pandemic – Odd and Bookish

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Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (William Morrow) in exchange for an honest review.

This was an incredibly insightful and informative read!

First off, this book is so accessible. There is no medical jargon here. Everything is broken down in easy to understand language. Dr. Ashton does a fantastic job explaining the basic science behind COVID in a way everyone can comprehend.

Secondly, the book is also very practical. Dr. Ashton provides readers with advice that is realistically attainable which I appreciated. Sometimes books like these can prompt readers to do some lofty things, so I was happy to see that this book offered more grounded advice.

Throughout the book, she also shares anecdotal stories about her life during the pandemic which made the book relatable. Seeing a doctor go through similar struggles shows that this pandemic affects everyone in some way and that we all have a common struggle.

Since the virus is constantly changing, parts of this book are a little outdated. That was to be expected. Because of that, there is no discussion on the vaccines.

The book is generally, very well written. However, it is sometimes circular and repetitive. She will sometimes state the same ideas again, even though she just said it two pages ago.

Overall, this was a great read. I recommend it if you’re looking for some practical guidance in navigating our new normal!

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Rating: ★★★★½

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher (Penguin Teen) for promotional purposes.

Wow. This was such an interesting book (in a good way)!

When I first started reading it, I was a little confused about what was going on. You get thrown into the world without much explanation. But as the book went on, it was all slowly revealed.

I don’t want to give away too much about the plot, but I will say it is sort of circular and kind of trippy (if that makes any sense). It’s a book that you have to read for yourself. By the time I got to the end, my mind was blown.

The writing style is so beautiful. It’s very lyrical and poetic at times, but also had a slightly haunting quality to it.

This is also a book that would be great to reread. Since you don’t discover everything until the end, it would be fun to reread it and pick up on all the little clues woven throughout the story.

Lastly, it felt eerie reading this book during a pandemic. This book is about deadly flies and the flu they carry and it made me think about the situation we are in.

Overall, this was a deep and thought provoking story. I really recommend it!