3.5 stars. This book is not like American Psycho, and that's a good thing. If you're looking for more of the same from B.E.E. look elsewhere. Lunar Park is not that. It's sad, it's funny, it's a ghost story (literal and metaphorical). It's about piecing together and losing a grip on family. I enjoyed it a lot, but if you're a die hard for Ellis' nihilism via over the top hedonism and ultra graphic violence, this might not be for you.

#currentread

Just. Fucking. Awful. I'd read a couple of McCarthy's books before so I thought I knew what I was getting into. I wanted to bail in this book so many times. I only finished it because I feel like I'm not far enough along on my annual goal. That's the only reason. This thing was PAINFUL.

"Where's evil? It's that large part of every man that wants to hate without limit, that wants to hate with God on its side. It's that part of every man that finds all kinds of ugliness attractive. It's that part of an imbecile," I said, "that punishes and vilifies and makes war gladly."

#currentread

The style is written like the audience is at the 4th grade reading level, but that makes it a quick read. There were interesting takes on not only abuse itself, but how the victim perceives herself in the situation - often not as a "real" victim. That was one interesting aspect of this book that really hit home for me. I'd heard so much about the HBO series, but truly have no desire to watch after reading the book. This was more than enough.

I read this book in a day and a half. I just couldn't put it down. While I found the ending just a bit too loose to be satisfying (what happened?!), I loved the story and all the perspectives and how the various stories therein all became part of the overarching story so much, I can still love the book without being really satisfied with the end.
I'm very glad I read it. I'd been in a reading rut for a while, and this pulled me right out.

#currentread I just started this afternoon, and I'm already over 100 pages in. I can't put it down.

#currentread

Started strong; ended… meh/weird/…wut? I don't know. It was readable enough, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. So, take that for what it's worth, I guess.

My husband asked me repeatedly as I read this book if I was enjoying it. No, I never enjoyed it, but it's not a book to be "enjoyed." I appreciated Safran Foer's description of his own wavering vegetarianism over the years. I think because of that, I finished this book feeling moved and not guilted. I also have a more positive view of those very few & far between farmers who truly try to do right by their animals.

#currentread

It's a rare thing when I want to turn right back to the first page and start a book all over again as soon as I finish. I wanted to do that with this book.
I will read this one again. Maybe soon. I absolutely loved it from beginning to end. 💗

Well … ouch.

So far, kinda loving it. Just finished the first story, but this quote from page 8 (!) has been needling at me the whole time. I love when books do that. 📚😍❤️

Used library books and beaches. Yes. This is good. #currentread

I really enjoyed this book. I felt there were parts that were drawn out a little much for my taste, but that also served the slow, creeping sense of dread that that filled this book. I'm still processing how I feel about this book and its implications, so I may come back and rehash some things in the comments, but overall, definitely worth a read.

I'd rate it 3/5 stars. Enjoyable; not life changing.
But it was nice to see reference to things I culturally and linguistically understood, without explicit (or any) explanation for white people. That makes me feel bad to say, but it was refreshing nonetheless.

Finally! #currentread

This is a great one-sitting book. It's filled with mystery and dread, but if you want answers to those mysteries, you'll probably be disappointed. This was one of those books that I finished and thought, "What the hell did I just read?!" But it was written so beautifully and in such a way that an answer wasn't really necessary.

This finally came in the mail. It's been tough getting new books at a decent price since I'm no longer giving my money to Amazon (though I will cry with relief/joy if they ever dump their Trump brand products. #grabyourwallet) So I've been shopping local, and when even that is too expensive for my taste, I use HPB.com. This perfect new hardcover copy was $8 or $9 +shipping. Score!

#currentread #usedbookstorefind #latinoauthors

I keep waiting to be swept off my feet the way I was with Death With Interruptions, and while this was easier to digest and get through than The History of the Siege of Lisbon, I'm not exactly eager to read its sequel, though I'm sure I will at some point. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#currentread

"What did you expect?"

How a book about an unremarkable man and his unremarkable life can cut so close to the bone, and make one feel so exposed in their own sense of loneliness and mediocrity, I cannot begin to fathom. This book was so beautifully written and frustratingly realistic. In fewer than 300 pages we knew William Stoner, perhaps like no one else in his own life ever did.

#currentread
… and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Finally!

Meh. Readable, but nothing really hooked me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ On to something I hope will be the first book I actually like in 2017.

#currentread

Oh my god, that was painful. Most boring zombie book ever. If I was supposed to find humor or commentary on modern life or anything else, I missed it in the droning bore of a seemingly plotless book. Ugh. So glad to be done.

I'm still very meh on this book, but this quote hit me hard.

Currently trudging through this one. I was hoping to finish it by the first week of the year to really get me going on meeting my 2017 books read goal, but it's been very slow. I don't know how you make a zombie book so boring, but somehow Whitehead has managed thus far …

How can so much piteousness, beauty, pain, and anger fit into such a slim novel? It's horrible and beautiful and ugly and dignified. I need to read more Toni Morrison ASAP. This book and poor, pitiful, infuriatingly meek Pecola will stay with me for a long time.

Used book stores are the most magical places on earth. One of my most recent acquisitions and my newest #currentread.

In the age of Trump, this has been one of the scariest King books I've read in a while. And while it's really well written, I wouldn't have said it was quite that 'scary' before this year. Some of the parallels are downright uncanny, making it almost unbelievable that it was published almost 40 years ago.

It's not exactly "new," I just wanted to play with the stickers. I've had it for a while, and Goodreads lists it as a first edition. So that's neat. I picked it up at my favorite used book store.

ANYWAY, I think it's way passed time for me to give this a read. I hope I can finish before the end of the year!

I don't have the words to properly review this short book. I'm always more moved by an author who can get across immense feeling with few words. Erpenbeck does this with brutal efficiency.

I think this one will haunt me for some time.

Once again, this time with feeling.
I stared this book several years ago, but only got a few pages in. I'm going to give it another go from the beginning again.
#currentread

Good, not great. The author's fanciful style in depicting some of the most unimaginable horrors smacked of trying too hard, and made the tone of the book feel off. It was alright, but I don't feel the need to seek out any of Konar's other works - if there are any. I don't know, and I don't much care. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Note to self: Don't set your book down for a break with Miss Regan in the room and expect to get it back.

I can't overstate how much I love this series. The characters are just SO GOOD. My favorite things are the little intimacies among the crew/family. The way they can read each other's nuances, how they notice small ticks & habits and what they mean for each person, and how each character's POV is distinctly his/her own. Corey really knows how to flesh out a character and speak with their voice convincingly.
I never want this series to end! 🚀💫❤

It finally came in! #currentread

I've had this audiobook on preorder for MONTHS, if not a whole year. I'm so glad it's finally here. 🌏☄️🚀😍

Current read.

Embarrassingly dated, technically detailed to the point of tedium, and just … boring. I realize that it's an old book (now), but it just doesn't hold up. Passages about these new-fangled "computers" that can give the user answers in "mere seconds" were positively cringe-worthy. This ?? took me forever to get through. Bummer. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Maybe I wanted to like this book more than I did? I was engaged enough, but it seemed a bit disjointed, and at the end I felt … nothing. Oh well. Not bad for a quick two-day read.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯