Jeb's Updates en-US Sun, 09 Mar 2025 09:42:58 -0700 60 Jeb's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7062369367 Sun, 09 Mar 2025 09:42:58 -0700 <![CDATA[Jeb added 'Intermezzo']]> /review/show/7062369367 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney Jeb gave 5 stars to Intermezzo (Hardcover) by Sally Rooney
Here's why people love or hate this book.*

Intermezzo is recognizably a Sally Rooney book, but in this novel she's pushing her writing into a sprawling, maximalist direction. Moments are presented in exhausting or engrossing detail, depending on how immersive you find this kind of work, which reminds me (not in style but in approach) of books like Infinite Jest and the My Struggle series.

In reaching for the wholeness of experience, this book is either going to suck you in or send you looking for stories with a more "efficient" approach to scenes.

I couldn't finish this book -- the first Rooney book I didn't voraciously consume. And I think that's fine. I think maximalism is just one of those big stylistic swings that's going to create devotees alongside rafts of critics.

But whether or not this book works for you, it's clear Rooney isn't tainted by commercial considerations or delivering what's expected of her.

*I gave this book five stars because I'm a bit sick of using ratings as a bludgeon against authors (especially since they have such strong real-world consequences for sales). ]]> Rating833894220 Sat, 08 Mar 2025 07:59:19 -0800 <![CDATA[Jeb Gleason-Allured liked a review]]> /
Jeb liked Tony Tulathimutte's review of Rejection:
Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte
"oouuuuhghhghghghhhhghhghhhhhgoouohohggoghoogoghggggghgoggg"
]]> Review7036441360 Sat, 08 Mar 2025 07:56:44 -0800 <![CDATA[Jeb added 'The Hypocrite']]> /review/show/7036441360 The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya Jeb gave 4 stars to The Hypocrite (Hardcover) by Jo Hamya
]]> ReadStatus9161487013 Sat, 08 Mar 2025 07:32:52 -0800 <![CDATA[Jeb wants to read 'The Princess Casamassima']]> /review/show/7385889261 The Princess Casamassima by Henry James Jeb wants to read The Princess Casamassima by Henry James
]]> Rating804702162 Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:35 -0800 <![CDATA[Jeb Gleason-Allured liked a review]]> /
Jeb liked Stephanie Ayres's review of Martyr!:
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
]]> Review7038457925 Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:49:30 -0800 <![CDATA[Jeb added 'Rental House']]> /review/show/7038457925 Rental House by Weike Wang Jeb gave 5 stars to Rental House (Hardcover) by Weike Wang
Weike Wang just doesn't miss. This time around, she kettles her couple, Nate and Keru (like Peru) in 2 different vacation houses at two stages of their relationship. And, just like those horror films set in remote vacation homes, this book lets every ounce of tension, hypocrisy and dread build -- until it's unleashed in superficially funny but also disturbing ways.

This book is incredibly funny (as always with Wang's work) but it's also much less hopeful than her last two books. (Maybe it's just where we are in 2024.)

Ultimately, we're left staring into the gulf between the recent immigrant experience and those of multi-generational Americans, which has everything to do with money, status, security, belonging and stability. Did you notice I left out happiness? That doesn't even come near to reaching the top of the list. ]]> Comment284854312 Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:41:33 -0800 <![CDATA[Jeb commented on Roxane's review of Rental House]]> /review/show/6441248615 Roxane's review of Rental House
by Weike Wang

I loved this one, especially because Weike Wang kettles her characters into the should-be-relaxing-but-isn't experience of a vacation at 2 stages of a couple's relationship. This novel certainly feels a good deal less hopeful than her previous two books (and who can blame her in 2024?), but it's still funny as hell. ]]> Rating804648880 Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:38:46 -0800 <![CDATA[Jeb Gleason-Allured liked a review]]> /
Jeb liked Roxane's review of Rental House:
Rental House by Weike Wang
"This is an odd little novel with an odd (compelling) protagonist. It’s the story of Keru and Nate, a married couple, and two vacations with their families in rental houses. It’s so very wry and subtle an an interesting way to create a portrait of a marriage. I’m curious to see wha others will think about this novel. "
]]> Review7038457925 Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:36:26 -0800 <![CDATA[Jeb added 'Rental House']]> /review/show/7038457925 Rental House by Weike Wang Jeb gave 5 stars to Rental House (Hardcover) by Weike Wang
Weike Wang just doesn't miss. This time around, she kettles her couple, Nate and Keru (like Peru) in 2 different vacation houses at two stages of their relationship. And, just like those horror films set in remote vacation homes, this book lets every ounce of tension, hypocrisy and dread build -- until it's unleashed in superficially funny but also disturbing ways.

This book is incredibly funny (as always with Wang's work) but it's also much less hopeful than her last two books. (Maybe it's just where we are in 2024.)

Ultimately, we're left staring into the gulf between the recent immigrant experience and those of multi-generational Americans, which has everything to do with money, status, security, belonging and stability. Did you notice I left out happiness? That doesn't even come near to reaching the top of the list. ]]> ReadStatus8770421221 Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:58:12 -0800 <![CDATA[Jeb wants to read 'Raven Black']]> /review/show/7104058663 Raven Black by Ann Cleeves Jeb wants to read Raven Black by Ann Cleeves
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