I am neither a linguist nor an etymologist, but I do like words, and I found this book fascinating and hilarious.

I wanted to love this more than I did. And honestly, I loved it until about the 50% mark and then it started to really go downhill for me.

Based on the cover blurb I thought it would be in my wheelhouse and it is. I‘m looking forward to the other books written in this universe with these sleuths and their progeny in other historical times.

I found this book compelling and readable full of flawed, but relatable characters. OK, there‘s one character who I think is supposed to be sympathetic but I absolutely couldn‘t stand her. A lot of misery in this story, but you know from the beginning how it‘s going to end and the book is about how everything gets there.

A narrative that is both informative and engaging. His respect for the Luddites' cause is evident, making this book a compelling read for anyone who has ever felt the ill-treatment of abusive bosses or the sting of technological displacement.

I did not expect to love this book, but I did. I also now want to read a lot more about tuberculosis, if you can believe that.

What an inspiring biography!

I knew this trans woman threw the first brick at the Stonewall riot, but I didn‘t realize she was a nationally known stage performer & such a driving force of community care networks for ostracized and demonized populations.

This author exhibits both kindness and transparency in portraying Marsha P Johnson, as a complex, generous, big hearted, and deeply mentally ill person.

Just based on the description, I would never have chosen to read this book. A man has a medical emergency and spends his protracted recovery, reflecting upon things that have happened in his life and literature that he loves? And yet, I absolutely loved the experience of reading it.

One thing I wanted to do this summer was read about inspiring women in government and law.

Elizabeth Warren has lived an incredible and inspiring life, and I‘m so glad I listened to the audiobook so I could hear her voice reading the words of this book.

A must-read for educators seeking to navigate the rapidly-changing complex landscape of the range of technologies lumped under the umbrella term “artificial intelligence”/AI. Watson & Bowen have written a guide that is both comprehensive and practical.

I expected a dystopian hellscape of exploited workers completing monotonous tasks for pennies through the platform of Mechanical Turk. The authors also profile positive ghostwork companies like Amara & LeadGenius. Additionally, the book offers hopeful suggestions of how to push back against the exploitation of ghost workers, and how humane scaffolding of ghostworking could positively reimagine the workforce of the future.

This book will change the world.

Perhaps only in small ways, but all positive change has value.

Highly recommended. You may find as I did that the research in the book corroborates something you already suspected about the field of theater production, but couldn‘t quite articulate or prove.

A moving, inspiring life story of a brilliant woman. I‘m so glad I listened to the audiobook and heard not only her voice reading it but also her daughters Leila and Talia. Highly recommended.

Cathartic. This book reminds me that listening to audiobooks of contemporary poetry is a wonderful experience.

Bailed at 18%. I would have loved this in high school. Now it frustrates and annoys me.

This was so highly recommended that I expected to be disappointed but it is so compelling and engaging.

A solid dual-timeline mystery set in the Winding Stair National Park in Oklahoma.

A planetary perspective on the machine learning technologies now collectively referred as “AI.” The author addresses inherent biases and exploitative labor practices. This could‘ve been dry, but I found it quite readable.

A true crime investigation of the murder of a graffiti artist by police in 1980s NYC/East Village.

I had never heard of this man, but the famous people in the periphery of his case are all over the place—people you expect like Basquiat, Warhol, Haring, and Madonna, but also people like Rob Zombie, Spike Lee, & Toni Morrison.

And it all feels tragically contemporary, like it could‘ve happened last week instead of 40 years ago

I had never read anything by this author, although he has published extensively. This is a surprisingly uplifting in life, affirming book, and I will probably seek out his other nonfiction.

Structurally creative and informative, and hopeful! Recommend to everyone with an interest in the planet and ecology.

I didn‘t expect this to read like a memoir (a genre I typically don‘t read) but I appreciate how the author interweaves her own history and story with the illuminating information about facial recognition and image processing AI technologies.

I‘m glad I have read other books about the different technologies grouped together in the description of “AI.”

A memoir in essays, which I enjoyed much more than most other memoirs. I thoughtful quiet book. Recommend.

A page-turner mystery. A popcorn book but a good way to spend a Saturday.

I checked this out of my library because the title intrigued me. I expected it to be a book club book, which I guess it could be. I did not expect it to be my favorite book of the year so far.

I‘m so glad I read this difficult brilliant book, tracing the color blue woven throughout the history of Black Americans throughout history.

This reads like it was written by generative AI and barely edited. Bailing.

I did not read her memoir when it came out, but after reading this book about how to stay hopeful and trying times, I may check it out. Recommend.

I‘m doing a deep dive on reading books about AI, and this one is fantastic for explaining the different kinds of technology referred to as AI, how it works and was created, what it can do and what it can‘t. Highly recommend.

(Image: batik by Lene Wojcik)

A global perspective on AI that casts the various tools and platforms in individual human terms.

A harrowing story but useful to consider in difficult times—these poor people had such a hard time.

(Image: batik by Jessica Land)

Fascinating, informative, and a bit scary.

Genuinely profound.

I bailed at 33%. Even though I don‘t generally read exposes or memoirs, a writer. I respect said she had read this in one day and it was engrossing, so I gave it a shot.

Wow! Essential reading for educators at all levels and parents of school age children.

I will read any book this author writes. I read her first two voraciously and have waited for this one to come out impatiently. Did not disappoint. Highly recommended.

I learned so much about protest movements that happened in my lifetime that I was unaware of.

I almost never finish memoirs but I read this one compulsively. I follow the author on several platforms and have read his poetry. Recommend unless you are not down for graphic kinky gay sex.

It‘s interesting and well researched, but it was also depressing so I gave up.

Image: Shibori dye process on silk

Every so often I try to read something recommended to me as a “popcorn book,” but they never suck me in. This is no exception. If you love lighthearted, contemporary romance, this is probably great.

Fascinating and mind-expanding evaluation of Buddhism from a scientific standpoint. Highly recommended.

Image: Lenni decides the muffins aren‘t for kitties.

Bailing. This needs an editor.

This book and the first one are a reading highlight of the year. Glad I listened to the audiobook to hear the Anishnaabe language and names spoken.

I‘ve read this before but felt compelled to read it again and it‘s still psychologically helpful.

This is a dark book with a fascinating portrayal of a First Nation community in the midst of a mysterious crisis. I will seek out more by this author.

A fascinating look at an inventor who mysteriously disappeared on the cusp of his success.

Recommend to fans of Eric Larson.

The first in this murder/PI series establishing the premise of subsequent books. Because of the vagaries of library waitlists, I read this one after the other two books in the series and I don‘t hate it, but it‘s my least favorite of the three.

Fascinating and insightful.