

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5/5

Thank you Lake Union Publishing for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Miranda is living a complex life each of us can relate to, one that’s become unraveled by past choices. To cope, she’s built a life of stillness, security, and routine - but at the cost of keeping people at bay. Everything changes when she crosses paths with a strange older woman, Estelle, living in the swampy Everglades. This encounter begins Miranda’s journey to reclaim ownership of her life through being honest with herself (and others) and finding her voice again.

Estelle is the wise, grounded, and vibrant mentor we all need. The dichotomy between her and Miranda is brilliant. Furthermore, the touches of magic, Everglades history, and botanical lore add a rich layer to the story without overwhelming it. 

If you liked The Light Pirate, you will love Ghost Orchid. Both books beautifully immerse you in Florida’s nature while urging deep self-reflection.

book review: Mochitsuki by Kristen Morita

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5/5

Thank you Chronicle Books for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Kristen Morita, the creator behind the popular Mochi Momma blog, is out with a fun new cookbook, Mochitsuki! I had so much fun poring over swoon worthy page!

Morita welcomes readers with personal stories and family traditions in a charming, album-style layout. Her humor and warmth shine through the writing, especially in the personal anecdotes sprinkled throughout. My favorite story detailed her first trip to Japan — it actually inspired me to jot down a list of unique convenience foods to try on my own future travels!

As a mochi-making novice, I appreciated how approachable this book feels. Morita provides a clear overview of the history and terminology without getting bogged down in detail, alongside handy lists of essential tools and ingredients. Living far from a major city with a Japanese grocery store, I was relieved to find that most ingredients are highly accessible.

The visual layout is exceptionally user-friendly. Every recipe features high-quality photos, including step-by-step technique shots and helpful "cross-section" views of the finished products. Paired with practical substitution notes, the variations feel incredibly straightforward once you master the base technique.

I plan to start with the Cookie Dough Daifuku, Classic Butter Mochi, and Mochi Pancakes before tackling more adventurous dishes like Mochi Pizza, Mitarashi Dango, and Ozoni — a savory soup Morita notes is "arguably the most important mochi recipe in all of Japan."

Whether you are a beginner looking to expand your skills or an experienced baker wanting to create unique delights, Mochitsuki has something to offer. It would make a fantastic gift for teens and adults alike, or a great introductory read for anyone wanting to learn about Japanese food culture.

book review: On The Equality of All Things by Carlo Rovelli

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4/5

Thank you Scribner for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

I discovered another great writer in Carlo Rovelli to continue learning about physics through his approachable teachings. On the Equality of All Things was a quick read focusing on the immense discoveries seen in quantum theory, general relativity, observers, time, space, existence, and morality.. Rovelli pushes thinkers to be open to adjustments to our beliefs as once-inconceivable ideas come to light. He also warns that the concepts we use on Earth to measure time and space simply do not apply in the broader vastness of the universe. 

Even having learned this in similar works, I still cannot get over the craziness of it. As Rovelli writes, “On Earth gravity is more or less the same everywhere... This is not the case in the wider universe. Time passes at different speeds for different travelers: when they meet again, they have generally not aged by the same number of years." Equally eerie is how general relativity describes reality as a set of fields that define spatial extension and time themselves, rather than sitting inside them. As he notes, "The location of an event only makes sense in relation to others. There is no 'where' or 'when,' except in a relative sense.”

While the book does discuss theories and their relationships, I found that as it progresses, it primarily makes a case for Rovelli's personal stances on how much value should be placed on each. I was interested in his perspectives on the flow of time and whether the future is open or fixed. However, I lacked the background in the intricacies of many other theories to fully engage with his arguments. Readers with a deeper understanding of physics will appreciate these perspectives, but I was hoping for more instruction on actual physics rather than debates on nuanced details. Even so, it successfully opened my eyes to what is important to consider so as not to fall into the trap of hyped-up theories pertaining to the flow of time and the Observer Effect.

Due to this, I found the concluding paragraph in lesson 5 gives a better synopsis of the book's true heart than the publisher's summary: “The reasonable question, it seems to me, is to ask what, given the current state of our knowledge... are effective concepts for thinking about the world, accounting for it, and navigating it?... Things all exist equally, in relation to others, each in its own way — a way that evolves as we learn.”

I highly recommend picking up this book if you have a foundation in physics and philosophy and want to engage in a discussion about the importance of certain areas of the field. The detailed footnotes are also a major benefit for those looking for a heavily researched work. I will certainly be picking up more of Rovelli's books.

The Story Graph challenge

Since joining The Story Graph, I have discovered countless new books and authors. While the platform lacks a heavy social aspect -- you can't comment or discuss new reads yet -- simply following users has expanded my TBR. I followed a few readers who highly rated my favorite books and shared my reading taste. Now, as they review books, my community feed fills with hidden gems I would never have heard of otherwise. These feel like genuine recommendations, unlike social media book influencers whose hyped titles often come with an incentive to push them.

Because they are not "pushed," many of these amazing books have very few reviews. It is such a stark contrast between books that become the "it" book to read and those that don't get the same word by mouth spread. This has made me very intrigued to find as many amazing hidden gems as I can. So, I created a challenge "5 Star Hidden Gems With Less Than 100 Reviews." I added The Truth of Time by Bryan Whelan which I absolutely loved, yet I am the only reviewer on every site I checked. So sad that clearly I was one of the few people who had the joy of reading this great book! If you have some hidden gems of your own, please share them through this challenge if you like!

book review: Fold Catastrophes by Peter Watts

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3/5

Thank you Tachyon Publications for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

As a lover of hard science fiction -- frequenting both Cixin Liu's fiction and Carl Sagan's non-fiction -- I was incredibly excited to dive into Fold Catastrophes, my first read from the acclaimed Peter Watts! However, I left this collection of short stories and novellas feeling deeply conflicted. While each storyline offers a highly unique take on complex scientific ideas and theories, and Watts uses an exceptionally precise vocabulary to establish his settings, I ultimately struggled to get past the prose style. 

Watts writes in sharp fragments, stripping his sentences down to their bare bones, forcing the reading to constantly piece his thoughts together. Normally, I can devour hard sci-fi novels because the underlying concepts fascinate me, but Watt's narrative structure made it difficult to actually enjoy his brilliant ideas. His writing relies heavily on the reader filling in what is missing, leaving no room to breathe. The prose results in a confusing paradox: it is densely descriptive, yet simultaneously sparse. Just as a new thought takes shape, the text abruptly shifts without any narrative transition to set up the change. As a result, I probably only fully comprehend a quarter of what I read, making the experience exhausting.

Based on pure conceptual ingenuity, Fold Catastrophes would easily be a five-star read for me. Unfortunately, I have to give it a three-star rating because the unapproachable prose made the journey a chore rather than an enjoyable read. That said, Watts has an undeniable fallowing, and I am still intrigued enough to try his famous novel Blindsight. My hope is that a longer, continuous piece will allow me to settle into his unique style.