If it’s not clear I recommend this.

Amatonormativity is really kicking peoples asses. I think that in some ways it robs us of the depths that our relationships could have. So I’m glad there are books that explore that for everyone.

Love is such a nebulous thing. I guess it’s only natural that we’d build walls and constructs around it. (Some of which are necessary). But I feel like this structure have become cages in many ways. Both in thought and action.

As someone on the aroace spectrum it was comforting to see people in the kind of relationships I might like in the future.

This book was half research and half annadote. The author starts out describing her own unconventional relationship and then branches out to tell the stories of others who exist outside of relationship norms and explore similar dynamics throughout history.

I’ve never mentioned this on here but I’m aroace. I also have an insatiable desire to know why I am the way that I am and how I can best move forward with that in mind. So you can see why this book would appeal to me.

Overall I enjoyed my experience reading this even though it kinda lost me torwords the end. So I would recommend it.

I also (surprisingly) enjoyed the romance. Their relationship had so many complex emotions weighing it down but you could still feel the love on both sides.

I enjoyed the structure, going back and forth between the present and their many past lives. I’m generally a fan of no linear story structures since there’s a baked in mystery I can work on figuring out. I liked the experience of piecing together who these people were through their many lives.

A part of it is that I think it’s difficult for me to solidify opinions in the first place, feels like everything moves to quickly, but the other part is just fear. Maybe of getting carried away. Or the consequences of being wrong.

Overall even if I can’t say this is a book that lit any fires in me (if that makes sense I definitely enjoyed it.

I think the dynamic I enjoyed the most is his dynamic with the house keeper, Miss Kenton. Seeing their history and especially their reconciliation at the end of the story was a highlight for me.

I really like how the book is structured. Tying the present with the past in separate reflections as he progresses through his trip. Each one peeling back the layers of his life; of the lies and until you get to what’s left.

What do you do when you look back at the end of a long road and can’t be proud of the path you’ve taken; the path you let others lead you down. When you can no longer hide from the choices you made. What does that mean for what remains of your time on this planet. What do you do with all that regret

Regardless, watching Stevens try to reconcile how he lived (or didn’t live in his case) in the evening of his life kept me reading.

I picked this book up primarily because I wanted an overview of philosophy. I’ve always been interested in it but my knowledge is pretty scattered. I was hoping this book would give me some direction about where I’d like to focus my attention. I’m not sure it did that but I did learn so that’s good.