I JUST finished Wolf at the Table this morning! I have to say, I think I'm in complete agreement with what you've said here. I actually had a pretty great reading experience overall but I am mulling over some of the choices. I was, however, very put off by the anti-fat bias and that kept coming up 🙄 This definitely felt to me like a book written by a playwrite. He seemed to have a very clear view of the scenes he was setting and, to me at least, that's how those very specific descriptors of people's height and weight came into play.
I'm definitely going to preorder The God of the Woods! (Or try to get an early library hold on it). Wolf at the Table sounds gripping but I really just don't mess with anything fatphobic. I recently finished the second book in Louise Penny's Armand Gamache series and it is so bad in that respect. I've never encountered a book where talking about someone's weight in a judgmental or derogatory way was necessary or enhanced the narrative in any way. It just always comes across gross and off-putting for me.
Oh wow! Thank you so much for the shoutout! I’m so excited for THE GOD OF THE WOODS, more so now that you loved it. I’m torn between doing it on audio vs getting the hard copy. Do you think it would work on audio?
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of God of the Woods from GR. I was nervous because I really loved Long Bright River -- but DANG she just absolutely nailed it! The best true mystery book I've ever read. I am hoping someone interviews her about her plotting process, because it is a masterpiece.
I absolutely agree with your review of Wolf at the Table. I found he descriptions about weight really off-putting and his descriptions of June to be so negative. The characters were all very flat. They didn't seem to have any emotions about anything. "I wonder where my wildly valuable Mickey Mantle card went? Oh well!" No one seemed to have particularly strong emotions about anything.
These are two of the best, most thoughtful reviews I’ve ever read, and both books are on my TBR so I appreciate them even more! And I’ve already several to my list from your reading guide and ordered one. Love all the backlist. Thanks Sara!
I think I had a better overall reading experience of Wolf than you, but I definitely appreciate your critiques. The mentioning of the one character's weight really threw me off (so unnecessary). Rapp's sentence level writing and his dialogue are excellent though, and he kept me turning the pages which has been hard for my scattered brain recently. It's a book I'll be thinking about for a little bit...
Wolf at the Table has been jumping on and off my TBR for weeks. I appreciate your honest review and reading the feedback in your comments here. I think I'll skip it for now...
I freaking love Kristen Arnett. I got to hear her do a reading at Lauren Groff’s bookstore opening and she’s so cool and funny to talk to. Can’t wait for her clown themed book coming out next spring!
Loved reading your thoughts on Wolf At The Table. I had the same aversion to Rapp’s obvious bias when describing body size. Your point about the POVs sounding very similar is very true. I had a lot of issues with this book as well and bleak is a great word to describe it.
I JUST finished Wolf at the Table this morning! I have to say, I think I'm in complete agreement with what you've said here. I actually had a pretty great reading experience overall but I am mulling over some of the choices. I was, however, very put off by the anti-fat bias and that kept coming up 🙄 This definitely felt to me like a book written by a playwrite. He seemed to have a very clear view of the scenes he was setting and, to me at least, that's how those very specific descriptors of people's height and weight came into play.
I'm definitely going to preorder The God of the Woods! (Or try to get an early library hold on it). Wolf at the Table sounds gripping but I really just don't mess with anything fatphobic. I recently finished the second book in Louise Penny's Armand Gamache series and it is so bad in that respect. I've never encountered a book where talking about someone's weight in a judgmental or derogatory way was necessary or enhanced the narrative in any way. It just always comes across gross and off-putting for me.
Oh wow! Thank you so much for the shoutout! I’m so excited for THE GOD OF THE WOODS, more so now that you loved it. I’m torn between doing it on audio vs getting the hard copy. Do you think it would work on audio?
Tan-Luxe and Supergoop Unseen 💕
Liz Moore is coming to my town this summer to promote God of the Woods and your review may have just convinced me to buy a ticket!
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of God of the Woods from GR. I was nervous because I really loved Long Bright River -- but DANG she just absolutely nailed it! The best true mystery book I've ever read. I am hoping someone interviews her about her plotting process, because it is a masterpiece.
I absolutely agree with your review of Wolf at the Table. I found he descriptions about weight really off-putting and his descriptions of June to be so negative. The characters were all very flat. They didn't seem to have any emotions about anything. "I wonder where my wildly valuable Mickey Mantle card went? Oh well!" No one seemed to have particularly strong emotions about anything.
I got approved for The God of the Woods and am so excited to read it!
These are two of the best, most thoughtful reviews I’ve ever read, and both books are on my TBR so I appreciate them even more! And I’ve already several to my list from your reading guide and ordered one. Love all the backlist. Thanks Sara!
I think I had a better overall reading experience of Wolf than you, but I definitely appreciate your critiques. The mentioning of the one character's weight really threw me off (so unnecessary). Rapp's sentence level writing and his dialogue are excellent though, and he kept me turning the pages which has been hard for my scattered brain recently. It's a book I'll be thinking about for a little bit...
I loved Long Bright River and have really been looking forward to The God of the Woods! So glad to hear you liked it!
Wolf at the Table has been jumping on and off my TBR for weeks. I appreciate your honest review and reading the feedback in your comments here. I think I'll skip it for now...
I loved the summer reading guide! I always get caught up in new releases, so I appreciate your approach to highlight the backlist.
I freaking love Kristen Arnett. I got to hear her do a reading at Lauren Groff’s bookstore opening and she’s so cool and funny to talk to. Can’t wait for her clown themed book coming out next spring!
Loved reading your thoughts on Wolf At The Table. I had the same aversion to Rapp’s obvious bias when describing body size. Your point about the POVs sounding very similar is very true. I had a lot of issues with this book as well and bleak is a great word to describe it.