Sample Saturday is when I wade through the eleventy billion samples I have downloaded on my Kindle. I’m slowly chipping away and deciding whether it’s buy or bye.
Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener
Why I have it: Ear-marked at the beginning of the year.
Summary: At the height of tech industry idealism, Anna Wiener left book publishing for a job at a startup in Silicon Valley – it was a world of surreal extravagance, dubious success, and fresh-faced entrepreneurs hell-bent on domination and glory.
I’m thinking: Yes, a different kind of memoir.
Finding Chika by Mitch Albom
Why I have it: Not sure.
Summary: Mitch and his wife adopted Chika from a Haitian orphanage after the earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010, knowing she had been diagnosed with an incurable condition. The memoir describes their two years with Chika.
I’m thinking: No. I’m sure this is beautifully written but I’m not adding a story about the death of a child to the reading stack at the moment.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Why I have it: Made the Best of 2019 list.
Summary: Machado’s memoir about her experiences in an abusive same-sex relationship.
I’m thinking: Yes.
In the Dream House is amazing!! I hadnt loved Machado’s short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties, so I was hesitant about her memoir, but i loved it after i read it last year!
also love the idea of going through samples of books youre interested in. when im adding a book to my TBR i always read the sample to see if it would be a book id like or not – you can tell so much about a book even from just a couple of lines 😊
I haven’t read her short story collection (not a huge short story fan but am a big fan of memoirs) but this book comes so highly praised.
I’ve enjoyed Mitch Albom in the past but I think this one might be a bit much for me, especially at the moment…
Exactly how I felt. The blurb made me sad so I figured it wasn’t for now.
I like the look of Uncanny Valley.
First chapter was smart and witty – a good combo.
I think Uncanny Valley sounds really interesting!
I just finished In the Dream House yesterday and it got a rare 5* from me. A real game-changer of a memoir, I think. I was impressed that people are still finding new things to do with the genre.
Five stars! I’ll have to put it to the top of the list! (although traditionally I wait until the end of the year before splurging on my selected samples…).
This is such a good idea for a post! Uncanny Valley sounds really up my street. I’m definitely tailoring my reading list to how I’m feeling at the moment too (nothing too heavy or downbeat!) I posted some of my reading suggestions for this weird and difficult time on my blog if you fancy a read:) https://onelliesbookshelf.wordpress.com
Yes, I’m also trying to steer toward lighter reading. Thanks for your suggestions 🙂