everyone go preorder this!!! A fascinating look at the intersection of wealth and sex & reproduction. While these themes have I read this in mandarin.
everyone go preorder this!!! A fascinating look at the intersection of wealth and sex & reproduction. While these themes have been explored before, the diverse cast of characters and their ethical debates will surely spark a lot of discussions. Some very interesting discussions include
- can there be ethical commodification of (1) sex work (2) egg/sperm donations (3) surrogacy?
- how does gender disparity play into the power imbalances in sex work and reproduction? For instance, a female sex worker has to worry about her safety while she’s working. Vs a male sex worker with his female client might have to find ways to “prove” he’s not threatening. In both cases, even if both are sex workers, they still carry different risks
- is the desire of having one’s own biological offspring inherently selfish/eugenic? Especially in countries where filial piety is central to family structures, the author did a great job examining why one might want kids or pressure their kids to reproduce via different angles ...more
- I really appreciate the discussions of Chinese/herbal medicine that focuses on root causes rather than symptARC gifted by the publisher
What I loved
- I really appreciate the discussions of Chinese/herbal medicine that focuses on root causes rather than symptomatic relief. While it gave me whiplash of studying Chinese medicine in college, I love how the author incorporates these thoughts of intentional living and slow healing into the book
- the themes of feeling like you owe your life to your parents’ sacrifice and hence should push yourself as hard as possible really resonated with me
- there’s a healing / self-help quality to the story that’s perfect to read during burnout season. While this book doesn’t come out until January, I’m so glad I got to read it during the extra stressful end of year time that speaks to my anxiety and stress a lot
- the open communications between the main characters, and even the Chao brothers, are something I really appreciate
What I wanted more
- perhaps it’s because this book is positioned more as a healing story, I feel the tension between the 2 love interest are lacking a bit. It’s not as passionate as some other romance books but more cutesy
- the third act was a bit glossed over. I thought there’s a lot of potential for the MCs to develop further but it wasn’t given as much attention as I expected...more
A compelling read about a new mother getting detained due to AI and her 21 day stay that extends into over 200 days.4.5/5 arc gifted by the publisher
A compelling read about a new mother getting detained due to AI and her 21 day stay that extends into over 200 days. I enjoyed the discussions of the ethics of AI vs government overreach and privacy concerns, and how late-stage capitalism seeps into every aspect of our daily lives
While there’s not necessarily anything new about for profit “prisons”, AI, surveillance, THE DREAM HOTEL is an addictive read that I finished in 24 hours
My small complaint is parts of explaining how predictive algorithms work seems to be very very simplified (I’m pretty sure people don’t just use linear regressions ...more
It took a while to get there but the ending is phenomenal! I’d recommend this book to readers who love reading about the struggles of motherhood4.25/5
It took a while to get there but the ending is phenomenal! I’d recommend this book to readers who love reading about the struggles of motherhood and don’t mind something that’s a little out there...more
A very cute and heartwarming story about a lonely girl searching for the best life in a magical market. I really en3.75/5 ARC gifted by the publisher
A very cute and heartwarming story about a lonely girl searching for the best life in a magical market. I really enjoyed the world building, even though it got a tad repetitive with all the “looking for my best life.” I enjoyed the element of the mystery that added more twists and stakes to the otherwise a very comforting cozy read. And the cat is just the best.
This one will work great for fans of THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY and BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD. Not the deepest character development or most intricate writing but a very heartwarming read!...more
I had a lot of fun with this romantasy that focuses on the man’s perspective. I appreciate that the author4.25/5 finished copy gifted by the publisher
I had a lot of fun with this romantasy that focuses on the man’s perspective. I appreciate that the author flips the script of gender dynamics from traditional romantasy. A little bit predictable in plot but great characters!...more
What I liked - diverse accounts from Palestinians, Jewish Americans, and Israelis about their family history and their journeys to joining the PalestinWhat I liked - diverse accounts from Palestinians, Jewish Americans, and Israelis about their family history and their journeys to joining the Palestinian cause - I love the mixture of essays, poetry, and the pictures (I wish the pictures weren’t black and white)
What didn’t quite work for me - each author only has 1-2 pages and some essays end quite abruptly. I wish to spend more time reading each author’s thoughts - it can read a bit repetitive because the essays try to cover very similar events (nakba, settler violence etc). I think this book will work very well as an introductory read for those curious about Israel/palestine conflicts ...more
A great history/memoir/essay about black activism focusing on young activists. I really enjoyed the unique format of int4.25/5 gifted by the publisher
A great history/memoir/essay about black activism focusing on young activists. I really enjoyed the unique format of introducing the larger socio political environment, the activists involved in the movements, followed by the author’s short essay about the impacts of these essential events and people
A great introductory read to black resistance that’s very approachable!...more
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