Pithy Reviews

Though I've tracked hundreds of books read on Goodreads, less than two dozen have reviews.

They must be my all time favorites, those I've read multiple times, or were somehow memorable, or, you might think that. But, they cover a range of quality and ratings, so clearly have no connection to quality. 

However, it seems like there must be some shared theme to the book that I deem worthy of a few words. Here are a few examples of my occasional, short reviews: 

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro ***

If you like Ishiguro's writing, you will enjoy Never Let Me Go. It's an inventive and thought provoking story.

However, I'd like it more as a short story or novella. Part 3 could stand alone on its own.

- 2016

A Weakness for Almost Everything: Notes on Life, Gastronomy, and Travel by Aldo Buzzi, Ann Goldstein *** 

Wonderful palate cleanser. The first 2/3 better than the last third. 

- 2017

Nemesis (Miss Marple #12) by Agatha Christie ****

Much better than the BBC episode. 

- 2018

Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet by Andrew Blum *

Poorly written in every way. 

- 2018

The Rock Snob's Dictionary: An Essential Lexicon of Rockological Knowledge by David Kamp, Steven Daly ****

Can't believe they left out Belle and Sebastian. 

- 2016

Still Alice by Lisa Genova ***

Fascinating and quick read that tugs at the heartstrings. The unfortunate result of using Alice as the narrator is that the other characters aren't well developed, as her mind is degenerating throughout the book. This one sat on my shelf a while before I read it, and that seems about right. 

- 2016

If you can read the above reviews and can find a common thread, please let us know!